After a couple of years off, the creators finally dropped a third season of this show, oddly titled with 2024 in it for some reason I genuinely can't figure out. The story basically picks up right where things left off, following our lead Mobu as he keeps trying to survive inside this whole BL universe, just another character desperately trying not to fall for another guy. Season two left us with his relationship with Kikuchi, and this season kicks off right as Kikuchi heads off to university, which means Mobu's single again and honestly couldn't be happier about it. With six episodes, each running about 23 minutes, this is a quick, easy watch. Now that Mobu's back to being single, he's got to stay alert for every signal or trope that could end up pulling him into another relationship with a guy if he's not careful. So across these episodes, we watch him run into two of these signals per episode through the people around him and how they end up falling for each ...
Now that Mobu's back to being single, he's got to stay alert for every signal or trope that could end up pulling him into another relationship with a guy if he's not careful. So across these episodes, we watch him run into two of these signals per episode through the people around him and how they end up falling for each other. These tropes, or arcs as the show calls them, include things like "Physical Contact," where any accidental touch could spark something romantic, or "Fake Relationship," where pretend feelings almost always turn real eventually. We also get moments where something as random as a costume party or even smelling similar to someone can trigger a sudden emotional spark and push two people toward becoming a BL couple. There's also the "Age Gap" trope, where someone younger falls for someone older, something that can set up a whole romance built around that age difference down the line. Surprisingly, this happens to be the exact trope that catches Mobu off guard. A high school friend of his younger brother, named Hatano, suddenly shows up and confesses his feelings for him. Mobu tries every trick he can think of to redirect those feelings elsewhere, but nothing works. He does get a moment of relief though when Hatano tells him that since he's still underage, he's willing to wait a few years before they could actually be together. That gives Mobu a huge sense of relief. Then, by sheer coincidence, Mobu and Hatano both get cast as extras in a movie, where they end up having to film scenes together as a couple. No matter how much Hatano wants to keep his distance, he just can't, and he ends up confessing his feelings for Mobu all over again. And right at that exact moment, Kikuchi shows up, back from his school break, and confesses his own feelings for Mobu too. Now Mobu's stuck dealing with the absolute worst trope of them all, a love triangle.
If you've already seen the first two seasons, you basically know what you're getting into here, and honestly that's kind of the problem. Even with a couple years between seasons, the freshness just isn't there anymore. The exaggerated reactions still land, and the various tropes and setups are genuinely funny, but none of that brings back that original spark. So in that sense, I don't think this matches up to season one, though I do think it's a clear step up from season two, which honestly left me a bit let down. Also, these actors are legitimately in their thirties at this point, how much longer are they going to keep playing high schoolers? The season ends on a cliffhanger, and the finale's already out, which I plan on watching soon. Until then, I'd say this worked fine as a bit of a filler watch, almost like scrolling through a bunch of silly skits poking fun at everything that makes up the BL genre. The tropes and setups were funny, and even though you already know them all, hearing someone actually say them out loud somehow makes it funnier. Overall, a decent, steady follow up season. (5.5/10)
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