25 Ji, Akasaka de (2024)

Mild angst, major miscommunication.

Can I even call it miscommunication? Was it not just a reverse delulu - Shirasaki Yuki truly lived in his unfounded convictions and denied any possibility of mutual feelings between him and Hayama Asami. The only thing left for me to do was keep watching and keep sighing - little guy was chickenblocking himself.

Truth to be told, I actually loved the plot itself. I'd just tweak how Shirasaki Yuki was written to make him a bit less frustrating. His character effectively lowered my rating with each action he made. Dude kept acting as if he was rejected without being rejected. At some point his explanation of Hayama’s actions became so illogical all I could do was laugh. What the drama failed at was convincing me there was a valid reason for him not even thinking there is a chance Hayama might like him.

I do appreciate how it led to a nice pinning and angst from Hayama Asami tho, which was in fact the highlight of the show for me. With just two episodes focusing on his point of view, I somehow believe I understand his character and reasoning far better than Shirasaki’s. His hesitation made sense. How cautious and at times passive his behavior towards Shirasaki was - it was well explained and it was the most fun part of the drama to watch. I’m a connoisseur of mild angst and I was quite pleased with what I’ve got from 25 Ji, Akasaka de.

How about the chemistry ( which is undeniably important in romance driven shows)? Depends on which scene we are talking about. The first kiss the part shared was atrocious. It was not even a dead fish kiss. It was not a cute peck, they literally just put the lips together, barely touching, and stood there. The context of this scene made it even more ridiculous and I almost dropped the show when it happened. Luckily it only gets better from that point, so don’t give up hope (not that it could get any worse).

For the acting - it was good, just not my preferred style. I did not quite connect with Shirasaki Yuki’s character and Niihara Taisuke’s acting did not help either. I would not even say Komagine Kiita did an outstanding job either, but I just prefer the subtle ways emotions are shown, and that’s how the character was written and the performance directed.

Production wise I did like the drama a lot. Not only they wanted to present a cohesive story, but they wanted to do it in a visually pleasing way, that’s always a plus in my book.

Overall, it’s a nice show, but it’s not something I’m going to talk about and recommend after some time. I enjoyed it as it aired, and will have no issues quickly moving on to other new titles.

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Looks Good But Is Not

There is an American expression that is so apt for this series. It goes something like this: “To snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”. That seems to be so apropos to Bls as of late, especially for Japanese ones. They start out so promising and slowly slide downhill into mundaness and then burst into a flurry at the end as if everything is and can be exculpated. This time, it just does not work. The story is flat, the characters are flat, and the production is even flatter. It all feels so lazy. This series had potential but squandered it away by telling a story that went nowhere and came to life only at the end. Why do we have to wait until the end to get good drama?

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Lost in the Monologue Mayhem !?

The plot started strong but unfortunately *a long sigh* it lost its way in the second half and picked up in the finale. But a little too late!
The concept of two BL actors starring together and falling in love - This isn't new. Feels like the ongoing trend in J-drama BLs. But this series didn't quite live up to expectations, at least for me.

The characters, Shirasaki Yuki and Hayama Asami struggled with a FRUSTRATING lack of communication throughout. The fact that they both pinned on each other as they sipped coffee in the penultimate episode just pissed me off.
There were many times when I found myself shouting, "JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER !!" While I do under this can be a cultural nuance, stretching it to the finale was a bit much.

They relied 'too much' on internal monologues, that after a certain point felt distant and unclear especially Shirasaki's reflections on his self-esteem and feelings for Hayama. I expected a good/some character development where I could see his confidence building slowly and gradually but I got none.
Hayama's reserved nature, despite publicly expressing his affection for Shirasaki, was equally frustrating and confusing at times.
Honestly, individually both characters were well-acted and had potential, but together they seemed "too similar", creating a somewhat repelling dynamic.

The finale was sweet. I was glad finally one of them decided to break the ice and be brave!
The intimate scene was shot to utter perfection! *_*
I liked how Shirasaki became a bit too bold and brave after the confession. Honestly, it was a treat to watch him happy. Lol.
I wish this could have happened in one or two episodes prior so that the ending wouldn't feel rushed (They didn't even sit for the coffee! That rushed xD) and we at least could get a deeper exploration of them being in a relationship for more than 10 minutes!!
Talking about the standout scenes, The Gnocchi-making scene tops the hall of fame!! It was sensual and kept PG-13. (WOW!)

The acting by both the leads was another positive for this drama. I found it simple and sincere. They did their best with what was given to them!

In conclusion, If you ride and thrive on angst, frustration and introspective inner monologues, I would recommend this!
I could have rated it higher if I had binge-watched it!

Overall, 7.7/10!

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Plot had real potential

25:00 in Akasaka is a meta-BL that explores the ambiguity of offscreen BL relationships and questions whether it’s possible for actors to completely extract themselves from the character they play. There are clever visual parallels as the filming sequences often mirror what actually unfolds in real life, only to be interrupted with an abrupt “CUT!” yelled by the director.

Unfortunately, the “I’ve loved you since the first time we met” trope is a wasted opportunity in this instance. 

In my opinion, it would have been far more interesting to watch their relationship develop organically from strangers to partners, driven mostly because of their on-set interactions. 

An underdeveloped theme of the series is how their (blossoming) personal relationship influences and affects their acting. Does the onscreen romance become more realistic if the intimacy grows? Or does the gaze just get more awkward? As they get more comfortable, how does that affect the way they move around each other?

Read more: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/06/23/2500-in-akasaka-bl-review-2

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promising start that fizzled (watch suggestions)

Overall: I was excited after watching the first episode, but the thin plot swam in circles. 10 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala https://www.gagaoolala.com/en/videos/4205/at-2500-in-akasaka-2024-e01

Watch Suggestions
- watch episode 1
- watch episode 7 until 21:50 or the whole thing (this explained why a character liked another character)
- watch episode 2 at 17 to the end if you enjoy dating scenes/montages
- can skip episode 3, there is a short cuddle around 15 min
- can watch ep 4 at 6:30 for a sensual gnocchi making scene and 21:30 for a brief kiss
- can watch ep 5 around 10 minutes for a hot bod and 19:20-20:40 for meh kisses
- watch ep 6 beginning to 10 minutes
- skip episode 8
- watch episode 9 at 3:30-5 and 10:20-12
- watch episode 10 (can end at 14 minutes or watch to the end)

What I Liked
- premise was set up well, the end of episode 1 was awesome
- the kneading dough scene was sensual (needed more scenes like that)
- managers cared about their actors
- that they looked realistically sweaty in episode 10 during the NSFW scene

Room For Improvement
- voice over for plot set up and voice overs in general
- slow pacing
- waited until episode 7 to show why one character was extremely attracted to the other character, this was much too late
- in episode 6 nearly doing something when the other person was sleeping
- cliche overheard something, made a stupid assumption, then ghosted/refused to communicate (communicated halfway thru episode 10 which was too late)
- a character said he had no idea how to reach the other character....I don't know maybe try....talking... #sarcasm
- some lackluster kisses
- odd wide shots during intimate scenes made me feel detached, I couldn't feel the characters' emotions
- episode 10 had a natural stopping point and then the ending half felt anti-climactic with the behind the scenes part, them acting in the series, them watching the series, then suddenly a different scene.

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Underwhelming overall... Disappointing as I expected more given the meta aspect of the story

Not going to sugar-coat it, I unfortunately did not enjoy this Japanese BL series. The story was really slow paced and honestly, there were too many episodes for what it was trying to say. The storytelling was super dull with the overall energy of the protagonists pretty low. I do enjoy contemplative show but then I need to either truly enjoy characters and their evolution, or just vibe with the atmosphere of the series...That was clearly not the case here.

The characters were pretty unlikable. I did not really get why they liked each other for most of the series which prevented me to really root for their relationship. I did not believe in the chemistry between the actors, it was quite lackluster. The two main actors have quite meta roles, as they play (talented) BL actors. Sadly enough, the drama they play on screen is even more insipid than the "real" storyline. The only character I enjoyed was a support role played by Nagumo Shoma who insufflated a bit of life to the drama.

The production was okay for the genre. Nothing outstanding. It made me believe at first that it would be a more gritty and dark story but my hope quickly died and it remained very tame until the end of the show. In a few scenes, it provided some interesting insights on how the filmmaking of a BL drama works and I wish they would have developed it much more. The soundtrack was completely forgettable.

I would not recommend this to people as they are more interesting BLs out there. The premise is quite similar to "BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen" (which I overall liked). I therefore expected to enjoy "25 Ji, Akasaka de". Unfortunately, rather than providing a more mature take on the "BL actors falling in love with each other" trope, it featured a super slow and boring story, with miscommunication / non-communication being the focus point of the relationship. I would suggest to watch "BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen" rather than this one.

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Flat....

I love Japanese bls, but this one was a dud: flat, boring and chemistry free.

The idea was interesting: a BL drama based on a manga about a couple of actors filming a BL drama based on a manga. But after the initial chuckle, everything sort of went poof! Unfortunately, they decided to keep it serious and that ruined the fun part of the premise. I have not read the manga but the characters were flat and unlikeable in this drama. They are maudlin, quiet but really just lifeless and flat. Fortunately there was the support character who brought in some very much needed entertainment, because the main couple were sleep inducing!

Main characters are very unconvincing. One is supposed to be this pretty, handsome model and actor and the other one a talented actor but he is completely tongue-tied before the "pretty" model he used to worship in college. So the model decides to help the actor out...and one thing leads to another! Very slowly!

I do not know how they film dramas in Japan, but don't they rehearse before filming, read through the script together and things like that? According to this drama, they don't! They get their scripts, they learn their lines at home and then film them the next day! What kind of unprofessional actor is he who does not dare look at his partner because he is so much in awe of him? He may be talented but he is incompetent!

From the first episode, when we discover that they went to same college, it was pretty much obvious that the model has been in love with the actor for years. So of course, the model decided to use the actor's stage fright and get closer to him. But the actor misunderstood everything especially when he overheard conversations he was not supposed to hear!

Another issue I had with this is the main actors' hair: too long, hiding their eyes. I often wonder what is the point of that especially if you are playing actors. Why hide behind long bangs: it is unbecoming and depressing! Aren't actors people who hide behind masks, who pretend to be someone else? But here they seem to be playing themselves since they have the same hairstyle on and off screen (in this drama they play actors acting in a drama so we get to see them on and off the set!)

And of course, if you like fish kisses you are going to be served here: there are far too many of those. Accompanied with little or no chemistry between the leads.

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Premises was interesting but characterisations were weird

The premise of this BL is similar to another JBL, BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita: Crank Up Hen (2023). Therefore, I want to see if there are any twists or improvements to the whole 'I love my co-actor but he secretly loves me back' trope.

To preface, I've not read the manga before. Shirasaki as a character is very weird, almost to the point of being characterised as socially inadequate. How did such a person become an actor? Whats his appeal (there is none)? How does he actually improve Hayama, and why did Hayama feel that way? They explained it in the series but I feel the reasons fall flat. I think Shirasaki could have been acted in a certain way so as to show his appeal, his 'worth' as an actor . The character who acted as Hayama fares no better too, as he's always showing that stoic face. I understand that its his character and background, but he could have shown some sort of subtle facial queues to show his interest in Shirasaki, instead of always looking like that. What chemistry or drama could there be when both main leads are introverts who keeps to themselves? I think the story could have been improved if both main leads have trusted side characters that assist them in solving their mental turmoil, like what BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita have. In the end, I can't quite pin the issue on the plot or the actors, so I think its a unfortunate mixture of both.

What I love about this show is the opening music, which is quite catchy.

To conclude I think BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita did this genre better.

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Absolutely yes

Basically fake dating but make it Gay. Count me in. The chemistry is definitely there and the whole cast seems to be well trained in acting. The camera work is good although some of the editing is questionable and slightly odd. I am a big fan of plots like this bc we pick up the pace with the main leads. You get the vibe that the super hot popular costar secretly watched and like his lesser popular and slightly awkward junior. I’m definitely a sucker for plots like this! There’s two filler-ish episodes to the end but the ending is totally worth it!!! One of the best dramas this year!

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plain boring

I personally dont have anything against "weird" japanese dramas, since this seems to be their trademark... In fact, i kinda embrace weird things! BUT - and here comes a big BUT - japanese dramas lately seem to be weird the wrong way! Like, weirdly boring, or weirdly poor script, or something like that. I feel quite frustrated abt that - since you decided to be different, just do it bravely! So, this RECENT release doesnt seem to add much to the drama-landscape, but its not that bad either. I hesitate calling it mediocre, though im afraid thats just the word to describe it. I mean, you bring up an asexual guy, then he turns out to be gay... but no reflection or self-awareness at all? Are we earthworms? Our two protagonists hug each other to sleep, but they have trouble holding hands or something? Also, everybody is an impersonation of weird - weird hairdo, weird social skills, weird career path etc. I honestly suspect they try to impose on me some weird beauty standards.
It's also mostly filmed indoors, totally low-budget. Not much here relatable to real life. The director should stick to commercials or manga.
My sad conclusion is: in Japan, people are prisoners of some self-imposed rules since they hardly express any personal beliefs. Am i right or wrong? If im wrong, its totally not my fault, since this work conveys to me this message.
Watch it as an alternative to older japanese dramas...

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Weird, but good weird or mediocre weird !?

The main plot and the actors are so good , dont get me wrong, but there is something about this drama that makes it a bit less compelling.
Both main characters are a bit weird, but in their own different ways. One of them seems to be clueless and guarded about their own feelings, whereas the other is juggling between being emotionally constipated and being unreasonably in love.
The pacing of the drama is a bit slow for my personal liking, and makes it look a bit boring than it might be or has to be. But the actors are really talented, they just nail the character descriptions to the T. They got great chemistry as well. Despite all of this, it somehow got me really invested into the story.
Nevertheless, its worth a watch, if you are in mood for a different story in a different setting than usual.

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