Is this technically a gay show? Even after getting through the whole thing, that's still kind of tricky to answer. There's never any physical intimacy shown between the two leads, not even a single kiss. What it gives you instead is something that goes way deeper than that. It traces an emotional bond that spans a full decade between two guys who are both dealing with their own baggage, and what they share basically amounts to being soulmates. The story moves across Japan, South Korea, and Berlin. Honestly, whether people want to call what they have a romantic relationship or not doesn't really matter to me. A relationship doesn't need a label like boyfriends attached to it to actually mean something. And closeness doesn't need to be physical to feel genuine. What this show captures is something quieter but way more powerful, a bond rooted in understanding, respect, and just showing up for each other. Across eight episodes, each running 35 to 45 minutes, this is one...
Raccoon is a handsome and famous gay influencer. One night at a bar, he hooks up with a guy, they have a great chemistry and the next thing you know they are sharing intimate moments. Raccoon, who struggles with severe insomnia, admits he relates to Endymion. Every time Raccoon tries to sleep, he hallucinates, blurring the line between dreams and reality. He has had these issues for a while and when pills did not work he is seeing a sleep therapist. Instead of improving, Raccoon's condition worsens. Each night, he experiences bizarre dreams and encounters strange men who talk to him. Once, he meets a man who insists on roleplaying as a dog. On another occasion, he wanders outside at night to hang out with an imaginary friend. Meanwhile Raccoon and his boyfriend spend a good amount of time together chatting about various things. The two share cozy activities like eating meals and watching gay movies at home. Both dote on each other as they fall in love. But because of sleep, when Raccoon sneaks out at night without explaining his whereabouts. The secrecy creates a rift between them. Meanwhile, the boyfriend has his own set of traumas, maybe not as deep. The last episode shows the two of them, being themselves, planning a trip, talking like a normal couple, yet knowing that they can rely on each other and be with each other until the end.
I just did not get this series. The different people he meet or hallucinate about, it would have benefice to know a little bit more about them. The story tries to portray his deteriorating mental health this way, but it isn't interesting to watch. There are too many lengthy scenes where Raccoon has dull chats or does random activities with guys we don't know. These encounters feel pointless, especially since they have little consequence afterward. The two guys are so muscular and handsome and all that, but the show never really utilizes it. Instead more than half the time they are just crying. Them falling in love happens very organically and almost feels believable, but the series adds too much obnoxious melodrama. I mentally checked out of the show by episode 5 and really couldn't care less about what the story is about or why Raccoon has insomnia or hallucinations. Even if there was a solid reason behind it, the fact that I couldn't care about finding this out says something about how bad this show was for me. (2/10)
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