This review may contain spoilers
Meaningful Story, Unsatisfying Execution
I liked When It Rains, It Pours and really appreciated the serious topic it explored. The story about love, sex, and emotional needs felt very real to me. I deeply understood Hagiwara — for me, love and sexual connection can’t be separated, so his struggle made complete sense.
Still, I felt unsatisfied rather than disappointed. My biggest issue was the rushed ending. I personally don’t enjoy when the main couple reconnects only in the last minutes of the final episode. The story needed more time for emotional processing, choice, and responsibility. One extra episode — or even more time in the finale — could have made the ending far more emotionally fulfilling.
Another point that held me back emotionally was Sei’s portrayal. I understand that the character is meant to be reserved, and I usually have no problem connecting with quiet or emotionally restrained characters. I don’t need exaggerated expressions — I can read emotions through the eyes alone. Unfortunately, in this case, I couldn’t feel Sei’s inner emotions through the actor’s eyes, which made it hard for me to fully believe the depth of his feelings. As a result, the chemistry between the leads felt unbalanced to me.
The cheating aspect was complicated. I usually dislike cheating, but I understood the situation here. So I was not against of it. However, I would have preferred a different approach: watching them slowly fall in love while still in their relationships, then choosing to end those relationships themselves — not because they were exposed, but because they wanted to be honest and start a new life together. That sense of responsibility and agency would have made the story much more powerful for me.
Overall, it’s a good and meaningful series with a happy ending, but the rushed conclusion and emotional distance kept it from fully satisfying me.
Still, I felt unsatisfied rather than disappointed. My biggest issue was the rushed ending. I personally don’t enjoy when the main couple reconnects only in the last minutes of the final episode. The story needed more time for emotional processing, choice, and responsibility. One extra episode — or even more time in the finale — could have made the ending far more emotionally fulfilling.
Another point that held me back emotionally was Sei’s portrayal. I understand that the character is meant to be reserved, and I usually have no problem connecting with quiet or emotionally restrained characters. I don’t need exaggerated expressions — I can read emotions through the eyes alone. Unfortunately, in this case, I couldn’t feel Sei’s inner emotions through the actor’s eyes, which made it hard for me to fully believe the depth of his feelings. As a result, the chemistry between the leads felt unbalanced to me.
The cheating aspect was complicated. I usually dislike cheating, but I understood the situation here. So I was not against of it. However, I would have preferred a different approach: watching them slowly fall in love while still in their relationships, then choosing to end those relationships themselves — not because they were exposed, but because they wanted to be honest and start a new life together. That sense of responsibility and agency would have made the story much more powerful for me.
Overall, it’s a good and meaningful series with a happy ending, but the rushed conclusion and emotional distance kept it from fully satisfying me.
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