Lost in Kyoto (2025)

Just Lost...

The whole premise of this 4 episode BL drama was literally drama within a drama. Sounds interesting but the execution was messy and ultimately not satisfying. Maybe short run time (every ep is about 10 min) is partly to blame.

Now it starts on an "artsy" and dramatic note but the concept ended up being confusing than clever. The vibes at the start was nice, even though the production was small.
But then nothing happens for first 2 episodes... No emotional or any substantial progress. And just when you think something is gonna happen, they pull the most overused move ever, throwing in a random female character to stir drama.
The ending was chaotic but somehow satisfying and the strongest part of it all.

Acting wise, it was average at its best. Somehow I couldn't feel the chemistry between the actors. There were moments here and there with some good kisses but it was all too hazy to leave an impression.

Overall, this is my 3rd drama with this production and i feel this was the weakest of the bunch.
Will I recommend this ? For the quality and story, no. I would rather recommend Trapped in Osaka and A sketchy Job from the same company.
But if you still want to support them, sure. Just don't go in expecting too much! :)

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I loved it. Here's why.

The weakest part of this drama was the acting. It was poorly done in parts by all. They weren't skilled enough to bring across the subtleties without it being too pronounced. Also, the over dramatization of Haoran shock was amateurish. We get that Haoran was distraught and a bit panicked when Junhao was suddenly leaving, but it felt more like a tantrum than a reaction to an emotional gut punch. Audio needed a bit of work. The all knowing girlfriend doesn't always have to be portrayed as controlling to be dumped. This idea that couples don't change over time and drift apart needs to be adressed. It might have come across better that she was the one coming to say goodbye as their lives were going in different directions. Greater dimension to the script and characters.

I loved the premise and most of the execution of the story. It gave backstory to both characters, it showed where the turn in their 'friendship' began, and also a realistic ending. It gave time for them to both face their feelings and embrace it without the usual denial. The ages of the actors made their backstory believable. They have lived and had experiences that led them to this point. One wishing to get away from erotic modeling. The other wishing to create something better than his position in the photography world. A big plus is when the actors are comfortable with each other and it feels right. They did have this. They also looked well together as a couple. Separating from a partner is never easy but from what was shown both needed a change. The drama within a drama is always a nice take. The blurred lines helped to push both storylines to a climatic conclusion. The ease with which Junhao and Haoran switched from role playing to real life when both saw the unwanted end was near, truly was the best part. Beautifully done.

China is stepping up and becoming better by the day. The amount that was dealt with in 4 episodes was commendable. It was low budget but within the context of both storylines, nothing more was needed. Good storytelling doesn't need much. Looking forward to more and better. Worth a watch as it was short and decent.

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