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two men who experiences new things
It was great! To be honest, I was scared to watch this cause I'm rooting for (KZ)Kuzumi and (KJ)Kijima and I thought this would lead me to change but it did not. But it made me know more about (KD)Kido and Kijima's past leaving all my question mark from first season answered.I can see why people compared it with first season and I'm glad that a second installment is viewed more well than the first one by so many people. It had more in-depth on the story and the story did not only went revolving on two people but instead so many things actually happened here than the first one.
I was skeptical cause everything wouldn't have started without the grandpa (G)Gamoda wanting a show infront of him for his manuscripts, I was bitter and thankful for him for some reasons:
1. He was the reason KJ and KD formed a relationship that started with fire
(Which I should be happy and supportive but damn, outright on the spot in-front of him. Reminded me of school TT)
(+) it became a way out for KD to finally be true to himself and his desires. KJ is a breathe of freedom for him
(-) it was obviously purely lust that stick them together, I actually think they would've been great friends if that didn't happened.
2. With KD and G's help, KJ also found his way back to writing
(+) YESS HE'S ABLE TO EARN MONEYY and also write things that people would consume
(-) He lost his writing in literature books but is now onto erotic books. (It's like one of those dream jobs of yours in life but you have to find an alternate cause it's not working. It's realistic but so sad...)
(+) KJ realized his hidden desires from getting introduced by a bunch of erotic things KD and G gave him. (they kinda influenced him in a way, like this man had no signs of interest at all before)
3. Ah.. Yes, the sexy scenes.
KD was very open in the first episode that he would do everything to be able to please the people and society so I wasn't surprised that he ended up getting married with a child even though he's obviously closeted. I wish there was more explanation as to why he was so scared to the point of sacrificing literally everything even if it's not the life that he wants. This made me see Japan again as very strict when it comes to gay people, these bls are telling me a lot are closeted and fled to the "normal" way as if it's more beneficial. I'm happy that the first time they did were going to do it, he was respectful of KJ and did not do it cause he was a "beginner" lol
KJ was like that person who are just very empty but you know that they are born talented which he is when it comes to writing. But even talent doesn't get appreciated often that they have to do the alternative which KD introduced him to something else. It really sucks when you think about it, he regained his way to writing and found his hidden desires because of KD and he also got betrayed and hurt by the same person. He seriously deserves a happy ending.
I think they became each other's important person cause they helped each other and experienced a bunch of new things together. But relationship-wise, they wouldn't work cause it's a very toxic kind and from the start-end it was all lust there was no sign of innocent love for each other, they didn't even think like a bunch of couple would do like to go on a date, holding-hands and etc. all they did throughout the series was make love. Which I think made it weak and not something for KD to think of as something he would sacrifice being a people-pleaser for lol
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The wanting to start from the scratch
In a relationship that both parties know will soon end/gradually drifting away from each other, making the wrong decisions. they would do everything to save it and think about how nice it would be to just restart and this series made it happen. It's a cool idea came to life for people who has the same experience or just curiosity, this is perfect reflection of it. I personally don't have any experience on relationships(TT) but this made me understand that through a happy ending comes another story and obstacles that a relationship has to go through to last and survive. It's somehow relatable(?) cause I have experience on at least witnessing relationships breaking apart.This is a series for people who can withstand heart wrenching moments, the watcher is like in Fumiya's position, we know everything that's going on while Ritsu doesn't and it just makes me feel things that Fumiya feels such as guilt and regret cause of turning a blind eye and erasing the visual presentation of their past love while inside, you still keeps those memories with you.
One thing that I don't like is how in the end where Ritsu regained his memories and they reconcile, they straight up just end it right there. Like after all that I went through! The heartbreaks, longing and sadness I felt and I didn't get to see at least one episode of them being together TT but just a split seconds or a minute.
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It also touches on relationships clashing with sexuality :( like if you're late into finding out about it and you're in a relationship, that's gotta hurt for the other one. So lesson learned, don't be in a relationship until you find out about your sexuality.
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Interesting plot that could've been more in so many ways
The plot was actually good, you have the two Ml with a tragic backstory but messed up on the aftermath of reconnection cause of too much back and fourth-ing and some things doesn't make sense.Mls chemistry was quite awkward but there are moments that are sweet. Both of them actually look good together but in a way seems forced cause of the way they act towards each other was in a way to not be seen as a couple which is like.. what's the point of the acting in a BL as a couple pair lol.
What I don't like about the series is too much recollection/flashbacks, the whole episode 6 was seriously just Kazuma reminiscing his memories with Ren. Also some scenarios where the emotion and facial expression doesn't fit and in a way did not deliver to the viewers like when ren was hyperventilating and kazuma on the coffee scene with yagami; additionally, I also find it odd that yagami was so close-minded with kazuma and talks to him with attitude, it wasn't explained well if he actually likes ren but it doesn't give him any reason to treat kazuma whom he only met once but maybe it's because of ren's experience but kazuma wasn't to blame but his lines says other wise. he's literally blaming a person for being hospitalized which is weird..
Including also the fact that when they were kids and almost a teenager, I know hormones are crazy but I don't see how they showed a consensual adult & kid going to a love hotel is right... the adult is clearly a pedophile. should've changed their age to be appropriate when it comes to consent. The antagonist co-worker guy, I forgot his name, there was not that much background of him other than being a rap... cant say it.
What I like, the kid actors, It really does feel like they were kids excluding them doing it at the age that is inappropriate.. I like their story, it was more in-depth and interesting than their story now being adults. The chemistry was nice as well, I felt the ride or die vibes, like they only matter to each other and the attraction.
See what I mean? It could've been more if they switched and added things to the story to make it understandable and not rush it! Both of the Ml are talented but maybe should've made them get closer to get rid of the awkwardness.
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Fake it till you make it
Only copying the review I had that summed up my thoughts on both seasons cause I'm lazyIt was cute but that's it, there was not much of the story and I thought it'll be easy for the director since it's a 2D story about fake dating turning into real dating between two highschoolers but there was still a lot of holes in the story and so many things left unanswered!! I guess it can be called a journey to sexuality but I think they didn't even have any problems with genders when it comes to dating, it even seems to me that both of them who is popular and dated a bunch of girls are not treating it as if it's new and different-kind of dating when it comes to them dating which are two guys, it leaves me guessing that they might be bi.
I can see why they went with slow-paced story to make it somehow realistic and seem not forced which ended up with them looking like they are forcing to make it realistic which kinda ruins it for me and made me fast forward a lot. The casts were great but the only one that did well without looking awkward or forced with some of their actions is the person who played shino. Individually criticizing, seiryo's actor did not do well on portraying his character, he was shy and introverted but sometimes he went too quiet and the timing he goes back to talking is sometimes not right and in an awkward timing. The way he acted anxious/scared on the kissing scene on shino's room felt exaggerated.. shino's actor did really well, I have no complains. He was not awkward and it really looks normal and easy to understand his character from the way he portrayed and acted.
The story holes is that even though the two dated a bunch of girls, they don't know how to date.. and had to figure it out for themselves along the way. I guess that's being a man who's popular in japan for you, cause I saw a lot of those in jp movies/series. Another one is seiryo's and the girl who has the same name as shino's relationship, it was vaguely shown but it was pretty obvious that seiryo cherishes and likes the girl but how their relationship bloomed was not entirely explained, they both cling onto one another for comfort which was really weird when you think that the girl obviously was still into his brother which made me think why they were in a relationship, the girl sexually harassed seiryo which he didn't liked at first but went a long with it after(?) cause they even dated (showed scenes of them being in restaurants in a couple manner in season 1) so even if seiryo knew about her relationship with his brother, he still went with it so I was like huh.. that's problematic, might make me hate seiryo cause that's being an accomplice to cheating.
Anyways, enough about that it's actually quite enjoyable. Once they finished a day it makes you curious on the day next cause what happens then is always different and while getting closer to a week, you can see them trying to get even more closer and not wanting it to end :') made me feel lots of butterflies and I liked them together a lot IT WAS SO CUTE AND IT COULDVE BEEN MORE if things were explained and if it were a little bit more harder for them to get together in the end cause it went too easily.
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Fake it till you make it
It was cute but that's it, there was not much of the story and I thought it'll be easy for the director since it's a 2D story about fake dating turning into real dating between two highschoolers but there was still a lot of holes in the story and so many things left unanswered!! I guess it can be called a journey to sexuality but I think they didn't even have any problems with genders when it comes to dating, it even seems to me that both of them who is popular and dated a bunch of girls are not treating it as if it's new and different-kind of dating when it comes to them dating which are two guys, it leaves me guessing that they might be bi.I can see why they went with slow-paced story to make it somehow realistic and seem not forced which ended up with them looking like they are forcing to make it realistic which kinda ruins it for me and made me fast forward a lot. The casts were great but the only one that did well without looking awkward or forced with some of their actions is the person who played shino. Individually criticizing, seiryo's actor did not do well on portraying his character, he was shy and introverted but sometimes he went too quiet and the timing he goes back to talking is sometimes not right and in an awkward timing. The way he acted anxious/scared on the kissing scene on shino's room felt exaggerated.. shino's actor did really well, I have no complains. He was not awkward and it really looks normal and easy to understand his character from the way he portrayed and acted.
The story holes is that even though the two dated a bunch of girls, they don't know how to date.. and had to figure it out for themselves along the way. I guess that's being a man who's popular in japan for you, cause I saw a lot of those in jp movies/series. Another one is seiryo's and the girl who has the same name as shino's relationship, it was vaguely shown but it was pretty obvious that seiryo cherishes and likes the girl but how their relationship bloomed was not entirely explained, they both cling onto one another for comfort which was really weird when you think that the girl obviously was still into his brother which made me think why they were in a relationship, the girl sexually harassed seiryo which he didn't liked at first but went a long with it after(?) cause they even dated (showed scenes of them being in restaurants in a couple manner in season 1) so even if seiryo knew about her relationship with his brother, he still went with it so I was like huh.. that's problematic, might make me hate seiryo cause that's being an accomplice to cheating.
Anyways, enough about that it's actually quite enjoyable. Once they finished a day it makes you curious on the day next cause what happens then is always different and while getting closer to a week, you can see them trying to get even more closer and not wanting it to end :') made me feel lots of butterflies and I liked them together a lot IT WAS SO CUTE AND IT COULDVE BEEN MORE if things were explained and if it were a little bit more harder for them to get together in the end cause it went too easily.
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I can't believe it's the end
For this one I base this as my overall rating for the whole thing.It's really a rollercoaster of emotions going through this franchise, I was scared cause I didn't wanna dedicate a lot of time to something I might regret or not like but I did not regret going at this one bit!
It's pretty obvious the intention of the director alongside with the cast is to bring out the best for the manga adaptation and for the viewers as well, they handled it with care and passion which I'm very thankful for that they didn't go the usual BL route that only focuses on making rushed and unexplained stories. Many of the things get explained as you went on and that's such a wonderful thing for viewers to experience, it's realistic cause you don't get to know things that fast which made me attached to the show. I love it so much, all of the characters were likeable, the story makes sense and the explicit scenes doesnt look like it's forced to be there or just to show but it's there to create more connections with the story and characters.
Thank you for this, I'm happy with this ending and now I can rest in peace with my Kijima and Kuzumi being together.
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Very short and leaves you hanging
I think it was on purpose for the next installment. It was short and at the end it makes you think, what does kijima actually feels deep inside? We never got to know but this short movie makes you curious on purpose on what his facial expression meant. Even when they are happy finally being together something is bother Kijima, Is he still yearning for kido while being with kuzumi or was it because he's still hurt with no confidence on taking this happiness he wants that kuzumi puts out for him or he's scared of hurting kuzumi. lots of possibilities only with that one facial expression, damn they are so good.Was this review helpful to you?
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Like a vinyl on a record player, his life was spinning on and on
SPOILERS, A LOT ACTUALLY SO READ IF U WANT TO.
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Finally, after all we went through, a happy ending. It was all worth it.
Just like Kijima's first love that betrays him, the whole the pornographer series is his journey on finally healing and moving on it was a long adventure that had a lot of obstacles but even with a clear path, just like when he met Kuzumi accidentally, he wasn't facing forward, made excuses and even re-enacted his moments with other people (maybe cause he deeply missed KZ) but during this movie, is finally the time KZ showed how fed up he was, for once he didn't do things to please KJ, that was so sweet to make him taste his own medice!! Which resulted in KJ finding courage and went on face forward towards KZ and you don't know how even that little action made me so giggly and happy that he finally made a decision for himself and for KZ rather than keep making excuses which the akemi family helped him a lot with.
It made me question if he was still stuck on Kido which is his past. He may never be fully healed as something they experienced was something both cherishes, they filled each other's void during their weakest point and it was passionate which ended with KJ just accepting it and put it on the past and focusing on the future instead. It's quite bittersweet but it's the best, KD made decisions he cannot go back from and he must take responsibility of so I'm happy KJ is the one with the choice of letting go cause he was the one badly hurt and have nothing to lose.
It's quite nice that KZ wasn't so into KJ's past with KD. Although I would've loved it more if he knew about them, I just thought that the story of KJ and KD is only theirs and theirs and so is KZ and KJ's are theirs and theirs only as well.
KZ might've lowkey cheat on KJ by going to a bar but they weren't quite official that time and KZ was indeed young, KJ taught him a lot of erotic things then left him after their first time doing it, I'm not surprised that he wanted more and ended up finding an alternative way to get off just like KJ when he was young, him and KD kept on at it which you can see when KZ went to KJ, they went at it so darn fast lol it was still a mistake though which KZ felt embarrassed for and kept apologizing for and saying he won't do it ever again if KJ dislikes it.
I like the ending, I finally got to see them both smile and that just made me so freaking happy and refreshed! Finally able to rest in peace knowing they are finally together :')
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a boy whos new to love meets a boy whos hurt because of love
It's pretty interesting and straightforward which is quite nice to see. The way this series made the Mls meet is so funny, both of them weren't looking well on their way which leads on them bumping to each other with one of them having a bike.Watching this without watching all the seasons (as I'm writing this review, I had finished all of them) my experience was so perplexed just like Kuzumi because Kijima was so obvious based on literally his face and the way he moves (actor of him is so good, he really looks like he dealt with a traumatic past even just by existing on the screen) that he had a bad experience he cannot move on from but I couldn't find it out. In the end, it's quite inevitable to hate Kijima for always running away and not facing his true feelings.
Then after watching all of the seasons, and rewatching this, you can finally have reasons and understand Kijima. Here you can see he was deeply hurt from the point of numbness that when he bumped to KZ, he made the opportunity to reach out to him to maybe feel something while also fooling him which had consequences, he didn't realize how precious KZ's feelings were towards him, he knew that KZ ended up falling in love with him sometime including himself but he never knew it was that deep, maybe he got reminded of his past feelings where the other didn't commit thus made him scared to accept KZ's feelings.
I think if it's your first time watching this, you'll end up maybe not liking it by the way Kijima treated Kuzumi through out the whole series or how the story literally just revolved between the two of them but if you have the patience to survive watching a lot more installment that makes the story much more clearly and be understanding of our Ml's history and his upbringings also it gets more entertaining from one installment to another. it's for you.
KZ is my boy, this dude was purely just in-love and reached out for it with all his might which KJ needed cause it compliments his arrogant and stubborn personality. I just don't like how they made his character so little on story when it comes to themselves like in here, he was just made to be the person of interest of KJ without giving much info about KJ's life, I wanted to get to know about him but they didn't do that which also made a lot of viewers dislike him cause they couldn't connect with him (including me sometimes but he was just too innocent and kind, ambitious when it comes to love which is super rare like KJ better treat him right)
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not bad but not good
If I'm being honest, I think watching this series with high expectations can actually make you not like it cause it has a one-dimensional story. It's a very progress slow-burn about two reporters working together, along the way they fall in love with each other and that's it.What carried the show is most likely the visual of the main leads and their chemistry was also "not bad but not good" it feels like the world forced them to be together and it worked.
I just don't like how onoe fell in love with kaburagi so darn fast with just a smile and kindness and how kaburagi kissed onoe without his consent and act like it's not a big deal after then when onoe got harassed by a man, kaburagi was instead jealous and mad at onoe as if he liked it also how he keeps leading onoe on then be all shrug about it after cause he was passively not facing his feelings resulting to onoe being confused a lot whether he actually likes him back or what not which was consistent for almost all of the episode.
Some scenes were kinda "huh?" for me cause it doesn't make sense. It was slow but felt rushed cause of the lack of attention to details, everything felt too easy, like I was wishing they make a mistake as a reporter but all of their project went surprisingly well without a failure which is so unrealistic.
Acting here could've also been more, they absolutely need to improve cause they did not deliver or express well. It might be the director's fault too but it did not guide me to things I should be feeling on some episodes, I was confused on what to feel.
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that's just life
As a person who didn't grow up with their parents who are divorced but suddenly taken custody of by my mom, also being gay I relate to this a lot. I thought that this was a BL but I consider it more of a family-kind of drama. I hated it at first but as it went on I ended up enjoying it, if it weren't for the reconcile of the family nagisa made, I wouldn't even liked it even if shun and nagisa reconciled but the family didn't because I would feel bitter about it, sora really was important here and brought everyone together, the best girl!!I really hated Nagisa but the movie really made it make sense and understandable. It doesn't change the fact that he was selfish and a coward that hurts a lot of people, made some problematic decisions, it's realistic and there are some things in life that we can't go back to and make excuse for but instead we should move on forward and make things right then on which nagisa did in the end thankfully.
I still hated him because of his ways, like breaking up with shun out of nowhere which left shun confused without being able to move on then coming back with a child then trying to pursue shun again which is again, so selfish! shun was about to move on and actually make a new life but nagisa stopped him, I feel bad for shun cause it's everybody's wish who are still in love with their ex is for them to come back and nagisa took advantage of it. Also sleeping with other men to satisfy his lust while being married with a child (which omg, thankfully sora has no idea about) basically a cheater, the unrealistic part is that he said shun is the only one who can satisfy him in the end which was so icky for me, so his lust was more greater than being content with his family like even if he is gay, don't sleep with others while being married!! Break it off first. So like the possibility of him cheating on shun too is pretty high.
Overall, great movie! If I'm being honest, I was angry and bored at the first half, like stuffs weren't making sense and they really make you hate nagisa then as it went on, things were explained and it gets quite exciting. Chemistry of the two leads were so good and the way nagisa reached, hold him close (like very tight- lol) and forced shun to stay with him was quite realistic for people that don't want people to leave them, I felt that scene a lot! It was the memorable part out of the movie for me. I feel for the mother and daughter, my mother also works a lot so I barely spend time with her but I was taken custody of but I still barely spend time with my mom so I'm really happy with the way things went in the movie the only difference is that I don't even bother to think about my father or want to get back with him, for now I'm good. it's like life where you can only experience things once, I dont find any reason to rewatch it.
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Competition at it's finest
Watching this show made me realize "damn.. how are they so darn smart". The winner was very well-deserving of it! all of the cast were so good and I could tell they formed a bond and made this as something to learn from! They chose the right cast cause at first there was some things that makes you dislike them but it ends up being reasonable and makes you just love them. They did well trying everything to not get eliminated.I watched this for seungkwan lol but the whole cast did so well and throughout the series, it's like I lived with them and experienced what they were experiencing so I was bound to love all the cast.
--SPOILERS--
Only things I don't like about the show:
1. The Alliances - We know there was a minority and majority-kind of alliance.
What I don't like about the minority alliance- I think it started on the first game, with the 3-people alliance that the others had no idea about, I JUST WISHED they didn't form an alliance that soon cause it turns everything about alliance after and made the others have some trust issues so soon. I was surprised when they were shocked that everyone went against them since they formed a small group within a lot of people since no one's eliminated yet and won. They also continued working together on the second game, so other's thought that their group is definitely a strong-kind formed of alliance. It was so obvious they won't be trusted that third round so I was so surprised that they actually planned to not help each other and played apart respectfully which was even for me so unexpected. it was sad and I felt guilty when they went and teamed up on one person to eliminate but this minority alliance outright made themselves a target and made the trust issues. Until the end, I kinda feel bitter since they started it but is like "this game is boring cause they copied us and turned it against us".
What I don't like about the majority alliance- It was a nice idea to help each other survive but that ended up just being something that's outright stupid cause they ended up sacrificing a lot to save someone which worked but for a competitive series, it did not sit right with me cause it was inevitable for the minority alliance to worry about their members getting eliminated cause they outright keep pushing them to be the last to push themselves forward which was a very selfish thing to do. I think after the second game, even in the end the alliance and mission was still alive that they made the minority group feel like an outcast, they were literally away from them from that point on except on the teamwork games! This group ended up being one with the leader who leads the others, and that's bad cause if you're competing it's only right to play for yourself, the members of this didn't get to show their ability much cause of trying to save others from elimination which was quite unfair.
2. The Games - If I'm being honest. I've never felt so stressed and tired from watching a series but this surely did, I can't imagine how the cast survived. Did they let them have a break? After one game (which were so darn hard) another comes which was so crazy and draining which I think made some of them to not be able to do well and get eliminated. It's also crazy how they make the first game be betrayal while the second is teamwork but I'm glad the cast were mature and still worked together despite literally betraying each other not that long ago cause I wouldn't if that was me lol
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wanting it all to wanting to become normal
It's so cute at first then as it went on, it grows up and ends up being so heart wrenching along side with them literally growing up. I would kinda say it's realistic cause as far as I have watched BL dramas from japan, one of the leads most likely would want to become "normal" cause it's not that quite like-able to be in such relationships in japan.What I like is from the beginning, when they met on the sidewalk line, it was super cute! The way they told each other about their imagination on the line that if they fell out of the line, they will be attacked by some things lol it was super adorable way to connect the two leads. When they ended up living together and acting like husband and wife, everything up to that point onwards the episodes just went down-hill from there.
I kinda hate Akira's behavior, I knew he was selfish from when Akira was lowkey pursuing Yuuki but it was not consensual since he just outright kisses him first a lot of times without actually asking Yuuki first about it. You could sense that he's bad news just from there, he decided everything by himself without asking how it would feel for the other! JUST LIKE WHEN HE BROKE UP WITH HIM cause he thought that what his current happiness is not normal but what others experience such as having a wife and family is the normal happiness. He wasn't content and did not overthink it first before making a decision, for a character like Yuuki who was always imaginative but not far away from reality, I thought Akira would be more mature and guide Yuuki but he guide him on his single era and not being able to move on cause he was left confused. I JUST WISHED that he at least made Akira pay for it but it is what it is when you're in-love, you forgive easily which made me really bitter on the ending.
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Heartwarming
It was so cute!! The casts did very well with how they portrayed their characters. It's a series that I don't have a problem with other than it went very well like too easy for fukuhara and shinomiya's relationship. It's one that doesn't rely on hardships to make a drama, I guess too much fluff and comedy carried the show. It was fun to watch although they kept teasing about them kissing and doing it till the end but nothing really happened(?) so that was a bit dissapointment but understandable if the actors are uncomfortable with it, you can't really force something like that but their performance and chemistry pulled through without such intimate moments which made this really good!! I wouldn't rewatch it though, cause I'm a sucker for BL that have intimate scenes and this one is really just for fun and excitement.Was this review helpful to you?