Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love

The Heart wants what the Heart wants - and my heart wants Ryusei

I am reviewing “The Shapes of Love” as its standalone drama. I have not watched the original webtoon or watched the Korean “Nevertheless” (just clips of the drama here and there).

I had a very enjoyable time watching this. It has a very Japanese feel to it with the cinematography, melancholy tone and appropriate use of silence to let viewers feel the emotions. It also doesn’t hurt that Yokohama Ryusei is extremely hot and sexy, so much more so than pretty boy Song Kang. But then, Ryusei played a guest teacher and Song Kang was a student.

I also like the actress, Minami Sara’s portrayal of the female lead Miu. Miu feels very Japanese, the type of character who is reserved and observant, but yet would speak up and push back when needed. The leads have excellent chemistry together. Their scenes in the first half of the drama are sizzling even without touching. Ren/Ryusei’s intense and sexy gazes are mesmerizing and he’s not afraid to go in and kiss. But Sara reciprocated with just enough emotions in her eyes to attract our male lead.

The Korean version has the adorable Chae Jong Hyeop fighting for the female lead’s affection. That would be a tough choice, you know Sang Kang vs Chae Jong Hyeop (LOL). But in the Japanese version, Ruki (played by Sano Reo) has no fighting chance. It’s quite obvious that Miu has no interest in him, and sorry to say that, Sano Reo just can’t beat Ryusei or Chae Jong Hyeop in the looks department. So, definitely no second-lead syndrome on my end.

Although the drama is less than 4 hours long, I do feel that it’s enough to tell the whole story of the main romance. I didn’t feel like I needed more, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use a few more great kisses or cute scenes. But it's just enough without feeling draggy. However, since there are storylines/relationships with the supporting cast, those romances do feel a little short and not very interesting.

The second half has a much more melodramatic tone, compared to the sexy energy in the first half. I’m not an artist and can’t resonate with their struggles but I can be understanding. There’s also a lot of voiceover for each character sharing their inner thoughts and emptiness. I heard/read the word “Nevertheless” quite often. In the end, the heart wants what the heart wants. Either you go all in, or not, and hope for the best. Miu pours her heart and emotions into her art to document ‘the moment’, so I really like the title of her Art Festival piece. I hope the message goes straight to Ren’s heart.

From my point of view, I would recommend you to check out “The Shapes of Love” if you are like me and have not watched the webtoon or the Korean version. Going into this with no expectation might surprise you. If you are familiar with Japanese dramas’ short and concise format and with a more melancholic tone, you might like this as well. And of course, why wouldn’t you watch it for the sexy Yokohama Ryusei??

Completed: 2/8/2025 - Review #541

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Nevertheless, I still like it...

This drama initially raised my concerns due to the red flag male mc, but its exceptional execution won me over. The director and writer skillfully focused on human connection over romance, tempering sensuality. Each character received proper portion, showcasing their own "nevertheless".Despite the limited episodes, the storytelling effectively explored complexities. Ryusei Yokohama's outstanding performance evoked sympathy & frustration, but also made us understand why Miu is so attached to him. Although the ending was a little too happy for me, the 'okaeri' and 'tadaima' really gave poignant conclusion.

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A fairly standard story elevated by great acting, aesthetics and existential themes

If you are familiar with the standard shojo romance tropes, all the elements are available here:

1) Extremely handsome somewhat older man who is a precocious genius/super competent, all the girls are after him. He struggles to communicate and has hidden man pain.
2) Self-conscious woman, somewhat struggling with her self esteem, a beginner in the field who attracts the man with her straightforward sweetness and emotional courage.
3) Enter random woman character who has no boundaries with the older man, is more his age, style etc. and makes our main character feel like she has no chance
4) Enter random male character who is sweet and straightforward like our main woman character, who is nice and good and a more appropriate match, but she just can't get into him.

BUT, if you do like this type of plot, this is a great version of it. What really makes this work is that all the characters really do feel like artists, living their lives in a small city in Japan. The cinematography and sense of place, the music, the dialogue etc. all feels quite perfect. While the voiceovers are a bit heavy handed, they are limited.

The themes aren't groundbreaking but are also very real: they are struggling with how to make art, how to inspire themselves in this modern world where everything feels meaningless, they are also struggling to invest in each other in relationships and in human beings where nothing seems very permanent or lasting.

And while none of this is ground breaking or new, I enjoyed watching this, got invested in the characters and was determined to see how it ended. I was transported by this slice of life more than I expected, and it's definitely worth a try.

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Shapes of Love or Shapes of Ryusei Yokohama's piercing gaze!

If you're anything like me, after surviving the glorious, crack-fueled chaos that was 52 episodes of The Last Empress, your soul probably craved the cinematic equivalent of a warm, weighted blanket. My desperate search for tranquility led me, as it often does, to the soothing shores of Japanese drama. And so, I dusted off a forgotten gem from my "Plan to Watch Later" list: The Shapes Of Love ,the Japanese adaptation of Nevertheless.

Now, let's get one thing straight: I'm apparently one of the rare unicorns who didn't despise the Korean original. Call me a sucker for a redeemed red flag, but I find a certain charm in watching questionable characters slowly, begrudgingly, become decent human beings.

My journey into the Japanese version was, shall we say, unconventional. I powered through the first three episodes, then, with the foresight of someone who's seen too many rom-coms go south, I skipped straight to the finale. Why? Partially to dodge the inevitable angst and frustration I knew was lurking, but mostly because I was genuinely missing the effortless camaraderie and "group hug" vibes that made the Korean version so endearing.

Here's where things get interesting, or perhaps, a little unbalanced. Ryusei Yokohama is undeniably a force of nature. The man's aura could probably power a small city. He's incredibly talented, especially in those deliciously heavy, emotionally charged roles. But in Nevertheless, his sheer star power felt like it created a weird vacuum around the rest of the cast. It was almost as if he was overqualified, leaving a noticeable disconnect between him and everyone else. And honestly, I've watched enough dramas to find myself cringing every time he unleashed that signature, soul-piercing gaze on the female lead. It was a look that, bless its dramatic heart, was just a tad overused.

Ultimately, while I adore Ryusei Yokohama, and truly, who doesn't, this particular adaptation just didn't quite hit the mark for me. In the grand scheme of things, the original Korean version, in terms of both screenplay and overall cast chemistry, still reigns supreme in my book.

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This version > the korean one

Everything about this is better than the kr version, the deep parts (specifically about the ml) that were missing in the previous version are now showed.
The characters actually feels like adults, the way the story is presented is way more mature and artistic (the main point of the show) here. I think that instead on focusing on the romance/mess, this adaption shows life and people in a realistic way that was needed.
Despite it being shorter, it present way more, and has again way more depth than the other series.
I think that people should let go of the image of the "toxic romance" that the show is represented as and focus more on the story itself.

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vibes and feels: 100%, plot not so much

the japanese remake of the famous korean series. i haven't watched the Korean one but i know most of the plot and expected many of the things that happened in this series.
I could not get what they were trying to communicate at some serious moments. It could be the language barrier or the formal style that they speak but i felt disconnected from what they were trying to convey.
ren, out male lead was too much of a mysterious broody guy for most of the show. we couldn't get anything out from him. we do get his vulnerable side and the reasoning for why he is so closed off but that just felt like the focus shifted from ren-mui to ren-chiaki
our female lead mui was too timid and kinda got pushed around easily. I hate the falling at first sight love so her doing exactly that after being heartbroken was off putting.
the side couples has better development and endings. saki and megu are cuties
the aesthetics and vibes were a 100% perfect. the photos in the middle, the art, the music playing behind were all so good

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Artistic Vision of Love

Nevertheless: The Shape of Love (2024) is a Japanese remake of the Korean drama "Nevertheless" (2021). The first thing you may notice is the quality and level of tenderness the series conveys. The show is somewhat nostalgic and visually lush with seemingly endless gorgeous shots and background scenery. As a drama it was very high quality, with excellent cinematography and lighting, beautiful music, compelling cast of characters and a subtle but moving storyline.

This JDrama was a real treat. The film style was very polished and portrayed a lush, hazy, dreamlike atmosphere. The story, although compelling, was very much a slice-of-life story.

"Ren Kosaka, a young talented artist, arrives in Kamakura, Japan for a temporary lecturer position. His aura attracts people, yet he keeps distance. When he meets a woman, his emotions change despite knowing the potential consequences."

This drama was full of heart and soul, dealing with the little intricacies of varied relationships. It was very sweet and touching series that I'm glad I stumbled across. Very artistic and of higher quality. Gice it a chance!

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Gorgeous cinamatography, Eloquent Story

If you are familiar with the Korean version, do yourself a favor and take this version on it’s own terms. While the characters are surface-level somewhat similar, the story is ultimately different and the way that story is communicated is very different.

The plot development like a montage, switching between narrators sharing their particular experience of falling in love. The cinamatography is gorgeous, especially the use of shadows. The drama feels like an art student from the art school the drama depicts actually made the drama. In this way, there is a beautiful marriage of content and form in this drama. To add to this, art-making becomes a poignant metaphor for loving and living. By the end,

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I thoroughly enjoyed the Korean version and watched it about four times. I viewed the ML with a lot more depth
than the comments about him being a playboy. As much as I enjoyed the Korean version though, the Japanese version was superb.
The FL had a quiet courage. The male lead had depth of character. His backstory was developed more than the Korean version. To me he didn't come across as a playboy. He came across as someone who was afraid of commitment because it was always temporary. His mother was selfish and had little time for him. He was devoted to his childhood friend and put his own personal interest aside to be with her when her diagnosis was grim.
There was a lot of angst in the female lead. She risked her heart and she was hurt. But in the last episode she went to see him and more or less let him go. This took a strength of character to show him she cared but she wasn't going to pine for him. He on the other hand had to see that commitment and love were worth the price even if they were not forever.
I really like the name " Nevertheless: The Shape of Love" because between the main characters and the secondary characters there are many nuances of how love develops and commitment to that love develops.
I very much agree with one of the comments that this movie had more of a poetic feel to it and that the cinematography was wonderful.
The main leads chemistry was off the charts. Ren's eyes could melt metal. His eyes spoke of deep emotion and strong sexual interest. The female lead was deeply drawn to him both in a human sense and a sexual sense. As often portrayed in the Japanese movies, the women aren't overly aggressive and are somewhat tentative in their approach. It kind of comes across like I'm really attracted to you and I want to do something, but the male lead has to take the initiative and be the one to actually do most of the work.
The ending came off as a little rushed. I like the comment that Ren had, "He was back." This kind of gave more of a hopeful and continuous story to their love. The FL's statue about forever also supported this theme. (Although just a side note, her statue was horrible. I couldn't see the artistic quality to it at all. It was bland.)

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