I didn't really have any expectations going into The End of the World With You. I never read the manga so I was going in blind. The premise made me think it could either be really interesting or just full of straight up NSFW scenes. The beginning left me thinking it was going to be the latter which I was not particularly impressed with. But I continued watching and discovered an absolute gem of a drama. It takes a rare drama for me to rate it a 10. I originally rated this a 9.5. But when I couldn't get it out of my head, when I found myself coming back to certain lines and scenes I realized that it deserved that honor. The story is heartfelt and while the romance is there, it doesn't dominate instead often focusing on the family unit the characters create and their dynamics. The characters are flawed but they are layered and relatable. There are reasons for their flaws and you come to understand them. It's a beautifully woven tale and it really does leave you wondering a bit, if the world was ending, how would you spend your final days?

The plot isn't particularly original, it's your run of the mill disaster story of a giant meteor's going to crash into earth and nothing can stop it. The kicker comes when Masumi, who up until this point hasn't really been living his life, goes to the library to spend his final days there reading and runs into his former lover Ritsu. Their relationship ended poorly when Ritsu cheated on Masumi leaving him traumatized and heartbroken. Now some ten years later, they're thrown together again. But even at the end of the world, life has some twists and it comes in the form of a teenage boy named Yuma. Their mission becomes getting Yuma back home. Along the way they add another person to their group, Meguru, also trying to get home. Together they create their own little family and through their various adventures and mishaps, Ritsu and Masumi slowly begin to reconcile.

The first two or episodes are deceptive in that they don't reveal the depth of this drama. These episodes are mostly flashbacks that reveal Masumi and Ritsu's history. It's important information that's necessary to understand their characters and especially to see how they've grown and changed since. But, it's also where a number of those NSFW scenes come in and it can make you question what you're watching. But once you get past those first couple episodes, you start getting drawn in because this drama isn't afraid to delve into some hard topics. Suicide is one that comes up repeatedly. Ritsu initially gets Masumi to come with him with the lure of a euthanasia pill if he'll help him dispose of a body. The body turns out to be that of a high school student who Ritsu assisted in committing suicide, except, surprise, he's not dead. This leads to a discussion on why the kid, Yuma, wanted to commit suicide in the first place which then leads to a conversation on perspectives and thinking things through. The guy bullying him will graduate soon, he basically has his whole life to look forward to, new people to meet, new experiences, etc. and suddenly Yuma realizes he doesn't want to die, he wants to live. Of course, there's a meteor headed towards earth so that's a bit of a problem. Then there's Ritsu who also planned to take one with Yuma but didn't, presumably because he wanted to see Masumi one last time and then does actually try to take one later on. It's also revealed in a flashback that he's been borderline suicidal at least once before and likely more than that.

There's one scene though that really resonated with me. In a flashback, Madoka, a friend of Ritsu's and Yuma's idol, depressed and suicidal after her lover gets a boyfriend and her reputation goes up in flames, has gone to see Ritsu. She asks him if he's ever considered suicide to which he says no and she says she hasn't either, she was just asking. She's too scared to go through with it anyway. But as she walks away, she turns back and points to her neck and tells him that if there was button there that if pressed would end everything, she would press it. It's one of those lines that I think anyone who has ever had depression or has been suicidal could absolutely relate to. It's heartbreaking but true. Life is challenging, that's part of what makes it worth living, but when it gets overwhelming, when our brains betray us, a way out can seem tempting and both Madoka and Ritsu presented as characters to sympathize and empathize with as feeling trapped with death as the most ideal solution.

Another hard topic stems from the scene where Masumi receives a call from his abusive mother asking him for help. He cut ties with her years ago, the number she's calling from is a blocked one, but there at the end of the world, she calls him for help because she recently hurt her back and can't move and is running out of food. Whether anything she says is genuine, her apologies or her regret, is left up to the viewer. Masumi doesn't want to go, but out of filial piety, he prepares to do so, until Ritsu puts his foot down and says that if he won't come with them, then he won't take Yuma home. It's Ritu's comment that they're both doing what they want with the little time they have left that leads Masumi to decide to continue on with them instead. It's the kind of moral dilemma where you often see the opposite choice made. And it's not like the choice is easy for Masumi, he even says that he thinks he's wrong. But it also begs the question, at the end of the world, which takes precedence? Want or obligation?

The characters are absolutely the highlight of this drama. They are beautiful and damaged and relatable and perfect. I came to love each and every one of them for their flaws and quirks and for the way they grew and overcame their flaws. I honestly don't think I would really change anything about them.

I absolutely loved the way Masumi's character was portrayed because I could see a lot of myself in him. I feel like to an extent he's a rarity. Sex is one of those things that seems to be thrown around a lot today. People hook up and break up like it's no big deal. His comment that for him sex was a form of trust resonated for me. It also highlighted just how differently he and Ritsu viewed sex. Ritsu viewed it as a commodity, something to be shared around with anyone, while Masumi saw it as a gift meant only for that special someone. And that's where things broke down for them. Masumi thought they were building something permanent and that betrayal broke him. There's also the aspect of love, I think. He thought he'd finally found someone who truly loved him. God knows he didn't get that from his mother with her physically and verbally abusing him. So Ritsu's betrayal was on multiple levels which I think was why Masumi was left so completely devastated. What was interesting to see was the life that started to come back into Masumi's eyes almost immediately after meeting Ritsu again. He started engaging more with life and with people. And as much as he claimed to hate Ritsu, he also couldn't help but want to know about him and his life. His slowly softening towards Ritsu was sweet to see, particularly that scene after his accident, it was just very well done and a great moment between them. I also really felt his monologue when they're at the river. Beautifully worded and spoken, I really loved that scene. The idea that there's a world worth seeing and living in out there not too far away if we just step outside of our homes and outside ourselves. I also loved the evolution of his thoughts from the-world's-ending-I-could-just-have-sex-with-him to I've-fallen-back-in-love-with-him-and-I-want-to-build-a-future-together.

I've seen some comments describing Ritsu as a toxic person just as a blanket statement. And I would disagree with that. I think he absolutely started out as a very toxic, but also very damaged person. And while, yes, I would have liked to have seen more of a change in him over the years, I also got the impression that he never cheated on anyone again after what happened with Masumi and was essentially a serial monogamist. He learned his lesson after that. And I think one thing to point out, and it's not an excuse, but he was twenty when he and Masumi got together. He was young and he was stupid and he made choices like I'm sure many of us did when we were that age that he came to regret. Masumi was the one that got away and he bore an incredible amount of guilt after discovering just how devastated Masumi was after the end of their relationship. But by the time he had his second chance, he was clearly a different person. He was not the same toxic kid he had been, again he had learned his lesson and he was ready to move forward with Masumi in a real relationship if Masumi was willing. Ritsu in general was just a very interesting, multi-layered character. The amount of guilt and self-loathing he carried was honestly heartbreaking. He blamed himself for Madoka's death for not answering her calls. He loathed himself for his own sexual desires and constantly seeking out new partners. I really wanted to delve into all of that a little more as to what drove him to seeking that as his outlet. I loved his scenes with Madoka. He's one of those people that seemed to always have a mask in place to fit the situation and with her, that was off, he was just himself. Their relationship seemed very special, brief as those scenes were.

Yuma was a fascinating character. He was very anima/manga like in some regards which was interesting/weird at times, but I didn't dislike it. He was also absolutely adorable. I honestly loved him. He had a great dynamic with the rest of the characters. His chivalrous attitude was simultaneously funny and sweet. He was definitely over the top, but not in an annoying way. I did get the impression that he actually is supposed to be some kind of magical being but what exactly, I have no idea.

Meguru surpassed all my expectations. First, loved having a non-binary character that was not treated as a cliché. Also really enjoyed how they were incorporated. I wasn't sure how that was going to work when they were thrown in at first and then the bathroom scene happened and it was like, oh, this is going to be interesting. I thought it was awesome that Masumi and Ritsu really didn't bat an eye after getting over their shock and were just cool with it. Loved their relationship with Yuma. Honestly those two were so adorable. And I just liked their character in general, they were not whiny or constantly complaining, they fit in with everyone and pulled their weight.

The cast was all incredibly talented. Seto was fantastic as the moody Masumi and Nakata matched him perfectly as the charismatic Ritsu. Facial expressions, body language, all of it was just so good. Their chemistry together was also phenomenal. And I'm not just talking about the NSFW scenes. They're so expressive together and genuinely seem to have a connection. Fantastic to watch. Tomimoto nailed it as Yuma. Kudos to him for nailing some of those odd scenes that required him to act like an anime/manga character without taking it overboard. Idegami was wonderful as both Madoka and Meguru. Props to the casting director for casting an actual non-binary actor as a non-binary character. And equal props to Idegami for being able to create two easily distinguishable characters.

The ending left me conflicted. I don't generally like open endings, but I actually don't mind this one in the least. My issue comes with the very cringy special effects there at the very end. If I had my way, it would end after Masumi and Ritsu go to sleep. I'm sure the ending of the drama follows the manga, it's just the terrible special effects and the alarm kind of ruined the moment.

For a drama that I wasn't expecting anything of, it completely exceeded any expectations I could have possibly had of it. I honestly struggled writing this review because there was so much I simply couldn't put into words. This drama resonated with me in a way very few other dramas have. It is one that I would absolutely recommend and one I will certainly be rewatching. I have a feeling it gets better with repeated viewings. As Masumi says, I guess miracles do exist.