BLISS RATING: ★★★
“Misfits deal with the double-edged reality of having our differences act as the source of both our challenges as well as our successes.” – Tiffany L. Jackson
This started out fun, dippy, and cute. The protagonists are, to say the least, quirky, eccentric, and not quite in touch with themselves. But oh, so adorable. The Japanese are very good with self-depreciating humor with voice-over projection and physical comedy enhancements. And for the most part, at least the first half, it all worked. The connection between two of the oddest characters in any BL I have seen was a real stroke of genius.
Koto Fukuhara (Sota Ryosuke) is a hapless, a bit disheveled individual who has an uncanny ability to have ‘bad luck’ follow him around like a shadow. But he exudes charm, and a certain magnetism that draws you to him. Perhaps because of his odd personality of seemingly there but ‘dancing to a beat of a different drummer’. He wears a trench coat almost constantly and it is as much a part of his identity as his quirky personality. (For those old enough to remember, he is like the character of Colombo in an old American TV series by that name). Fukuhara is obsessed with wanting to break the curse of his bad luck and believes that if he can be with someone the opposite of him, his luck will change.
This person is none other than Shinomiya Naoya. Naoya has ‘everything’ – incredibly good luck, (astonishing) good looks and popularity. And Koto is just the opposite – awkward, seemingly unkempt, and pretty much a loner. Yet, Koto has one thing that is enviable – viridity bordering on innocence. He simply goes up to Naoya and asks if he can be with him. Unbeknownst to Koto, Naoya has been attracted to Koto for a long time and agrees unconditionally to be with him. But Naoya is thinking ‘boyfriend’ as the end game while Koto is thinking merely connecting so some of his good luck will rub off on him.
As they spend more time together, both find out a lot more about each other. Not only does a friendship develop but something else stirs between them. Koto’s luck changes. But as Koto starts to really see Naoya, he begins to also see a person steeped in sadness and loneliness. As the reason why people want to hang out with him is because of his good looks and his good luck, not because of who he is. Naoya has this almost insatiable need to want to help others at the expense of getting lost in truly finding out who he is. In a confrontation with Naoya’s ‘so called friends”, Koto gets angry with them for only wanting to use him and not really wanting to be with him as a friend. It is at this point, Koto realizes he has done the same thing to Naoya as his so-called friends he just railed to and fought with. He only wanted to use him in the hope his good luck with rub off on him. Koto confesses that to Naoya, tearfully, and realizes that his feelings for Naoya are way stronger and deeper than he realized. But he is ashamed and feels guilty for using him like that. Up to this point, the story is cute and entertaining and frankly on point.
But then it takes an unexpected twist that makes no sense and brings this series down. Sure, there is a reconciliation. Slowly, Koto realized two things. His bad luck is not him but of circumstances. Two, he really loves being with Naoya. But the very thing they both now want becomes a romp through silliness. It is and was glaringly obvious that both like each other, from the beginning of meeting, but for some strange reason, Koto is unable or unwilling to reciprocate in his feelings for Naoya. Naoya is head over heels in love with Koto, but Koto is not ready. In a stunningly and rather astonishingly beautiful exchange at the aquarium, Naoya asks for a kiss. While Koto is desirous of this, he cringes and is still not ready yet. Noaya, in a charming way, only kisses him on the cheek and says, “It’ll be on the lips the next time, when I am allowed.” From that point on, it was obvious that both had deep and strong feelings for each other. For the remainder of this series, there are such tender moments, but always a pull back from a truer expression of love. And unfortunately, there never is in this series. Both seemed afraid, more so Koto for sure, to want to commit. Therefore, there is not even a simple kiss.
This series made me reflect how deeply sad these two individuals really are. Their perceived traits have defined them already. One feeling like a loser by having no luck and the other feeling as if good luck is a curse that only others want from him. Yet, both seem strangely content in having this odd platonic relationship where they can be themselves, feel safe with each other, and pretend like they are in a relationship. However, I am not sure either is capable of taking it to the next level nor perhaps want to take it to another level. Indeed, I found this one of the saddest Bls I have ever seen. Both men love each other but are incapable of intimacy.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? This was a well-acted series, indeed. But I would have to give a slight nod to Sota Ryosuke as Koto Fukuhara for this distinction. He was bubbly, effervescent, and had just enough non-conventional quirkiness to him to make him unique without being too bizarre. His thinking out loud to himself was very good and his timing in response to those conversations in his head was perfect with impeccable precision. His physical comedy when he is literally thinking out loud was a joy to watch and quite funny at times. He could also draw deeply into his character’s own self to display some pretty strong feelings for Naoya that came across as new for him and not in his usual repertoire on how to respond. He can act and he made his character incredibly endearing and fun to watch.
Despite the ending where they are romping around in bed, giggling, and teasing each other on the bed like two school-aged boys exploring their newfound-connection to each other, it was so profoundly sad that they still could not bring it a higher, deeper level of intimacy. It could clearly be shown throughout the series that they found being with one another fun and were falling in love with each other. Yet, the theme was to make them grovel around with no serious thought to making them lovers. I found that very sad and immeasurably disappointing. What is wrong with showing two rather genuine misfits actually fall in love and show them capable of being in love, and being passionate about it? Perhaps even starting with a real simple kiss.
Overall, this is a well-acted series that is fluffy and had potential to show that even two misfits can fall in love. But instead, they are turned into awkward characters, best seen only from a distance. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would have been for two nonchalant individuals, deeply in love, to actually have a loving, tender meaningful relationship known only to them. That would have been another defining moment for the term – love. I concluded this is a B story with the L.
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