Netsuai Prince (2025)

Pretty Faces, Problematic Plotlines, and One Very Doomed Little Sister

I just finished watching Netsuai Prince and I don't even know what to say. I'm honestly ashamed of how entertained I was, because this show is wild. It's about Matsuri, a 15-year-old girl who always wanted siblings. One day her mom gets remarried, and suddenly she’s the little sister of the members of her favorite idol group, Terzetto.

Now, listen, this already sounds like a fanfic gone off the rails, but it gets worse. Not only is it incredibly cringe, but it’s also deeply problematic.

Let’s start with the basics: Matsuri is 15. The boys? They’re 17 or 18. That alone is pushing boundaries, but one of them is her new stepbrother, and still tries to make moves on her. What are we doing here???

The show plays this off like a romantic fantasy, but it’s straight-up disturbing. Especially Azusa, this man is 17 and literally tells Matsuri he doesn’t see her as a sister. And then proceeds to pin her against walls, kiss her without consent, and just overall act like a walking red flag. WHY is this stepbrother kissing his 15-year-old sister? Why is this presented as romantic?!

And he’s not even the only one! Subaru, the childhood friend turned idol, also crosses lines and does a lot of questionable things.He was a boring character too, it’s hard rooting for anyone when everyone’s out here disrespecting boundaries like it’s nothing.

As for the other two brothers, Haruka and Rihito? Shockingly, they actually treat Matsuri like a sibling. No weird romantic tension, no crossing lines. And I know that sounds like a low bar, but in this drama, that practically makes them saints.

Yamato, though? Now that one’s complicated. He had the most personality, the most layers, and honestly was fun to watch. Did he also cross lines sometimes? Yeah, unfortunately. But it felt less aggressive and more playful, not perfect, but tolerable compared to the other two. If she had to end up with someone, I would've preferred Yamato just for the character depth and dynamic. (Still not ideal, though.)

And here’s the real tragedy: this show could have been amazing if it just focused on family and friendship. Matsuri adapting to her new family, navigating idol life from the inside, bonding with her brothers, that would’ve been wholesome and unique.

Even the group dynamics between Terzetto and Prism were fun to watch. The rivalry felt genuine but healthy, and the friendships felt real. But then they had to throw in the “I’ll steal your sister from you” stuff and ruin the vibe.

Also… where are the parents? Why are all these minors just unsupervised and living alone in a giant house like?

In the end, Netsuai Prince is pretty faces, decent idol music, and a story that had potential, and then set it all on fire in the name of forced romance and creepy tropes. I would've rated it way higher if the romance was cut and it just focused on growing sibling bonds and idol life. But nope.

Please someone save Matsuri from these men.

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A list of what to watch instead

There is a kind of Japanese short drama that a) skips over the normal first act of a romance plot (the getting to know each other/initial attraction/initial resistance part) and goes pretty instantly to the confession/relationship stage and b) tends to be more "steamy" but in a very particular coercive/forceful sort of way that is not everybody's cup of tea. This is that, with step siblings in high school. Super uncomfortable on the one hand, and yet somehow feels like it was written as a 13 year old's self-insert fantasy on the other.

I spent most of the last episodes brainstorming other dramas that would satisfy whatever made you consider this drama, but better. So rather than a review, I present this list of alternatives. It's a mix of straight and BL romances, so I'll make note for those who care:

Step Siblings - Cute/Silly and/or Romantic Comedy
Private Body Guard (Indonesia - Viki --This is the most directly comparable storyline)
Go Ahead (China - Viki)
Family By Choice (Korean remake of Go Ahead - Viki)

Step Siblings - Angst/drama
Love Rain (Korea - Viki)

Step Siblings - sexual tension
Addicted (BL - China - Viki)
HIStory 2 (BL - Taiwan - Viki --honestly I'm not sure about this categorization because it's been a million years since I watched it so YMMV)
Unknown (BL - Taiwan - Viki)

Step Siblings - compelling story/good characters
Unknown (BL -Taiwan - Viki)
Stay With Me (BL - China - Gagaoolala --this is basically Addicted with some of the more toxic stuff made gentler and overall a more realistic feel)

High schoolers in forced proximity - fun/cute/comedy/silly
Good Morning Call (Japan - Netflix)
Mischevious Kiss (Japan -Viki), It Started With a Kiss (Taiwan - You Tube), Playful Kiss (Korea - Viki) --there are more of these adaptations, but that's the basics
Princess Hours (Korea -Viki -- although be warned, it falls apart at the end)

Forbidden Relationships with High School characters - somehow successfully comedic and silly
Falling High School Girl and Irresponsible Teacher (Japan - Viki)

High Schoolers Romance -- cute/fluffy/unproblematic (there's a lot, this is just my favourite)
My Love Mix-Up (BL - Japan - Viki)

Rapid Japanese Spicy Romance -- honestly few of these are even tolerable, but this one I guess?
Sweat and Soap (Japan - Viki)

Idol Romance -- This is a genre I don't watch a lot of, but:
My Bias is Showing? (BL - Korea - Iqiyi)
Picked up a Star on the Road (Korea - Viki - not a standard story in the genre but I thought it was hilarious)

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