Kono Ato, Mechakucha... Shita (2025)

"Otaku bags a baddie" trope done right

Watched on the FOD Short app with English subs!

My true rating would probably be closer to 7.75, so I rounded up since that's not possible on MDL. I don't think this hits quite the same as other dramas that I've given 8/10, but I still enjoyed it a lot more than expected. I'm learning that vertical dramas tend to work best for me when they're smaller in scope and focus on one particular moment in time, so I like how this just breaks down the 12-or-so hours Yui and Sorata spend together on their date with some well-placed flashbacks to build out the story. Given the run time, I was surprised that Yui and Sorata actually get decent character arcs and therefore felt more fleshed out than most vertical drama protagonists. They had subtle but palpable chemistry that made their interest in each other feel genuine despite their aura gap lol.

And although Sorata is supposed to be the geek/loser in this dynamic, Wakabayashi Jiei managed to balance out the awkwardness with some natural charisma in his performance, and he wasn’t overly creepy or incel-coded like virgin male characters can often be. Even the side characters, like Sorata's sister and his coworker, brought a lot of personality and charm to the drama. Honestly, my only real complaint is that I wish Nakao Masaki didn't have that hideous goatee lmao. I also suspect the FOD Short app subs were at least partly AI-assisted and/or not properly QC'd judging from the occasional incorrect pronoun usage and mistranslations (why was pineapple & cranberry ice cream translated to chocolate & raspberry....did the AI think that was too weird a combo lol), which was a shame because I truly think this drama deserves attention and should be given the best chance at being properly enjoyed!

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