This review may contain spoilers
An insightful subversion of the dom-sub trope
I did not expect to love this show the way I did. Naoya and Takaaki will live in my heart for a long time...
I loved that we were drawn in with this idea of your run-of-the-mill toxic power play couple, only to have the rug pulled out from underneath us in the first episode. I thought this was a really insightful exploration of dom-sub relationships, subverting the usual tropes & expectations (e.g. the richer, more successful partner as the dom, or the bottom as the sub.)
Takaaki was the more interesting character for me. In one episode he commented on how his high school relationship with Naoya was the perfect outlet for his desires, which he felt were shameful. (I interpreted this as a powerful metaphor for queerness.) Takaaki really blossomed thanks to his relationship with Naoya. Anyone on the outside looking in would think he was being taken advantage of, but it's exactly what he needed to feel safe enough to explore his own desire.
In later episodes, it warmed my heart watching him struggle as an adult to express his wants, outside of Naoya giving him orders. He was so terrified of becoming like Naoya's dad, so afraid that his passion was too possessive to be healthy. And even though this was never (or rarely) explicitly discussed, Naoya intuitively knew how to bring him out of his shell and make him feel like an equal in their relationship. Naoya's EQ is really high and he did a great job steering their relationship out of the hierarchy they'd been stuck in.
Don't watch this looking for sexy power play, cause I'm not sure you'll be satisfied. But if you're interested in a beautiful, healthy exploration of desire through the lens of power play, I think it's worth a look.
I loved that we were drawn in with this idea of your run-of-the-mill toxic power play couple, only to have the rug pulled out from underneath us in the first episode. I thought this was a really insightful exploration of dom-sub relationships, subverting the usual tropes & expectations (e.g. the richer, more successful partner as the dom, or the bottom as the sub.)
Takaaki was the more interesting character for me. In one episode he commented on how his high school relationship with Naoya was the perfect outlet for his desires, which he felt were shameful. (I interpreted this as a powerful metaphor for queerness.) Takaaki really blossomed thanks to his relationship with Naoya. Anyone on the outside looking in would think he was being taken advantage of, but it's exactly what he needed to feel safe enough to explore his own desire.
In later episodes, it warmed my heart watching him struggle as an adult to express his wants, outside of Naoya giving him orders. He was so terrified of becoming like Naoya's dad, so afraid that his passion was too possessive to be healthy. And even though this was never (or rarely) explicitly discussed, Naoya intuitively knew how to bring him out of his shell and make him feel like an equal in their relationship. Naoya's EQ is really high and he did a great job steering their relationship out of the hierarchy they'd been stuck in.
Don't watch this looking for sexy power play, cause I'm not sure you'll be satisfied. But if you're interested in a beautiful, healthy exploration of desire through the lens of power play, I think it's worth a look.
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