Blkittykat

Therapy Game is what you get when you try to elevate a classic JBL plot and choose to give up halfway, and attempt to execute something else that only makes sense once you've finished the series. The show is so aptly titled that it took me nine episodes to actually understand the depth of it, and I am shook.

The episodes begin with Minato, a man with an extreme bro-complex (which in this context just meant he's someone who is very protective of his brother lol) meeting Shizuma, who's just been broken up with. They meet at Minato's regular bar and spend the night together, but in the morning Shizuma says he doesn't remember a thing.
After having his feelings hurt by this turn of events, Minato decides to get revenge by seducing Shizuma and breaking up with him once he confesses his love. He also makes a bet with his friends at the bar that he will make Shizuma fall in love with him, and that he will break his heart.

If we go based off of the usual formula, this is the point where things would either get super dark or super cute, and instead it just kind of meandered in between, never really going anywhere for a couple of episodes before going full throttle on the sweet and sunshine path.
Minato swears revenge, he vows to never fall in love, falls in love shortly after - and the big conflict which should be the fallout from the bet, comes as quickly as it goes.

We get a second couple, Itsuki ànd Shoheli, who's only purpose in the story is to be supportive siblings - because they are the elder brother and younger brother of Minato and Shizuma respectively. The big conflict is resolved by them, and while I'm all for swift resolution, I think I would've preferred a dragged out misunderstanding to having them talk it out in the park like two ten year olds who fought a couple of days ago about their legos.

Instead we got multiple other problems that were solved within the episode - like the ex-girlfriend, a childhood trauma, but all of them were unnecessary and underdeveloped.

That's when you need to ask yourself, what do you want to experience more? The intent behind the scenes or the execution of a scene? I'm a confused individual and could not decide, just like them - but my analysis is that focusing on the intent behind the story is bound to help you fall more in love with the series.

Because you get the point. It's easy to identify that the bet, the distance, the jealousy were all a bid to help Minato slowly heal from his trauma and discover what love is. That having their siblings and their friends to give advice did not only that, but showed them they had way more love than they thought they did.
That the conflicts up until the finale were leading up to them realising all that. And then it's easy to piece together that they had a great idea, but kind of messed up on the execution.

I did love the chemistry between the leads, they had the perfect amount of fiery passion and slow realisation, and honestly, their dynamic as a couple was really sweet. The way the conflicts were immediately de-escalated did one great thing, make their relationship seem more real and grounded. The adorable factor was also amazing, literally all of the characters were sweet and cute and wholesome.

I loved all the characters as well, for the reasons mentioned above, but also because all of them were so cool and charming and well written.

Overall, this was an enjoyable series. Just masquerading around as something toxic, so if you go into it expecting that? You may be a bit disappointed. But! I can say with some confidence that you'll keep watching because it's fun and cute. Atleast that's what happened to me lol