1
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?!
0 people found this review helpful
The Wizards Entertained Me
This show was just plain charming. It does fall into the "overly sanitized" category of Japanese shows, but the romantic chemistry between the leads was so palpable and they expressed their affection for each other so often and so genuinely that I even started to have a little bit of fun with how much the show was teasing the audience with almost showing the two kiss but then stopping short at the last second. Sure it was frustrating (as, personally, I am someone who doesn't place too much stock in more explicit scenes, but does value realistic physical affection between characters who love each other, be it romantic love, or platonic, or any other sort) but by the end it felt almost tongue-in-cheek and some of those moments (looking at you, closing-elevator-doors-scene) honestly made me chuckle.Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The entire concept. It's silly, it's goofy, it's weirdly romantic, it shouldn't work but it really really does.
- Tsuge and his friendship with Adachi. Tsuge is a strange little man who feels too much, too often, all at once and it only seems to make him more determined to figure out what he wants out of life and how to be there for the people he cares about. I find him delightful and his relationship with Minato, while fairly uneventful, is quite sweet.
- Fujisaki Nozomi and everything she represents. While the word "asexual" is never explicitly used to describe Nozomi, she did set off my spidey-senses, my ace-detector if you will, and by the end I was convinced, yes this is an asexual woman not just existing but thriving and I adore her to pieces. Her storyline touches on the importance of self-love and directly counters the idea that romantic love is what makes life fulfilling. Not only is this an important and meaningful topic to address, it also serves to balance out the fairly romance focused main plot and lends depth and complexity to several other characters' arcs that may otherwise have been lacking.
In conclusion: This is a charming and easy-to-watch rom-com with some unexpected yet very welcome depth to it. It's fun, it's wholesome, go watch it with your friends, your family, hell, watch it with your grandparents, it's so clean and inoffensive they might just love it.
Was this review helpful to you?
A delight!
What an absolute joy watching this little series was!I went into watching this with no particular expectations and found myself very pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up liking this show.
Sure, it didn't revolutionise the genre or explore any particularly serious topics, but for a simple romantic drama veering into rom-com territory, it well exceeded expectations.
The story is simple but very well-paced, the performances and cinematography are excellent, and the writing is absolutely perfect. The dialogue is realistic but fun, and the humour is spot-on - I found myself chuckling heartily (and sometimes choking on my own mirth) more than once per episode.
The show also handles its climactic conflict a lot more subtly and skillfully than many others of the genre. No grand dramatics or misunderstandings, just somewhat flawed characters with differing viewpoints. I enjoyed it a lot!
The only "criticism" I can think to make is that the final NC scene felt a bit too drawn out for my taste.
However since that is very much a matter of opinion and the show is overall fantastic at portraying intimacy and physical affection, I don't consider this a major draw-back in any way.
All in all, this story feels like a fresh take on well-established tropes with a cast of highly likeable characters, solid writing, and a delightful sort of self-aware charm that elevates it above many other productions. If you're into rom-coms or just looking for a light, binge-able drama then Ballboy Tactics is the show for you!
Was this review helpful to you?
I'll stay with you from now on, I'll stay with you forever
A lovely little epilogue to the show that helps to really solidify the bonds between the characters and does away with any lingering fears or insecurities they may have still had about forming a permanent family unit together.I was a bit worried by the summary as I absolutely detest the miscommunication trope, but those worries were absolutely unfounded. The characters actions and thoughts are all perfectly reasonable and in character and the "conflict" is resolved very quickly and satisfactorily.
The only thing I can think to criticise is that I personally would have liked to see just a touch more physical closeness between Minoru and Yutaka, just a simple hug or something of the sort, but honestly the deep love and affection between those two is always so palpable that any physical display is hardly necessary.
If you liked the main show and want a quick watch that is guaranteed to make you smile, then give this a watch.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A surprising delight!
I hesitated a bit to watch this show given the mediocre reviews it's received here; little did I know what a fun little series I was missing out on!The story lands very much on the light and comedic side so if you're looking for something particularly deep or dramatic, you won't find it here.
What the show does have to offer, however, is a unique and zany sense of humour (which might not be everyone's cup of tea but which I greatly enjoyed), highly likeable characters, and a surprisingly touching and realistic romance with some very decent depictions of casual physical intimacy.
The relationships and friendships depicted are all incredibly sweet and wholesome, just a group of people trying their very best to care for and love one another - often while sharing delicious food.
The pacing and romantic buildup work perfectly in my opinion and the dynamic between the main pair is of the rare but truly wonderful sunshine x sunshine type.
More importantly though, what this story is mainly about is two people who, from the very beginning, like each other so much and so sincerely that watching their interactions feels painfully lovely and disarming in a way that I didn't think was possible in such a high-energy comedy setting. They also communicate very clearly and openly with one another which lends the story some more depth and realism and ensures that none of the conflicts feel contrived or unnecessary.
There are meddling exes, female love rivals but these tropes are very quickly subverted and the characters are complex, three-dimensional human beings and all contribute to the story in important ways rather than just serving as sentient roadblocks for our main couple to overcome.
Is the show perfect? Of course not; the humour doesn't always land perfectly, the comedy music feels slightly over-used in parts (although both of those are pretty much down to personal preference) and there is a completely unnecessary "comedic" slap which may put viewers off.
Fans of the source material might also be disappointed as this series is, at best, a very loose interpretation of the manga.
But to me the good far outweighs the bad and with its lovely cinematography, utterly charming cast of characters, and surprising and refreshing queer-norm approach to representation I can whole-heartedly recommend giving it a shot.
Was this review helpful to you?
