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Pretty faithful adaptation
"I Hear the Sunspot" is one of my all time favorite manga series. It's one of the hard to find BLs that has a complex storyline carried out across multiple volumes where many are just about characters that meet and seemingly fall in love (and lust) within seconds of meeting each other. This adaptation wasn't entirely faithful in my opinion, but that was partially due to limited story time and the romance aspect is pretty much a slow burn that never quite catches fire. However, I think it's pretty clear how Taichi and Kohei feel about each other.Taichi is one of my all time favorite manga characters. He's so passionate, unashamed, protective, and brave. He does his best to understand others and is always looking to make sure no one feels excluded. I think the actor playing him did a pretty great job. I don't know if it was an intentional choice or just the actor's interpretation of Taichi's voice being loud and easy to discern, but I thought he also tried to mimic some of the grandfather's cadence. If intentional, I think that was a pretty cool touch to the character.
Kohei's actor did a great job, as well. Kohei is more of an internal character in the manga and I thought the actor conveyed that well. I wished we'd gotten to include more of the HoH characters he encounters in the manga, but we did get Maya. She's a character that it took some time for me to warm up to in the manga. Unfortunately, some of her development wasn't included in this adaptation with the time limitation, but I am glad they dug into some of her background.
I'm sad we didn't get Ryu or more of Chiba's story. Chiba is one of my favorite characters in this series, but again, time crunch. I really loved the story development between him and Taichi and I really, really, hope that, unlike my favorite live action BL My Love Mix Up/Kieta Hatsukoi, maybe this one can get a second season some how? Maybe? Pretty, pretty please! This adaptation barely scratched the surface of all the story Kohei and Taichi have together.
The romance aspect of his adaptation was not as overt as you'd see in some other BLs. Even Kieta Hatsukoi focused on that aspect more. I don't know if this sort of side step was the actors' comfort level or the production deciding to focus more on the story about a hearing person learning how they can be more mindful of the hearing impaired, but I can imagine someone looking for a BL that's more of a romance might not be super thrilled with how the romance was handled here.
I felt like the runtimes were a bit padded at times with SO many flashbacks, sometimes to moments that literally happened like five minutes prior. It didn't fully take away from my enjoyment, but it was a bit unnecessary at times.
Having watched the film, I personally prefer this drama a lot more. The chemistry between the characters was more developed, the pacing made a lot more sense for the progression of their relationship, and I enjoyed these versions of Kohei and Taichi more.
As a big fan of the manga, I enjoyed this and will be rewatching it. At the same time, I hope they somehow get a second season where the romance is more of a prominent story beat.
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This review may contain spoilers
I HATED THE MAYA GIRL
There is so much that is "could've been" in this drama, It was beautiful but not satisfied with how it went through, when I was watching it I felt like this is just teasing me or keeping me waiting for my thirst to satisfy and yet in the end what I was expecting was not given to me.I really loved the character Kouhei and Taichi , they were so bright and lovely people but I did not liked the story, their misunderstanding started from the episode 1 up to the last episode , I feel really bad with how their story was written. The part about understading people with low hearing capacity was good and such an eye opener but I felt like THAT in the story gave more confusion to confused characters.
Adding the girl Maya , she was so annoying I didn't think she was needed at the story , coz she just added confusion and misunderstanding to our boys, I usually don't get annoyed at girls that hinders on BL's that I have watched , but this was the first time I hated g a girl in a BL drama ! HAHAHA , I really wanted to go inside the story and remove that MAYA .. and she turned out to be the neice of Taichi's Boss , what a small world
Kouhei and Taichi together made me feel really good, them together was such a heart warming and it felt really good and the rest was annoying.
There was no romance here only maybe at the last episode when the boys FINALLY able to confess their feelings grrr HAHAH it was annoying that they have been misunderstanding each other all those times, but the rest, it was so dry and the fact that there was no kiss .. waaaa .. why did they even do BL 😵💫
So yeah basically only Kouhei and Taichi colored this drama but the rest was annoying, bad writting of story , and just made my BL heart got thirsty ..
Not gonna re watch this .. I hated that MAYA girl
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Amazing first half, just okay second half
The structure of the series is pretty much divided in the middle. So, we basically have 2 miniseries with 6 episodes each. One is a BL and the other a bromance. Like most BLs, the “first season” is great and the second has unnecessary dramas and new characters.In the case of this series, the first half is an amazing sweet romance. But then comes episode 7 and basically everything is undone. The later half of the season is a continuous set of miscommunications and backpedaling. The main characters don’t talk, don’t see each other and act like acquaintances. It’s almost a bromance series by the end. The second half is also greatly impacted by how annoying Maya is for most of the time. The chemistry between the main actors shines in the first half, but gets waisted in the last few episodes.
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Lighthearted coming-of-age drama with a different take of the hearing impaired.
Subjective Gut Rating: 8.25“I Hear the Sunspot” is a lovely and sweet coming-of-age drama. Despite having a male lead with a hearing impairment, this drama focuses more than just his disability. It’s without a doubt that the challenges of having a disability will be part of the plot. But compared to other dramas of a similar topic, this drama has a more down-to-earth and lighthearted approach. It also distinguishes itself from other dramas as Kohei (ML) is not deaf-mute, but can still hear. It’s both a blessing and a curse when you can still hear, and when expectations of you could be somewhat unreasonable.
Additionally, this drama is also about knowing and discovering yourself. The lovely friendship and subtle romance between Kohei and Taichi is sweet. They are both very likable characters, and their interactions feel personable. The little things they do for each other and the quiet understanding of each other are the highlights of this drama. Seeing how Kohei integrates into Taichi’s friends circle so seamlessly, is also lovely to see (that zombie movie is hilarious).
And because the drama is so soothing and slice-of-life that it’s lacking an emotional impact on me. I don’t come out feeling the same angst as when I was watching “Silent” or the more fun and touching moments in “Shizuka-chan to Papa”. The conflicts in this drama could have been easily resolved if Kohei and Taichi would just talk to each other. They had no problems doing that in the first half of the drama, but seemed to forget how to communicate in the second half. Kohei could have been Taichi’s biggest supporter if given the chance, just like how Taichi has been there for Kohei. They just need to talk!
Nevertheless, “I Hear the Sunspot” is a lovely drama. It’s an easy watch with a handsome male lead that flashes a very attractive smile every so often (I’m talking about Nakazawa Motoki/Kohei). I do find Taichi a little loud and over-the-top for my taste.
Completed: 10/7/2024 - Review #496
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Just watch it
The storyline is so unique and refreshing, especially with the main character being almost deaf. I loved seeing how he navigated everyday life and overcame the challenges he faced.The romance was also super sweet and genuine. I wish there were at least one kiss. But The emotional connection between the leads was palpable, and that's what made it so compelling.
I think what really drew me in was how relatable the characters were. I saw bits of myself in both of them, and that made me root for them even more. Plus, their relationship was just so healthy and beautiful to watch.
The leads had amazing chemistry, and they were just so cute together! The pacing was a bit slow, but it wasn't boring or anything. It was just a really nice, feel-good watch.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a sweet, heartwarming story. Give it a try!
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A story about love, acceptance and overcoming obstacles
This is a series about how through friendship, love, support and acceptance. It is a story about Kohei who suffers from partial hearing loss and distances himself from his classmates until he finds a cheerful and occasionally dense Taichi who treats him like a friend. Slowly Kohei, through Taichi’s support opens himself to new experiences and what starts as a friendship develops into something more.The strength of the show lies in its genuine exploration of disability and the power of human connection. Kohei and Taichi come from two different worlds but thanks to a chance encounter they begin talking and influencing each other lives. Nakazawa Motoki with his expressions and a sweet smile showcases the inner turmoil of a disabled person in a society that fails to understand him. Kobayashi Toranosuke as Taichi is loud and care-free but ultimately a person who is trying to discover himself. As the story progresses their bond influences them, as they realise what they really need.
The series, however suffers from slow pacing. Certain episodes seem long-winded and showcase nothing new or play as character-development. Also, the introduction of Maya is abrupt and plays no role in progressing the plot, other than increasing the time or creating unnecessary angst between the main characters. The rest of the supporting characters like Kohei’s mom and Taichi’s grandad take the role of guides who direct the main characters towards the right path.
In conclusion, the series is a good mix of emotions, drama and romance but suffers from pacing issues. However, it remains a heartwarming and uplifting watch, offering a unique perspective on disability and the power of friendship.
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Amazing dreama must watch
The drama focuses on the experience of a college student Kohei, who is hard of hearing and his classmate Taichi. While the plot may not be ground-breaking, it somehow excels in character development. It also respectfully handled the topic of disability.The heart of this drama for me lies in the individual development of Kohei and Taichi after meeting each other.
It sensitively portrays Kohei's struggle due to hearing impairment and how this impacts his interactions with others and his sense of self. I liked how he socialized and made friends, finally coming out of his shell after meeting Taichi. It was absolutely a delight to see him smile.
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This review may contain spoilers
Another solid BL from Japan
Sep 11, 2024Another solid BL released from Japan has been made in the year of 2024. It is amazing how, the story line progressed and many have said how accurate it is from the manga. So now, it seems like I will be finding my ways into reading this manga too.
The plot is simple yet the way it was portrayed really kept me interested. Though, I really hated the Maya arc, that girl annoyed me so much that I simply had no choice but to skip some scenes.
I love the chemistry of our leads to say the least. Given how pg and very fluffy, the chemistry is chef's kiss! I need more to be honest but yea.
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I will try to be as objective as possible. Lol.
First of all, I kind of knew this theme from another Japanese movie back in 2017, yet I don't mind repeating the same concept all over again in a series. One thing I like about the story is that the conflict between Kohei and Taichi was honestly heavier than I thought it would be. As a college student, I know exactly how hard it is to save money for college while working part-time elsewhere. I actually had the same thoughts as Taichi; I considered dropping out of college to keep working since I already had a stable job back then.
However, I had some expectations regarding Kohei's condition. But I guess the Japanese are not ready to portray a "bad guy" like the Taiwanese do. Lol.
I don't really mind the lack of (real) kissing scenes throughout the show, since kissing is not really a big deal in Japanese BL. However, I felt Motoki's performance could have been better. In comparison with Kobayashi, he seemed a bit mediocre. Kobayashi really did a good job as Taichi; I fell in love with his character, especially when he was trying to be cute but manly at the same time.
Now, I guess I need to find another series after my upcoming exam. Lol.
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At first i thought it's about platonic love but as the series progressed i found out how strong the relationship between them developed and continued to make me wonder how their bond shaped in slow pace.
Loved it and will definitely watch it again.
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Very cute and comforting
This one was pleasantly surprising! I've seen a lot of short BL dramas where it feels difficult to connect to the characters or plot because of the short screen-time, but somehow this show managed to let the pacing breathe. I loved how clearly the personalities of our leads contrasted and then complemented each other, and although we have a few misunderstandings, there's nothing that ever feels overdramatic or frustrating. I wish we got a little more at the end of the leads being together — it feels weirdly like they shied away from physical intimacy at the last minute — but ultimately the emotional beats land well.Was this review helpful to you?
A space for you and me
The story starts out with a voice – bright and clear in a crowded sea of noise. Kouhei, who has a hearing impairment, has trouble hearing others. But he hears Taichi’s voice loud and clear.Hearing what someone has to say is the first step to being understood, but as Kouhei’s hearing impairment worsens, he quickly realises that true understanding is not always about what is spoken.
Taichi is the first hearing person to take a genuine interest in Kouhei's disability without judgement or pity.
While something more than friendship blossoms between two young men, I Hear The Sunspot is not just a beautiful romance.
It has also been lauded for being an extraordinary social commentary on disability. There are so few BLs that make disability a central theme of the series, let alone present issues in a nuanced way. The beauty of I Hear The Sunspot is in how space is created for others without diminishing the space of others.
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