Very well done. I liked it most for its unique story and tone. Of course the premise is ridiculous, so you have to buy into it from the start, but after that I was along for the ride. Thought both the leads gave strong performances. Liked the moments they gave to the teacher and her hand in their love affair. Loved the soundtrack and the vibe. I'll watch again.
I had to go back and watch ep 1 of Smells Like Green Spirit because I could not believe it was the same Fujimoto Kodai. He is so different in this drama. Great range.
One of the things I've always liked about Asami (from S1) is how seriously he takes his craft, and seeing him work through the rehearsal process here was very interesting. This show truly is about actors and acting, not just about the relationship. The writing in S2 is beautifully nuanced..
Ep 5 was an odd, but delicious episode. The structure was quite unusual, with a couple of time jumps, but I still felt like the story progressed naturally, if a little quickly. They are really zipping through this, but I am all in for the ride. I have liked Hioki from the beginning, but I absolutely fell in love with him in this episode. He's the perfect blend of naive and self-aware, curious and nervous. Fujimoto Kodai is gorgeous and he just seems so natural and real to me. And for some weird reason I love his voice. Kan Hideyoshi was also great in this ep. The glare across the gym floor at Hioki's badminton friends was chilling. Also, the cinematography really stood out to me in this ep. Beautiful lighting (maybe a bit too much filter, but still...). I know I will rewatch this many times.
Beautiful heartbreak. Some very real, natural acting and dialogue. Watching Yusuke navigate all of those emotions was a beautiful journey. Loved the score, as well. Truly enhanced the mood. Worth a second viewing, but i'll let my heart heal a bit first.
Kodai is too cute for words. Naturally Watarai fell for him. Love the friends. They don't act like the "cool kids" at all, just friends who show up for each other ALWAYS.
I liked it despite its abundant flaws. This is an OG BL story. Trauma for everyone. All the characters are compelling in their own way. But with 6 episodes it's impossible to tell all of their stories in any depth. And that's where this series really dropped the ball. If we had 6 more episodes and got to spend more time with each character/couple that would also allow each of the stories to develop more naturally and over time, so their individual growth would be deserved. Plus, might not be so confusing! Episode 6 felt like it was directed by a different team entirely. Takumi's emotionless - almost lifeless - confession, the trip to the grave, all the other couples tied everything up so neatly, so quickly. It was somehow satisfying and not at all satisfying at the same time. Such great potential wasted. Side note: If you counted up all the lines of dialogue, I think 1/3 of them would be Takumi saying, simply, "Gii..."
Overall, I really enjoyed it. Like a good yakuza story, filled with rivalry and secret plots. The "killer falls for his prey" trope did not foretell of the darker, more complex character back stories. Poor Odajima really went through hell... a few times. No wonder he looked so lifeless. Kataoka was a great character, just the right amount of arrogance, but always took responsibility. The intimate scenes were very well done, with great taste and restraint, that truly showed the changes in the couple's relationship. Loved the evolution of their relationship overall, even up to the last lines.
Minor nitpick: Kirii Keito basically ends the rivalry with Kataoka when they tell him "he's not your half-brother, he's your adopted brother. No blood relation." You mean to tell me in 20 years, no one has ever told him that before? Seems odd. But, as I say, minor.
I don't think they handled Takumi's "giving in" to Gii very well. After all his trauma, he just submits? He was just panting like a lunatic at the start of the episode and now he's getting roughed up by Gii and smiling about it? They're making some odd choices in this adaptation.
Episode 3: First, those domestic bliss scenes were just so sweet.The writing/editing was so good, going back and forth to each of their stories, and then BAM! Plot twist! And it's not an ex-lover come back to start trouble.
This is only episode 3! We've got so much more to come. I can't wait!
A decent short with some sweet and tender emotions. My big problem is that Chul-Soo rehearses the same scene 3 times, supposedly he gets better each time, but I did not see any difference in the 3 performances. Still, the heartache and yearning are well done.
Err'body gets slapped! Dang, this school has more trauma than the ER. The hyperventilating and hand trembling are at pandemic levels. But all that aside, that last moment of Ep 4 where Takumi relaxes in Gii's arms made me swoon too. 6 eps will not be enough for all these boys to figure their sh*t out, but I'm looking forward to it.
This was wel done. Captured all the emotions very well, in such a short time span. Basically got an entire series worth of story in just 28 minutes. Not something I need to see again, but worth your time and attention. Sweet.
How do you know the director doesn't trust the audience? You put in 4 flashbacks in one episode.... of moments that happened in the same episode. Story-telling at its worst.
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I don’t like it when boys get drunk on one beer in BL but one sip? That’s the first misstep of this project.
Love the friends. They don't act like the "cool kids" at all, just friends who show up for each other ALWAYS.
Minor nitpick: Kirii Keito basically ends the rivalry with Kataoka when they tell him "he's not your half-brother, he's your adopted brother. No blood relation." You mean to tell me in 20 years, no one has ever told him that before? Seems odd. But, as I say, minor.
This is only episode 3! We've got so much more to come. I can't wait!
Dang, this school has more trauma than the ER.
The hyperventilating and hand trembling are at pandemic levels.
But all that aside, that last moment of Ep 4 where Takumi relaxes in Gii's arms made me swoon too.
6 eps will not be enough for all these boys to figure their sh*t out, but I'm looking forward to it.