Utsukushii kare

I started watching this series after having read many positive reviews and thus had high expectations. At this point I should say that although I enjoy watching BL dramas, I am not a "fan", in the sense that I do not watch them for the thrill of seeing two cute guys kissing (although this is definitely a plus) but for the story, the development of the characters and the coherence of the plot. Unfortunately none of this seems to be the case here. A (partially) abusive high-schooler falls for the class's most bullied guy, who actually stalks him, but does not tell him and only treats him with superiority. No person in his right mind would fall for him, unless one suffering from some kind of Stockholm syndrome. The fact that he is the "most beautiful person" is psychologically not enough. So in a few words, the story sucks greatly. There is no evolution of the characters whatsoever, the main leads are either self-indulging or continuously self-pitying, and all six episodes spend a great amount of time in blurry reminiscence of past events (not serving the purpose of realization of present ones). The acting is mediocre (the crying is OK, but apart from this nothing more).

I was really disappointed, because I thought that today'sBL dramas had moved forward (in fact they have, there are many modern mature stories, the authors of which know how to write captivating stories with real content).

Just a final remark. If I consider this as a low-budget BL story intended for secretly admiring all-male romance, then it's OK.

Perhaps one more remark as after all. I realize that the dating culture in Asia is different, but having lived there and having been in a relationship with an Asian for quite a few years now, I can assure you, things are not so extreme there. At least not anymore (might have been decades ago), so this is also no excuse for poor plot.

At first I was annoyed because of the character's behaviour but as I continued watching I fell in love with their toxic but deep relationship it was really well written and acting was perfect it's been a year but I still can't forget this masterpiece.

Hira Kazunari, a high school student who doesn't talk much, has no friends and belongs to the bottom of his class. The person he falls in love with at first sight is Kiyoi Sou. He is "The King" who doesn't hang out with anyone, is equally ruthless, and reigns at the top of the class. With the hope Sou will notice his presence, Kazunari serves him devotedly, running errands and buying lunch. But his faith in the absolute monarch gradually falls into lust.

~~ Adapted from the novel "He, Who is Beautiful"by Nagira Yuu

Personal Note: THIS IS NOT... your ordinary BL romance drama.

It is MUCH DEEPER than that; besides the flawless performances, beautiful Japanese leading men, their characters and personalities are severely flawed, which takes some time understanding.

I actually watched the entire series THREE TIMES, (a labor of love and appreciation!) and then I finally located a TRANSLATION of the Audio Book, and read through that, one chapter after each series segment... to fully understand the depths of the characters in this story.

It's the most moving and beautiful love story that I've ever read/watched.

There is a SPANISH translation of the novel which can be opened in Chrome, then right-clicked upon and select TRANSLATE to English, etc.

Note the first 5 scenes CLOSELY match the audio book, HOWEVER, the FINAL CHAPTERS of the book are rather intensely and graphically sexual, so these ending chapters were rather "ghosted" in (PG-13 style) within the Sixth and final video segment of the series.

As in many Japanese storytelling, this felt real, with many many layers and subtleties. In my experience Japan is never afraid to go outside the box with flawed characters and dark tropes, or tell a story others might not be brave enough to.

The acting is superb, and the character complexities are subtle. I can see why the boldness of narration in this story might trigger people to be mad and leave a lower rating, but sticking with this show to the end, looking behind a character's exterior to the emotions lying underneath each interaction, will bring all its light and beauty to the forefront. As I read recently, you'd rather a piece of art provoke 1* and 10*s than all 5*s.

As with reality, people are flawed. There are misunderstandings, nerves and social pressure getting in the way of honest communication, weird and creepy sides to us we rather others not see, insecurities and a lack of awareness of our own shortcomings. If you want an escape from reality with fluffy characters and story, this isn't it. Personally I find happy stories off-putting unless there's a journey to get there. These are people you might be able to relate to that we can empathize with. Lighting, scenery, and settings all play a part in feeling enclosed within their story and evoking our senses. The subtleties behind the conversations, but also the tones of voice, the expressions - they stick with you to the point where I think rewatching you would pick up on so much more.

There's probably more I could say, but I hope you give it a go. It deserves the spotlight. I'm a sucker for subtle art, one that doesn't feel pressured to scream to the masses, one where the characters are followed through properly. 10/10, go watch it 💛 Looking forward to the movie.

If you don't just look for fluff while watching a series, this is for you.

Utsukushii kare is a beautiful journey that will make us realize a lot that we don't.

Even though I know a lot of people who did not really understand the depth that is portrayed in the series, I think it was very heartwarming and realistic.

Both the characters beautifully written and acted so so well. The story will slowly grow on you and will make you dread for more from them, which I'm not sure about as this is adapted from a novel.

Acting 10/10 Story 10/10.