Mini j-drama but it delivered BIG time
Loved the story/concept. What happens when you end up playing the main role in a bl drama? It first reminded me of 'A Man Who Defies the World of BL' and obviously 'Lovely Writer' that showed us the bad sides about the BL entertainment industry. But this was a totally different take. The show felt just so wholesome and all super natural, genuine and funny. And the story really went somewhere.. We get to know both actors and their backstories. And the actors did all great.. every actor in it delivered. Maybe it would have been nice if some characters got more air time but since there were only 3 episodes.. it makes sense? Nevertheless the two mains were truly great! Their facial expressions were on point, every time! And you bet I searched for the ost of this drama. It's very lovely. If it was possible I would even want to watch the bl drama they were supposed to shoot.. That even looked great! I wouldn't say no to a special episode with this content 🤡Was this review helpful to you?
Cliched fun and fluff
An entertaining mix of comedy, cringe and cute. There were some parts I enjoyed, but it left me wanting more. I don’t think they used the cohabitation trope to its full potential, and there wasn't much character growth. There was also a big and easily avoidable misunderstanding.They should have taken more time and thought when developing the characters, dynamics and pacing. When they first moved in together I wished we had more moments of them adjusting to each other. Some of the best parts of this drama was the time they spent cohabitating and Akafuji’s hilarious inner monologue. Instead the two main characters kind of just bounced between cliches. The script was constantly moving between fluffy moments and drama/misunderstandings, and I just wanted a little more depth. The story overly relies on Hajime being the “orange juice boy,” and a lot of the scenes about his trauma came off as cliche and soapy. In the end, the level of depth they went into with their characters was lackluster, but appropriate for a slapstick romcom.
Overall, the delivery was not as strong as the hook. I loved having an otaku main character, and I have a soft spot for acting stories. I also really enjoyed the two managers. They had great chemistry, and were both confident and appealing. The chemistry between the leads wasn’t that great, but wasn't horrible. Again, I wished they had kept the focus on them growing closer and their inner monologues while together. Still, it was a nice light-hearted watch to help me unwind while on break.
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Short but Sweet - Captures the Fun and the Feels
I saw a few posts on the feeds praising “ BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen”, so I decided to check it out. I’m glad I did. It’s an adorable drama about unrequited love in the world of filming a BL. Japan is known for some of the cutest and fluffiest BL dramas, along with some quirky ones.I really like being able to hear each male lead’s inner monologues. Oftentimes, you only get one perspective and maybe another perspective in the very last episode. These monologues greatly enhanced my viewing pleasure during both comedic and more emotional scenes. I also appreciate that both characters are pretty similar in personality. I was worried that Hajime is the typical naive, innocent and introverted character, and would be too shy to utter any word. Luckily, he was just starstruck in the beginning, and is able to actually hold a conversation like a normal person. Akafuji, on the other hand, is not the typical superstar but a crazy stan. I feel that because they have a pretty balanced personality, they are on equal footing in regards to their romance.
This drama special starts with a lot of comedic and typical Japanese over-the-top manga adaptation moments. But eventually it dives into the emotional side of each character. One of the reasons I really enjoy this special is because it has 2 of my favorite things - unrequited love + those mini heartaches, and the guessing of whether he likes me or not. Both of these elements give me all the feels I need and especially in a manga adaptation comedy.
The acting of the leads is good. There isn’t anyone annoying or super loud. I do find the suits too big on the guys and they look too old in these oversized suits. Does anyone find Hajime in glasses looks like Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter? LOL. Ok, maybe it’s just me.
This is a short 3-episode fun watch with a lot of laughs, a lot of feels and a lot of cuteness.
Completed: 1/14/2024 - Review #395
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This review may contain spoilers
An Actor & His Fan
The bl drama about a couple of actors filming a bl drama could have been a hit or a miss. Either you take it the slapstick comedy cringe way, or you make it into a sweet romcom! Fortunately, they chose the right way, the romcom way!Frankly, it is a perfect ,light watch for the first day of the year. The story of two actors: one , a former child star, trying to have a grown up's career and the other one a huge star and secretly, the other actor's huge fan. The first one has a big self-confidence issue while the other is so impressed to bi in his presence which of, course, leads to many misunderstandings. Since the drama has only three episodes, all misunderstandings were sorted out relatively quickly, the plot progressed at a steady pace and there was no time wasted. And still it did not seem rushed!
The actors were excellent. The support couple (the actors' managers) were deadpan and interesting, sneakily observing the main couple and scheming to get them together. Deliciously twisted and cute!
Of course, it is full of tropes but here they have taken advantage of them and I really did not mind it (fujoshi producer!). They managed to find the right balance between the comedy and the romance: trying to get together but being afraid to speak up, so they decided to pretend to practice being in character which led to a number of funny (interrupted kisses were many!) and sweet moments (date). We are also privy to their inside monologues which contradict so funnily with their actions: they are cool on the outside but falling to pieces inside! They also toned down the often exaggerated comedy they use when adapting mangas!
Cinematography is great, misty and dreamy. This is going straight on to my feel good list! Just the first best romcom of the year! Last year has really been the japanese bl year! They outdid themselves with a string of amazing and different bls! Hope they continue into this new year!
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Short funny and sweet
You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/3919/i-became-the-main-role-of-a-bl-drama-2023-s01e01I rewatched it to refresh my memory before watching season 2 and wanted to say my opinion on it. It is not a bad series, but it isn't anything crazy. Just a funny short series to watch when you want something easy and good but nothing special.
Things I liked:
1. Humor. That is the biggest thing this series relies on, and honestly it is not bad and pretty enjoyable.
2. Soundtrack. I personally really liked it.
3. Side couple. While we haven't seen that much of them, I really liked them together.
Things I disliked:
There isn't necessarily anything that stood out to me.
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Hilarious and Sweet, what’s not to love?
Story:The story was very interesting, focusing almost behind the scenes of the process for a BL series to be created. This starts with the casting of both leads, two actors who have never met until now yet still know each other through their fame, reputations and past projects. The creation of a BL story, getting into the role and mindset of the characters, and trying to create chemistry with someone who is basically a stranger to you. The comedic side of this series comes from the reveal that Akafuji is a huge fan of and loves Aoyagi so much that he comes off rather awkward and standoffish towards him but is a total fanboy when he is alone. This immediately gave me A Man Who Defies The World Of BL vibes which is also one of my favourite Japanese BL’s so I was very impressed and excited about that. The first episode was hilarious, both of the characters are really sweet and exuberant I couldn’t help but smile and laugh along with them. The second episode was focused on them building up their chemistry and realising they have developed romantic feelings for each other. The third episode revolves around their developing feelings and the effects of this. I won’t lie, I was a little nervous about the number of episodes, as often shorter series tend to be fast paced and miss out a lot but the pacing of each episode was great, well planned with a perfect mix of comedy and heartfelt romance. I’m really hoping they’ll give us a season 2.
Acting/Cast:
Aran as Akafuji- Bright, loud and passionate which he hides behind a cool exterior. I immediately loved Akafuji as a character, I love how he seems so calm and collected on the outside while inside he’s a total dork lmao. He was very caring towards Aoyagi but doesn’t know how to balance his love and concern with professionalism and ends up fanboying and getting jealous over the smallest things. He’s such a cool character and I’m hoping to see more from this actor in the future.
Nichika as Aoyagi- Super sweet but very awkward. Aoyagi was a very lonely character with very few friends and a broken family, it seems he’s used to being teased or shot down by people so he keeps to himself. I like that even when Akafuji seemed like he was being very rude and stuck up, Aoyagi didn’t let that get to him and tried many times to reach out and bond with him. Aoyagi also seems very passionate but in a reserved way, he clearly wanted this project to go well and I admire his determination and perseverance. He’s definitely my favourite character in this series.
Music:
I absolutely loved the theme song, it was super cute. The sound effects were also great and well timed.
Rewatch Value:
Will definitely be rewatching this many times due to its adorable plot and relatively short run time.
Overall:
I’ll definitely be adding the manga this is adapted from to my plan to read list. This has been absolutely hilarious, I love a good comedic romance so this was perfect for me. I hope to see more BL’s with similar themes and genres to this in the future.
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I Did Not Find It Funny
I did not find this BL funny at least not with the main couple. Billed as a comedy, I did not see it as funny or even humorous. On the contrary, I found it sad and rather lonely. In the sense, you have two individuals who are products of their culture and society that are so terrified and fearful of being open and honest with each other that because of that, they nearly lost each other in the process. I just do not understand the horror of even hinting that you like a person. This is actually a deeply interesting and moving story with profound consequences to it. There is nothing wrong with the acting in this series. It is sharp, and at times rather poignant. However, who really runs away with their subtle performances are the two respective managers of these guys. This is a cute story that should have been way better. The Japanese use the voiceover to explain a lot of the action internally with the characters which I detest. It is a cheap way for performers not to have to ‘act’. And it robs the audience of seeing anything really meaningful.Was this review helpful to you?
With its smart, lighthearted humor and beautifully sensitive storytelling, the series won me over from the very first episode. I couldn’t help but root for Aoyagi and Akafuji’s happiness. I really loved how the characters evolved, and how the story kept a playful tone while still respecting the deeper emotional themes.
But what truly elevates the series are the stellar performances from Alan Abe and Nichika Akutsu. Their chemistry is effortless and magnetic. Both actors deliver emotionally rich, expressive performances that pull you in completely. They bring real depth to their roles and have pitch-perfect comedic timing, stealing every scene they’re in. Highly recommended!
PS: Kijima and Yukari deserved a series just for them.
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A Heartfelt Journey Through Love and Self-Discovery
A light-hearted look at love and relationships interspersed with humor and dark elements like parental neglect, childhood trauma, pessimism and mockery are what makes this 3-episode special so compelling and captivating.The story revolves around Aoyanagi Hajime, a childhood star who suffers from self-confidence issues who gets an opportunity to work alongside an upcoming actor Akafuji Yuichiro on a live adaptation of a famous BL manga. In order to improve the chemistry between the actors, they decide to live under the same roof. Akafuji being in love with Hajime, falls short of making his true feelings known all the while hiding behind his persona from the BL manga. The characters try to navigate through these misunderstandings and hidden feelings to make the series a success.
The story is a series of misunderstandings between the two leads while they hide the respect that they have for each other as actors. This makes for some interesting and humours conversations between the 2 leads. However, as the story progresses you realise this isn’t just a series of comedic misunderstandings but shines light on some real-life issues through the point of view of actors. Through Hajime’s characters we are introduced to the expectation of manga fans from actors playing their beloved characters. This can easily build or break the series and he is acutely aware of this fact. Second, is the issue of self-confidence triggered through the comments from fans and general public about the actors. The cause of this issue is the childhood trauma caused by parental mistreatment. Through Yuichiro, we learn how people are quick to judge on the basis of you likes and hobbies. In all this, we also find that everyone needs a support system in life to help you push through your inhibitions and build yourself up.
Although the series does dwell in to some really dark elements, not much time is spent on explaining or expanding this due to limited episodes. Also, there is limited character development in the series and the secondary characters are relegated in to the background just to push the main plot points forward. The series also adheres to a common trend in Japanese BL by skirting explicit kissing scenes, a choice that, while not detracting from the narrative, may leave some longing for more authenticity in portraying romantic relationships. There are examples of some great BL series like “Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!” and “Kieta Hatsukoi” succeeding with no kissing scenes.
In conclusion, this series stands out as a compelling addition to the BL genre, skilfully blending romance with authentic portrayals of the challenges faced by its characters. While some aspects tread familiar ground and secondary character depth is desired, the series succeeds in delivering a charming and emotionally resonant viewing experience.
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Delightful rom com cleverly executed.
Nichika as Aoyagi- imbues his character with the right amount of introversion and angst as he fights his low esteem issues to try and make a success from this BL drama opportunity.Aran as Akafuji- on the surface a successful, experienced actor dedicated to improving his acting until he actually meets his stan Aoyagi and has to try very hard not to be a gushing fan.
Lots of lovely comedic scenes as each ML misunderstands the motives of the other, Their inner world is given to us as inner dialogue and this highlights the inner and outer conflict each is feeling.
Despite the briefness of only 3 episodes the story is cleverly plotted and unfolds at a good pace revealing their feelings and growing romantic interest,
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This review may contain spoilers
Hilarious Satire of BL Dramas
Reading through reviews for this drama made me realize a lot of people don't seem to understand that it's a satire, a very funny and on point one.The writing is sharp and silly at the same time with jokes like the in-universe producer being a fujoshi named Ms. Yayoi (sounds like yaoi) and the BL manga's title being I'm In Love With My Best Friend. There's also riffs on child stardom, cheesy TV ads, insecure idols and manga fans ready to rip apart live action adaptations.
One of the MLs is a hot up and coming star who's also an otaku and super stan of the other ML who is a washed up child actor. The otaku is played by Alan Abe who is fantastic at ping ponging between being cold as ice and hysterically melting down whenever he gets close to his oshi. The show deliberately inserts every BL cliche possible into their reel life and real life relationship so if you've watched a lot of these shows you'll likely be laughing out loud like I did.
I also want to shout out the drama's director who does a great job at staging scenes and making the most of an excellent cast. The director likes to use deep focus with the two leads in the foreground while the rest of the cast reacts to them in the background and it's very effective.
I also can't forget the second leads who play the managers of our flailing actors. They're both incredibly funny and have sexier chemistry than our leads (not that the chemistry between the leads is bad but it's more innocent).
The only criticism I have is we don't get a proper kiss between the leads though we do get a very memorable bedroom scene between the managers that makes up for it.
A lot of the people I see criticizing this drama don't seem to understand that it's a satire. People, the cliches are in there on purpose!
I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves BLs but is also very aware of how silly they can be.
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This review may contain spoilers
Too short imho, but still cute.
That was refreshing and funny without being forced to be funny.I think a fourth episode would have helped, because it felt sometimes a bit rushed or at least 5 minutes more would have been a godsend. Also when they always talk about the "kissing scene", they should have played out exactly this scene as finale and not only hint it at the end of the credits.
Otherwise the two managers were hilarious and I felt in the first episode they have a more intimate connection, so really well done. Also the supporting cast did a very good job.
The story is more original compared to most, executed so brilliantly. I had laughs and some tears, so I can only recommand to binch watch this short series.
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