Utsukushii Kare (2021)

Probably going to be spoiler heavy and I'm okay being the odd man out.
But holy shit I hated this show.... Okay, maybe not hate, but I sure didn't like it. I waited so long for this to be complete so I could binge watch it, and I'm glad I did because how these episodes ended and how toxic EVERY episode was.. I probably would have "forgotten" to tune in for the next episode.
I've seen a lot of toxic shows and movies -- I feel like this one takes the cake. At least with the other shows (that I've seen) you see character building and eventually they stop being toxic pieces of shit. Yet. all the way up to the very last scene Kiyoi is steadily calling Hira gross and disgusting. Now mind you, Hira isn't innocent here either. The man is clearly psychotic. Dreaming of gunning down people for a guy you like isn't normal and is extremely creepy.
So yeah I have many regrets and wish I had passed up on this show. It's not often that I wish the ML would have ended up with the second love interest, but fuck I wish he would have. He was so much better than Kiyoi.

Hats off to the actors! The talent it takes to make you have to say to yourself "they're actors, not real" LOL! I think all of the actors did a amazing job and I really loved seeing Yusei. (what can I say? I adore the man. Don't like the character he played but I still adore him hahaha)

Edited to mark 4 stars instead of 5. But I feel like even 4 stars is to much. :/

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So unapologetically captivating I need to breathe!

Forget the controversy, this drama has just the right amount of grays to take you on a rocky journey to a surprising ending. If you keep an open mind and are not quick to make judgments, it’s sure to delight you in ways you may not expect.

At first, it doesn't look promising because of some unsettling but important narrative elements that make you wonder where it's headed. However, things take a turn by about the middle of Ep3. That's the moment where I fell in love and became obsessed with it like no other Asian BL drama I’ve watched to date (as of 2021). So much that it has compelled me to attempt at writing my first review.

This series is for you if you like character-driven BL dramas with depth and substance. It hits you in the right spot, making it addicting and binge-worthy, with two vastly different individuals, Hira (MC) and Kiyoi (ML), who struggle to figure out who they are and the complexities and beauty of love. They’re portrayed as multifaceted and nuanced. Their personalities are fleshed out to clash but also bring them together. They admit that they're like two dots that don’t overlap. Yet they’re very much drawn to each other early on by a magnetic curiosity to get closer. They’re complimentary at the core but they’re also very much alike. They’re imperfect, alone, and lonely. And they’re also drawn to intensity; they love and protect fiercely.

The plot is simple but more complex in execution. It has layers of small details interwoven into scenes, strategic placement of narration throughout, and controlled pacing in building up to an impactful ending. It unfolds by following HiraKiyo from when they first meet in high school to when they reunite in college. They start off with a stark power imbalance that eventually narrows when Kiyoi brings Hira into his social circle as their lackey. Secretly though, it’s Kiyoi’s way of keeping Hira close so he can find out what Hira wants from him and unintentionally, also shielding Hira from being bullied by others. As they interact more and their feelings lead to more questions, things get complicated and escalate to a new level.

While the issues explored between HiraKiyo are not new, the interplay is refreshingly intriguing. What I love about this drama is that gender is not even a conflict driver. Instead, it focuses on issues that are deeply rooted in their trauma that drive their behaviors and lead to their frustrations, misunderstandings, and pain. Hira has self-value, self-worth, and self-confidence issues so he sees Kioyi as a king and idolizes him as a god. He enjoys serving Kiyoi and often apologizes to please him. As a result, he’s blind to Kiyoi’s feelings and makes things unnecessarily difficult for them to declare their love and be together. Kioyi, on the other hand, has issues with abandonment, trust, and vulnerability. He copes by projecting a strong, tough exterior and defaults to nonchalant rudeness, lashing out or withdrawing to protect his pride/ego. Since weakness is a trigger for Kiyoi, he represses his feelings and affection and refuses to be the first to confess or take the lead.

The drama does show character growth for HiraKiyo. The changes are subtle but obvious shifts that are realistic, meaningful, and a step forward for them. In the beginning, HiraKiyo refers to themselves as a rubber ducky forced to drift in filthy water where it doesn't belong. But that mentality slowly changes when they meet and find comfort in each other’s company. They start opening up and sharing things they wouldn’t have otherwise. They also begin to draw strength from each other. Hira comes alive, feels empowered, and views his world with a colorful lens when he is around Kiyoi. His eyes light up, he looks more directly, he smiles more often, he expresses himself more, and he finds courage at times to be a little more daring. As for Kiyoi, Hira helps him realize he can be himself and be powerful. This is more apparent after Hira stands up for him by punching Shirota. Though still temperamental with a foul mouth, he begins to soften up a little more and lets his guard down a little more when he is with Hira. His trajectory ultimately leads him to be vulnerable with Hira when he cries and confesses in the end.

So what’s the takeaway? I learned from a filmmaker a while back that after you watch a film it eventually forms into a single painting. For me, for this drama, it’s the scene in Ep3 where Kiyoi lets Hira kiss his hand in the classroom with just the two of them. It’s a perfect summary of a message I walked away with: Sometimes it’s hard to define what love is but surrendering yourself will reveal everything. This can be applied to watching BL dramas too: Sometimes it’s hard to decide if a BL drama is worth watching by reading the synopsis or reviews but diving in will reveal everything. So stop reading and start watching to find out if you’ll fall in love with this series as I did.

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Intense, unpredictable and... fabulous!

What a great end of the year surprise! After Eps 1 and 2, I wasn't really sure what I thought about this series but, for anyone else feeling the same way, my recommendation is to stick with it! Here are my pros and cons:

PROS:

UNUSUAL BUT COMPELLING STORY. Misfit Hira is persecuted by just about everyone at his school. He even has a stuttering problem that is schoolmates cruelly make fun of. Along comes handsome, mysterious, aloof and popular Kiyoi, who attracts everyone (including Hira) and, while he appears to have a soft spot for Hira, Kiyoi treats Hira abominably, hurling insults at him left and right. But, as the story continues, there are plot twists that take us all on a wild ride.

KIYOI'S APPEARANCE. Damn, the guy is stunning and has a killer body!

SYMPATHETIC LEAD CHARACTERS. Without giving too much away, I'll just say that I ended up sympathizing with BOTH Hira and Kiyoi as the series progressed.

A LOT PACKED INTO SIX EPISODES. Many BL series tend to drag on with 12, 14, 16 or more episodes and, along with that, the stories can drag as well. Not here! This one manages to pack in all the feels in just six, 25-minute episodes. Kudos!

CONS:

"TOXIC" BEHAVIOR. Yes, I realize that "toxic" is today's go-to word for describing challenging relationships but, for my taste, they went just a little too heavy on the toxicity. Not a dealbreaker, but it could have been dialed back a bit and packed even more of a punch.

KIYOI'S BACKGROUND STORY. What we got was okay, but I would have liked to know more of Kiyoi's backstory.

Overall, I loved this one. 9.5/10 for me.

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UNDERATED PIECE OF ART !!!!

STORY (10/10)
The screenwriter had done an absolutely remarkable job in giving us a beautiful story in just 6 episodes, obviously, the main credit goes to the author. The timeline spans over characters' time from high school through their college lives. Each episode has been so beautifully directed and visual sequence laid out, that sometimes you don't need an explanation of things but rather you will understand what or why is it happening. The story is shown from a first-person perspective dividing the series into two-part, one from Hira's point of view and another from Kiyoi's point of view. Each perspective makes us dive into the character's situation, emotions, and way of thinking. The best part of this series is that you can actually relate to both of them and there is just no right and wrong. From the first episode, I found the series to be captivating and since I could connect with the characters it just made it more interesting to watch. I would not just appreciate it as just a BL series but rather a proper series.

ACTING (10/10)
Riku Hagiwara had aced his role. His portrayal of Hira was on spot. The way he used to look at Kiyoi literally made me feel butterflies in my stomach. Hira's character went on from idolizing a person to genuinely falling in love with Kiyoi. Take note of the time when Riku saw Yuusei for the first time, he was enchanted by him in a form that wasn't love at first sight but rather a form of idolizing one to the point of obsession. He didn't want to be a part of Kiyoi's world but rather wanted his world to revolve around Kiyoi and so he held him in high regard. Unbeknownst to him, his obsession later changes to that of love which he realizes in the latter half of the series.

I personally think that this series was meant for Yusei Yagi, The first time when he enters the screen as Kiyoi Sou, my first thought was 'beautiful'. The role of Kiyoi Sou was meant for Yusei and he did justice to his character. Yusei's portrayal of Kiyoi was just breathtaking. When we are shown the story from his point of view, it sets a pure example of 'All that glitters is not gold". Being a popular kid with lots of friends doesn't mean that you just have everything in your life. Beneath that facade, Kiyoi hides his own insecurity of being left alone. But after meeting Hira, he realizes what is it that he needs the most. I was shocked to know that this is Yusei's first series. His expression and line delivery are so on point they will convince the audience that he is Kiyoi Sou. (Also do check-out songs of Fantastics from Exile Tribe, Yusei has an amazing voice, If you found his acting to be captivating, wait till you hear him singing)

The chemistry between the leads was off the chart. Loved those gazes laced with longing, love, and passion. Yusei and Riku did a remarkable job in bringing life to the characters of Kiyoi and Hira.

REWATCH VALUE (10/10)

This series is something which you can watch again and again without getting bored. For me, each time I watched the series, I find something new that I missed the previous time watching it. This is the kind of series which lets the audience analyze each and every scene and its meaning behind it. For someone who loves critically analyzing series and movies, this is a perfect treat for me.

OVERALL (10/10)

This series deserves more attention from the people. Also, I feel that it is one of the most underrated series of all time. 'Utsukushi Kare' has everything starting from a good storyline, relatable characters, good acting, brilliant directions, and visuals. If you ask me to describe the series in one word, I would say, "Beautiful", because it is, in every sense.

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Good soup

At first I was hesitant about watching this cause I thought it would dissapoint me and it won't top kieta hatsukoi which I recently watched. But the main lead (kiyoi) caught my attention so bad that I Couldn't really stop myself.
But bro was it worth it... I loved the bl sm. The cast was everything. The guy who played Kiyoi.. I really can't describe in words how pretty he is. Like God really has his favourites huh?
His acting was pretty great too. He did total Justice to that asshole of a character. I mean partially asshole lol. How can a guy be so rough and yet so soft at the same time. Andl you know how hard it is to resist pretty assholes right ?
The guy playing Hira was good too. I mean he was embarrassing at some points but that's what the character was supposed to do ig? Not complaining though..
The other love interest of Hira was kinda nice too. Bro deserved better but I'm with Hira in this one lol.. I mean how could you choose someone else when a guy like Kiyoi is one of the options :")
So if you're wondering about watching the series don't waste time go watch it. It's short and a very good watch. The chemistry is perfect, cast and story is also perfect. Give us a season 2 please

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Actually, the story about ‘out-of-league-first-love’ is not the first time to be brought up in a series, but for some reason this series presented it quite interestingly.

Flashback moments with a different point of view from the other characters, made me fascinated to follow this series to the end. Moreover, with a different disposition, which makes this series even more deserving of being included in my favorite series list of this year!!

In Indonesian:
Sebenarnya cerita soal cinta pertama yang dirasa ‘out of league’ ini bukan pertama kalinya dibahas dalam sebuah serial, tapi entah kenapa series ini mengemasnya dengan cukup menarik.

Kilas balik dengan sudut pandang yang berbeda dari karakter lainnya, membuatku terpesona mengikuti series ini hingga berakhir. Apalagi dengan pembawaan yang berbeda, yang membuat series ini semakin pantas masuk jajaran series favoritku tahun ini.

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This drama was definitely not what I was expecting but I was far from disappointed!!!

My beautiful man (Utsukushii Kare) is a very unique story, which at the start I thought I was not going to enjoy but throughout the show I growed to love the storyline and romance between Hira and Kiyoi.

It is from Hira's perspective, who is a 17 year old boy that just wants to be invisible, especially in School (the main setting at the start of the drama), he is very shy and has a stuttering speech when talking to his classmates. He seemed to live a very boring life alongside his interest in photography. That was until new classmate Kiyoi enters his classroom and he immediately falls for him, but not in the way the way you would think. Hira seems to see Kiyoi as a somewhat king and treats him like it, getting him drinks, doing his errands, just so that he can be in his presence. This is why this drama has stuck with me for quite some time because their relationship is something I have never seen portrayed in BL before (and I have watched quite a few). Also at the start I thought their characters lacked any personality what's so ever due to their weird relationship but throughout the drama I came to the realisation that both Hira and Kiyoi are very complex and there is a lot going on behind the surface, which showcased through their rocky romance.

Yes Hira's obsession for Kiyoi and putting him on a pedestal in his life was a little weird and at the start I wasn't a fan of Hira's character, thinking he was a pushover and needed to stand his ground, but there are people like that out there (I do think there might be mentally something there with Hira) and I'm not going to spoil it but his character does get better. If you are thinking of watching it but have been put off by what people have said this is your sign to give it a try I don't think you'll regret it, its in my top 15 and I will definitely be rewatching it.

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Unique and Beautiful

i did not think i will like it at first but i was intrigue about how their story will end up. And, i was not disappointed . it was beautifully done.

The story at first , seems like a typical high story about a KING and SERVANT. But as the story progress you realized that these two persons are more than that. They are not perfect , they have so many flaws like all of us but it does not mean they aren't capable of sincere feelings. The story also tell us that people need not to be perfect to fall in love or like somebody , it is all about how that other person think and feel about it.

i loved the acting of both main actors. They did their best.
OSTs also deserve special mention here especially follow by Roce.

As it was fun to watch , i will watch it again someday soon . ^^

Hope there will be second season as i don't follow novels. So, it will be great to know their future.

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Finally a BL drama that didn't make me feel like I was ingesting empty calories while watching it. Because that's the overwhelming feeling I've had lately, that all BL dramas as of late were empty and without any substance, all stuffings and no real core.

But after finishing this one, I honestly didn't feel like I wasted my time, I felt like I watched actual art. The cinematography, the music and its timing, the performances... everything simply clicked.

That said, it doesn't mean I found the characters actually likable. Not at all. Not at first, at least. It took me a while to get them - and to get into them. But that was good so! It meant that they were flawed and human, multilayered and multifaceted.

The story was mostly told from Hira's POV but when we were finally allowed to see all that happened from Kiyoi's side too... wow. It was the perfect example of an "unreliable narrator" storytelling. Or, when you get to see everything from just one person's POV, much gets lost. Wonderful!

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Finally something new and refreshing. An ultimate favorite.

The definition of "not like the others" and healthily ""toxic"" (oddly they're way more healthy in their stuggles, weirdness and passion than most drama couples, especially the ones who are usually portrayed in BLs).

A+ storyline and main characters, A+ cinematography & OST (seriously the OST is THAT good).

Really clever and psychologically oriented, so well-crafted and written as this perfect circle which makes the rewatch of this show even more interesting, meaningful and endless cause you'll notice new things and details that you've probably 100% missed during your first watch.

Both characters are objectively kind of unlikable/flawed on the surface but you can't help but loving them and feel attached to them cause you get to understand them both individually AND together, and loving their both very pure and twisted unusual unconditional love they have for each other. The coming of age story of two lonely boys who are saving each other, and about the deconstruction of the idealization of love without removing the light sub/dom kink/relationship they have with each other despite themselves.

I often see people throwing around the word "soulmates" when it comes to their fave fictional couple, but I think that's really the case for those two whether you'll like them or not. They're so complimentary as if they were born for each other and I don't picture them functioning and be happy without each other also because they're both a lot to handle and difficult to reach to any other person.

A really good part one out of the three ones from the novel.

The only down is how short the episodes are and with only 6 of them which is a challenging format for such a complex relationship, but they've still managed to make it more effective and meaningful that some other shows who have 16 eps of 1hour/45 mins length each.

This show is so underrated and hated for no other reason than people not understanding the characters separately or together. Usually hated by tasteless people who will call it "dark", "disgusting", or "toxic" (which basically equals trashing and not respecting the LGBT kink community to me but that's another topic that could be extended here) while it's not, and they're the type of people who prefer boring BL trash with no depth and with all the non-con /r*pey tropes in it. Sad...

sidenote : the unreliable narrator trope is a weakness of mine so I really enjoyed finding it here, I'm not even talking about the switching of pov, it's more subtle than that (an exemple: the cherry blossom petals scene with the idealized version of Kiyoi through Hira's pov vs. the second time we're seeing it. i won't elaborate and i'll stop there otherwise it'll take two other paragraphs).

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Les premiers émois amoureux sont souvent compliqués ^^'

Il s’agit d’une histoire que j’attendais, j’avoue ne pas trop savoir pourquoi. Sans doute les teasers qui montraient une certaine « tension »… (Va savoir x’D)

Je me lance donc dans le visionnage de ce drama qui suit deux lycéens : Kiyoi & Hira. Il s’agit de deux personnalités assez complexes… Kiyoi est le genre qui attire toujours les gens à lui, tandis que Hira préfère rester seul. Durant une grande partie de l’histoire, on tente de nous faire croire qu’ils sont des opposés… Cependant, plus nous avançons dans l’histoire, plus on se rend compte qu’ils sont similaires de par leur sentiment d’insécurité mais également pour leur indifférence face au monde qui les entoure…

Au fur & à mesure de l’histoire, nous voyons se dérouler un jeu du chat & de la souris… Avec deux personnages des plus maladroits ! On peut voir qu’il s’agit de leur premier émoi, ils ne se comprennent pas… & n’essaient même pas, partant du principe que leur amour ne pourrait pas se concrétiser… (Est-ce car il s’agit d’un amour homosexuel ? Ou simplement une question de fierté ? Surement un mélange des deux ^^’)

J’avoue avoir apprécié cette histoire, le mélange de tension & d’incompréhension m’ayant tenu en haleine. (Même si l’histoire n’a rien de bien original x’D)

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More In-Depth than You'd Think

BASICALLY: 9/10
Honestly, I went into this with the idea that it would be a cute, simple, cliche story. I figured it'd have that "I'm bullied but the person who bullies me is sooooo cute~" mentality, and, while it may seem that way for a good portion, it turned out to be a really good story about first loves and our perception of people~

STORY (LOOSE SPOILERS; NOTHING MAJOR): 9/10
Like I said, I thought the plot would be more toxic than it was. Now, that's not saying it's mind-blowingly healthy, but it's realistic, and it really highlights how Hira's perception (and, subsequently, ours, as viewers watching it from his PoV) is a bit skewed from reality. The first couple of episodes are told strictly from Hira's perspective, so everything is what he knows, and he doesn't know a lot, as an awkward loner with no confidence. Kiyoi's perspective sheds more light on how wrong Hira is and how upsetting and -- quite frankly -- infuriating it can be to constantly be idolized to the point that you're barely human anymore. Both are wrong in their decisions -- make no mistake -- but they're supposed to be in high school, and who the hell knows anything about healthy in high school lol We make mistakes, and we try to fix them. Just like these two people do.

ACTING: 9.5/10
I've never heard of either of these actors, but I don't really follow Japanese shows as much as I follow Thai BLs and Korean Dramas, so don't take it too seriously~ The main actors, as well as MOST of the side actors, did wonderful jobs; I'm just jaded from Bad Buddy when it comes to acting, so my standards are (unfortunately) high at the moment~ While the main actors did a good job, I felt like some of the side characters that showed up here and there fell flat for me~ Not too bad, but enough for me to roll my eyes once or twice~

MUSIC: 8.5/10
It's not overly impressive, but there are a few songs I enjoyed~ Nothing too major or noteworthy, though~

REWATCH VALUE: 9/10
It's a short, cute story with some deeper themes than most, so I will definitely visit it again, especially with all of this snow~ Snuggle up and binge watch BLs? Sign me up, bitches~

OVERALL: 9/10
Are there longer dramas out there that I'd pick over this one? Yes. Of course. Japan isn't know for there drama productions, after all. Does that mean this isn't a nice show to watch? Of course not! It's cute. The actors are attractive, adorable, and kinda awkward, and the story is pretty good itself~ You should definitely check it out~

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