BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“The heart is neither given nor stolen. The heart surrenders.” – Steven Erickson, House of Chains
This is a continuing story that pokes fun at itself and the whole world of BL. Both seasons spoofed BLs and yet I think, they do so honorably. (Perhaps watched best back-to-back). For those unfamiliar with the world of BL, this is your series. For those of us who are familiar with BL, this is our series. We can see our mirrored selves here. What these series have done are so aptly, in a tongue-in-cheek fashion, narrate the romance of what BL is. And it is hysterical. And done in a unique way that only the Japanese can. Their form of comedy is done through facial expressions, talk overs, overexaggerated scenes, and physical comedy. It is beautiful to watch, and I adored it. I must confess, however, some of it I did not grasp as the references were a bit obscure for me but that did not take away from the beauty of this series. I also got a bit lost in the translations being somewhat ‘off’ but again none of that distracted from these series.
The story focuses on Mob, played with such adroitness by Inukai Atsuhiro. Mob thinks of himself as existing in a world of BL manga. Forces are attempting to bring him to become an active participant in this world. All around him are BL couples connecting as if it was simply the natural thing to do. And in his world, it is. So, he fancies himself as an observer – sometimes passively but in many cases overtly affecting relationships. He does so mainly so he does not become a BL boy. After all, he is straight and must resist at all costs getting into this world on a personal level. The problem is BL is everywhere and he sees it everywhere. Even his own younger brother is not immune to its charm and wiles.
This series tackles almost every trope you can image in BLs. From the formulaic relationship developments, to the immature trials of maintaining relationships, to the breakups based on superficial reasons, to getting back together again in total bliss. And they are all hysterical and completely spot-on. Nearly every spoof in this series can be referenced in almost all of your favorite BLs, I am sure. From the stunningly beautiful boys falling for mediocre looking (or unworthy in some fashion) guys, to getting into trouble because you are drunk, to trying to avoid all the reasons why guys fall in love with another guy, to misinterpreted interpersonal relationships with another male other than your partner. It is all here. They come fast and furious and are a joy to watch. The cast of characters in these series are the platitudinous ones you see in almost all BLs but done so in such a fashion that we see their traits in a humorous way and done so to poke fun at the BL world.
The chronicle is so hard to summarize. It is surreal at times, spoofy at others, mocking most of the time, but will make you think. As Mob says, “In the world of BL, you never know the gender of beauty”. But in this case, we do. It is always male. There is a stupefying reference to a female that attempts to seduce one of the guys. She cannot but if she tells him she is really a male, she can. I howled at this obvious reference to the nonsense in so many BLs where you fall in love with the person, not the gender. This twist completely throws that asinine notion out the window in such a beautifully metaphorical way. This series is replete with these platitudes in BLs that are really not so.
It is not all fun and games, however. There are some very serious moments in these series that touched me deeply and profoundly. For example, when Mob’s brother has difficulties with his boyfriend, he tells him to talk to his boyfriend and attempt to resolve the issue. The brother, startled by this response as it is so reflective, tells his brother to not go through life with regret. A most touching scene and one his brother took to heart. It is so impactful as it seems to be coming from a place of experience, yet we are not aware that Mob had such feelings for anyone.
As hard as Mob tries, he becomes smitten and drawn to a guy. It is not for any of the usual reasons in BLs that are superficial such as looking into his eyes and ‘knowing’ but is done on a completely and deeply intrinsic level. And this person also loves him completely and deeply for intrinsic reasons. There is a Romeo and Juliet quality to the story between Mob and Kikuchi, played so discerningly deeply by Asahi Itou.
While these two do not have many sequences together and there are not long drawn out scenes, or endless episodes of them getting to know each other, or staring into each other’s eyes, yet you sense and are cognizant they are in love with each other. Their love for one another is NOT externally driven such as looks, money, status, or power, but how each affected the other on a level so intrinsic that only each of them would understand. I found that so moving and touching and defined love unique to them. Almost too late, both have profound regrets, and those regrets lead to the one chimera that is universal in almost all BL including this one – communion. That concept seems almost universal unattainable.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? This is an exceptionally well-acted series. Doing tongue and cheek could end up as parody figures but these performers are not. They are all so astonishingly sincere that I believed that they believed they were in a comic book world. However, it is Atsuhiro Inukai who exemplifies and distinguishes himself in his role. He IS Mob. He portrays himself as an island to himself and embodies his make-believe character as real. The way he stares at people as if he is studying them and appreciates where they are coming from. His physical comedy is funny but makes it so much a part of the story that you hardly notice it. The timing is sheer perfection. But it is his facial expressions – bewilderment, relief, sadness, concern, panic, deep thought, self-righteousness, sorrow, regret that are evident. You read them all. It is an absorbing performance in both series, and you actually get to see his character grow from simply being an observer to a participant, sometimes, willingly but a lot of time with deep self-doubt. One of the best actors in a BL I have ever seen. Kudos!
A word must be said about the role of Mob and his brother’s parents. They are hysterical and NOT because they are funny but because they represent what is the opposite of what parent are supposed to be. They are passive, aloof, in their own world and always and I mean always eating. The mother is into soap operas and has no idea of what is going on in the world or her family. Ironically, if she were to ‘see’ her sons, she would know that they are living in a soap opera. They are completely oblivious of what is happening with their sons and indeed seem to care little. This is again the direct anthesis of BL parents who are either accepting, unaccepting, or controlling, or are not in the picture at all.
These parents while present, are simply shells. They are no source of comfort, guidance, direction, nor are they fearful, angry, upset, or terrified of their sons becoming gay. They are not even in the same world. I found all of this so astonishingly interesting and pure entertainment. I cannot tell if the real story here is that once a child reaches a certain age, any pearls of wisdom or gems of knowledge coming from parents are really meaningless and therefore not significant. Therefore, the parents are, in this world, represented as insignificant? If you are familiar with the story of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factor, these parents are Willie’s grandparents. (I know that is a bit obscure, but I think true).
I also appreciated the singing numbers in the beginning of each episode. It is a bit flamboyant and over-the-top and whispers of “Bollywood”, but it just seems to work. Honestly, I do not know why. Perhaps because of the whimsical approach to these series and its flippant and irreverent approach to the sanctity of BL.
I just know I am not conveying with any real clarification of what these series are about nor its impact on me. Obviously, comedies, but they have such a profound message of love and hope at the end, that I was deeply moved. I saw and believed their relationship was genuine even though they only had a few scenes together. The relationship between Mob and Kikuchi was real in a world that was not. It was believable, plausible, and so passionate without a passionate scene.
I loved these series. I could watch them all grow, slip and fall, form relationships, and then breakup because they are living real in a fantasy world rather than a (BL) fantasy living in the real world. I loved this juxtaposition.
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