good
I thought this was one of Japan's best BLs this year, but it's not easy to watch. Many people even think it wouldn't be classified as a BL, because it's so dry and difficult to watch certain scenes. The characters aren't loved by their families and are constantly treated badly because they're gay. There are some scenes with difficult children too, and I liked the performances, although there were some awkward scenes of intimacy.Was this review helpful to you?
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A chaotic, painful, but strangely beautiful ride
First of allí the cinematography was stunning, now about the drama ;At first, I didn’t get much of what was going on. Everything felt confusing. But as the story unfolded, things started to make sense… and also started to hurt.
Let’s be honest: the way Haoren treats Chihiro at the beginning is horrible. He abuses him! He literally r4pes him 😕 and never apologizes for it.
Then he gets jealous, and instead of protecting Chihiro from his abusive ex, he humiliates him in front of everyone by throwing a drink on him at the bar. Was it effective? Yes. It forced Chihiro to finally see how little his ex valued him. But could it have been done differently? Absolutely.
And that infamous line outside the bar:
"I’d rather be a mobile sex toy than portable trash."
…like, what?! 💀💀💀 That’s not romantic. That’s just messed up.
But despite all of that, the story somehow manages to grow into something deeper. Haoren’s character development is actually excellent. You begin to understand that he’s not just cruel, he’s deeply wounded. His childhood was pure hell! And everything he does is rooted in trauma and survival. That doesn’t excuse what he did, but it does explain it. Still… a simple “I’m sorry” would’ve gone a long way.
What truly redeems the story for me are the small details; the little ways they start to care for each other. And the ending? That hit hard. Haoren doesn’t drag Chihiro into his darkness. He lets him go. He goes to prison and tells him to chase his dream… and Chihiro does. And then Haoren waits. For three years. That reunion? Perfect. Bittersweet. Deserved.
They needed therapy halfway through, not gonna lie. But I genuinely hope they’re happy now. They earned it and fully deserved it. 💓
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FROM TRAUMAS TO EACH OTHERS COMFORT
Although Happy of the End is a dark and heavy watch, I honestly really enjoyed it. It’s actually my first Japanese BL series, and it definitely didn’t disappoint me, the storyline and acting were both top-notch.The show follows Chihiro and Keito, two characters with pretty rough pasts. Chihiro is a homeless guy who was disowned by his family for being gay, while Keito works as a scout and was exploited as a child. They meet at a bar, and what starts as a seemingly normal encounter quickly spirals into something intense and dangerously unconventional.
One thing that stood out to me is how unapologetically raw the series is. It doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of the characters’ lives, there’s violence, exploitation, and a lot of emotional weight. It’s not an easy watch, but that honesty gives the story a sense of realism and depth that’s hard to find.
At its core, the show is about Chihiro and Keito slowly opening up to each other. Their bond isn't about fluffy romance, it’s about shared pain, loneliness, and a deep need to feel like they belong somewhere. Watching their connection grow, through subtle glances, hesitant touches, and quiet moments of vulnerability was incredibly moving.
Visually, the series is stunning. The dark, gritty urban setting really adds to the feeling of isolation and despair the characters face, but there are also these surprising moments of beauty, especially in the scenes they share together. The cinematography and music do an amazing job of setting the tone—melancholic, but with a thread of hope running through it.
While there’s definitely a thriller element thanks to the dangerous world they’re in, the real focus is on the emotional and psychological journeys of the two leads.
Happy of the End isn’t your typical feel-good BL. It's not for the faint of heart. It’s intense, emotionally charged, and at times pretty tough to watch but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you’re in the mood for something that goes deep and isn’t afraid to explore the messier sides of love and life, this one’s worth checking out.
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Really jarring, not for the faint of heart
I will come back and do a more thorough review at a later date.This show is so disturbing.. It really unsettled me. Every time someone did something horrible I kept asking myself "how does a person willingly play a role like this?" That in and of itself was incredible.
This show explores these deeply troubled characters and their paths. It also talks about the effects of trauma. To me, I felt that it was very eye-opening how they were able to discuss these really complicated topics in such a way that the characters don't really understand it to that level, but the show itself reflects that reality.
The relationship between our leads is really messy, but as I watched I couldn't help but get attached.
This is not a feel good watch at all.
For me personally, I felt that one of the underlying ideas of the show was something like... knowing that you can't live the polished life that society advertises. In times of deep distress where you can't be normal, maybe a different (hopefully temporary) normal is okay.
Sorry for all the disjointed thoughts, but essentially that's the show. If you think you can stomach the dark themes, I really recommend this show.
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A Dark Dive into Trauma
not your basic rom-com; it dives headfirst into some dark stuff—think trauma and survival vibes. We meet Chihiro, the ultimate 'doormat', who’s got major self-worth issues after being dumped by his ex for a woman. It’s heartbreaking, and you just wanna scream, “You deserve so much better!”Then there’s Haoren, who’s carrying the weight of complex PTSD from childhood sexual abuse. His touch aversion makes it tough for him to connect with anyone, but when he meets Chihiro, it sparks a messy but compelling bond. Their relationship is a chaotic blend of tenderness and turmoil, and honestly, it hits hard.
This isn’t just a love story; it’s a raw look at attachment issues and the struggle to find light in the darkness. If you’re down for a film that’ll leave you shook and thinking, "Wow, that was intense," then "Happy of the End" is a must-watch. Trust me, you won't regret the emotional ride.
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Dark Gritty Theme with Sweet Undertones
When I started watching I wasn't sure I would like it because it was so dark. Then as the story moved on and the characters fleshed out I found myself connecting in places I thought I wouldn't. The characters grew through their pain and their interactions with one another and the ending was fulfilling. The main character actors were wonderful and believable through every circumstance.Was this review helpful to you?
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The darker this story, the brighter their romance shines
As a manga reader, when i heard they were going to make this drama, my first thought was that the story would be 80% changed because there’s no way they could adapt all the stuffs in this manga into a TV drama.And oh boy, I was wrong.
They took me by surprise by actually adapting as much as they could from this manga, every trigger warning contents from Haoren’s backstory and their relationship, they kept as much as a TV rating would let them in a short 8 episodes.
Many people thought they went too far by being this bold with this story especially for a TV drama instead of Movie but I ended up loving it even though some parts were genuinely difficult to stomach even for a manga reader like me.
The screen writing was good and showed they actually paid attention to the source material, due to small amount of episodes to cover entire 3 vols of the manga, they modified and summarized some part and in my opinion in a good way too.
The actors are good enough, even though this is their first leading role, they both worked hard and managed to nailed it until the end. The chemistry was strong as well between Haoren and Chihiro.
In contrast to what most people expected from this kind of story, especially for Haoren who went through hell unimaginable, they expected a tragic ending but just like the title “Happy Of The End”, the main message from this story was about not giving up, never stop clinging to the smallest hope of being happy one day, Haoren who lost hope found Chihiro, Chihiro who never give up on desperately find love, found Haoren who loves him unconditionally. They had the very last happy ending they both long deserve.
Because of how dark the story was, their love, their intimacy and small moments together become more important to viewers to see and I think that’s just beautiful.
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Dark and hauntingly beautiful at its core.
A story of two men that should not be together, right? Well, that's only at the surface but there's so much more to this story. Haoren and Chihiro are two young men who are completely damaged: mentally, physically, and emotionally. One because of his tragic past and the other because his family is homophobic. When they first meet it leads to a toxic relationship where there's a lot of pain, abuse and humiliation in the beginning. The first 3 episodes are extremely hard to watch because of the emotional abuse. But in the end, it's a road that both Haoren and Chhiro needed. To a normal bystander this is a relationship that should not succeed. At least it's what it looks like at first. Underneath the toxicness that surrounds them at first both Haoren and Chichiro come to understand each other, value each other and heal together. Their journey takes them to a place where they can learn to love each other and make one another happy. Despite all the pain they have been thru in their lives they give each other a peace they have never had before. That peace is what not only becomes healing from one to the other but also within themselves.And that's the beauty of this story. The writers knew exactly what they were doing here and giving these characters character development in 8 episodes where the audience can feel that it's worth it to root for them. Not only as a couple but as individuals. It also leaves the viewers with hope that no matter how dark life may get there's always a light within a tunnel be it in the form of another person or your own persona.
Highly recommended tho it may trigger some esp in the first episode. All I'm going to say is stick with it because it's all worth it. The cast was amazing in this too. One of Japan's best BL's but it may not be for everyone, I enjoyed it fully.
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Love in face of adversity
This series is dark, but beautiful. It deals with very uncomfortable topics and I recommend reading the TWs before watching. Even with the uncomfortable topics, it was always well done and a gripping story about love, resilience and the darkness of humanity (but also the light found in the dark). Definitely recommended and I won't forget it, the ending is ingrained in my brain.Was this review helpful to you?
Dark and Deep
The narrative is characterized by its serious and contemplative nature.The plot is commendable.
I just finished watching this thought-provoking film, and I'm still processing everything. The serious and contemplative tone really resonated with me. The plot kept me engaged from beginning to end, kudos to the writers! 👏 And the acting was - so raw and authentic
It would have been preferable to have an additional episode to depict their lasting happiness..#MovieReview
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Two broken souls together
Should've been a lot of TW: spicy scene, assault, child pornography, etc.(Spicy scene= the one that marred your soul)
Please, before watch this drama, have a great mental and physical health, or else your heart and soul will be marred.
Talk about drama that looks like Penelope Douglas books.
Thank God they both got their happy ending.
Soundtrack is so-so.
Most memorable character is Koji. He is a best friend anyone wants but can never have.
If you like something heavy, something bad, please give this a watch. Don't say I didn't warn you
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This was friggin beautiful
This story and the way the actors portray their characters pulls on my every heart string.Seldom was a couple this level of made for each other. In all their trauma, poverty and toxicity they manage to complement and fulfill each other while being healed (well, sort of).
This is by no means a fluffy cute BL. It's a story of abuse, friendship and love against all odds, while dealing with an almost unhealable trauma.
The actors (all of them!) portray their roles so perfectly they seem like they've been doing this forever. From the smallest looks, gestures to grand and grotesk, it's all equally awesome.
I binged the series in one night. Admittedly a bit much, but this also allowed for being completely submerged in their world and processes. It was a ride. One of the best of this year for sure!
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