Eien no Kino (2022)

Beautiful and Heartbreaking

I just don’t have words for how amazing this series is. I rated rewatch ability low because I can’t take the heartbreak again but please do yourself a favor and watch this beautiful series. I think the acting the story telling the visuals and music are all too tier. I typically don’t watch series with sad ending but I gave this one an exception and I’m not disappointed. Man this one will leave an impact on my heart. I really want to see more from this director and the main talent. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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FIRST TIME WATCHING JAPANESE DRAMA

I always watch anime but never in my life I would expect myself to watch Japanese drama.

This drama has led me in watching Japanese dramas in the future. I can't say that this is the best BL drama I've watched so far but the story is not your typical kind of romance. Although I'm quite lost on what's happening in the first episode, it brings me back on the right track on the following episodes. The love story of the main leads breaks the wall of natural laws. Love can bring miracles.

Do Japanese dramas always have less background music or is it just this drama only? During the emotional scenes, I was waiting for the background music but it did not happen. I'm quite disappointed on this part.

Overall, this is an 8/10 rating for me. This is a great opener for me to Japanese dramas.

If you watched "Peach of Time" (Korean x Thai drama) and loved it, you will also love this drama.

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Eternally reminiscing about their yesterday

It's insane.. that was SO GOOD, seriously. How can such drama series make me feel like kicking my feet giggling, be laughing, getting scared/anxious, pulling my hair out then make me cry a river in all episodes!

I'm not a fan or into any romance drama where the MLs doesn't end up together or something tragic happened but this made me feel some other type of way. Usually, I would very much want a different ending or wish I never watched it but with this one, it's 50/50 wanting a different ending and content with the ending, even though it hurts, I think rewatching it can make you see it more clearly and it makes it more better than your first watch.

Also this is just me ranting but why can't they make them be together in a normal state for at least for two episodes before doing the deed, it was kinda out of pocket and so sudden on what happened on ep 1!!

The second episode tells you the whole plot, with him being a living corpse and them 2 being lovey-dovey unknowingly haha but still it manages to keep you interested by adding other things to the plot(the classmates, teachers and the family side-stories).
Then the rest of the episodes are very much into being a metaphor and superficial, realistically koichi already died on ep 1 and the series continues as micchan's coping and mourning over him.

It's crazy how deep the story is, even though it's unrealistic, you can connect it to reality thus making it more heartfelt. the chances of someone dear to you suddenly passing away cause nobody is secured in this life and the people that was left is burdened to deal with it. It is definitely the "what ifs" of a person who thinks of yesterday when the person that died was still alive during those times. Thus, keeping them alive by recalling memories and thinking of the "what ifs" just like micchan does that kept koichi alive.

My favorite scene would be the time they first met, they communicated with their eyes, it was a love at first sight hahaha I kept replaying it and kept giggling to myself. Additionally, their first kissing scene, it was so hot! I love it when the MLs fight then 'make up' in the end with passion hjahahjsfjv

The side characters are lovable as well, you can't hate anyone. They are side-characters but they still bring a dish on the table and not just existing on the bg like other jbls lol everyone had a story and contribution to koichi and micchan and you may hate them at first but at the end, they were very reasonable with their actions thus making you like them. They also I think passively know about koichi and micchan's relationship (they did tell their teacher and classmates but not their family but even so their families considers the other their part of family already iykwim).

It was inevitable and unfair to what happened to Koichi but with his short time, he made a mark on this world that he was alive and somebody will always remember him, also dying knowing that he was loved and cherished;;
and to Micchan, he was guided by him to be able to open-up to other people and be a better version of himself but it is sad that he was left alone and still lingers on their memories together on the last ep when he went to the place they had their vacation on.. TT
One of them died and one of them lived on but for each other.

We can say it was a "right person, wrong time", I think people who lose their loved ones would relate to this series a lot.

I resent the rain so much!! since when it comes you just know you will cry later on but the first time they met or should I say the longing stare they had that I loved so much!! was during the rain so somehow, the rain is the miracle maker. Even the rain I can't hate. I love everything about this!!!

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bellissimo ma pensavo avesse un happy ending

saranno passati 5 o 6 mesi da quando l’ho guardato e ancora non sono guarita dal dolore che mi ha provato questa serie, quando vedo un edit o delle loro foto mi viene da piangere.
ovviamente lo consiglio se preparati a ciò che si andrà a vedere, a differenza mia che non ero a conoscenza della trama.
resta bellissimo, gli attori sono bravissimi e la storia ancora di più, anche se non parla di roba che potrebbe succedere nella realtà, come koichi con il cuore che non batte più ma che è vivo ed alcuni che lo vedono e altri no.
ne vale la pena guardarlo? si, se volete una storia triste è perfetto.
lo ho amato e lo amo tutt’ora.

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One of the best Japanese BLs out there

There are a few supernatural BLs out there, mostly involving ghosts, but nothing as original and quirky as Eternal Yesterday. For those who aren't into supernatural stuff, don't let this deter you too much. The show is not at all creepy.

Unlike most BLs with predictable conflicts (parents' disapproval, miscommunication, a love triangle), Eternal Yesterday is about unsettling uncertainty, loss and grief.

There are some fluffy romantic moments, but the series in no way a feel-good high school story. In fact, with some hints being dropped along the way, audiences are left with a sinking feeling that the ending is not going to be a happy one.

By the time you reach the end, there’s nothing left to do but stew in the discomfort of unanswered questions and unsatisfying endings, unspoken sorrows, and of things given and then taken away.

It's enigmatic, tender and heartbreaking - truly one of the best Japanese BLs out there.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/12/25/eien-no-kinou-eternal-yesterday-review/

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Tragic romance comes to life

It was a rainy afternoon when their eyes met. As they held their gaze, the world stopped for them and an unknown energy exploded their bodies.
Mitsuru was waiting at the school entrance for the weather to improve, since he didn't bring an umbrella today. Koichi, his classmate, was more foresighted, and is now at his side offering him his. Despite being in the same class, it is the first time they interact. From that moment on, through their eyes, they will continue to look into the depths of their souls.
Oumi Mitsuru (Inoue Sora) is a quiet and introverted high school student who is highly intelligent but not good at socializing. He spends lunchtime alone, away from everything and everyone, while maintaining a cold, distant relationship with his father, a very busy hospital director. On the contrary, Yamada Koichi (Komiya Rio) is a bright, talkative, cheerful and popular boy with many friends in his class.
One of the two has to take the next step. And they cannot deny the strong attraction they feel due to their opposite personalities. Armed with courage, Koichi starts the first conversation and asks if they can be friends. This is how they establish an uncomfortable friendship that evolves between their school lunches without much conversation,
Just as the two begin a romantic relationship, Koichi tragically dies in a car accident, but in an even bigger twist, he wakes up from the dead as if nothing happened. The devastating tragedy sets the somber tone for the rest of the series, but also introduces an innovative twist, adding complexity and creativity to the narrative.
"He's not dead, he's a walking corpse," Mitsuru insists to his classmates who can still see the teenager, but who are slowly beginning to forget about his existence. But sooner or later, the two young lovers will have to accept the truth: the strange miracle of Koichi's walking corpse will not last long.
With excellent acting, writing, direction and overall production values, 'Eien no Kino' (Eternal Yesterday/ 永遠の昨日) is an epic live-action adaptation of author Yuuri Eda's masterpiece, featuring a dark theme of love between boys. Life and death, sex and adolescence mixed, a unique definition of teenage BL. That quote in itself is a clue to the heartbreaking nature of this Japanese romantic, school and youth drama from 2022. It is worth highlighting the imagination, sensitivity, creativity and brilliance of the film discourse.
While the story could have been a strange, over-the-top comedy-drama, it has a surprisingly touching plot about love and loss.
I am powerfully captured by the idea of ​​this iconic BL couple who refuses to lose love despite death and pain.
With discreet humor and a moving and emotional dramatic story, at the same time peculiar and unconventional, 'Eternal Yesterday' will keep the viewer glued to the couch until they see the final credits roll in the eighth and final episode, each lasting about 24 minutes. one.
The powerful story, the moving romance and the profound messages will draw the viewer's attention in this work, directed by Kobayashi Keiichi. 'Eien No Kinou' is an eccentric supernatural romance that explores delicate themes such as death, family relationships, coming of age, friendships and rejection, among others.
A mysterious premise, an attractive cast, the fun and at the same time melancholic vibe, and its powerful musical themes, opening: "Sunshower", by Ayumu Imazu, and closing: "Toi Natsu no Hi", by Kubo Aoi, are a guarantee of visual delight. The background music serves as a support to wonderfully recreate the atmosphere of the scenes without causing any distraction.
High praise for the two telegenic leads. In addition to his attractive appearance, Komiya Rio's change of register is pleasantly surprising by adopting a new personality, embodying a "living corpse", and incorporating various emotions: he has become strange, lonely, passionate and even mocking and funny, but He has a tendency to be sweet and romantic.
While to achieve naturalness when playing his role as Tanaka in 'Takara kun to Amagi kun' he needed to give his character a slightly mischievous touch, the same honesty could only be achieved by giving Koichi the same kind of vibes, but in a different way. It is in the eyes of the actor where you can see the talent and maturity achieved by the artist in his profession. Komiya Rio manages to play two similar characters in two BL series, but giving them a different feel.
Ductile, chameleon-like, Rio is perfect in capturing the dual traits of his character: on the one hand, the cheerful and optimistic student, on the other, that of the teenager who burns with the desire to love the boy he has fallen in love with.
For his part, Inoue Sora, as the moody, reserved but intellectual Mitsuru, plays in a very nonchalant manner, first by discovering that he has been in love with Rio's character all along, and second by revealing a fragility behind his touching and disturbing behavior. .
It is passionate in its struggle to accept the pain of losing the person you love. Their facial expressions, body language and expressive eyes convey a true marathon of emotions. He shows an apparent calm on the outside, but in truth a bloody storm of emotions has been unleashed inside him, and he appears too afraid to let his feelings be perceptible to others.
Another detail that demonstrates this actor's strong performance lies in how his character conveys the impression that he can spend time with his dead lover in the present, when in reality he is trapped in the past.
Unlike many romantic relationships between boys seen in various BL, that of Mitsuru and Koichi is full of symbolism, love, sexual tension and substance. My only regret is that the series didn't develop more of the early stages of falling in love.
With dazzling chemistry, the director manages to make the boys act with different personalities. The dynamics of the actors are slow, but you can see how they move towards a blossoming love relationship, which continues even after the tragedy, because neither boy is reluctant to let the other go.
I recommend watching the picnic scene, because it is so moving and sweet.
The sad ending does not surprise anyone, although I admit I expected some kind of miracle or that everything had been the result of the dream or imagination of one of the characters. It is the closure that Mitsura had feared from the beginning and that viewers are also subtly warned about. But its conclusion manages to meet the objectives set of addressing topics such as trauma and loss, especially in a love story between boys, managing to surpass many other dramas of this genre.

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What does eternal mean for Koichi and Oumi?

Based on my experience, any drama with "eternal" related titles have a sad ending. Take a look at Eternal Summer (a Taiwanese Gay movie) or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (straight romance, 2004) for example. So, I am a bit nervous if Eternal Yesterday will be no different.

Koichi and Oumi have each other eyes at the first sight, sparked by their different personality. Their relationship set from as simple as having lunch together to visiting each other homes. Same as Once Again (Korean BL, 2022), one of the boy's fate has revealed in the very first episode. For the rest of the series, we might predict they would be together during the journey and we might start questioning whether they would be together at the end of the journey.

I am interested to know what eternal means for Koichi and Oumi but at the same time, I don't want this sweet BL series to end up like the previous BL series: Once Again. As an audience, I am hoping they will be eternal together physically and emotionally, not just spiritually. I guess I hope they will find a way if they freeze yesterday to eternal, they will have a way to move forward together to eternal today and tomorrow.

This series seems to be shot in the Japanese countryside during the spring, so the background and the landscape scenes look nice. Editing frame by frame seems okay for me with this type of low-budget series. The casts look like professional actors and still form their acting craft. Music is also nice, offering a spring vibe in the Japanese countryside.

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Cute

Eternal Yesterday is a series with a premise that caught my attention right away. We’ve seen a lot of “impossible supernatural BL romance” in recent years, from He’s Coming to Me, to Dear Doctor and Peach of Time. But this is the first BL I’ve seen with a human/kinda zombi couple.

Like most Japanese high school BLs, the story is quite cute. But this one actually delivers some kissed throughout the 8 episode season.
The main couple has chemistry, but Mitchan’s personality kinda compromised my appreciation for the plot and rhythm.

Since the present day takes place during about 1 week, there’s not much time for big character development for Mitchan. That’s a problem, because he’s so bland and closed off that it’s hard to watch him reacting the same way in the flashbacks and the present day. Yes, he starts to open up towards the very end of the show, specially with Koichi and his dad, but it might be too late for it to push the series all the way towards what it could have been. In a way, that’s different from the typical supernatural couple, where the human tries to live every second with their lover to the fullest. Mitchan and Koichi just go to school and back home. There’s no dates or no visiting places that are special. The most special thing, the baby sister being born, is pure luck.

But I have to give the writers a thumbs up for actually killing Koichi for real. I half expected him to show up somehow at the camping site.

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sad, yet beautiful. but sad.

*what I am talking about here It's just about the tone of the story, I'm not sure I'd count It as a spoiler but idk
they have a beautiful chemistry but everything was way too sad for me.
It's a beautiful and well told story, and I related a lot with the characters BUT!! I think I had enough of queer characters finding happiness just to lose it right afterwards. Its kinda triggering for me too, I guess.
anyway, if you're not as fragile as I am, it might be a really interesting experience.
I wouldn't see it again because it really is too much suffering for me (yeah I'm weak, I know)

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