Offline Love

I cannot believe how deeply this show touched me. I'm not one to write reviews but I feel a responsibility to do so because of how beautiful I believe this series to be. The idea of Offline Love is that the people in the show find each other without their phones or any other devices, going on dates and writing letters to each other. They only spend 10 days in the same city, which makes their time even more valuable. This format truly brings out the best interactions and forces the participants to be braver, more human, and more intentional. I don't know if this is particular to Japanese culture, but the level of politeness, respect, and the lack of drama between people dating each other and between potential rivals is a true breath of fresh air in reality tv. The commentary in between is also extremely entertaining and warm, it feels like you're watching the show with good friends who want the best for the people involved in the show. Having to watch Offline Love with subtitles also forces the viewer, in case they don't speak Japanese, to pay attention to every line. This personally made me enjoy it more deeply and it made me feel a lot more present than if I would scroll my phone while passively watching. The people on the show are extremely kind, open, and compassionate, and their love stories are complex, dramatically beautiful, and painfully real in the best possible way. I also think the men deserve a shoutout for being softer, more honest, and kinder than what many of us are used to in not only tv, but also in every day life. I think this series shows us that an offline love is still very much possible in a modern world, and it provides young people with a great example of how to approach dating and friendship. I hope there will be many seasons to come, and I thank the creators of this show for an absolute masterpiece. Arigato.