K-Drama 
This review may contain spoilers
Paradox of Emotions
Ameiro Paradox is one of those few dramas that I have to give two ratings, the core one and the emotional one. The core one is the 7.0. That's the rating that gets into the story, the character development, acting, etc. The emotional rating gets an 8.5. That is purely based on the impression it left me with, the emotions, how it made me feel, etc. I wouldn't say this is a good drama. It lacks a lot of backstory and information that would be helpful in developing it and its characters. However, it is a very enjoyable one and I was not disappointed in the slightest.One of the things I have come to expect, not like, but expect, is a lack of depth with most Japanese and Korean BLs. Their run time tends to be much shorter than Thai BL's, typically between 20 and 30 minutes and somewhere between 6 and 10 episodes. That is not a whole lot of time to fit in a fully developed story. So with that in mind, they do a pretty decent job here with Ameiro Paradox. It's inevitable that things feel rushed, the pacing of the romance is a bit all over the place, but I don't hate it. This is one though that I wish was a bit longer because more information would have been helpful particularly regarding the backgrounds of both Onoe and Kaburagi. More information as to why Kaburagi is just so jaded when he is initially paired with Onoe and likewise why Onoe is that odd combination of naïve and smart. Onoe especially though. He's been a journalist for a while but he really is just so naïve with some things, I wanted to delve into his character a bit more with that. Since they were journalists, I would have liked to see it serve as a little more of a focal point. We had a lot of them sitting around waiting to take pictures and I would have liked to see other aspects featured as well, researching topics, doing more interviews like the one with the porn actress who came forward, that kind of thing. However, one thing that I did appreciate was the portrayal that there are consequences and it's not an easy job, on both sides. Particularly that first case with the commercial actress, knowing that she had done what she did to care for her mother and knowing that exposing her was going to affect that. It was one of those little things that was very thought provoking. And it was the same with each of the other cases.
They did well with keeping the cast to the bare minimum and making the cast they did have meaningful. Obviously we had our two leads. Onoe and Kaburagi start off appearing to be a study in opposites. Onoe is innocent, in more ways than one, he doesn't lie, he's open and friendly. And then there's Kaburagi, flirtatious, devious, seemingly willing to do anything to get a story whether paying for it with money or his own body. He claims to be numb to the job, but as Onoe spends more time with him, he comes to realize that's not the case at all, that it's all a façade and Kaburagi is, in fact, a gentle and kind soul. The biggest issue with these two, like in most BLs, is their lack of communication. Onoe is better about trying to communicate although his fear sometimes gets in the way, which is certainly valid, but it's hard to say what exactly is keeping Kaburagi silent. This is not a BL where the characters' sexuality is discussed. Is he struggling with coming to terms that he might actually just like one person and that one person is a man and he's not ready to put that into words? We don't know and that's something else that would have been nice to explore. Their misunderstanding at the end is again due to a miscommunication, mostly on Kaburagi's part since Onoe does try to talk to him and Kaburagi just gives him the cold shoulder. I know the Editor-in-Chief comments that Kaburagi has trust issues, but I would really love to have learned more about that because there has to be more to it. They do finally talk things out and hopefully end up with a little bit of a better understanding of each other going forward. Masayan, Onoe's friend, was a good combination of some of the friends typically seen in BLs: the comic and the advisor. He served his purpose as a bit of comic relief while also acting as a sounding board for Onoe when he was trying to piece together his thoughts and feelings. The nice thing here though was that he actually gave solid well thought out advice and what he didn't know, he firmly stated that he didn't know. There are so many dramas where you have friends who give terrible advice, not maliciously, they just have no idea what they're talking about. I also liked the Editor in Chief and the way he quietly observed his people and stepped in when it became necessary, but not in an obtrusive way. He saw that Kaburagi needed a perspective adjustment and he took the initiative to help him see that. He also saw that Onoe and Kaburagi would be a good pair together and be beneficial to each other.
The acting was okay. Both Kimura and Yamanaka are fairly young and I don't think either have a ton of acting experience. I think they have a lot of promise and with more experience will get better. Yamanaka struggled with his facial expressions. He alternated between appearing wooden and tense. He looked like he needed to just relax, think less and sink into the character more. Kimura did better but needs to work on a bit more variation with his expressions. Their chemistry was understated, but I do still think it was there. It just wasn't as flamboyant as other actors'.
I did have a few things that stood out to me as bigger issues. The biggest being Kaburagi's actions after Onoe was assaulted by the tax guy. That was not the time or place to come onto him and it was just uncomfortable to watch. I don't know how he could have possibly thought that was in any way appropriate. Onoe was the absolute worst tailer. It was almost physically painful watching him. Did Kaburagi not show him how to do that? I don't know but it was really bad. And I'm sure it was there for comedic purposes, but it just didn't work for me. Along those same lines, Onoe filming the guy for the phone scam was so painfully obvious. There was nothing discreet about it and how the other guy didn't notice his phone there is beyond me.
I found this drama to be simple and sweet. It's not deep or particularly thought provoking, although it does have its moments, but its heartwarming and I found myself really enjoying. It's short enough that it's an easy binge watch and it is one that I absolutely recommend.
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AMEIRO PARADOX IS FAR BETTER THAN MANY POPULAR BLS
This is one of those times when MDL ratings do not make any sense to me…WHATSOVER!!! This drama deserves far more love and attention than what it’s getting. If this would’ve been a Thai BL it would’ve been at least 8-8.2. I’ve seen BL shows far more mediocre receiving better ratings. Well, in all honesty Japanese dramas face this problem of low ratings, which I have never understood…probably due to their lesser popularity in comparison to other Asian country dramas. Ameiro Paradox is a great watch and I’m going to give some reasons why it should not be missed by BL lovers (spoiler free):• THE PRODUCTION: The show is produced well and by that, I mean they made the best of the budget they had. It did not boast of swanky sets or designer wear, but the makers made sure that the quality of the show remains high. It maintained the warmth & slice of life type of storytelling which Japanese shows are known for. A lot of outdoor shots & yellow or warm color grading is used in abundance. The boys were styled well based on the demands of their characters, the office looked pretty nice, and it had overall good direction.
• THE STORY: Yes, it’s about a virgin & playboy. Yes, it’s an office romance. Yes, its enemy to lover trope. However, the show is uniquely portrayed. The setup of a paparazzi office with a moral compass (kinda) and two boys in their late 20s trying to survive the demanding job while exploring their unexpected emotions for each other was refreshing. Almost every episode had a new scoop they covered together and while they explored the issues, they started understanding each other better. The show was easy to watch, and the narration was smooth with above average screenplay/editing. Many BLs face the problem of choppy narration and unresolved story arcs; however, Candy Paradox was well presented.
• THE ROMANCE: Kimura Keito as Onoe Satoshi and Yamanaka Jyutaro as Kaburagi Motoharu was great casting. Even though one could tell that they are young with limited acting experience, they showcased a natural talent to emote various nuances of their character. Satoshi, a young ambitious naïve man with limited to no experience in romance but a high ethical awareness struggled to have his professional moment. On the other hand, Kaburagi the ace of the magazine with questionable ethics, flirty persona & high drive for success was aware of the toll the job has had on him as a person. The two are opposing ends of a spectrum that cannot be more different. However, as a viewer, seeing them realize that they not only have special feelings but also deeply respect and value each other was enjoyable. There is a lot of chemistry between the two actors, and I think that was not only because the characters were well written but also due to the potential showcased by Keito & Jyutaro.
The show has great re-watch value because of the warmth, sweetness and magic the two leads create. The OST is an ear warm & I’ve already added it on my Spotify. If people do not like this show, then that’s just unfortunate as it most definitely deserves more hype. The kisses were adequate even if the show wasn’t as “HOT” as Thai BLs. The charm of this show is the romance which they’ve depicted well. If you want to watch a BL that has a high feel-good factor, leads with good chemistry & not a show that has mindless skinship for the sake of skinship or actors who can barely act….then this one is for you.
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Candy with a hint of spice.
That's all I can think while trying to describe this drama because this is the first time I've not felt any connection to the characters.It could be described as 'meh'. But, they did attempt to show some realistic cases and setting. The extent that reporters go and their dedication towards their duty were portrayed well.
Satoshi was understandable at first, but what exactly was Kaburagi's deal is never mentioned. His character needed time and narrative space for me to understand him. Which the 20 minutes could not provide.
The entire drama is told from Onoe Satoshi's point of view. It was a good attempt, but it totally missed me. Acting was... okay if they had to make do with such a limited time. Their chemistry seemed hot and cold all the time.
I personally wouldn't recommend this to serious drama watchers. Maybe as a quick candy, but not as a major bingeworthy watch.
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+ I love fast-paced shows!
+ a little bit of humour. Had to laugh several times.
+ I didn't expect the ending being so..steamy. Kinda. :D
-> Onoes face expressions are everything. Geez. He looks goddamn hot while enjoying Kabu-Kuns attention. Those lipbites though! T_T
+ Story wasn't really original, but I definitely enjoyed watching this show. We see different cases on which they work together and for me, they were interesting.
+ A little bonus fun was seeing the ML from "The Novelist" again. I always like to see actors in different shows.
+ Mayasan was a funny support character. Definitely like this guy.
Some scenes were really weird. I was thinking like "They did not...?!" :'D but this isn't a point I dislike. I was just..surprised?
Room for improvement/Dislike:
- Kabu looks so awkward while smoking. Same with the actor from "The Novelist". As a smoker myself it's so obvious that the actors don't smoke in real life so I always cringed a bit when I saw them smoking.
- On one hand I like the way they communicate. Like..it doesn't take a long time till they talk about the things bothering them. But on the other hand it just feels like the talk past each other.. (but I definitely don't dislike it like other people wrote in their reviews. Their opinion is still valid. But it's not that bad for me :D)
- The acting could be improved. I get that Kabu is a distant and more on the cold-side type, but still his acting seemed a little off. Like not fully into character..I don't know how to explain it. Stiff? Bored? Aah, I don't know. It's like the other extreme of overacting. It was just too little...energy? People are definitely able to act cold and distant without giving me the feelings that Kabu gave me. ^^'
But I liked Onoe! And the two guys working with them. They were funny.
Overall I had fun watching this drama and don't find it that bad. It didn't give me this fully-hooked feeling, where I can't stop watching, but that's okay. It was nice to watch, but not overwhelming great. It's just that I didn't feel addicted to the show. But it also didn't frustrated or bored me.
It's nothing I would fully rewatch (but definitely would rewatch the scenes were Onoe is enjoying Kabus touches and kisses. Geez... x.x :') ) but for a one-time watch it's definitely entertaining enough.
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This review may contain spoilers
NICE AND CUTE!!
The main actor's visual are stunning!! Storyline is so cute and sweet. Definitely recommend to watch this please!! Number 1 Fan <3 . The trope is enemies to lovers kind. There is this boy called onoe who was asked to be on a stake out team with kaguragi, onoe at first hated kaguragi as he thought he is a playboy etc or something like that. But after working together, he realised that kaburagi isn't what he seems like. Kaburagi is actually a kind man inside although he appeared cold. Their romance will slowly slowly take place after ep 3, and they will understand each other better i think. Can't wait for ep 5!!Was this review helpful to you?
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Live Action Manga
I am disappointed that this series didn't turn out better. I think the actors did a fine job with what they were given. (I even have a little crush on Masayan.) But just because this was adapted from a manga doesn't mean that we should be looking for the manga characters to come to life. It should be the same storyline, but with life-like characters. I will admit that this was done better than some manga adaptations, but still didn't hit the mark. Onoe was still an OTT character and Motoharu was still the cool, unaffected focus of his affections, as in most manga stories. With some realizations, communication, and the help of the side characters, they were able to work things out for a positive ending, but getting there simply felt like a chore. It was a bit choppy. There was character progression but I'm not sure where it came from.I will not be rewatching this series in it's entirety....but I may go back and rewatch parts of the last couple episodes, simply because they were cute. But probably not.
I would like to see these actors in other non-manga shows though.
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comfort bl
honestly I always love me a Japanese BL, they simply know what they're doing. This didn't disappoint the story was very cute and simple. we love a good workplace romance and a slight enemies to lovers arch. Also the chemistry was pretty good. I have to say I anticipated every episode and waited every week to watch it immediately after it aired (the only reason I got a GagaOOlala subscription). I will definitely watch this again and have fun with it. I feel like sometimes you just need a lighthearted and cute BL to distract yourself and I feel like this is a perfect fit.Was this review helpful to you?
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Love Rival, Literally
The love story itself follows a familiar trope of co-workers initially disliking each other, but as they are forced to work together, they discover each other's best qualities and gradually fall in love. The characters' professions add an adventurous element to the drama, making it more engaging. However, the conflicts in the love story are somewhat predictable, revolving around miscommunication, which is a common theme in Japanese dramas.While the overall drama is enjoyable, there are some areas that could be enhanced. The choice of background music in certain scenes does not always complement the characters' emotions, and the lack of variation in set design and scenery can make the drama feel monotonous.
Improving the script could prevent the love story from becoming mundane. Despite this, the drama remains engaging due to the characters' occupations. The acting performances are commendable, particularly Kimura Keito's portrayal of the shy, introverted, and kind Onoe, and Yamanaka Jyutaro's convincing portrayal of the kind-hearted bad boy, Motoharu.
The innocence of Onoe makes the scene at the hotel in the last episode feel somewhat unnecessary, but it does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the drama. Overall, the drama is worth watching, especially for its well-executed character dynamics and engaging storyline.
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I loved it.
First of all, yes I'm a sucker for visuals. If you are too then don't hesitate to watch! Their visuals are on my top 3 in japanese bl, number one is kieta hatsukoi and followed by my beautiful man on number 2!Second, I didn't expect anything bcs of the rate i literally watched it bc i didn't have anything to watch and i swear it's the best decision ever. People's taste are surely different each person. Maybe because slowburn is my favorite trope? Slowburn+good visuals? I'm down! Also their acting aren't bad either? The storylines are fine too
In short, I love this drama, they give me butterflies, and their first kiss? Hands down the smoothest one yet.
Worth my time!
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Not amazing, but not a waste of time
I'll keep this review short and sweet, a little bit like this show:Positives:
- The main actors were pretty and had great chemistry (especially in the (few!) intimacy scenes)
- The plot was interesting and entertaining
- The cinematography was very aesthetic
- The character of Inami was well-written
Negatives:
- There was unnecessary drama and miscommunication at times
- The writing was a bit flat at times, especially Kabu
- It could be a bit boring and slow sometimes
Overall, certainly not a bad BL. You can watch it and it's not a waste of time, you won't regret it, but it's not a must-watch, either.
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A story that loses midway just to pick up steam later and lose again at the end
This is a short little story of 2 guys with a different outlook towards their work who are teamed together on assignments only for their relationship developing from rivals to lovers.Onoe Satoshi is a reporter for a magazine who is great at uncovering frauds. He has strong morals and feels like he has the power to make a difference in the society through his exposés. Kaburagi Motoharu is a talented photographer who prides himself in getting the latest scoops on celebrities. He doesn’t shy away from using any means to get the photographs that he desires. Being such opposites in their approach to work, they clash most of the times until Onoe realises that Kaburagi is indeed a soft and caring person. He starts developing feelings for him all the while Kaburagi being affected by Onoe’s strong morals is attracted towards him. While being a successful duo at the workplace, a particular assignment wedges a gap between the two forcing them to fall apart.
This is a short series with 8 episodes of 25 min each. That is not enough time to flesh out characters and this series seriously suffers from that. The basic plot, although fresh falls into the same category of bland and fails to really pick up by the end. Kaburagi is introduced as an interesting character with an interesting back story that is hinted at but never showed. So, we don’t ever get to know the reason for his cold exterior. We don’t get to know anything about Onoe though. His past is never shown and we don’t understand his motivations and his sense of morality. This series would have gained from having more episodes or longer runtime.
The 3rd act breakup comes out of no where and you feel as if the characters are over-reacting and this issue can easily be resolved if they just have a long conversation. But that happens only during the final episode and is not convincing at all.
For me the only character that had an impact was Masayan, Onoe’s childhood friend. He is Onoe’s support system as we find him spending most of the time in his restaurant drinking beer and whining about something or the other (mostly about Kaburagi). He is the kind of friend everyone should have in their life.
In conclusion, this one is a slow burn as the series although short takes sometime to start going and be interesting. If you are able to make it past the few initial episodes you will find some interest in the next episodes. Not sure whether those final episodes are worth the wait for this slow-moving series.
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Expected better than what it was
Honestly I was excited to give it a watch because I got to see some scenes without context and it looked good, but after watching it, it's a very hit or miss show depending on the episode and how you feel about the characters.The plot itself was interesting but they could've done more with it, the chemistry between them was okay and the actors can do well but we could only see that until the last episodes. I ppersonally also really liked the intro song..
However, the lack of communication gets annoying, one episode they're on good terms and the next one they avoid each other. I also noticed a lack of connection between the story and actions. Certain characters weren't really explored more than they should've to give a better perspective on things, especially Kaburagi's overall back story could've explained better his character and overall attitude, at some points I had to pause the show because of how infuriating his attitude was and how their overall relationship played out.
It's an entertaining watch if you have nothing else to do or have nothing else to watch, but honestly you aren't missing out on much if you skip it, knowing there're better Japanese bls out there.
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