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This series is undercooked and bland
I’m usually a big fan of Japanese BL because of its creative writing and its ability to say so much with very little. But when you adapt a much longer Thai BL and reduce the running time by more than half, something is inevitably going to get lost. By Episode 7, I think I know what got lost here…the emotional connection.
The leads are handsome and individually they seem perfectly suited for their roles, but together I just don’t feel that chemistry. When they look at each other, I want to feel that little spark…the hesitation, longing, awkwardness, something. Instead, I’m watching two actors playing a romance rather than two characters slowly realizing they’ve fallen for each other. I’ve seen plenty of straight actors play gay roles so convincingly that one glance can say more than an entire scene. Here, those looks just aren’t speaking to me.
And strangely, despite being a much shorter adaptation, the middle still dragged. The endless flashbacks certainly didn’t help. Enough already! When you’ve cut the original story this drastically, every minute becomes precious. I don’t need another reminder of something I watched twenty minutes ago…I need those minutes developing the characters and relationships happening now.
Which brings me to the biggest question after Episode 7: how are they possibly going to fit everybody else in?
There are other characters with relationships that are only beginning to bud, yet they’re treated like side dishes at a Korean BBQ…a little banchan here, another little taste there, and just when I’m interested, someone takes the plate away. These relationships need time to simmer too. If you’re going to keep them from the Thai original, then give them enough room to matter. Otherwise, why put them on the table at all?
I love a good push-and-pull romance. The uncertainty is half the fun. But Your Sky: Hare nochi Koi has felt less like push-and-pull and more like push…and keep pushing away. Seven episodes in, I should be aching for Sora and Hinata to finally get together. Instead, I’m still waiting for their romance to convince me that they should.
Then we have an antagonist whose behavior has been pushed into such ridiculous territory that instead of creating tension, he simply irritates me. A good antagonist should make me fear what he might do next. This one makes me wonder why everyone around him hasn’t figured out how stupid his behavior is already.
And yes…I appreciated Thomas and Kong appearing for their little 15-second cameo at the end. Cute. A nice wink to those of us who know and enjoyed the Thai version. But let’s be serious…Thomas and Kong showing up for 15 seconds isn’t going to save this sinking boat.
The ingredients for a wonderful Japanese BL are all here…fake dating, friendship turning into love, jealousy, side couples, family, handsome leads and that delicious push-and-pull. The problem is we’re already at Episode 7 and there are still too many ingredients sitting on the kitchen counter. Someone needs to start cooking or get the hell out of the kitchen.
The leads are handsome and individually they seem perfectly suited for their roles, but together I just don’t feel that chemistry. When they look at each other, I want to feel that little spark…the hesitation, longing, awkwardness, something. Instead, I’m watching two actors playing a romance rather than two characters slowly realizing they’ve fallen for each other. I’ve seen plenty of straight actors play gay roles so convincingly that one glance can say more than an entire scene. Here, those looks just aren’t speaking to me.
And strangely, despite being a much shorter adaptation, the middle still dragged. The endless flashbacks certainly didn’t help. Enough already! When you’ve cut the original story this drastically, every minute becomes precious. I don’t need another reminder of something I watched twenty minutes ago…I need those minutes developing the characters and relationships happening now.
Which brings me to the biggest question after Episode 7: how are they possibly going to fit everybody else in?
There are other characters with relationships that are only beginning to bud, yet they’re treated like side dishes at a Korean BBQ…a little banchan here, another little taste there, and just when I’m interested, someone takes the plate away. These relationships need time to simmer too. If you’re going to keep them from the Thai original, then give them enough room to matter. Otherwise, why put them on the table at all?
I love a good push-and-pull romance. The uncertainty is half the fun. But Your Sky: Hare nochi Koi has felt less like push-and-pull and more like push…and keep pushing away. Seven episodes in, I should be aching for Sora and Hinata to finally get together. Instead, I’m still waiting for their romance to convince me that they should.
Then we have an antagonist whose behavior has been pushed into such ridiculous territory that instead of creating tension, he simply irritates me. A good antagonist should make me fear what he might do next. This one makes me wonder why everyone around him hasn’t figured out how stupid his behavior is already.
And yes…I appreciated Thomas and Kong appearing for their little 15-second cameo at the end. Cute. A nice wink to those of us who know and enjoyed the Thai version. But let’s be serious…Thomas and Kong showing up for 15 seconds isn’t going to save this sinking boat.
The ingredients for a wonderful Japanese BL are all here…fake dating, friendship turning into love, jealousy, side couples, family, handsome leads and that delicious push-and-pull. The problem is we’re already at Episode 7 and there are still too many ingredients sitting on the kitchen counter. Someone needs to start cooking or get the hell out of the kitchen.
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