Stay by My Side after the Rain

One of the few JBLs which is guilty of lazy writing...

The start of this series was not bad at all, they are building even a dark past for both characters. But the solution for both of the traumas for each character is a) unbelievable and b) just vanishes in a puff of smoke. Especially Kos'ke is traumatized since childhood because of his Mom, but the writers did not find the time to have a serious conclusion and waste lot of time with long-winded static scenes which do not progress the story.

The chemistry between the two leads was just ok, but there was not really the feeling of longing for each other conveyed. Besides that the dead fish kiss at the "wedding" ruined most this. It's ok, if they don't want to do a NC scene, but in 2025 you should kiss otherwise don't act in a BL, period.

So production quality was very good, but the story wasn't. Just "cute" does not cut it nowadays. While not as bad as some Thai shows, it's only medicore with a weak story compensated a little bit by acting and cuteness, but overall a big disappointment for me. It's one of the shows I have no interest in watching again, but your opinion may be different.

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How This Drama Rained on My Expectations and.......Gave Me Fish Kisses

I don’t know how to feel about this drama. The premise and title made it seem like it could be something deeper. But what I ended up with? A light-hearted feel-good drama with a sprinkle of parent and workplace drama, and that’s about it. It’s just so forgettable. I literally don’t know what to write here (literally not me saying this nonsense and then proceeding to write a whole essay). It felt monotone, bland, and dry in my mouth. I needed something to shake it up, like a rainstorm to pour over me.

=======Kanade and Mashiro======

The premise? Pretty simple: Kanade reconnects with his childhood friend at a café. Great starting point, right? (Note the sarcasm.) Honestly, what bothered me the most was how Mashiro was so clingy and pushy at the start, like he just had to reconnect. I get it, but it pissed me off. Read the room, dude, Kanade doesn’t want to, but he kind of does. We all know Kanade secretly wants to reconnect with Mashiro, but why are you making such a big deal?
And can we talk about Kanade crying in the café? Dude, chill. He’s so sensitive. But I get it, since he has trauma from a past gay love rejection. Then he’s like, “I’m GAY! and I liked you,” and walks out into the rain like he’s starring in his own moody indie film. And of course, Mashiro, being himself, chases after the “princess.” 🙄 As expected, he doesn’t want to lose Kanade. Anyway, they sort out their feelings and navigate their relationship.
Kanade was a bit reserved when it came to getting intimate, and Mashiro wanted more but respected Kanade’s pace: I liked that part. I’m sorry to say this, but their kiss felt awful, like two school kids kissing. Japan, get it together and don’t give us a fish kiss here. 🐟💋 Their NC scene was awkward and looked uncomfortable. I wanted passion, or at least a kiss that felt/looked real. They were gentle, bland, and had no intensity. The chemistry was definitely lacking. I felt no heat/burning passion in their eyes. Maybe that’s how the drama was supposed to be, and I missed the memo (I know that this drama was supposed to give warm comfort vibes).
The flashbacks to their younger days were surprisingly effective. They gave just the right amount of emotional backstory to explain the present without drowning us in nostalgia soup.

========Workplace===========

But can we talk about the workplace women for a second? 😤 Ugh, they were so annoying. I was ready to yank my hair out. The young woman who confessed to Kanade was like, “Hey, I like you, you have a GF ?” and he responded, “Yup.”. Fair enough. But what really got me was that old office lady who told Kanade he should talk to the young woman who confessed. Like, who are you, Grandma, to be giving love advice when it’s not your business? Thank goodness Kanade had a spine and told her off, the best moment of the series. At least he knows when to set boundaries. Then suddenly, these two women and Kanade become buddy-buddy. Just kidding—they work it all out, of course, and they even help him with his love life with Mashiro. I liked how they bonded and offered genuine advice.

========Parent Issues==========

The mom drama with Mashiro was honestly not satisfying enough. First, he was ignoring most of his mom’s calls. I can’t blame him. I’d do the same if I had an overbearing mom calling me multiple times a day. Attachment issues from her husband’s death. She even made sure, during high school, that Mashiro would come home immediately. Damn it, Mom, you’re just keep pushing Mashiro further away. Anyway, she doesn’t approve of her son’s gay boyfriend, Kanade. Finally, Mashiro snaps at his mom, which was a huge relief.. And I think, after that, she sort of reflects on it? (I can’t quite remember.)
Since Mashiro had mommy issues, Kanade has daddy issues. No surprise there. His dad is like, "You’ve got to be a man," and whatever nonsense this dad was spewing. Like, I get he wants his son to toughen up and not always cry, but you’ve got to understand the dad’s a traditional guy and is set in his ways. But when his dad caught him with Mashiro? Woah. That scene was intense. It was the most fire I’ve seen so far, yet we got their NC scene, which didn’t live up to that tension at all. I liked that the mom and sister knew Kanade was gay, but it took him this long to confess to them. I get the dad. You can’t talk to him about things, but the mom and sister are so sweet and less judgmental. It makes me wonder if Kanade was always reserved and never forthcoming with his feelings, holding everything inside until the last minute. I have to say that the talk he had with his dad was the deepest moment in the whole series. It felt real, raw, and finally gave me the emotional depth I’d been craving. That’s saying something.

=========Best Part==============

The best part of the drama, hands down, was the friendship group reunion. It was wholesome, sure, but it also totally exposed Mashiro as the jealous mess he is whenever Kanade gets close to anyone. This guy’s jealousy knows no bounds. He even got jealous when Kanade posed for a BL poster design with a male coworker. I couldn’t, I was dying—like, I legit needed a tissue from laughing so hard. 🤣

========Final thoughts===========

This series was boring with a few funny moments (very few). Their love was sweet and wholesome at times 😘, but it lacked passion. The pacing was alright. Did it have character growth? Yes. Did they resolve their parent issues? Yes. But overall, it felt too safe, too predictable. If you're in the mood for something light with a touch of drama, you might enjoy it. But if you're craving something with real intensity or depth, this one might leave you wanting more. One redeeming thing? The intro song—“It’s Morning Morning.” 🎶🎶 The OST lifted my mood and spirits every time.

Would I recommend this series? Honestly, if you want to make yourself suffer like I did, go right ahead. But hey, to each their own. 🍷

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