To start out, there is an age gap here. It's 2 high schoolers getting involved with an adult. I cannot stand this and it's unnecessary. They could've had Eiji the same age as the other teens to tell this coming of age story. It didn't need to be an age gap.

Keeping that in mind, but also separating that to judge the series, it is rare that we get to see an ace character and Meiko reads as an ace character who is desperately scared to lose the people she loves. People leaving is all she knows. Her dad walked out on her and her mom is physically around but emotionally absent. She is scared of losing both Makio and Eiji who are more than just friends, but family to her.

Eiji clearly identifies as gay and gets into a relationship with Makio. So all 3 continue their lives like this and deeply care for each other. The beginning of the drama made sense to me up until (without spoilers) circumstances lead to Eiji eventually telling Meiko he loves her. So in my mind, I'm thinking platonic love. Right? Because that would make sense. But no he insists and says Im serious about you in that way. Then Im like what? What is he implying? Is he implying that he can love her in the way that he loves Makio? But he is gay! This doesn't make sense?!!!! Are you kidding me?!!!

And even after he says that, the drama shot a very meaningful scene where it's entirely silent and Eiji folds 3 kimonos that he made for all of them. But the one he specifically made for Makio, he changes the way he folded it. It recalls a time in a prior scene when Makio said that his family folds clothes differently. So Eiji folds the clothes in the way Makio does it. When years pass and Eiji takes out the kimonos again, he smells the one he gave to Makio and sobbs into it. Eiji is clearly still in love with Makio even though he chose to please his parents by playing a role in a hetero relationship.

I dont know what the drama is trying to say? One moment you have Eiji implying he loves Meiko when he is gay, which is infuriating to watch because it doesnt work that way. You cant suddenly not be gay. And that hetero relationship he chooses to remain in is still intact by the end of the drama.

But also by the end of the drama, you're not supposed to feel like everything worked out. It's a strained situation. It shouldn't have happened this way. Eiji should've been able to live as himself as a gay man. Meiko can be ace but also have love. She doesnt need to use a child as an object to secure love and a family which all 3 fully admitted to doing as it involved all them for their own gains. So the drama critiques the issue and societal pressures yet keeps this status quo maintained at the end of it? To me, it didnt go far enough as it didnt break it. I know this can happen in life where people like Eiji exist as gay in hetero relationships. But this is a drama with an intended message. While not all media has to portray a message, it's in the title. With a title like More Than Words...there is more implications and words unspoken they are trying to convey.

Also they could've portrayed a poly relationship but they didnt go that route. Which fine, not all people can do poly relationships, but they had options on directions they could've taken. All in all, I dont think this drama hit the mark. It's sad cause I think the performances itself by the actors were well done. Just that the messaging didnt hit home and missed it.