A true gem of a romcom

This one became an instant classic for me, it's just that good.
To me this show is everything a romcom could and should be - the characters are believable and likable, the plot is compelling but does not take away from the romance, the pacing is well thought-out, and the romantic tension builds at a perfect speed.

But more than that this story has a deep understanding of not just its characters, but what being human means at large.
The characters are all vastly different personalities with their own unique charms and dynamics, but also each with their own unique set of flaws. They feel like real, actual people, and it is in that grounding connection to reality that the show really shines.
It makes the audience question things like "How do you deal with your life suddenly changing and starting down a path you never expected?", "What does loving someone really mean?", "How much are you letting the past control your current life?", and "What does forgiveness mean and whom exactly does it benefit?"

The show tells its story perfectly beat for beat and pulls the audience along on a ride that is in turns fun, emotional, captivating, and absolutely joyous. Add to that the lovely visuals, solid editing, and good music and you get a romantic drama par excellence.
I honestly can't think of any reason not to watch this show, I genuinely and wholeheartedly recommend it to any- and everyone. Go watch it already.

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A quiet, tender masterpiece

Ah, Blueming... what can I say about this show that hasn't already been said?
It is a wonderfully down-to-earth queer drama steeped in realism and tenderness in equal measure.

The visuals are gorgeous and combined with the excellent soundtrack create an atmosphere of quiet hopefulness and renewal, like the feeling of the first days of spring slowly creeping in to replace the winter cold.
That may sound overly poetic, but this story is so touching, so softly poignant that it just grabbed me by the heartstrings so tightly there is simply no other way to describe the impact it had other than through poeticism.
There are no great twists, no dramatic misunderstandings, no grand declarations of love and passion. There is just the slow and steady journey of a cast of achingly real people learning and growing and navigating their way towards happiness, which is portrayed with such raw emotional vulnerability it left me feeling cracked open a split apart in the best way possible.

This show will gently nudge you into reflecting on themes of love, self-image, societal pressures, and the mortifying ordeal of being known. It forgoes melancholy and angst and instead focuses on the raw, quiet joy of being alive and getting to grow and change and learn every day. Just watch it; everyone's soul needs to be wrung out and hung out to dry every once in a while and this story will do that for you.

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Paradoxically Underrated

This is one of my personal favourites and honestly one of the most criminally underrated shows on this entire site.
I have spent probably entirely too much time watching, rewatching, and analysing this show and I have a frankly unreasonable amount of opinions about the entire thing, so let me try and explain why I feel so strongly about what, to most people, seems to be nothing more than a mid-tier drama.

Let's start with the characters:
Onoe is unfailingly honest and direct, and wants to believe the best in everyone, which are qualities that frequently land him in trouble. He is earnest and sweet and does his job because he wants to genuinely help people.
Kaburagi meanwhile is the opposite. He is very quiet and jaded and has lost faith in the purpose of his job. He initially takes the job because, like Onoe, he wants to do good in the world and to learn how to peel back people's layers and find good there. Except he gets unlucky with his scoops, doesn't find that hoped for kindness and love anywhere and gets even more closed off and cynical as a result to the point where he essentially abandons all his ethics in the pursuit of newsworthy stories.
Their relationship could easily have been nothing more than a typical "complete opposites" dynamic, but the show opts for a much subtler and more low-key approach to this than usual and the dynamic quickly changes to the two characters balancing each other out more and more and making each other better.

This compelling subtlety permeates through all aspects of the show; the story touches on a lot of fascinating, complex, and serious topics, sometimes more in depth sometimes a bit less, in a very quiet and understated, but very deft way and then neatly ties every theme back to the characters and their personal growth and development.
Most of the "villains" the characters expose with their stories are much more than two- dimensional antagonists.
The show makes a point of showing that there is no such thing as clear-cut morality, that the "villains" aren't monsters beyond human comprehension, they're just people. There's a running theme of "Just because you did something evil doesn't mean you're not sympathetic" as well as "Just because I can empathise with you and understand your reason, you still did horrible things and that's not an excuse". To quote another clever show: "Cool motive, still murder"
As the story progresses it explores these topics in increasing depth and with such nuanced complexity that I found myself genuinely slack-jawed and amazed at times.

A further strong point of the show is Onoe and Kaburagi's relationship.
From the very beginning they communicate so openly with each other. Onoe, for example. figures out his attraction to Kaburagi very quickly, goes to ask his friend for advice, gives himself a bit of time to figure out the differences between platonic and romantic affection and once he does, is pretty much entirely upfront with Kaburagi about how he feels for the rest of the show.
Meanwhile Kaburagi is having a bit of a harder time figuring out what he's feeling but rather than letting their relationship devolve into an endless, angst-filled back and forth, he just tells Onoe how he feels.
He specifically tells Onoe "I like you! Probably" and every subsequent time Onoe confronts him about sending mixed signals or misunderstanding something, Kaburagi just very openly tells him "I don't know how I feel, I don't know what you are to me". They keep giving each other time and space to figure things out, which is such an unusual and healthy portrayal of a budding new relationship. I genuinely have never seen a romance drama paced like this before, it is a truly unique approach and a much-needed breath of fresh air for the genre.

In conclusion: This is a truly masterfully written and acted show, with solid visuals, an amazing cast of supporting characters, and an understated, deadpan type of humour that suits the story perfectly and which I personally find incredibly charming.
I keep coming back to this show again and again and the simple reason for this is that, to me, this show has an intrinsic and fundamental understanding of what it means to be human, flawed and multi-faceted and endlessly joyful.
I highly recommend you watch it.






Post-script with content warnings and mild spoilers:

One thing I feel like I have to address is the show's one unfortunate flaw - the source material.
There are two scenes in the show that I strongly disliked:
First, one in which Onoe is almost sexually assaulted by someone during an undercover operation, and while the show does acknowledge how bad that situation was, they sort of gloss over how serious and traumatising the experience should have been to Onoe.
Second, a scene in which Kaburagi's main informer lets him choose whether to pay for the intel with money or with sex and while Kaburagi does turn her down and only ever pays her in cash from then on out, the show never explicitly states how problematic such an arrangement is, nor do they condemn the informant specifically.
So why, where did those scenes come from, why do they feel so tonally inconsistent and out of place compared to the rest of the show?
This is where the source material becomes relevant. I got my hands on the manga on which the story is based, only to realise, with no small amount of horror, that the source material barely resembles the clever, heartfelt sensitivity of the show and is instead an incredibly run-of-the-mill, rapey yaoi trash-fire. That may sound harsh, but it is unfortunately accurate.
Seemingly the scriptwriters for the show did their level best to take the compelling concept of the manga while removing its glaring flaws. In their attempts to still remain as true to the original as possible, as fans so often demand, they only sanitised the scenes in question, rather than removing them completely. This doesn't excuse the inclusion of said scenes whatsoever, but it does contextualize them, and make them slightly easier to bear in my opinion.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A surprising delight!

I hesitated a bit to watch this show given the mediocre reviews it's received here; little did I know what a fun little series I was missing out on!
The story lands very much on the light and comedic side so if you're looking for something particularly deep or dramatic, you won't find it here.

What the show does have to offer, however, is a unique and zany sense of humour (which might not be everyone's cup of tea but which I greatly enjoyed), highly likeable characters, and a surprisingly touching and realistic romance with some very decent depictions of casual physical intimacy.
The relationships and friendships depicted are all incredibly sweet and wholesome, just a group of people trying their very best to care for and love one another - often while sharing delicious food.
The pacing and romantic buildup work perfectly in my opinion and the dynamic between the main pair is of the rare but truly wonderful sunshine x sunshine type.

More importantly though, what this story is mainly about is two people who, from the very beginning, like each other so much and so sincerely that watching their interactions feels painfully lovely and disarming in a way that I didn't think was possible in such a high-energy comedy setting. They also communicate very clearly and openly with one another which lends the story some more depth and realism and ensures that none of the conflicts feel contrived or unnecessary.
There are meddling exes, female love rivals but these tropes are very quickly subverted and the characters are complex, three-dimensional human beings and all contribute to the story in important ways rather than just serving as sentient roadblocks for our main couple to overcome.

Is the show perfect? Of course not; the humour doesn't always land perfectly, the comedy music feels slightly over-used in parts (although both of those are pretty much down to personal preference) and there is a completely unnecessary "comedic" slap which may put viewers off.
Fans of the source material might also be disappointed as this series is, at best, a very loose interpretation of the manga.
But to me the good far outweighs the bad and with its lovely cinematography, utterly charming cast of characters, and surprising and refreshing queer-norm approach to representation I can whole-heartedly recommend giving it a shot.

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