1
Already loved it the first time!
I've watched this series twice now and greatly enjoyed it both times (but even more the second time around when I already knew what I was in for).
It's an absolute gem of a story - grounded, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny!
The characters are extremely lovable and though their push-and-pull dynamic may have been off-putting in a lesser show, it works perfectly here.
Iwanaga is confident and cocky and pursues Miyata through blatant manipulation, but there are certain lines he does not cross. He does not force Miyata into anything he genuinely doesn't want, doesn't compromise their work together, and is very open about what he's doing and why.
Despite what Miyata believes in the beginning, Iwanaga is in fact entirely honest about his intentions and methods.
Miyata is always offered an out - if he does not want to engage with Iwanaga he can simply leave. Sure, there's a certain social pressure on him because Iwanaga is in fact his business partner, but he absolutely has the option to call their arrangement quits any time without any lasting negative consequences.
Combined with the almost desperate vulnerability that soon begins to shine through the cracks in Iwanaga's facade, this makes his antics genuinely entertaining to watch, endearing even.
Miyata meanwhile isn't afraid to push back against Iwanaga, sometimes by (rightfully) berating and admonishing him, sometimes by gleefully using Iwanaga's own methods against him and taking advantage of rules of social conduct and politeness. It's a highly engaging back-and-forth that made me laugh out loud several times, usually right before hitting me directly in the emotional gonads with thoughtful explorations of the nature of human relationships.
I also greatly enjoyed the side characters - yes, all of them, even Sugimoto. The acting is fantastic, the sound track is brilliant (the ending theme in particular is an absolute banger), and overall the immense care and effort that went into this show is apparent in every single scene.
I simply cannot recommend it enough!
It's an absolute gem of a story - grounded, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny!
The characters are extremely lovable and though their push-and-pull dynamic may have been off-putting in a lesser show, it works perfectly here.
Iwanaga is confident and cocky and pursues Miyata through blatant manipulation, but there are certain lines he does not cross. He does not force Miyata into anything he genuinely doesn't want, doesn't compromise their work together, and is very open about what he's doing and why.
Despite what Miyata believes in the beginning, Iwanaga is in fact entirely honest about his intentions and methods.
Miyata is always offered an out - if he does not want to engage with Iwanaga he can simply leave. Sure, there's a certain social pressure on him because Iwanaga is in fact his business partner, but he absolutely has the option to call their arrangement quits any time without any lasting negative consequences.
Combined with the almost desperate vulnerability that soon begins to shine through the cracks in Iwanaga's facade, this makes his antics genuinely entertaining to watch, endearing even.
Miyata meanwhile isn't afraid to push back against Iwanaga, sometimes by (rightfully) berating and admonishing him, sometimes by gleefully using Iwanaga's own methods against him and taking advantage of rules of social conduct and politeness. It's a highly engaging back-and-forth that made me laugh out loud several times, usually right before hitting me directly in the emotional gonads with thoughtful explorations of the nature of human relationships.
I also greatly enjoyed the side characters - yes, all of them, even Sugimoto. The acting is fantastic, the sound track is brilliant (the ending theme in particular is an absolute banger), and overall the immense care and effort that went into this show is apparent in every single scene.
I simply cannot recommend it enough!
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