I’m so obsessed with this BL! It came out of nowhere to become (to me) the best BL of 2022 so far. Loved your analysis. Let’s hope we get some sort of sequel!
It's one of the best for me too... Have you watched Minato's Laundromat? I am liking that one too... even Senpai, This can't be love had a nice 3rd episode.
This was such a breath of fresh air. I heard a reactor describe it as sexy without trying and I think it sums Cupcake up perfectly. It really underscores that you don’t need to advertise sex scenes, half naked men or have weekly escalating ratings to get and keep viewers’ attention. The well-drawn characterisations, the world building and the crisp dialogue between them did all that and kept fans tuning in for more. There were no flaws in the writing. Loved how they handled the power differentials between them - age and professional status, and subverted them in the last half of the series. Cupcake is quintessentially BL, with sumptuous layering, dramatic tension and a satisfying emotional climax. All this and we didn’t miss seeing anyone’s ass because we were fixated on something more entrancing: a delectable journey into how much they wanted, cared about and mutually understood each other. Not much is sexier than that. More like this please 💕
What wonderful commentary about how story and character tops "sex scenes [and] half naked men" as a device to craft an excellent story.* The latter may indeed drive ratings in the short run, but the "world building and crisp dialogue" ensure the series will yield new insights on repeat viewing. All hail the virtue and reward of solid writing! *--And a message in no way undermined by the fact my eyes keep darting back to the thumbnail image (selfie?) that signals StepMaster is here.
I read the manga.. Word to word dialogues and depiction from there. What I liked is how Nozue offers to clean up and do chores and cook for Togawa even though he is a superior at work.He is surprised when he finds Togawa's apartment clean & maintained.Realistically speaking, daily life is so dependent on cooking, food, clean lifestyle, clean apartment, values that people live by. Relationships survive if the homelife & living together is less stressful ( habits). It was really an old fashioned love, giving & instead of taking, not pretending to be all fireworks & no substance.
@@zahrabjinu You’ve put this so well. I adored how they turned the power differentials upside down; that was endlessly thrilling me me and those are the parts that still excite me when I’m recommending Cupcake to people. Other series that put their main focus on generating erections miss the point of BL for fans, not just because that route is less, shall we say, sustainable, but watching men especially the one with more social power erode the barriers between them is endlessly fulfilling because you can’t have love between unequals - only patronage. The consistent emphasis on emotionally caring roles that are Reciprocal - tending when sick or incapacitated, cooking to nourish and comfort the other, sharing housework and keeping pleasant surroundings - that’s the broadside delivered to heteronormative gender roles and is included in BL for a reason (even when it’s a pron BL). Even moving to different job roles I’m so glad we got to see that because they’re making a point that love isn’t just between individuals but an ethical practice all round that implicates society. Again, any power that can be abused is the enemy of love. Love between equals is truly a radical act that also changes society. These two cupcakes won’t need to depend on the strength of their erections to keep things going til they’re 81. We should all be so lucky 💕
@@johnmaster3748 Haaa I feel called out now. Max is my icon philosophically only. He’s there to remind me of choice theory - six-packs have to be earned every day and can only withstand so many actual🧁s per diem
Thanks again for the great video. I am in complete agreement that this is one of the best BL series of 2022 (so far). I agree with you on the shirtless scenes (more of those please) and the kissing scenes. For me the kiss you showed at the end of ep. 4 with Nozue bitting the thumb of Togawa was very steamy. There was so much repressed passion in that moment and it was beautifully done. I would love another series that shows them navigating work and love a year or so out like what Cherry Magic is doing (and hopefully those of us outside of Asia will be able to see). And finally, your point about Asian cultures and the importance of food is so, so true. I always have a slight chuckle when watching these shows and counting the number of times going out to eat or talking about the food is discussed.
Haha... Food is our first love. We used to have best party in neighborhood. Others would be like bbq and bring your own booze party, and if you are lucky you'd get one slice of pizza. And there we were, bbq was just starter, there used to be rice and congee, fish pork and chicken to tofu and veggies for vegetarians. We had to prepare everything since a day before.
You had me cracking up, when you said something about Japanese BLs having some sort of "contract to only have one kiss in their series!" They probably do.
DMR2006, hi. I do wonder seriously if there isn't a soft censorship standard set for Japanese BLs. Not as harsh as homophobic China's, thank God, but who knows?
@@ronhilton9614 I think that it all depends on the BL, and the director/screenwriters. I mean, we have multiple kisses/sex scenes in "The Novelist/Pornoagrapher" series/sequels, and the "Dangerous Sex and Drugs" film.
one of my favorites bl of the year. Loved the age difference between them as well. loved the addition of foods concept in the series. Gosh, the thumb and kiss scene was captivating 😮. You could feel the intensity right there.
Hi Critic, John and David. I am honored to share the room with you. I have always had a great fondness for Japanese films and their angle of humor and the visual aspects. Now I feel fortunate to have Japanese BLs. As much as I do indeed like Senpai and Old Fashioned, I am really smitten with Minato's. I catch myself thinking about (maybe even wishing to be) in the same room as our friends. I love how it is the younger confidently pursuing the older for a change. Refreshing! Having had numerous Asian friends (and a Vietnamese best one), I laugh and agree that food=love, food=fun, food=etc.
Thank you Bl Critic, I watched this beautiful series because of you.💖💖💖. I liked it very much. Really one of the best bls of 2022. Once again Thank you 😊.
Critic, Dallas, & John Master, I almost had an aneurysm when they didn't kiss in the alley. 😤 Thank-you to Dallas for cluing me in to this series. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
It may be controversial, but I'm glad that Kozue, and Togawa's first cognizant of their mutual feelings kiss, wasn't had in a dark alley in Tokyo. I also think that if those two had started their kiss, it would have been difficult to stop the escalation of their emotions/feelings.
I think it’s up to the viewers point of view on what they consider to be the best I guess but for it’s delicious but I’m also in love with senpai this can’t be love so I can’t really decide just yet cause it’s still airing. You are definitely on to something about old fashioned cupcake and I also want more sometimes with Japanese drama I be like just kiss😌 or if your gonna go this far🫣 might as well keep going🥹🤭 lol but I’m fine if it stop at kissing or holding hands🙂🤗 Love your channel🥰😍
I liked that the leads were adults rather than blushing schoolboys. I do wish, though, that the writers had let the actors have a few more adult moments like a deep kiss or even an intimate caress or two. A series doesn't have to go full KinnPorsche to bring a little intimacy into it. Like you, I also felt that it was too short and could have used a few more episodes. Even if a series is X-rated, one can still add some non-X scenes, right? While I liked the series and think it's well above average, I don't know that I'm ready to give it top scores. I'll give it a 7 with the possibility to go higher based on what other series may come out later.
Definitely is among my best series! This series gave me some Cherry Magic vibes,🤩 Togawa reminds me Kurosawa from ChM, who was also looking after Adachi, he encouraged him and Togawa was doing the same for Nozue.And we got finally a kiss in japanese bl. I was also expecting a second kiss in the alley, but... PS: Minato´s Laundromat, only two episodes and I´m hooked🤩
U got it right,eating is everything, even us eating while watching BL's Anyway the highlight ~~~ i agree with you, the kissing scene really got my Mark Its new style for kissing and then confessing,well its opposite by order,don't mind Its indeed take me for re-watching almost more then 20 Times,i never Saw kabedon like that,Togawa really took over with his finger between Nozue lips 😳 I felt that addication to see since their both adult and how great they are potrayed the role Yeah yeah,lastly,its really sad only 5 episode, maybe maybe their can make some episode special or season 2, hope so Loved ur summary ~
To bounce off the Tigger-Gloomy model of Japanese BL interpretation established in the Comments of the prior video, OFC toyed with the formula by giving both characters scenes to be the gloomy one and also for both to be the spas--er, off-kilter one. In my head cannon this take signifies that once Togawa finishes his humanitarian effort to help Nozue unlock his sexual potential, both will be fully versatile.
Yes, they will be versatile, because Togawa has spent years imagining Kozue being "the one for him", even when Togawa and Kozue have experienced sex with someone else in their past.
I just saw this little short series from Japan, 8.2 Second Rule, very cute concept liked it, using desserts to catch your first love, not a 10 but maybe a maybe a 8.2 haha.
When you have the time, also check out a Chinese short movie called Let's Wait for the Rain to Stop, very cute actors, very poetic, wish the subs were better.
@@samtab2364 I liked the short film, because I know that there is a ban in China on "positive portrayals" based on fictionalized LGBTQ+ characters, but the screenwriter, director, and actors were able to convey the instant attraction the two young male characters had towards each other. Two very different characters, who saw something interesting in one another.
It is in my top 4 so far with Favoritism of the Gods , Semantic Error and Blueming. I feel it has the best acting and fascinated by dark tone it took . Your shot of the cover and going to do fun “little girl” things indicates a flufffest!
"...pink stage [?!] will always bring out the child in [someone]." As the parent of a teen-age girl [sample quote from age 15: "why don't boys like me?"] , I read that reaction as an extension of the teen-age girl metaphor first deployed as the pretext for visiting the dessert shops. But I think you're correct that nervously checking a phone* to see if someone called is not the sole domain of teen-agers. That behavior universalized Nozue's anguish. And, in the process, greatly enhanced the character's charm. *--Back in my day, we used to lift the phone off the hook and listen for a dial tone to make sure the phone was working. Possibly, every few minutes. Cause, you know, one of our idiot, inconsiderate siblings might not have hung up another receiver properly, and therefore a busy signal might be obstructing the incoming 📞 call. Raise your hand if you've been there...
lol that old phone era... thank god.. when it was my time to fall in love, god made cell phones widely accessible. We still have one.. comes with the plan.
I do not think it is the best of 2022, but for sure one of the best. I really loved it. Was it to short? Should it have been longer? For me it was just right. Instead of the full meal which can often leave you stuffed or bloated we have a nice dessert. Also I think one of the things that the Japanese excel at is the intergenerational love story, we see it with this series, we have seen it in the past with Ossan's Love, Pornographer, Cherry Magic and now with Minato's Coin Laundry (Wash My Heart). I think it is very much part of their culture, as is male love and S and M but it has always been in the shadows. The novels, movies, porn has always been there if you knew where to look, glad the popularity of bl is bringing it more into the light. Where as the Japanese have a way of questioning and normalizing things, love is love, the Thai's have a way of making it kinda creepy. When I see the intergenerational relationships in Cutie Pie or the S and M in Unforgotten Night it makes me feel there is something wrong here. Is it cultural? BLC?
Well, Thai's have been having intergenerational relationships irrespective of orientation since ages, S and M, well I can't say, but they are still unable to show it nicely on the screen.
I think there is something regarding those particular topics, that the authors and scriptwriters don't really understand, but they use it as a way to challenge themselves to create a world based in a BL drama. Or hoping that the skinship will be enough to get viewers from noticing the lack of comprehensible plot/character development.
I think Sam's question about why one culture can tackle sexual topics which yields a result that "questions and normalizes things" while another yields results that feel "creepy" invites a deeper deconstruction of cultural taboos around depicting sex than we can adequately manage in a YT comments section without oversimplifying one culture or the other. (Note: not taboos around sex; taboos around public discussion of sex.) I am no expert in either culture, but it's always seemed to me that the Japanese are more open about having those discussions than many other cultures. That practical, frank approach to a sensitive topic may explain the more sophisticated treatment of the subject matter, because the culture is accustomed to having conversations in this realm. If Thailand would have censored these topics in the recent past, if these topics would have been unfit for a popular broadcast entertainment, then that now-eroded taboo could easily account for the clunky way Thai series deal with it. The writers may simply have no clue where to locate the unspoken (and recently shifted) boundaries of acceptability.
I do think that it is one of the best from Japan, but overall in BL, it's ok. The lack of romantic affection besides that one stolen kiss is something that plaques a lot of Japanese BL's and other heterosexual romantic dramas, it's like they're afraid of showing more of their affection and infatuation besides constantly moaning how someone is "pretty" or "handsome" and basing their whole interest in the person on looks (at least the ones that I have watched, they rarely show us how their relationship deepens on more personal level, like getting to know the other person more intimately through talking to them, taking interest in their life, interests and hobbies. I've seen Japanese BL movies with more chemistry than these dramas, truth to be told). But overall I liked this drama, at least it showed more mature pairing and about things that older people can experience when it comes to love, relationships of every kind and the reality of working like a horse for what...
I have bengee- watched it. At first I tried to understand who was who and solved the problem by checking their lips 😃 I feel my life as the 39 year-old-man lead😀 to me Japanese Bls are good for story, I like their stories. However, intimacy is lacking in the series considering that i know so much about their real life LGBTQIA2S commmunity. They can show much more 😃
I think it was short & sweet. I liked it precisely because it was short and crisp. Togawa was smouldering hot.After, Insarin and actor who plays Yanase in Senpai....Togawa., omg such overdose of good looking,cute men makes my real life look boring. I think Nozue was scatterbrained about liking Togawa until the last episode. I am surprised however in 40 years not once Nozue questioned his sexuality and his casual attitude towards marriage or going after women?? I wish they had elaborated on what got Nozue so mundane & tired at 39.
Nozue's cluelessness about his sexuality in general, and about Togawa's increasingly apparent infatuation specifically, both make sense if we consider that Nozue at some point in his life (probably early in his 20s) shut down his sexuality and just ignored that part of being human. (I would compare him to Lovely Writer's Gene, who had no romantic history to speak of until jolted into self-awareness by a suitor he neither expected nor knew he wanted.) He'd have had no reason to question his sexuality if he repressed it altogether. That said, he did seem rather adept at deflecting interest from his female colleagues before they could become invested in pursuing him, but apparently failed to recognize a similar intent when it came from a man.
@@johnmaster3748 That would make sense. Nozue seemed unaware or pretended to be unaware of female attention. However, he didn't take a lot of time to respond to Togawa's confession even though he was taken aback when Togawa kissed him.
@@johnmaster3748 in my perspective Togawa was caught when Nozue had that talk on the street the day they met. Nozue was attracted to Togawa also on the day of the job interview and took him for a drink - watching the scene where he looked up at Togawa with his hand on his shoulder - i felt the sparks then between them. Togawa being younger went with his attrction and his feelings developed where as Nozue giving his all to his work got bound in a rut and routine comfort. Though unconsciously Nozue was attracted - he admitted to his attraction in the alley to Togawa. Also in their first dessert outing when Togawa was stuffing his face Nozue flashed back to the meeting on the street and Togawa had stuffed his mouth plus the repetiton of his own words to Togawa felt familiar, there was a sweet smile on Nozue face and he invited him to drinks after work saying it had been a long time. I loved it when Nozue responded to all 3 quick kisses from Togawa with his unexpected passion even to himself, there was no hesitation in the response. Only when his brain kicked in did the resistance set in. 2 times he reached out to caress Togawa's head both times it was an automatic response from his suppressed feelings and both times he caught himself and withdrew his hand not completing the caress. There are a few more instances when Nozue was caught suddenly and his response he shut down. The micro movements of expression of feelings on both their parts was/ is facinating to watch and catch. Both actors did a phenomenal job. As you can tell i love this series. I start and end my day rewatching all 5 eps. Every day for 6 weeks and counting till i loose interest, till now it brings me comfort. as a side note everyone talking about KinnPorsche I cannot bring myself to watch it - I have to figure that one out - what kneejerk reaction does this contain within myself.
Where's the cupcake? I kept waiting for a cupcake scene. I jest of course as Nozue is the old fashion cupcake. I completely identified with being seduced by food. Take me to cute cafes, feed me, and I will follow you home (LOL). Togawa's initial plan of seduction with food was brilliant. He knew he needed to break Nozue out of his robotic life if he had any chance with him. Japan succeeds at the super cute or the super weird. Finding the right mix of cute and sexy has been hit or miss. Progress is being made with the increase in shirtless scenes. I would have loved a kiss in the alley but I can understand why they held back as they were in public. The number of kisses or skinship scenes in a drama can affect its rating. As our BL Critic pointed out, Japan continues to have a same sex marriage ban. It is a very complicated issue especially for Japan which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. It used to be #1 a few years ago. I suspect this is part of the reason why and yet yaoi originated in Japan. Such a dichotomy.
No, you're entirely correct about the missing Cupcake 🧁! As someone partial to frosted confections, I felt betrayed this false advertising! The inclusion of the seldom-seen, underappreciated pancake 🥞 mollified me somewhat. But is it a coincidence that I baked Cupcakes a week ago? For the first time in years? No, I say. The title triggered an appetite, which the series did not virtually sate, requiring my oven to provide the real-world answer. For the record, they were good.
"I would have loved a kiss in the alley but I can understand why they held back as they were in public." As a BL fan, I also felt cheated out of that kiss; but as an international observer of a Japanese story, I took their physical response as insight into how comfortable gay men on the street might be to show affection. Yes, it might apply to any PDA, but it felt LGBT specific to me.
@@johnmaster3748 Who doesn't love a good cupcake? I unwrap the cupcake and tear off a section of the bottom cake to put it on top of the frosting like a cap. It becomes a cupcake sandwich with the frosting in the middle. Easier to eat that way too. ;)
Yes, Japan does excel at the super weird and super cute, sometimes at the same time! And the fact that yaoi and BL originated in Japan isn't lost on me, either.
Minato's is top class... Old Fashion Cupcake is also good, but ya I agree, sometimes it happens with me too... some so called good ones are 'Meh' to me...
@@blcritic Minato’s is so good though the story is simple. I don’t know what it was about Old Fashion Cupcake. Maybe it was because Nozue’s face was so expressionless or maybe it suffered not being able to compare to excitement and exceptional production of KinnPorsche. I might need to adjust my expectations after KinnPorsche! 🤣
I’m so obsessed with this BL! It came out of nowhere to become (to me) the best BL of 2022 so far. Loved your analysis. Let’s hope we get some sort of sequel!
It's one of the best for me too... Have you watched Minato's Laundromat? I am liking that one too... even Senpai, This can't be love had a nice 3rd episode.
This was such a breath of fresh air. I heard a reactor describe it as sexy without trying and I think it sums Cupcake up perfectly. It really underscores that you don’t need to advertise sex scenes, half naked men or have weekly escalating ratings to get and keep viewers’ attention. The well-drawn characterisations, the world building and the crisp dialogue between them did all that and kept fans tuning in for more.
There were no flaws in the writing. Loved how they handled the power differentials between them - age and professional status, and subverted them in the last half of the series. Cupcake is quintessentially BL, with sumptuous layering, dramatic tension and a satisfying emotional climax. All this and we didn’t miss seeing anyone’s ass because we were fixated on something more entrancing: a delectable journey into how much they wanted, cared about and mutually understood each other. Not much is sexier than that. More like this please 💕
What wonderful commentary about how story and character tops "sex scenes [and] half naked men" as a device to craft an excellent story.* The latter may indeed drive ratings in the short run, but the "world building and crisp dialogue" ensure the series will yield new insights on repeat viewing. All hail the virtue and reward of solid writing!
*--And a message in no way undermined by the fact my eyes keep darting back to the thumbnail image (selfie?) that signals StepMaster is here.
I read the manga.. Word to word dialogues and depiction from there. What I liked is how Nozue offers to clean up and do chores and cook for Togawa even though he is a superior at work.He is surprised when he finds Togawa's apartment clean & maintained.Realistically speaking, daily life is so dependent on cooking, food, clean lifestyle, clean apartment, values that people live by. Relationships survive if the homelife & living together is less stressful ( habits).
It was really an old fashioned love, giving & instead of taking, not pretending to be all fireworks & no substance.
@@johnmaster3748 The Masters, John and Step both, leave me wordless over their creative writing. And Step, you don't mind where OUR eyes dart do you?
@@zahrabjinu You’ve put this so well. I adored how they turned the power differentials upside down; that was endlessly thrilling me me and those are the parts that still excite me when I’m recommending Cupcake to people. Other series that put their main focus on generating erections miss the point of BL for fans, not just because that route is less, shall we say, sustainable, but watching men especially the one with more social power erode the barriers between them is endlessly fulfilling because you can’t have love between unequals - only patronage.
The consistent emphasis on emotionally caring roles that are Reciprocal - tending when sick or incapacitated, cooking to nourish and comfort the other, sharing housework and keeping pleasant surroundings - that’s the broadside delivered to heteronormative gender roles and is included in BL for a reason (even when it’s a pron BL).
Even moving to different job roles I’m so glad we got to see that because they’re making a point that love isn’t just between individuals but an ethical practice all round that implicates society. Again, any power that can be abused is the enemy of love. Love between equals is truly a radical act that also changes society.
These two cupcakes won’t need to depend on the strength of their erections to keep things going til they’re 81. We should all be so lucky 💕
@@johnmaster3748 Haaa I feel called out now. Max is my icon philosophically only. He’s there to remind me of choice theory - six-packs have to be earned every day and can only withstand so many actual🧁s per diem
Thanks again for the great video. I am in complete agreement that this is one of the best BL series of 2022 (so far). I agree with you on the shirtless scenes (more of those please) and the kissing scenes. For me the kiss you showed at the end of ep. 4 with Nozue bitting the thumb of Togawa was very steamy. There was so much repressed passion in that moment and it was beautifully done. I would love another series that shows them navigating work and love a year or so out like what Cherry Magic is doing (and hopefully those of us outside of Asia will be able to see). And finally, your point about Asian cultures and the importance of food is so, so true. I always have a slight chuckle when watching these shows and counting the number of times going out to eat or talking about the food is discussed.
Haha... Food is our first love. We used to have best party in neighborhood. Others would be like bbq and bring your own booze party, and if you are lucky you'd get one slice of pizza. And there we were, bbq was just starter, there used to be rice and congee, fish pork and chicken to tofu and veggies for vegetarians. We had to prepare everything since a day before.
@@blcritic I wanna come to your party!!
You had me cracking up, when you said something about Japanese BLs having some sort of "contract to only have one kiss in their series!" They probably do.
DMR2006, hi. I do wonder seriously if there isn't a soft censorship standard set for Japanese BLs. Not as harsh as homophobic China's, thank God, but who knows?
DMR2006: hehe... it does look like that...
@@ronhilton9614 I think that it all depends on the BL, and the director/screenwriters. I mean, we have multiple kisses/sex scenes in "The Novelist/Pornoagrapher" series/sequels, and the "Dangerous Sex and Drugs" film.
@@VixenByNight72 & “The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese” (窮鼠はチーズの夢を見る) has multiple sex scenes
It's quite contradictory to me that when Thai BLs have more skinship we complain and japanese BL we want more because there is too few
one of my favorites bl of the year. Loved the age difference between them as well. loved the addition of foods concept in the series. Gosh, the thumb and kiss scene was captivating 😮. You could feel the intensity right there.
That scene was kinda unexpected.. but totally worth it.. I was captivating like you said.
that scene got me by surprise
I absolutely love this drama and I love that we are getting more mature characters and storylines in BLs.
Hi Critic, John and David. I am honored to share the room with you. I have always had a great fondness for Japanese films and their angle of humor and the visual aspects. Now I feel fortunate to have Japanese BLs. As much as I do indeed like Senpai and Old Fashioned, I am really smitten with Minato's. I catch myself thinking about (maybe even wishing to be) in the same room as our friends. I love how it is the younger confidently pursuing the older for a change. Refreshing! Having had numerous Asian friends (and a Vietnamese best one), I laugh and agree that food=love, food=fun, food=etc.
Minato's Laundromat is on another level... that's the one to watch..
Thank you Bl Critic, I watched this beautiful series because of you.💖💖💖. I liked it very much. Really one of the best bls of 2022. Once again Thank you 😊.
You're welcome...
Critic, Dallas, & John Master, I almost had an aneurysm when they didn't kiss in the alley. 😤 Thank-you to Dallas for cluing me in to this series. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
It may be controversial, but I'm glad that Kozue, and Togawa's first cognizant of their mutual feelings kiss, wasn't had in a dark alley in Tokyo. I also think that if those two had started their kiss, it would have been difficult to stop the escalation of their emotions/feelings.
I think it’s up to the viewers point of view on what they consider to be the best I guess but for it’s delicious but I’m also in love with senpai this can’t be love so I can’t really decide just yet cause it’s still airing. You are definitely on to something about old fashioned cupcake and I also want more sometimes with Japanese drama I be like just kiss😌 or if your gonna go this far🫣 might as well keep going🥹🤭 lol but I’m fine if it stop at kissing or holding hands🙂🤗
Love your channel🥰😍
I liked that the leads were adults rather than blushing schoolboys. I do wish, though, that the writers had let the actors have a few more adult moments like a deep kiss or even an intimate caress or two. A series doesn't have to go full KinnPorsche to bring a little intimacy into it. Like you, I also felt that it was too short and could have used a few more episodes. Even if a series is X-rated, one can still add some non-X scenes, right?
While I liked the series and think it's well above average, I don't know that I'm ready to give it top scores. I'll give it a 7 with the possibility to go higher based on what other series may come out later.
Definitely is among my best series! This series gave me some Cherry Magic vibes,🤩 Togawa reminds me Kurosawa from ChM, who was also looking after Adachi, he encouraged him and Togawa was doing the same for Nozue.And we got finally a kiss in japanese bl. I was also expecting a second kiss in the alley, but...
PS: Minato´s Laundromat, only two episodes and I´m hooked🤩
Minato's is showing a lot of promise... so far it is really good.
U got it right,eating is everything, even us eating while watching BL's
Anyway the highlight ~~~ i agree with you, the kissing scene really got my Mark
Its new style for kissing and then confessing,well its opposite by order,don't mind
Its indeed take me for re-watching almost more then 20 Times,i never Saw kabedon like that,Togawa really took over with his finger between Nozue lips 😳
I felt that addication to see since their both adult and how great they are potrayed the role
Yeah yeah,lastly,its really sad only 5 episode, maybe maybe their can make some episode special or season 2, hope so
Loved ur summary ~
hehe.. I missed adding 'eating while watching BL', thank you for reminding. 🤪🤪
To bounce off the Tigger-Gloomy model of Japanese BL interpretation established in the Comments of the prior video, OFC toyed with the formula by giving both characters scenes to be the gloomy one and also for both to be the spas--er, off-kilter one. In my head cannon this take signifies that once Togawa finishes his humanitarian effort to help Nozue unlock his sexual potential, both will be fully versatile.
Yes, they will be versatile, because Togawa has spent years imagining Kozue being "the one for him", even when Togawa and Kozue have experienced sex with someone else in their past.
I just saw this little short series from Japan, 8.2 Second Rule, very cute concept liked it, using desserts to catch your first love, not a 10 but maybe a maybe a 8.2 haha.
Yeah.. it's on my list.. somebody recommended me in here only. It's on yt and still I ma not having the time to watch it. .
When you have the time, also check out a Chinese short movie called Let's Wait for the Rain to Stop, very cute actors, very poetic, wish the subs were better.
@@samtab2364 I just watched that short film last night.
@@VixenByNight72 what did you did you think??
@@samtab2364 I liked the short film, because I know that there is a ban in China on "positive portrayals" based on fictionalized LGBTQ+ characters, but the screenwriter, director, and actors were able to convey the instant attraction the two young male characters had towards each other. Two very different characters, who saw something interesting in one another.
It is in my top 4 so far with Favoritism of the Gods , Semantic Error and Blueming.
I feel it has the best acting and fascinated by dark tone it took . Your shot of the cover and going to do fun “little girl” things indicates a flufffest!
Where does Favoritism of the Gods stream?
Favoritism is on my list... heard a lot about it in the comment section. I also wanna know where to what it?
@@blcritic do not “what” it!!!😂
@@justdave3153 😂😂
@@blcritic take a look at my reply on your fave 2022 series video. Search the person I mentioned
"...pink stage [?!] will always bring out the child in [someone]." As the parent of a teen-age girl [sample quote from age 15: "why don't boys like me?"] , I read that reaction as an extension of the teen-age girl metaphor first deployed as the pretext for visiting the dessert shops. But I think you're correct that nervously checking a phone* to see if someone called is not the sole domain of teen-agers. That behavior universalized Nozue's anguish. And, in the process, greatly enhanced the character's charm.
*--Back in my day, we used to lift the phone off the hook and listen for a dial tone to make sure the phone was working. Possibly, every few minutes. Cause, you know, one of our idiot, inconsiderate siblings might not have hung up another receiver properly, and therefore a busy signal might be obstructing the incoming 📞 call. Raise your hand if you've been there...
Oh John, the phone reminiscing gave me a hearty laugh! And one used to leave the phone at home!
@@ronhilton9614 Truly, it never even occurred to take the phone along.
@@johnmaster3748 ...and you would have had to disconnect that lonnng cord and how would you ever get it into your pocket!?
lol that old phone era... thank god.. when it was my time to fall in love, god made cell phones widely accessible. We still have one.. comes with the plan.
👋
I do not think it is the best of 2022, but for sure one of the best. I really loved it. Was it to short? Should it have been longer? For me it was just right. Instead of the full meal which can often leave you stuffed or bloated we have a nice dessert. Also I think one of the things that the Japanese excel at is the intergenerational love story, we see it with this series, we have seen it in the past with Ossan's Love, Pornographer, Cherry Magic and now with Minato's Coin Laundry (Wash My Heart). I think it is very much part of their culture, as is male love and S and M but it has always been in the shadows. The novels, movies, porn has always been there if you knew where to look, glad the popularity of bl is bringing it more into the light. Where as the Japanese have a way of questioning and normalizing things, love is love, the Thai's have a way of making it kinda creepy. When I see the intergenerational relationships in Cutie Pie or the S and M in Unforgotten Night it makes me feel there is something wrong here. Is it cultural? BLC?
Well, Thai's have been having intergenerational relationships irrespective of orientation since ages, S and M, well I can't say, but they are still unable to show it nicely on the screen.
I think there is something regarding those particular topics, that the authors and scriptwriters don't really understand, but they use it as a way to challenge themselves to create a world based in a BL drama. Or hoping that the skinship will be enough to get viewers from noticing the lack of comprehensible plot/character development.
I think Sam's question about why one culture can tackle sexual topics which yields a result that "questions and normalizes things" while another yields results that feel "creepy" invites a deeper deconstruction of cultural taboos around depicting sex than we can adequately manage in a YT comments section without oversimplifying one culture or the other. (Note: not taboos around sex; taboos around public discussion of sex.) I am no expert in either culture, but it's always seemed to me that the Japanese are more open about having those discussions than many other cultures. That practical, frank approach to a sensitive topic may explain the more sophisticated treatment of the subject matter, because the culture is accustomed to having conversations in this realm. If Thailand would have censored these topics in the recent past, if these topics would have been unfit for a popular broadcast entertainment, then that now-eroded taboo could easily account for the clunky way Thai series deal with it. The writers may simply have no clue where to locate the unspoken (and recently shifted) boundaries of acceptability.
@John Master: couldn't agree more. ..
GREAT VIDEO 💕💕💕
Hi Bestie!
I do think that it is one of the best from Japan, but overall in BL, it's ok. The lack of romantic affection besides that one stolen kiss is something that plaques a lot of Japanese BL's and other heterosexual romantic dramas, it's like they're afraid of showing more of their affection and infatuation besides constantly moaning how someone is "pretty" or "handsome" and basing their whole interest in the person on looks (at least the ones that I have watched, they rarely show us how their relationship deepens on more personal level, like getting to know the other person more intimately through talking to them, taking interest in their life, interests and hobbies. I've seen Japanese BL movies with more chemistry than these dramas, truth to be told). But overall I liked this drama, at least it showed more mature pairing and about things that older people can experience when it comes to love, relationships of every kind and the reality of working like a horse for what...
I have bengee- watched it. At first I tried to understand who was who and solved the problem by checking their lips 😃 I feel my life as the 39 year-old-man lead😀 to me Japanese Bls are good for story, I like their stories. However, intimacy is lacking in the series considering that i know so much about their real life LGBTQIA2S commmunity. They can show much more 😃
Hi B L Critic---will you be doing a commentary on the KinnPorsche finale? I am sure it would be good and stimulate a lot of discussion.
I will, may be over the weekend, till then everybody will have watched it.
@@blcritic Good plan BLC. Thanks for response. I plan to drop in more often. May I ask where your work here originates? I am in California USA
I am currently in New South Wales
@@blcritic BLC, thanks for the share. I will Google your location to learn more. Not your home address, just the country .Ha ha
haha sorry... I am currently in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. I live and work in Bangkok, Thailand though.
Its obvious someone's not watching TRIAGE.
Go watch TRIAGE
I think it was short & sweet. I liked it precisely because it was short and crisp. Togawa was smouldering hot.After, Insarin and actor who plays Yanase in Senpai....Togawa., omg such overdose of good looking,cute men makes my real life look boring. I think Nozue was scatterbrained about liking Togawa until the last episode. I am surprised however in 40 years not once Nozue questioned his sexuality and his casual attitude towards marriage or going after women?? I wish they had elaborated on what got Nozue so mundane & tired at 39.
Nozue's cluelessness about his sexuality in general, and about Togawa's increasingly apparent infatuation specifically, both make sense if we consider that Nozue at some point in his life (probably early in his 20s) shut down his sexuality and just ignored that part of being human. (I would compare him to Lovely Writer's Gene, who had no romantic history to speak of until jolted into self-awareness by a suitor he neither expected nor knew he wanted.) He'd have had no reason to question his sexuality if he repressed it altogether. That said, he did seem rather adept at deflecting interest from his female colleagues before they could become invested in pursuing him, but apparently failed to recognize a similar intent when it came from a man.
@@johnmaster3748 That would make sense. Nozue seemed unaware or pretended to be unaware of female attention. However, he didn't take a lot of time to respond to Togawa's confession even though he was taken aback when Togawa kissed him.
@@johnmaster3748 in my perspective Togawa was caught when Nozue had that talk on the street the day they met. Nozue was attracted to Togawa also on the day of the job interview and took him for a drink - watching the scene where he looked up at Togawa with his hand on his shoulder - i felt the sparks then between them. Togawa being younger went with his attrction and his feelings developed where as Nozue giving his all to his work got bound in a rut and routine comfort. Though unconsciously Nozue was attracted - he admitted to his attraction in the alley to Togawa. Also in their first dessert outing when Togawa was stuffing his face Nozue flashed back to the meeting on the street and Togawa had stuffed his mouth plus the repetiton of his own words to Togawa felt familiar, there was a sweet smile on Nozue face and he invited him to drinks after work saying it had been a long time. I loved it when Nozue responded to all 3 quick kisses from Togawa with his unexpected passion even to himself, there was no hesitation in the response. Only when his brain kicked in did the resistance set in. 2 times he reached out to caress Togawa's head both times it was an automatic response from his suppressed feelings and both times he caught himself and withdrew his hand not completing the caress. There are a few more instances when Nozue was caught suddenly and his response he shut down. The micro movements of expression of feelings on both their parts was/ is facinating to watch and catch. Both actors did a phenomenal job. As you can tell i love this series. I start and end my day rewatching all 5 eps. Every day for 6 weeks and counting till i loose interest, till now it brings me comfort. as a side note everyone talking about KinnPorsche I cannot bring myself to watch it - I have to figure that one out - what kneejerk reaction does this contain within myself.
@@irilumi I have not watched Kinn Porsche. Let's hold out together?
@@johnmaster3748 sure will. Have you watched "Tale of a1000 Stars" it is on my fab list, lot of hidden action no one has thought about yet.
what is the name of the novel I wanna read it?
Where's the cupcake? I kept waiting for a cupcake scene. I jest of course as Nozue is the old fashion cupcake. I completely identified with being seduced by food. Take me to cute cafes, feed me, and I will follow you home (LOL). Togawa's initial plan of seduction with food was brilliant. He knew he needed to break Nozue out of his robotic life if he had any chance with him.
Japan succeeds at the super cute or the super weird. Finding the right mix of cute and sexy has been hit or miss. Progress is being made with the increase in shirtless scenes. I would have loved a kiss in the alley but I can understand why they held back as they were in public. The number of kisses or skinship scenes in a drama can affect its rating.
As our BL Critic pointed out, Japan continues to have a same sex marriage ban. It is a very complicated issue especially for Japan which has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. It used to be #1 a few years ago. I suspect this is part of the reason why and yet yaoi originated in Japan. Such a dichotomy.
No, you're entirely correct about the missing Cupcake 🧁! As someone partial to frosted confections, I felt betrayed this false advertising! The inclusion of the seldom-seen, underappreciated pancake 🥞 mollified me somewhat. But is it a coincidence that I baked Cupcakes a week ago? For the first time in years? No, I say. The title triggered an appetite, which the series did not virtually sate, requiring my oven to provide the real-world answer. For the record, they were good.
"I would have loved a kiss in the alley but I can understand why they held back as they were in public." As a BL fan, I also felt cheated out of that kiss; but as an international observer of a Japanese story, I took their physical response as insight into how comfortable gay men on the street might be to show affection. Yes, it might apply to any PDA, but it felt LGBT specific to me.
@@johnmaster3748 Who doesn't love a good cupcake? I unwrap the cupcake and tear off a section of the bottom cake to put it on top of the frosting like a cap. It becomes a cupcake sandwich with the frosting in the middle. Easier to eat that way too. ;)
@@deborahw2770 this is brilliant!
Yes, Japan does excel at the super weird and super cute, sometimes at the same time! And the fact that yaoi and BL originated in Japan isn't lost on me, either.
For me, this was hard to get through. It bored me for some reason. Not the charm of Minato’s Laundry or Mr Lucky Has No Choice.
Minato's is top class... Old Fashion Cupcake is also good, but ya I agree, sometimes it happens with me too... some so called good ones are 'Meh' to me...
@@blcritic Minato’s is so good though the story is simple. I don’t know what it was about Old Fashion Cupcake. Maybe it was because Nozue’s face was so expressionless or maybe it suffered not being able to compare to excitement and exceptional production of KinnPorsche. I might need to adjust my expectations after KinnPorsche! 🤣
Waaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh