At 25:00, in Akasaka Season 2 (2025)

Season 2 said I will do better and it did (for the most part)!

In times when season 2 usually ends up being a disappointment, this one was actually better than its predecessor. The story was stronger, the acting by both leads improved, and their communication and chemistry were far better. The only thing that disappointed me was Shirasaki 2.0. His problem wth an inferiority complex with Hayama was almost the same or a little better if I am being nice. And I might have been okay with it, but he sort of projected on Hayama and it entirely didn't sit right with me.

Season 2 starts with Hayama and Shirasaki in their dating era when they are not working on the same set together. The narrative explores the difficulty of being in a relationship under the constant pressure and scrutiny in the entertainment industry, issues of professional ambition, jealousy and personal insecurities that arise when private relationships intersect with public careers. And for the most part, it did manage to do it.

Starting with the characters, Asami Hayama is the kind of character who feels too much but only lets very little slip through. At first glance, he is a perfect example of calm and composed and someone who has life in control. But once you dare to look past that exterior, he is fighting his own demons. His internal conflicts shape him in meaningful ways, both good and bad. While I acknowledge that he withheld emotions to a fault, however, this also gives him a certain steadiness. He isn't impulsive with emotions.

Shirasaki had its moments, but overall it was a hit-and-miss for me. Starting with the positives, his acting journey was impressive. He is new to acting world and the way he adapted and was more open to feelings than career-hardened characters was nice. What I have complaints about from him is being Hayama's boyfriend and that inferiority complex from season 1. This whole 'I need to prove myself or qualify to stand beside someone who already treasured him without conditions' didn't work for me. This race in his mind made him look fragile and insecure and in all the wrong ways.
I supported his outburst but the way it was delivered nullified the impact and effect of it. The way he projected his insecurities and made it about him rather than considering or understanding Hayama's feelings rubbed me the wrong way. I guess they say it right, words matter but so does the tone.

Coming to the chemistry, it was way better than Season 1 and it shines brightly in some moments. There were fewer communication gaps and internal monologues. They had their sweet soft moments where all the colours shine, whether it is attraction, fear or longing. It might be more enjoyable for me due to them being an established couple this season. I would have liked more moments of them together, digging deeper into their relationship and themselves a bit more.

Acting-wise, both the leads were really good. Nihara Taisuke, as Shirasaki benefited the most with BL under the BL concept. Komagine Kiita was good too. I enjoyed the role of Kuroki Keita, played by Natsuki Omi. Shoma was better than the previous season but we have a long way to go for him.

Production and cinematography were beautiful and clean. I liked the set design and overall, it elevated the tone of the story. I loved the close-ups and directing sequences. Another plus point from a visual perspective was the shift from their in-drama characters to their “real-life” versions (still on screen, of course xD) was surprisingly smooth.

Overall, while it is not perfect with pacing a bit slow in the middle, it was definitely an enjoyable watch. Even though the leads fumble their way sometimes, their relationship feels grounded in real human flaws. I would recommend it if you liked season 1 because it was better than that in my books!

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A coming of age story for grown ups.

This season is the most unusual continuation of a series I have seen for a long time. One of the first scenes describes the series perfectly when the director of "Daydream" said: "A love story that continues after two people get together is, in my opinion, quite difficult to portray. Because the most exciting part of the drama is the moment they fall for each other. However, real love doesn't end the moment when they get together. After that, both of them will have many more important moments to come. [... this is] something I hope to portray with care and nuance." - And that's exactly what the series is about and what they did.

I know this is not the kind of series that will get most acclaim, because it's so outside of "normal" BL series. Yes they have their tropes, Shirasaki-kuns inferior complex and Asami-sans unpleasant past, but the care they put into the characters is not seen very often. This is not entertainment you watch just to escape your troubles, this is a story which confronts you with new troubles and which can't be watched alongside doing something else. I'm late with my review, because I binge-watched the entire series again, because to have the most impact, to wait for a week does this series not justice.

In the context of japanese culture, children are thought to not show emotions and even surpress them for the sake of your career and/or family or to just "save face". This series does the opposite by showing the process of getting actors into a mindset of the character they are playing, where they have to show emotions. And both of them apply the learnings in doing so for their own persons, to reflect on themselves and to battle their inner "demons". And so they both grow as persons and they grow as a couple. And they feel and know when their partner is struggeling and they talk about it. And that just got me. That portrayal was so nuanced and so great to watch, if left me stunned for some time processing all the emotions they got into me.

While I understand that such a series will not click with many, for me it's a masterpiece. A series really focused on the characters and still having also the little things in it, the affection for each other and the longing for each other. Of course I have to recommand this series, but you need a clear head and you should not take a break watching it. I can't express how much I like this series, because it's so different and so mature and so well made.

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a season 2 gem

Overall: this is what I wish season 2s would be - the characters and their relationship grew. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/5837/at-2500-in-akasaka-2024-s02e01 (not available in Japan or Korea).

What I Liked
- established relationship
- intimacy/communication
- sweet/caring moments
- avoids the nonsense season 2 plots (i.e. love rivals/terrible communication/re-starting the relationship)
- supportive friends

Room For Improvement
- the night scenes were too dark and more light was needed on their faces
- how a character took method acting home

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A wonderful story, and a better sequel

Don't we just love it when anything defies all expectations? I'm not a fan of sequels, that's the truth but every so often, there's a gem that gets me to change my tune and I am glad to report At 25 in Akasaka S2 is one of them.

Because we see, the problem with sequels is that they tend to fall into the same drumbeat we've come to expect - the relationship with no real progress even after ten years, the couple who just can't communicate despite promising to actually open their mouths and talk every second episode in the previous season, or the love (who doesn't incite any) interest who just refuses stay off screen - the options are endless.

But thank goodness they knew what to write. No awkward moments between Shirasaki and Hayama like they started dating yesterday, no unnecessary love triangles and rivals, and no misunderstandings that had anything to do with their relationship - actually, no misunderstandings. We need to recognise how precious that is in sequel land, we don't get this often!

The actual conflicts stemmed from the main focus (save Shirasaki and Hayama of course) of this season, something that actually made sense in the grander scheme of things. Their careers.
How do you balance a romantic relationship once you stop working together is a good base, but they developed that into dating as two very public figures, into how do you mediate the fact that you're actually rivals in love and turned up the heat by focusing on their personal struggles as actors besides just having to compete with each other!

It is inspired storytelling in a lot of ways, though the idea behind the conflicts are simple, they are layered in a way that escalates the tension with each episode. The reactions of both the leads were also in tune with their personalities we discovered back in S1, with a bit of change, which credit to actually writing them as characters who can grow. They're not perfect, they change and develop as actors and humans throughout the ten episodes, right up until the ending and it was great.

Coming to the characters, Shirasaki and Hayama were completely amazing. Though there were some choices they made that I specifically didn't agree with, they weren't anything huge, and most importantly - those choices made them more flawed, more human. There's no awkwardness in their relationship (thank you again), it felt mature and grounded, they talked to each other, understood each other, what more do I want.
I also enjoyed Sakuma and Yamase, they provided some great perspective to our leads and were part of some great relief scenes.
Rounding out the roster is an incredible new character - Kuroki Keita - who.. well, did wonders for the story plot wise and character wise.
I love the way this show kept surprising me.

My only real complaint would be that Shirasaki and Hayama got a lot of chances and room to grow as a couple, but not as many as I would've liked to just take in just how great a couple they already were. By that I mean I would've liked more scenes of their playful and flirty interactions.

I very much enjoyed this sequel, it was truly well done and if you loved S1 (I did), chances are you'll love this just as much or maybe even more! Totally recommend.

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"Who are you acting for?"

This second season . . . Blew the first out of the water and up into the clouds; expanding and pulling on insecurities and self-doubts, passions and dreams, that were already there and/or just beginning to show themselves.

And there was such a perfectly natural progression of both leads' lives/story that you'd swear every moment was mapped out since the start.

It was a story of personal growth and growing with someone you love.

If Romance is a Bonus Book is a love letter to books and ThamePo Heart That Skips a Beat is a love letter to love, then S2 of At 25:00 in Akasaka is a love letter to acting.

I was compelled not just by the characters but by the various roles they played.

The cinematography? Left me speechless!

It was . . .

It was a grand play I'd been dying to see that left me standing and clapping, eyes sparkly and watery and mouth open in wonderment long after the actors left the stage.

I do so hate to see the curtains close, but I know they must.

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Should a young actor prioritize his career? Or his love life?

Like the first season, the second outing for At 25:00 in Akasaka delivered solid, if unspectacular, BL entertainment. In fact, in every respect other than the romantic, it is an improvement. The new season continues the story of actors Shirasaki Yuki and Hayama Asami from the point where they enjoy the professional fruits arising from the success of the BL series in which they starred. Though lacking an equal measure of the humor and sweetness that made their S1 courtship memorable, with regard to character development and world-building the sequel proves more compelling than the original. That assessment especially holds for the viewer who wished to see the story dive deeper into the characters. The series takes the time to plumb the psyche of our aspiring actors and lovers, at the expense, perhaps, of deepening their relationship. Accordingly, the viewer who consumes BL to wrap themself up in cuddly moments will be more likely to regard the follow-up as a let down, given that the burgeoning romance established at the end of S1 takes a backseat in S2 to the main characters’ burgeoning careers.

We become reacquainted with Shirasaki and Hayama as the duo navigates how to sustain a clandestine romance that, if publicly known, might be detrimental to their careers. Determined, nevertheless, to cohabitate, this series takes the pretense of the fake relationship from S1 and delivers the real thing in S2. This go around, the test will be whether their cozy domestic life can withstand the pressure imposed from working apart. Just as the characters’ commitment to each other has become serious, so too does the subtext. That is certainly a fair outcome in a series that has centered itself around the characters’ professional development. Yet, it also leeches away much of the joy for the viewer who came to watch the couple bond.

The second season elevates Shirasaki and Hayama from aspiring actors to seasoned professionals ready to take the next career step. Originally cast as co-stars in a BL series, the duo make their TV avatars’ fictional relationship real during S1. Season 2 dispenses with the ploy of the BL-within-the-BL by splitting the pair’s professional endeavors apart. Hayama’s movie career takes off when he is cast in a film, while Shirasaki lands a lead role in a stage play helmed by an auteur director. I wrote of S1 that Shirasaki’s character, new to professional acting, suffered from Imposter Syndrome. S2 perpetuates this theme in most unvarnished fashion: his theater character is a literal imposter, having stolen someone else’s name and life. Shirasaki strugles to discover the right notes to play the emotional trauma presented by this challenging new role. As in S1, his professional insecurity provides much of the tension to S2. Shirasaki imagines himself inadequate when compared to Hayama (who absolutely does not regard their dynamic as competitive in the same way), and that note is perhaps overly wooden in the script. Overall, Shirasaki’s self-doubt is a drag on the plot. Playing out this thread certainly holds back the series’ romantic beats, a frustration that will exacerbate discontent with the sequel for a portion of the audience.

I praised S1 for prioritizing the workaday aspects of show business over the glamor. S2 maintains this emphasis on the craft of acting by once again embedding numerous scenes of the characters rehearsing for acting gigs. One of the treats for viewers in S1 was watching as Shirasaki and Hayama created their TV characters from rehearsal to finished product, even as their secret fake relationship developed in parallel into a secret real one. Similar epiphanies pop up in the sequel, as each character brings real life experience to the creation of a new role while also bringing insight from work back home to sustain the romance. One significant difference: this process now operates with a layer of remove since the pair no longer work together. As noted, Shirasaki’s problems occupy the lion’s share of screen time. Hayama’s issues burble into the open only late in the proceedings, which is rather a shame as I find his character more compelling. I’d have been happy to explore his inscrutability earlier and oftener. In episode 9 each actor is exhorted by his respective director to bring deeper emotive beats to the performance. In that fashion, this directorial note mirrors the formula that made S1 a good watch because it ties the disparate subplots back together: what happens at home informs creative choices at work; what happens in the creative process at work informs the home life.

Fans come to sequels to reexperience aspects of the original they enjoyed. Season 2 of At 25 in Aksaka provides ample callbacks. Returning from Season 1 are the co-stars from the faux BL, Sakuma Hajime and Yamase Kazumo. These two continue to operate as sounding boards for our lead characters, especially in their approach to their career choices. The camaraderie they built last year as co-stars grows here into friendship not rooted in work. Meanwhile, Kuroki Keita is a newly introduced character in S2, cast opposite Shirasaki in the play-within-the-BL. This figure might have been written as a source of dramatic tension by making him either a career rival or a love rival. (Shirasaki, after all, has a track record of falling for his co-star, a point Yamase humorously makes to Hayama as they commiserate at a bar.) Instead, the writers not only eschew both obvious tropes, they opted to describe a collaborative dynamic between Kuroki and Shirasaki. That choice freshens the plot and adds a great deal of warmth to the proceedings that the series might otherwise have lacked. The way all three support characters and the two leads trade advice on their shared craft makes this series an exploration into the profession of acting. In that aspect, it seems to me that S2 exceeds S1. In fact, not since Double in 2022 has any series about actors offered such an extensive seminar on theories of performativity. Another recurring plot element in S2 is the use of a secret to inject charm. In S1, Hayama’s preexisting crush on Shirasaki supplied the secret. Here, the duo’s clandestine relationship serves the purpose. The actors’ respective managers know the truth, but for al 10 it remains invisible to others around them. (Count that as another tired trope avoided. I am so weary of BL series about entertainers where simply having a relationship creates story tension.) Well, perhaps not completely invisible. One suspects Yamase knows the true score, but he allows the pair the illusion of maintaining their secret.

The most important element in a BL sequel is the romance between the main characters. One reason BL sequels seldom outshine the original is that watching two people court one another is inherently more fun than watching two people undertake the serious labor required to sustain an ongoing committed relationship. My first paragraph reflects this reality, having pronounced S2 less fun and less sweet than the progenitor. Having several times in this review remarked on how the script stunts the growth of the Hayama-Shirasaki romance, I wish to conclude by praising how this version of the story introduces its own brand of sweetness. These two communicate regularly. They look out for each other. They are alert to signs that their partner feels distress. Perhaps such moments are less thrilling than the pursuit inherent to courtship; yet, these are the very comfort actions by which committed couples stay committed. A recurring example of “comfort” arises from the simple salutation with which Hayama greets Shirasaki when the latter returns home from rehearsal every day: “Welcome home.” These words signal to the stressed out Shirasaki that he is safe, that he can relax, that he is loved. This greeting is a small touch in a big series. Yet it warmed this jaded old reviwer’s heart. May we all be so lucky as to have someone welcome us home every day.

Link to my review of S1: https://kisskh.at/profile/8984637/review/369133

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More individualistic than I thought it would be.

If it was up to me, I would probably remove the romance from the genre, since it never felt like the center or core of the drama. It was more of the background and set up for the personal internal and external struggles the leads had.

Far more slice of life with theatrical touch. It dives into themes of self doubt, insecurities, expectations we place on ourselves, hard choices between practically and what we desire, fear of disappointment. That said, I wish they dived deeper into all these internal conflicts. Somehow I was not quite satisfied with the complexity of the presentation.

Weirdly, I got really interested in the production of that fictional play, and I was mentally arguing with the director about his preferred interpretation of the main character.

Acting wise, we already knew the cast was great after season 1. There were moments I was not quite… vibing with Niihara Taisuke’s performance, not because of his skill, but rather the style that was chosen for this production - I am honestly not a theatre girlie.The performance was great, just not my preferred type.

Overall, it was for sure at least on the same level as season one, if not better. I guess it would depend on what you expect to get from it.

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Shirasaki's Pity Party

I truly loved the character of Asami. He was private, introspective and warm. His face radiated a quiet love for Shirasaki and it was felt. S1 ended with both of them declaring their love and here with each episode, it felt that it kept growing and maturing. S2 started beautifully with open communication, keeping both of them on the same wavelength and in sync. They both decided to audition for the same role and then it happened.

For nine episodes I couldn't wrap my head around Shirasaki and his mindset. Why was everything always on his terms? They separate for the audition until he gets the role, then all is well again. While Asami's kept everything he was going through to himself, he was never petulant with him. There was a necessity in the harshness of Shirasaki's words, I believe Asami needed to hear them. Reason being, everything Asami did was to please everyone but himself. What I didn't like was the selfish breakdown Shirasaki was having and during such, lashed out. Asami had always seen him through love and it was a shame that Shirasaki's pity party was the moment he chose to reset Asami's compass. I'm a bit disappointed in this version of Shirasaki. S2 made it about a self created competition to be worthy to stand by his partner when his partner already thought he was worthy as is. Shirasaki came off as clingy, selfish and childish. Last ep of S1 showed us differently. Disheartening. Tho Asami who knows him best says, "Thank you Shirasaki, for letting me meet you". He knows what was said, needed to be said. It is only in the final episode with the success of the play, Shirasaki and Asami repair their relationship. Both happy to have met each other.

I still prefer S1 to S2. The actors delivered believable performances and it was interesting to a certain degree. I may watch it again.

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Run your race. Everyone else is running theirs.

TLDR: Shirasaki wasn’t just making everything about himself. His questions to Asami: “What do YOU want?” and “Who are you acting for?”, exposed the fact that Asami wasn’t living for himself. Shirasaki’s problem is anxiety and self-criticism. Asami’s problem is self-abandonment. Both of them are talented, both are stuck for different reasons, and the role in the play was the first time Asami actually chose something for himself, but then he relented.

Although it looks like Shirasaki made everything about himself, he actually did the one thing nobody else ever did for Asami: he asked him two hard questions — “What do YOU want?” and “Who are you acting for?” That wasn’t selfish. That was truth.

Since college, Shirasaki treated acting like a sacred craft. He worked for it, lived for it, and took pride in being respected for it. Then he lost his way. By the time he got his first breakout role, he was taking the craft so seriously that it became a cage. His work ethic turned into anxiety and self-criticism that kept him from enjoying the success he earned.

Asami, on the surface, was the opposite. He looked like someone who didn’t even have to try. Even though he’s a great actor, opportunities seemed to fall into his lap. He booked more roles partly because he didn’t take himself too seriously. Nothing was life or death to him. He just did whatever he was told — modeling, acting, whatever came next.

So yes, I understand Shirasaki’s frustration. It’s the same frustration everyone else has with Asami. Asami has what they all want, yet he floats through his career like it doesn’t matter. Even his manager said, “At first he just took anything I gave him.” The first time he finally expressed interest in something, she immediately asked him to take a different role — and he caved because “that’s what’s expected of me.” He still couldn’t choose himself.

And Shirasaki didn’t know the full story. Asami never talked to him about the emotional abuse, the pressure to perform, or the way he felt responsible for keeping his mother happy after the divorce. That kind of childhood teaches you to please others instead of wanting things for yourself. So imagine loving someone who is brilliant, gifted, and admired by the world, yet refuses to live authentically — and is quietly miserable because of it. That’s Asami in Season 1 and most of Season 2. A zombie.

Which is why taking the movie role was the best thing that could have happened — not for his career, but for his life. He finally got a chance to express emotions he’s buried for years. He didn’t need another job. He needed a release. Those emotions had to surface before he could let go of the past and start building a life driven by his own wants, not other people’s expectations.

And Shirasaki has his own work to do. Until he treats his anxiety, he’ll keep sabotaging himself. His competition is always internal, not external. My mother used to say, “Run your race. Everyone else is running theirs.” Shirasaki’s biggest enemy isn’t the industry or Asami — it’s his belief that he has to suffer to be good.

He needs to free himself from himself, just like Asami needs to stop abandoning himself.

That’s the tragedy and the beauty of their arc: both of them are talented. Both of them are stuck. And both of them need to choose themselves before they can truly love each other.

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All the things love should be.

This series (along with season 1) is one of my favorites. What always stands out to me the most is how consistently gentle the leads are with each other. They do have their struggles, and that emotional rollercoaster is there. But I love seeing how they stay so calm with each other in the face of everything life throws at them.
I love this type of romance. They stayed away from the stereotypical dominant/submissive type of relationship and this feels much more real. There’s no real villain or horribly evil character sabotaging them. They struggle to figure out their own feelings, to manage their family drama, to maintain their relationship while working on their careers, to protect their love. And through it all they consistently care for each other. It’s a feel good show, but it’s not fluff. There is real meat to this story. Waiting a week between episodes is tough. So I will be rewatching (binging) it after all the episodes have aired.

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Heatedo Rivaruri?

Okay jokes aside, this drama was outstandingly mid. Like, 'rich CEO ML hires poor girl underdog FL' kdrama levels of excitingly dull. They built up this tantalising new plot, added orchestral suspension music and the whole shabang, just for the whole shtick to be muffled within a couple of interactions. Exciting, tense, interesting, mysterious, omg whats gonna happen... and then crickets.
Aside from the pathetic plot points, I really struggled to understand the characters. I'm used to the whole 'I need to earn my place by his side' mindset, but really? That was the motivation behind wanting the role?? And I'm supposed to root for your passing the audition over blondeski who looks at the script like a devout, God-fearing, Jesus-loving Christian eyes up the bible? Mad ting.
However, as much as I hate on this series, it makes up for in quality. This is no underground BL niche fuelled by £15, a go-pro and a wet dream, this is a Production. Capital P. Say goodbye to the petty romantic squabbles and love-triangle situationships, and konnichiwa to characters with depth, realism and mummy AND daddy issues. The woker in me rejoiced at the sheer quality of this drama, and even though it has the intensity and thrill of a wet wipe, it's a bad GOOD drama. It's an Uncontrollably Fond in a world of Pump Up the Healthy Love's, a Put Your Head On My Shoulder amidst a sea of Lve O2O's, a 2gether: The Movie in an era of Tharntype seasons 1 through 2. It is worth watching and will definitely put a spark in your weekend (however dim that spark may be), so give it a shot and put it on your PTW with medium priority. High priority if you have parental issues or a passion for equally but diversely attractive men kissing on camera.
TLDR: good drama, good vibes, overused tropes, nothing crazy, do watch if you like boys kissing and healthy relationships, don't watch if you're looking for something groundbreaking, action-packed or slightly toxic (but in a hot way). This isn't Heated Rivalry. And watch series 1 first.

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