Editorials 
1The Police Rivals to Lovers Romance I Needed
Japanese BL always hits differently with its unique storytelling, and Duty First, Kiss Later proves it once again. Set in a peaceful rural police station, the series focuses more on the everyday lives of its officers rather than solving major crimes, creating a cozy and refreshing atmosphere that perfectly complements the romance and comedy.The story follows Takoi, a kind hearted 38 year old detective who is still single and enjoys unwinding with a drink after work. His complete opposite is Shiono, a younger and ambitious officer who seems to clash with him over every little thing. As if their constant bickering at work was not enough, they also live next door to each other in the police dormitory, making their hilarious enemies to lovers and neighbours to lovers dynamic even more entertaining. The age gap between them adds another layer to their relationship without ever feeling forced.
The first few episodes completely won me over. Takoi goes on a blind date, but Shiono’s jealousy gets the better of him, leading him to ruin the date before unexpectedly confessing his feelings and kissing Takoi. I never saw that coming, and it was the perfect way to kick off the romance. It was funny, sweet, and left me wanting more immediately.
But what really got me was the moment you start seeing just how much Shiono cares about Takoi. Imagine being a 38 year old guy, single, and completely convinced that you could never fall for someone like him. Then, little by little, he starts finding his way into your heart. He protects you, shields you, and when you are attacked, he puts himself in harm’s way and gets hurt trying to protect you. Then, despite all his fears, he finds the courage to stand in front of you and confess the feelings he has been carrying in his heart.
Honestly, how could you not be moved by that kind of love? If I were in Takoi’s shoes, that kind of love would make me question everything I thought I knew about myself. It could turn me from straight to gay without hesitation. Because when someone loves you that deeply, protects you that fiercely, and is willing to put himself in danger for you, maybe love stops being about gender and simply becomes about the person who makes your heart feel safe. That kind of love would absolutely melt me. ❤️
The acting is excellent, the cast fits their characters perfectly, and the chemistry between the two leads is incredible. The romance, comedy, banter, jealousy, and tension all come together so naturally that this series is impossible not to get addicted to.
If you are looking for a romantic comedy with mature characters, great banter, plenty of tension, and an exciting enemies to lovers journey in a unique police workplace setting, this is definitely worth watching.
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This review may contain spoilers
One of few JBLs that did not catch me...
When I see the 9 and 10 reviews, I have no idea if we have seen the same show. This year "Life in Smokey Blue" was stellar, a gay story not a BL. Comparing this series to "Cherry Magic" or "Old Fashion Cupcake" it comes not even close. It misses the charme and the "brute force" comedy is not my cup of tea. This year we also had "Fake Fact Lips", while the actors were not middle-aged it had a comedy which was funny for me and even "Are the Sexy Buttocks Not Good?" was so much more fun to watch and kept me smiling. The "dramatic" finale ruined this series even more. Sorry, I hate it, it was completely unnecessary and unbelievable. It did not bring anything new to the story and it felt lame.Production quality was good, but cinematography felt "cheap". Maybe they used the budget for the cast but I don't know how to describe it, it did not touch me at all. Not to forget the poor turtle in an aquarium which is as far from a natural habitat as it can be. It was an ok series for me, but nothing which hold my interest or I looked forward to. Of course there was no real kissing as expected. A story which begins with a "hidden" homophob is also not something I appreciate. And I think there was not that much chemistry between the MLs. This is just "ok". Every rating above it, is not justified for me because the finale was crap and this is one of the few JBLs I will never watch again.
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police officers with different personalities
Overall: it was great to see a romance with two grown adults. 10 episodes about 20 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8379/duty-first-kiss-later-2026-e01Content Warning: non con kiss, manipulation, manhandling, held against will, beaten up
What I Liked
- different personalities
- laughed a few times
- supportive coworker and family
Room For Improvement
- I'm never a fan of non con kisses in romance, though at least it wasn't when a character was sleeping
- Shiono was too harsh several times, everything was brand new for Takoi and he gave him no grace, Shiono could have reassured him by saying who was his first love but decided not to as an example
- why did Shiono wait so long to act in the finale? he let Takoi get more beat up?
- love rival
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A good watch
This was a good drama, not great, but i enjoyed myself watching it. It had a simple but nice story. The visuals and music were good.I always can appreciate a BL with more mature men.
The acting was good.
The mains had good chemistry, unfortunately the kisses were just lip touches like in so many Japanese BL's. But at least there was some warmth in them thanx to their chemistry. So i didn't feel like dead kisses.
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Don't disregard this because of a sucky last episode. It's a fun and easy watch!
“Duty First, Kiss Later” was different from what I expected, not in a bad way, just different. I was surprised to find out it’s very romance-focused. Since the leads both work at the police station, I thought it’s a police drama with some romance, or even 50/50. In actuality, the leads’ romantic relationship is the focus. It’s good for me, since I am a romance lover. But if you are not, just be aware.This is an easy and fun watch. The episodes are short (about 22 minutes each) and the pacing is pretty good. It’s not too fast but I do wish the distribution of content is a little better. Both leads, the older cop Takoi and younger cop Shiono have very different personalities. But we all know the opposite attraction is a fun trope to watch. They are both lovely characters in their own way, and together, they have good chemistry. The acting is solid, with its typical Japanese comedic acting by Watanabe Shu as Takoi. But I wasn’t annoyed with its over-the-topness. Saito Ryu plays a handsome and serious Shiono to contrast the popular Takoi.
The romance develops pretty quickly for me, at least with the realization of feelings on Takoi’s part. I actually wanted a little more push-and-pull, because Takoi has never liked a guy before. From realizing Saito’s feelings, to his own feelings and coming to terms with all of that (including societal pressure), all happened pretty quickly. But it’s Jdrama, so I kinda expected a speedy romance. What I really would love to see is the everyday happiness and happy couple interactions between the leads. Takoi fell so hard and fast and was ready to go all in. Shinono is already down bad from a long time ago. I wanted to see more of that loving, cute, fluffy dynamic. But the drama didn’t allow it. Oh, and what is up with the VERY DISAPPOINTING kisses? These are adults and they give me high school chaste kisses?????
What’s worse is the last episode. It went down a totally different side plot that changed the tone of the drama. I think it’s a little late to remind us they are both cops and have cop duties. I hope viewers won’t trash the ratings just because of this last episode. The other 9 are good fun, even if the last one is not.
This is a super easy and quick binge. It’s lovely to see an adult BL amidst all the young ones. We don’t often see a BL lead that’s over 35 years old. The age difference isn’t such a big taboo here. Sit back and enjoy this fun journey.
Drama Completed: 10/3/2026 Review #727
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This review may contain spoilers
More Shiono and Takoi, less fighting
Firstly, this is not for everyone. It is a Japanese series which operates with it's own set of eccentricities. It's on the slower softer side and takes a while to get into their dynamic. The pov is mainly Takoi's. For me, it will sit in the midly okay section.Now, how could they mess up a perfectly good show with a ridiculous fighting scene that just dropped the value immediately. Like it was going at it's own slow pace and weird dynamics and it was accepted. The leads weren't that compatible visually and there was no chemistry at all but the story was built on Takoi having his first gay relationship and how he adapts to it with Shiono. Stick to that. Even if you add another love interest, this was good to shake things up a bit. but the casino fight with Shiono breaking away from three men holding him down to whip out his gun. No. Omaeda posturing around did not carry the weight it was supposed to.
The comedic aspect was goofy and off center which was the enticement. This should have stayed in that capacity and omitted the fight. Ending on the kiss was a nice touch to give validity to the title.
It should have kept to the main storyline, opposites attract trope and possibly give Shiono a major promotion that would truly disrupt relationship and build on that. Hence duty first, kiss later. I really didn't want a real kiss but possibly a comedic one. Maybe kissing awkwardly.
Seriously between this and Summertime, I was disappointed with the ending.
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All that chemistry deserved more kisses
A feel good cop action romance with an incredibly entertaining pairing: a tsundere younger man who is secretly in love with his longtime crush, and an oblivious senior with a heart of gold. The first EP delivers such an extraordinary introduction to the story that I honestly lost count of how many times I rewatched it. I just love how Shiono constantly acted like he hated Takoi-san when, in reality, he felt exactly the opposite. His obvious denial and grumpy attitude made their dynamic so much fun to watch.What makes their relationship even more investing is how naturally their personalities clas. Shiono may look cold and intimidating, but his actions constantly betray how deeply he cares about Takoi-san. Meanwhile, Takoi-san’s obliviousness makes their interaction even more hilarious because he rarely seems to notice just how much Shiono is affected by him.
Some of the plots were particularly amusing, especially the stalker girl and the new recruit who nearly came between the main couple. While these characters could be frustrating, they also gave us the chance to see Shiono’s jealousy and rage when it came to protecting his beloved Takoi-san from people with questionable intentions.
This wasn’t a drama packed with nonstop action, but I think it still managed to execute enough action sequences to complement its lighthearted tone. The police setting added a bit of excitement without overpowering the romance and comedy, allowing the drama to remain relatively easy and enjoyable to watch.
There were also several memorable moments that stayed with me. The cute hot spring date was definitely one of them, as was their first major fight after Takoi-san said something insensitive about someone’s sexuality. That particular conflict was important because it showed that their relationship wasn’t simply built on cute moments and teasing; there were also moments where their words had consequences and they had to confront their own mistakes.
And of course, I can’t forget Shiono’s takoyaki and his adorable pet turtle. As well as the introduction of Shiono’s brother-in-law, who is initially suspected to be Takoi-san's love rival. Those little details added so much personality to the characters. But my absolutely favorite scene has to be their first kiss inside the interrogation room. The way the scene recreated the manga cover was absolutely perfect.
Despite the positive reviews, I have to admit that there were a few EPs where I felt bored or found myself losing focus. The pacing occasionally made it difficult for me to stay fully invested. Still, it didn’t erase the fact that the series, at its core, is a chaotically fun and enjoyable BL drama.
I also fell in love with Watanabe Shu even more through this drama, and I’m so glad I got introduced to Saito Ryu. Their chemistry was one of the biggest reasons the romance worked for me. The significant age gap between them also became part of their charm.
The opening and ending songs were another highlight. Both had such a fitting vibe for the drama and added to its overall cuteness. They were the kind of songs that made the show feel even more memorable once all EPs ended.
If I had one major wish, it would be that they should have kissed more. There were so many moments when I was waiting for another kiss. But then again, the title itself already gave us the answer: duty comes first, and kisses can wait.
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This review may contain spoilers
That ending ruined it for me
It was going good until it wasn't, and the last two episodes just sort of ruined it for me. Did I still have fun watching it? Yes, but I just wished the same premise was going for all episodes. Instead, they chose to throw some weird drama and action towards the end.This series reminded me of another BL called "Love Is a Poison." Both have a similar vibe and have the storyline around law work.
You can watch it on GagaOOLala: https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/8378/duty-first-kiss-later-2026
Things I liked:
1. Funny moments. Most of the humor is pretty much typical Japanese humor with all of the exaggerated face expressions and that sort of stuff. Still, I enjoyed most of it.
2. Sweet and caring moments.
3. Great acting.
4. Chemistry.
5. I like the characters and the whole opposites-attract thing. Takoi being a sweetheart and older detective and Shiono being more of a blunt and straightforward kind of guy. It is nice to see more mature BLs.
6. The man working at the bar is so great, I was a bit worried at first, but he was so supportive of Takoi.
Things I disliked:
1. Would've preferred more serious and work-focused moments. When I first saw this series and learned that it's about police officers, I honestly thought it would be a bit more serious and have some crime and things of sorts mixed in. But after all, it is more of a lighthearted drama that is mostly focused on humor and romance, which I don't mind, but I do want more serious moments between them.
Maybe more of the work-related things: Takoi and Shiono working together on a case, especially with the whole good cop/bad cop they have going on.
2. Ending. The thing that I complained about got added but way too late. If it would've had 50/50 funny and serious moments or something similar, it would've been better than making a series that is 100% heavily reliant on the humor and then the last second throw some random action drama.
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The Middle Aged BL we've been waiting for years for
It has been years since Old Fashioned Cupcake aired and I had long given up hope that Japan would realize that the age-category of 30+ existed for the BL genre. Yes I know that one JBL about a 40-year old dude happened, but tell me was the final memorable? Did not think so unfortunately.Thankfully, Duty First, Kiss Later pulls through. In these first 5 episodes the story-telling has been solid and doing good worldbuilding of the local community. A true good detective BL in my opinion.
The chemistry is really good between the actors; the tsundere Shiono and the naive Takoi. We're really seeing how these two adjust to each others presence and also the difficulties they have to overcome. Both characters are flawed in their own ways but that also makes it much more interesting to see how they will grow.
As for specific categories; the music is just really fun. It's super hyper and fits the cutesy vibe perfectly. The rewatch value is through the roof once you're hooked & this is some amazing acting from these guys.
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LOVED IT so much!
This is easily one of my most enjoyed Japanese BL series this year! I was laughing, giggling, and squealing over these two detectives from the first episode to the very last. I was over the moon when it first aired—like, yes, we got another Japanese old man yaoi dynamic! There is truly nothing more beautiful than that. The characters and the script are just so good, unique, and a refreshing break from routine genres. Honestly, if I were Shiono, I would be jealous too—jealous and angry at the way Takoi Heisuke acts all friendly and good with everyone, haha.Above all, I absolutely loved their dynamic. While Takoi seems outgoing with that kind, reserved, happy-smile 'dad face,' he is actually the shy baby. On the other hand, Shiono—who seems so cold, cool, and book-smart—is completely head over heels for Takoi. Argh, I am going to miss these silly fellas so much!
Even the supporting roles were a lot of fun; they weren't overly dramatic, just genuine and sweet. On that note, gosh, I loved Taisho! That dude knows all the tea about Takoi while just standing there witnessing the most whipped couple ever, ShonoTakoi, haha. I loved every scene he was in! <55
I also really liked Date. The scene where Takoi tries to win a baseball game just to show he knows more about Shiono while Shiono is witnessing the whole thing—omg, that was just so incredibly cute! ^^
Then, the unexpected entry of Omaeda totally grabbed all my attention. He is so good! Even though we now know he isn't as good as he behaved, his presence, cunning personality, and act were just lit, especially because it perfectly triggered Shiono's jealousy. ><
This series has so many simple, chaotic moments that I will definitely keep coming back to. It’s just too much fun! XD
P.S. I love Shiono Shu. I love old man yaoi. I love the younger top/older bottom duo. I love the cold elite/warm veteran (grumpy x sunshine) dynamic.
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Rewatch def guaranteed!
If you like age gaps, office romance, abit more "mature" leads, funny scenes and a lead totally obsessed with the MC, then this series is for you!!I really enjoy all the mentioned categories above and was not dissapointed!
Had myself waiting impatiently for the next ep everytime :)
Just a little thing tho: try not to compare this series to Old Fashioned Cupcake!
Since Duty First, Kiss later takes more of an comedic approach about the romance of the two leads, you might feel a bit let down when you enter the series with these expectations of Old Fashioned Cupcake!
So keep an open mind and happy watching!!!
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