The Boyfriend Season 2

Two shows in one... and a big spoiler in the beginning...

This is qute hard to explain, but I feel like we have seen two completely different shows... The William and Izaya arc was forced on to us with endless screentime and nobody can tell me, that there were not other important scenes in the first month. The only redeeming quality in this arc was Kazuyuki with his struggle which made me feel quite sad for the most time.

After William and Izaya were gone - thank you very much - we get a new show, a more dynamic show and a show with deep conversations, talk about gay life in Japan, talk about coming out and all the fears and uncertainties which will come with it. Especially Ryuki and Tomoaki grew with this show. That was the highlight of the show for me.

Point deductions go to Netflix for spoiling all the couples in the first scenes of the first episode - WTF? Why do you do this? The charm of such shows is, we don't know who will end up together. So they took away an important part of it. While the people on the panel are sure all nice and well - I don't need a panel to explain to me what happened or to explain to me how the person in the scene felt - I do know myself. They did cut it down a bit compared to Season 1, but it's still an annoyance for me - and I skipped them most of the time.

When you see Huwais and Bomis social media, it seems they are still together, but Netflix: Why did you let the people wait for SEVEN fucking months till they can reveal anything about the show? We know it was filmed from February to April 2025. It took so long to edit all the stuff? I don't believe so. I think it's cruel to let the couples hanging in the air for such a long time. Many did struggle with coming out and if they do come out and are happy, they can't even tell the world that they have a partner which makes them happy? Of course this is also a rating deduction for me!

Overall I will not be too harsh with my rating because the people in it moved me - a lot. It was a good experience but I'm still more a fan of how "His Man" is doing it. If you have the time, it's still worth a watch!

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A charming and much-needed program

This is already the second season of a Japanese dating show, but it is something much more than just a dating program or a reality show. I rooted for every couple from the second season as if they were my own friends — whether they ended up with the person they chose on the show or not, I truly wish them all the best.

Beyond the romantic aspect, the participants grow by sharing their experiences with one another. Even if they don’t find their other half on the show, they take so much away from this experience. It is a truly beautiful and touching program!

Of course, the producers aim to create a show, and at times I wished the cameras could be pushed aside and the participants allowed to experience these moments in private. Everyone seems so authentic and lovable that you just want to give them a hug. I admire how beautifully the participants are able to express their feelings and how maturely they communicate with one another.

Of course, it makes me sad that in today’s world coming out is still, for many people, a difficult moment because of fear of their loved ones’ reactions. I wish coming out could be a neutral statement — something no one would have to be afraid of.

This program, just as I wrote in the title of this review, is charming and very much needed.

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