Countdown to Yes (2026)

Slow as a snail, but the tiny daily life moments makes it special

We all know some JBLs are extremely slow, but this is slow to a standstill. On one hand we have Wataru who is aware of his feelings but to frightened to give into them and on the other hand there is Minato a steady, courages character who has his goal in mind all of the time and that is to be with Wataru.

What is especially mind boggeling is that the director of this show also did "My Personal Weatherman" and both shows could not be farther apart as they are. Weatherman is about miscommunication but both characters show a special desire to have sex with each other - not just for the sex because they do love each other. This time the countdown starts at 3698 days more than 10 years and it's a very slow process.

Especially for western viewers to watch this snail pace is a bit hard and frustrating, because it's not in our culture. While life is very fast paced in Japan, in Europe we have something called "life-work balance". Our goal is not life for work, but just work for life and enjoy life as much as possible and this contradiction also shows in this show. Minato got a job and left for three years not because he wanted to, because he needed to. This was also the point in the story where Wataru realized that he is really in love. But when Minato returns after three years he still denies his feelings and hurt Minato as well.

Of course, because of the title, we all know they will end up together, but it was a really slow process. I personally would have wished they would have packed all the eleven episodes in just eight with less flashbacks, which would have led to a better pacing. But even while it was slow they created a special atmosphere. There is no drama per se, there are many small moments which drive the characters, the glances, the intimacy in just doing little things. Also of note is the positive messaging even with grandpa who said "I don't understand it, but as long as you are happy, I'm happy" which pulls this show closer to reality.

Production quality was very good, except the "night scenes". I can see clearly that many where not filmed at night but done with not so good CGI especially the star night. And of course I wished they had the kiss-scenes like in "My Personal Weatherman". But besides that, there is nothing to complain about. In the times we live in this show gives us a little bubble to be happy and to slow down ourselves. I can only say, I liked it regardless of it's flaws.

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Denial ain't just a river in Egypt!

This started strong with the classic friends to lovers, with hopes of a lot of mutual pinning and anticipation. But instead of banking on velocity, it leaned more towards "vibes", and whether it is your cup of tea depends on your patience level.
The central dynamic is where things get both interesting... and frustrating. From the start, it is obvious that these two share something deeper than friendship. There is history, comfort and that unspoken understanding that usually takes lovers years to build. But instead of developing the relationship, the writing chooses to hover in that already-established space… for a VERY long time.

Minato is clear, direct, and emotionally available. He knows what he feels and isn’t afraid to risk the friendship for something more. Wataru is fully aware, but committed to pretending otherwise till eternity. Not in a “he is confused and figuring out the world” way, but in a “he knows exactly what’s at stake and still refuses to acknowledge” way. The confusion and denial worked at the start and it was the base where Rome was supposed to be built. But there was no real shift over multiple episodes, it started to feel less like slow burn and more like emotional buffering bringing the classic miscommunication trope into the picture. If you ask me, this would have landed better as a 6-8 episode story.

That said, the drama does have its moments where it shines. When it stops trying to stall the plot and Minato and Wataru just EXIST together, it’s genuinely lovely. There is a softness to how these characters are around each other and those small moments, the casual closeness, shared routines, all felt very natural and lived in. Except for these two, everyone could have pointed out that they loved each other.
Another thing that I liked was how photography was an important aspect of storytelling and was not just an artsy filler that was forgotten in early episodes.

Visually, it did a good job with the overall atmosphere except for the night scenes. It was quite dark and grainy. Flashbacks were also an important part of storytelling here and while I feel they could have cut it a little short, the past-to-present transitions were handled very smoothly and somehow tied everything together in a neat bow.
Acting was also decent. I had qualms about the plot, but the cast did their thing. They really made the most out of what they were given and kept it engaging even when the story itself wasn’t fully hitting.

Overall, the tension, which felt genuine, was stretched a little too thin in the middle and it started feeling a tiny bit performative to me. It's not bad but I won't say it excels in this trope either. I don't know if I am judging too harshly, but sadly this was bland , with the characters that were sweet enough to keep the ship sailing.
Will I recommend it? Yes, if you are looking for friends to lovers and can handle denial, give it a try. Otherwise, maybe no. It's not the worst BL out there but it's just mild.

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