238
471
15
1
5
10
21
1
30
3
19
6
1
9
50
1
15
4
3
11
9
4
9
26
21
37
39
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt!
This started strong with the classic friends to lovers, with hopes of a lot of mutual pinning and anticipation. But instead of banking on velocity, it leaned more towards "vibes", and whether it is your cup of tea depends on your patience level.
The central dynamic is where things get both interesting... and frustrating. From the start, it is obvious that these two share something deeper than friendship. There is history, comfort and that unspoken understanding that usually takes lovers years to build. But instead of developing the relationship, the writing chooses to hover in that already-established space… for a VERY long time.
Minato is clear, direct, and emotionally available. He knows what he feels and isn’t afraid to risk the friendship for something more. Wataru is fully aware, but committed to pretending otherwise till eternity. Not in a “he is confused and figuring out the world” way, but in a “he knows exactly what’s at stake and still refuses to acknowledge” way. The confusion and denial worked at the start and it was the base where Rome was supposed to be built. But there was no real shift over multiple episodes, it started to feel less like slow burn and more like emotional buffering bringing the classic miscommunication trope into the picture. If you ask me, this would have landed better as a 6-8 episode story.
That said, the drama does have its moments where it shines. When it stops trying to stall the plot and Minato and Wataru just EXIST together, it’s genuinely lovely. There is a softness to how these characters are around each other and those small moments, the casual closeness, shared routines, all felt very natural and lived in. Except for these two, everyone could have pointed out that they loved each other.
Another thing that I liked was how photography was an important aspect of storytelling and was not just an artsy filler that was forgotten in early episodes.
Visually, it did a good job with the overall atmosphere except for the night scenes. It was quite dark and grainy. Flashbacks were also an important part of storytelling here and while I feel they could have cut it a little short, the past-to-present transitions were handled very smoothly and somehow tied everything together in a neat bow.
Acting was also decent. I had qualms about the plot, but the cast did their thing. They really made the most out of what they were given and kept it engaging even when the story itself wasn’t fully hitting.
Overall, the tension, which felt genuine, was stretched a little too thin in the middle and it started feeling a tiny bit performative to me. It's not bad but I won't say it excels in this trope either. I don't know if I am judging too harshly, but sadly this was bland , with the characters that were sweet enough to keep the ship sailing.
Will I recommend it? Yes, if you are looking for friends to lovers and can handle denial, give it a try. Otherwise, maybe no. It's not the worst BL out there but it's just mild.
The central dynamic is where things get both interesting... and frustrating. From the start, it is obvious that these two share something deeper than friendship. There is history, comfort and that unspoken understanding that usually takes lovers years to build. But instead of developing the relationship, the writing chooses to hover in that already-established space… for a VERY long time.
Minato is clear, direct, and emotionally available. He knows what he feels and isn’t afraid to risk the friendship for something more. Wataru is fully aware, but committed to pretending otherwise till eternity. Not in a “he is confused and figuring out the world” way, but in a “he knows exactly what’s at stake and still refuses to acknowledge” way. The confusion and denial worked at the start and it was the base where Rome was supposed to be built. But there was no real shift over multiple episodes, it started to feel less like slow burn and more like emotional buffering bringing the classic miscommunication trope into the picture. If you ask me, this would have landed better as a 6-8 episode story.
That said, the drama does have its moments where it shines. When it stops trying to stall the plot and Minato and Wataru just EXIST together, it’s genuinely lovely. There is a softness to how these characters are around each other and those small moments, the casual closeness, shared routines, all felt very natural and lived in. Except for these two, everyone could have pointed out that they loved each other.
Another thing that I liked was how photography was an important aspect of storytelling and was not just an artsy filler that was forgotten in early episodes.
Visually, it did a good job with the overall atmosphere except for the night scenes. It was quite dark and grainy. Flashbacks were also an important part of storytelling here and while I feel they could have cut it a little short, the past-to-present transitions were handled very smoothly and somehow tied everything together in a neat bow.
Acting was also decent. I had qualms about the plot, but the cast did their thing. They really made the most out of what they were given and kept it engaging even when the story itself wasn’t fully hitting.
Overall, the tension, which felt genuine, was stretched a little too thin in the middle and it started feeling a tiny bit performative to me. It's not bad but I won't say it excels in this trope either. I don't know if I am judging too harshly, but sadly this was bland , with the characters that were sweet enough to keep the ship sailing.
Will I recommend it? Yes, if you are looking for friends to lovers and can handle denial, give it a try. Otherwise, maybe no. It's not the worst BL out there but it's just mild.
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