His - Koi Suru Tsumori Nante Nakatta (2019)

A Powerful LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age Mini-Series

Delving into the depths of self-discovery and acceptance, this series presents a poignant coming-of-age story set in a small coastal town in Japan. Despite its brevity, this mini-series manages to encapsulate a wealth of emotions, leaving viewers both fulfilled and thoroughly entertained. It's a heartfelt narrative that resonates with the experiences of many LGBTQ+ individuals navigating a conservative society.

At the heart of the story are two compelling characters: Shun, who visits his father in the picturesque coastal town, and Nagisa, a surfer seeking refuge from strained family relationships. The instant connection between Shun and Nagisa sets the stage for a profound exploration of their bond. As they spend time together, honing their surfing skills and working side by side, Nagisa finds himself grappling with feelings that transcend mere friendship. Afraid of jeopardizing their relationship, he battles to keep his emotions hidden. Meanwhile, Shun undergoes his own voyage of self-discovery, slowly unraveling his affection for Nagisa.

The series courageously tackles the theme of self-acceptance, shedding light on the struggles faced by many LGBTQ+ youths. Nagisa, haunted by societal expectations, continually suppresses his true desires, resulting in a string of failed relationships. However, everything changes when he encounters Shun, sparking a revelation of his authentic self. Meanwhile, Shun grapples with his growing fondness for Nagisa, a sentiment he struggles to comprehend until seeking guidance from a trusted friend.

The exceptional performances of Yuki and Naoya, portraying Nagisa and Shun respectively, elevate the series to new heights. Their nuanced portrayals capture the complexities of their characters' internal battles, allowing viewers to empathize deeply. While the leads shine brightly, it's worth acknowledging the contributions of the supporting cast. Sara, portraying Chika, a heartbroken character entangled in love with Nagisa, encourages him to overcome his inhibitions and confess his feelings to Shun. Aino, playing Ako, a friend of Chika's grappling with her own confidence issues, adds depth to the narrative and assists Shun in understanding his true emotions for Nagisa.

Despite its measured pace, this series remains highly captivating, driven by its profound exploration of significant LGBTQ+ issues. The series not only boasts stellar performances but also showcases stunning visuals that immerse viewers in its world.

In conclusion, this mini-series stands as a testament to the power of storytelling, tackling important themes with grace and sensitivity. Supported by exceptional performances from its talented cast and visually arresting cinematography, this is an exquisite gem that leaves a lasting impact.

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Realistic Story

This is one of the most realistic BL story I ever watch. It didn't fill with fan service and non-sense story on how the characters fall in love. This series was lite and cozy kind of series. I love on how the story writer portrait the story. I wish Shun and Nagisa kiss at the end of the series, but they just hug each other. But that is okay, better than nothing.

I believe this series deserve a second season, but it seems like it won't be a 2nd season for this. These days, there are not many BL drama that have a good plots and storyline, I can count it by hand.

I really hope in future there will be tons of realistic BL drama will be produce.

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When I first began seeing the poster for this BL, I wasn't going to watch it. First of all it's Japanese and after my run in with those dramas, I was left feeling chaotic. The sounds were always--and the overacting always got on my nerves. But as hard as I tried ignoring it, the more it kept floating across my feed. It came across my feeds so many times, I eventually added it to my "To watch list" hoping it woudl go away. A friend suggested i gave it a go and I'm so glad i did. I'm usually not a huge fan of coming of age stories but this one was so lovely. The acting and the scenery and the emotions were all amazing.

I also enjoyed the silences. I know this may not make much sense to some people reading this. Let me explain - Most people believe there must be dialogue or action in every second of a show...no, i believe there needs to be moments when characters are left to merely exhale and come back to themselves. I believe, they need that calm from the chaos that is their lives, breathing room.

I enjoyed this and would definitely recommend

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I got attached to this tiny series from just watching the trailer.
The story and plot are not overdramatic and just so endearing. The build up of emotions during the whole thing made me have one or two tears roll down my cheek at the very last scene. I hoped there would be a season 2 but then found out there's a movie and I can't wait to watch it.

Every character in this series is amazing, they're all quite mature and they all learn what love really is.

Something that I find amazing is when it's silent, it's not necessarily awkward; it makes you emotional in some way. All of the actors did an amazing job in portraying emotions and how the characters feel.

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Sweet and simple

*outline*
These cliches usually follow the same pattern. The one that's more cold and closed off would take more time to like someone than the one who's more open and friendly. There was nothing cliche about this. And that's probably why it'll live in my memories for a while.


*analysis*
STORY : Exactly how I mentioned in 'outline'. Although the beginning was a little cliche, the continuing was not. The pacing was well thought out and the confession was the best. The rejections not so much though. I felt empathetic through each confession and before I knew it, every sweet moment/scene I started a whole monologue about what I hoped would happen. Yes, out loud.

ACTING/CAST : Shun didn't look like he had feelings, which is one thing I'm wondering whether it was done on purpose. But even till the end, I still didn't feel any emotions of love or even like. Maybe there were moments but I can't think of any. Nagisa's role was played excellently. It was as though he spoke more with his eyes rather than verbally or physically. So hats off to Kura Yuki for playing his role so well.

MUSIC : Honestly the music fit perfectly. It gave off anime feels too. Almost like 'Love is War' so I had fun jamming to it at the end of each episode. It wasn't played too much either. Only at the end of the episodes, but I still think the song did well in relaying the relationship through the music.

REWATCH VALUE : Because there aren't many episodes and they're actually quite short, I managed to complete the drama in one sitting. This made it feel more like a movie. I also think I'm going to miss the characters, probably Nagisa's character the most.


Visit my Custom List "Asian BLs" which includes Korean, Thai, and Taiwanese BLs to see some of my watches. I don't actually give very low ratings because I believe every love has its own story. Check them out if you'd like some recommendations !! ^.^

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A Stunning Story of Young Love

This is just a beautiful coming of age story that is so nicely told and acted that it really is a work of great beauty and art. It is not overtold or overacted. A simple story told in a simple way with vision and grace. The two main characters are just stunningly handsome and play their parts with such conviction and fortitude. I just loved these two main characters. The subtleties of this series can be underappreciated. You have to seek the unspoken ques of love between these two and the euphemisms that are evident otherwise you will miss the great beauty of telling a story not so much in words but in visualizations and simple actions.

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Adorável (e um pouco triste)

A historia em si não é pesada, não há acontecimentos super intensos, é bem calma e tranquila. Porém há algo nela que me traz uma sensação triste, a aura é um pouco fria, não esou dizendo que é algo ruim, pelo contrário, é algo que marcou a serie pra mim e funcionou super bem. Pra mim é como Love On The Line, outro BL japonês, porém mais frio. Outra coisa que eu gostei, foi do fato das personagens femininas não serem tratadas como vilãs, o que é até algo comum no mundo BL, e fazer diferente traz uma boa mensagem e autenticidade pra obra. Minha ultima observação é sobre o final, eu gostaria que fosse um pouco maior, eu queria ver mais momentos deles juntos depois de se entenderem, como todos indo juntos à uma cafeteria ou algo do tipo, que simbolizasse um final de fato, a série acabou um pouco crua por não ter isso.

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Soft and realistic

I like it a lot, really sweet, really cute and realistic. I felt kinda bad for the two girls that got rejected cause i loved them, but i'm glad they helped thoose two idiot to get togheter. The story isn't particulary new, i saw a lot of things that starts like that, but the way it develops makes it different from evrything i've ever watched. It goes a bit slow, but in my own personal opinion, it's better the slowburn, and even tho it's not 'ptouchy' or really phisical, i prefere dramas like that. Just softness, akward crushes and real teenagers problems. I loved it and i think it's totally worth to watch.

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Um frio que aquece

Sobre o roteiro: ele é bem leve e intenso ao mesmo tempo! A leveza se deve à calma aparente, às personalidades dóceis, a forma simples como a história é contada. Mas ao mesmo tempo, existe um mundo tumultuado dentro do coração de Nagisa, que só é perceptível através de um olhar atento às suas ações, um conflito interno dentro de Shun desde o primeiro ep, que também só é perceptível se olharmos com muito cuidado cada detalhe. As personalidades das garotas também me surpreenderam pela maturidade em compreender a situação, aceitar e até incentivar, ao invés de serem vilanizadas, houve um momento em que eu achei que seria esse o desfecho delas. Outro ponto muito positivo, pra mim um dos mais importantes, foi a preocupação dos pais com a vida sexual de sua filha, num país totalmente antiquado, onde o diálogo sobre sexo entre pais e filhos não é algo confortável (isso foi dito pela personagem também, e a própria mãe deixa claro que é um costume "americano").
A história traz um ar melancólico, fortalecido pelo olhar triste dos meninos, que sorriram poucas vezes. Talvez seja um artifício para nos lembrar que eles iriam se separar em breve, ou mesmo um lembrete de que a sociedade não apoiaria esse amor, enfim, funcionou muito bem.
Fiquei um pouco chateada com o final... gostaria que o colega de trabalho tivesse se declarado para a garota, e que ela tivesse dado uma chance a ele, afinal, ela foi bem altruísta e merecia um final melhor. Até entre os meninos eu queria que tivesse tido algo como um abraço, ou Shun se despedindo para voltar à sua cidade e ambos combinando seu namoro à distância, mas enfim, creio que sobre os meninos o final ficou tão frio por causa da segunda temporada em forma de filme que veio em 2020.

Sobre a atuação, achei ótima. Mesmo se tratando de um elenco principal jovem, conseguiram transmitir emoções muitas vezes apenas com o olhar, e falar com o telespectador sem usar as palavras não é algo fácil. A fotografia da série é ótima, mas sinceramente senti falta de uma boa ost. Com certeza assistirei outras vezes e sigo indicando essa série.

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The serial prequel to the film His (2020), which was produced in 2019 and refers to the period of 2006, when the destinies of two young men collide completely by chance in the seaside city of Fujisawa, which is part of the largest megalopolis in the world - the Tokyo agglomeration with 38 million inhabitants and we can get to the center of Tokyo from it via the combined cities of Kamakura, Jakohama and Kawasaki. The story is interesting, albeit undemanding, and the main two 17-year-old characters (Nagisa and Shun) are excellently played by two Japanese actors aged 19 and 21. A lot of space is also devoted to other girls' characters. The fates of the boys gradually develop until finally Shun starts working part-time where Nagisa does, in a hostel on the city island of Enoshima. I also appreciate the fact that everything develops naturally, without unnecessary intrigues, fights and violence, and during the entire series there is that "something" extra, the music and the processing are almost faultless.



Seriálový prequel k filmu His (2020), který byl vyroben v r. 2019 a vztahuje se do období roku 2006, kdy se střetávají zcela náhodně osudy dvou mladíků v přímořském městě Fudžisawa, které je součástí největší megapole světa - tokijské aglomerace s 38 mil obyvatel a do centra Tokia se z něho dostaneme přes srostlá města Kamakura, Jakohama a Kawasaki. Příběh je zajímavý, i když nenáročný a hlavní dvě 17ti leté postavy (Nagisa a Shun) zahrány výborně dvěma japonskými herci ve věku 19 a 21 let. Dost prostoru je věnováno i dalším postavám dívek. Osudy kluků se postupně vyvíjí až nakonec Shun začne pracovat brigádně tam, kde Nagisa, v hostelu na městském ostrově Enoshima. Cením si i toho, že se vše vyvíjí přirozeně, bez zbytečných intrik, rvaček a násilí a v průběhu celého seriálu je tam to "něco" navíc, hudba a zpracování téměř bez výtek.

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