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it was not a love story
How shall I put it?Everyone who has ever experienced grief in their life will relate to Mitchan narration. Main characters will take you through all the grief phases again. From the desire to spend a little bit more time together with your loved one who is not here anymore, when even one extra minute would be a the most desirable gift during your grieving journey; to being angry with the person who left, why they did it to you, how could they leave and let you be here all by yourself. But Mitchan got extremely lucky. He had a chance to experience parts of his grief, denial, huge love, hate together with the one who had to leave - Koichi. Does it make you jealous too?
Why we got so involved in such unrealistic story?
We all know - death is a final stop. But all of us secretly hope to be mistaken. And Eternal Yesterday gives us such opportunity to have a hope. Maybe one day it’s all gonna be a lie, and our loved ones will be here with us even though their hearts don’t work anymore. Eventually, it’s a beautiful metaphor - people you love aren’t truly dead until they are alive in your memory.
Name:
Eternal Yesterday - that’s how it feels to be disconnected from the real world after loosing the one you loved the most. Now you live only in the past when they were here with you. The smell of their perfume on the passing by stranger now feels like a knife directly in your heart. Their old t-shirt that you accidentally found in your wardrobe can bring all the memories back, and here you are sitting and reminiscing about old days on the floor in your bedroom again. You are re-living your yesterday, because tomorrow isn’t promising anymore without them.
Actors:
Fantastic fantastic fantastic cast. Both main actors did incredible job! Mitchan character grew and developed so well. And separate kudos for Koichi’s perspective in the end. All his actions and all his “sorry-s” made sense. Actors truly lived Mitchan’s and Koichi’s lifes.
Summary:
It was not a love story, it was one very special story about grief and precious time. Even though grief is inseparable from love.
I will definitely re-watch those series again and again. They are so heartbreaking, but yet so heartwarming. Our life is this special because it has an end, and Eternal Yesterday is our friendly reminder. Kiss, love, hug, express your feelings right now, because your perfect time may never come and unfortunately you won’t be given the same gift as Mitchan got.
And for all in grief - your pain will never go away, nor time will heal it. You will learn to co-exist with it and will learn to smile and love again. It was a beautiful message in the end.
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Definitely my no. 1 top bl so far; a supernatural teenage romance underrated masterpiece
(Apologies in advance for my grammatical errors, English is not my native language)This series is a hidden gem—a supernatural teenage romance with hints of slice-of-life that unexpectedly gave me butterflies. Despite its melancholic tone, I found comfort and beauty in it. This drama is deeply underrated and deserves far more recognition. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s much more than just a sad or tragic story within the BL or supernatural genre.
Story:
The series gently explores the stages of grief, and many reviews have praised how delicately this theme is handled, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. Supernatural stories aren’t always universally appreciated, but this one portrays its fantasy elements in such a grounded, realistic way that it feels incredibly natural. It strikes a perfect balance between the real and the unreal, which is where its charm truly lies.
But what I want to highlight the most is the ideal relationship between Koichi and Micchan. As an introvert, I really appreciate that they told a story about a healthy relationship between an introvert and an extrovert. I admired Koichi for understanding and seeing the beauty in Micchan's silence. I appreciated that he didn’t rush things, from being friends to becoming lovers. Introverts need personal space, and I love how Koichi respected that. He never pushed Micchan, instead patiently waiting for him to become comfortable. Even though it was love at first sight for Koichi, he allowed Micchan to fall for him little by little—a form of courtship or unrequited loved rather that’s rarely seen these days. Besides his patience, Koichi became Micchan's protector and safe space. His love was so big and selfless that he always put Micchan's needs before his own.
While many already recognize how ideal Koichi is—his gentleness, patience, and protectiveness are green flags for anyone—Micchan deserves more credit than he receives. He may seem emotionless on the outside, but he’s compassionate inside. The novel shows even more of how much he loves Koichi, even after many years have passed. His eternal love—choosing Koichi every day—is a true testament to their love. Also, the emotional energy Koichi received from him in order his body to function proves Micchan’s deep love for Koichi. Moreover, watching someone you love slowly disappear was incredibly difficult for Micchan. These are all signs that Micchan loves Koichi just as much as Koichi loves him.
Their relationship gave me everything I could ask for—a gentle love that makes you feel safe, someone proud to have you, someone who sees something special in you that others don’t, a love that you didn’t expect to be reciprocated out of pure genuine intent. It’s a kind of love that’s irreplaceable, one that makes you feel like you’re always the first choice , a love that continues to choose you every day. It’s just heartbreaking that this relationship was taken away too soon.
Acting/Characters:
Komiya and Inoue did an incredible job portraying these characters. Their chemistry is exceptional, and they never failed to deliver everything we could want. Their comfort with each other, the soft and gentle intimacy, and the subtle nuances they portrayed were delightful. Even during intimate scenes, nothing felt over-sexualized. I also appreciated the focus on the main couple. Their chemistry, facial expressions, and line delivery felt perfect. Everything seemed so natural to me—there wasn’t a single moment that felt awkward or cringe-worthy.
Setting/Cinematography:
I loved the Japanese countryside vibe during summer. The breathtaking backgrounds and landscape scenes were beautiful and relaxing. Although the weather differs from the novel, as a pluviophile, I appreciated the switch to rain. It was lovely to see rain play a significant role in every chapter of their story—from their first meeting, the beginning of their relationship, Koichi's accident, and lastly, his farewell. It felt like the rain mirrored their emotional journey, like falling in love as they did.
Music:
This is the best OST I’ve heard so far. The opening and ending songs perfectly define their story, and I can’t help but get emotional every time I listen to them. The musical score used throughout the drama also fit beautifully.
Rewatch Value:
It may sound strange, but I would give the rewatch value a 10 out of 10. I have a deep appreciation for melancholic stories, and even though this one is sad, I find comfort in it each time I watch it.
Overall:
Despite its sad ending, the story concluded in the most beautiful way possible. The narration at the end was the most painfully beautiful one I’ve ever seen. This is probably the best BL I’ve watched so far. It gave me the poetry, gentleness, subtlety, and bittersweetness that I seek in dramas. It also gave me valuable life lessons. I’ll be forever grateful that I discovered this drama. It left me emotionally wrecked for weeks, but I don’t regret witnessing this beautiful masterpiece.
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Another Gem from the one and only JAPAN!
First off. For those of you who are weary about watching this, because it looks sad, well it is sad. If your heart can handle it, then I highly recommend this drama series. It’s a beautiful story and probably one of the best Japanese BLs and in general, BLs of this year. Acting and chemistry was on point and there were no evil or bad characters. Inoue Sora as Oumi Mitsuru and Komiya Rio as Yamada Koichi were the perfect pairing. The osts are very catchy and fit perfectly with the theme of the drama. I actually listen to them daily. One of the reasons why I enjoy watching dramas is because I get to discover new artists through the ost of the dramas. Anyways, highly highly recommend this series if you can handle sad endings. I will gladly rewatch this series in the future, despite it being a sad one. It’s the perfect drama to get me into the feels.Was this review helpful to you?
A melancholically beautiful, heartbreaking and heartwarming tearjerker! + Underrated!
This series needs to be higher rated! The series is beautiful in terms of story and values despite its melancholic approach. It's a heart-breaking yet heart-warming series that teach us the values of life and grief. What's more, it makes us believe in eternal love even though the time of the couple is painfully short.In terms of character development, the series shows a complete picture how love develops a person silently yet does not change that person. Koichi is still Koichi, Micchan is still Micchan but they become better versions of themselves - love and being loved.
Regarding casting, Komiya Rio and Inoue Sora excellently and vividly depict Koichi and Micchan. It's not exaggerating to say withouth Rio and Sora, the series wouldn't have been that successful and tearjerking. Chemistry overflowers and very good acting skills.
The director/ screen writer also did their best in telling us a story that is not just heartbreaking but heartfelt.
Please don't miss it!
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Thanks for the miracle
Before you even start this drama, don't try to find an explanation for all this supernatural stuff, just let yourself be carried away by the strength of their chemistry. This drama really gives meaning to the word "love".The time between Mitsuri and Koichi is limited after the latter's accident. As a "living corpse", his future is uncertain and despite all that this implies, Mitsuru tries to remain as calm and rational as possible.
The contrast between the cheerful Koichi and the composed Mitsuru is one of the strengths of this story. It is clear why they fell in love with each other long before this event occurred that puts their story in perspective.
The drama will carry a sense of delicacy, discretion and melancholy throughout the episodes. Their relationship is one that doesn't need to be expressive to know that they love each other, their eye contact gives you butterflies, a feeling of sadness and happiness at the same time.
You will fall in love with Mitsuru's monologues which are poignant, sad, loving, he has such resilience. You will appreciate the message behind each dialogue, dialogues that make us accept grief, the grief of love, the grief of loss. When a simple conversation gives us hope, hope that there will be a tomorrow, hope that we will not be forgotten as long as our memory has a place in the heart of the beloved.
As a bonus, the OSTs are powerful, soft, catchy and accompany each scene very well.
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It pains me beautifully
This is the second time I write a review.No one can explain about the supernatural thing happened in Eternal Yesterday, so I will just believe that the "miracle" that has never been used by Mitchan is working once he wished for having Koichi by his side. My friend called it "The Power of Love". I stick with that terms. Mitchan's affection moved Koichi. The man come back alive from dead because Mitchan, whose love is overflowing for him, had not ready yet to be left behind.
Everytime Mitchan called Koichi "a living corpse", I know that this young man realized that his boyfriend is dead because Mitchan is a smart kid, has quite proper knowledge about medical stuffs, but he could not accept it yet. For him, as long as Koichi is with him, it doesn't matter.
Wrapped with unusual supernatural phenomenon, the story itself is like a metaphor about grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We can clearly see Mitchan's denial-depression phase. He tried to keep Koichi that is supposed to be no longer there anymore. This consumed him, made him feel uncomfortable, anxious, overprotective, restless, all the negative emotions. Until he accepted it.
Sigh. I was waiting for Mitchan to cry his heart out, to grief, to mourn for his loss, and he finally did it. I believe that Mitchan needs it to let go.
When we lost our loved one and finally accepted it, it doesn't mean we are not sad anymore. That's what Mitchan's Father trying to say: "You don't need to force yourself to heal". And Mitchan learned to live with his sadness.
The background story about how the two teenagers are actually longing for being loved the most by people around them, and find it in each other are so beautiful. We need one, only one, who loves us the most. And yes, it's a miracle when the feeling are mutual.
I have watched Komiya Rio's works before (Cinderella Complex; Takara & Amagi). He nailed this one! He doesn't let us think about him as his previous characters. Koichi is gentle, patient, cheerful, but he can blow up once he is frustrated and Rio performed this emotion very well.
This is the first time I've seen Inoue Sora on screen seriously. Before, I watched him in Abema, but that show is, you know ಠಿ_ಠ. Let me remind you to pay attention to his eyes while watching Eternal Yesterday everytime his inner voice takes part. His eyes are brilliant! It shows Mitchan's emotion clearly without words (because Mitchan is rarely talked, most of his emotional dynamics is told from his POV's narration).
When I thought the story is already sad enough, I was wrong. Wait until you listened to the music scores, also... The OP and ED soundtrack. Added with the drama's title, it is actually a full package of spoiler :')
I give the rewatch value 9.5/10 because I already rewatched it for more than 5 times already and still crying over it. I'll keep rewatching in my free time until I can not cry anymore.
Anyway, since this drama stimulates sadness and grief, if you think you cannot handle it, it's better not to even try reading any spoiler. From my experience, the comments on social media about the story of this drama series are also full of emotions. So, please understand your limit.
I had a good 8 weeks following this series. For all the tears that have rolled down my cheeks while watching this, I must say that this series will stick with me for a long time.
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A must watch.. A beautiful love story
A must watch please dont give up because you feel it creapy. You need to look at it from the story it tell and wish we all got that last few days. This was such a beautiful drama that said so much within 8 episodes as we felt and watched their friendship blossomed to love.I believed that Koichi and Mitsuri needed to complete their love for each other and be eaches #1. It was a surprise at the end when his dad went thru the same thing sort of wish he told him before. The cast did a great job also kudos to the writers
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Unique, bittersweet and touching story about love, grief and friendship.
One thing I've always loved about Japanese dramas is how they come up with crazy concepts like this and somehow make them work. I feel the main reason for this is the balance in their stories. They take a unique premise and make it feel grounded with relatable characters and genuine relationships.Apart from the quirky setup, the biggest strength of Eien no Kinou are its two main leads. Koichi is the kind of person everyone loves to be friends with. His fun, cheerful and kind personality draws people in. Micchan on the other hand is the calm and collective type, and he seems unapproachable and slightly intimidating to the people around him. However, this doesn't stop Koichi since he's determined to become friends with him. What I really enjoyed about this relationship and their characters is that they slowly and realistically established their bond, despite this show's short length.
Koichi showcases an admirable inner strength by the way he handles the debilitating situation he's in, being more concerned with how other people feel than allowing himself to grief his own loss. Micchans experiences shaped him into a lonely, introverted person that has a hard time being around other people. He hates himself for being "cold" which he absolutely isn't. His sensitive and deeply moving monologues show that once he has someone in his heart, he's an incredibly caring and loving person. These two polar opposite characters develop a genuine bond and give each other the warmth and love both of them were craving, and it was truly touching to see them feel at home with each other.
I really enjoyed the performances of Komiya Rio and Inoue Sora. Komiya Rio already won me over as Tanaka in Takara-kun to Amagi-kun which was a drama that I personally didn't really enjoy, however his performance stood out to me in the few scenes he had. While Tanaka is a vastly different character to Koichi they both have an engaging and likable charm in common which I credit the actor for. You're on his side and want him to be happy, so when he does allow himself to show his pain, it hits you hard. Inoue Soras Micchan is gentle, restrained, and yet you can see a whirlwind of emotions behind that facade. He convincingly portrays Micchans calm strength and protective nature, as well as his vulnerable and lonely side.
While I enjoyed this story, and they were able to move me despite the dramas short length, I can't help but feel the impact would have been even stronger if they had the time to establish the characters and their relationships further. Spending more time with the leads before the accident and developing their other friendships would have given this story another layer, which I would have really appreciated. Some parts of the story felt rather random and disconnected, simply because they lacked the time to explore them.
I've to quickly mention the amazing OST of this drama. The opening theme Sunshower by Ayumu Imazu is a melancholic yet hopeful song that made me feel emotional after its first few notes. While the hauntingly serene ending theme, Toi Natsu no Hi by Kubo Aoi makes you reminisce the episode once the ending credits start. Both songs are absolutely beautiful, with touching lyrics that add to the meaning of the story. I thought the scenes of the ending credits getting blurrier with each episode was a really nice detail, and so was the changed ending for the final episode.
Eien no Kinou is a poignant story about cherishing the time you have with the people you love. It's a delicate yet powerful drama about love and friendship, told with so much heart it lingers in your thoughts long after you've finished it.
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beautiful and heartbreaking
Overall: this is not your typical BL romcom, it's beautifully done but heartbreaking. I wasn't sure about the dynamic with the cold/low affect guy and the happy go lucky guy but we get important background information and their dynamic grew on me. Airing on GagaOOLala and Viki (depends on your country).Content Warnings: death, grief, threatened suicide
What I Liked
- cute moments like the studying
- the younger siblings were adorable
- consent scene
- the perspective flip in the final episode
- production value
Room For Improvement
- not a fan of flash forwards/flashbacks right away as it makes it more confusing, but I followed this one pretty easily
- the part at the end of episode 1 is not realistic for how he looked based on what happened
- some unrealistic parts/confusing world building
- should have made the previous summer flashback more clear
- I wasn't happy with the end but not for the same reason as maybe other people, I liked what they were talking about with the teacher and wanted them to go that route
- the happy intro and outro was a stark contrast to the story
- there were several large plot points that were revealed right at the end of the series and would have liked more time to develop these
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Understated and Underrated
We have here an atypical BL with pre-college schoolboys as the main characters. There is innocence, cuteness and sweetness, but this is certainly not a lighthearted BL. It's serious and melancholic, but it also manages to be moving without being excessively sappy. The youth of the main characters accentuates their sense of helplessness when it comes with coping with loss and separation that is all too premature but (perhaps) inevitable.I didn't know what to expect at first though I was half-expecting something tragic immediately after I started watching the first episode. Let's just say it features a vehicle, the notorious bane of more than one couple in the history of BL. I wondered: Is it just a story that ends with the death of one of the main characters? Are we merely being shown the sad ending right from the start before a flashback to the past for the next seven episodes?
Then, soon enough, the apparently bizarre premise of a corpse that continues to be "alive" made me wonder if the story was some necrophiliac fantasy.
Yet, watching on, the story seems more plausibly a contemplation of the separation and loss that is inevitable in every relationship. Sure, no one in real life is going to have a boyfriend who appears to be alive in every way except for being physically dead and slowly becoming invisible to more and more people. (A corpse that even manages to have an erection, anyone?) Yet, isn't loss and separation inevitable in every relationship started (and we don't even know when they will take place) unless everyone becomes immortal? It's a truth that we know but don't consciously confront all the time, but how do we cope when we are made to confront it incessantly? Perhaps we would treasure every moment spent with those we love more, but perhaps the constant confrontation would also add more than a tinge of melancholy even in the most joyful moments of a relationship.
While the BL couple in the series is young (complete with youthful awkwardness at times), the intensity of their love comes across as being really strong. The fateful moment when Koichi pushes Mitsuru away from an approaching vehicle highlights the intensity of Koichi's love. It does not appear to be a conscious decision on Koichi's part but an instinctive one. He has yet to even display shock on his face at the coming vehicle but his hand has already pushed Mitsuru away to protect him. The poignance of the scene is also intensified because it comes after a conversation that sounds like Koichi is merely joking or saying something sweet to flirt with Mitsuru when he tells Mitsuru that he always stands on his left to protect him. It turns out that he really means it. On Mitsuru's part, his love is no less intense as it seems to be the reason Koichi continues to be "alive" after becoming a corpse.
What makes Eternal Yesterday unique as a BL series is the relatively understated way in which the love and bond between the couple is shown. There is no obvious lovelorn pinning on either of the main characters before they become a couple, unlike so many BLs where the attraction between the couples seem somewhat frivolous. The actors are look good, but the focus is not on their physical attractiveness and I think Koichi's good looks may even have been deliberately downplayed. In the synopsis, Koichi is said to be the most popular boy in school, but unlike many BL stories featuring a popular boy in school (you know, those characters with legions of hysterical fans in school, with camera angles, filters and make-up all meant to emphasise how perfect they are in terms of looks or some other department), Koichi is portrayed as a relatively ordinary person who tells Mitsuru he does not have anything to offer him. A lot depends on the direction, actors' performances and the viewer's sensitivity to the nuances in the scenes, and I think these don't disappoint. The short scene in Ep 6 after the couple bump into the driver of the vehicle that knocks Koichi down exemplifies this. The dialogue is simple and brief, and yet it is such an emotionally powerful scene.
I think Eternal Yesterday is a series that deserves more love from BL fans. When a BL series like Cutie Pie gets a rating of 7.8 on MDL, I don't know why Eternal Yesterday gets a comparable 7.9. Perhaps it is the most underrated BL of the year (or more than just the year)!
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A whole lot of feels...
What started with a build up of tears by the side of the eye... went over to wet sleeve and ended with ugly snot crying. This is a unique romance, it is sweet, not always so innocent and at times a whole lot of fun with some oddly dark humour.As we meet the boy who was run over by The White Truck of Doom and turned in to a living corps as the male lead kept saying: He is NOT DEAD, he is a Living corps... in this story about love, lust, loss a whole lot of denial. This story is different than anything I have ever seen. So it even had me debating if it was worth a 10 star rating but though it made me cry A LOT it did not captivate me enough for a 10. But it is a strong 9,5. On the one hand such a sweet youthful story, on the other the living dead and a whole lot of pain... tragedy, romcom, supernatural all in one.
The male leads are both cold one in his personality the other literally as his body started getting cold after he died. The boys interactions are a true cold meets war, introvert extrovert opposites attract story with all it has to offer, though we only get to see a few glimpses in to their story the chemistry and playfulness is there. Adding a time limit, fear and need to hold on adds that extra spice and emotion to the story that hit me like an arrow straight though my still beating heart.
This is definitely a drama I recommend to pretty much any one who can handle it and is in need of a good cry. It truly is perfect for those days when you need to laugh, cry and fall in love... all at once.
P.S the intro with it´s OST is one of the most fitting intros I can remember ever seeing, I usually skip the intro but chose to watch it in this one. And there is a nice shot of an Axolotl in it too.
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Underrated, Quirky and Heartwarming
I started watching this to pass the time, but this drama surpassed my expectations. It's quirky and has a sad undertone right from the start but it's sweet and heartwarming. At the heart of the show is how to deal with grief and they handled it well. Koichi and Mitchan are so sweet together. You can feel their love through the screen.The internal monologues, which are something I'm usually not fond of because they can be so cringey, are really well done and felt genuine. I love contrasts between the Koichi and Mitchan's personalities and they really complement each other. Their story progresses naturally and you really see the character development especially Mitchan's.
The timeline at the beginning felt a little odd and the supernatural stuff isn't really explained, but that's not too important. Watch this drama for the characters and the love they have for each other. As someone who doesn't usually like sad endings I must say that it was warranted here and really well done. Any other ending wouldn't have fit the story.
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