EmperorCaligula

After watching the first 5 Episode of the original Thai BL version, I didn't feel convinced; it felt dragged and the actors didn't feel special. When I went to watch the new Japanese version, I realized I had watched so many Thai BL's, that I was a bit over-saturated and I realized how I missed the Japanese BL style a lot. This series had a gravitas, a seriousness and a very good pacing. It starts right into the action, just to backtrack a few times, with every episode being well rounded in itself. The MC had two distinctly looking and acting actors, though I admit that Nagumo Shoma as Sara was a true bonus, giving this mix of bad boy, sad boy and one desperately fighting to find a happy life, contrasted by Phu's shy are kinda naive ways. Both actors portrait the characters really well, and I was especially glad that the ending gave the devil of a mother her deserved ruination.

Often time travel, parallel timelines and other worlds are risky, because things get very wrong or one of two is left behind, and this series solved it in a very interesting and satisfying way, leaving the viewer thinking about the idea, how easily small decisions or inaction bring entire large scale alterations of life. Chances never taken, and what would be merrier than a Second Chance. Settings, camera work and also the NC scenes were good, with the latter neither being too much or too little and surely something pleasing to the eyes. The serious undertone many Japanese series have was quite refreshing, and also for once not again seeing characters whom I had seen many times in year long ships for a change. Without reinventing the wheel I had a good time, and the two special episodes giving yet another timeline, but in the end adding some extra time in the prime timeline, showing how their relationship progressed, rounded it all up very well. So I can confidently give an

8.5/10