business is.
cliché. product placement.cliché. overproduction.
cliché. misrepresentation.
cliché. distorted life priorities.
cliché. unhealthy relationship w food.
cliché.
jeja vu giving deja vu a piggyback.
cliché.
all seasoned through and through with more cliché for one's viewing pleasure.
a bunch of A-listers for good measure.
an international collab. just because.
and WTH with the last scene? like, seriously??
oh well, business is business, I guess.
it's nothing personal.
a good reason not to skip it would be if you're terminal.
and you've checked all the boxes on your bucket list.
including the bungee jumping.
called all the exes that needed apologizing to.
sent a voice message to the ones that never picked the call.
found a new loving home for your cat.
and now you just sit there. waiting.
in that unfortunate case, I say - by all means, watch this.
nothing to lose, right?
and ya'll know what? canceling ntflx, for the sheer chance to minimize the risk of having to witness yet another human's exitance and a life mission on Earth (of making organic apricot jam or whatever apparently) validated by business partners, suddenly seems like an idea worth pondering. and for a person that does appreciate craftsmanship in general, that's something.
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1
1A melt in your mouth romance… served with a side of questionable therapy!
Japan just gets food dramas in a way no one else does. Romantic Anonymous is one of them, revolving around Artisanal chocolates. It is a story of Sosuke, a germaphobe, who takes over Le Sauveur (a chocolate shop) and meets Lee He Na, who battles her own fear of social anxiety. If I look at it with a rose coloured lens, it does scratch that itch, but the psychological part of phobia/ trauma and how it was dealt with was highly unrealistic, especially the character of the therapist Irene.Starting with the positives, I enjoyed the journey of leads- both individually and romantically. Even though their phobias are different- one is a germaphobe and the other can't make eye contact. Yet somehow they became a safe space for each other, growing softly as they each broke out of their shells.The main strength of their bond lies in the fact that they understand each other's silence better than most couples understand words. I loved how tender and careful their relationship felt.
I did feel the pacing dipped in between, but it did pick up in the later episodes. Also, having only eight episodes really helped cut out the fillers and kept the story from feeling stretched.
Another thing that worked in favour of the drama was the beautiful cinematography and the atmospheric setting. It was very scenic, especially all the wide outdoor shots of nature, plus the chocolate making process was filmed and portrayed beautifully. The overall aesthetics felt very warm.
What didn't work for me or should I say who didn't work for me, was Miss psychologist Irene. She was definitely the weakest link out of all 4 main characters. She is a professional yet rarely she behaves like one. I was astonished at her lack of boundaries and how somehow she had this tendency to insert herself into situations where she should be standing 500 m apart, observing from a safe distance from a professional standpoint. I am not saying she is malicious, just poorly written.
And her love line with Hiro was controversial as well. There wasn't enough organic tension between them. It felt forced or like an afterthought. Maybe it was because I couldn't get the conflict of roles out of my head, because Hiro was connected to both the leads and she was their therapist, muddying boundaries.
This could have worked better with her being a just a friend or anything other than a therapist.
Acting wise, this was my first time seeing Oguri Shun and he definitely has left a good impression on me. Han Hyo Joo also did a decent job. This was a Japanese-Korean collaboration and somehow I didn't feel she was out of place or anything. Akanishi Jin came with an insane face card, and though I didn't enjoy his character as much as I thought I would, his acting was nice too. I share the same thought for Nakamura Yuri as Irene.
Overall, this was a good one-time sweet treat from a romance perspective. I would recommend it if you enjoy gentle and slow-burn romance with some fine-dining chocolate aesthetics. It's not perfect but far better than romcoms I have watched recently.
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This review may contain spoilers
Healing with chocolate; Loving with progress.
"Romantics Anonymous" holds a special place in my heart with its storytelling, music, and the masterful acting skills of the cast. It helped me realise that even in the darkest times, when it seems nothing is possible, taking just one step forward can make a huge difference. However, sometimes we need a great deal of courage and effort to take that single step.Lee Ha Na is an incredibly talented chocolatier who suffers from scopophobia, making her a recluse. Nevertheless, Ha Na took a step forward to interact with strangers by mustering all her courage when her solitary pillar and guardian-like mentor left the world... That's a significant step. Despite feeling uncomfortable in a new environment, Ha Na strives to achieve her goals in whatever role she is given, whether as a waitress or the boss’s difficult assistant. Gradually, but surely, Hana began opening up to those around her—or at least making the effort—and I am so proud of her for taking one step at a time to heal.
Fujiwara Sosuke is the new head who took over “Le Sauveur” after Mr Kenji passed away. As he grappled with his own fears (i.e., germophobia), he followed in the footsteps of the shop’s predecessor, but with higher ambitions and unwavering passion. Despite being born into wealth, Sosuke always prioritised others’ wishes—at least internally. Contrary to his intentions, he still struggles to even slightly touch others, which makes him misunderstood. Miraculously, Ha Na was an exception.
As the two ‘wounded’ individuals join hands to solve each other’s problems and help overcome their darkness, Ha Na and Sosuke found love. It was a warm feeling both longed for but couldn’t attain—until they met. The man fell first; so, his growing feelings for her gradually encouraged him to confront his traumatic past. The small steps he took to bridge the gap between himself and his crush were so endearing, I wanted to support him wholeheartedly. It was heartbreaking to see him step back to support Ha Na’s love for Hiroshi (although it was a mistaken feeling on her part until she realised later that it was merely gratitude). That is genuine love.
As for the secondary couple, Hiroshi and Irene, they are rather complex. Although she is a renowned psychologist, Irene is also haunted by unresolved past traumas. This made her unable to love or trust any man or be in a serious relationship, much to Hiroshi’s dismay. Their push-and-pull cycle persisted for quite some time until Irene healed her inner child.
If I had to compare the two couples with chocolates, Hana & Sosuke are like “Pure Kenji” (looks quite normal, but will eventually melt your heart with its deep, rich flavour), while Irene & Hiroshi's relationship is like “Wasabi en soie” (looks exotic with conflicting tastes—the pungent, sharp wasabi that melts into the sweetness of brown chocolate—but somehow harmonises beautifully).
Although our main couple still struggles to overcome their inner darkness, together, there is nothing to fear. Their presence is the remedy for one another, whether they are together or apart~
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The making of Romantics Anonymous: https://youtu.be/Luykepu_aIw
Original Japanese OST(Confession): https://youtu.be/4l9KdJJxSB4
Korean version: https://youtu.be/COR_jj7prNE
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A delicious slow burn romance
A collaboration I was eagerly awaiting.It's a sweet and subtle slow-burn romance, where emotions and events unfold like a metaphor for the creation of chocolate.
I'm thinking, for example, of wasabi chocolate: spicy at first bite, then tender and comforting once it melts into the heart. I associated this chocolate with the hug scene: a difficult moment, imbued with their respective traumas, but all the more touching once comfort is found. And as a bonus, this scene evokes a nostalgic memory, like a sweetness savored with a delay...
Each story was linked to a chocolate, and each chocolate to an episode.
The music and shots were carefully chosen, with great aesthetic accuracy.
The casting did a remarkable job: both actors were deeply touching.
Shun is an exceptional actor; perfectly in sync with his partner, they exude the same energy, a beautiful harmony on screen. Hyo Joo, for her part, was splendid: she seemed almost Japanese, and her accent was impressive! I wasn't always in sync with some of her performances, but given the context, it was probably difficult for her to display more confidence.
Overall, I really liked this drama, even though I would have expected more romantic connections.
It's a beautiful story that's a change from the usual ones where I laughed, cried, and loved with them! When he tries to speak Korean, OMG 😍😍😍
It's not an exceptional drama, but it's a touching one that deserves to be seen, where you're sure to have a good time! The cooking is limited to the chocolate factory, so she's present, but there's more. What a great cast!
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Add this to your watch list!!
I really really enjoyed this drama. I really needed a comfort drama to watch and that show provided absolutely everything eight episodes really wholesome really lovely and really interesting. Is there gonna be a season two with different characters? What was with the cameo at the end? I’m glad everybody got the happy ending as well!I really loved all the characters and I think that might have been my first Japanese drama. I will definitely be watching more!!!
I binge this series within one day and I don’t regret a minute of it. There wasn’t a single episode that wasn’t good and it was such a cute storyline. There was no big drama. There was no J trauma moments it was just a steady pace with lots of meat cute and sweet moments building up to a really happy ending.
Not my most detailed review, but hopefully it comes across that this is a series that should not be missed!!
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1
1For Romance and Chocolate Lovers!
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25To me, “Romantics Anonymous” delivered in the romance department. But if you are looking for a drama about mental illness, this is not it. The plot is interesting though and that’s why I decided to check it out in the first place.
Plot/Pacing
In typical Japanese fashion, there’s no dragging in the middle of a drama. It’s fast-paced and kept me hooked on all 8 episodes. I am glad that each episode is not 20 minutes long, but close to 50 minutes. There’s a lot to talk about in 8 episodes. First and foremost, the relationship development between the leads from strangers to friends/colleagues to lovers. Then we have their individual challenges in life due to their disorders. Add on to that is a secondary romance plus the whole business plot and a bunch of side characters. There’s a lot packed into 8 episodes. I definitely think the drama can benefit from a few more episodes to flash out all the above plotlines. As the drama goes, it seems to forget about some of the mental health challenges. Due to time constraints, therapy heals you at a super speed. A couple sessions and FL makes dramatic improvement. Being a therapist for your friend is not a good idea and is unprofessional. If you are a mental health professional, you need to suspend belief. Otherwise, this might not be the drama for you. LOL Lastly, everyone commented on the surprising guest roles in the end. It’s interesting, but what’s the point? To promote future Netflix series? Mm….
Romance
I really enjoy watching the two leads bicker and eventually get together. Their romance progression is natural and not rushed. Since it’s called “Romantics Anonymous”, it did spend more time on these two very likeable characters. They have good chemistry and I enjoy seeing how they feel comfortable with each other enough to act normal. Much of my somewhat high rating is because I enjoy watching them so much. On the other hand, the secondary romance is unnecessary. They are a cute pair, but there’s just not enough time in the drama to meaningfully develop this secondary relationship well. I do not think a Love Square is needed. If you take the 2FL out of this Love Square, the story remains the same. But since the drama wants to talk about mental health, their storylines are inserted here.
Acting
Since “Romantics Anonymous” is not an adaptation of a manga or anime, I am happy to see there’s no overdramatic acting. The acting is great and I love that despite FL’s shyness and phobia, it was not overdone. I totally do not recognize Han Hyo Joo in this drama. If I didn’t know she’s Korean, I cannot tell at all. Her demeanor is what I would expect from a Japanese actress. I don’t speak Japanese but her Japanese sounds pretty native to me. I also love the occasional Korean words dropped in this drama and how they use it. This is my first time watching Oguri Shun and I’m crushing on him here. We need to change his MDL profile picture because he looks SOOO much more handsome in “Romantics Anonymous”. I like his portrayal and especially how he acts when he eventually realizes his feelings yet doesn’t and can’t express them. The rest of the cast is not bad either, even down to the small supporting roles.
Production
What a beautiful drama! I love the tasty shots of the chocolate making process and how they’re presented. Japanese really know how to make their food and especially sweets pretty. This is a beautifully shot drama with natural scenery of beautiful lavender fields and gorgeous mountains and rivers. No complaint at all about the production quality here.
Having said all that, I had a great time watching “Romantics Anonymous”. I really like the acting, the main leads, their romance and the beautiful cinematography and chocolates. Even though I complain about the plot, I do think the main storyline of these two broken individuals is interesting. It may not be a solid 8.5 overall but the enjoyment factor deserves an 8.25 from me. I am willing to suspend belief on the mental health part. I recommend checking this short drama out if you can overlook some things.
Completed: 10/24/2025 Review #635
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This review may contain spoilers
Just okay with some big letdowns
Pros:- Only 8 episodes, so not too much of a time commitment.
- Visually looks pretty good, especially the chocolate.
- The acting is good, though maybe a little too over-dramatic at times.
- Han Hyo Joo is great, Oguri Shun is great, everyone in the cast did good with what they were given. Wasn't familiar with Oguri Shun since I mostly watch K-dramas, but he did very well. Akanashi Jin is a handsome guy and Nakamura Yuri is very beautiful, even though I didn't like their characters at all. Both did well with their performances!
- Kept me interested enough to actually finish all episodes despite the lengthy list of cons below.
Cons:
- Story starts out interesting and then quickly goes downhill given the fact that it only has 8 episodes.
- Very little romance. FL is so caught up in her one-sided crush on the 2ML for the majority of the show and demonstrates almost zero romantic interest in the ML until the last episode. This ruins the buildup to their relationship, especially given the fact that the FL seemed to dislike the ML for quite a few episodes, and the few potentially romantic moments the two leads have together are quickly dismissed and turned into "comedic" moments instead. ML seemed to be the only one romantically interested in the FL almost the entire show. We needed more buildup and more scenes of the FL actually showing at least a little bit of romantic interest, otherwise it just doesn't work. How can someone fall out of a long-running one-sided love only to instantly turn around and fall in love with someone else? Just because you find out you misunderstood who actually saved you in the past does not mean you'll instantly fall in love with that person, especially if you've been around this person the entire time and showed no romantic interest.
- 2ML & 2FL felt rather unnecessary, and their scenes just dragged on with very little character development or reason to feel connected to them at all. Both felt more like an obstacle to the main romance than anything else, especially given how long it takes for the FL to actually get over the 2ML (basically up to the last couple episodes). Had no idea why the 2ML & 2FL liked each other to begin with, and their relationship felt rather toxic and uninteresting. 2ML's character felt so boring to me. He just seemed too cliche and stereotypical as the handsome 2ML with all the bruting and serious-toned conversations. They tried to last-minute insert in some sad backstory to justify his character but it was just too little too late and felt forced and cliche. 2FL stays rather consistent throughout the whole show, basically just there to cause unnecessary drama and misunderstandings.
- Very convenient and honestly rather cringe plot developments and story progression. 2ML attempting to drunkenly kiss the FL while the ML walks in was so difficult to watch without cringing. FL constantly looking only towards the 2ML the majority of the show even when you think she'll finally move on so we can progress the actual main relationship with the ML. The ML having some very rare but cute potentially romantic moments with the FL only to backstep and completely ruin the moment from providing any real progression to their relationship was so frustrating. The very fact that the ML can only touch the FL, and the FL can only look the ML in the eyes. The "twist" at the end being the main turning point in actually getting the FL to move on from the 2ML.
- Last few episodes feel very rushed and disjointed from the rest of the show. Like episode 7 felt a little ridiculous to me with all the drama and sudden action sequences. ML having to be told by other side characters to chase after the FL felt off for his character. I thought at that point he would be able to come to that decision himself given how understanding the writers had portrayed him as and wouldn't need other people to convince him. Also, FL switching up on the ML so quickly just because of one conveniently placed misunderstanding just shows how little progression their relationship had made up until that point.
- I know some people are complaining about the FL's character being too childish or over-the-top. I think it makes sense why she behaves the way she does given her social awkwardness not being able to look people in the eyes, but I can also see why some people were somewhat annoyed by it because it does definitely change the feel of some of the character interactions and conversations. Sometimes I really wanted her to be able to get her point across in some conversations and actually have an emotional and deep moment with the ML instead of many of their interactions being played off as awkward or comedic.
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This review may contain spoilers
This is not a romance and quite disappointing despite the happy ending
There are eight episodes under 45 minutes, but it’s still felt like it dragged on.The female lead can’t stare at people in the eye and the male lead is allergic to touching people. They meet and the female lead literally can’t stand the male lead though he appears indifferent but not nearly as dismissive as her.. anyway they realise they have feelings and end up together. the end.
The problem with this show is they made the female lead act as though she was mentally retarded because she couldn’t stare at people in the eyes. They had her twitching and shaking and hiding. It just looked ridiculous.. though the male lead had his own quirks like carrying around a suitcase with several different shirts to change into, he was generally calm and his demeanour never looked stressed. She had an unrequited crush on the mail leads best friendbecause it was a mistaken identity but I didn’t like the fact that until the last episode is when we saw her actually showing affection towards the male lead. He’d been stepping closer to her every single opportunity for her to actually just be mean and a bit cruel at points. I wasn’t really rooting for her and her redemption, growth appeared to be negligible. The corporate intrigue was a bit flimsy and not well thought out but I suppose that’s what you get for such a short series even though as I said it did seem to drag and I was pleased when it ended.
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The Sweetness of Life, Relationship, and Chocolate
A remake of French-Belgian movie with the same title. A tale of the sweetness of life, also different flavor of every step of life that depicted by chocolates. A pack of chocolate that contain different flavor that matches the humanhood.A man with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), he barely touch anything even other people, accidentally fell down and held a woman's hand. He found it so strange, because he's never touch someone, but he's suddenly feel okay when he touch her. And that woman itself is an anonymous chocolatier, she has an extreme anxiety and oftenly has panic attack whenever someone gazing at her.
The story that fresh and unique, yet they crafted it really well. The story was profound. The way they crafting this with its beautiful and meaningful story, also the metaphore of chocolate was hit deeper. So poetical and not exaggerate at all. I love the coherence of chocolate with life, behind.
The performance of Han Hyojoo as chocolatier also having an extreme anxiety was well potrayed. I love her gesture, her attitude, even her tremble voice whenever she got the spotlight on her. Aside, the performance of Oguri Shun as a CEO and someone who has OCD was also magnificent, well portrayed. I love his natural acting, his gesture whenever he touch strangers, even his attitude that looks prestige.
Not only stunned by both heroine, the performance of second couple, Jin Akanishi and Yuri Nakamura were peak mature romance. I love their dynamic relationship, the love hate relationship towards them was tickle me out, oh so good yet so mature. The way they solve their own trauma, how their dealing with their own past, and start getting a new life page was utterly wonderful. I love the minimum skinship they have, yet still giving me butterfly effect.
The japanese countryside scenery that calming and greenish, the cinematography that pretty, the color grading that warmth and enhance the ambience, also the angle that fit precisely, oh the visual design at its finest. Also I never skip the backsong, eargasm and easy listening.
For me, compare to any other japanese workplace drama, this series's workplace is kinda so-so. Yes, they have highlight about chocolatier, bussiness stuff, even marketing, but not deep enough like how doramas usually is. Not the best, but, it's still a good workplace.
One mistake of this series is, the cameo that sadly the most problematic man ever. Why you put him there randomly, if Japan has so many talented actors and not problematic like him. What a biggest mistake. When you have the best experience of watching a good series, but suddenly destroyed by the cameo even for the 30 second screentime. Oh, I HATE it.
Overall, this series was stunned by the screenplay, actors performance, also by sound-visual design. A lil tips from me, just prepare your chocolate when you start watching it, because the only wrong experience while watching this is, I didn't prepare my own chocolate so I keep craving for the entire show.
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A heartfelt drama protraying two individuals struggling and meeting
Hana & Sosuke struggling in life, facing their fear, their courage, remaining kind was endearing and relatable.This soft, beautiful and in-depth drama touch your soul. It shows hope and courage It exceeded my expectation.
It was heartbreaking, heartwarming and humane. I love when japanese dramas focus on the human and warmth in their storyline.
It was a pleasure to both watch profesionnal actors Oguri Shun and Han Hyo Joo in a drama together and in a romance, they had chemistry!!
We can see Han Hyo Joo's hardwork to speak japanese, she sounded like a native! I appreciate and enjoyed the way they showed chocolate and the dedication given to creating relationship, happiness through chocolate.
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Sosuke & Hana — Too Precious Together
This was such a light and simple story, yet it managed to give me all the butterfly feelings. I just wish there had been more moments between Sosuke and Hana — their time together felt too short to fully enjoy their beautiful, sweet, and heartwarming chemistry. No unnecessary drama, no annoying love triangle, just pure, wholesome shoujo romance that makes your heart flutter from start to finish 💖Was this review helpful to you?
Not a Bad Watch But Not The Best Watch…
I’m not going to say too much to keep this spoiler-free but this wasn’t a bad watch and it was not AMAZING or anything either.The beginning started really strong but the last few episodes were not as great.
As for the storyline, I like some of the themes in the story, especially the one about healing past traumas, but what I didn't like is the type of “love story” this series portrayed.
Now this is just about me (for context I’m demi-romantic) if you're also like me, then you'll get this, if you're not, then you won't. But I have never been a fan of love stories like the one in this series.
Okay, here’s what I mean.
I struggle to understand how someone can love another person for a long time, and then their heart would shift to love someone else within a short span of time.
Usually, I'm not one to watch (and like) dramas with this type of storyline, but I don't hate this one, not for the plot but for the cast and good acting.
Also, the side-couples’ love story is vague and if anyone can, please tell me why Hiro likes Dr Irene??? I still fail to understand their love.
Anyways, after all that has been said, this is not a terrible watch in any way. If you want to watch something light-hearted, simple (also Han Hyo Joo speaking Japanese haha) then you must watch this one!
Rewatch value? Umm… zero.
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