When It Rains, It Pours

A Quiet Yearning Between Nakarai & Hagiwara

When It Rains, It Pours feels incredibly grounded. One of the main characters is in a relationship where his girlfriend still loves him, but—like many couples—the intimacy has faded. Their relationship has lost its spark; they’re basically just living under the same roof with a completely dead sex life.

Then there’s Nakarai—a guy who craves attention, affection, and intimacy. But his best friend can’t give him any of that because he doesn’t love Nakarai romantically; he only looks after him out of guilt.

Yes, the series involves cheating, but it’s hard to put the blame entirely on the main characters. Let’s be honest: sex and emotional intimacy are essential parts of a relationship.

I genuinely love this series because of its unique premise—I haven’t seen anything quite like it. It’s not a feel-good story, but it tackles the complexity of relationships so well. The characters are morally grey and imperfect, just like real people. Nakarai and Hagirawa’s relationship starts as a professional one before gradually deepening. It isn’t rushed; it’s built on friendship and trust. Their consensual intimacy makes sense because they’re on the same page and they both need that connection.

This is one of those shows where every character has depth. If you’re open-minded, you’ll understand what each of them is going through.

Cheating is wrong, but it happens in real life, and I don’t see any issue with it being portrayed in media—especially when it’s done thoughtfully and realistically. However, for me, if you feel your relationship drifting and you’re tempted to cheat, it’s better to end the relationship first.

Overall, this series is truly compelling. It kept me hooked from start to finish. Both leads and supporting actors did an amazing job—their performances feel natural and grounded. The cinematography, direction and OST are perfect, and the rainy-season concept adds a unique touch. It's truly a must-watch. 💖 🌧️

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Loads of raw emotions

This was brilliant!
It's not a simple story about desire or sex, it has too many layers of emotions and feelings that are lost between lovers.

Characters are too complicated, you feel them and understand the frustration of wanting what you can't have, the feeling of missing a piece of a puzzle and the need to fill it's place.

The two leads were the missing piece of each others life.

Cast was amazing, chemistry was great and the whole thing was perfect.
It's like a sleeping volcano that erupted suddenly after being calm and silent on the surface for ages.

Highly recommended ❣️~

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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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So beautiful yet so broken

This is one of those drama that so beautiful, that I think as a sucker romantic, could be one of my favorite. It have a lot of impact, deep meaningful conversation between the MLs.
Yet somehow, this drama so broken, that have a lot of TW: cheating, sexual assault.

I want to preface this by saying I do not condone the cheating part, but I can tell that this drama telling us that this is what happen when you don't appreciate your partner, you taking them for granted, you don't communicate to each other.

That last episode though, it really gives perfect ending to all the character, and also shining hagiwara's love to sei.

And the soundtrack... The ending soundtrack is what makes it perfect of ending every episode, and even in between scenes.

Last, I want to thank you to the writer, the director, and the actors, who make this drama awesome and makes me catch all the feeling from it.

If you are like me, that a sucker for romantic, please give this a try to watch, just remember the TWs!

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IT'S WORTH WATCHING

So .... this drama revolves around two men, both in relationships: Nakarai Sei with a man and Hagiwara Kazuaki with a woman. ........ and both work in the same company, but in different departments. Both have been in their relationships for a long time, one could say stable relationships, but there is no longer sexual intimacy in any relationship, and there goes the frustration.
At the beginning, Kazuaki's relationship was normal, his partner still seems to like sex with Kazuaki, but somehow along the way she started not wanting any physical touch, something that obviously frustrates Kazuaki to the maximum (in my opinion, I think it would frustrate anyone). He keeps trying, but she always refuses without saying clearly that she wants a relationship without sex.
On the other hand is Nakarai Sei's relationship with his partner, which from the beginning was established that there would be no sexual contact, which at that time Nakarai Sei agreed to because of the abuses and his situation - him being gay.
And somehow, by a funny coincidence of fate, the two (coworkers and sexually frustrated) start to communicate through e-mails, that's how they discover that the heterosexual does not have sex with his girlfriend, and him, the gay, does not have sex with his partner. After discovering who is on the other end of the e-mail, they accept each other and somehow starts a friendship and continues to talk by e-mail and phone. I liked this moment because it was something very normal, like ... ok ... this is us.
And on a rainy night ... Hagiwara Kazuaki, after being rejected again by his girlfriend, calls Nakarai Sei and they meet ... and went to a hotel where they had sex. Here ... although very normal and expected, but in reality how many heterosexuals would accept so easily to have sex with another man, even out of frustration. Somehow here it seemed to me that Hagiwara Kazuaki really wanted to have sex with Nakarai Sei ... and not out of frustration, but that he simply wanted this. Probably for this reason they stayed at the hotel for 2 days and had sex non-stop. And even if they discuss that nothing will change in their relationship, everything will remain as "one weekend stand" it seems that they develop feelings for each other, from here I wonder how heterosexual the heterosexual was and obviously their partners find out about the escapade. And we have 2 situations:
1. - Hagiwara Kazuaki ' s lover is very forgiving and somehow she tries to reconcile with him, maybe because she realizes that she is the one to blame in their relationship, being the one who refuses sexual intimacy, but obviously he breaks up with her, because he already had feelings for Nakarai Sei.
2. - Nakarai Sei's partner rapes him in a moment of anger and jealousy. And even if everyone was upset that he could do something like that... well rage is surprising ... but in reality something like this is very possible to happen. So Nakarai Sei's partner told him from the beginning that he doesn't want sex, that it's a barrier he can't cross, and Nakarai Sei was ok with this. Soooooo ..... Nakarai Sei's partner didn't have the right to feel lied to, cheated on, angry? (in reality I really think that this was a scene that could really happen between a couple in this situation - and even worse).

The ending was beautiful. Not too syrupy, they took their time, not too little, not too much, exactly as it should be.
Except that obviously we would have needed one more episode in which we could see them together in everyday life as a couple who love each other and have sex and accept each other.

So the beauty of this series, I think, consisted in the realistic description of this 2 different couples and their lives, how non-communication ruins the relationship, how compromises ruin the relationship and that in fact you have to accept what you are, as you are and what you want (from yourself, from the relationship), and that you actually have to communicate to have a successful relationship.

It was beautiful!

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When Staying Becomes the True Compromise

Futtara Doshaburi takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the messy grey areas of love, loyalty, and self-denial. At what point does a connection cross the line? The show doesn’t just ask the hard questions—it forces us to sit with the answers, all while balancing tension and raw emotion.

We have two individuals in very loveless situations—I wouldn’t even call what they have going on a relationship. To me, they’ve done no wrong. In fact, the only wrong they’ve done is betraying themselves and how they truly feel by not prioritizing their happiness and walking away from their current situations. But we all know that, for some, it’s not the easiest thing to do.

My favorite aspect of this series so far is how it portrays these complex emotions and encourages viewers to reflect on them. I know some might be quick to judge or invalidate their feelings because of their own beliefs and ideas of “infidelity,” but the show challenges us to look beyond that and consider the deeper struggles they face.

All I can hope for in the upcoming episodes is for them to become a tad bit braver and finally put themselves first.

I’d love to mention the amazing cinematography and pacing, but I’ll save that for after the series ends, because I’ll definitely be back to write another review.

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Not the usual JBL that I watch

Disclaimer

What I am writing here are my views and thoughts about this series. Some of you may not like it. That does not give you the right to try to come at me with your opinions on why this series should get a higher or lower score and why it is better/worse than I think it is. You have your own opinions, and I have mine. Kindly respect that.

I would first like to say that I usually don't like series/movies that deal with cheating unless the cheater gets their just desserts. That being said, I actually like this series. It's more than two men, who are both in relationships with other people, coming together and cheating. Both of their relationships are not offering something that they both desire/crave/want – intimacy with their loved ones. And yes, it may be a shock to some viewers, but I honestly believe that they do love their respective partners.

I mean, I personally believe that they should have broken up with their partners before this relationship developed as far as it did – but, as I mentioned before, they loved their significant others. In the span of seven episodes, we the viewers are able to see how much time they have expressed their desires to be intimate with them. I understand the reason for Kaori and her desires for no intimacy. I honestly didn't fully comprehend Fujisawa's own, though. But what I took from this was that these two couples knew that they had an intimacy problem. One partner wanted it, while the next one didn't. As such, someone from the two relationships should have called for a breakup, or at least Kario/Fujisawa should have explained to their boyfriends the reason behind why they don't want to have any intimacy with them.

That being said, I can understand why some people love this series and why some don't. I'm not here to try to change anyone's mind for them to either love or hate this series, as we all may understand this series differently. I'm just here to say that I liked it, and if anyone wants a JBL recommendation that's a bit different from what is usually portrayed, I will recommend this series to them.

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not great but also not bad, watchable

so i will start with what i disliked then go back to what i liked

disliked:
-the chemistry, idk they do look awkward together
-im not a fan of the ending, i dont like when they get together at the last minute as i want to see their lives and issues as a couple and how they make up
-someone got away with r*pe so easily
-Fujisawa's reason for holding back and not loving the ml properly wasnt convincing to me

what i liked:
-the plot does look interesting and mostly realistic
- the characters look more human, i like watching gray characters even if its the mls, no one is perfect they dont have to be either white or black nor a hero or villain
-i was thinking that the actor Ito Asahi looked familiar to me so it turned out he acted in A Man Who Defies the World of BL, thats a pleasant surprise

*notes: if you are planning to watch , be aware that there is miscommunication, r*pe, cheating, this is a mature serie that mention/hint those topics

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Straight to my favourites, but I do feel unsatisfied

This series took me by surprise, because I really did not expect anything much when I started watching it, but quickly found myself looking forward impatiently to another new episode each week.
The writing, directing, even acting (which is not always the case for me in a lot of current Japanese dramas) was good. I loved the nuanced approach to human emotions and relationships. Two main protagonists had great chemistry pretty much from the start (even during the "friendly coworkers" and "unromantic panpals" phase), so I had no problem believing they'd fall for each other. Contrary to some opinions, the topic of cheating was not romanticised, nor any of the four main characters was villainized. If anything, in some cases they were given more grace than deserved.

"When it rains in pours" is a great example of how a minimalist approach to a storytelling can bear amazing results. The pacing is rather slow, minus the final episode (more about that later), and majority of storytelling is executed by simple conversations that feel very every-day-like, quiet scenes with little to no talking and visual symbolism. Yet it manages to convey a multitude of emotions and dynamics, from supressed desire and disappointment, to avoidance of confrontation, to toxicity within relationship and psychological abuse. At some point I stopped thinking of this drama as a BL show, and just watched on as a case study in psychology (I intend to rewatch it and overanalyse the hell out of it XD)

If anything was underwhelming about "When it rains it pours", it was the final episode. I can't really say I hated it, but it left me unsatisfied. On the one hand, I felt like I was watching an epilogue, as most of the tension and momentum was gone. On the other hand, it still felt rushed, especially regarding revealing Fujisawa's background story. I felt like his character especially would've benefited from one more episode and more gradual reveal. But that's just me.

All in all, however, this was a very good drama, with surprising degree of maturity and nuance.

Also, I have a thing for stories that make use of framing in storytelling, mirror beginnings in the end and give you a feeling of a complete narration. Thus, I absolutely loved how at the end of the final episode it was Sei who brought the umbrella to Hagiwara and their little conversation about exchanging emails.

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Imperfect Love in a Perfect Storm

I can’t believe I ended up rooting for a couple who cheated, but here we are. The show makes it painfully easy to understand why they crossed that line. If my partner kept dodging intimacy, I’d spiral into “what’s wrong with me?” too. The way their connection grows felt raw and honest, and that first night together read less like scandal and more like two people finally being seen.

That said, the finale let me down. The series deserves a higher rating overall, but that last episode took the wind out of me. I still love the concept and how they used misdirected emails to build tension, but I’m baffled by the whole “wrong recipient” moment. How did no one double-check who they were emailing? Maybe I’m just nosy, but I always peek at the “to” line.

What really worked are the slow burn through messages, the tenderness when the masks finally drop, and the way the show treats desire, with care, not shock value. The “cheating” scene wasn’t filmed as something sleazy. It was quiet, vulnerable, and honestly beautiful. Performances were strong across the board, and the mood/cinematography did a lot of heavy lifting.

Where it fumbled are the rush at the end and the uneven focus. We spend too much time away from the leads right when we need to see them talk, heal, and choose each other with intention. I wanted more space for consequence and growth, not a speed-run to closure. Also, the narrative skirts around calling certain behavior what it is. When harm happens, clarity matters, leaving it ambiguous invites confusion instead of conversation.

Even with those gripes, I’m glad I watched. It’s messy in ways that feel human, and the central relationship has enough warmth and chemistry to carry you through the rain. I’ll be thinking about these two for a while and wishing the finale had trusted their story as much as the early episodes did.

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