When It Rains, It Pours

Sometimes you dance in the rain and sometimes you don't

I liked the story and complexities of the issues they tried to show, but I really really did not like the characters. It kind of surprised me that I did not like that characters, because there are very few dramas that have made me feel that way and those are usually really dark. This one isn't dark, just... eh.
Typically I don't mind nitty-gritty, toxic stuff, but there was something about these characters that I just really couldn't get over. I think there are certain negative character depictions of a character while trying to also hold them as a "good person" without showing their positive qualities isn't for me. It's something different than someone with human flaws and/or someone trying to better themselves. It was confusing at times and there were no other qualities to grab onto.

The story is nothing new. They talking about gray areas of cheating and control. I'm glad they tried to talked about sex in a relationship in a positive way. I didn't like that it was kind of mangled with expecting another person to stable or satiate another persons mood/sex desires without pointing out how that was wrong. It made me feel like people just expect that crappy situation and it leaves you feeling kind of hopeless in a way. Maybe if the episodes were longer, they could have explored that more instead of leaving a lot as interpretation.

The acting was alright. All the elements just didn't line up for me to like it that much. I'm not saying no one else should watch this. Others enjoyed it, you might too or you might not. It just wasn't for me and that's okay.

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The best from Japan

I think that watching every single episode 4 times says it all, no? Brilliant acting, skilled and charismatic actors, complex storyline , fabulous OST , beautiful visuals, cinematography and photography and everything you’d wish in a BL . I was tempted to take away half a point for its shortness and the rushed ending and also for ignoring Sei’s sexual assault (but that was the author’s fault and not the series’s) but I won’t because damn it, this a masterpiece and my fav BL ever. A special episode would have been like a gift from heaven but that’s ok, we’re happy with what we got. Japan, you’re awesome ! Arigato.

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Rainbow after the rain

Once again, we have another Japanese BL with an uncommon fictional story but with realistic settings. They have their genre that no other BL-producing country can top. I remember how excited I was when this was announced with Ito Asahi as the main lead. Hiroki also thrilled me since he starred in another BL show. The set of casts is so pretty but the MVP of the show must be no other than, Jun Muto. His manliness fits his role as a kind corporate man. He is gentle, calm, and kind. I was even shocked to know that he is also an idol. He can be cute and handsome at the same time. His acting skills were also outstanding.

I’ve seen similar shows with the same email conversation setup but this show has more spice. They both have partners who refused to have sex with them and the context of their emails is just pure honesty since they didn’t know each other personally. Most viewers will agree that the best episode of the drama has to be when they finally recognize each other after seeing the female wooden statue in an uncrowded museum. The cinematography and execution were super romantic!

As mentioned in the show, the proverb from its title means that misfortunes happen simultaneously. This applies to both of their struggles to reawaken the spirit of love from their respective pair. The tension even became higher when Hagiwara directly said that he wanted to have sex with Nakarai, and Sei just casually agreed with him. It was not the best intimate scenes I’ve watched but made my whole attention focus on them due to their sexiness and the context of their characters’ story.

Cheating and the messy ride of waves from the four of them. This was a roller coaster of dwelling on emotions and anticipating the outcomes of their actions. In the end, Kaori and Hagiwara decided to break up and I love how well-written their conversation was at the cafe. The same goes with Fujisawa and Sei who manage to release their real feelings and realization after a serious communication.

I love the overall aspects of this high-quality BL. The real-life situations can indicate that people are lustful but we do not romanticize an act of cheating. The same goes for how some people have their own choices of not having to rely on sex to satisfy their desires. The aftermath leads them to walk where their hearts are happy to go and leave their unmoveable current situation.

Sei and Kazuaki being together at the end was a happy ending. After all, these two satisfy their needs, not just in sex, but most importantly from the constant love that they were thirsty to acquire from their previous relationship. The rain does not always signify sadness.

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What a great piece of cinema! Lovely series!

Every frame on the series feels like a photography, all details at scenes are very well planned, it's so beautiful to watch. The plot around two young men with relationship issues, lack of communication but mainly lack of sex. The needs to explore their own sexuality is very intense, the protagonists need to talk about that even if all starts like anonymous emails between two co-workers.

We all can get in complicated relationships, and keep on going even if there is huge an visible problems on sight. This series explore that, our attaching to things that are hurting us and hurting the couple as a whole. Another Japanese series reminding us about the assertive communication inside a couple, in this case replaced with no censorship communication with a coworker.

The two young men drives the series with their inner emotional problems, letting go their loved ones to start something new, maybe more healthy, more communicative and lots of more sex. The end was happy ending, and includes everything I was expecting to happen, no need for any more chapter like other reviews said.

"When it rain, it pours" is worth watching it one more time, it's beautiful.

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ABSOLUTE CINEMA

It almost feels unfair to rate this drama so high among a sea of very well done ones I've watched since it's pretty clear to me that the novel that is the source material for this must already be amazing in terms of premise and writing (I'm unable to find a translation of it in English so I can't say for sure), and I have a tendency to rate adaptations lower when I enjoyed the source material more. That being said, my mind unclouded by that type of judgement in this case, it feels safe to say that this is a nearly perfect mini series.

The portrayal of sexual frustration is so skillfully subtle yet so impactful, thanks to both the writing and the acting from every member of the cast. It lends a very real depressing atmosphere to the majority of the series until the last few minutes, but this only make the leads' interactions so much more stirring, beautiful, and sensual when it's called for. Their talks through email as well as the "reveal" were so hopeful and adorable. Not only that, but every little interaction with/between other characters felt so real in a way I can also only describe as cute, even the sad ones lol. Like I was watching actual tiny humans inside my screen with real lives of their own (???)

The narrative played out very well and I was hooked from the start. It's already been mentioned, but you can tell every actor in this was truly "in it" which is all one can ask for and allowed for great chemistry between everyone. A few moments related to the supporting characters in the last two episodes kind of left me desiring more, only because I wish the series could have been one or two episodes longer to spend a bit more time focusing on their stories and feelings, though I also want to consider the possibility of constraints due to being an adaptation. If this was a manga (my main area of expertise~) I would have liked to see a sappy bonus chapter of the main two consummating but I am happy with the way it ended here XD. With everything taken into account on top of my undeniable enjoyment of it, I feel this drama was incredible and I can't recommend it enough if you like realistic, sensual stories, and a rational but still hard-hitting dose of angst well-balanced with hopefulness.

P.S. if you enjoyed this drama you should try reading the manga "Kimi ga Boku no Subete" by Nishida Higashi, they both hit the same spot for me :-]

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Poorly Adapted and Really Mysoginistic

I don't know why this novel adaptation was poorly done. The director didn't even bothered to make the gf point of view and villanize her like she commited a sin for not having sex with her bf. The whole story didn't even show how complicated their situation are, it just a whole story to excuse any cheating. which makes the viewer didn't even bother to call her bitch and being mysoginist to the gf. but what do i expect from fujoshi-targeted media. definitely the worst bl i ever seen in my life. The cast acting literally saved this dorama, and the reason why i watched this till the end

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The bottom could've been hotter

This bl was alright 👍
It was mid
But i would never watch it back
Reason because of the bottom
Now some sensitive ppl up in here will start judging saying stuff like "its not the face but the heart"
Or "its the love for each other that counts"
Well folks i am here to say f**k all that s**t
It is very off putting and a major turn off when you see a drop dead gorgeous top acting with a ugly maggot looking like the pigeon in the storks movie that sing "how you like me naw" if yall aint watch the movie look up the pigeon and you'll see what i am talking about
Its a miracle i watched this out
But other than that the "if me and ur partner aint wanna get it on why dont both of us smash since we are horny" got me laughing but at the same time got me thinking about stuff that happens in the world today
But the point is if u r one of those persons who cares about the faces of the cast this aint the right bl for u
But on the other hand those persons who cares and focuses more about the love between the characters well this it for u
But this s**t aint for me

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Great Chemistry, Rushed Story & an Unforgivable Character

This was way too short for my liking! I absolutely loved their chemistry, but it felt like they barely met ten times before it was over. Such a shame—I wanted to see more of them! I really don’t like shows that end the moment the couple gets together. That’s just the beginning of their relationship, and we don’t even get to witness its development. I wanted to see them navigate their feelings, face challenges as a couple, and grow together, but instead, it just ended before any of that could happen.

That being said, the actors did an amazing job bringing their characters to life, even that jerk Kazuaki. As much as I despised him, I have to admit his actor portrayed his character really well. I hated how Sei didn’t hold him accountable for his actions and just forgave him like it was nothing. It made no sense considering everything that happened. And Kazuaki’s sob story? Completely ridiculous. It felt like the show was trying to excuse his behavior, but it didn’t work at all. He can rot in hell for all I care.

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Quand il pleut, le cœur trouve son propre rythme...

C'est un drame qui met en lumière la difficulté d'avancer dans une relation lorsque les besoins ne sont pas satisfaits. Cette remise en question, alors qu'on pensait que l'autre était, en quelque sorte, la réponse à tout...

Aimer quelqu'un et laisser quelqu'un nous aimer, c'est difficile. Partager une relation l'est tout autant, parce qu'elle demande des efforts permanents. Au Japon, il n'est pas rare de voir des couples (notamment mariés) qui ne partagent aucune intimité, tout autant qu'il est commun de voir des infidélités. Sur ce point, When It Rains It Pours sait comment le mettre en scène. Il y a quelque chose d'extrêmement triste dans le fait d'être en couple, mais d’avoir le sentiment d’être seul(e). C'est la façon dont j'ai perçu les relations de Hagiwara et Sei.

D'un côté, il y a Hagiwara Kazuaki (Muto Jun), qui vit avec sa petite amie, Mizutani Kaori (Akita Shiori) et qui pense au mariage. Pourtant, dès qu'il cherche à partager un moment intime, elle le rejette. Sa petite amie n'aime plus avoir de relations intimes avec lui, décidant que son côté viril est désagréable. Un trait qui contraste franchement avec la relation qu'il va développer au côté de Sei. D'ailleurs, Nakarei Sei (Ito Asahi) vit avec Fujisawa Kazuaki (Matsumoto Hiroki). C'est un couple, mais sans en être réellement un. Ils partagent un appartement ensemble, mais Fujisawa refuse d'avoir des rapports intimes avec lui. Au fil du temps, Fujisawa l'a isolé, le rendant presque dépendant. Alors que Sei se compare à un parasite dans la vie de Fujisawa.

Ce sont deux couples différents, mais avec un point commun : ils n'ont pas de rapports intimes. Après une erreur de mail, Hagiwara Kazuaki et Nakarei Sei vont discuter. Peu importe qu'ils ont des orientations différentes, cela ne change pas grand-chose dans le fait de pouvoir en parler. La pudeur japonaise n'est pas nouvelle, cela dit, c'était agréable de voir la curiosité et l'honnêteté dans leurs échanges. En particulier Nakarei Sei qui est aussi franc qu'une lame fraîchement aiguisée. Alors qu'ils découvrent être collègues, ils finissent par se rapprocher et passer la nuit ensemble.

Si l'histoire repose sur l'infidélité, il ne s'agit pas seulement d'une partie de jambes en l'air. C'est tellement plus ! C'est un trop-plein qu'ils ont évacué avant de réaliser que les sentiments sont déjà là… Parfois, les sentiments grandissent et s'installent confortablement et cela nous demande du temps pour réaliser qu'ils sont là. Les sentiments sont progressifs, mais de redoutables vicieux qui savent se faire discrets, jusqu'au moment où ils décident de se montrer. Ou, à l'inverse, les sentiments s'effacent et on ne le remarque qu’une fois qu'ils ont tous disparu. Hagiwara et Sei ont trouvé en l'autre la façon de satisfaire leurs désirs. Ils ne suivent plus le rythme des autres, mais le leur.

L'ensemble des acteurs était formidable, tout comme le développement des personnages. La photographie est superbe avec de magnifiques plans sous la pluie. J'ai apprécié la simplicité de l'histoire et l'absence de crises de larmes. Mon seul regret est qu'un épisode supplémentaire aurait pu amener une fin plus honorable. Bien que ce soit une bonne fin, il lui manque un petit quelque chose. Je chipote ? Peut-être.

En bref, il faudra passer au-delà de l'infidélité pour capturer chaque émotion When It Rains It Pours. Bien que l'histoire soit simple, elle n'en est pas moins intense et pleine de réflexions sur ce qu'on attend d'une relation avec des personnages intéressants et honnêtes.

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atuação

Gostei do roteiro a história é envolvente, com bons plot twists e um desenvolvimento interessante. No entanto, acredito que a avaliação não está mais alta principalmente por conta da atuação do personagem Nakai. Não conheço outros trabalhos dele, mas nesse BL, sua performance foi bastante apagada, com pouca expressão e emoção nas cenas.

Em contrapartida, seu parceiro de cena, Hagiwara, entregou uma atuação impecável. Ele conseguiu transmitir claramente os sentimentos do personagem em todas as cenas, elevando a qualidade da narrativa. A diferença entre os dois foi notável e acabou impactando a experiência geral da série.

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