Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024)

This is one to watch...

This is not going to be like my other reviews.

This review may make it seem like I didn't like this, but I first want to say that is not true. I really liked this one... but...
I have to rant about this...

That one teacher should NOT be a teacher!!! Who the hell do you think you are saying that crap to Hirukawa like that? He is your student, you shouldn't say thing like that, teachers are supposed to help their students not belittle them. I just wanted to jump in the show and beat the every loving shit out of him. Not just him either, alot of people, even the kids...what the hell is wreong with people... the sad thing is, this is not make belive it happens in real life as well, well I'm not 100% sure about the teacher thing, but the rest yes.

Another thing I thought the kissing they did could have been better. All they did was put their lips together, they did't kiss. They both did a great job otherwise.

End of rant. 😀

Edit: Ok the last ep (11) they did I better job at the kissing.

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Low expectations with tons of praise

As someone who has been watching Japanese BL for more than 15 years, I've pretty much seen it all in terms of how good or how head-banging a show can be. Up till now, even the most well-loved shows of mine, I always end up somehow having some issues with *Yes, I'm talking about those shaky-ass camerawork that ruin the beauty of the scene and acting*. But even so, aesthetics and a solid OST have always been very successful traits amongst Japanese BLs. And if you're lucky you get that together with immersive acting, or splendid directing, or a smooth editing and production, but it's only ever one or the other. Now couple that with a manga/webtoon adaption, the bar is set even higher.
I remember looking at the poster of this drama back in September and having absolutely no expectations. Honestly, I was probably suffering from the trauma that is Happy of the End (another very painful adaption, I might add), and in combination, with 2 very fresh actors tackling their first few main roles, I think I wanted to play it safe.

I am so ecstatic to say how beautifully wrong and surprised I am about this drama. The actors Junsei and Kenshin are absolutely stellar in their roles as Minase and Hirukawa. The direction is fantastic, the editing and the pacing of the scenes and episodes make perfect sense. Even the most painful of episodes were painfully good. I am in awe of how this gem of a show just swept me off my feet just like that. Perhaps chasing this show back to back since its first episode release also contributed to the longing I had for each episode thereafter. It’s just that good.

As someone who had read the webtoon, the show did a great job of talking about difficult topics (after story spoilers?) that Japanese BLs generally move away from, particularly since it ruins the fantasy image that the majority of them aim to achieve. Our Youth artfully tackles realistic topics in the settings of present society but still manages to mix in the fate-esque aspect of relationship development. There is a lot of callbacks in this show, and re-watching it from the beginning almost brings you a second layer of answers to questions that you carry during the first watch.

This show is not absolutely perfect in every way, foremost, I definitely wished they put in an extra episode or two after the time jump to really reel in the story development but honestly, the extra story just capped off all my worries ( I highly recommend to watch ). The execution of this drama is really a compilation of a stellar team production to push this through (FYI, one of the directors was a director in some of the best episodes in I Hear the Sunspot too), and a lot of heart. An absolute gem in one of the most competitively good Japanese BL years ever..

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UNFORGETABLE, SMITTEN

This is the first Jbl series that I'm giving a 10 rating. It's that good! I'm drawn to its touching, gorgeous storytelling, at times brutal and yet filled with so much tenderness... beautiful production and cinematography, great ost, unforgettable scenes, top notch acting, the actors playing Minase Jin and Hirukawa Haruki are just perfect in their roles with sizzling chemistry leaves me with a warm lasting impression long after I finished the show, that I had to rewatched. There's a line in episode 3, after beaten by his father, Haruki waited for Jin, he asked purposefully, "If I get hit, will you feel sorry for me again?" such rawness and desperation on Haruki's part for attention, Jin's orderly life started to unfold and slowly being intoxicated as their relationship develops. And in the very next episode, another scene, (Think it's a first for me) Haruki's response to Jin's cold, "Infect me" before he dived in for a kiss, Astounding! As if it wasn't enough, Haruki licked his hand afterward... I'm speechless. Sorry if I spoiled some viewers' joy but believe me, there are many beautiful poignant scenes, all 10 episodes plus 1 special, you will be spoilt.

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Our Youth: My #1 BL Show

I can honestly say this is my #1 favorite BL show of all time, and has left a lasting impression on me in a way that no other show ever has! I truly cannot recommend this show enough - it ticks every box for me. Junsei's and Kenshin's acting (as well as the supporting cast's) is incredible, the soundtrack is perfect, and the plot is very strong from start to end. The directing is breathtakingly beautiful in a way that I rarely see from shows, and I think the directors and actors deserve a lot of credit for both the romantic scenes as well as the heart wrenching and raw ones.

The story depicts the beauty, love, suffering, and fleeting nature of gay love, youth, and life spent together, and the show's honest portrayal of it all will certainly leave its mark on the viewer. I started watching right after the 11th (special) episode finished airing and every night I would rewatch the past two episodes before starting a new one. Watching Minase and Haruki's journey is incredible and left me reflecting on so much after each episode and days after finishing the show. Overall, I cannot recommend the show enough and "Our Youth" definitely should not be missed.

The only criteria I didn't rate a perfect 10 out of 10 is Rewatch Value, because while I will absolutely will rewatch this show (probably throughout my life), it left me with intense bittersweet emotions. It's not an "easy" rewatch in my opinion, you will be sucked in to their story and if you're like me you will be stuck in your feelings again.

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i mean. no notes. this is how you do a delinquent x smart boy drama.

the vibes and tone of the entire thing are also immaculate - the characters' struggles were quite nuanced and at times, relatable. it's the typical two people from entirely different worlds with different struggles meet and clash, but eventually fall in love storyline, but i appreciate how it was done here. the mini timeskip was particularly appreciated, as well as the epistolary nature of the entire narrative.

sometimes, we need time to grow and recover, and sometimes, the right person can always find you again, but in a better and healthier time. great drama!

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[Paused] A JBL Bingo: School Edition

[Update. Due to a grave family crisis, I have put this show on hold. I'll get back to it soon. Meanwhile, feel free to let me know below how well the game predicted the plot.]

I have created, for your pleasure and displeasure, a bingo card for Japanese school BLs. I wrote these down before I started watching Miseinen (I promise!), and I’m going to see at which episode I yell “Bingo!”. Feel free to play along, shuffle the table, make it your own, and then tell me at which point you win. (For ratings, I’ll start with 5.5 throughout, and adjust them at the end depending on how good the show is.)

Column B:
(Psychology 101)

1. Overbearing mother
2. Absent or abusive father
3. Inability to communicate (except through inner monologues)
4. Panic attacks at the very thought of intimacy
5. Noble idiot

Column I:
(Tropefest)

1. Time jump, usually for trips abroad
2. Beach trips
3. Random and wildly inaccurate equations on blackboard
4. Corridor crossings in slow motion
5. Roof-tops, usually fenced-in, against a hilly background: ideal for unrequited confessions
[Bonus point: Bangs for girls. Bowlcut for boys.]

Column N:
(Love Languages)

1. A wide-eyed "kiss" that reminds you of the girl from The Ring
2. Kabedon, because... door banging is sexy?
3. Free Space
4. Wound tending... even sexier.
5. Standing in the rain, kissing in the rain, getting cold & fever from the rain... just a lot of rain.

Column G:
(Lines of dialogue)

1. “But we’re both men…”
2. “Kawaii!” or “Kakkoii!”
3. “Ikemen ne.”
4. “Hendayo!" (usually after the first non-kiss)
5. “Suki da.” “Eh?”

Column O:
(War of the Positions)

1. Seme: Nipple-revealing bleach-white shirt. Uke: Buttoned-up black coat.
2. Seme: No real friends. Uke: Really bad friends.
3. Seme: PTSD survivor. Uke: Florence Shitingayle
4. Seme: Rebel with(out) a cause. Uke: Mathlete.
5. Seme: Six feet, tops. Uke: Five feet under.


Notes:
1. Gang, it happened! At the end of Ep. 5, Bingo!!
2. "Infect me!" has to be the sexiest and most romantic thing anyone has ever said in a BL.
3. If my sampling of JBLs is correct, at least a third of all Japanese fathers must be in jail for child abuse.
4. Can someone explain to me why Minase cannot call the police?

This review is dedicated to jpny01, the final word and authority on all things BL.

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Do not talk to me anymore....

That's a strong statement to close the pilot episode. Minase seems to have a clear sense of who he is, what he wants, and how he views the situations he finds himself in. As the protagonist of the series, he doesn’t play the "hero" card, which is one reason I like him.

Then there's Hirukawa: tall, skinny, and handsome, of course. He's in the shadows, outcast by his peers because of his reputation and his attitude toward his teachers. As a teenager, he's also experiencing domestic violence, with physical signs of abuse on his body.

Sympathy and empathy are the basic foundations that will draw Minase to Hirukawa. Personally, I like this kind of story—it’s both predictable and unpredictable at the same time. The two characters come from different backgrounds, so their endurance and responses to conflict will be shaped by their experiences.

It's still early to say, but I've noticed how Hirukawa intentionally and openly tries to get closer to Minase. Even though Minase attempts to set boundaries by asking Hirukawa not to speak to him, it’s clear that Minase’s walls are coming down. We'll have to wait and see how they navigate this meaningful phase of youth together.

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Opposites Indeed Attract

I'm in LOVE with this BL. For me, it's rivalling Doku Koi "Love is Poison" for Best Japanese BL of 2024.
I read the manga "Our Youth" a few months ago and really enjoyed it, so I was a bit nervous about the live adaptation. I'm so happy my fears were unfounded. The acting and the cinematography really elevated and brought this story to life for me.

We meet Minase, a well off high school student, who lives alone. His mother and friends direct a lot of his life and he seems content with their direction. That direction being to graduate with high marks, get into a good university, work at a big company and live a quiet life. His path is set for him and he seems to have the direction for his life figured out. His father, a creative, is mostly absent from his life and his mother has directed him not to follow his father's career path as a creative.

Then Hirukawa enters his orbit, the school bad boy who smokes, runs with the wrong crowd, beat up a teacher and occasionally shows up to school with bruises and black eyes. His energy is mysterious and alluring to Minase. Even though Minase implores him on multiple occasions to stay away from him, their paths cross continuously and Minase feels compelled to care for Hirukawa.

Their initial somewhat hostile encounters have an air of familiarity and kindredness. They quickly fall into a routine spending secret time together and begin to rely on each other.

I'm curious how the story will end since the manga ended positively after a time skip. But so far I'm enjoying where the drama is going. I will update when it's complete.

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Must Watch the series "Our Youth" (Miseinen: Mijukuna Oretachi wa Bukiyo ni Shinkochu (2024))

"Our Youth" BL is a wonderful series. The actors do a great job showing their emotions in a real and natural way. I really enjoyed the show and hope it gets the high ratings it deserves!

"Hirukawa's tender love and Minase's unknowing kindness make Our Youth a heartfelt, lovely series!"

"The chemistry between Hirukawa and Minase in Our Youth is simply breathtaking! Hirukawa’s genuine of love makes every scene heartfelt, while Minase’s subtle transformation as he unknowingly falls for Haruki is captivating. Together, they create a story full of warmth and charm."

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