Unpopularopinionbydemand
watching BL in the corner of my room
This review may contain spoilers
Not What I Was Expecting
I thought this in 2024, and I still think this in 2025: Japan still hold superiority as the country (imo) with the best BLs. Even though the list is tiny, the series are always so mighty. 9 times out of 10, I will always come to enjoy a JBL, wether it be the plot or the acting or the chemistry. So, I'm extremely disappointed in my feelings for I Hear the Sunspot.
Lets's Dive In.
I have heard nothing but hype for this series for a long time. It was on people's top series for 2024, it was trending on lots of platforms, even folk on here have had more positive than negative to say about this series; and still, it let me down pretty harshly. The story itself is really interesting: a popular student, who ends up developing hearing lost, looses all confidence and then meets an extroverted and loud student willing to teach him how to live again while helping him with his class notes. It had everything in it and more. I genuinely enjoyed the setup of this series. I liked how when Taichi and Kohei meet, it's very natural and organic with Taichi immediately wanting to get to know and be friends with Kohei. I really liked Taichi's group of friends as well, all their conversations sounded organic and they seemed like genuine friends. Overall, outside of the romance, this series delivered very well. It's when we get into the connection between Kohei and Taichi that this series goes downhill for me.
I absolutely hate to say this, but Taichi and Kohei felt more like a bromance than two people that had feelings for each other. A glorified friendship, if you will. Had they not ended up confessing to one another, I would've thought this was just a friendship thing. Sometimes they gave really great longing stares, but Taichi, most importantly, just gave off "I'm a straight guy who really likes to help out my friend Kohei." What really did it for me was the fake kiss. A fake kiss, in 2024? And then, they don't kiss at all once they're together, we get some measly hug and then they sit meters away from each other at their spot. I think someone already said it, but these two needed another episode or two, maybe so that we could see their relationship blossom and grow, to at least see them kiss or hold hands or go on a date. Instead, I was left incredibly crushed by this relationship as it served nothing for me. I think both actors worked good together, but when it came to chemistry, it just didn't reach me at all. And if I don't like the main point of a BL, which is all about the love and romance, then a series is already doomed.
Moving onto the Maya character: I try not to hate the female characters in BL cause we don't get enough of them anyways, but Maya annoyed me to no end. She was obviously used as a tool to help Taichi realize his feelings for Kohei and feel some sort of jealousy, but she was mean and abrasive for no reason. I'm assuming she had a crush on Kohei, then to learn that Kohei had feelings for Taichi, she ended up feeling some sort of way. She tried her best to separate them, to make Taichi feel left out, to dis-include him from things, to paint him as a terrible, horrible, no-good guy. What really irked me more than anything was that they tried to give her some redemption arc, but no, absolutely not.
One aspect that I think I liked the most that saved this series from getting a too low score: the relationship Taichi had with his grandfather and the relationship Kohei had with his mother. His grandfather, although not good with emotions and a little oblivious, was so perfect as Taichi's guardian. I loved that old man to no extent, and he delivered perfectly. The same goes for Kohei's mom, who just wanted the best for him, and tried her best to make him happy. I love seeing these healthy family dynamics, and it always makes my heart swell.
Curiosity question: Was the way Taichi walked Toranosuke (Taichi's actor) own personal disability or was that more of just a character choice? I don't know if anyone noticed in the series, but each time Taichi walked, it was like he was limping or maybe had some kind of disability that made him walk a little funny. Not me trying to bash anyone, just wondering if that was a character choice Toranosuke went with for his character or if he seriously has some kind of disability.
Ratings:
Story: 7/10: the story itself, outside the romance, was well done. I liked seeing the character development in Kohei specifically, from going to being cold and quiet to smiling and friendly. The romance did not romance enough for me, which is why I'll knock off three stars.
Acting: 9/10: Their strongest aspect. Toranosuke did such a good job, with Motoki following second (it also didn't hurt that he was beautiful). Everyone did excellent as well.
Music: 5/10: didn't pay much attention to it.
Recommendation Value: 5.5/10: The last J-BL I would recommend, to be honest. Not terrible other than the fact I felt nothing for the leads. The story itself thought, is rather interesting, so watch for that.
Lets's Dive In.
I have heard nothing but hype for this series for a long time. It was on people's top series for 2024, it was trending on lots of platforms, even folk on here have had more positive than negative to say about this series; and still, it let me down pretty harshly. The story itself is really interesting: a popular student, who ends up developing hearing lost, looses all confidence and then meets an extroverted and loud student willing to teach him how to live again while helping him with his class notes. It had everything in it and more. I genuinely enjoyed the setup of this series. I liked how when Taichi and Kohei meet, it's very natural and organic with Taichi immediately wanting to get to know and be friends with Kohei. I really liked Taichi's group of friends as well, all their conversations sounded organic and they seemed like genuine friends. Overall, outside of the romance, this series delivered very well. It's when we get into the connection between Kohei and Taichi that this series goes downhill for me.
I absolutely hate to say this, but Taichi and Kohei felt more like a bromance than two people that had feelings for each other. A glorified friendship, if you will. Had they not ended up confessing to one another, I would've thought this was just a friendship thing. Sometimes they gave really great longing stares, but Taichi, most importantly, just gave off "I'm a straight guy who really likes to help out my friend Kohei." What really did it for me was the fake kiss. A fake kiss, in 2024? And then, they don't kiss at all once they're together, we get some measly hug and then they sit meters away from each other at their spot. I think someone already said it, but these two needed another episode or two, maybe so that we could see their relationship blossom and grow, to at least see them kiss or hold hands or go on a date. Instead, I was left incredibly crushed by this relationship as it served nothing for me. I think both actors worked good together, but when it came to chemistry, it just didn't reach me at all. And if I don't like the main point of a BL, which is all about the love and romance, then a series is already doomed.
Moving onto the Maya character: I try not to hate the female characters in BL cause we don't get enough of them anyways, but Maya annoyed me to no end. She was obviously used as a tool to help Taichi realize his feelings for Kohei and feel some sort of jealousy, but she was mean and abrasive for no reason. I'm assuming she had a crush on Kohei, then to learn that Kohei had feelings for Taichi, she ended up feeling some sort of way. She tried her best to separate them, to make Taichi feel left out, to dis-include him from things, to paint him as a terrible, horrible, no-good guy. What really irked me more than anything was that they tried to give her some redemption arc, but no, absolutely not.
One aspect that I think I liked the most that saved this series from getting a too low score: the relationship Taichi had with his grandfather and the relationship Kohei had with his mother. His grandfather, although not good with emotions and a little oblivious, was so perfect as Taichi's guardian. I loved that old man to no extent, and he delivered perfectly. The same goes for Kohei's mom, who just wanted the best for him, and tried her best to make him happy. I love seeing these healthy family dynamics, and it always makes my heart swell.
Curiosity question: Was the way Taichi walked Toranosuke (Taichi's actor) own personal disability or was that more of just a character choice? I don't know if anyone noticed in the series, but each time Taichi walked, it was like he was limping or maybe had some kind of disability that made him walk a little funny. Not me trying to bash anyone, just wondering if that was a character choice Toranosuke went with for his character or if he seriously has some kind of disability.
Ratings:
Story: 7/10: the story itself, outside the romance, was well done. I liked seeing the character development in Kohei specifically, from going to being cold and quiet to smiling and friendly. The romance did not romance enough for me, which is why I'll knock off three stars.
Acting: 9/10: Their strongest aspect. Toranosuke did such a good job, with Motoki following second (it also didn't hurt that he was beautiful). Everyone did excellent as well.
Music: 5/10: didn't pay much attention to it.
Recommendation Value: 5.5/10: The last J-BL I would recommend, to be honest. Not terrible other than the fact I felt nothing for the leads. The story itself thought, is rather interesting, so watch for that.
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