I’ve loved all the episodes and they really all came together to make episode 5 just so perfect. I need to rewatch…
It seems like the most random JBLs become popular internationally while the rest of them gain minimal traction outside of Japan.
I have no idea why, and for some reason extremely basic high school JBLs are almost always guaranteed to be a hit inside and outside of Japan without fail.
People always ask for more mature JBLs with proper intimacy featuring grown men and then are nowhere to be found when it comes to support these JBLs.
TBH, this series really deserves more recognition and hype. The acting and production quality is really high.
The actors are so cute in promoting the series and they are happy to interact with fans. You can tell they loved working on it and that they have grown to be close friends. They poured a lot of effort into it.
I guess most people are still happy to sleep on JBLs. Hopefully, it will continue to gain a solid fan base.
lmao… Not me researching how long a trip from Tokyo to Osaka would be. Apparently, it’s a little over 1hr by flight, 2hrs by train and a bit over 6hrs by car.
Zen really hauled himself to another city to be with Ryo even after collapsing at work from exhaustion. Like…The dedication.
And Ryo’s face upon seeing Zen, sheepishly standing in the rain calling to him in need. It’s like he was so relieved to finally see his desperation being mirrored by Zen, he couldn’t contain himself.
If they were to date a woman, it wouldn’t qualify as “having a beard.”
I don’t believe Zen was planning to use Kiritani, I think he is genuinely struggling— not only with his feelings for Ryo but he’s coming to terms with his sexuality. In Kiritani, he momentarily saw a safe way out of his new, complicated feelings for Ryo. He is genuinely attracted to her but he’s already in love by this point.
The story reads to me like Ryo has known for a long time that he is bisexual, at least since high school. He fell for Zen back then and experimented with guys in college. But he always held a special place in his heart for Zen, hoping to reunite with him one day. He is presented as being very comfortable in his sexuality.
Whereas Zen, who has always had both men and women show interest in him, hasn’t actually considered men as an option before. As he told Ryo in episode 1, he wasn’t against doing things with men. He just never acted on it before to this extent. Not only that, he told Ryo that he only feels comfortable having sex with him, not any other men. This is why Ryo is hesitant to pressure him or rush things, so as to give Zen the space to figure things out.
Even during the hotel work-related party, they both acknowledged that they find the women attending attractive, but they still preferred to leave with each other.
Ok, so apparently the drama is censored while airing on Japanese TV but the uncensored version is later available for viewers to stream on FOD.
Maybe that explains the angled kisses where their faces are obscured in some scenes. I know some people had complaints and thought the actors were to blame for not being comfortable with kissing. Obviously, we know after ep 3 that’s definitely not the case.
I usually ignore people nitpicking JBLs for these things (because they’re usually conditioned by very explicit BL from other countries), but it does put some of the director’s choices in to perspective.
He appears in the sequel, after they agree to become a couple by the end of the first manga. So, probably by the midway point of the drama after Zen & Ryo have confessed to each other.
They basically continue to be competitive and Futami stirs up jealousy and conflict between the two as they try to settle in to their new relationship and find work-life balance.
Each episode so far has consisted of one chapter in the manga but they will have to make adjustments to fit in the sequel without it feeling rushed.
Maybe they will restructure the plot of the manga, so we don’t know for sure.
I wonder if they will cover parts of the much longer sequel (Fake Fact Lips Break) in the 12 episodes listed. That’s a lot of episodes for a JBL. Or maybe they will add original content to pad out the content of the first manga in the series which is fairly short.
Also, sometimes JBLs have little spin-off special episodes that are listed separately by some streaming platforms. Maybe that’s why there’s a discrepancy for the episode count (10 vs 12).
Either way, I hope they are able to sustain the intensity and high quality we’ve seen thus far. The drama is following the manga very closely so there hasn’t been any filler yet.
FFL is a great example that a BL can have a character be assertive/dominant without being selfish, controlling and brutish. They are both a bit messy, but you never get the sense that either Ryo or Zen feel unsafe with each other. It’s strangely wholesome.
It shows that a pairing can have an unconventional dynamic without it being abusive. They both clearly accepted the terms of the “game” and they keep reaffirming that they want to see things through to the end even if it’s difficult at times. They check-in with each other even when things get messy.
Ryo communicates with Zen, centres his pleasure, praises him, helps him in exploring complex feelings and whenever he tests their boundaries, he makes sure to be gentle with Zen afterwards. He is there for Zen emotionally and physically.
Meanwhile, Zen tries his best to be honest and reciprocates when he begins to feel safer with Ryo. He even feels comfortable enough to take the lead at times like the episode 3 role-reversal where they play around with the power dynamics of their relationship.
This JBL explores seduction and intimacy in a very fun, fascinating and mature way.
A few fans seem to take the time to translate some of them to English.
From what I’ve seen, they are very cute.
The actors also regularly post about the series on their X/Twitter accounts and banter with each other when an episode airs.
I have no idea why, and for some reason extremely basic high school JBLs are almost always guaranteed to be a hit inside and outside of Japan without fail.
People always ask for more mature JBLs with proper intimacy featuring grown men and then are nowhere to be found when it comes to support these JBLs.
I’m tired. lol
The actors are so cute in promoting the series and they are happy to interact with fans. You can tell they loved working on it and that they have grown to be close friends. They poured a lot of effort into it.
I guess most people are still happy to sleep on JBLs. Hopefully, it will continue to gain a solid fan base.
Zen really hauled himself to another city to be with Ryo even after collapsing at work from exhaustion. Like…The dedication.
And Ryo’s face upon seeing Zen, sheepishly standing in the rain calling to him in need. It’s like he was so relieved to finally see his desperation being mirrored by Zen, he couldn’t contain himself.
So emotional.
If they were to date a woman, it wouldn’t qualify as “having a beard.”
I don’t believe Zen was planning to use Kiritani, I think he is genuinely struggling— not only with his feelings for Ryo but he’s coming to terms with his sexuality. In Kiritani, he momentarily saw a safe way out of his new, complicated feelings for Ryo. He is genuinely attracted to her but he’s already in love by this point.
The story reads to me like Ryo has known for a long time that he is bisexual, at least since high school. He fell for Zen back then and experimented with guys in college. But he always held a special place in his heart for Zen, hoping to reunite with him one day. He is presented as being very comfortable in his sexuality.
Whereas Zen, who has always had both men and women show interest in him, hasn’t actually considered men as an option before. As he told Ryo in episode 1, he wasn’t against doing things with men. He just never acted on it before to this extent. Not only that, he told Ryo that he only feels comfortable having sex with him, not any other men. This is why Ryo is hesitant to pressure him or rush things, so as to give Zen the space to figure things out.
Even during the hotel work-related party, they both acknowledged that they find the women attending attractive, but they still preferred to leave with each other.
Maybe that explains the angled kisses where their faces are obscured in some scenes. I know some people had complaints and thought the actors were to blame for not being comfortable with kissing. Obviously, we know after ep 3 that’s definitely not the case.
I usually ignore people nitpicking JBLs for these things (because they’re usually conditioned by very explicit BL from other countries), but it does put some of the director’s choices in to perspective.
We will just have to hope for the best since they are already doing a great job adapting it.
They basically continue to be competitive and Futami stirs up jealousy and conflict between the two as they try to settle in to their new relationship and find work-life balance.
Each episode so far has consisted of one chapter in the manga but they will have to make adjustments to fit in the sequel without it feeling rushed.
Maybe they will restructure the plot of the manga, so we don’t know for sure.
Fake Fact Lips:
Volumes 1 with 7 chapters
Fake Fact Lips Break:
Volumes 2 with 12 chapters
I wonder if they will cover parts of the much longer sequel (Fake Fact Lips Break) in the 12 episodes listed. That’s a lot of episodes for a JBL. Or maybe they will add original content to pad out the content of the first manga in the series which is fairly short.
Also, sometimes JBLs have little spin-off special episodes that are listed separately by some streaming platforms. Maybe that’s why there’s a discrepancy for the episode count (10 vs 12).
Either way, I hope they are able to sustain the intensity and high quality we’ve seen thus far. The drama is following the manga very closely so there hasn’t been any filler yet.
It shows that a pairing can have an unconventional dynamic without it being abusive. They both clearly accepted the terms of the “game” and they keep reaffirming that they want to see things through to the end even if it’s difficult at times. They check-in with each other even when things get messy.
Ryo communicates with Zen, centres his pleasure, praises him, helps him in exploring complex feelings and whenever he tests their boundaries, he makes sure to be gentle with Zen afterwards. He is there for Zen emotionally and physically.
Meanwhile, Zen tries his best to be honest and reciprocates when he begins to feel safer with Ryo. He even feels comfortable enough to take the lead at times like the episode 3 role-reversal where they play around with the power dynamics of their relationship.
This JBL explores seduction and intimacy in a very fun, fascinating and mature way.