When It Rains, It Pours

I ABSOLUTELY DESPISE THIS SERIES

I only watched it for Jun Muto whoever says this is a good series are just talking and speaking about the explicit scenes that’s it, nothing interesting. I didn’t drop the series because I thought that maybe it will get better throughout the episodes but that obviously wasn’t the case so I wouldn’t recommend I would NEVER rewatch. The actors were great and really handsome but all that for what ? I would say this is corn without plot. Was so embarrassing this changed my view from Jun it is THAT BAD 😭 The acting skills were alright, nothing special. I felt more like watching a hetero series than a real bl. Cringed most of the time and it was pretty predictable. I knew from the start how it’s gonna end without watching the trailer nor edits. Really bad, wouldn’t recommend. Give Jun another chance to act this is not it.

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Sometimes we dont get the closure that we crave for

I felt the need to write something under this piece, maybe just to remind myself why I gave it a 10.

Let me start off by saying that I did not know what I was getting into when I started the serie. At first I was attracted by the title, which I love. The comparassion between the proverb and the action in this is simply good.
We have two complex characters with their own complex relationships.
Let me talk about both:
-Hagiwara and Kaori, your normal couple at first, two people who undeniably love each other, no matter what everyone says. A sexless relationship that is but they still love each other. Its interesting to see how Hagiwara changes throughout the serie in his relationship and also his mindset. I wanted to hate Kaori so bad, I thought I would, like in any BL ever but I just couldnt. Let me explain her, Throughout the plot, we dont know the reason Kaori doesnt want to have sex with Hagiwara but it still makes sense. I dont think it was ever a problem that she doesnt want to have sex, it was just that it was not communicated good enough. I didnt blame her one second, seeing how she actually cares for him, if you dont want to have sex, you dont have to, but you should also communicate why. I tried to portray their relationship as something else and look at them maybe like a mom-son or a brother-sister relationship but they didnt fit. I thought -maybe she just sees him as her brother- but it was not that. I feel like the author also had a hard time with her character, making her look bad when saying that she doesnt like it -when he gets masculine- or whatever was the translation, but at the same time, her giving her reasons at the end, making her look like she cared for him all of this time. She also was really offput by the fact that Hagiwara cheated on her with a man which I feel like it can come from either internalized homophobia, her pride or the fact that she realized that its not just sex Hagiwara is dissatisfied with (seeing how he could just hook up with another woman if he wanted sex but he was actually unhappy in general). I fear I cannot dislike her. She feels very human. Lets not forget tho that Hagiwara cheated on Kaori at the end of the day, when he couldve talked with her about all these things before.
-Sei and Kazuaki, an even more complex couple, who could, in my opinion, be even more developed. I was actually shocked to see that Kazuaki (from what I understood) actually liked Sei but he refrained from his feelings, afraid he might damage him even more. Kazuaki was the one who stayed by Seis side the whole time and while this doesnt justify his actions later, its true that he actually cared for Sei and was afraid of feeling more, in case Sei only attached to him because of his trauma. It seems to be revealed that Kazuaki sees Sei as someone very fragile and thats why he is so taken aback and reluctant everytime Sei mentions something sexual around him. I find his reactions to be exagerated of course, and I think the actor build such impecable temper for the role, because we see this side of him from the begginning until the end, so we shouldnt be shocked when he reacts like that in bed. Same as Kaori goes for Kazuaki too. In the beggining I didnt know what was the reason he didnt want to have sex with Sei but at the same time I didnt blame him. If you dont want to have sex, you dont want. Its good that its communicated but you should also say why. But again, I didnt blame him. He really said all of his intentions from the start and I appreciated that. I actually wanted a real flashback of how they met or how they interacted before, like the first couple had. Their relationship developes into something controling and toxic and it is not to forget that Sei was RAPED by Kazuaki. That is unforgettable, and is not justified by anything.

I saw some people saying that its not really adressed the fact that Sei got raped or the fact that Kaori didnt take responsability and I have one hard truth to share. That is how life is. That doesnt mean that thats how it should be. I assumed everything is intentional. Especially since Sei didnt want to put a bad light over Kazuaki. He respected him, he liked him. Maybe it really never got adressed (and maybe this will develope into a trauma for him and a problem in the relationship with Hagiwara, that is, if this was real). And especially since Hagiwara also respected Kaori and liked her for a long time. I imagined that it happened just like in real life=you get in a fight with someone close and you want to tell them so many things and make them feel bad but when you actually see them you just want to get it over with because of the history you have together.

I liked the interactions between Hagiwara and Sei. The actors did a fantastic job making me love or hate them. They all seemed very genuine and normal. Also the conversations felt very real and the characters were made very mature. This show portraits perfectly the importance of compability and especially sexual compability. Even if you love each other, you have to be on the same wave on each level. Also this perception of sex as being dirty and disgusting is so real. I dont need to elaborate on that.

Dont forget that a huge stepping stone, which might not seem, was the interaction with the couple friends with the pregnant lady that actually revealed a side of reality that not many can handle. I believe it was put there to give an isolated example of the same situation so that we can look at it more objectively.

I could talk about this more and Im sure I forgot a lot of things but for myself, this is my hectic review.

For a good series to be good, the characters shouldnt be visualized as perfect, each with their own complexity. We dont always get the closure we want like talking about the scars that Sei was left with and how are those going to affect his next relationship. We shouldnt see this as a romance but more as a piece of life.

I gave this series a rating for how it made me feel.

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“Not Everything Are Rainbows and Sunshine” — When It Rains, It Pours Review

Okay, so first off, I’m really sorry for reviewing this late 😭. I was supposed to post this back on February 21, 2025, but I just got busy. Anyway, let’s get into it.

Starting with the production — honestly, it’s really well done. The visuals are calm but beautiful, the audio is clean, and the whole mood of the series fits the kind of emotional story they’re telling. So yeah, I liked the production a lot.

Now about the story… whew. This one’s deep. It’s not your usual fast-paced, fluffy BL. It really makes you think about how people feel and how easy it is to be blind to love — especially when you’ve been holding onto someone who doesn’t really care about you anymore.

Let’s talk about Sei. I don’t think he’s a bad person at all. He’s just… stuck. Like, when you’ve been with someone for years and you’ve convinced yourself they’re your only hope, you start to block out any new love that comes your way. That’s what I felt with him — it’s sad, but real.

And that roommate? Nah. That guy is toxic 😩. He didn’t want Sei to move on, didn’t want him to be happy with anyone else. It took me until like episode 3 or 4 to really understand what was happening there. But when it clicked, it hit hard.

Then there’s Kazuaki. His situation is a whole other thing. I think deep down, he knew his girlfriend didn’t love him anymore, but he kept lying to himself. Like he was forcing it to work even when all the signs were there. And when he started falling for Sei? That felt real. It wasn’t loud or dramatic — it was soft and gradual, and that made it more emotional for me.

So overall, I’d say the story isn’t for everyone, but if you watch closely and pay attention to the quiet emotions, it really hits. I had to watch it twice to fully get it, so if it confused you at first — you're not alone 😅.

Really good series. Emotional. Quiet. But meaningful.

Still thinking about it 🌧️❤️

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Recommended

Honestly, I still don’t know how I feel about this drama. It was amazing—something I can’t say for most of the shows I watch. The plot was interesting and felt kinda fresh, not something that’s been done a million times before.

That being said, I do have some issues with the cheating aspect. It’s not something I agree with, but at the same time, I can’t say I fully disagreed with it in this context… which makes me feel like a terrible person. The whole show exists in this morally gray area—what the characters do is something I’m completely against, yet I still found myself sympathizing with them and understanding their perspective.

Honestly, I loved and hated this show because of that. It really messes with your emotions, but in the best way. Definitely a must-watch.

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Meaningful Story, Unsatisfying Execution

I liked When It Rains, It Pours and really appreciated the serious topic it explored. The story about love, sex, and emotional needs felt very real to me. I deeply understood Hagiwara — for me, love and sexual connection can’t be separated, so his struggle made complete sense.
Still, I felt unsatisfied rather than disappointed. My biggest issue was the rushed ending. I personally don’t enjoy when the main couple reconnects only in the last minutes of the final episode. The story needed more time for emotional processing, choice, and responsibility. One extra episode — or even more time in the finale — could have made the ending far more emotionally fulfilling.
Another point that held me back emotionally was Sei’s portrayal. I understand that the character is meant to be reserved, and I usually have no problem connecting with quiet or emotionally restrained characters. I don’t need exaggerated expressions — I can read emotions through the eyes alone. Unfortunately, in this case, I couldn’t feel Sei’s inner emotions through the actor’s eyes, which made it hard for me to fully believe the depth of his feelings. As a result, the chemistry between the leads felt unbalanced to me.
The cheating aspect was complicated. I usually dislike cheating, but I understood the situation here. So I was not against of it. However, I would have preferred a different approach: watching them slowly fall in love while still in their relationships, then choosing to end those relationships themselves — not because they were exposed, but because they wanted to be honest and start a new life together. That sense of responsibility and agency would have made the story much more powerful for me.
Overall, it’s a good and meaningful series with a happy ending, but the rushed conclusion and emotional distance kept it from fully satisfying me.

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A Great Adaptation Indeed!

Relationships are complex. They aren’t perfect, but they require communication, trust, and understanding.

In the Japanese BL drama When It Rains, It Pours, Hagiwara Kazuaki (Muto Jun) leads a life devoid of intimacy with his girlfriend—until a small mistake alters his path. An email, mistakenly sent to his coworker Nakarai Sei (Iti Asahi), sparks an unexpected connection. What begins as a simple exchange soon blossoms into a raw and liberating bond between two individuals yearning for the love, desire, and intimacy they’ve been missing.

At first glance, When It Rains, It Pours might seem like a story about infidelity, but as the drama unfolds, it becomes clear that it’s about much more. It’s a deep exploration of four people and the personal truths they’ve clung to so tightly that their relationships have suffered as a result. The fundamental bonds that sustain a relationship were never truly formed, leaving each character struggling to move forward.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2025/02/28/when-it-rains-it-pours-series-review-ep-3-to-7/

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When (lack of) communication gets a drama adaptation.

ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: review #11 ♡

When it rains, it pours is a drama that kept me eager to watch it until I binge-watched it in one day. The story, characters, pace, emotions: everything was in the right amount. And I couldn't be happier to have all the episodes to watch at once.

This drama embodies the (lack of) communication. There's so much hinted, so little made clear and expressed to the people around. In this regard, one might think this drama is boring or lacks a proper pace to keep things interesting. I think this was the precise intention of the scriptwriter: everyday life gives a sense of boredom and a feeling of emptiness when it comes to situations and events.
So, what happens when the boring day-to-day life meets a scriptwriter? A drama like When it rains, it pours comes to life.

Japanese dramas hit differently: certain stories can only be told in Japan. The ability to portray such complex yet simple at-glance stories is somewhat incredible. And this one is no exception.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the quiet and silent fall of a relationship is so uneventful yet so profound that neither Kazuaki nor Sei gets to understand its meaning until a mail sent by mistake appears in the inbox folder. What could be labeled as a mistake by many is the sparkle that ignites a life change.

▶︎ The fall of a relationship ◀
Both Kazuaki and Sei progressively grew "comfortable" in their relationships, to the point of ignoring the massive impact on their happiness and mental health. After all, they got what they wanted. Or not? A dream might transform into a nightmare in a split second, so which form may assume in a few years? What started as love or affection became a habit. But habits don't necessarily make people happy.

▶︎ The spark of change ◀
A trivial event can make a difference. An e-mail not meant for you. Even a meaningless e-mail gives you the freedom to choose, so why not reply? Mail after mail, you start to realize you're not the only one stuck in a dull life, in a pointless yet painful relationship. You need the escapism this brief moment gives you. And so, you develop a pen pal friendship. Neither of you know each other personally, but that's for the best. The relief of knowing that the other person has no way to pinpoint you in a crowd makes it ten times better. After all, your conversations focus on the sorrow and the discomfort of being frustrated and unseen in a relationship with a significant other.
But what if you and your pen pal happen to be coworkers?


▶︎ The moment of truth ◀
Revelations mark the second half of the drama. Kazuaki and Sei now confront each other. No more screens to conceal their identities. Their relationship is getting real, and so are their feelings. But embracing one's feelings takes courage; both of them are terrified of breaking out of their private status-quos, the warmth of a familiar place. This stall was, for me, a focal point of the drama. After all, Kazuaki and Sei are scared to embrace their feelings for each other. Taking this step would mean destroying the life they built, even if it is taking a toll on them as individuals.
What was born as a physical relationship should stay that way. What was born as a coping mechanism should not develop into a sincere desire to change.

▶︎ Once wishful thinking, now reality ◀
The finale dissatisfied many viewers. Truth be told, the portrayal of the growing relationship between Kazuaki and Sei felt that way for many. But not for me.
Two grown adults, with social expectations and their emotional baggage, must come to terms with what they want and what they think they should want. What should they pursue? The beaten but unsatisfactory path? Or a new road full of possibilities and unknowns?
The focus is on the choice. And for that to be effective, time and a slower pace are required.

If you are expecting blatant signs of love, over-the-top drama, and plot twists, this drama is not for you. Instead, if you're looking for an intimate and morally gray story with a decent, solid plot and believable character growth, give this drama a chance.

PROS:
- Morally gray story
- Believable characters and character growth
- Slow-burn
- Nice OST
- Solid performance by the two actors
- Pen pal to friends/lovers trope

CONS:
- The finale might dissatisfy some viewers.
- The slow pace might be a turn-off for some
- Communication most of the time wasn't aju nice > still, not a major con for me, as it's part of Sei&Kazuaki personalities and struggles.

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rain is so peaceful (kinda)

Starting with an email sent at the wrong address two men start talking on a daily basis about everything, even about their sex life, without knowing that they are co-worker. One is in an hetero relationship and the other one in a gay relationship. Both relations are sexless and they talk about it in their mail.

From an asexual POV (me) it made me want to apologise for not having sex, even if I know I'm not in the bad... I can get that people want sex but not everyone want it and on top of that libido vary from one to another, and people don't get it apparently. that's mainly why I lowered my ratting. And btw for those who don't know: yes you can love someone and still be asexual. As soon as you COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER (thing they obviously don't do in the serie).
That put aside it's a really great serie! Full of red flags, not gonna lie, but still good. Between the non communications, the cheating, the 🍇(not fully shown), the grooming... there is a lot of problems but still this show is good. I just didn't really liked the explanation from Fujisawa to Sei about their relationship and why he always had rejected his advenced, but only because i was projecting my asexual experience on how he was reacting when he was actually emotionally breaking Sei, not fully on purpose tho but still...
The end felt a lill rushed to me and should have loved an other episode whith Sei and Hagiwara really together and not just the final kiss (UNDER THE RAIN!! 😭)

The whole episode 5 is cheff kiss 🤌🏻 "YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY THAT I'LL BREAK!!" 🫠🫠 followed by some really soft sex and the kiss the next morning with "we're both crazy" 🫠🫠🫠

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Exploration of intimacy in relationships

I really enjoyed the storytelling. The dynamic between him and his best friend felt incredibly realistic because, in the end, betrayal often comes from someone you love and trust. When that trust—and your body—are violated, it leaves a heavy, disgusting feeling, yet love for that person can still linger. Their relationship was fascinating because the line between friendship and romance was blurred, yet at the same time, it remained distinctly present.

Although the two leads’ relationships with their partners vaguely mirror each other, they are in very different predicaments.
Kazuaki's relationship with his girlfriend was another aspect of the show I truly appreciated—it’s a difficult situation, and the way intimacy and sex were explored as more than just physical acts, but as expressions of love, was good. I felt for both him and his girlfriend, and the conversation during their breakup scene was long overdue. It was a necessary and cathartic moment.

In the end, I’m glad the two main characters found each other.

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