Japan delivers again one of the most wholesome BL series
This is just one of those series that makes you draw a smile every minute that you are watching it and when it ends you just want more. Story-wise you will find it's about two childhood friends whose paths cross again when they are adults, one who wants to be a successful idol and the other who wants to be a successful doujinshi artist. Their dreams are somehow tied to their past selves and is unravelled as the series moves along.Unlike many other series, you see that both the characters are flawed and go through an arc to discover themselves and strive to achieve their dreams. We have the pop idol Issei who always has a smile on his face irrespective of the situation or hardship. We find that he has been traumatized by his parents’ behaviours but decides to pursue being an idol because of Mamoru's passing comment. Mamoru is a closeted gay guy who suffers from low self-esteem and wants validation from people in the form of book sales and being at the "Wall".
This series is not heavy with romance and certainly isn't preachy but instead humorous. The interactions between the main and supporting characters is where the comedy lies and I simply enjoyed every moment of it. There is a bit of emotion in the last few episodes and I was eagerly waiting for it as you know that it will just propel these character's journeys even further.
All in all, a pleasant experience watching this series with great characters void of any angst and unreasonable breakups.
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Quirky and sweet, friendship without to much depth
Mr grumpy insecure artist tries to run away from his feelings and mr smiley. In this quirky depiction of odd humour, friendship, 10 shades of dark and grumpy vs 10 glittery rainbows with smileys without the colours in-between.I loved the friendships in this, especially between mr grumpy and his fejusy friend. I also love the way they talk about the things behind the smiles and the grumpiness without favouring one over the other. That said while there is some good dialog here and there there is not a lot of substance in this,. And you must parapere yourself for quirky, comics all round. The romance and chemistry between the could definitely have been better so do not expect yourself to be blown away or feel stuff.
That said it is an easy binge, oddly entertaining and quirky without going over board in to just stupid.
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This absolute gem of a show deserves to be recognised!
These showmakers has a vision and goddamn did they ever commit to it! Translating a comedy manga into a live-action series can be challenging and often works best when certain exaggerated elements are toned down, but here the creators fully lean into the style of the source material, utilising camerawork, lighting, and editing to great effect and creating a stylised masterpiece. It is an absolute joy to watch which several people have, deservedly, compared to Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko.Rather than the focus being on comedy however, like it is in that show, here the core of the series is a sweet and sensitive portrayal of a struggling artist learning to break free from expectations and pursuing love and happiness in their various forms.
The romance may be tame, but it feels real and heartfelt - given the show is based on the works of an openly gay mangaka, this authenticity may not exactly come as a surprise, but it is delightful nonetheless.
If you're in search of an uplifting slice-of-life series with great queer representation (Framboise is a personal highlight; he's eccentric, deeply likeable, and provides superb comedic relief without ever being the butt of the joke), highly lovable characters, and an endearing romance then look no further.
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This review may contain spoilers
This whole thing was a mess!
It started fine, but it just went more and more downhill. The story was so disjointed and made no sense in what it wanted to tell.I liked the beginning, but the more it went on, the more it made me go like wtf is going on?!
I didn't like the main character at all; he was so melodramatic and woe is me. 🙄 Especially during Episode 7—Jesus Christ, so melodramatic.
Frankly, the blond guy (forgot his name) deserved better. What the heck did he get? Mamochi( the MC) just kept saying hurtful things over and over, taking out his frustration and feelings of infuriority towards the blondie.
It pissed me off to see it.
After he found out what the blondie's life was like and that Mamochi is the reason he wanted to become an idol and actually started liking his smile, Mamochi says that thing about his smile in Episode 7? I was like, Dude, WTF? ! And the blondie was just there standing like🧍🏻I was like, Hello??? No reaction? And then we never talk about it? Hella nah.
I have no idea what the blondie would be even attracted to him for. I get that he was kind in the past, but was that it? They haven't seen each other in years, and the guy keeps being awful to him, yet he still chases him? There was absolutely zero romance. This felt more like authors wish fulfilment storyline.
And don't get me wrong, I think we have all felt once or twice, or still feel in certain matters in life, like Momochi, but there is a limit, especially to how childish you can act and what other people will put up with. Like who the heck would want somebody to act like that towards them and still wabt to have to do something with em romantically esp. I certainly wouldn't.
The last two episodes were the worst tho. A plotline would get started and then dropped and ignored, and you are there like, Hello???
Like in Episode 7 or whatever, there is that huge scandal about blondie dating a man, but then it gets solved, and then the blondie , after a few months, in Ep 8 says (live!!!) : I don't wanna hide that I love a man and want to protect him.
(Which, I mean, is a lovely sentiment, and everybody should have the right to say and live that, but mah dude, let's think about the logistics of where you live and what your job is. Even if it is fantasy land, why make the previous plotline of you are gonna do this in the last five minutes of the show?! Like, how does it make sense?!)
Did you have to say that aloud without discussing it with your teammates or the guy? (knowing how much it affects them)
They lost sponsorship as a group when the scandal came out months earlier, but what, doing it a few months later made it magically not a problem anymore?! Nobody was mad anymore? And his teammates were supporting him now? Like y'all what about your jobs? Like did we switch to alternate universe?
How did that work in his head? Sure, I will protect him, but by doing a live announcement and saying his nickname?! How many haters or homophobes would go after him especially after his bf? Wtf is with that plotline?
And many other things, but I am too annoyed to list them all.
At least they didn't do the sole female character who is evil cliche (seriously, the bar is low).
But nothing else—she was just a plot device; her own personality was nonexistent besides helping the main character and being his fan. It's sad because she had the potential to be developed more. (for example that apologise scene had the potential to be so badass before it was cut off! )
The whole reporter thing was also like, Wtf?! I am absolutely biased since I hate reporters and think they are vultures, but the blondie's reaction to the reporter was ???! I was like, Dude, Wtf? I don't even want to go into that, but the whole thing just made me go ??? the whole time.
What I liked were the funny bits, even if they were exaggerated and manga-like, which made it cringe. I liked the teammate storyline as well, and I liked Blondie in general and how he handles conflicts most of the time, but the last few episodes and his actions got me like ??? Made no sense.
In the end, I would never rewatch this. Low key, I kind of want my time back. The actors were fine, as well as the music and characters overall, but just the writing sucked, and especially towards the end, it made no sense. It just felt like it wanted to go in so many directions it ended up not going anywhere and spending too much time on unnecessary things, just to hastily patch it up in the last twenty-three minutes, which is a lot to expect.
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This review may contain spoilers
A wholesome story
This drama revolves around the story of Mamoru, a reclusive self-made manga artist, and Issei, a vibrant idol.The storyline is highly engaging and keeps the audience captivated. However, as it is adapted from a manga, there are certain segments that feel rushed and would benefit from further elaboration. Nonetheless, the overall narrative remains comprehensible. An additional conflict adds depth to the plot, providing a platform for the main characters to develop a deeper understanding of each other.
The characters are intriguing and well-crafted. Mamoru's portrayal as a manga artist is particularly unique and captivating.
Initially, I had reservations about the casting of Issei, as the manga depicts him as tall and broad-shouldered. However, Nakao Misai's portrayal of Issei pleasantly surprised me. Matsuoka Koudai's performance as Mamoru is commendable and aligns well with the character's persona.
The production quality is exceptional, with a diverse range of locations and scenery that reflect a high production standard. The depiction of large audience scenes, essential to the characters' professions, is executed with finesse.
A standout performance in the drama is delivered by Yahagi Honoka, whose portrayal of Yamada exceeds the expectations set by the manga.
Overall, the drama successfully brings the characters and story to life, making it a compelling watch.
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comedic yet gut-wrenching
if you're looking for a typical bl with lots of romance and intimacy, this is not for you.I must say, I wasn't fully convinced of this bl from the start and was close to dropping it, but it was really worth watching all of it!
To the characters:
for once, there actually is an AMAZING girl side-character. I loved her a lot, she's such an amazing friend one can only wish for.
Nekoyashikis character amazed me a lot in the sense of this being the first time seeing 'self-hatred' and the wish to be recognized portrayed so well in a series and a character. He had quite the character development and I actually was able to feel his helplessness a lot.
As for Issey, I didn't really like him at the beginning but after learning about his background story as well, I came to like him a lot more. really gave him the depth I needed.
what I also really liked was the character of the journalist. made me a little emotional as well and lit a little bit of light on the difficulty of the job, I guess.
I also enjoyed the bearded-man character a lot, although my first impression was annoyance, I came to like him and his scenes really added the fun to this show and made me giggle.
to the story:
I enjoyed the story a lot as well. a love between an idol and a 'mangaka', what a delicate topic. as well as the love between two men.
I don't really know what exactly to write about the plot etc. itself, just know: I really liked it, there was development, there was a typical down and a happy ending. yet especially the down felt a lot more real than the ones in most thai bl series. it wasn't overdone, you understood why it happened, there was no misunderstanding between the characters and it was solved just as well.
what I also want to point out is how normal it felt that he drew/wrote gay Mangas. it wasn't something he was ashamed about, no one bat an eye. it was just really nice and fresh to like... just have it there.
now for the romance: I didn't really feel like the emotional love bond you usually have, between these two but honestly it didn't matter, everything else definitely made up for it. and you could still very clearly see that these two enjoyed spending time with eachother, it really didn't feel forced or anything.
although, maybe not ultimately needed, I also liked the little side plot with Tsubasa and his brother.
for me, however the main point of this series and why I enjoyed watching it so much, were the characters, the portraying of their struggles and how they always kind of solved it thanks to their friends. really made me realize how important friendships are and how little we actually know about each other.
and as the last note: last two episodes made me cry a river. so beautiful, so emotional
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Less goofy than it sounds, and in a good way
The plot is camp, let's admit it, and I was here for it. The first maybe...three episodes are really goofy, which made it really surprising when the story started getting more serious later down the line. This is a BL in which homosexuality is a thing, as in something that is discussed, and surprisingly well.There's a scene I particularly appreciated, when the main character tells us about the first time he went to ComicCon and how he felt seen and surrounded by people who were unashamed of who they are, which really resonated with me as I (and I believe many people) have had a similar experience. This is a love letter to acceptance and community, without demonizing introversion.
To be fair no, the romance isn't the maint point of the story. It's first and foremost a tale about accepting oneself. Don't be fooled though: this is still very much a romance, and you will get sweet moments!
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Stylish production, simple story
This is a simple story directed with style. There is a boy band and the song they sing is fun. The cartoon world is shown and what is shown is a series highlight- particularly the character/performance of a fellow cartoonist who just won't leave the grumpy lead be.Acting is often awkward and one note- I had particular problems with several of the boy band members and the lead. There is also an issue not unheard of in both BL and Non BL stories- if one of the characters is so morose, negative, angry all the time- why would the other person keep pursuing them?
Worth watching for the side characters- there is also a fun trip home where we meet the cartoonist's mom and sister.
I would rewatch any scene with the side characters I've mentioned and skip the rest.
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This review may contain spoilers
Don't let yourself be fooled by the comedy
This is one of the queerest BL dramas I've watched so far, a hilarious comedy with two people who find their way to self-acceptance. [more on that with spoilers below the ***.]The comedy is strong in this drama, so much so that I was completely thrown when things got much more serious near the end of episode 3 when I first watched it. It has the Japanese-typical style of acting for comedies, wonderful side characters, and a lot of funny moments. I love how they decided to put strong manga elements in -- like the onomatopoeic word like for the ringing clock, or certain style elements like the extended bellies after overeating. Also, though not part of the comedy side, I loved how the flashbacks are initiated by "opening" a manga-like panelled page.
All of the characters have their comedic moments -- best of them all is, the bearded beauty, who is just so kind-hearted that even Mamoru can't help but to like him.
The script and the directing is very tight -- there's not a second of irrelevance in this drama, it's either for a comedy element or for the plot development. I liked the use of light and darkness to accentuate the feelings of our protagonists. And the intro song has become one of my favourites!
Acting is great all around. Even after several rewatches, I've not found a flaw. Especially Issei's facial expressions are so spot-on,that I just looked at his face for a whole rewatch -- when does Issei use a fake smile, when a real one; when does he stop smiling, and does he look relaxed or menacing when he does that? Really, I've only seen one actor use smiles of a similar calibre, and that was in Beyond Evil.
***
And this is the spoilery part, but also where I explain why this drama goes much deeper than I thought at first:
Mamoru, who is our main character, has felt like an outcast since ... maybe forever. He is a gay man with a love of drawing gay erotic muscle doujin -- both things that define him and which he feels are to be ashamed of, to be hidden.
And which queer teenager hasn't at least once felt like that? (Well, minus the gay muscle doujin, perhaps.)
Only, for Mamoru, this feeling of being alone, of being someone with a shameful identity -- this feeling transforms his whole sense of self. Only during the ComiKing, where he can sell his work alongside same-minded people, and only when his work sells well, is this dark cloud lifted for a short time.
He is not able to understand that his family's indulgence is not indifference, that Yamada is not just someone who likes reading his doujin but also his friend, and he is not able to hear that Issei's "I like you" is not the same "like" as in "I like my fans".
It takes a journey through dark days for Mamoru to accept who he is and what he loves.
I love how this drama tackles how living in our world can impact the sense of self of queer people -- and that it shows us that maybe, if we dare to tell the world who we love, light will fill our life and we can find happiness.
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Wasted potential
The story was nice, acting was good and the number and lenght of the episodes were ok, but something went missing. Maybe focusing on side stories and characters a little too much for such a bit-sized drama took away space to the main storyline. It would have been better if we got to know a little more about the protagonists' beginning of the story, when they where in school. Or maybe a little more interaction between them would have made us fall deeper in love with these two interesting but just sketched characters.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This series is adorable.
I enjoyed watching this series, it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The characters are very well done and have great development. You do see some growth which I always enjoy seeing. The actors have very good chemistry and I really enjoyed the band and friends supporting the relationship and being there for one another. It does some a lot of realness about the bad in society but the good outshines it thankfully. The music is fun and I do appreciate that it shows a great depth of emotions and the emotional hardness that people can face, it's great that there were friends to show that support. The only two downsides I saw were that I really wish they had them kiss at least once to show that beautiful depth of intimate moment and I wish it was a bit longer than 8 episodes, this series has great potential.Was this review helpful to you?
