4gatsu no Tokyo wa ...

"While we were apart [...] I felt like I was drifting at sea. But whenever I thought of you, I could keep going. I knew exactly which way to go."

"Ren, you are my everything, my life, my Tokyo in April."

Kazuma and Ren's love story is truly heartbreaking and so beautiful. I really like that the story encompasses past events and their reunion, the impacts their feelings had and have on them are underlined quite well by thus.

This is a very short series of eight episodes that is based on a Japanese manga. However, I write this review without having read the manga.

Nevertheless, I absolutely love that the Asian productions I watched so far all stay true to the original, not changing anything, just making the story come to live. And this is worth so, so much.

A truly outstanding drama. Complex, emotional, affirming and very well executed. The story of first love, lost then found, told over a decade. Starts with a declaration of finding first love, and then goes back a decade of backstory. Reveals itself to be a complex, innocent, quite dark at times, but always with a sweet overtone. It then ultimately is a story of finding, losing and regaining that love. Performances are exceptional, across all characters, but the leads are outstanding (both as teenagers and adults). Completely believable, totally compelling. The ten year span allows for dramatic use of the changing norms. The sincerity of the storytelling is powerfully done.

This series is suitable for viewers who like BL stories with a focus on characterization and emotional development, as opposed to romance that is too light or rushed. If you like complex and meaningful love stories, Tokyo in April is... worth watching. The pacing of the story is quite slow, but this gives the audience room to understand the feelings of the two main characters. Flashbacks are used well to show their past relationship and the emotional impact of their breakup. The chemistry between the leads is strong, which is one of the series' strong points. The actors who play Kazuma and Ren manage to display a complexity of emotions, from confusion to deep longing. The audience is invited to feel their emotional journey, especially when they face old wounds that have not healed. The series' cinematography makes good use of the Tokyo setting, creating a melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere. The series may feel slow for some viewers, but for those who love heartfelt emotional stories, Tokyo in April is... a satisfying watch.