If you've been following along with these Japanese Pink films, you already know the deal. An hour of simulated gay sex, a little story baked in, and a premise that's completely ridiculous but somehow keeps you watching. This one goes all in on the body swap fantasy, basically asking the question, what if you woke up one day inside your hot friend's body and could finally act out everything you've been keeping to yourself? Atsushi is gay and has been quietly carrying a crush on his childhood friend Yuma for years. They fell out of touch but end up back in each other's lives when they wind up at the same company. Yuma is straight and has a girlfriend, though things between them aren't exactly great. Then one day, after some kind of signing strike, the two men swap bodies, and suddenly Yuma is walking around in Atsushi's skin and Atsushi is living inside the guy he's been fantasizing about forever. Atsushi wastes zero time taking full advantage, fooling aro...
The story starts with a funeral of Jake, whose sister Jill is giving the speech. We are introduced to Josh at the same time, sitting in a toilet cubicle, browsing a gay hook up app. Turns out Josh and Jake were twins, with vastly different lives. Jake was straight, a famous Hollywood actor; while Josh is gay and a bakery supervisor. With Jake passing away now, every family member including mother, grandma, sister and most importantly his shadow, his twin brother Josh would need to confront their unresolved feelings - all while grieving. The sister finds out she is pregnant, the mother is eclectic who keeps looking for signs that Jake is still around and is very bitter about the father not showing up. And Josh is grieving in his own way by also trying to find out who is this guy n the hook up who is so close to him but is not replying. Set over the course of one day, Josh navigates his brother’s shiva (the traditional Jewish mourning period) while juggling a slew of unexpected challenges. From a botched eulogy, to an unexpected pregnancy, a literal man-hunt, and a job opportunity that could change his life forever, Josh’s day is anything but ordinary.
For some reason the series reminded me about HBO show 'The Other Two' , I guess just cos of Hollywood connection and the female lead being Hollywood agent. But the similarity just ends there. This show is easy to watch and has a queer heart, very relevant given this is pride month. The series is both a celebration of LGBTQ identity and an honest look at the ways we process loss, family dysfunction, addiction, and personal reinvention. By showing us different stages of grief in 6 different episodes, we follow Josh’s journey of self-discovery and the impact of his brother’s death on his life. It is a dark comedy that explores themes of identity, family dynamics, and addiction but all with humor and heart. The acting is solid, the content is taut, the writing is both funny and emotional at the same time (although I do have to say that it doesn't match the brilliance of the British show, Big Boys). Josh Nadler playing the title character is amazing and is also the creator of the show, and it show this grasp over the material. I enjoyed this brief little series and I hope more seasons would follow. (7/10)
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