An Actual Masterpiece

This one is an absolute classic for a very good reason.
The setting and plot may be nothing new, but the show makes full use of them and breathes new life into well-established tropes until it all comes together to create something truly unique.
The music and camera work fit the story perfectly, the acting is excellent, the script is tight, and the clever writing infuses the whole story with a dry, understated humour which suits the characters perfectly.
In short - the show is technically excellent.

But it's not just the fact that the show is objectively good that has so successfully endeared it to viewers.
It's how lovable and relatable the characters are. They are all clearly their own people with their own unique personalities which clash often, but also often mesh together very well, allowing for interesting friendships to form.
They feel incredibly true to life and frankly, seem to me like the exact type of unusual yet charming weirdos you'd find at any university or college campus.

Another strong suit of the show is its depiction of queer people and friendships. You won't find any stale romance tropes here, no queer relationships forced into weird, heterosexual dynamics. The characters respect each other's boundaries and take care not to overstep them, even when they're actively making a nuisance of themselves.
Sangwoo asks Jaeyoung to warn him in advance before touching him, so Jaeyoung does. Jaeyoung asks Sangwoo to not completely push him away and Sangwoo agrees to take some time to think about their relationship going forward.
They both try their best to stick together and make things work between them, yet never fall into a co-dependent "I'd sacrifice everything to be with you" dynamic.
Add to that some stand-out supporting characters (Yu Na, my absolute favourite), healthy male-female friendships, and some truly wonderful casual queer representation, and you've got an undeniable recipe for success.

If you haven't seen this show yet, I highly recommend that you do. I envy anyone who gets to experience watching it for the first time.

Leggi di Più

A Worthy Succesor

I liked this one even more than the original! The comedy is just as clever, the acting is just as good, and the commitment to the bit has only gotten stronger.
There is a touch more emotional depth to this one compared to its predecessor but that does nothing to detract from the punchy humour or to change the well-established format.
I also am an even bigger fan of this season's opening number than I was of the previous one. The heavily stylised greaser look just works really well, what can I say. Some of the segment transitions are also truly excellent this time around.

If you liked the first season and want more of exactly that, then you will love this. If you haven't watched the first season but want something short and highly entertaining to while away an hour or so, then this season also stands up really well on its own and I'd recommend giving it a shot.

Leggi di Più

Big Win For The Country Gays

This is an understated, exceedingly tender slice-of-life story about finding where you belong and figuring out what brings you the most joy in life. So naturally I came running at top speed as soon as I heard about it and I was not disappointed.
The movie is visually stunning, which makes sense given the gorgeous scenery it has as a backdrop.
The writing and acting are both very solid, but what really surprised me was the quiet charm this movie brings to the table. This could easily have been nothing more than Japan's answer to God's Own Country (don't get me wrong, I love that movie but it does strike a very somber tone) but what we got instead is an absolutely heartwarming story with a very down-to-earth yet uplifting feel to it.

If you like looking at beautiful rural landscapes and/or watching sweet and sincere romances grounded in solid friendship, then this one is for you!

Leggi di Più

Made my heart dance

What an utter joy this one was to watch.
Breathtaking visuals and lovely music underscore and enhance this beautiful, incredibly well-acted story. The writing is excellent, from the realistic and oftentimes genuinely hilarious dialogue, to the cleverly-utilised symbolism. The "red thread of fate" theme is woven into the story seamlessly and effectively and even made me tear up over a simple pinkie promise.
I also didn't think I'd ever feel particularly emotional about hard-boiled eggs, but here we are.
This is a deeply charming story about two people who utterly and completely fail to be normal about anything ever (in the best way possible, I promise) and still manage to find and hold onto each other in spite of every obstacle in their path.

If you're looking for a quick and easy watch with solid writing and gorgeous visuals, about two people and a love that all feel deeply real, then I cannot recommend this show more highly.

Leggi di Più

Noone deserves to be lonely, we are all worthy of love

I think this show may have been written specifically for me.
A quiet, tender tale of finding human connection after an extended period of loneliness and learning to find joy in little things each and every day? Yeah, I fell absolutely head over heels in love with this story. The fact that it was also heavily themed around food was just the cherry on top of the absolutely glorious sundae.
The cast were all truly pitch-perfect in bringing this sweet little slice-of-life drama to life and displayed an unbelievable chemistry with each other that made the bonds between all the characters feel breathtakingly loving and achingly real.
If you want a show that teaches you about finding connection, leaving behind loneliness, coming out of your shell, and learning to fall in love with the world and the people in it again and again and again, then Bokura no Shokutaku is most definitely what you're looking for.
Even if you're just after a warm comfort-watch to pass some cozy evenings, this show is for you as well.

Leggi di Più

Accidental Child Acquisition - The Show

This was an absolute delight of a special and serves as a perfect little epilogue for the main show. It's basically just a short glimpse into the domestic lives of Puen and Talay with an overarching theme of "Pursuing goals and self-fulfillment is a priority, but so is actively making time to spend with your partner and creating little moments of joy and togetherness because loving someone is important and meaningful". As someone who loves nothing more than soft, meandering explorations of ordinary people just loving each other, this was basically perfect for me and I honestly couldn't be more happy with it.
If you enjoyed the main show you'll definitely like this as well, so give it a shot.

Leggi di Più

The Wizards Entertained Me

This show was just plain charming. It does fall into the "overly sanitized" category of Japanese shows, but the romantic chemistry between the leads was so palpable and they expressed their affection for each other so often and so genuinely that I even started to have a little bit of fun with how much the show was teasing the audience with almost showing the two kiss but then stopping short at the last second. Sure it was frustrating (as, personally, I am someone who doesn't place too much stock in more explicit scenes, but does value realistic physical affection between characters who love each other, be it romantic love, or platonic, or any other sort) but by the end it felt almost tongue-in-cheek and some of those moments (looking at you, closing-elevator-doors-scene) honestly made me chuckle.

Some personal highlights (aka Things I Loved):
- The entire concept. It's silly, it's goofy, it's weirdly romantic, it shouldn't work but it really really does.
- Tsuge and his friendship with Adachi. Tsuge is a strange little man who feels too much, too often, all at once and it only seems to make him more determined to figure out what he wants out of life and how to be there for the people he cares about. I find him delightful and his relationship with Minato, while fairly uneventful, is quite sweet.
- Fujisaki Nozomi and everything she represents. While the word "asexual" is never explicitly used to describe Nozomi, she did set off my spidey-senses, my ace-detector if you will, and by the end I was convinced, yes this is an asexual woman not just existing but thriving and I adore her to pieces. Her storyline touches on the importance of self-love and directly counters the idea that romantic love is what makes life fulfilling. Not only is this an important and meaningful topic to address, it also serves to balance out the fairly romance focused main plot and lends depth and complexity to several other characters' arcs that may otherwise have been lacking.

In conclusion: This is a charming and easy-to-watch rom-com with some unexpected yet very welcome depth to it. It's fun, it's wholesome, go watch it with your friends, your family, hell, watch it with your grandparents, it's so clean and inoffensive they might just love it.

Leggi di Più

I'll stay with you from now on, I'll stay with you forever

A lovely little epilogue to the show that helps to really solidify the bonds between the characters and does away with any lingering fears or insecurities they may have still had about forming a permanent family unit together.
I was a bit worried by the summary as I absolutely detest the miscommunication trope, but those worries were absolutely unfounded. The characters actions and thoughts are all perfectly reasonable and in character and the "conflict" is resolved very quickly and satisfactorily.
The only thing I can think to criticise is that I personally would have liked to see just a touch more physical closeness between Minoru and Yutaka, just a simple hug or something of the sort, but honestly the deep love and affection between those two is always so palpable that any physical display is hardly necessary.
If you liked the main show and want a quick watch that is guaranteed to make you smile, then give this a watch.

Leggi di Più