1
1
1
This review may contain spoilers
Too Good, Too Short
Love Begins in the World of If is a charming BL gift from Japan. What starts off slow for me ultimately became the series I looked forward to each week. That said, with its short runtime and only six episodes, it never fully reaches its potential and ends up falling a little flat.
Let’s dive in.
The first episode is rough to get through. If this is any reassurance: trust me, it gets better. A large chunk of the beginning is spent establishing Kano’s workplace dynamics and the circumstances that land him in this situation in the first place. While necessary, it feels tedious. The series picks up almost immediately in episode two, once we’re introduced to this altered world and to Ogami as Kano experiences him there. That’s when the question of who “nice” Ogami really is begins to take shape.
What I loved most is that this so-called “new world” isn’t new at all. It’s essentially a replica of the life Kano could have had if he’d simply asked for help and opened up to his coworkers. The Ogami in this world is sweet and passionate, but he isn’t the Ogami Kano needs, or even wants. Realizing that, Kano returns to his original world and confronts reality head-on, choosing to actively make things better rather than escape into a fantasy.
It might have been the height difference (it probably was), but I really enjoyed their dynamic. I liked how it’s initially strained, then gradually shifts as both of them take initiative and work through what they’ve gone through. It definitely helps that Kano constantly has to look up at Ogami like he’s a God.
Unfortunately, the ending is where the series loses me. Everything is wrapped up far too quickly. We’re given maybe five minutes to glimpse what their new relationship looks like, capped off with a dead-fish kiss. Sigh. When will this curse finally end?
Ratings:
Story: 8.5/10 - intriguing premise and storytelling. The title sequence is GORGEOUS. The first episode is very bleh and the least episode is anticlimactic. The height dynamic is everything to me.
Acting: 8/10 - Neither leads stood out to me really. I don't like that Daigo Kotaro had one facial expression for everything. Nakagawa Daisuke did the best between the both of them.
Music: 6/10 - didn't pay much attention to it.
Recommendation Value: 6/10 - There's a shot of Ogami from the back as he takes his shirt off. Trust me, you will love it.
Let’s dive in.
The first episode is rough to get through. If this is any reassurance: trust me, it gets better. A large chunk of the beginning is spent establishing Kano’s workplace dynamics and the circumstances that land him in this situation in the first place. While necessary, it feels tedious. The series picks up almost immediately in episode two, once we’re introduced to this altered world and to Ogami as Kano experiences him there. That’s when the question of who “nice” Ogami really is begins to take shape.
What I loved most is that this so-called “new world” isn’t new at all. It’s essentially a replica of the life Kano could have had if he’d simply asked for help and opened up to his coworkers. The Ogami in this world is sweet and passionate, but he isn’t the Ogami Kano needs, or even wants. Realizing that, Kano returns to his original world and confronts reality head-on, choosing to actively make things better rather than escape into a fantasy.
It might have been the height difference (it probably was), but I really enjoyed their dynamic. I liked how it’s initially strained, then gradually shifts as both of them take initiative and work through what they’ve gone through. It definitely helps that Kano constantly has to look up at Ogami like he’s a God.
Unfortunately, the ending is where the series loses me. Everything is wrapped up far too quickly. We’re given maybe five minutes to glimpse what their new relationship looks like, capped off with a dead-fish kiss. Sigh. When will this curse finally end?
Ratings:
Story: 8.5/10 - intriguing premise and storytelling. The title sequence is GORGEOUS. The first episode is very bleh and the least episode is anticlimactic. The height dynamic is everything to me.
Acting: 8/10 - Neither leads stood out to me really. I don't like that Daigo Kotaro had one facial expression for everything. Nakagawa Daisuke did the best between the both of them.
Music: 6/10 - didn't pay much attention to it.
Recommendation Value: 6/10 - There's a shot of Ogami from the back as he takes his shirt off. Trust me, you will love it.
Was this review helpful to you?
