30-sai made Dotei Da to Mahotsukai ni Nareru rashii (2020)

Must watch

A healthy adult relationship sprinkled with a little magic.
It's a classic "popular kid x unpopular kid" story, and I'm a sucker for well executed clichés :D The developement of feelings seemed gradual and to do that in the limited about of time this show has is really worth mentioning.

What I really liked is that the BL aspect didn't feel f*tishized or idolized but simply natural. I have been watching my fair share of BL's and I seem to prefer the more realistic/slice of life portayal of LGBTQ+ relationships. While I did wish they had a real kiss, I didn't miss it at all as the show felt complete even without it.

I really enjoyed every minute of it and can see this becoming a comfort drama for me :)

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A really solid show

This show is simply fantastic. They got the balance right with this one. A great story that is unique in the BL world, good humour, excellent love interests. What I really love about this show is that it's something I haven't seen before. It was really enjoyable. I am so use to Thai cinematography, the Japanese style and culture was refreshing for me.

The portrayal of the characters is a core reason why this show is fantastic. Adachi the nervous quiet guy. Kurosawa the overachiever. Tsuge, Adache's friend both have similar personalities. It's one of the first times I've really believed two people are friends in any show. Sato who is a confident but shy girl and pure hearted. Also, we got some back story into why they behaved the way they do.

Adachi and Kurosawa's relationship is fantastic, and we saw it evolve into something mature. Their chemistry was different and I love it for that. It's weird to describe but at times it felt more of friendship. It didn't feel sexual but of course that element was present. I felt they were attracted to each other because of who they are and how they made each other feel. I also loved the scene where they talked about their relationship that Adachi also wanted Kurosawa to enjoy the dates and do things he likes to do, not solely concentrate on making Adachi have fun. The scene showed a beautiful example of communication and them becoming more vulnerable with each other.

Definitely give this show a watch. It really is a beautiful and hilarious one.

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EVERYTHING

Everything about this drama is amazing. It's not just a classic/cliché romantic drama. Main characters has some extraordinary powers. And this thing adds so much spice. The characters have so much chemistry and they really great together. However they didn't even kiss in the whole show. That upset a little bit but it's okay because I had so much fun watching this. It had so much funny moments for me. Most of them were absurd moments but I laughed so much.
The second couple was not that great for me. They are so cute but I was able to relate to the main couple. Second couple did kiss and they had romantic moments too.
Acting was great considering it's a BL. The opening song was awesome, I still listen to it.
I will definitely watch it again. I loved it.

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Watch it, especially if you want to smile :)

My favorite thing about this show was how consistently lighthearted it was, without being meaningless. Its premise is very fitting for the overall atmosphere: 30-year-old virgins get mind-reading abilities. At first glance, it is totally absurd (it is), but it's also representative of the kind of stigma that surrounds not just 30-year-old virgins, but anyone who feels distanced from the rest of society because they don't hit the "expected" milestones as they age. This is a very clear theme of the show from early on, not just in terms of sex, but also with romance and even career achievements and ambitions.

Cherry Magic is a must-watch for anyone who feels they are "falling behind" or "lacking passion" or running out of time to achieve their goals/desires.

With all of that, the show carries with it a sense of hope in every episode. There is only one episode that I would call a truly sad one - the rest had me grinning ear to ear, my heart warm and content. The two main characters, as well as all of their friends, are very wholesome. Cherry Magic gives us a good variety of healthy relationships - both romantic and platonic.

For all of its whimsy, Cherry Magic still manages to address some heavy issues, even if very briefly. It acknowledges that homophobia exists without making it the focus of the show in any way, and one of my favorite scenes features a discussion of how scary it is to think you may not live up to others' expectations. Alongside that, we also get a glimpse at a character who explicitly says (well, thinks) that she isn't motivated by romance or sex (possibly ace/aro-spectrum), which I've never seen in any drama before, let alone a romantic show!

Finally, I appreciated that, even though the magic does play into the plot of this specific show, it doesn't detract from the realism. It's not as though a relationship between Adachi and Kurosawa could never have come to be without the existence of telepathic powers; it just happened to serve as a fun catalyst. And ultimately, it isn't the magic that solves the Big Problems (low self-esteem, the objectification of the human body, societal pressure to hit milestones "on time," etc.). It's the genuine love shared in healthy relationships that does the trick, regardless of whether that is expressed through telepathic mind-reading, or just... speaking. Thinking about it in this light, love (romantic, sexual, platonic, or otherwise) is more magical than the actual magic!

Why I didn't give it 10 stars:
The character Tsuge was so over the top that it was overwhelming to me. I get overwhelmed very easily, and get secondhand embarrassment when someone so much as sneezes in a quiet room on screen, so it was somewhat painful watching his parts of the show. That said, I know many people who related to him and treasure his role in Cherry Magic, so this comes down to personal preference. Watch those scenes at 2x speed if you have to (that's what I did), but don't let it stop you from watching this gem of a show.

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A lovely charming and warm love story

I have recently starting watching Japanese dramas and movies (before I was mostly reduced to Kurosawa and Hollywood movies about japan).I have to say that 1st of all this movie is purely and typical Japanese in approach.

A nice happy ending story about love and breaking the paradigms. I love that everybody in this movie is normal abut a BL, even though I tend to think that it is not very realistic

Also, me (a middle-aged hetero woman) watching LGBT movies is also very recent, so I have not watched a lot of them. All these things considered, I have to confess that this series has totally knocked me down.
1st of all the cast is absolutely brilliant…I am totally in love now equally with Eiji Akaso and with Keita Machida. They are both greatly shining and perfect in their acting skills. I was not a moment bored during the drama.

The script is nice and flows beautifully, acting is great..the chemistry between the main leads is absolute…I think overall the atmosphere is much more erotic at times than in normal couples movies.

Definitely a must watch, maybe also a re-watch even if only for the cuteness of the 2 main leads 😊

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What makes this drama so appealing to others?

Adachi turns 30 and becomes a magic user, his every emotion towards Kurosawa shows his charm and bewildered feeling. Their short but long lasting love story is very cute and gives you a slice of life feeling.
It isn’t so much of a sexual relationship but a wholesome relationship between two people. It’s a relationship goal that seems so unreal because of how wholesome it is.

The second main couple’s love story is pretty short and I couldn’t help but squeal because…it’s just that adorable and cute! Although I never expected the intimate scene, I am super satisfied with their relationship! Although their feelings seemed very random, I guess it’s okay because the pairing is adorable when they interact with one another.

There’s no ultimate antagonist and no love abuse in this drama so I am glad that I found this Japanese drama early. It shows that BL couples aren’t just rated R but the relationship goes more than that. They help each other grow and learn to embrace life. This really touches my heart!!! This drama is what I would rate as a great romance drama with no love triangle as it’s main focus and no external obstacles they must go through as a couple.

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Cherry Magic! Proves Wholesomeness Is As Exciting As Smut

I personally love the music used in this series. I enjoy watching and listening to the opening. It was fun and cute. I very much love it.

In terms of scriptwriting, the words chosen are perfect as well. The words matched the characters' personality and it didn't seem awkward, unless executed awkwardly based on the character. The lines and overall exchange of dialogue felt like it happens to everyone. It felt realistic.

With the plot, I was really interested when I first read the title because it seems like it will be a fun series. Imagine, after thirty years of being a virgin, it gave you powers to read others' mind. The plot itself is good and very interesting. You will learn a lot of things from love to morality, especially in a workspace. The plot was well-written. It's good!

[MINOR SPOILER AHEAD: MENTION OF A CERTAIN SCENE]

For the cinematography, I was okay. It's like a typical camera angle, videography, and all. But I did like the firework scene. It made me feel butterflies in my stomach. I mean every episode made me feel that way, but that certain scene hits differently.

The acting fits the characters' personality. It doesn't seem like they were acting. I feel like that would be their actual reactions when this happen to them.

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I really and truly want to write this amazing review that just makes everyone that sees it want to watch this show... but my brain is literally stuck on screaming. No thoughts. Just excited screaming. Lol

I can't tell you the last time I watched a drama that was just so freaking sweet, it could rot your teeth. I'm sure I have though. I know I have watched at least one other but this show was so fresh and gooey that I can't think of anything but this show. I wanted it to be longer! I mean there is no way it could have been, but lkfjbvlsfkjbvfjfs *fangirls*

I adored all of the actors. Literally all of them. The chemistry and acting between all of them was like real life, honestly. I felt more like I was watching co-workers rather than a screen.... least till the screen when black for the next episode then I saw my potato face, then I was like "ohhhhh okay, yeah" hahahahahhah

There is just so much I want to say about this but I don't want to give to much away. Even though this drama is really short, they managed to squeeze in so much of what new couples go through at the start that it was refreshing. And can we just talk about how accurately nervous he was even though he had "magic"? Lol We are all nervous like that without it. XD But, I digress.

I have watched so many shows that honestly, I was tense the whole time watching it. I kept waiting for that shoe to drop that would leave me a sobbing heap on the floor (this is probably why I have trust issues. Lol) but I can honestly say this was new. That's all I'm gonna say. It was new. (For me, at least) and I needed it.

I want to recommend this to EVERYONE. If it's on your watch list, don't be like me and keep putting it off, This is your sign to WATCH IT NOW!

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I am new to watching BL series even though I am gay but this was such a light-hearted drama, it's a cool way to start my ventures towards the sea of BL dramas with this. I like the acting, I think it suits them very well, the story was a bit straight-forward but it's good and I loved the drama. The ending was a bit empty for me, well not that empty but it feels incomplete? Maybe it's just me wanting more of them but I've watched the special episode already and it looks good. The story about Adachi's friend and the delivery man is what makes me feel off with the drama, although it's good, I always seem to skip parts whenever it's just about Adachi's friend love story, it felt creepy to me in some ways, maybe because of the casting of the guy but nonetheless it is a great drama to watch if you're starting to watch or new to BL series. The entire premise of the drama too is about virginity but they didn't have a full-on kissing scene or at least a light erotic scene relating to that which is underwhelming but it is what it is then.

The highlights of the drama for me is Rokkaku's character, I love him so much, he doesn't feel like one of those annoying characters for me even though his characters acts like that, I think he played the character well and I love it. I also like the song and especially Adachi's and Kurosawa's acting.

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Sugar, spice and everything nice - Key secrets to a quaint midnight drama’s success

This review will be mainly about the main characters and actors.

There is something about Cherry Magic that is definitely binge-watch and rewatch worthy. No villains, no fuss and minimal angst throughout. The opening and ending songs are nice, although the overall soundtrack wasn’t as memorable to me but somewhat fits with the drama’s quirks.

The love between colleagues, friends and partners presented in this drama is as universal as it gets. It lets the viewers know it is okay to have no romantic attachment to anyone as long as you valued and be content with yourself. It lets the viewers know it is okay to shamelessly chasing your dreams as well as abandoning your past dreams in pursuit of something new and exciting. It lets the viewers know the importance of mutual consent, patience, understanding and good communication when it comes to loving someone who valued less of themselves.

As the actors of Kurosawa and Adachi, Machida Keita and Akaso Eiji put a lot of thoughts into how their actions correspond with each other whether those scenes are improv or not. Most of the scenes were delivered well non-verbally and voiceovers were added in later to showcase Adachi’s mind reading ability. Viewers who rewatch would definitely notice the slight touches added to the characters throughout the episodes.

Kurosawa is the character that some viewers could easily relate to if they have yearned and loved someone the same way Kurosawa did. Machida’s rendition of Kurosawa did bore some resemblance from Oliver in “Call Me By Your Name” - both characters possessed the same gentlemanly charms, the earnest to love wholeheartedly and the unfortunately good facade to maintain people’s expectations. It seems Machida might have drew some inspiration from CMBYN. Be rest assured that Cherry Magic’s screenwriter didn’t pull out an Oliver move in the end, or else the viewers would have gone full Elio mode.
Machida did micro-expression quite well and delivered his scenes with proper tension and impeccable chemistry when it comes to Akaso. It was a joy to see Machida’s soft and courteous mannerism after seeing many of his aggressive roles in other LDH-produced films or series.
Kurosawa could have easily become many viewers’ favourite and could have completely overshadow Adachi in this drama.
That’s what I have predicted initially and luckily that didn’t happened.

Akaso’s rendition of Adachi at first seemed to be a bit overly comical in first few episodes but gradually improving as Adachi gets closer with his peers. Some of Adachi’s comical scenes reminded me of Haruta from “Ossan’s Love” - as it turns out both actors are from the same talent agency.
Nonetheless there seemed to be some bits of Akaso in Adachi. In contrast with some of Akaso’s past acting roles, his other roles didn’t feel the same way as Adachi did. It felt as if Akaso has fully immersed himself in the role of Adachi, delivering Adachi’s vulnerability in a way that shines most during these crucial scenes with Machida (Note: confession scene in Episode 7; breakdown scene in Episode 11; rooftop scene in Episode 12).
Akaso’s innate boyish flairs and doe-like eyes emote awkwardly shy Adachi adorably despite being dressed less fashionable than his peers. Seeing how Adachi wavers emotionally and gradually becoming more braver and livelier because of the people around him is what made this drama worthwhile til the end.

Here’s my 2 cents to wrap up this review, there are some things that screenwriter, director or producer have to take note of when it comes to maintaining their viewers’ expectation. Teasing viewers with certain scenes that didn’t end up being delivered in the end could easily hampered with viewers’ overall experience of the drama. It is better not to tease at something that was never intended to be shown or included in script in the end.
Being able to show Adachi’s bit of validation towards Kurosawa like a peck on the forehead would have been a full circle to this story. Plus it could easily make my queer heart weak and this drama could have been an easy 10.

Special thanks to everyone who were involved in the making of this drama in the amidst of pandemic. It was enjoyable to have something endearing to look forward to every week.

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