I genuinely think this is the best thing I have ever watched

Now, whilst I enjoyed the first and second season, to me it wasn't top of my list. Yagi Yusei's portray of Kiyoi throughout the first and second season is the main reason I enjoyed it. Normally both characters in the couple have to be grasping my attention for a series to really be enjoyable, but I found myself so frustrated with Hira throughout s1 and s2 that I wanted to watch an edit of the series with just Kiyoi.

I could genuinely write a dissertation on Yagi's portrayal of Kiyoi and I'm not even what I would consider a "fan". Like I know nothing of his other works, but his acting in this has genuinely bought him to the top of every possible list. The most phenomenal part of his acting is in that portraying Kiyoi he portrays all very different, warring sides to him. The side that is polite and business ready as an actor, the side that is casual with others, the side that supports Hira, and the side we all love and that doesn't come out "explicitly" but in the change of his tone, expression, and use of words, that only Hira sees, his selfish side. My favourite though is his vulnerable, "weak" side. When Kiyoi cries and his voice breaks, you feel it, your heart aches for him. And though I didn't want to watch a sad story I wanted to see that again, and luckily in this movie you do, often for good reasons.

That being said whilst I was looking forward to seeing Kiyoi again I wasn't looking forward to seeing Hira again. I didn't feel in s2 there was enough growth for Hira and its frustrating watching behaviour which I think genuinely stems from neurodiversion and needs some learning on Hira's part to understand others emotions and how to communicate his own. This to me is not an overnight solution, and frustrating that the "introverted" character in dramas often gets mixed up with the character that has clear spectrum signs and is expected to just overcome his struggles with gumption. Hira's stutter and difficulty processing others emotions without being explicitly being told them, are all signs of that.

That being said, this movie is not that. Hira's worship of Kiyoi still continues but not in an obstructive way. Kiyoi has become better at making Hira understand his feelings, and Hira miracle of miracles actually takes the hint from time to time. I especially loved the moment where Kiyoi uses his "King" persona to force Hira out of a state of hesitation and anxiety over taking his photo, and focus on him (also I would have loved if they explored a bit more the dom/sub undertones of their relationship but alas only so many tropes can be covered in one movie).

All in all the movie shows growth and intimacy, a side to their relationship which I wish had been shown sooner. It really is so satisfying watching them connect and understand each other, and the story is wrapped up so beautifully nothing feels missing or incomplete.

Also quite rare in bl is intimacy scenes which are actually real. I am so fed up of the "obligation kisses" in drama where actors just purse and press their lips together, and fancy music plays in the background and that's that ticked off the list. It feels awkward and cringey. In this there is none of that. When Kiyoi and Hira kiss, they actually kiss. There isn't a lot of it, but intimacy portrayed by these two actors goes so much further than kissing. Kiyoi's expression and voice just from being touched by Hira, the way he gets embarrassed and shy is honestly *chefs kiss*. Genuinely props to the actors for really throwing themselves into it without any restraint, their immersion made it actually believable. My only misgiving is, just like the end of the drama when they are properly intimate for the first time in the lab, there is this ridiculous solar flare of a light in the background for "artistic" purposes and it is so incredibly distracting. Like we don't need to see them doing the do in detail, but don't bother filming it if you're going to make it impossible to watch. Unfortunately the final scene in this movie does the same. There's a weird semi-transparent fabric net over them and all I could think about was, are these actors not suffocating in there? Thankfully halfway through the scene the camera comes inside the "net", and I get it was supposed to be this whole ethereal effect, but it would have been all the same if not better, if it had just been natural and real instead of all artistic.

In conclusion to this long, derailed review, go watch it, you won't regret it. I rarely rewatch but I really think I will rewatch this one.

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