So, about a decade ago, there were these five movies that made up the whole Takumi-kun series. Now, the creators have come back with a six-episode show, with each part running about 25 minutes. I'm guessing they wanted to introduce a newer generation of BL fans to this world, but honestly, it backfired. The whole thing feels incredibly dated, like it’s completely out of touch with how modern BL shows are made today. Between a cast that’s way too crowded and a mountain of different couples to keep track of, the storytelling is just a total train wreck that doesn't make a lick of sense. The whole thing takes place at an all-boys boarding school. You’ve got Gii, who just moved back from the States and is the son of a super wealthy CEO, and he's roommates with Takumi. Right from the very first episode, Gii is basically obsessed, taking every chance he gets to shout his feelings from the rooftops. Takumi is really shy and has no clue how to handle all that heat, so he just doe...
Season 2 instantly delves into the lives Hira and Kiyoi are trying to build together. Kiyoi attempts to further his dreams of being an actor, while Hira still struggles to find where he fits in. As we know they still have an unconventional relationship. Kiyoi is doing well in his acting career, but Hira is struggling with what do next. He is part of photography club, but still lacks confidence to pursue that as his career. His friends and Kiyoi both try and motivate him to take the next step and apply for some photography contest to make his presence. Meanwhile Kiyoi is still struggling to work on Hira's self confidence issues, waiting for him to say just once 'he likes him'. As much as Kiyoi probably enjoys the attention, he also wants Hira to love him of who he is, not because he idolizes him and worships him and doesn't. Think of himself as Kiyoi's equal. Hira still sees himself as an unworthy partner to Kiyoi, like a pebble to this beautiful king. Kiyoi gets annoyed with Hira's insecurities and calls him "creepy" or "disgusting". Towards the end, Hire does manage to find a job thanks to push from his friends and Kiyoi and in a very unlike his character move kisses Kiyoi.
While season one focused more on Hira's point of view, I feel here we get to see things from Kiyoi's POV. He likes being admired and taken care of by Hira, but he also wants to be loved and be boyfriend just like anyone else. He has had enough of God like reverence by Hira. What we have here are two polar opposite men fighting different types of insecurity. The toxicity isn’t in the While Hira battles that part of himself that feels undeserving and less than in both seasons, Kiyoi finds it hard to trust others and be honest with himself. Hira deals with this by being meek and easily controlled, while Kiyoi was/is dominantly controlling. And yet, they make each other stronger. Not because they’re good at making each other feel better, but because both felt invisible except to each other. This season delves less into Kiyoi’s weaknesses and more into the wall around Hira that has yet to be broken. Where Kiyoi’s shields are his attitude and words, Hira’s shield is his camera. Insecurity is a dark beast. Kiyoi finds the key to his insecurity by realizing he craves Hira’s devotion and the attention he gets when being on camera, but he also desires feeling equal to Hira when off the stage. Hira finds beauty in Kiyoi but never quite finds the self-acceptance he must embrace to see beyond his camera lens.
It's an interesting perspective and if you really tried hard, there are a lot of hidden, sub verse things going on in the show. There is a lot of symbolism as well going on. It's the external photographer who help Hira realize his potential and break his wall of insecurities. Even if I don't always agree with the twisted messages about love, I can appreciate the intricate storytelling. Best of all, the talented actors inject vibrant enthusiasm and vivid personality into their roles. They handle the comedic, dramatic, and romantic material elegantly. Apparently this season is going to be followed up by a movie and it will be interesting to see how their relationship evolves. While the conclusion seems firm and decisive, it's open-ended enough. (6.5/10)
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