This review may contain spoilers
Gay people in the Japanese countryside
This is a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s in a countryside town in Japan. It follows an outcast with long hair, Mishima, a pretty boy called Kirino, and a rough, foul-mouthed boy named Yumeno. I'll skip further details of the story as quite a lot happens. Keep in mind that this is not a BL drama but rather a story about gay people in high school.
The acting is comical and feels intentionally exaggerated, resulting in a drama that feels more fictional than realistic. I have seen other similar Japanese dramas about gay people in high school that felt a lot more realistic because of the themes, acting, and expressions. I'm kind of comparing it to "Fujoshi, ukkari gei ni kokuru/what she likes" which was released in 2019 with barely any love focus but a realistic yet interesting gay focus. Back to Smells Like Green Spirit, the way they handle the setting is just a bit off for me. Like, I don't know if I should laugh or feel sentimental.
Either way, this is still an interesting watch. The teacher surprised me, and so did Kirino and Yumeno. I think that's the biggest charm about the drama. Like life in a small town, you think you know how everything goes, yet it catches you by surprise.
I believe that this drama is ultimately intended for Japanese viewers who share similar experiences of being gay in a small town. The lighthearted yet realistic approach of the drama could ease their minds and make them feel seen and not alone.
The ending is interesting, it shows how people can make different decisions in their lives. Kirino's decision to have a family with a child (meaning married to a woman in Japan's context) is a bit unsatisfying in my opinion. I can understand some want to fit in to society and be seen as normal, but the marriage is a sham in my eyes. When I lived in Japan, I was surprised to find out that a majority of gay people think this is a perfectly understandable decision, so this is mostly a matter of cultural acceptance. Kirino's decision may not be as sad to Japanese viewers for this reason.
Yumeno and Mishima end up together without much romantic buildup. Yumeno likes Mishima, so he goes for it. The scene between Yumeno and his mother, and Yumeno and Mishima on the bridge, is the romance you get. Later, the two are in Tokyo, Omotesando or Shibuya to be exact, and they are living together. Just a kiss on the street and an explanation of their life is what we see. This is not a bad thing; it just further emphasises how this is not a romance drama or a BL, but a coming-of-age story about decisions in life while being gay.
To conclude my personal thoughts, the pacing was alright, the acting was passable, the characters were interesting, and the setting was charming. I do recommend it a view if you are interested, as it is quite different than other Japanese gay dramas. After watching the drama until the end, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the drama in many ways.
The acting is comical and feels intentionally exaggerated, resulting in a drama that feels more fictional than realistic. I have seen other similar Japanese dramas about gay people in high school that felt a lot more realistic because of the themes, acting, and expressions. I'm kind of comparing it to "Fujoshi, ukkari gei ni kokuru/what she likes" which was released in 2019 with barely any love focus but a realistic yet interesting gay focus. Back to Smells Like Green Spirit, the way they handle the setting is just a bit off for me. Like, I don't know if I should laugh or feel sentimental.
Either way, this is still an interesting watch. The teacher surprised me, and so did Kirino and Yumeno. I think that's the biggest charm about the drama. Like life in a small town, you think you know how everything goes, yet it catches you by surprise.
I believe that this drama is ultimately intended for Japanese viewers who share similar experiences of being gay in a small town. The lighthearted yet realistic approach of the drama could ease their minds and make them feel seen and not alone.
The ending is interesting, it shows how people can make different decisions in their lives. Kirino's decision to have a family with a child (meaning married to a woman in Japan's context) is a bit unsatisfying in my opinion. I can understand some want to fit in to society and be seen as normal, but the marriage is a sham in my eyes. When I lived in Japan, I was surprised to find out that a majority of gay people think this is a perfectly understandable decision, so this is mostly a matter of cultural acceptance. Kirino's decision may not be as sad to Japanese viewers for this reason.
Yumeno and Mishima end up together without much romantic buildup. Yumeno likes Mishima, so he goes for it. The scene between Yumeno and his mother, and Yumeno and Mishima on the bridge, is the romance you get. Later, the two are in Tokyo, Omotesando or Shibuya to be exact, and they are living together. Just a kiss on the street and an explanation of their life is what we see. This is not a bad thing; it just further emphasises how this is not a romance drama or a BL, but a coming-of-age story about decisions in life while being gay.
To conclude my personal thoughts, the pacing was alright, the acting was passable, the characters were interesting, and the setting was charming. I do recommend it a view if you are interested, as it is quite different than other Japanese gay dramas. After watching the drama until the end, I was left feeling unsatisfied with the drama in many ways.
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