This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
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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1Weather forecast : Soft romance with rarely any storms with side of predictability!
The premise of this drama was a second-chance romance between Mashiro and Kanade, who randomly met each other one afternoon in a cafe. What follows is a journey of two lost friends who awkwardly try their best to find footing in this relationship and somehow the whole process is both complicated and strangely familiar.The romance was simple and sweet. There were no earth-shattering plot twists or real angst. Surprisingly, there was communication between them and somehow, both of them healed the parts of each other just by being there.
But with that comes predictability. The setup is textbook, and somehow it sticks to the syllabus without taking any risks. They could have wrapped this in maybe 8 or a maximum of 10 episodes. It felt a little draggy and I was a bit bored.
There is also a troubled parents subplot for both leads, which adds some extra layers of family drama to the story. I actually really appreciated Kanade’s confrontation with his father. It felt genuine and was handled with a surprising amount of care, giving their strained relationship real weight. On the other hand, Mahiro’s issues with his mother fell a bit flat. The deep-rooted negligence and resentment just vanished, and his mother had a change of heart after a quick chat and mere words. It feels a bit too convenient, in my opinion.
And Kannade's nosy co-workers at the start really annoyed me. I would have to climb a whole mountain to believe that kind of behaviour was remotely professional or appropriate. They did get better as we progressed in the drama though.
Also, those dead fish kisses were just not it. It's 2025, and if you are not comfortable, don't do it. I would rather see them hug it out and actually show some real connection than painfully stare at two people struggling to make a kiss happen. I mean they both had chemistry and somehow the kisses dragged it down!
Acting-wise, Ikeda Masashi as Kanade was good. I found his acting and portrayal of Kanade very believable. Hori Natsuki as Mashiro was overall decent, too, but in emotional scenes, he felt too stoic.
Overall, this was kind of sweet, comfortable and low-key healing in small doses, but nothing that would break new ground. It was nice, but not particularly inspiring.
Will I recommend it? Maybe if you are looking for formulaic romance that delivers exactly what you expect.
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boring...
I wanted to like Stay by My Side After the Rain, but it ended up feeling a bit flat for me. The story moved slowly and I found myself losing interest as the episodes went on. While the leads had some sweet moments, the overall plot didn’t have enough energy or depth to keep me engaged.The production looked fine and the idea had potential, but it just didn’t manage to hold my attention. For me, it was an average watch rather than something memorable.
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better as it went on
Overall: I enjoyed seeing two people working thru their relationship and life challenges. 12 episodes about 23 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala (not in Japan, Korea or Thailand) https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5473/stay-by-my-side-after-the-rain-2025-e01Content Warnings: past death, past abuse, vomiting, emotional abuse from a parent
Watch Suggestions from 3 on (will try to go back to episodes 1 & 2 later) focuses more on the main leads
- stop episode 3 at 12:10
- skip episode 4
- episode 5 watch 18:20-end
- episode 6 watch 6-10:15 (though I did chuckle at some of the jealousy afterwards) and 20-end
- stop episode 7 at 20:55
- episode 8 watch 6:30-7:45 and 14-end
- watch episode 9
- episode 10 watch beginning-9:10 and 12:20-19:45
- episode 11 watch 5-end
- watch episode 12
What I Liked
- clear premise
- a reserved worrier and an open fly by the seat of his pants dynamic
- communicated/were honest in several episodes, the check in
- sweet moments
- supportive co-workers*
- laughed a couple times
- a supportive grandma
- a supportive mom and sister
- production value
Room For Improvement
- voicing internal thoughts frequently
- threatening stalking/ignoring boundaries was not romantic
- cared nothing for the mom or the co-workers* (did not like how he was forced to come out and he was grateful that they didn't mind their own business)
- not reassuring if the talk was good news or bad news in episode 4
- dead fish lip presses
- (neutral) a character refused to communicate in the beginning but at least it didn't last too long
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Heartfelt Moments with a Few Missed Opportunities
What I LikeAfter Episodes 1 and 2, and my heart is so full right now 🥹💖. The way these two communicate is everything, honest, sweet, and straight to the point. There’s no drama or unnecessary games, just pure connection. The pacing of the first two episodes is fast, but it’s got me hooked; I love how quickly things develop. The chemistry between the two leads is off the charts, like, it’s almost too perfect to handle! Both actors are drop-dead gorgeous and ridiculously cute, making every scene a joy to watch 🥰.
I also really appreciated Episode 9, where we finally see them move in together as a couple. It’s so heartwarming, especially because the dynamic feels so real. You know the kind, one is neat, the other’s messy, and it’s just a perfect example of opposites attracting. The small arguments they have are realistic too, but what stands out the most is how they deal with things. They apologize and work through everything with raw, honest communication. It’s real life in its truest form, and I couldn’t love it more.
Kanade Shinichiro’s family situation was also something that hit me hard. His reluctance to go home because of his father’s expectations feels so relatable, especially in Asian cultures where family honor, expectations, and shame often loom over every decision. He’s terrified of being rejected for being gay, even though society has shifted. This is so much more than just a coming-out story, it’s about the emotional toll of living under the weight of generational pressures and fear. The way this was portrayed was poignant and made me reflect on how deep those family dynamics can run.
Episode 11 was a standout, where the whole family dynamic was brought to the forefront. Kanade's mom and sister offering their unwavering support was deeply moving, it's a reminder that sometimes, the people we fear rejecting us the most can end up being our greatest allies. It’s a beautiful portrayal of hope and acceptance, especially in cultures where the fear of disappointing loved ones can be overwhelming. The scene with Kanade and his father walking and talking together was so emotional—it felt like a real breakthrough.
What I Dislike & Room for Improvement
I absolutely loved Episode 6, honestly, the jealousy moments were peak cuteness 💕. But Japan… it’s 2025, and we need to talk about that kiss. It was, like, 0.5 seconds. A blink. A peck. A goldfish kiss lasts longer. 😅 Please, Japan, we need a real kiss! I’m all for teasing, but by this point, these two have known each other for years, their love is deep, and when the moment finally comes, it’s a total letdown. I was expecting passion, fire, but it felt so restrained, almost hesitant. For a couple that’s been through so much, this was the moment we’d been waiting for, and it just… fizzled.
The lack of emotional payoff here was frustrating. I get that there’s a fine line between restraint and giving fans what they want, but after eight episodes of building tension, this was a huge missed opportunity. The chemistry was there, and we’ve seen them grow into their love—so why hold back on the most important moment in their relationship? I’d rather have no kiss at all than a scene that feels half hearted and rushed. It wasn’t about fan service; it was about respecting the emotional journey we’ve all invested in, and delivering a moment that was worthy of everything they’ve been through. They earned it, and so did we.
Final Thoughts
Despite my frustrations with that kiss (honestly, Japan, come on), Stay by My Side After the Rain is still a beautiful series. The honest, raw portrayal of love, family, and personal struggles in a Japanese BL setting really makes this show stand out. The pacing, the character development, and the chemistry between the leads have all been incredibly strong. The series handles some heavy topics with care, and even though it’s not perfect, it’s genuinely moving. I’m looking forward to the finale, but I can’t help but wish for just a little more passion where it counts.
Rating: 8.5/10 Solid, emotional, but with room to improve on those key moments!
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Disappointing
Let me start by saying that I’m dropping Jbls for a while until they can show me a realistic gay romance and not a Disney story for kids under 7.I’m so freaking tired of stories like this one or the one in “10 things I wanna do before I turn 40” where men in their 30s and 40s act like blushing 18th century virgins and kiss on the forehead for the entire show (when they’re not talking with their couch-pillows that is) or asking their bf in their own house , after they fucked to put a shirt on because it’s indecent… I know Japanese are repressed, polite and bla bla but I refuse to believe that one of the biggest consumers of porn and the inventors of Hentai act like that when they’re in a relationship. Japanese men fuck. Japanese men (especially gay men) sometimes fuck even on the first date. Please stop with the same ol rancid stories where they’re 40 and act like a 15 years old girls. I don’t wanna see porn, like.. at all but please don’t treat us like fools, your audience is not 12.
I wanna see realistic couples , couples who kiss and hug and cuddle (if not in public at least in their own freaking home). Less stiff and awkward interactions and more natural dynamics, less bowing and apologizing and more “Let me give you a hug when you’re sad and crying because your dad caught us kissing “ , less dead-fish-lips kisses and more natural lovely kisses. I don’t even need passionate kisses (it would be too much to ask I bet) but for the love of all that’s gay, please let them give each other some pecks once in a while. And please make the bottom DO something in bed instead of (to quote another reviewer here) lying there like a wet dog. Can anyone tell me what was that kiss in the last episode?? Anyone ? Did they really touch their lips? They didn’t. You could slip a paper sheet between their lips . I’ve never seen a more ridiculous, uncomfortable, insulting wedding kiss in my life. And they were alone in that damn restaurant. Their entire relationship was stiff , uncomfortable, awkward, polite , dull, flavorless and boring. I blame Kanade, his character was most of the times unlikable, annoying and so oh so boring . Mashiro was a bit better, more daring and straightforward but not by much and damn,.. he would have fucked the hell out of Kanade if Kanade weren’t such a pearl clutcher. Too bad because the story had potential . So yeah, this is where I part ways with Jbls until they stop selling us bullshit .
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Kanade Shinichiro is a quiet, reserved man living a quiet routine as an office worker. He carries deep emotional wounds and has chosen to hide his sexuality as a way to protect himself. But despite living an almost numb existence, cause he's afraid to allow himself to feel, he’s incredibly sensitive underneath it all.
Mashiro Kosuke, on the other hand, is more spontaneous, but he’s not without his own insecurities. He represents a part of Kanade’s past that he tried to bury, but that keeps knocking at his door.
I saw some criticism about the intimate scenes between the two characters, and while I agree with most of it, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything different from what we got. To be honest, a different kind of scene would’ve felt off to me cause it just wouldn’t match their personalities.
The rain in the story isn’t just a symbol of cleansing, it’s also nourishing. It washes away their repressed emotions and makes space for love to bloom. That little “wedding” scene in the café, which felt like an emotional sanctuary for them, was absolutely adorable. They’re not alone in the world anymore.
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This could have been good
This show could have been good, it had in the beginning the right ingredients and then it went no where fast. From the beginning both these guys had incredible trauma all their lives due to parents and in five minutes the trauma and all the hurt in their past goes away after the one talks to his mom and the other talks to his dad. What a load of crap. Why even bring up all this drama in the beginning if it takes literally 5 minutes to cure it. No one gets over years of trauma that fast. If that aspect of the series was not bad enough, then lets throw in two guys who can barely have their lips touch to kiss and what was that they were supposed to be doing in the bedroom scene? They should have just left out any physical intimacy or gotten a director that knows how two people really kiss and have sex. Maybe 10 or 15 years ago this could have pass muster, but in 2025 this show was not good.Was this review helpful to you?
Perfect fast watch if you want something simple
First of all I have to be honest, it was little boring but even though there are lot of boring parts the end is gonna be worth watching it all. Little cute, fun and simple series with addings of deeper discussions of the hard times of being part of the lgbtq+ community, specifically in Japan. Series was good but the casting could've been better, nothing wrong with it just not the best possible. Some lacks of chemistry, it feels little awkward sometimes.I know for sure, that many bl fans would hate this for the kiss scenes. I didn't personally have any problem with the kissing but i know many others would not watch it because of the typical Japan bl, barely even touching, kiss. Only one kiss would've made it more better in my opinion, with replacing the other kisses with fun humour, hugs, holding hands etc.
I'd personally would not rewatch this, maybe only the last ep but not the whole series.
Overall cute and simple series but definetly would've needed some fixing.
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Reflection and Resolve
True to its title, this drama was a quiet, healing experience.I saw myself in both of the leads. Swallowing words down until you choke or, on the other side of it, smiling and spitting up easy nonsense to cope.
Unlearning years of repression of your feelings and the anxiety that comes as it fades all takes time. How nice it is to have someone by your side, willing to listen and stand up for you when it's all too much to bear on your own, and speaking feels like dying. Someone who promises to stay.
For a tender love and complex leads, it's certainly worth watching.
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This series is not that good but I was deeply emotionally involved.
The plot is standard, nothing outstanding. One thing I have to mention is the focus on family dysfunctional dynamics. I’ve experienced feelings like don’t be accepted in your own family, being different, having an exhausting parent who doesn’t know how to do their job, lack of communication… I believe all those things are well portraited here. I could see how the childhood dynamics interfere with today’s life and relationships, even in the little things and behaviours. Also, how someone can overcome all this, by finding people who want to and try to love them correctly and genuinely.In particular, Natsuki’s acting is what struck me the most. He’s always happy, joyful and cheerful and enthusiast but inside there is the mother and the lost of a crucial person. His phone buzzing every single minute, its noise is so frustrating that you get to understand Kosuke’s pain a little more. Masashi’s performance isn’t bad either, but feels less natural. A scene I love is the one with Kosuke’s mother. He is great there, really. I have to say something about Kosuke’s mom as well, her performance is great and the character very interesting. This mother-son dynamic is the most appealing thing of the series.
Unfortunately, the intimate scenes are a huge, enormous, giant problem that cannot be ignored. Both the actors and the director don’t do a good job, at all. Everything, every single thing, is so synthetic and fake. First, the kisses (there should be two more, by the way, because they can’t say goodbye with the hand anymore): the kiss itself, the slowness, the touching. Everything is a ‘no’ for me. Second the filming: if the kiss is bad, because that’s what it is, why do you zoom on it? It’s absurd. You should hide it, film from another angle. The s*x scene (if we can call it like this) is also not good. And this is making me thinking: how do they select actors? Why did they chose them if their kissing is like this? There are only two/three intimate good moments that feels natural. My favourite is a Shinichiro’s kiss on Kosuke’s back (the morning after).
It's a shame. The rest of the filming is good and matches with the atmosphere. I wanna mention a shoot when they’re arguing: the camera is positioned in an angle that expand the space, increasing the distance between the two. Also, the music is fantastic, marvellous, fabulous. I play the flute and I enjoyed listen to it the whole time. There’s also the piano. I can tell this aspect was well looked after. I loved it. This is definitely my favourite thing from this show.
thank you for reading, kisses <3
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