Futtara Doshaburi (2025)

When it rains, it pours , washing away doubts but leaving behind a storm of desire!

At the heart of this drama is an exploration of longing, love and the complex emotions that arise when loyalty is questioned. The story is an emotional journey of Hagiwara and Nakarai who navigate their changing feelings towards each other while each being in a complicated relationship where neglect and denial have the front seat. In 7 episodes it somehow manages to explore the grey areas where desires conflict with rationality and norms and also focuses on the delicate balance between self-preservation and vulnerability in the right place, to the right people.

The drama in its portrayal of cheating doesn't simply just present it as a plot twist or spicy storytelling tool, but it digs into deeper emotional undercurrents that pushed the characters to take those drastic actions.
Here, it was an expression of emotional turbulence and crisis that stemmed from being disregarded for too long. It felt like a cry for recognition, for understanding.

There is something beautifully tragic in how one person seeks solace in the arms of another, not out of malice, but out of a desperate need to be seen, to feel valued in a world that seems to disregard their worth.

Character Description :

Nakarai Sei was a walking emotional paradox. His character was a mix of emotional detachment and the tragic yearning for something more, something he can't quite grasp but desperately craves. He feels all this stuff brewing inside but he’s also scared of it, building walls to protect himself from emotions he can’t fully understand or accept. He hides behind logic and rationalization, using it like armor to push away the chaos within but it is obvious that the storm inside was only getting bigger. His ability to express conflict without words makes his character all the more compelling.

Hagiwara Kazuaki had a certain duality to him, assertive yet gentle, a man caught between his deepening feelings for Nakarai and the hesitation driven by his own fears. His care goes beyond mere tenderness, it was a constant awareness of how delicate their bond is, as though even the slightest hint of force could break it.
There’s a quiet vulnerability in him, an openness that stands in stark contrast to Nakarai’s guarded demeanor, offering a softness that Nakarai sometimes didn't know how to embrace.

The chemistry between them was both subtle and had a palpable intensity crackling beneath the surface. They had this unspoken tension between them that grew with every glance that lingered a little too long. Hagiwara’s tenderness met Nakarai’s emotional walls, creating this push and pull that felt almost magnetic, yet painfully distant. Their connection is raw, real and messy in the best way, as they tiptoe around what they both want but can’t fully reach.

The side characters Kaori & Fujisawa just didn’t click for me. There wasn’t enough time spent on them to really understand who they were or why they did what they did. It felt like they were just there to move the plot along, not adding any real depth to the character. I didn’t feel any emotional connection to them, like I didn’t like or dislike them, they were just there. They came off more like a plot device than an actual character and honestly, this lack of emotional investment left me pretty indifferent overall. They did give reasons but it was a little too late for me.

The pace was a bit too fast for my liking but I have watched now too many J-dramas to know this is how it is considering the run time.
Also, the last episode felt bit underwhelming but the drama was too entertaining for me to rate it lower!

The performances of both leads brought an emotional battle to life. I can nitpick but overall they served! Cinematography was beautiful and felt very gentle and poetic! It has that perfect J-drama vibe to it , rain serving as main progatanist !

Overall, I would definitely recommend this drama for its emotional depth and its exploration of complex emotions. While this definitely has flaws, the overall story is very gripping, engaging and thought-provoking, with an intensity that lingers long after every episodes end. If nuanced character and emotional turmoil are what you are looking for, this drama is worth your time.

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dreadful and frustrating, but brilliant!

When many people say BLs are fiction, that is not entirely correct. The premise of the show of a sexless marriage is a common problem in Japan. The latest study in 2024 found that 48.3% of married couples are sexless, which is nearly double as many as in most other countires. If one of the partners "don't won't the hassle" and the other do need it, it puts a lot of strain on the mental health. This show depicts this reality brilliantly and I felt how dreadful that must be. I also felt heavy and frustrated as Hagiwara with girlfriend. Kaori does not like to be intimate with him any more.

On the other side we have another sexless gay couple which are a couple for the wrong reasons. I'm not happy with the finale explaining Fujisawa reasons for his behaviour -it does not explain the refusal to be intimate. Guilt is always a bad motivator to be in a relationsship. Of course Sei is not innocent in this too. He let Fujisawa isolate him, he did not force the issue much much earlier and wasted years with a love which could never fulfil him.

After a wrongly sent email Hagiwara & Sei kept in contact per mail and discuss their lives even in sexual matters. As it must happen, they did not know they were co-workers. For reasons they disvover that by chance and have a lough. After another refusal of Kaori Hagiwara felt so deep in a hole, he contacts Sei and they meet and they have one of the most sensual scenes in a BL. I don't mean the touching and kissing, I mean the feelings they convey... I felt how they urge for the touch, to be close, to be one.

Of course there sexual affair did not get unnoticed from Kaori and both of them got in a chaotic situation. While Kaori did scrutinze Hagiwara's phone, Fujisawa went into a jealous rage, raping Sei which was not shown directly but he had the marks afterwards. Sei seems to think it was a deserved punishment which sounds insane for most viewers and left me speechless. While Kaori does not seem to be a bad person per se, she is not able to communicate her desires and problems with her partner. Kaori's talk with Hagiwara ended with the expected breakup because she is unable to comprehend what she has done and how Hagiwara felt. Sadly Sei also pushes Hagiwara away.

At least there is happy end and I'm not happy that we did not get another episode.

Cinematography, direction were on point, the cast acted their roles to perfection, making this drama very special. If you think, they all should have communicated better, don't forget, Japan is different from most countries. Feelings are kept hidden more, problems are often ignored especially in relationsships and due to the work mentality - which is insane for every other country - they often don't have time to do so.

This is for sure a show to binge-watch and I can't tell you how highly i recommand you to do so!

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could have been a masterpiece

Overall: I rated the beginning episodes 9.5 with the amazing production value and acting; however, I was extremely disappointed with how they portrayed something as well as the final episode. 7 episodes about 24 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5039/when-it-rains-it-pours-2025-e01 ; re-aired on Viki April 2025 https://www.viki.com/tv/41013c-when-it-rains-it-pours

Watch Suggestions (to skip the parts that derailed it for me)
- watch episodes 1-5
- episode 6 watch 17:15-end
- episode 7 watch 21:30-end

Content Warnings: past death, off screen *rape (yes it happened, it was in the source material - see below for more info), **abuse

What I Liked
- acting
- awesome dream
- the conversation with pushback on gender stereotypes
- good consent between 2 characters in episode 5
- production value (beautiful cinematography, art in the museum was a visual feast)

Room For Improvement
- *the writers reinforced the myth that people during sexual assault either fight or flee, Sei's reaction and misplaced remorse (it was zero his fault) are common in reality; however, no character actually called a spade a spade leaving room for interpretation (in comments/online I've seen people who didn't think it was rape or that Sei was also toxic instead of an abuse victim/survivor), this was a major writing misstep
- **Fujisawa had a failed redemption arc, he was a rapist and an abuser (he isolated Sei which was emotional abuse and even admitted he was happy isolating Sei)
- too much told in internal monologue
- way too much time in episode 7 spent on Fujisawa and the other friend (the leads had 2 minutes together!)
- I have zero faith the main couple will stay together, they didn't have good communication and we didn't get screentime to see character growth

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It Rained, It Poured & They Sent Emails

Yes, YES, cheating is wrong, but, I’ve never been this happy to see two people cheat. My arse was up at 5am refreshing the app, waiting. That being said, Hagiwara is genuinely a good person. Sei, whether consciously or not, built his own hell. Fujisawa, well, I can’t believe he was the sperm that won the race, and Kaori’, oh Kaori, that woman’s audacity needs to be studied.

OMG the way my heart dropped in the finale when the credits were rolling and Hagiwara deleted Sei's contact. Tears of anger were about to fall before I hovered the mouse and saw there was a bit more left. I would have accepted it, but also cried buckets. Thank you bl gods.

Listen, this drama was one of the most realistic, mature, honest portray of relationships and sex our side of the community ever got. It’s relationship in its rawest form. Unfiltered, and in some cases, very relatable. I started this cuz I liked the title and the poster. I’m glad I added it, cuz we’re only two months into the year and I can confidently say this is one of the best bls of the year.

Look, I know most of us cheered when that taxi stopped in the rain and those two booked a hotel room and did stuff like rabbits. But, let’s be honest, that cheating scene was no cheating scene, it was a love scene. Instead of hot and fast, we got a raw and slow moment that showed their venerability. Everything from Sei’s assurance to Hagiwara’s tears when he finally felt that connection with someone he so craved was done so beautifully. I was speechless of how real and emotional that whole scene was. It brought me way down from my ‘yaaay cheat, cheat, cheat’ chant. I understood the calmness of it, they both needed it after everything.

I love how they got to know each other through their emails. Here they’re finding their soulmates through emails, and me, I put every email I don't recognise in spam without reading. Sorry, soulmate, perhaps in our next life you’d learn to call or text. In the scene when they finally figured out they'd been talking to each other, I was stressed!!! Legit, I put the episode on pause cuz I was scared of their reactions. The air I let out when they acted matured about it and then continued to connect in real life. I love these two so much.

The finale made me hate being a rational person who can be objective. Before that conversation between Fujisawa and Sei, I hated Fujisawa with the burning passion of the sun, but then he started explaining, and I'm forced to understand him. Do I forgive him? hell no, but now I get why he did the things he did, and I'm vexed. Everything from his obsessions to his guilt made me understand his character and I hated it, cuz I wanted to leave the drama hating him 1000 percent, but now it's like 999. Cuz, his reasons doesn't excuse what he did. We will not rationalise abuse. And during that conversation I was glad Sei let him go, but him implying they'd have worked if Fujisawa ignored his morals was... well it is what is it, I suppose.

Anyway, I'm happy for the finale. Glad things were explained and we got to understand where everyone was coming from. Hagiwara reconnecting Sei with his friend while keeping away made me love him more. I’m happy our two leads took that time to sort out what they needed to, figured out their feelings, and then found each other in the rain. Happy tears y'all, happy tears. Such an amazing show, I'm sad it ended after just 7 episodes, I need a special.

PLOT:
This was good. Relationship comes in all forms with lots of problems and I'm glad we got to see this side of it. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, and sometimes we get stuck with people we care about but might not necessarily be the best for us. This was the something different I was waiting for. Emotions were high, and it made me think a lot, so I enjoyed each episode.

Anyway, below is my rant of the characters from episodes 1-6 with no knowledge of the last episode.

CHARACTERS REVIEW EPISODE 1-6

HAGIWARA KAZUAKI: This man was one of the good ones. No, I’m not excusing/forgetting what he did. No matter how you look at it, Hagiwara did cheat on his girlfriend. Still, he was a character deserving of happiness. Look at some of the facts:

Although Hagiwara wanted intimacy he never forced Kaori. He didn’t even get angry at her, and it was after Kaori’s pregnant friend snitched and he confirmed that Kaori didn’t want him that he turned to Sei. Even Kaori was surprised he didn’t trash-talk her in their emails.

Hagiwara is a gentleman. During that cheating… love making scene… when Sei asked him about his first time, that amazing specimen said he didn’t want to talk about the girl's privacy. But of course, there his girlfriend was, announcing his business to the world. The disrespect. Frankly, I’m shocked it took Hagiwara that long to cheat.

The reason I was happy to see Hagiwara cheat on Kaori was because, Hagiwara seemed like the kind who liked to feel an emotional connection with their partners, and Kaori was with him for a long time, so she knew, so for her to deny him that level of intimacy was just cruel, especially when she knew she was never gonna let him touch her again.

I wasn’t surprised he went all in when found that connection with Sei. In that scene when he was crying behind that glass door, asking if he was alone in his feelings, I was right there with him. And when he said, 'you’ve got your secret now,’ I sobbed with him. Glad he didn’t open the door cuz he wouldn’t have been able to let Sei go. My man loves too easily and opened and it hurt seeing him so broken.

NAKARAI SEI: Like Hagiwara said in that hotel room to Sei, “I don’t know if you are brave or cowardly.” Depending on the stand you take, Sei’s character was both. He had me feeling bad for him, and also wanting to slap him with a rubber chicken out of anger.

Sei was brave enough to cheat with Fujisawa, and to looked Fujisawa in the eyes and admit it when he got caught. No, but that whole scene had me rolling, yelling, ‘yes, tell him!’

Fujisawa: “You got a call from your side-piece. He got caught. His girlfriend ran away with his phone.”
Sei: Ah, the cat is out of the bag, oh well.
Fujisawa: So you cheated on me? Slept with another guy?
Sei: Yep, I cheated. I did it, I super done did it. We did it like rabbits, all day and night.

Hahaha no filter whatsoever and he didn’t stutter once. I was so happy when Fujisawa was yelling and demanding answers he straight up said, "Yes, I would have sex with anyone, it could have been anyone, but not you, not today, not here." I clapped, because here’s a man who had wanted Fujisawa for so long but was saying no to him now.

I’ve been wondering if Sei knew he was in an emotionally abusive relationship, or he was too close to see it. In Fujisawa defence, he already made himself clear where he stood when it came to intimacy. Which means Sei stayed in that relationship because he'd hoped Fujisawa would change his mind. Which brings me to my statement of him being the cost of his own pain. Why stay with someone you know can never give you what you want?

Did Sei truly, really, ever loved Fujisawa or did he stay with him out of loyalty? I think Sei mistook appreciation for love. He was happy for the kindness Fujisawa showed him during his parents’ death, and mistook that kindness for love and let that mfker isolated him for selfish reasons.

I felt sad and anger on Sei’s behalf for what that mouth breather Fujisawa did to him, but also at Sei when he apologised the next day like he did something wrong, and was considering quitting his job and moving away with him. Like????

Was Sei afraid to leave because he believed he wouldn’t find better? Hagiwara already confessed to him so he knew there was someone out there who wanted him, so that couldn’t have been it. Or was he scared of losing the security and familiarity that Fujisawa provided? Scared of starting over? Scared of Fujisawa thinking he was ungrateful after what he did for him? Whatever it was, it made him apologize, even had him lying to Hagiwara and trying to hide his injury, which made me angry at him.

“If you cry later, blame it on me,” Hagiwara said while I was shaking my head in judgement at Sei, because dude what the hell? You know how Hagiwara feels about you, you’ve admitted to feeling the same, so what is keeping you? Loyalty, understanding? Blame?

I realised Sei apologised to Fujisawa because he felt he was to blame. That some of the faults was his for cheating, but I’m still so angry, because he did not deserve what happened to him, and he did not have to rationalize that whole event at all. But then again, sometimes we are so close to the problem we don’t see it ourselves, and as outsiders it’s very easy to blame the victim. Still, I wished I was inside the screen, so I could shake him until he came to his senses.

FUJISAWA KAZUAKI: Dude vexed me. This guy hated everything, literally when Sei kept listing things Fujisawa didn’t like, I was like, ‘honey, please, save your voice, tell us the things he does like.’ I felt so bad seeing Sei beg him again and again for intimacy.

Sure, on Fujisawa’s part, he already made his stand clear, so some of the fault was on Sei. I thought Fujisawa was asexual or like sex was just one of the things he hated cuz he’s personality was hating stuff, but it turned out he was just a psycho. I don’t even think he was jealous that Sei turned to Hagiwara for intimacy. It was more like he was angry someone took something he thought was his, which is why he hurt Sei the way he did.

That scene where Sei was begging Fujisawa, telling him to stop hurting him because they couldn’t return to what they were made me sad and angry at the same time. Because Fujisawa, that fker had the nerves to reply. “What did we have?”

Exactly, they had nothing, nothing at all. Then the next day, his arse out there talking about I’m sorry, and I didn’t mean to hurt you. Bish he begged you to stop sooooo many effing times! In hindsight we should have known he was a psycho when he pressed into Sei’s injured nail and made it worse. Plus, he hated everything, like dude, how about hating air, stopping to take it and letting us have some peace? huh?

The nerve of him to even be surprised that Sei cheated in the end. What did he think was gonna happen when he wouldn’t even let Sei take care of himself in his presence? Literally, their whole relationship came off as roommates who tolerated each other, nothing more.

MIZUTANI KAORI: Some people really have all the effing audacity and this girl could sell hers. Not only did she get into a relationship with someone knowing after a while she’d no longer want sex with them, but she also went around telling people about not giving her sweet boyfriend any.

Look, I’m all for the sisterhood protecting one another, and Kaori’s friend straight up telling Hagiwara that she knew they weren’t having sex cuz Kaori said she hated when he acted masculine… #Sidenote: dafug does that even mean? does she not want him to appear/look like a man?? Woman if you feel this way then get one of those silicons and put it back in the closet after you are done using it, cuz you clearly don’t want a man.

Anyway, the point is, I’m all for the sisterhood, but I'm glad that the friend snitched, cuz she was also going through similar problems with her husband and wanted to warn him to save himself.

During that breakup scene at the cafe, I was behind my TV thinking of all the ways I could throw that coffee on Kaori’s head. Talking about you were with a man so I can’t forgive you, it would be unbearable to touch you. Thank God Hagiwara clocked her like, ‘wasn’t it already unbearable for you?’ She wasn’t even touching him, and now she’s like I can’t do it. Do what? You were not doing anything to begin with.

Sure, after she explained herself, it’s obvious she have some problems with intimacy and perhaps her sexuality. What I don’t understand is why she got into a long-term relationship. Woman if repulsion and nausea are how you always feel after being with a man a couple of times, then honey you don’t need a live-in-boyfriend you need tinder, get in and get out, don’t go and give someone’s son blue balls cuz you physically can’t bring yourself to be intimate with them.

Then she went on and said, ‘did you get with the next man you saw cuz I didn’t allowed you?.’ Allowed?? Once again, good job on Hagiwara for putting her in place like, ‘woman, I'm not a pet, not your dog to be allowed stuff.’ At least she did one thing right, letting Hagiwara have the satisfaction of telling her he found someone else and they should break up. Sure, she walked away feeling like she won and was in the right, that she did nothing wrong and Hagiwara broke up with her after he cheated, but I’m still so very happy Hagiwara told her what she wanted to hear. It showed he no longer cared how she took the whole thing, he was free and that was all that mattered.

And what in the dramatic arse thing was that, running away with his phone, and then shipping it to him via mail. Lol.
##End of rant##

Anyway, Hagiwara and Sei were going through it with their partners and I’m glad they found happiness together. They were each other’s missing pieces. I knew they would not be able to walk after their one night. Loved that last scene in the rain in the finale.

This series was one of the best bls I've watched in a long while, and I'd highly recommend it to everyone. I wish to see more work from the two leads, they were amazing in their roles. Hagiwara and Sei are going to stay with me for a long time.

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You’ve Got Male

What if the protagonists of ‘Futtara Doshaburi’ could actually communicate? The following review — in the form of an e-mail thread — imagines just that.

I. From Nakarai to Hagiwara
Ummm… Wrong address, mate.

II. From Hagiwara to Nakarai
Oops...
Now, in real life, this is where our correspondence would end. But we are in a JBL, so, let’s draw it out for 6 more episodes?

III. From Nakarai to Hagiwara
We are indeed! I am therefore obliged to say: you must be a very hard worker, you must be very tired, so well done, thank you, thank you for working hard and for being tired.

IV. From Hagiwara to Nakarai
Otsukaresama! Now it's my turn to say something weird to get this plot going: so, why don’t I ask a complete stranger to divide women — all women — into two groups. I’ll start: women who want to fuck, and women who don’t.

V. Nakarai to Hagiwara
A bit random, but sure. I suppose, women who wear make-up, and women who don’t? Let’s face it. In our world, portrayals of women range from disposable passivity to outright misogyny. I wonder where the needle will fall this time.

VI. Hagiwara to Nakarai
I guess I'm showing my true colours. I’m in a sexless relationship with a woman, you see. That could only mean one of two things: she’s into women, or she’s having an affair.

VII. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Join da club, dawg. My roommate is fit, and I want him to fuck me. But he won’t. That could only mean one thing: he’s a psychopath.

VIII. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Maybe *we* should get together? Not now, because that would put us both out of a job. Perhaps few episodes down the line?
Meanwhile, I met this arsehole at work today. He’s kind of cute. Since you’re so obviously — [to myself: don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it, I won’t say it] — “you know” ... I wonder if you’d fuck him. I mean, *I* would. I think.

IX. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Oh babes, is this flirting? If so, I hate to break it to you: but you might also be, “you know”…
By the way, I met a guy at work too. He’s a wimp. A hot wimp, but a wimp all the same. We stood under the rain for a bit, and he brought me an umbrella. So I’m guessing we’ll get married at the Imperial in 2 months?

X. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Good for you! I stood with someone under the rain too. That arsehole from work. What a coincidence. Wouldn’t it be funny if it were us?

XI. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Babes, we are in a BL… It *is* us!

XII. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Lol. Okay. Let’s do this then. Let’s do the rain thing again, fuck off to somewhere symbolic, like an art museum, and then send each other another “flirty” text. Imagine what would happen if we both *vibrated* at the same time, and our eyes met!

XIII: Nakarai to Hagiwara
I can hear the ovaries exploding already... What next?

XIV: Hagiwara to Nakarai
Well, we have three episodes left. The penultimate one will be the ‘big’ eleventh-hour crisis, where we swear off each other. We know that. So, we have to fuck in the next one, right?

XIV: Nakarai to Hagiwara
A quick learner, I see. I wonder if you’ll be just as quick in bed.
How about this? We try it with our insignificant others one last time, and when it doesn’t work, we'll meet under the rain, utter the title of the programme five times (like witches in Hocus Pocus, only less, "you know"), go to a love hotel, and then gently graze our bodies over each other? That counts as fucking, right?



XVI: Hagiwara to Nakarai
This is what you want me to leave my girlfriend for? Love, I’m going to dick you down. We may not show it on TV, because our producers are seasoned sadists. But it’s happening.

XVII: Nakarai to Hagiwara
Lolz. Bring it on. Is it alright if I just lie there like a wet log when you fuck me? 



XVIII: Hagiwara to Nakarai
How did you know? Have you been talking to people behind my back?
Anyway, now that that's over, how are we going to create the obligatory pre-final crisis?
P. S. About last night, was I any good?



XIX. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Oh, surely we have foreshadowed this with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer? In my case, it must have something to do with my dead parents. Because in a BL, you always need to have dead parents. What is it in your case?
P. S. You were quite sweet, babes. Though not quite a love machine yet. You’re a bit too gentle, though eminently teachable, which is what matters.

XX. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Oh god! We made this big deal in the first episode about sniffing around our partner’s phones. Shit. Where is my phone? Where is it?
P. S. Just wait and see what I do to you after this show is over!

XXI. Nakarai to Hagiwara.
So, stuff happened. I’m not quite sure what. I just woke up with bruises all over my hands and body, and a possible hickie in my neck…

XXII. Hagiwara to Nakarai
What?! Call the police!

XXIII. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Absolutely not! This is a JBL. We don’t go to the police or acknowledge abuse! No, I’m going to use this as an excuse to split up from you, not communicate, and leave the viewers frustrated for another week. That’s how it’s done!

XXIV. Hagiwara to Nakarai
It is? What bell-end came up with that?
Anyway, I’ve broken up with my girlfriend. I still have no idea why she won’t have sex with me. Since we don’t acknowledge the existence of sexual identities here, I can’t use that as a reason. So, who the fuck knows? She does not seem to like the idea of two men together though. She finds it almost revolting. Now, if only there was a word for it.
Now, my love, go to the fucking police!

[A few weeks of non-communication later…]

XXV. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Okay, I think I’ve finally got the hang of it. Here’s how we bring everything to an anticlimactic conclusion: a friend who appears in two scenes to bring us together, your sadness (diddums!), the threat of me moving away, Fujisawa’s behaviour being motivated by dead parents, then rain, rain, symbolism, rain, sun-showers, rain, rain-showers, rain, rain in front of the museum, rain, umbrella, rain, kiss, rain… How does that sound?

XXVI. Nakarai to Hagiwara
Well, well. The student becomes the master! Perfect! And this time, *I’ll* have the umbrella. Geddit?

XXVII. Hagiwara to Nakarai
Genius! I’ll go book a love hotel now for the weekend, and download Deliveroo on my phone. You have lube, right?

***
This review is dedicated to JollyGolly, one of my first friends on MDL.

***
Reader’s Digest:

DO SAY:
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Told you I'll be here forever
Said I'll always be your friend
Took an oath, I'ma stick it out to the end…

DON’T SAY:
Now that it's raining more than ever
Know that we'll still have each other
You can stand under my umburella
You can stand under my umburella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh

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Stop Romanticizing Bad Behavior!

I have seen a lot of BLs but admittedly, this series is one of the most problematic and deeply troubling stories I have ever seen. Cinematically, it is treated so superficially and almost cavalierly one might miss its profundities. This is yet another complex and troubling story on both psychological and emotional levels that is coated in superficialities that, I cried, after watching. Sometimes, series so deeply affect me because I realize how reflective of a society’s mores they are and how hallowing and unpleasant those normative standards seem to an outsider looking in. What looks like acceptable behavior in essence should not be. I find it all so tragic and sad. I wonder again if I am projecting my own set of scruples onto a society that does not think like I do. But I honestly do not think so. Some behaviors ought to be universally condemned as wrong and a society, any and all, needs to agonize over considering that not everything that is standard is good. You can read my full review of this series at BLBliss.com.

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A story about connection and intimacy : I wish it would have been longer to amp the angst <3

I quite enjoyed this Japanese BL which features an unconventional relationship between two characters suffering in their respective love life and finding comfort and solace in each other. Their pathway to happiness is a muddy one and the script does a good job at making the viewer understand their pain. There are some points where I feel the scenario could have been better, more specifically regarding the support roles and their motivations. I feel that some of their choices (especially the reason behind the attitude of Fujisawa Kazuaki) was a cope out to absolve the character and explain quickly his behavior.

The acting was good overall. Muto Jun (who plays Hagiwara Kazuaki, one of the main leads) has eyes that emotes so well. I was pretty impressed by him. I found the acting of Ito Asahi (who plays Nakarai Sei, the other main lead) suitable for the much more closed off role he has to play...But I think he could have done more in the emotional part to amp the angst, especially toward the ending.

Regarding the more intimate moments, they were okay but I would have wanted the tension and the passion to be even more palpable. Given the need the main characters had for each other and the lack of intimacy being such a central part of the plot, the directing of those scenes felt a bit too tame. The production value overall felt relatively low-budget and minimalist, but it managed to create some impactful moments (the museum scenes, all the rain sequences referring to the title).

I would recommend this to people that are looking for a BL with a more mature story. The series is not without flaws as I feel the conclusion was a bit too quick and I think an epilogue would allow to better round up the drama. But I truly loved how the characters connected despite being already committed in relationships and how the story focused on the intimacy issues in established couples. I enjoyed the murky and painful aspects of the the relationship, but you might want to check the triggers if you have any.

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The thaumaturgic power of rain and electronic messages

The tetrad made up of a man who lives a life without intimacy with his girlfriend, a man unilaterally in love with his childhood friend, the development of a romance through words and rain as a symbol of renewal and growth is totally for me new in the film and television world.
Such a simple premise is served in 'Futtara Doshaburi' ('When It Rains It Pours') by Japanese directors Takahashi Natsuki, Tomita Miki and the team behind 'Jack O' Frost', 'My Personal Weatherman' and 'Takara no Vidro', with enormous tranquility and serenity, taking its time, simmering a dramatic crescendo that does not squeak in a single moment, to tell a complicated story that explores the complexities of unrequited love, stagnant relationships, and adult sexuality.
Based on the novel of the same name by Michiho Michi and scripted by Hiraki Mari, the starting point is stated by Hagiwara Kazuaki in the first minutes of the pilot episode, when he tells his girlfriend Mizutani Kaori (Akita Shiori): "I sent an email restaurant list for the coworkers meeting. I was going to email it to myself, but I sent it to the wrong email address".
The plot immediately introduces us to the personal history of each protagonist: Hagiwara Kazuaki has a two-year relationship with his girlfriend, but they have grown apart. The magic disappeared long ago and commitment has replaced love. He wants to have sex with her, but she subtly rejects him without saying a single word. It looks like a marriage headed for divorce. First separate beds, then separate rooms.
If Hagiwara Kazuaki and his girlfriend's relationship died a long time ago, why haven't they done anything about it, when they are both painfully aware of it? Haven't they broken up for good because they both know they can't fix it anymore, but they also don't want to move on and break up? Do they choose to stay tied in a relationship that is no longer working for either of them because they are afraid of being alone afterwards and afraid of starting over with someone else? Are they waiting for a push to break up? These are questions that run through my head.
Sei, the person who mistakenly receives the email, shares a flat with his platonic love Fujisawa Kazuaki (Matsumoto Hiroki), who, despite knowing that his roommate is in love with him, ignores his intentions and has declared that he will always be there for him his side to take care of him, but despising a romantic relationship.
Is Fujisawa Kazuaki asexual and aromantic? Is he in love with Sei but not able to admit it, or does the deal he proposed somehow work for him while not satisfying Sei, who wants a real connection and needs to feel physically loved to be happy? Isn't his accepting such an agreement a sign of how much Fujisawa Kazuaki means to him and how much he should love himself more? These and other questions I ask myself as the images pass before my eyes.
Despite working in the same company, Hagiwara Kazuaki and Nakarai Sei are two strangers who regularly have a conversation at their workplace about work issues.
Since the mistake with the email, both continue to have a strange relationship in which they confide their concerns by email, without knowing the other's true identities. At first, the two meet secretly in that dangerous and romantic place, such as an electronic message, to get to know each other better, but without intentions of any kind.
The friendship between both protagonists is built little by little. They match at a work party where the two drink alcohol and chat pleasantly, and then share an umbrella in the rain. Finally, they visit a museum where they observe, ecstatic, a female statue, seeing it reminds them of their own lives, realizing that people can never escape sexual frustration.
And what begins as a simple message quickly becomes an open and liberating connection between two people who want love, sex and living a passion. A passion of two people wondering if it is okay to continue with one of them with their partner and the other tied to their platonic love, or to let themselves be carried away by what they feel for each other.
The first thing that strikes you when watching 'Futtara Doshaburi' is its complete lack of pretensions. The directors have a great asset in their leading couple, the immense Muto Jun, known for being a member of Genin wa Jibun ni Aru and for participating in the series 'Given', and Ito Asahi, popular among lovers of the genre for giving life to Kikuchi in 'Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko'), as Hagiwara Kazuaki and Sei, respectively, who as great actors, set aside all the possible divism, appearing on screen as what they really intend: two characters faced with the great doubt of their lives.
Over time, their relationship becomes a romantic love story that will take them away from their routine lives and end up forcing them to make the decision to stop seeing each other or break up, one with his girlfriend and the other with the boy he has been in love with for some time.
The simplicity - a term that fits the series perfectly - with which both performers bring their characters to life is perfectly combined with the staging of Takahashi Natsuki and Tomita Miki, who use many extremely subtle resources to tell a story outlined to showcase the two charismatic and popular actors, and also demonstrate on screen the enormous rapport they have.
The respective personal lives of the protagonists with the person they have tied to their side are shown, at first, with each of the couples within two different planes. However, after the first approach between the two, the directors show you again in their lives, and separate them from their partners, with a simple cut to the shot. Subtle and clear way to show the beginning of the breakdown of relationships.
Ito Asahi and Muto Jun achieve such a degree of chemistry and complicity in the series that it is impossible not to see the love that exists between them. Both create a couple of ordinary human beings in all the complexity of their character, without us viewers knowing, even in general terms, significant details of their pasts.
It is in the way they listen to each other, speak, laugh, move, look at each other, and surprise each other when they discover each other as the person with whom they have been having a relationship by email when they send each other a message while both are close, where we see the whole person and the conflicts they face, which are something as close as what to do when love appears in a life established in the comfortable routine, and how to deal with feelings once they have altered our existence.
Matching the lives of the two protagonists, the series talks about clouds (Kumo, 雲), which in Japan symbolize the impermanence and transience of life, reflecting the Buddhist concept that everything changes constantly, and rain does not change only as a symbol, but also for its ritual and acting character.
The creators have taken a very Japanese concept about the power of rain to capture it in the series: the two main characters need to renew their worn-out relationships, green their meaningless lives.
And rain, due to its incessant repetition, has a purifying effect that washes away human miseries.
'Futtara Doshaburi' is a perfect example of portraying a story about loving relationships in which social conventions—one of the great enemies of what we call love—are ruthlessly questioned.
The series talks about how great love is when it comes, at the least expected moment, into the lives of two people. The Japanese directors idealize the feeling, almost in a transcendental way, as the greatest thing that the two characters experience in their routine lives.
Knowing that these two will end up in a romance, I would only like to ask for true peace of mind when the two previous relationships end, without going into unnecessary moral or ethical pamphlets. If things ended differently than Hagiwara Kazuaki and Nakarai Sei initially planned, it is because they were both not just looking for sex, but also love, connection, validation and acceptance.
It is well known that love does not understand ages, marital statuses or social conventions and everything seems to indicate that 'Futtara Doshaburi' corroborates this for the umpteenth time.
An excellent romantic series in which the thaumaturgic power of rain and electronic messages contributes to two people with their respective responsibilities within a failed relationship, one, and the other without even starting, ending up madly in love with each other and facing the eternal dilemma of deciding whether to end their courtship or their platonic relationship, because third ways are usually deeply unsatisfactory.

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With you, when it rains it pours love!

This is a story of two emotionally and sexually frustrated guys finding their way out of their toxic relationships and finding peace within each other.

From the beginning, not only the MLs but also the audience got frustrated by their partners. It was hard to see people getting denied the love they were craving. Viewers speculated infidelity was finding its way to rise, and immediately got alerted to how wrong it would be. But to our surprise, most of the viewers collectively agreed on things that were once hard to accept. Unnoticeably, the line between infidelity and choosing one's happiness faded in front of our eyes.

For me, I quite enjoyed the narratives, the frustration, and the dwelling between right and wrong. I wished it was a bit longer (10 eps) and had shown more aspects and depths of each character. I wanted to see the background stories of each character so that judging them from a viewer's perspective would have been easier. As for acting, each and every actor tried their best and that's why it became an enjoyable show in the end.

Overall, it was a bite-sized bingeable BL that can fit right into a busy hectic schedule which will eventually give you 100% satisfaction visually and emotionally.

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Intriguing story, great cast and acting, but the finale was a tad rushed and gratuitous

I had consistently given this show a 9 rating, untill the last episode, which seemed rushed, and a little too good and perfect an ending for a story so messy so far. So, I'm downgrading the final score to be 8

BL-needle score: 7. Moderate BL-ness, interspersed with serious and interesting themes

An intriguing story on two lonely people who feel unloved, and stuck in their sex-less relationships. Feeling slighted by their respective partners, and unable to withstand the undeniable attraction between them, on a rainy night, they break open the dam of pent-up desires, emotions and frustration. Raises important questions around desire, control, norms and power-games in relationships.

Sei is attracted to Kazauki and lives with him as in a relationship...but Kauzauki was clear that they can never have sex or physically intimate...Sei feels cared-for and protected, but unfulfilled...starts to question and feel caged...Hagiwara has an apparently loving girlfriend who he is expected to marry, but they have completely stopped having sex...whenever he makes an advance, she avoids it indirectly.....which is starting to make him feel unloved, shut out, and slighted.... with a simmering frustration and anger that seems to be growing...

An accidental email gets Sei and Hagiwara talking...and as often lonely people do, they keep talking, unaware that they are actually office colleagues..even though they meet in the professional space, they do not know that their email-mate is this same person......Eventually their pent-up sexual and emotional frustration bursts forth as they act on the undeniable attraction and need....even though they initially agree to keep up with their respective relationships, things get more complicated as Hagiwara confesses that it is beyond just sex for him....Sei, even though palpably unsure about his own heart, makes an attempt to stick to his relationship..........until, as expected, their partners find out.....

The series was almost perfect till the last episode or may be teh last two episodes, I would say. It felt like they felt compelled to redeem all the characters and made it look like a gift wrapped finale, which was not to my taste because I was primed for the mess that it seemed to be headed for....mess that helps you clear confusion, and understand your heart better. Instead they did an 'All's well that ends well' and 'everyone gets to be happy (almost)' kinda finale ...which got me disappointed and borderline annoyed. Some characters need not be redeemed, even if it is important to depict why they are the way they are.

Anyway, I would still recommend the show because of the stellar acting and also because it raises questions and creates conversations around the spectrum of sexual expressions (or the lack of it), desires, social norms around them and how relationship power games manifest in that canvas.....

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Bonding through Sexual Frustration

What happens when two sexually frustrated men find each other accidentally and open up honestly to each other? Sizzling chemistry and sexual tension!

Cheating is never the answer to the problem 99.9% of the time and we all know that. “When It Rains, It Pours” does successfully paint a sympathetic picture on our main leads for me (and probably most viewers) to not hate them, but to root for them to be together.

The acting all around is great. I am quite attracted to Muto Jun, and I’ve never seen him in any other drama. His portrayal of Hagiwara Kazuaki shows sincerity and he’s just so darn handsome. Hagiwara Kazuaki is a warm and kind-hearted person. Aside from the fact that he cheated on his girlfriend, he’s a sweetheart and a great boyfriend. His warmness contrasts with Nakarai Sei’s more guarded personality. Although the real life initial meeting is a little weird and awkward, the accidental emails are sincere and honest. I’m so glad that once the masks behind the emails were taken off, it did not dampen their honesty and chemistry. In fact, their scenes together are sizzling with chemistry. When they finally opened up to each other emotionally and physically, it was beautiful and sensual. The tenderness that Hagiwara shows contrasts big time with the jealousy that the boyfriend shows Nakarai Sei.

The drama is not without faults though. Due to the short runtime, there’s not enough screen time dedicated to the other halves of the leads. The drama is not making me sympathetic to them not wanting to get intimate. I needed more background story so that I could maybe feel more conflicted. But with how the drama goes, rooting for breakups is a no brainer. I also wanted a little more of the leads together in the last episode. They spent way too much time apart and as a fan rooting for them, I feel a little cheated and dissatisfied.

Overall, I have a great time watching “When It Rains, It Pours”. It’s a short and easy binge, with excellent chemistry and acting. The drama doesn’t make me hate anyone but instead wanting to root for resolution, release and happiness for all parties.



Completed: 3/21/2025 - Review #558

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