#ueda minoru

Writing this as an excuse to list the amount of Japanese BL I fell in love with.

Listing 5 series per post because life is too busy

Random rambling. I just need to let some thoughts out my chest.

Link for: Part 1 Part 3

6. Smells Like Green Sprit

Disturbing in a lot of ways. Everyone felt uncomfortable and it made me anxious but Mishima remained unbother. She was true and confident of herself.

Kirino and Mishima should've just crushed me, it was one of the most heartbreaking friendship breakup in media. And the fact that they have to see each other again in school, ignoring each other as if they've never bonded after declaring what future they'll take and how they ended up will always bother me.

The drama didn't focused or made the romance a glamour but I still can't believe how Mishima chose someone who used to hurt him. Even with character development, it didn't felt right (I promise Yumeno had a great redemption arc). And I always thought deeply about it until I concluded that it was her unsettling expression in the end that bothered me. It was as if she was unhappy. She's doing what she wants but why does she looks like she's stagnant somewhere? It has to be Kirino's absence.

This drama is grey and I gave it a full score because it delivered what it's supposed to. Yanagida was traumatizing. It was meant to be agonizing and I felt it in every fibre of my bones.

📍5/5

Genre: Bullying, Homophobia, Coming-of-age, Youth

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 8

Website to watch: ??

7. Our Dining Table

The warmest drama to have ever existed. Every single episode will surely put a smile on your face. And Tane is the cutest baby in the world, even if he ruined a lot of moments for our leads, he is forgiven because he brought them together.

There's a hint of blue because of Yutaka. He lost his parents, had been adopted and fears eating with other people. Tane & Minoru was his healing, his family.

It's a really simple drama so the chemistry is very important and Yutaka, Minoru and Tane blended well together that putting them together was perfectly wholesome. Yutaka and Minoru romantically too looked really good that somehow its unsatisfying to not have much of their scenes alone so it would really be nice to have a S2 and maybe see Tane grow up as they take care of him and Minoru graduating from college. Even the manga didn't really gave them a lot of chance but still, the warmth of this drama spread to heart.

📍5/5

Genre: Gourmet, Found Family, Slice of Life

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 10 + 1 Special Episode

Website to watch: Gagaoolala

8. Love Is Better The Second Time Around

Yearning or longing, how ever we call it, this two have it all. Senpai's straightforward confession gets me all the time and the way Miyata always avoids the burning passion of his youth return to him and gets mad as he remember how embarrassed he was, always kept my attention. Curiosity heightens at the mystery of Miyata's reasons, Takashi's return and how they broke up in the past.

Their plan as teenagers was not on my bingo cards.. because what did they mean when they were trying to ELOPE & leave their families behind? But this also means they saw future with each other. But even if I watched this drama couple of times, I'd never be convinced that they'd last forever as teenagers. The possibility of disaster was higher so reuniting as adults felt reassuring.

I feel like if they want to put the entire plot into details, this could make up longer episodes. I was honestly speechless of what Takashi's family did to him. I wish Miyata was given more time to process Takashi's past and how he was no longer scared to love Takashi again. 6 episodes was not enough for this kind of plot with this kind of chemistry.

(I was so obsessed with this drama when it was released, I will write a longer one someday dedicated for them. The funny thing is among the shows I picked for this round, KoiNido is my #1 but I gave it a logical 4 because their kiss scenes ruined my mood the first time I watched it.)

📍4/5

Genre: High School Lovers, Second Chance, Workforce

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 6

Website to watch: Gagaoolala, Viki

9. I Became the Main Role of a BL

This felt like Ossan's Love baby in chaos level, Kabe Koji or Utsukushii Kare's twist and Akasaka's bestie in BL-partner-turned-to-boyfriend level.

Yuichiro really did well in pretending to be a suspicious calm guy at the start only to learn that he's a hardcore Hajime fan. He's probably the leader of the fandom if he's not an actor. I love that he has a record of being an otaku before becoming a Hajime fan, it felt like it comes naturally just like every otaku.

The best thing about this was the process of Yuichiro reflecting about his feelings, if it was still a fan's or romantic emotion. He questioned everything he felt when he was with Hajime so when he finally made his confession, it was really cute and all fluffy like cloud nine.

It's hilarious and sweet how Hajime just accepts his boyfriend the way he is. Sometimes it was like having a private fanmeeting, sometimes it was like having a perfect boyfriend. It was cute. It's like he is loved twice and it will grow more the more time they spend together.

Slapstick comedies can only work if the actors are great and they didn't fail. It's too early to score this as S2 is still on going but S1 was just one of my favorites and S2 look promising. Their chemistry makes me feel squishy, they're too cute! I pray to all gods that Yuichiro will no longer faint so Hajime can have what he wants with his boyfriend.

📍5/5

Genre: Comedy, Entertainment Industry

Seasons: S1, S2

Episodes: 3 (S1) + 6 (S2)

Website to watch: Gagaoolala

10. Old Fashion Cupcake

They were oozing with charisma. Wherever they walk, it looks like watching two sweet tooth supermodels trying to find new places to eat desserts together.

What's great about this was how obvious Togawa's feelings and desire for his boss. He was always looking for a way so they can spend time together, not knowing Nozue was also doing the same thing for him. And knowing it, tugs my heart all the time.

Nozue embracing and defying his beliefs at the end felt so warm. "Nothing is ever going to happen if you don't do anything about it" is such a great message for everyone who remains at one place or is stuck at a routine caused by conformity, it sounds like "Surviving but not living".

It should've been longer, their chemistry was too good for only one amazing iconic kiss and 5 episodes. May S2 fall down the street to pick up.

📍5/5

Genre: Workforce, Age Gap

Seasons: 1

Episodes: 5

[Submitted Reasons Under Cut]