Kao ni Doro wo Nuru (2024)

Perfect drama for Healing and getting out of toxic relationships.

This drama carries such a powerful message.

The portrayal of toxic relationships is incredibly well done ,everything feels realistic and on point. It clearly shows how narcissistic and manipulative a toxic person can be. Some might see the plot as overly simple, revolving around something as small as putting on lipstick. But the real message goes far beyond that.

It’s not just about lipstick; it’s about living your life on your own terms, pursuing your passions, and doing what makes you happy. Lipstick in this drama symbolizes so much more ..it could represent a career, a hobby, or anything else that defines you. In the end, the person who truly loves you will accept you for who you are.

This drama deserves more appreciation for the deep and meaningful story it tells.

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Mix of Warm and Toxic

It has been a while since I watched this drama, but I noticed no one had written a review, so I thought I’d give it a shot, haha!

For starters, anyone who has seen *Colorful Love* will definitely notice some similarities when watching this drama, though with less of the innocence and comedy associated with fairy tale aspects. This drama feels like the other side of the coin. The female lead (FL) is caught between two men: her boyfriend of many years, who viewers quickly discover is not only controlling (the toxic element) but also abusive due to his insecurities and childhood trauma, and another man who serves as a refreshing contrast.

The story explores how, as humans, we often feel the need to fit into predefined boxes or labels to belong—especially in today’s world. If we don’t, society is quick to assign a label to us, regardless of whether it fits. This theme is mirrored in the FL’s boyfriend (the second male lead, or SML). He witnessed his mother, a woman who loved wearing makeup (particularly red lipstick), endure a bad and loveless marriage. She eventually had an affair, got divorced, and abandoned him. This experience left him feeling inadequate and unworthy of love. As a result, he grew into a man obsessed with perfection, order, and control, which led to his toxic behavior toward the FL. When she began exploring her own desires and interests outside their relationship, he became increasingly abusive.

I particularly enjoyed the scenes where the SML was alone. His obsession with "fixing" what he saw as the broken painting of their "perfect" relationship was genuinely terrifying. The actor did an amazing job, especially in those chilling close-ups of his blank expression as he stared at something as mundane as a coffee cup.

On the other hand, the warmth in the story comes from the male lead (ML), Eve. His presence gives the FL a sense of comfort and safety, contrasting sharply with the SML. While this drama and *Colorful Love* are like two sides of the same coin, Eve represents the opposite of Yuki (SML). Eve exudes confidence and security, fully embracing his tastes and desires. His respect for boundaries and understanding of the FL’s situation allows her to grow and move forward in the story.

However, this is also where I feel the story fell short. The FL, Miku, is undeniably the protagonist and the "sun" of the narrative, with everyone else orbiting around her. As a result, the ML, Eve, and even Yuki’s brother (step-brother or half-brother—it’s not entirely clear) felt underdeveloped. The brother, for example, seemed to exist solely as a plot device to "save" the FL and ML, without adding much depth or relevance to the story. At one point, the narrative even hints he might become another love interest for Miku, which goes nowhere.

It often felt like the writers had a bigger story in mind but ran out of episodes to fully explore it. This is particularly evident in the lack of substantial romance. While Miku does confess her feelings for the ML at the end, the realization feels rushed and sudden, as though it was tacked on at the last moment.

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