jpny01

I think it's because she's not an entirely unsympathetic character - it's pretty easy to identify with her as almost all of us have felt that competition for the attention of the object of our affection as the underdog and the loneliness of her situation. Plus, although he's not doing it for any negative reason, Kohei is an idiot for not seeing how severely he's leading her on. She's confused, and on the surface Taichi is annoying, especially in the context of Japanese culture.

He can annoy me 24/7 if he wants.

I don't think we're going to get any satisfaction there - hopefully there will be a season 2.

I agree that Maya is a deeper character than the usual evil girl character, but she's still evil. Her corruption of the boar analogy to plant doubt and insecurity in Kohei was malicious and manipulative, but it was also well-written. She's subject to the same loneliness as Kohei, and Taichi threatens what she wants, which is exclusive "rights" to Kohei.

Unlike the "standard evil girl" character, she's not beyond redemption - what drives her is easy for us to understand, and if we're honest with ourselves, we've all behaved like that at one point or another.

That was beautifully written and I agree 100%. In reading some of the comments here, it struck me that people aren't watching it in the context of Japanese culture. I'm no expert, but I have done a lot of business there and had to study how not to be annoying to Japanese people, which Americans are good at.

That other guy's reaction to the way Taichi addressed the CEO might seem strong, but he must have been shocked and offended at what he perceived as disrespect.

The acting in that scene - and every scene Taichi is in, is so strong that I'm usually on the verge of tears when he's being serious. I do find the reactions to food tiresome - I think we've all gotten his passion for food - but I don't think I've ever scene anyone pull off the exaggerated manga-ness of a character like this so well.

I agree with that, but it's still working for me in this case because the acting is so strong - but they need to dial back Taichi's appreciation of food. It's getting repetitive. If everything is stunningly delicious, then nothing is.

She's not protective at all, except of her access to Kohei. She is constantly trying to tear Taichi down behind his back with Kohei - that is not a good person. Taichi has never done anything that's in any way threatening or dangerous to Kohei, and it's plain that Taichi makes him happy. Good people like to see people happy and aren't awful and judgmental like Maya.

She's cold and doesn't display emotion, but it seems plain to me that she wants Kohei for herself.

I don't see her as protecting Kohei so much as trying to sabotage the competition. That twisting of the boar analogy was pure evil. I don't think there's any other way to see it. I like the actress' performance, but she is malicious.

I can't disagree more. For me, Kohei's smile goes a long way, but this story isn't really about him and the actor playing Taichi is amazing. The OTT element is certainly there, but that's an artifact of adapting a manga - to convey emotion, everything needs to be exaggerated, and there's no easy way to translate that to live action that will satisfy fans of the manga.

I do get annoyed at the food thing - we get it, he loves food. But if you look past that, like his monologue at the end of this ep, he's an acting powerhouse.

Jesus, Taichi is an absolutely stunning actor. That was mind-blowing.

Also, somone needs to push that girl off a cliff.

Probably the age difference. BL audiences don't like that.

I'm part way through ep 1 and only staring at Big with drool running down my chin keeps me conscious. This is boring, cliched, and totally predictable. But I will watch every second of it so to not risk missing any Big. I think the 18+ is probably a typo or something, but it does suggest that Big might take off his clothes at some point, and I might explode, so if you never hear from me again, that's what happened.

Honestly, it does have some charm to it. I'm an introvert too (probably most of us here are, or we wouldn't be sitting alone watching BLs), and unlike the usual BL where the writer has no idea about the theme they chose, this one knows what an introvert is.

There was a long scene about someone trying to think of what to text about an electric bill. Riveting. On the other hand, I could stare at Big 24/7.

LOL, it's hard to choose wisely - I always want to watch everything. Lately I've started to get selective - I think I'm suffering from a little BL burnout.

Are people doing that?

TBH, it was boring, It's hard to be interesting when it's the third time it's been made, but it didn't grab me at all. The long fake pull-ups scene was annoying, and I don't think this has set up the conflict anywhere near as well as the other two series did.

100%.

Aren't both characters 17?

The age of consent in almost the entire world is between 14 and 16. The USA is the only Western country that uses 18, and only in 11 of 50 states.

If you insist your own moral position is an absolute standard over all cultures everywhere, then you're a racist.

Prudity over sex is a product of religious conservatism that has somehow infected the left end of the political spectrum because many people insist on seeing everything through the lens of oppressor and oppressed, even when nobody is oppressing or being oppressed.

I don't, however, blame people for feeling uncomfortable with a 16-year old with a 27-year old, but they're acting, and playing two 17-year olds, which is perfectly legal almost everywhere on the entire planet. Age of consent laws were designed to prevent child brides and the exploitatioin of minors by adults, not to stop two minors from having sex, especially if they're the same age.

18 is rare as an age of consent - in almost the entire world it's between 14 & 16. People who insist that 18 is the only morally acceptable age are racists, and almost certainly American, because we're the only Western country that uses 18, and even then only in 11 out of 50 states.

Even more, almost all countries have laws that make sex legal between people close in age below the age of consent.

I care more about everyone else's opinion than your virgin cat lady views. 16 is by far the most common age of consent worldwide, so you're a racist.