Mi Hombre Hermoso (2021)

utsukare? lots of misplaced criticism

If I'm gonna write one review per year then utsukare is my choice for 2021

I would have completely bypassed this drama if it wasn't for Yusei, but I was hooked from the first episode.

I have 0 knowledge of the novel so I'm judging this drama as it is. I think defending any criticism of the drama using the novel only devalues the drama production and its actors. A successful adaptation should be able to stand on its own. And this one does.

Is this drama for you?
- both protagonists are realistically flawed so if you prefer your characters to come out the gate perfect then this drama is not for you.
- writing is subtle so if you prefer to be spoon-fed then this drama is not for you.

regarding the 3 major points of contention among the (western) audience:
1. English translation of the Japanese expression kimoi/kimochi warui
Meaning changes based on context so it's not always "gross". But even in the infamous episode 1 regardless of the translation, Kiyoi saying it was valid because one should be allowed to express their discomfort at someone who's clearly acting out of pocket towards them.

2. hate boner for Kiyoi
Kiyoi is neither abusive nor a bully. You can call him bully-adjacent if you are pressed enough, for hanging around bullies and allowing some behaviour to happen, but Kiyoi who wants to keep his unbothered prince image, behaves subtly. Typical protagonist when witnessing bullying would jump into the fray with their chest puffed and full of self-righteous attitude. On the other hand, Kiyoi's behaviour is nonchalant but gets the job done, nonetheless. Making Hira be part of Kiyoi's clique is like having a pilot fish keep close to a shark because it offers protection from other predators.
Anyway, most of the story is told from Hira's POV and when it switches to Kiyoi we see that things are not as they seem although the clues were already there since the beginning.

3. they are toxic together
They are unconventional together, but they are not toxic. Being in a toxic relationship/friendship/whatever makes one or both parties deteriorate, mentally and in other ways. I wish people would stop assigning terms like that to whatever doesn't fit their ideal.
There is a power imbalance (created by Hira) but Kiyoi does not take advantage of Hira's willingness to do absolutely everything for him, beyond basic errands. Ultimately, they don't have a negative effect on one another, and they are not worse off together than they would be separately/with other people. Hero worship and subpar communication skills are their biggest obstacles and it's something they must overcome to be together.

I think both are multifaceted and interesting characters. A couple of young messy teenagers who are insecure, lonely and bad at expressing themselves and deal with those issues differently.
Kiyoi who keeps people at arm's length and hides his weaknesses behind a harsh exterior meets Hira and wants to open up to him. However, Hira, bullied since childhood which made him shut off from the world, tends to live inside his own head so it's hard to get through to him.

Performance wise, Riku and Yusei did a stellar job. Riku balanced the awkward and the disturbing well, while Yusei has very expressive eyes and knows how to use them like a weapon. Their acting in the final episode was especially good. I fully expected Riku to nail his scenes but Yusei surprised me. As a certified JrExile fan I have watched other projects with him like Mannequin Night Fever and Back to the Memories, but Kiyoi's character was complex, and Yusei rose to the occasion.

Rewatch value is high because for a drama as subtle as this the devil is in the details.

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A Complex BL Masterpiece (And the Actors Are the Main Reason Why)

This BL might be the only awkward, puzzling yet oddly beautiful BL series there is. If not, it would be very hard to compete against this.

Story:
First of all, the show highlights and puts a huge emphasis on great characterization. It is the icing on the cake.

The lead characters are well thought-out; unhealthy, imperfect and strange in their own ways. They have dark layers just like humans in the real world. What if the point is that the main characters in this show aren't just 'toxic/problematic,' but are humans who make mistakes and misunderstand situations?

The flaws of the characters also make sense because they connect to their personalities and behaviors, giving it a realistic quality. Most BLs just give a character a flaw, but doesn't know why or where it stems from, and sometimes the flaws go way over the top that it makes it incongruent to the fundamentals of the character, or even worse, they just add it to make the story 'interesting' even if it makes no sense to the plot.

Hira and Kiyoi also have relationship dynamics that are severely misunderstood.

At first, the lead characters are deceivingly different in personalities, like polar opposites, but as the story progresses, it's clearer they are equally obsessed with and desperate for each other because of how lonely and deprived they are from affection and trust. How they actually view each other is very similar.

This is why I think even if they're different on the outside, the reason why they're attracted to each other is because they possibly sense they share the same problems and they both match each other to fulfill their needs and desires, but both of them keep hurting each other because no one wanted to admit it or take action.

Honestly, this story is just excellent. I can write endless essays on it, and I don't even know how others and I are able to keep doing it. It's like you notice something new when you watch or rewatch an episode.

Also, an interesting thing I want to point out is that people might think that My Beautiful Man is only how Hira views Kiyoi, but that's how Kiyoi views Hira too. That's why in the main poster, they are symmetrical to each other. It's also clearly hinted from Kiyoi's point of view in the series. I don't know, I just find it to be a cool detail. It makes me think that the show might be implying everything about them (their love/frustration/misunderstanding) is precisely equal. I could be wrong and just assuming though.

Acting:
Hagiwara Riku is terrifyingly convincing. He seems to thoroughly understand the specific nuances his character possesses, and it is even more impressive that he knows how to act them out properly. From hand movements, posture, etc. It seems he views his character in an analytical way.

A character like Hira is very difficult to act out because he is distinct. Even if he is that 'stereotypical' nerd nobody likes, he has additional qualities that are uncommon, making the body language and expressions almost impossible to act out unless you've done research or have experienced seeing others/yourself go through the same. I even doubt an acting coach alone can make him this good.

Yagi Yusei is magical here. I can sense his patient and profound approach. Being physically beautiful is one thing, but to embody a 'beautiful' aura/vibe? Not everybody knows how that works, but Yagi Yusei knows how. He also knows how to make his eyes expressive, and you get an idea on what he feels depending on what/who he looks at. His emotions and intentions build up in every episode, and I must say, his performance in episode 6 is raw, outstanding, and quite unexpected. The way he acts frustration is natural, you can see how pent-up his character was. He did a great job.

Needless to say, the two of them are extremely good actors. People who love this series need to put emphasis on this more. Their acting is the reason why the characters are so good and intricate. Even if the writing is good, if you have bad actors, it would never work out because they don't have the ability to show visual details. They approached this very artistically and psychologically rather than just for the sake of being on a show to gain popularity. These qualities are rare, and even rarer that TWO actors accomplished it together, usually you only see one actor succeeding in such endeavors.

I desperately want to see them with each other again, or at least in equally complex series or films where they can showcase their talents.

Rewatch Value:
Obviously high, but I have to be honest here and say that this drama might only attract specific types of people, so I will reconsider.

The story and characters aren't simple at all, and you might want to rewatch to catch some details and further examine the nuances of the characters and the meaning behind the things they do or why they act in such ways.

In my opinion, it's not that much rewatchable if you're not into that kind of stuff and get headaches from confusing stories and subtle characters, because the story is heavily about people longing for each other, but keep misunderstanding each other because they both have personality and communication issues.

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CHEF'S KISS

When I read the synopsis, Hira being a loner who will be pushed around by Kiyoi, I thought this is going to be a toxic relationship. I was a little adamant to watch this at first. But when I finally did, I was hooked.
There was the voice over of Hara for the first half of the story. I asked why is it necessary to have voice overs? But I guess it fit the story. We can clearly see things from his perspective, how he became a loner, how he views the world, or how he perceives his peers, especially Kiyoi. For him, Kiyoi is something far above him, a person likened to a God. So no matter how deep his feelings for Kiyoi, he just can't imagine of Kiyoi reciprocating his feelings, or even just look at him like equals. So he just never considered the possibility of being with Kiyoi.
For the second half of the story, we will be given a glimpse of Kiyoi's perspective. Oh, my! I was so happy that we finally get to understand what was happening the entire time! It's not like he wants to bully Hira. He just thought keeping Hira near him would give him a clue of what's going on in his mind. I mean, yes, it makes sense since Hira is always by himself. He doesn't talk much and just lives everyday like an invisible man. Kiyoi, it appears, has been waiting for Hira all along. He was just waiting for Hira to confess his feelings which never happened during the first half of the story. He ends up waiting in vain.

The story is not toxic. I just don't know why people would call their relationship toxic. All along I felt okay and not bothered all throughout the series. I can say this because I've read so many novels, Mangas, and webtoon that feature toxic relationships. So for me, in my gauge/ meter of toxicity, this drama is 1 out of 10. Heck, can I say 0 over 10 instead?

Acting: Not over the top. It was a good performance from the main actors.

Rewatch value: OMG, yes! I am rewatching it after writing this review. I just love how they end up confirming their feelings.

Final words: Don't be scared to start watching this. This will be worth of your time. Keep safe!

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(May contain spoiler?) LOVED IT

I think this is currently my number one japanese BL. It's just so good. The acting was perfect, the plot and synopsis were super interesting and not cliche or over-used. I've rewatched the last episode a hundred times and still cry when I watch it. The emotions through out the show are just so pure to me. Even though many have said their dynamic is toxic, I'd have to disagree. I think this BL is very different and more real than some others out there. Hira's character is really intersting and I think even Kiyoi was a surprise. I didn't have much expectations for this BL but they definitely delivered.

100 % recommend watching it :)

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Fav BL of the year (in my opinion)

This review is not going to be long because im not usually type in english.

At first I never expecting this series is gonna be this good. I only watch this series because I wanna fill my time at first. But suddenly its getting better especially at episode 3.

What I like from this series:
- Good acting by the actors.
- I like the way how the story arranged. From toxic looking until sweet af. (but I like Kiyoi since tsundere is my type)
- Also, even this series is only 6 episodes. I feel like I watched a many episodes drama. Maybe because of the time skip, character development, setting changed, etc.
- Cinematic really good~ especially when Hira & Kiyoi playing with water (?) >0< ?
- Music also really good. My fav one is the piano rhythm when Hira & Kiyoi riding bike at episode 2. LOVE THAT MUSIC
- As an art student, I really love interpretation. Maybe thats why I love this series so much. Because I always imagine about their life & what they think of each other.
-Confession scene is perfect af. Kiyoi emotional expression just too amazing. I like the way he said "Ore wa.. Kamisama jane yo." uwaaa I'm tearing af.

BTW, rewatch value for this series is seriously is a must. The more you watch, the more you feel. Like the more you can interpret. Such as the scenes where we can see Kiyoi s actually cares for Hira. (in my interpretation atleast)

I think thats all. I cant say so much since I'm introvert af. I love this seriessss.

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An intimate POV love story; one of my new all-time favorite BLs

Snapshot Impressions of Each Episode: [[SPOILERS!]]

1. The writing is introspective, honest, and beautiful. I like the POV format and the window into Hira's mind.

"I want to keep these near me forever. I've never felt this way before. A cruel and glorious imprint. Beautiful like a spring storm. Overwhelming in its power."

"What a nuisance. Just take your time. I'll wait."

2. I really, really liked this episode. It reminded me of my years in high school when I felt disassociated from those around me, even though they inhabited my space and held my time hostage. Bonus @13:44 when Kiyoi startled the pants off Hira on his bike, LOL. I also thought it was especially poignant when Hira mentally envisioned Kiyoi's expression after having called him a "strange guy" while on the bike, and we as the viewer could see Kiyoi was, in fact, gently smiling. I thought that was beautiful.

"I live here, but I want to go home."

"Because I want to be invisible. When I look through the viewfinder, I feel like I'm cropped out from the rest of the world. No one can bother me. I'm in a place where I can be alone."

"I am yanked again by hope and despair I have no right to feel...."

3. The writing continues to move me. The shifting dynamic between Kiyoi and Hira is mesmerizing. The visual of Hira and the symbolic image of his shadow walking upstairs toward confrontation was * p o w e r f u l *. Finding a voice in action.

"The apex of the pyramid began to waver and change."

"Ever since childhood, I floated along in filthy water...Thanks to Kiyoi, I want to move forward despite the stagnant air."

"There you go again." - the affection slowly lilting into his voice when he says that now, is really precious.

4. OOf. The time passage. The desperate yearning behind eyes that hadn't met in years. The hurt.
I'm eating every moment; every in-between stolen glance, with eagerness.

"University life is pleasant. I have friends who understand me and yet, so easily and abruptly...like a flash storm. Kiyoi wreaks havoc in my life just as it was starting to come together."

"For several insipid years, all I did was grow up."

5. Oh. my. goodness. The sudden switch to Kiyoi's POV. To be able to see behind those pensive eyes. It was thrilling.
I've always known there was a level of complexity behind his throwaway barbs and indecisive micro-expressions. He is a man. Thinking and feeling and deserving of the right to own his emotions, like anyone else. He is not just a face to be idolized and doted on. His vulnerability, insecurity, and heart-rendering yearning were indescribably beautiful. All this time he's been more than the face Hira has relentlessly stared at. The miscommunication between their unspoken words is truly heartbreaking, especially because their souls and thoughts are more in synch than either of them realize.

"I want to be stared at with those eyes again. My heart pounds with that hope...I didn't know what that feeling was called. I love you."

"I wanted to know the feelings behind the look in his eyes."

"There's no best way to describe my relationship with him. But...because of Hira, I want to move forward despite the stagnant air."

"I want to see him again. I never want to see him again."

6. It's hard to put this final episode into words. A whole different side comes out of Hira when he's with Kiyoi in these later years; it's sensual and almost preying in its intensity and I admittedly watched the finger scene an unhealthy amount of times, lol. Even despite Kiyoi's obvious desire to be understood and footed to the ground with Hira, the high pedestal on which Hira has placed Kiyoi keeps them both unobtainable from the other. The climax between them when Kiyoi *f i n a l l y* let out his true feelings gave me total body chills. His voice was so raw and pure and full of pain. It's also unfathomable how sad it is that Hira simply can't imagine being the object of Kiyoi's affection. That Kiyoi is literally screaming out his frustration and his feelings to Hira, but Hira can only assume he's referring to someone else. The bike ride at the end and the synchronicity in which their communication lines up spoke more than additional scenes needed to say (although I admittedly wanted to see more of the lovey-dovey part of their relationship because their chemistry was insannnne). I'm thankful for the way it ended; they make a beautiful couple and the journey it took warrants a happy ending.

"I wish I could spend the rest of my life being the light shining on Kiyoi."

"I don't care if you chase your ideal of me... but leave the real me alone. I don't think you'll ever understand my feelings."

"I'm not the 'King.' Screw you!"

"Makes me wonder why I fell in love with a creepy guy like you."

Overall Takeaway:
This is likely my new, all-time favorite BL. At the very least, my favorite Japanese love story.
We're looking through the viewfinder into their intimate thoughts and insecurities; they're two dots, never overlapping, but always yearning for the other. How they find their way to each other was both heartbreaking and beautiful; the climax burns intensely. I've already rewatched my favorite scenes and each time, I have butterflies and am mesmerized by its beauty.
My only negative is the theme song- it's very...jarring? Loud? Overly peppy? I hope they release a movie version of this series so I don't have to skip through the theme song with each episode because it's always kind of grating. I wish they'd used something more pretty at the end scene with them together and not the theme - it takes me out of an otherwise gorgeous shot.

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I know where they're coming from

Everybody knows the storyline so I won't waste my time writing about it. I'll straight up talk about the lead's character. Hira and Kiyoi are type of people whom I relate too. No, I am not talking about your everyday relatable characters but which some people can relate. Hira's obsessive nature and Kiyoi's "liking attention" personality. I know it is kinda toxic and unhealthy but personally, I know where they're coming from. Ok so if talking about Hira's obsessive nature, I can see why he do that. He is an introvert and doesn't have any friends. He always slutters which is why he becomes the target of making fun of. He thinks Kiyoi is the person who saved him from this. Also he thinks, Kiyoi is beautiful. I am telling you, his stalkerish and obsessive nature is because of zero experience socially(idk how to say it in a ryt way lol). If talking about my life, i don't have any friend (i used to have frnds during highschool) or talk to no one except one person. I was obsessed with him (not in a bad way like a whole phycho lmao), because i had no one else i can talk to or show my real self or open my feelings. I had trust issues and it was hard time. Also because I had no experience how to show my love or anything, i've done really embarrassing things or you can say some of them creepy even though i didn't intended to do it. I understand why he does that. But i'm not saying it's totally good. Sometimes, there are chances this increases and you can become a actually stalker. Some of his behaviour were CREEPY and STALKERISH. Talking about Kiyoi's nature of liking attention is what I relate too. It feels good, when someone likes you. It doesn't matter if it's romantically or friendly or as a family. But when someone likes you and goves you attention, i like it. There were many boys during my highschool who said they liked me. Even though i never liked them back, i used to like the attention. But that doesn't mean i'll kick them unnecessarily like Kiyoi do *dead face*. Kiyoi was realy jerk sometimes ngl. About Kiyoi saying "gross" and "disgusting" to Hira, many people found that homophobic. But according to me, i have different point of view. I dont think he mean it in a homophobic way. I see him saying that because like offcourse if anyone will say I was beautiful with that eyes or follow me everywhere like a stalker, I would say it too. I just find his reaction of hira liking him and the way he says "disgusting"and"gross" very normal and not surprising like "omg a man likes me" "wtf" type of reactions. I can't explain properly but do you understand what am i trying to say? Ig it's just the way people see that scene. Yeah. But because if their characters personality, the chemistry really worked which really hooked me on the show. If talking about acting, I was honestly impressed. Especially the one who played Hira's role. Also the one who played Hira's friend, he was really good!! Also the song was great!!! The song which plays during episode's ending, that song is my favorite from this series. The singer's voice is great! Also, there were cute momentsin the drama. I liked Kiyoi's pov too. All of the actor's visuals were GREAT! like how can they be so beautiful arghhh T_T. So yeah, overall it was a good watch.

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Discovering love amidst all the insecurities of teen years.

After reading comments and reviews I wasn't so sure if Utsukushii Kare was worth watching or not, luckily I gave it a try and i fell in love with this story and the way it is told.
Hira is awkward and easily bullied, but despite appearances and his own idea about himself he is absolutely not week and has an innate pride in wanting to stay in his role of servant for Kiyoi. Based on what is socially succesful he has a low opinion of his personality and ability to deal with others, yet he pursues his passion for Kiyoi relentlessly, blind to anything else beside his wish to be around the other boy. When Hira first meet Kiyoi, the boy incarnates an ideal perfection that is so beyond Hira he doesn't even see him not a real person. Hira is so set in his way that despite loving Kiyio and thinking the world of him he fails to notice the other boy feelings and keep misinterpreting his actions.
Kiyoi on the other hand, has the perfect life apparently. He is gorgeous, he is popular and admired by all schoolmates, he sits on top of the school hierarchy and yet he is obviously drawned by Hira. Without even knowing, Hira brings forth Kiyoi's vulnerability, his need of being truly seen and cherished for who he is beyond the perfect picture appearance. His emotions towards Hira confuses him and hurts him, especially when Hira seems to only be interested in admaring him form afar while never really wanting him.
Like most teenagers overwhelmed by emotions they hurt each others because they don't know how to communicate and watch past the maelstrom of personal insecurities. The process of seeing them grown up throught their struggles is what makes this story very sweet and tender.
As for technical aspects Japan never let down when it come to quality in BL productions: directing, cast, acting, writing are all top notch creating a real gem of a drama.

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Learning, exploring and understanding the word "Like" AKA "My beautiful Man"

There are some round about spoilers that I think need to be told in order to enjoyed this drama. While reading sub/listening you have to understand Kira from his early childhood to adulthood. Some felt it was dark and cruel and dropped it after 1-2 ep. Others like me enjoyed the story of Kira and Kiyoi finding and learning to communicate their emotions Hira wasn't able to understand what "Like" ment so his parents decided to get him a camera so he could take pictures he would like. He had social Insecurities and felt he could hide and be invisible behind his camera as he studders when gets attention. Until he meets Kiyoi ? and has a strange feeling that he never had before and become interested. Kiyoi is the HOT new guy in class that has the girls weeping over him and the guys trying to be his friends. There is some bullying when they order him to get them drinks/food, but he does it for Kiyoi as he likes to be around him. It does have Kiyoi push him, call him names and kissed him, but he does so due to his Insecurities with trust, being used. (I Don't condone this in anyway but sort of get it) Again need to pay attention and read thru the lines. I wished it had 1-2 more episodes to explore there relationship more, but a good watch.

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Captivating, emotional and intriguing

THIS.

THIS BL.

THIS BL RIGHT HERE.

I'm not good at explaining things, but believe me when I say this BL is one of the best BLs I've watched in a long time. What I like about Japanese storytelling in particular is the focus on the emotional journey of the (main) characters, exploration of character relationships, and making YOU, the viewer or reader (if you read novels or manga) FEEL something. And that's exactly what Utsukushii Kare does because by the end of this series you will FEEL so many emotions for these characters and WANT them to be together more than anything, even if the idea seems crazy when you begin to watch this.

I'm probably not the only one who wasn't sure how to feel about the main characters, because they seem...flat at first, Kiyoi is just mean and seems to use Hira like all the other classmates and Hira is kind of ridiculous at first, putting Kiyoi on such a high pedestal. But please keep watching. The story is unpredictable and doesn't fall into clichés and the characters, especially Kiyoi, are much more than what meets the eye.

Anyway, to keep it short: The story is captivating, leaves you on the edge of your seat, the directing ánd acting is amazing (the y REALLY understood the assignment).

Only minus I could find would be the OST, I liked it during the scenes but after finishing the series I don't think it's very memorable.

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An Honest Review From A BL Fan With A Brain

If I could give this show zero stars I would.

I don't want to spoil it for people who still want to watch but I'm warning you it's bad. Like REALLY BAD.

The only good thing that came from this series were the actors and I feel bad that they had to act for this series.

Most of the reviews here come from gay fetishizers so I'm here to give you all an honest review. The series is really bad and has many flaws pertaining to how a couple in this nature should be handled. The story overall lacks to convey the major issues around abusive relationships like this and pretty much gives us a problematic story line with a "happy" ending.

Reminder: Not every BL series has to be sunshine and rainbows but at least when making a series with such sensitive and serious topics of bullying and abuse, you as the author, should at least try to make it seem like you're not condoning the actions of your characters. Which in this case scenario, the author does the complete opposite.

I wish BL "fans" would stop BS-ing and giving high ratings for bad shows just because the actors are cute or their "fav". Not only does it make the community look bad, it also gives producers and the people pushing out shows like these the wrong message.

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