Living With Him (Japanese Series)

Living with Him is a slice-of-life, slow burn romance that focuses on the palpable, growing tension between the male leads as they grapple with their feelings. There isn’t anything too complex about the plot itself beyond the emotional. But it still feels a little dragged out despite it being only 8 episodes of 23 minutes each. Sure the series is about positive messaging, no OTT drama and a really warm story with very charming leads, but how I wished that either they finished sooner or had more to say, because at various points it did feel out stretched for no reason.

Kazuhiro and Ryota are childhood best friends who attended the same elementary school. Over time they sorta lost touch but the families are still close. So when it's time to go to university, their moms come up withe the idea of them sharing a flat together. Kazuhiro had become a popular baseball player but because of an injury had to leave that world. He is also handsome and gets lot of female proposals but he politely declines everyone leading to speculation that maybe he already likes someone else. Ryota, on the other hand, is more simple, does household chores, cooks and be close knit with his mother and 2 younger sisters. While they rekindle their friendship, Kazuhiro eventually tells Ryoto that h likes him, But Ryoto is not sure and he needs to confronts his own emotions and insecurities. He doesn't think he is good enough for this friend who likely deserves better. The duo go through situations where the interactions are minimum where each of them, in their own way, struggles with their feelings. Kazuhiro tries to avoid his friend since he feels he has made the situation awkward by confessing his feelings and meanwhile Ryoto takes time to realize and accept what he feels for his friend but now starts to believe that maybe has. Made a mistake. Unnecessary angst delays some time, before we get a final very happy ending.

Living With Him is a comfortable watch that allows viewers to discover the security Kazuhito finds in Ryota and the self-assurance Ryota finds in Kazuhito alongside them. There is not a whole lot happening here , to be honest. Their exchanges are low-key, like eating meals in their shared apartment, playing board games in the bedroom, or meeting with family and friends. The show, in its own subtle ways, explores what these two young men feel for each other while finding themselves. In Kazuhito’s case, love grew from the care and wisdom he saw in Ryota, the greatness he felt from him even when Ryota didn’t see it in himself. For Ryota, love forms from the realization that he not only loves Kazuhito but also feels special because of Kazuhito. It manages to invest the heart in its journey, making every moment on screen endearing; except that for me, after a while, it starts to feel repetitive and that is my only issue with this otherwise endearing show. The two leads also do a decent job of their part and share a good chemistry together. The side two friends add a good fun relief. Overall, the show is straight forward, focusing on sentimental and emotional side rather than making a complex BL story. With a nice happy ending, this is a decent addition, but it could hav been more. (7/10)