wellwellbelle

There is a kind of Japanese short drama that a) skips over the normal first act of a romance plot (the getting to know each other/initial attraction/initial resistance part) and goes pretty instantly to the confession/relationship stage and b) tends to be more "steamy" but in a very particular coercive/forceful sort of way that is not everybody's cup of tea. This is that, with step siblings in high school. Super uncomfortable on the one hand, and yet somehow feels like it was written as a 13 year old's self-insert fantasy on the other.

I spent most of the last episodes brainstorming other dramas that would satisfy whatever made you consider this drama, but better. So rather than a review, I present this list of alternatives. It's a mix of straight and BL romances, so I'll make note for those who care:

Step Siblings - Cute/Silly and/or Romantic Comedy
Private Body Guard (Indonesia - Viki --This is the most directly comparable storyline)
Go Ahead (China - Viki)
Family By Choice (Korean remake of Go Ahead - Viki)

Step Siblings - Angst/drama
Love Rain (Korea - Viki)

Step Siblings - sexual tension
Addicted (BL - China - Viki)
HIStory 2 (BL - Taiwan - Viki --honestly I'm not sure about this categorization because it's been a million years since I watched it so YMMV)
Unknown (BL - Taiwan - Viki)

Step Siblings - compelling story/good characters
Unknown (BL -Taiwan - Viki)
Stay With Me (BL - China - Gagaoolala --this is basically Addicted with some of the more toxic stuff made gentler and overall a more realistic feel)

High schoolers in forced proximity - fun/cute/comedy/silly
Good Morning Call (Japan - Netflix)
Mischevious Kiss (Japan -Viki), It Started With a Kiss (Taiwan - You Tube), Playful Kiss (Korea - Viki) --there are more of these adaptations, but that's the basics
Princess Hours (Korea -Viki -- although be warned, it falls apart at the end)

Forbidden Relationships with High School characters - somehow successfully comedic and silly
Falling High School Girl and Irresponsible Teacher (Japan - Viki)

High Schoolers Romance -- cute/fluffy/unproblematic (there's a lot, this is just my favourite)
My Love Mix-Up (BL - Japan - Viki)

Rapid Japanese Spicy Romance -- honestly few of these are even tolerable, but this one I guess?
Sweat and Soap (Japan - Viki)

Idol Romance -- This is a genre I don't watch a lot of, but:
My Bias is Showing? (BL - Korea - Iqiyi)
Picked up a Star on the Road (Korea - Viki - not a standard story in the genre but I thought it was hilarious)