Jero

Story / Writing

One thing Japanese adult BLs consistently do well is capture that teenage kind of love, even when the characters themselves are already adults. It's not necessarily about making the characters act young, but about capturing the awkwardness, the excitement, and that feeling of finally experiencing something you might have missed out on when you were younger. I have a particular soft spot for that kind of storytelling because it reminds us that it's never too late to experience the kind of love we once thought we could only have when we were young. I think these stories are for the gays, the queers, and anyone who needs that reminder

I also appreciate the decision to set a BL within a male-dominated profession like law enforcement. There's something interesting about placing a queer romance in an environment where masculinity is so deeply ingrained in the culture, especially when the characters have to navigate their feelings within that space. The series only lightly touches on the homophobia and the difficulties of being gay in such an environment

My main writing concern is the placement of one development in the latter part of the story. I think it would've worked better if it had been introduced before the final episode, giving the narrative more room to breathe instead of having it compete with the resolution. The series has some charm, but there are moments when I wish the writing had been a little more deliberate with its pacing

Characters / Acting

I'll be honest, the acting took some getting used to. I actually finished the series in two or three sittings because the exaggerated delivery wasn't immediately working for me. Takoi's mannerisms initially reminded me of Taichi in I Hear the Sunspot... and that comparison wasn't exactly helping my first impression considering the acting was one of my issues with that series

However, I have to give credit where it's due bc the performance eventually grew on me. What initially felt over the top gradually became part of the character's appeal and I could appreciate the expressiveness and physical comedy more as the series progressed. I can see why viewers who enjoy broad comedic performances would find Takoi endearing from the get-go even if it took me a little longer to warm up to him

As for the leads, I think they have enough chemistry to make their dynamic work, but I wanted more emotional depth and intimacy between them. Like, I wanted more of those quieter moments where a glance, a hesitation, or the smallest gesture could communicate what the characters couldn't quite put into words

That's something Cherry Magic and Old Fashion Cupcake did particularly well for me. Both gave their central relationships a sense of emotional texture that made their intimacy feel earned. With this series, I could see the appeal of the pairing but I wasn't always feeling that same depth myself. The chemistry was there, but I just wanted the romance to leave a stronger emotional impression

Post-Series Resonance / Satisfaction

As an overall viewing experience, this is a very enjoyable series. It's funny, charming, and entertaining enough to make the time worthwhile, even if it isn't entirely without its shortcomings. I can understand why viewers who appreciate its comedic approach, expressive performances, and ability to balance humor with more sincere moments would enjoy it

But enjoyment and lasting resonance are two different things for me

I can finish a BL, appreciate what it did well, and walk away satisfied without necessarily feeling the urge to revisit it months later. This feels like one of those series. I enjoyed watching it, but I'm not entirely convinced it'll stay with me in the way my personal favorites have


Overall

8/10

I think this is a fair score and it's in line with what I've given most of the other Japanese live-action BLs I've watched this year. It's a solid, enjoyable series with enough strengths to make it a legitimate contender for the year's best

However, I'm still not convinced it belongs in my Japanese BL hall of fame

I also think the inconsistency from this year's lineup has played a part in how highly this series stands out to me. But if this had been released in a year when the competition was stronger, would it still stand out? I don't think so

This year's lineup has had enough inconsistencies that a enjoyable series can suddenly look like a frontrunner if I'm being honest and that's not necessarily a bad thing for this drama, but it does make me wonder whether I'm praising it for what it is or for what the rest of the year has kinda failed to deliver

So, could this end up being my Japanese BL of the year? Absolutely. Would I put it alongside the genre's all-time standouts? Not quite. For now, I'll give it its flowers for being the year's strongest contender