Love Sea: Ai no Ibasho (2025)

far better than the original...

While the original dragged on for ever this version is very compact. The "Ai" and "Rak" characters were played very similar while the "Kaishin" and "Mut" characters are quite different. The japanese version is less fluff and more animalic in the first half. The story plays out in the same fashion with the difference that the GL "to be" couple is far less abnoxious.

Now that MDL changed the episodes there are two special episodes after that but MDL could not be bothered to add them in the index yet. I felt the finale was a bit disappointing even with an happy end for all. The acting was far superior to the original series, the chemistry was there and they did not hold back in the NC-scenes either. Production quality was also high but less polished to the original series, so imho it felt more "natural".

Overall I prefer this compact version compared to the thai version which felt boring most of the time. So, if you didn't like the original version, chances are high, that you will be more comfortable with this version.

Update: Because MDL does not have an entry for the special episodes I like to mention them here. They are much more finale then ep 10 imho. Which rounds up the series nicely.

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Finally, a Japanese BL That Gets Intimacy Right

I have watched every Japanese BL released this year and honestly the kissing and NC scenes have been disappointing across the board. But this one is easily the best I have seen. The NC scenes in episodes 2 and 3 were hot, steamy and beautifully done. Japanese BL is finally stepping up and shining in this area.

Since I only watched the Thai version a couple of months ago, it is still fresh in my mind. This remake is almost identical, about 90 percent the same, right down to the lines and even the NC positions. That said, I did not mind because the chemistry here really works. The male leads are handsome, comfortable with each other and their intimacy feels genuine instead of forced.

Overall, it is a solid and enjoyable watch. If you loved the Thai version, you will enjoy seeing this story retold through a Japanese lens. For me, it is a well deserved 8.5 out of 10.

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