Hidamari ga Kikoeru (2024)

It's not a BL, it's a pre-relationship story, but it's a good story worth a one time watch

I wouldn't recommend it as a BL, I classify it as pre-BL because they did not actually move beyond being friends until the last few minutes of the show, not even through anything being implied or in subtext, as intended in Cn BLs. They were actually, genuinely just friends for 12 episodes then they confessed and it ended. Still, I would recommend it as a one time watch for anyone who likes a well written story tackling something different in a life drama series.

I had my hope for episode 11, however the ending was just okay. It's another J (not really BL) that I can't give a 10, not even a 9 really, just an 8, and basically just because it was a good production, well written with an interesting story and good acting, but I can't rate it a 10 because it wasn't actually a BL and that's a false lead I don't appreciate.

GOOD:
- Acting
- Casting
- Production Value
- OST
- Writing
- Pacing

BAD:
- It's in the wrong genre, this is not a BL. If you watch it with the wrong expectations, you'll be disappointed, if you watch it as a story about a disability with two guys who end up admitting their feelings for each other in the last 5 minutes of the show, you'll be better prepared.
- Feels like false advertising.

There is no UGLY in this, I don't regret watching it.

HIGHLIGHT:
- Kobayashi Toranosuke, quite a gem of an actor.

---

Side Note:
From my personal perspective a 'BL' like this -with no actual BL- is made for two reasons-
1. New actors need a show in which they can depict their acting range so they can get better and more main roles in the future
2. They need a show that will make them popular and well known, fast

A BL series these days is the fastest track to achieve that for young male actors, however the downside of this is usually that the actors don't want to do BL or be associated with it long term, so the show barely scrapes by being a BL at all, just toes the line, as it were, which is what has happened here. Another example of this was Star Struck (except that show was not well written at all). I could be wrong, but when I see a good production like this with 'BL' slapped on it when there is basically no BL in it at all, there is no other explanation I can think of. The people behind it are just trying to jump on the fast track BL band wagon. Which, blah.

Even so, as a standalone show it was entertaining and I am glad to have discovered Kobayashi as an actor, it's the first time I've found a Japanese actor likable, talented and attractive since Kenichi Matsuyama so many years ago. I will move on from this very quickly though. It failed to leave a lasting impression. They had one shot in the final ep to have an emotional impact on the BL viewers in ep 12, but even the hug after the confession didn't land well at all.

If they make a sequel they might redeem the first season. Here's hoping.

8/10

Read More

utterly adorable, a must watch for sure

After reading the manga, watching the movie, and now finally this series-- can I say just how much I adore this beautiful slow burn?

The story follows Taichi-- a naturally loud and honest guy who often gets himself into fights with his blunt words and tendency to talk with his fists. He quite literally slides into Kouheis world one day, an anti-confrontational loner who is hard of hearing, and seemingly hard to approach. Taichi however has no such difficulty getting close to him, and they become fond of eachother almost immediately.

You immediately fall in love with both of the MCs, the chemistry between them is so well done, and the flow of their relationship has such a natural feel. The actors themselves are adorable, they both do an amazing with their characters.

Production is good too, unlike a lot of manga adaptations, this drama doesn't have corny transition sounds or effects, yet they still stay incredibly cannon to the manga, and near identical to the movie.

My ONLY qualm with this drama is that it felt a bit rushed at the end, though we did finally get our long awaited happy ending, it felt almost as lacking as the open ending from the movie. I wanted to finally get to see them interact like lovers, even without a kiss is fine, but some chemistry at the end to show the shift between friends and lovers would have been perfect.

Overall, absolutely lovely, definitely recommend the watch.

Read More

Mucho potencial de cara a una segunda temporada ??

El ritmo es lento, pero es algo que puedes esperar de este tipo de producciones japonesas. Taichi es la persona más densa del mundo y si esperas que haya cercanía física entre los personajes, no estás en el sitio correcto.

Con dosis de humor y un gran trabajo de contención de Nakazawa, creo que tiene mucho espacio de crecimiento si decidieran hacer una segunda temporada con un poco más de desarrollo, ahora que, doce episodios después, ambos han comprendido sus sentimientos.

El JBL nos ha dado grandes obras este año.

We've been served, we've been fed.

Read More

Faltou romance

Eu jurava que esse seria o meu bl "nota 10" desse ano, mas a segunda metade não manteve o mesmo nível de excelência da primeira. Os episódios começaram a ficar um pouco repetitivos com essas briguinhas da Maya com o Taichi.
O maior erro da série foi a falta de romance, que era pra ter sido desenvolvido nos últimos quatro episódios e que, no entanto, Taichi e Kohei mal apareciam juntos.
Não li o mangá, mas na série suspeito que deixaram tudo pra se resolver no finalzinho, nos últimos 5 minutos da série, apenas para não ter que desenvolver a relação amorosa deles.
Enfim, amo demais essa série e fico triste quando penso como poderia ter sido melhor ?.

Read More

serie molto bella, ma la storia d'amore è poco sviluppata

serie davvero molto bella e delicata. I personaggi di Kohei e Taichi sono molto ben caratterizzati. Per quanto riguarda la tematica della disabilità uditiva ho trovato alcune situazioni e alcune frasi molto significative e importanti. Ci sono personaggi secondari che entrano ottimamente nella storia, gli amici del campus, il nonno di Taichi, Maya. Anche per quanto riguarda l'amicizia tra i due protagonisti ci sono scene e dialoghi davvero splendidi. La parte debole purtroppo è la storia BL, che viene sviluppata poco e si concretizza solo negli ultimi minuti dell'ultimo episodio, dopo interi episodi in cui Kohei e Taichi hanno problemi di comunicazione e interagiscono pochissimo tra di loro. Essendo una serie BL si tratta di una lacuna importante che ha fatto scendere di parecchio il voto.

Read More

¿Por qué todos los BLs japoneses hay problemas de comunicación entre los protagonistas?

¿Por qué todos los BLs japoneses hay problemas de comunicación entre los protagonistas? ¿Es el main point de la serie? Toda la historia que se precie tiene que tener un point donde los protagonistas tienen sus momentos, donde parece que todo va a acabar mal y entonces para no hacerse daño deciden separarse. ¿Por qué los japoneses deciden que sea siempre la falta de comunicación? Es algo que me fascina , la mayoría de los BLs japoneses que he visto pasa eso tío, estoy al moño y más en esta serie que parecía que Taichi iba directo diciendo las cosas. Los primeros seis capítulos son maravillosos y serían un 10 pero siento que la segunda mitad hace todo que la serie vaya a peor. Desde la introducción de una tercera persona, que no para de tocar las narices porque separa a los protagonistas y se las da de sabionda que me ha hecho odiarla en todas sus apariciones, a meter un nuevo trabajo a Taichi, que si bien le hace replantarse las cosas, guay. Me parece que el reducido tiempo (menos de 6 capitulos de menos de 30 min) , no consiguen establecer una buena base para la trama y asi que tenga sentido. No me he enterado bien que hace la empresa y que intenta cambiar Taichi de los valores de la empresa. No entiendo porque Taichi no le cuenta donde trabaja a Kouhei, es algo que no comprendo. La confesión sinceramente me ha dejado fría, han habido mejores momentos (en mi mente se confesaron cuando estaban de viaje con los amigos y estaban ellos dos solos de noche viendo las estrellas).
Me parece que hace un trabajo mágnifico en la actuación Nakazawa Motoki. No te conocía cariño pero me parece que has sabido lleva muy bien tu personaje.
No considero que en si sea un BL porque el único momento que podría considerarse BL me ponen un ángulo de cámara que no me deja ver el beso :(

P.D: tenía ganas de ver este BL casi desde cuando salió, me esperé porque sabía que una vez que empezase me iba a enganchar y como he dicho los 6 primeros capítulos son buenos pero luego se echa a perder y eso me ha dado pena. Si hubiera visto la serie durante la emisión probablemente la hubiese dejado porque me hubiera tocado sobreranamente las narices.
Esperaba mas de estos gays :(

Read More