My Personal Weatherman (2023)

a unique living room drama with a lot of heart

I went into this show confused, as in I had gotten the false impression that this was a show about a man struggling with depression. And while it's not Not that... it turns out this is not the show that the tumblr gifsets showed me. I was really happy with what this show was though! Circular, slow, and domestic, what I truly loved about this show was how unique and unchanging the characters were. Very little changes about their situation throughout the show, but their understanding and point of view is completely different. Each episode is compelling and complete, despite it's bite-sized run time. It's simple, but it works really well.

-The Full Review-

STORY:
I love this story. The characters are so unique and their problems are unique to them. Several times throughout the course of the series there's the set up for an event that 99% of the world would fine completely mundane (like working with a friend a coffee shop), that the audience knows is going to be a disaster because of these two people's personalities. It's not just very fun, it's great character work. Everything feels hand-tailored to this story and this story alone.
I also truly love how understated the story, and particularly the ending of the story, is. The story fits the characters created by it and the amount of growth they've gone through in the series. It never takes the Romantic, quick fix when it's clear the characters are not ready to admit their true feelings. It's frustrating, but in a satisfying way that gives the conflict depth and truth. And it allows the ending scene to shine so brightly despite it's simplicity.

ACTING:
For the most part, I was really impressed by the acting in this series! It's pretty hard to successfully pull off characters who are so closed off and keep things so close to their chest. Both actors did a wonderful job of letting that armor crack occasionally, and showing what was brewing underneath. They built a very natural, despite the unusual circumstances, chemistry with each other that drove the entire story.
I also really appreciated the humor and energy that Manju added to the story. No part of the story really drags, but her energy and light really carries the show through the sadder and more emotional moments without becoming mired in the sadness. She played well with both leads, revealing sides of their personality that the other had never seen before.

PRODUCTION:
This was a really simple show, but all the elements of production worked together quite nicely. I think the real star of the show here is the lighting, which effortless transforms a basic apartment from something simple, to some stifling and cold, to some warm and homey over and over again as the leads clash and come to understandings. The costume design was also excellent, playing a huge role in softening Segasaki, especially in his younger years.

INTIMACY:
While the NC scenes were well done and used purposefully, I loved how what really shined in this show was the casual intimacy they clearly lacked in the beginning of the show. The most vulnerable and intimate scenes--the bath scene, Yoh getting drunk and clingy, early morning cuddling before they were both really awake--were both rare and startling in their softness.
I also really loved how many different types of intimacy were portrayed in such a short run time, with very little judgement on any of them. Particularly, the note about sex and misery (despair? can't remember the exact wording?) going hand-in-hand was a breath of fresh air. Each scene of intimacy felt specific, purposeful, and tailored to these specific characters. Very well done.

In all, I had a great time with this series and highly recommend it! They did so much justice to this premise and this script, and clearly put a huge amount of care into the series.

Leia Mais

No es una serie muy común

La serie no es la típica así que eso atrae mucho.

Acabo de terminar esta historia, semanas pegada a ella viendo de episodio en episodio y ya acabo! debo decir que me gusto bastante, pero cogi muchos piques (me enoje) porque ellos no son tan claros con lo que sienten y quieren y es como jugar a adivinar con ambos personajes, porque uno sabe lo que quiere y siente cada uno pero entre ellos es un juego de adivinar, casi que me daban ganas de entrar y decirle par de cosas a cada uno.

Pero quitando eso la serie es muy buena y me gusto, creo que es una serie que se puede disfrutar mas si se ven completa de una sentada, al ser corta en 4 horas ya esta terminada.

Los personajes en si un poco tóxicos en especial Segasaki, y Yoh demasiado sumiso, quizás por eso se complementaban, pero igual, la comunicación... todo lo que dice de esta serie es a base de la comunicación, que para el espectador se puede volver estresante.

Con respecto a lo visual de la serie en momento sientes el mismo encierro que Yoh, aveces crees que es prisionero, y luego te das cuenta que el solo es prisionero de lo que cree... es particular la convivencia de ambos, la escenografía y los colores te transmiten tantos y aveces se siento frio el ambiente y así mismo percibes la comunicación de los portas, considero que la ambientación y escenografía van mucho a la historia que nos cuenta y me gusta, no todos pueden lograr transmitirnos emociones acordes a lo que los personajes están pasando, y no cualquier pues volver un mismo espacio frio a cálido y con tantos matices, eso me pareció muy bueno en la producción.

La recomiendo? pues si, es una linda historia, no muy complicada y es un sube y baja de emociones, creo que la forma de comunicarse de los personajes es un poco estresante como había descrito antes, y todavía al final en los últimos segundos seguían teniendo esos temas de comunicación... pero si es linda la historia y los protagonistas son muy bellos ambos, lo ves y te enamoras de ellos.

La historia te dan ganas de repetirla, en mi caso no, soy de esas que prefiere repetir escenas y sin duda es probable que las repita, porque s tengo escenas que me encantaron.

Leia Mais

Elements of power dynamics and dependency

Japanese BL series have a knack for venturing into uncharted territories when it comes to plotlines, and "Taikan Yoho" is no exception. The series presents a unique array of characters, albeit not entirely fleshed out, allowing viewers to gain a sense of their backgrounds. From the very first episode, it plunges into the heart of the main storyline, gradually peeling back the layers of our two central characters.

The narrative revolves around Mizuki, a renowned and attractive weatherman, who shares his apartment with Yoh, an up-and-coming manga artist. Their peculiar connection is defined by a verbal contract, obligating Yoh to obey Mizuki's every command. As the story unfolds, we delve deeper into their relationship, largely through Yoh's introspective monologues and Mizuki's enigmatic backstory. While the initial premise appears distinct, the series eventually treads the familiar ground of miscommunication, misunderstandings, jealousy, and an ambiguous romantic relationship between the protagonists. Predictably, a supportive friend enters the scene to resolve the conflicts.

The series boasts a promising start. It effectively plants the seed of uncertainty regarding Mizuki's true feelings for Yoh. Is it genuine love, or merely a means to fulfill his desires? This lingering doubt could have been an excellent foundation if fully explored. Unfortunately, the plot at times trivializes significant issues, using them as instruments to convey one character's feelings for the other. Themes such as consent, depression, and abuse are woven within romantic contexts, which might give viewers pause and detract from their overall viewing experience.

The actors, Kouhei and Atsuki, perform commendably, given the characters they are tasked with. Mizuki emerges as an enigmatic figure with clear dependency issues, while Yoh embodies a simple, solitary individual who follows Mizuki's whims without protest. A deeper exploration of Yoh's backstory and more comprehensive character development for Mizuki would have been welcomed.

In conclusion, this suffers from shortcomings in character development and the reliance on conventional BL tropes. However, it is worth a watch for the actors' performances and an outstanding original soundtrack that accompanies the series.

Leia Mais

Silent & toxic

And another amazing butterflies inducing and very toxic and unhealthy BL is over. And I want more...

This is a story of two men deeply in love with each other but who never ever talk to each other. Lack of communication leads to misunderstandings and a kind of very toxic master/slave relationship they both seem to be addicted to.

Usually this trope, lack of communication, is something I find really annoying but here I just accepted it since the whole story is based upon that. It brought forward another kind of love story which never got a solution in the end. They admit that they do not speak to each other about anything important, accept the status quo but made sure to show in a non verbal way that they have a strong attachment to each other which is as solid as a diamond and never to be broken. Those silences, those looks gave me butterflies.

Beside the main couple there were barely any other characters worth mentioning except for Yoh's friend and fellow mangaka who watches their relationship from outside and sees more than either of the other two!

The whole drama has very little dialogue but a lot of voiceover which explains the feelings, the situations, the relationships. The acting is excellent but I found Higuchi Kouhei, the actor playing Mizuki, too thin in spite of the abs. And since he wore oversized clothes outside work, he had added fragility so much so I thought he was going to break! Excellent costume designer.

Japan is taking the lead now for the complex and intriguing BL stories : which one is the next? I cannot wait!

Leia Mais

The best

I want everyone to watch this masterpiece, the chemistry between them is so amazing, the story is new and different, the characters and the acting are 10/10 like idk what to say more otherwise it’s so amazing to rewatch this after it’s finished..this series will be my first recommendation for people..everything is just different like personally im attracted to it and attached to them they are really perfect together that I will argue with anyone who hates this show i font usually rate any series a full rate but this one i just couldn’t stop myself from rating it a full one..i dont know what else to say except that its a MUST watch series

Leia Mais

How am I supposed to go on with my life now?

This series has been a huge surprise for me.
It started with a bang, keeping me glued to the screen and eager to watch the next episode every week.

The characters are interesting (maybe a tad bit toxic... yes, I'm talking about Segasaki), and even though it is not the most sexy BL I've ever watched (the manga is way hotter/explicit), it was still great to watch.
Both main characters are just handsome af. There's no other way to describe them, they are just aesthetically super pleasing in their own way.

If I have to find faults, I must say that the misunderstandings between the 2 are a bit odd at times, but still have sense, and after episode 6 the story took a slower pace. I expected much more from the last episode, but, again, I'm satisfied with it and I highly recommend the series. I wish there was a little more time to explore better their relationship, and maybe have more steamy scenes in some points (like the manga), but given they are also at their first experience with BL... they did great!
In the manga there was a lot more sex and smutty scenes, there were a lot more discussions and the development of their relationship was a bit more clear: This was absent in the drama.
Even though some things were "not said" but clear between the couple, communication between the 2 was not their forte, and I wished that the director took more time to develop their story and explain how they arrive at this point - I mean, it seems almost like nothing happened from the time at school and the present time.
Other than that, I enjoyed the show due to the mysterious aura of it all and the great visuals. (But after episode 6 I was a bit disappointed, cannot deny it).

I cannot emphasize it more, but I think the actor who plays Yoh (Mashiko Atsuki) is incredibly cute, and from some angles he resembles WayV's YangYang. While Higuchi Kouhei, with his super defined features, is like a statue.

Leia Mais

Such a good show

This is one of those shows in which you really have to know the culture to appreciate properly. A lot of people watching it are watching it with a western mindset, which very much impacts the enjoyment of it. The importance that amae, as well as cultural interdependence, plays on this show is huge, and it needs to be in your frame of reference to understand some of the characters' more... questionable actions.

Now, I'm not saying that their miscommunication nor their more toxic traits were okay, but it is important to have the Japanese culture in mind as a reference while watching. If you want to go into more of a deep dive into this, I can suggest a post by notfreetoday on Tumblr (feel free to ask me for it).

Now, into my own reaction of the show: I loved it. This show reminded me of my early manga-reading days, when the only translations available were fan translations of really blurry scans. Both actors were amazing at portraying their emotions, and the chemistry between the two was off the charts.

Segasaki's insecurity whenever Yoh wouldn't treat their relationship as seriously as he did was portrayed wonderfully and expertly, and whenever Yoh couldn't pick up on the amae that Segasaki was putting out, you could tell how hurt Segasaki was. Conversely, Yoh's confusion about what their relationship is and his desire for Segasaki to be more straightforward with him was also beautifully portrayed.

I enjoyed watching their relationship develop and both of them growing and clueing in to what the other's communication style was (a bit, haha. They definitely still have work to do there). The last episode was very satisfying for their relationship, and made me wish for more episodes with them. However, I do think it ended very well and that the episodes they had were perfect for the story they were trying to convey.

I recommend this to those who watch a lot of Japanese shows and/or are familiar with the culture. Yes, there are some questionable aspects, but watch it more with an open mind! (Also, let's remember: this is fantasy! It's not a real relationship, so we're allowed to enjoy it for what it is.)

Leia Mais

This has rewatch value because of the subtle clues.

We meet Yoh a stay at home, self confessed slave to the handsome Mizuki. Yoh is trying to become accepted as a manga writer so has very little of his own income and is dependent on Mizuki's wage. This was the deal offered to Yoh in exchange for all the domestic duties, sexual benefits and submission to Mizuki's requests.
The dominant Mizuki does not impose too many rules and as the drama unfolds depicting their daily interactions it becomes apparent that Yoh is very enamored with Mizuki and quite thrilled to be with him, although he hides this by acting gentle and submissive.
Mizuki also enjoys the power play and shows very little daily affection remaining aloof and somewhat inaccessible to Yoh.

Cracks appear in their love game when Yoh is fired from his current publisher and his feelings of unworthiness send him onto depression. Mizuki breaks his usual role and becomes the carer causing confusion for Yoh and misunderstanding. Yoh's reaction in wanting to prove himself and his worth creates confusion for Mizuki and brings out his insecurities and fear of losing Yoh.

Both have the type of personality where very little is spoken and they rely on actions, They seem incapable of opening up a dialogue to discuss or analyse their feelings. This is the drama aspect of this story and it has some sadly comedic elements; Yoh hiding behind a sheer curtain, buying additional sets of sheets to encourage more sexual activity and getting drunk and clingy. Mizuki panicking and then confessing in the rain, reacting dramatically when he thinks Yoh is being hugged by another man, binding Yoh's wrists in an attempt to discipline him.

Kudos to the director for this interpretation of a manga. Both actors do a terrific job and are convincing in their depiction of intense sexual chemistry.

Leia Mais

Beautiful japan bl

As usual, japan never disappoint when it comes to its bl, good story feel good. I am waiting for their character development. When it comes to japan they make story based on a believe or stories no one ever touch and a blend of Japanese culture and i heard its a adaption. Waiting for the emotions to grow. I really don't know what to write but they are saying it should be atleast 500 words. So hello everyone hai hope all is fine from a bl friend..As usual, japan never disappoint when it comes to its bl, good story feel good. I am waiting for their character development. When it comes to japan they make story based on a believe or stories no one ever touch and a blend of Japanese culture and i heard its a adaption. Waiting for the emotions to grow. I really don't know what to write but they are saying it should be atleast 500 words. So hello everyone hai hope all is fine from a bl friend.........

Leia Mais

So unique and fresh!

I love love loveee the vibe of this series! It's so unique!

And the chemistry between the actors? Honestly so smooth and real you can't get enough of it.
It's like from the very first moment you know they both care for each other but simply don't know how to show it and are not so good in communicating their own emotions.

Everything's wrapped in that very specific vibe to it and while some may hate it and feel like there's so many things in plot that are missing, I'm a big fan of it.
So many things left unspoken but shown by their actions.

Sometimes you don't need to say something out loud - you can show it in many other ways and I feel like this series is all about it. All about two people so misunderstood by words that they no longer trust them. They have trust only in actions and that's what they're doing. Showing love in this specific way that only they themselves can understand.

Leia Mais