Ossan's Love (2018)

Awww, the feels.
I'm so guttered that it got cut down, because it was a beautiful series and could've been developed a lot more.

Watching the movie, I initially thought it was going to be boring, with no kisses and stuff (I found it kind of odd) [and Ochiai Motoki is so cute]
but this was really a discovery: it's funny, not predictable in any way possible and it's so romantic and well done.

Story: I wish Chief's storyline was a little bit better (the ending is so much painful to watch), but I loved it! It makes sense, it's not boring and there are pretty much no fillers. I liked that Haruta-san didn't actually understand his feelings for men, thinking he was just a kind-hearted person.
All characters have specific roles, they're not just there for decoration or to fill some plot holes. The storylines are not extremely developed, but they're clear enough to let you understand every character's feeling.

Acting: Tanaka Kei is awesome, really, but Hayashi Kento (Maki) surprised me so much. He's really skillful and i think Maki couldn't exist without him.
The kisses are so goood! (I mean, there's no tongue, like in some thai BL or sex scenes, but they're realistic!)

The game with "Haruta" being mixed up as the lead's first name (his first name is Soichi) is HILARIOUS. I couldn't stop laughing. Even Chief, that loves him so much, still thinks Haruta is his first name xDDD

If you're looking for something romantic and funny, in a very sweet BL sauce, this is definetely for you!

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The breakthrough Japanese drama of 2018 Spring Season.

This drama's creators pushed the envelope of LGBT shows by tackling the BL genre the way they would a hetero romantic comedy. You will see the characters go through the same problems most of us experience in love: age gap, divorce, unrequited love, secret affairs, exes, break ups, marriage, you name it! Not only did they show sensitivity toward the LGBT issue, they made sure that a common individual will be able to empathize with the characters. This is most likely the reason why this drama was the constant top trending topic in different social networking sites, particularly Twitter and Line, during its run.

What I love the most about this drama though is the choice of actors. Most of the BL fans will agree when I say that a lot of BL productions feature newcomers or less known actors/performers. So it was quite a shock to me when the first trailer came out with Hayashi Kento replacing Motoki Ochiai and new characters were added in the mix like Otsuka Nene, Kojima Kazuya of Unjash, Mashima Hidekazu and Uchida Rio. If you are a Japanese entertainment fan like me, you surely know who these actors and actresses are. Don't even get me started with the main actor Tanaka Kei and the resident "Ossan" Yoshida Kotaro. I mean, this drama has a star-studded cast! I will forever be grateful that the producers got people who not only look the part but can, without question, act. They totally did not waste a beautiful and funny storyline.

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This was a weird one. Japan produces plenty of great BL/yaoi anime and manga, but their few live-action offerings are never quite right. There were some funny and cute moments, and I understand that the tone was meant to be lighthearted and over-the-top rather than subtle and realistic, but some things about it bothered me.

Warning, spoilers below...




Ossan's Love employs the strange tactic of having a not-very-likeable lead character. Haruta is not a bad person, but he behaves more like a teenager than an adult man. His mannerisms are bizarre, he shouts a lot, he's always rolling around drunk, and he doesn't seem to have any self-awareness. I guess it's his good looks that draw people to him...?

More importantly, however, I didn't get the impression that Haruta had ever - at any point in his life - considered himself to be bi or gay, but when he found himself with two male suitors he gave both of them hope (by going with the flow and not giving any clear rejection) while simultaneously recoiling from any physical contact and seemingly just wanting to be friends. This kind of confused response might make sense in someone much younger, but it doesn't sit right coming from a 33-year-old man. Just what was he trying to do? What was he thinking? I'm still not sure. Even by the end of the show I wasn't convinced that Haruta genuinely had romantic feelings for anyone, which made the ending somehow unsatisfying. I would have liked it more if I had seen and believed in a real transformation in his feelings.

This show kept me watching to the end, mainly to see if Haruta would ever make a clear decision with conviction. On a positive note, the side-characters were kind of interesting and fun, especially Choko, even if her reaction to the situation was unrealistic.

In short, this show wasn't terrible, but there are much better BL offerings out there that have more emotional punch, more chemistry, and frankly...make more sense.

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Funny but beautiful at same time

What a mad office to work in. This is very fantastic since I am sure no office in Japan would be so tolerant and supportive of two men dating and announcing it as the people in this office were, but I would like it if they were. Love Ossan's Love, I found it so funny and sensitive and beautiful all at the same time. Tanaka Kei is quite good-looking also but this was an unusual role for him considering his past history. It was also very brave to do a gay love drama in Japan. I can only hope for more. Younger generation now ready to be far more open about it, just as many gay persons in Japan as other countries, so should not be hidden away. The supporting characters were also very good, particularly Chief but also all the others fitted in very well. It was interesting to see various cross-currents of romance in a small office, very well worked out for drama but hardly realistic, however this was not about realism but like a gay version of so many other romance genre dramas. There are not that many real gay dramas (BL is different genre) and even less with light-hearted and happy ending. I do not watch many series again but this is definitely worth re-watching when I need to "lift my spirits". Any people hesitate to watch, even if not gay, try it and many I am sure will like it.

Suki desu~~Yokatta?

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I was peripherally aware of this drama during when it was on air but I wrote it off initially because I thought it was gonna be another queerbait . I didn't believe a drama that actually went all the way with genuinely gay characters could penetrate mainstream with so much clout. But boy it did, and it's still a phenomenon now in freaking September, over 3 months after the last ep aired

Ossan's Love is very entertaining, and it's really all about the cast. Tanaka Kei is hilarious and loveable. Haruta's character in anyone's else hands would probably go south fast but Tanaka Kei really knows his stuff. His ridiculous acting combined with that suspense track they always use for the title call is comedy gold. Yoshida Kotaro is deservedly universally praised and I'm 100% here for Hayashi Kento and the revision of the Maki character. There are so many iconic lines because they're so SO funny in Japanese. The chief quoting a Nishino Kana song, Maki's big dick confession, Maro's "Choko Boom" etc. Rewatch value for Ossan's Love is sky high bc I just don't get tired of hearing the cast deliver their lines. The comedic appeal was so broad that it's touted in Japan as a gay drama men can enjoy. (and it's true bc even Katori Shingo was referencing line from the drama on TV lol)
Storywise, it's a funny story but also weird and nonsensical. Looking closely, the pacing and timeline is a major weak spot and the struggle with 7 eps really showed. IMO the best thing about the world of Ossan's Love is that it's one of acceptance. Despite some reservation and initial shock, all of the characters are open minded and kind people at heart, I think Japanese audiences can really appreciate that attitude about homosexual relationships.

And for BL fans waltzing in, I actually don't think this is BL, and it was never marketed as such. If you saw all the promos done, it was just advertised as a regular "who will he choose???" romcom. Obviously, the style, casting, and the presence of a character like the chief is really not common for BL productions. So a loooot were written as set up for jokes or get viewers hooked in suspense, not to create some deep love story with tons of moments. I think it's only about 25% rom and a whopping 75% com so buyer beware.

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The series are fun and entertaining and definitely worth watching, but somehow, I got very confused by the behaviour of the main characters as well as the concept of relationship according to this film. Everyone seemed so incredibly selfish ( with an exception of Cheif's wife who seems to be the only sane person). First of all, why is everyone obsessed with Haruta-san? As cute and as charming as he is, how can a person of his age be so disconnected with his own feelings? It looked like that he was basically looking for a housekeeper not a boy friend. The film takes place across the period of approximately two years, they keep talking about relationship, love and romance yet there is no physical contact ( yes they kissed 3 times over that period). Haruta-san proposes only after three kisses? Who does that? The whole concept of relationship in this film is radically unsound. I would love to hear a Japanese person's response to my comment. I am really curious!

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Awesome!

Truly one of the best shows I have ever seeing. I was very impressed with the way they direction of this show. Specially being Japanese.

I’m glad they decided to do something different this time. Don’t get me wrong, I like to see BL regarding coming of age and college stuff, but I really wanted to see something new with great value. And this show really brought it to me. It really brings a new light regarding normal issues that happens between working life and personal. But the best part was that; they brought a mature character.

I started seeing it and I could not stop watching it until I was done with this show. If you are looking for a more realistic story and with hilarious moments in all the episodes, see this show!

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What is Love Anyway?

There are a lot of Japanese BL movies, also a homosexual office romance Doushitemo Furetakunai (No Touching at all) but to my knowledge Ossan’s Love is the first and only BL dramaseries that is mainstream broadcasted in Japan, so I was very curious.

True Love
Just like the other BL movies Ossan’s Love is based on a manga, and it shows. There are a lot of cartoon-like characters, and scenes, that made me laugh and eager to follow the story until the end. Perhaps because of this I started to stare and compare with another BL dramaseries, Diary of Tootsies (Thailand 2016)
Both series follow a couple of friends in their search for true love. The Thais series has a more western touch like Sex &The City, the leads are very straight forward in their desires with hilarious sex scenes. Ossan’s Love is more asian in the willingness to remain aloof in a traditional society. The chemistry between the leading couple is absolutely there, but the emphasis is on platonic love until the very last episode when their days of holding back seem over.

Summary
Ossan’s Love, literally the love of a middle-aged man, is about the love life of Haruta Soichi and his colleagues at an estate office.
Haruta is a good looking 33 year old man, also well hung if we have to believe the stares he gets at the men’s room, but with a goofy personality. He’s always ready to please everyone, perhaps because he’s too lazy to fight, which brings him in awkward situations. To make things worse he’s also lacking in social skills. That’s why he’s unlucky in group dating, but he enjoys a small circle of good friends.
Haruta still lives with his mother, until she gets fed up with him and leaves. Since Haruta can’t do any basic housework he asks co-worker Maki Ryouta to live with him. To his surprise Maki is the best partner he could dream of, but it seems life has more for him in stock. One day both his roommate Maki and his middle aged boss Musashi Kurosawa confess their ardent love to him. Also one of his female friends, Chizu Arai, goes into love mode. This is really too much for Haruta to handle. As his roller coaster journey to love begins, Haruta is constantly screaming and falling all over the place. Just like his friends and colleagues, who turn out to be exactly as ignorant on love and their desires as he is.

The Pros
Ossan’s Love is watchable for everyone, a warm and sweet opinion on humans and theirs struggles in life. Themes like group pressure, status in life, keeping up appearances, marriage, divorce, midlife crisis, it’s all there. The homosexuality makes it only more gripping. The cast is superb, not only the leading couple who gave me the feels. I also could relate to other characters, sympathized with the slighted lovers.

The Cons
This series is simply too short and way too platonic. Just like other fans I’m waiting for the sequel, what will happen to the relation of the male leads, and everybody involved?

The Verdict
I could see five seasons of Ossan’s Love and still be hooked, I guess. Please let this be the Modern Family Series of Japan.

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Ossan’s Love was really such an emotional roller coaster ride from the very start, but it’s also an extremely candid exploration of LGBT couples within Japanese society.

I do recall the first episodes very jarring due to Tanaka Kei’s acting and the way they framed the boss’s character, but I got used to it as I kept watching! Having watched Tanaka Kei in Anata no Ban, I can safely say he is one of the most charming actors out there. So glad that a more mainstream actor vouched to play a LGBT character too! I found myself craving for more of Haruta and Maki’s interactions because their personalities bounced off each other so well- even the parts where I was almost dying from second hand embarrassment :’)

However I found myself unable to connect to Kurosawa’s attachment to Haruta... I found it quite far fetched compared to all the other elements of the story, but his character was redeemed so well in his intersections with his wife! I found myself tearing up in public watching those two together ahhh

Another great point- the way they developed Haruta’s personal reactions to Maki and Kurosawa’s advances, i.e. his internalised homophobia. Although it might be a stretch to call it that, he’s quite adverse to the idea of romantically falling for a man in the beginning, and it’s so heartwarming to see his character develop from there!

The side characters were fascinating too, and I didn’t find myself trying to skip past their storyline’s like I usually would in other dramas LOL... their plot points are so well wrapped up and resolved in the end too!

Another point I want to touch on- the editing and cinematography was really interesting. The way they framed the title card in each episode was really well done, merging it into the scenery seamlessly. The cuts and transitions were also unlike what I’ve seen in most k-dramas/j-dramas until now. Soundtrack was pretty good too!

I just really, really loved their wholesome and realistic portrayal of a gay relationship!! So much so that it made me write my first review of something ever lmao

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This ought to be one of the most underrated gay drama from the east.

The story is amazing with some frustrating roundabouts(-0.5), but totally unpredictable in its own way.

The cast is amazing, and appeared totally natural in all their respective scenes (but I couldn't understand the shouting so the -0.5)

The music is simply phenomenal...no doubt on that. All the scenes matched up perfectly with utterly satisfying music.

And yes, inspite of the shortcomings, I am happy to watch it over and over again and recommend anyone who would be into this sort that I adore. So much better than regular relationship drama.

Go for it guys, absolutely no regret. ????????????

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Quirky, maturely cute

A series can be spoiled by the start or by the mid or by the end. Each part of the series matter.
Every single emotion the character shows matters. Every single facial expression of a character matters.
This series made me realise the intensity, the weightage of that to a great extent.

The starting episodes of the series were so damn funny with a subtle amount of serious scenes covering the story well.
During the whole series including more than half of the last episode I was very sceptical about how the ending is going to be, will it be even satisfied with the direction the series was going in?

The story was kind of a mess, quirky dramatic but not cringy dramatic but it was perfect. It has fewer of those intimate and cute scenes of people in relationships but It's cute in its own way.




Highly recommended!!

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Story ->> Very interesting and unique. At one moment you laugh and at the other you cry. 10/10
Acting ->> Acting was awesome! The fight scenes were super realistsic... The characters were pretty good too (exept of the chief, he was too creepy). 10/10
Music ->> Very nice music, it gave me goosebumps! 10/10
Ending ->> Amazing ending. The ending felt a bit unfinished but since there is a movie to be released, it's ok. 10/10
Rewatch Value ->> I never rewatch shows but I might do with this one,it's just too awesome. 9/10
Overall ->> It was awesome. Definitely one of the best BL dramas I have watched. 10/10

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