Meta and cute, wish they would have developped more the side story which really intrigued me
This special drama is made of three episodes of 45 minutes (which is quite a sizable duration for a Japanese BL). It is about the encounter of a very trendy actor at the peak of his hype and a former child actor not really known as much to the public. They are both hired to play a couple in the live-action adaptation of a popular BL manga.I love the premise of this story: it is super meta to have BL actors playing BL actors hired to play in a BL series. I really enjoyed the series but I wish they would have taken the concept even further. It stays very light and fluffy with a lot of comedy. Doing so, it feel a bit limitative in the emotions the main actors are portraying. They are doing a suitable job with the fun and goofy parts, as well as when they are playing characters but I wish I would have felt a bit more the attraction between them in their "real life" arc.
The secondary roles were very nice. There are no crazy woman part used to antagonize the main characters, which is always a good news. I found the two secondary female roles pretty good and wish I would have seen more of them. My biggest regret is coming from the fact that the most interesting relationship in the drama (the one between the two managers of the actors) was not developped enough. The scenario hinted a complicated romance with those two characters and I really would have loved if the show had elaborated much more on that.
The production value was standard for the genre and the songs were not memorable but suitable to the pop and manga atmosphere of the show.
I would recommend this to people looking for a fluffy, cute and fun BL with some interesting meta references and a cohabitation trope. I wish it would have been more angsty and complex but it was clearly not the objective of the story. I would have really loved for the series to develop much more some of the sides characters (especially the secondary romance) but it was still a very easy and pleasant watch pretty entertaining.
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A Hilarious, Over Dramatic Romcom
Adapted from the manga series BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita by Suzuri Machi and starring Abe Aran (Akafuji Yuichiro) and Akutsu Nichika (Aoyanagi Hajime), I Became the Main Role of a BL is precisely what its title implies. It follows two actors in two different stages of their careers–one famous, the other a child actor waning in popularity–cast in the leading roles of a BL series.It’s fun. It’s over-dramatic. It’s full of heart-fluttering tropes. It resonates deeply.
Japan’s romcoms rarely fail me. They pull off over-the-top comedy in a way no other country has quite yet mastered. While the trope-filled comedy scenes in this series could come off as cringe, it somehow doesn’t. The secret but not-so-subtle crush that popular actor Yuichiro has on child actor Hajime is sweet and endearing, full of giggles and warmth, which makes each scene a delight to tune into.
Read the complete article here-
https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/01/02/i-became-the-lead-in-a-bl-drama-crank-up-edition-series-review-ep-1-to-3/
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I became overwhelmed by the main characters’ cuteness
What a good way to start the year with a fluffy BL! This is extremely fun and I was already mesmerized by the charm of the main couple right after watching the first half of the pilot episode. Both of them are indeed good-looking actors with acting skills that are genuinely adorable.The story is likable with almost no sign of cringey scenes. With only three episodes, this is enough for a worthy time to binge-watch such an entertaining show. Overflowing with cuteness and excitement. I have no major issues regarding the overall production of the show. It's just that I somehow feel disappointed or specifically demanded a lot more intimate scenes like hugging, kissing, and cuddles from the main character. Yet, there is no doubt that I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama set the bar higher for rom-com-inspired BLs. They did it properly without too much drama and a fine execution of scripts.
With this, I was once again blessed to get to know another new face in the world of BL that I will be going to stan from now on. Abe Alan, as the man running in the first place, really got my whole attention. The face card never declines but the great thing is this man knows how to act, plus he is wearing a strong sizzling aura that makes you fall in love with him. His character has an adorable personality that I always feel so fueled with happiness for his loveable nature and gestures. Akutsu Nichika is also an actor to look forward to. I like his acting and the role fits him. I was shocked by the way that the series confirmed the obvious relationship between the two actors’ managers -by showing their own bed scenes moment which were too hot and fancy.
I wanted more but I could not demand more. They already gave us a lengthy duration per episode but since the drama is so good, I am hoping for more. This is exactly the kind of feeling I want to experience each time I finish a good drama -the feeling of joy from a good watch.
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Hilarious Satire
I placed spoilers at the end of this review.This series was hilarious, cute, and heartwarming. This is a good example that you don’t need a lot of episodes to tell a great story. The script was very well written and didn’t take things too seriously. It had a lot of components that you think shouldn’t work, but it somehow did. The cast was awesome and did a great job with their characters. It also had great cinematography and graphics. I will have to say there is only one negative aspect about this series.
Random Note:
What an awesome way to end this year.
There was a few times when there are no English subtitles in the 2nd episode, but I was still able to figure out the overall mood of what was going on.
******Potential Spoiler Alert******
The one negative aspect about this series was the one kissing scene. We see the standard dead fish lips. If they are going to show this, I would have been fine with them not even having a kissing scene. However, this was only a minor negative for me because the rest of the series was just too funny and cute for me to care about it.
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AMAZING
This is my favorite short episode bl so far as storyline was so dedicated covered all the love needed for a bl lover the chemistry was my favorite part about this show can tell they are such great actors. Would recommend if you’re not into long episodes bl or just don’t have much time to watch long episodes, as it can easily be finished in the same day satisfying you if you just would like to watch a quick bl show. Wish the story was longer as I never want this show to end!! want more to come but amazingWas this review helpful to you?
Cutesy
I love the characters. So much potential for that amazing tension buildup but they didn't add enough episodes to get us there like they really could have. At least one more episode would have driven it home and maybe a little DNC. The actor that canceled or set up the meet up could have been used more. The girl who played the sister, it's like you understand her role but you don't. The managers easily played her role so she wasn't needed if you ask me. Main leads are absolute eye candy though but they should have given us more for the ending. But overall, it's a cute watch and Afuogi is hilarious! I love me some him!Was this review helpful to you?
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Cute
March 31, 2024This jdrama BL is cute and fluffy to say the least. For a 3 episode drama, I did feel a bit underwhelmed with the plot but thats okay cause they really put all the possible things they needed to deliver.
The casts are pretty good as well in terms of delivering the acting needed. Definitely a cute ride to watch and easy to take in. Moreover, it can be finished in just one sitting.
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A sweetly comedic story
Upon initial read of the synopsis of this BL, the likelihood for the 'cringe factor' to be off the charts is really high. But instead, what we find here is great chemistry between the leads and believable acting. The comedic timing in certain scenes had me wheezing with laughter. It was a perfect balance of funny and sweet.I really loved how this series subtlety addresses the people who are watching the series and how being a fan / stan of something doesn't necessary make you a weirdo / loser.
The only thing that would absolutely make this better, is if it had more episodes or a s2.
It's just too good for it to be this short.
But what a fun and easy watch to start off 2024!
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Half rom-com, half meta-comedy, all charm
Aw hell they really got me with this one. I wasn't expecting to be so thoroughly charmed by this little show, but they truly won me over.The balance between incredibly clever meta-comedy, classic rom-com shenanigans, and genuinely emotionally impactful scenes is absolutely pitch-perfect. The writing is consistently excellent, the editing is tight and precise and enhances both the comedy and the more serious moments perfectly, and the acting is frankly phenomenal.
This kind of over-the-top humour can be really hard for me to get into but here it feels weirdly natural and grounded and made me laugh out loud quite a bit.
And even if the humour isn't quite your thing you'd be hard-pressed not to fall in love with the characters. Not only are our two mains absolute sweethearts whose dynamic is highly engaging and honestly a joy to watch, they are backed up by a wonderful cast of supporting characters who are all uniquely weird but equally lovable.
I won't claim this is some sort of cinematic masterpiece which has revolutionised the genre, but for a relatively straight-forward romantic comedy, this show sort of has it all - I honestly can't think of anything they could have done better.
In short, this story is funny, sweet, feels oddly real, and is incredibly fun to watch. I highly recommend you go check it out for yourself.
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A Familiar Japanese BL Experience
This drama left me feeling underwhelmed and a bit frustrated. While the acting was undeniably cute and the performances had a genuine charm, the story itself fell flat. It felt like a rehash of every cliché in the BL genre, with nothing new or exciting to offer.The plot was so predictable that I found myself finishing scenes in my head before they played out on screen. There was little tension or surprise. I've seen this story countless times before, and this version didn’t add anything fresh to the formula.
That being said, the actors deserve credit for their efforts. Their chemistry and delivery elevated an otherwise mediocre script. It's a shame that their talent wasn’t given more to work with.
If you’re a die-hard BL fan looking for something light and familiar, this might be a decent watch. For those seeking innovation or a gripping narrative, you may want to skip it. It’s a 5/10 for me—cute acting, but overall, a forgettable experience.
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Best use of three episodes
I'll never get tired of saying this: the TV series that are written so that there are no regrets at the end of the last episode are the best. When I saw that this drama had only three episodes I felt a little worried, because often times the writers seem unable to decide "how full" the episodes need to be; it's always either series that feel empty, or series that are so full of unfinished business by the end that they feel like they were supposed to be much longer."I became the main role of a BL drama" feels just right from the beginning to the end. The characters are introduced little by little and nothing is spoonfed to the viewers. They also felt detailed enough to not make me feel like I'm looking at cardboard cutouts (something pretty hard to achieve with so little screentime). The plot is also well-made and interesting, nothing felt like it was dragging for too long and nothing ever felt rushed. Perfect pacing!
Overall this can be finished in less than two and a half hours. It's fun, it's well-made, and it's not demanding in terms of plot. Very good way to spend a free evening!
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Brilliant
Hajime, a has been actor, and Akafuji, a rising star, both get cast as main roles in a BL drama.What I Love
I love Hajime (and he’s BI!!!) and how he has low self esteem and confidence because he’s not as popular as Akafuji. His character felt so real and he’s someone I could relate too. Akafuji’s plot twist is amazing and changes their whole dynamic, I usually hate characters like him (i.e. my beautiful man) and a show in a show (i.e wonder man) but I became in love with him and the setup lead to a great romance. This show doesn’t have the typical tropes and the characters feel real. I love the fujo producers, I love the idol character, I JUST LOVEEEEE THESE CHARACTERS!!!
Nitpick
Yes there’s nothing I hate in this show. But the comedy didn’t make me laugh, I’m glad it’s here, some might find it cringy but I’m desensitized.
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