K-Drama 
Nice
I'm impressed with the story, actors and overall performance. I like it . It is a family drama anyone can watch it. Simple yet amazing. I'm impressed with the story, actors and overall performance. I like it . It is a family drama anyone can watch it. Simple yet amazing. I'm impressed with the story, actors and overall performance. I like it . It is a family drama anyone can watch it. Simple yet amazing. I'm impressed with the story, actors and overall performance. I like it . It is a family drama anyone can watch it. Simple yet amazing. I'm impressed with the story, actors and overall performance. I like it . It is a family drama anyone can watch it. Simple yet amazing.Was this review helpful to you?
cute, fluffy, adorable, love
perfectly crafted adorable couple, not so cliche friendship, handsome f4, natural acting , good cast, nice ost. particularly loved how they didn't stumble with physical interactions between friends and couples. many dramas ruin it totally making the whole scenario into an awkward situation. the friendship between them felt so smooth . Both the lead actors and side leads acting was smooth and naturalWas this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Peak Domestic Behaviour and Being Utterly Down Bad!
If you want a BL that takes you on an absolute emotional rollercoaster of slow intimacy, shyness, teasing, and denial, this is it! Watching this series live was an experience, and here is a breakdown of how it went down episode by episode:Episodes 1-2: The character dynamics are great right away: Hotta is pure sunshine and extrovert energy, Morisaki is cold and indifferent, Nakasato Haruki is a cutey (loved seeing him from Your Sky), and Watarai is the handsome one who is clearly whipped or planning something. Meanwhile, Hioki is definitely dying from a heart attack due to the shocks he keeps getting, and he looks ridiculously cute with glasses. By Episode 2, Watarai is down bad and doesn't even know it—he looked genuinely terrified when someone asked Hioki if he had a gf!
Episodes 3-4: Sharing a bed?! Watarai is on cloud 9. What do you mean he likes everything about Hioki?! Wait, let me change that: Watarai is down bad but doesn't know that himself lolll! And then Watarai made Hioki's hair—I repeat, he made his hair! Peak domestic behavior! He got so shy when Hioki called him by his first name that he asked Hioki to call him by his last name again. Awwie. And plot twist: Hotta wasn't the one who invited Hioki; it was Watarai! When he wanted to speak to Hioki, it felt entirely like a proposal or confession.
Episodes 5-6: He asked him to be FRIENDS... but like, not a regular friend! What tf does Watarai even mean by that lol? Then he knelt down and tied his shoe laces (me—internally = screaming). I loved the delivery system, the delivery itself, and what Watarai did with the delivery too, hehehe. Also, Watarai is jealous (HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE). They hugged, and Watarai, did you really just ask about a kiss?! Then comes the PRINCESS CARRY?! When Watarai complained his hands might be sore tomorrow, Hioki replied, "Then I'll diet"—bish, Hioki definitely thought of Watarai carrying him lolol! And Hioki, you could have warned him about the melting ice cream instead of doing what you did... AHHHH.
HE CONFESSED! AHHHHHH.
Episodes 7-8: Awwie, Watarai had a crush on Hioki all along. They are finally dating... kind of 🫣! And by Episode 8, they are dating for real, I guess, yayyyyyy. Watarai kissed Hioki... on the cheek, hehehe.
Episodes 9-10: Jealousy = check. Misunderstandings = check. Cat... no, Fox = check. Beauty = check. Weight training just so he could carry Hioki = check. Then in Episode 10, Hioki asks, "Watarai, should we go out?" and Watarai short-circuits completely! And now THEY ARE REALLY DATING! AHHHHHHHHHH, THEY KISSED!
Kawaii! Though the story follows a somewhat familiar formula of a group of four popular boys, it still felt like a fresh breath of wind. I loved the chemistry, the slow intimacy, the shyness, and the teasing. The friendship moments were a bit lacking, but it's still completely lovable and amazing.
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Pure Japanese BL Magic
Japanese boys' love dramas have a very specific, undeniable charm, and School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To (2025) is the perfect example of why this genre is so beloved. The story follows Asahi Hioki, a gentle and ordinary high school student who finds himself completely alone when picking groups for a school trip. Unexpectedly, he gets invited to join a group made up of the school's "Four Heavenly Kings"—the most popular and handsome boys on campus. What starts as an awkward situation quickly turns into a beautifully sweet coming-of-age romance.There is something incredibly unique about Japanese BL series that sets them apart from others. They possess a special ability to craft wonderfully innocent, cozy, and soft atmospheres that make your heart melt. The storyline focuses deeply on emotional connection, lingering glances, and a slow-burning affection. School Trip does not need over-the-top, loud drama to capture your attention; instead, it relies on a comforting, pure narrative that reminds you of how beautiful first love can feel.The ultimate highlight of the series is just how unbelievably adorable the boys are. The chemistry between Kodai Fujimoto (playing Hioki) and Hideyoshi Kan (playing Tsukasa Watarai) is pure gold. Hioki is the definition of a precious, endearing klutz, while Watarai is a deeply protective, slightly possessive school prince who falls completely for Hioki's kind heart. Every single interaction between them is filled with a soft sweetness that makes it impossible not to smile at the screen while watching them navigate their feelings.To be completely honest, like many other Japanese BL dramas, the show struggles a bit when it comes to the physical intimacy department. It is a well-known trope in the genre that the characters sometimes look completely clueless or slightly awkward when they try to kiss. However, even though they might not know how to kiss passionately, it absolutely does not ruin the experience. In fact, it almost adds to the innocent, shy high-school vibe of the story. You love them so much that you easily look past the clumsy kisses because the emotional execution is flawless.Ultimately, School Trip: Joined a Group I'm Not Close To is a solid 9/10. It delivers a beautifully sweet, heartwarming escape that highlights the very best elements of Japanese storytelling. If you can appreciate a pure, incredibly cute romance and don't mind the typical awkward kissing scenes, this drama will easily become one of your absolute favorites.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
JBL cliches always works
I love jbl. I love clichés. I love the same storyline repeated over and over. I love seeing the same trope. And you know why? Cause they always make masterpieces.So the story was very simple but very good. Hioki is a guy with no friends, that while creating groups for a school trip, gets invited into this group of four guys, the most popular guys at school. He create a special bond especially with Watarai, who cares a lot for him and seems to always be around. If u wonder, yes, of course he liked him before and of course he was the one suggesting to invite Hioki with them for the school trip. He fell in love with him cause he was the first person that ever saw him for who he was and not for how he looked like.
The story, given how SHORT it is, its full of small moments of jealousy, insecurity and their bond getting deeper.
Very cliche, right? Well I unfortunately could not give less of a fck. It was SO good. REALLY good. I'd always eat those series up. It was sweet. Really sweet. It made me want to fall in love and get into a relationship. I so wished it happened to me, so many times. The character were all green flags, Watarai I love you so much he was so nice throughout the whole show and ge was clearly so in love. Hioki was so cute and he looked soooooo good in the maid dress ep.9
The acting was good, I always love how Japanese act, and of course, I love how the script works. They were so cute, and honestly all the guys did very very well. Even if they got like two minutes screentime I think that the group was soo cute and I so wished we just got to see more, cause I geniunly believe that they could give so much more.
The vibe was immaculate, whatever filter they put in this show to make it that magical 1000% worked, it gave that "nostalgia of places I've never been" typa feeling and it made the show so much better under so many aspects.
Its a pity that it was so short (10 ep/23 minutes each + 1 special ep) cause I feel like they always cut short the part where they date, which it was longer and wish they gave more insight.
Overall it was such a fun and cute series that I cannot really find the bad in it, and its a suggestion for wveryone tjat needs a cute series to kinda just fall in love again and again.
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So simple yet so good
This drama delivers pure slice of life fluff, and practically nothing else because it does not need to.It knows what it is, and it knows what it wants to be, which is genuinely rare with dramas/tv shows in general in recent years.
Honestly, I think what would have made this better is to simply see more perspectives, since I would have loved to see a proper reaction for when the rest of the boys “find out” that the leads like each other.
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Charming and Unassuming
I honestly thought this was going to be a BL version of F4 at first, but it turned out way better than I expected. Each episode just kept getting better as the story unfolded. It’s such a simple, cute young love story, and I really liked how they kept it straightforward without throwing in unnecessary distractions. The pacing felt clean, and the way it was told just worked. The characters were fun to watch too — the actors really nailed their roles. I have to give a special mention to the actor who played Watarai, because honestly, his presence on screen was just beautiful. He really elevated the whole vibe. Overall, I’d give this series a 4 out of 5 stars. It was enjoyable, easy to watch, and left me smiling by the end.Was this review helpful to you?
A cute and light-hearted story
It was so refreshing to watch a light-hearted high school drama which mainly focused on the school trip, just like the title. I'm not that into hardcore bls, so this was good to watch. I liked this story approach because the story felt natural, two boys getting to know each other and gradually realizing their feelings during the school trip.Kan Hideyoshi (Watarai) played his role amazingly. The high school crush who's introverted but gentle, caring, and supportive. How can I forget he's very possessive too. Hioki's acting felt a bit unnatural in the beginning, like the over-introvertness. However, it became ok after a few episodes.
I'm glad they're releasing another two episodes, because I wondered one scene in the opening credits wasn't included in the 10 episodes. The story was completed in the 10 episodes, but who doesn't love more episodes containing their life after that!
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This review may contain spoilers
I felt like an highschooler again, I was kicking my feet every episode. The story is nothing special, I could say very cliché. But it was well done and the actors were cute together so It was amazing.
I loved the declaration, how he shut out his feeling without noticing himself. Aaaah I keep watching it again and again and again!!!
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Quietly Strong and Charming Japanese BL
The drama wastes no time making a good first impression. Right from the start, it feels polished and surprisingly strong for a Japanese BL in this genre. The opening episodes pull you in easily, and what’s nice is that the show doesn’t fumble its momentum halfway through. For most of its run, it keeps a steady rhythm and knows exactly what kind of story it wants to tell. It’s comforting without being dull, romantic without trying too hard.One of the biggest reasons it works is Watarai. His character is a breath of fresh air in a genre. He’s honest about his feelings from the very beginning, clear in his intentions, and never hides behind unnecessary misunderstandings. The show also deserves credit for not dragging out “character development” just for the sake of it. Instead of spending episodes circling the same emotions, it lets the relationship move forward naturally, which makes everything feel more genuine and emotionally grounded.
Another standout, in a very different way, is Hioki’s friend Tsujitani. He’s a complete goofball and easily the comic relief of the show. Every time he appears, the mood instantly lightens, and his scenes are genuinely entertaining to watch. He brings a natural, effortless humor that never feels forced. Honestly, I couldn’t help wishing he had more screen time.
Toward the final stretch, the story does start to feel a little repetitive. The beats are familiar, and you can sense the show settling into a loop. Still, it ends before that repetition becomes tiring, so it never crosses into boring territory. If anything, it feels like the drama knew its limits and chose to bow out gracefully rather than overstaying its welcome.
Where the series falls slightly short is in its use of side characters. With a ten-episode runtime and decent episode lengths, there was real potential to expand the world beyond the main couple. The supporting characters, especially the "Four Heavenly Kings," remain mostly in the background, existing only to push the central romance forward. A small backstory, a parallel arc, or even a side pairing would have added depth and made the story feel fuller.
As for physical intimacy, the restrained approach is very much in line with youth-oriented Japanese BLs, so it doesn’t feel like a flaw worth penalizing. The emotional connection carries enough weight on its own, and the sweetness of the interactions more than makes up for what’s left unsaid or unseen.
In the end, this drama is undeniably charming. It’s soft, warm, and incredibly easy to fall for. While it could have done more with its supporting cast, the core story remains strong and heartfelt. Compared to others in the same genre, it holds its ground well and, in many ways, stands out. A genuinely enjoyable watch that understands its appeal and delivers on it with sincerity.
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Cliche but never cringe
It's such a cliche story but the acting and chemistry between the actors are so entertaining. Hioki acts so adorably and Watarai is convincingly smitten over him. Watarai does a lot of cliche stuff, but instead of cringing, his actions are swoon worthy. I am screaming and kicking my feet from giddyness while watching this series.The extra ep 1 is so hot.
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A very typical Japanese BL
It feels like all Japanese BL have basically the same plot structure, especially the HS romance ones. This one was no exception. I did not find anything particularly stand-out about this drama besides the amazing chemistry between the leads and the fun friendship dynamics. Otherwise, it's just another drama. The production value was obviously pretty mid (which is ok... BL & GL typically don't get the same care in the entertainment industry unfortunately).In the bonus episodes 11 and 12, I was a little discomforted by the slightly sexual connotations of some of the scenes. While nothing was outright sexual, it was enough to raise my eyebrows considering the leads were highschoolers. However, I think it was generally appropriate for their age group to most people.
I will say that the popular male lead was not very... expressive. However, I felt Hioki was very expressive and deserved his times to shine!
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