This is the second vertical AI BL drama I've sat through, and honestly I went in knowing better. I had it on while I was doing cardio at the gym, and what struck me was just how much the plot echoed the last one I watched. Same step brother romance angle, same mystery girlfriend showing up near the end, same extra guy pining after one of the leads. Genuinely the only thing going for it was the runtime, the whole thing wrapped up in forty five minutes flat. The setup kicks off with Finn moving schools because his mom just married into money. He finds out his new step brother Aiden goes to the same place, and he's warned to keep his distance from him. Their first run in at school is rocky, just like you'd expect, but there's this odd pull between them neither can shake off. Finn keeps telling himself not to read into it because Aiden's straight and openly homophobic. Things shift when some kids start bullying Finn and the student council president, Ryan, steps in to ...
Uenoyama is a popular student who plays guitar and is also part of a band. One day when he meets Mafuyu, a recluse student sitting idle at school stairs, Uenoyama reprimands him for letting his guitar's strings rust and break. Noticing Uenoyama's knowledge of the instrument, Mafuyu pleads for him to fix it and to teach him how to play. Uenoyama eventually agrees invites him for a session with him and two other band members. The band realizes that Mafuyu has a deep sad voice and decide to make him lead singer, but something about Mafuyu keeps making Uenoyama attracted towards him. Slowly, we find about eye's past and his ex boyfriend who was everything to Mafuyu and how a small misunderstanding made the bf committee suicide. Through music, love and care from Uenoyama, Mafuyu will need to overcome his sorrow and Uenoyama will need to confront his own sexuality.
As much as the story is nice and cute, there is never an explanation on how and when the chemistry between the two boys developed. Was it the shy nature, was it the intrigue or something else? The series that way felt rushed. Uenoyama's character was never fully developed besides showing him a carefree guy who sleeps in class and bosses around with his sister. On the other hand you feel eye's grief although his monotonous dialogue delivery gets a bit annoying at times. A slight love hint was given about the flirting between the two other band members but that felt very forced and completely unnecessary. That could also have been easily developed into something. Acting by all is strictly ok. The story has a huge potential. It shows how music has the amazing power to bring people together and even heal wounds, but the harsh LGBT topics like suicide was not given the attention it deserved.
The series is easy to watch and at time uplifting as well, but lack of insightful message and average acting prevents it from becomes a better than a good show. (6/10)
Comments
This drama is totally faithfull to manga. Which is good and less good at the same time. Manga characters are not easily converted into real life characters, so some reactions are totally cool in manga but weird in real life style. And they also left all the "beginning side stories" that will be developped latter in the manga (the drama only covers the first 2 volumes over 6 released so far), leaving you wonder why it's here. Unless they plan a 2nd season maybe? Anyway I'm looking forward to seeing the anime now!
I have never known of anyone as crazy about mangas as you :) Its exciting