Não Consigo Te Alcançar (2023)

Tô explodindo de amores por esse BL

O Japão arrasou aqui. Um BL simples, sem plot estrambólico, sem grandes reviravoltas, mas que na sua simplicidade consegue tocar nosso coração de um jeito terno. Me apaixonei pelo Maeda Kentaro (Yamato) de cara, como pode ser tão lindo??? E a dinâmica deles, onde o mais popular é que é gado do outro, me pegou muito. Se as famílias não estiveram presentes, com exceção da irmã de Yutaro (uma fofa por sinal), não fizeram nenhuma falta. Os amigos eram maravilhosos, até mesmo entre os que nem suspeitavam de nada, não havia nenhum tipo de toxidade. As mulheres não foram vilanizadas, nem mesmo as rejeitadas.
Em suma: conceito, coesão e aclamação. O famoso "menos é mais". Foi um drama fofo na medida certa, mostrou e despertar de Kakeru de uma forma simples e bem humorada, não deixando de citar a importância do respeito e do consentimento.
Os aspectos técnicos também merecem aplausos, com ênfase na atuação de milhões e na ost perfeita.

Recomendo muito e assistirei mil vezes de novo.

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I HOPE THEY REACH MORE (Audience)

A perfect reminder of that sweet first high-school love.

A quick recap. This is the story of Yamato, the perfect student who is liked by everyone, but only yearns the love of his dorky childhood friend Kakeru, whom he liked for a long time. His feelings for Kaeru grew so strong, that even if he was afraid he'd be rejected, mustered up all his courage to finally confess to Kakeru. Kakeru on the other hand discovers that he himself likes Yamato - more than just a friend, and struggled to find the perfect way to finally confess that he feels the same way for Yamato.

Short. Sweet. Too short. Too sweet. I WANT MORE.

Both main leads fit and played the role perffectly! I was even a little surprised that Maeda Kentaro took on this role, as he has already starred in a few drama and doesnt actually need the BL hype. Kashiwagi Haru is so adorable as Kakeru. There is something about Japanese drama's 'awkward' acting that makes the scenes authentic. This is how we are in real life, and the way they talked to each other makes you really feel like you are watching the blossoming of love, the coming of age, raw and somewhat uninscripted.

There are times though that I wanted to know how their peers will react if they knew that the two best friends are now dating - there were in fact a lot of scenes that i thought the secret was revelead to the world but then it was glazed over. I do understand though that this BL is not about the acceptance of the world around them, its about the personal struggle of two boys realizing their feelings for each other.

What I also love is that Japanese BLs even if they are short, somewhat feel like you are watching a standard full-length full-production drama. The music and song is amazing and i easily found myself repeating each episode twice. Overall its a 9,5 and I hope a lot more BL fans discover this wonderful of a gem.

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I hope that this feeling might catch up with you

The plot was a very standard best friends to lovers kind of story. We follow two high school boys that have been friends since they were little, and how their relationship changes as one starts to struggle with his feelings. There are certain things that felt unrealistic and unnecessary. I am aware that the series was not really released internationally, and the subtitles are fan made, so that is not something that will affect my ratings regarding the series. It is a shame that this was not an international release though.

I am not a fan of cinematography. Many scenes were too bright to the point of slightly blurring out the details and the faces. Some cuts between the scenes were also a bit confusing. There was also an overwhelming amount of slow-motion scenes. It just felt a bit excessive.

Ohara Yamato & Ashiya Kakeru: They have this black cat and golden retriever dynamics. Yamato is the calmer one, the more reserved and not so friendly one. Kakeru is the more outgoing one, the more approachable and more hyperactive one. They are quite different from one another, but they make it work. Yamato falls first, he has loved Kakeru for years, but has never dared to confess. He didn’t want to risk losing what the two had. But as Kakeru starts to show interest in dating, Yamato starts to struggle. I don’t think Kakeru is indifferent to Yamato either, I just think he wasn’t really considering that possibility until it hit him in the face. He was always convinced the two can be just friends, so even if there were any deeper feelings, he never admitted those to himself. The two actors had good enough chemistry, but I don’t think it was as sizzling in some other dramas I have seen.

As the title suggests, the main conflict of the story does resolve around miscommunication. The two boys are not able to express their real feelings due to fear and other factors. However, this does not mean that the characters don’t communicate well. I really enjoyed that Yamato, no matter how much he hated that, was always honest with people who confessed to him. He never led anyone on. And even when things started going south between Yamato and Kakeru and the two were forced to be honest, they were both able to express themselves.

I liked the side characters too. Especially Yamato’s sister and Hisaka Yui, their classmate. Both of them were very open-minded and accepting of the two. It also helped Yamato and Kakeru feel more comfortable and not like what they are feeling for each other is wrong and unacceptable. There will always be people who might not be very open minded, but there will also always be people who will accept you no matter who you love.

And bonus points for not making any potential female love interests into villains! That’s a plot twist I am happy we avoided.

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Fluffy and cute in all the best way

Nov. 7, 2023

Kimi Ni Wa Todokanai has definitely stolen my heart as one of my favourite Japanese BL series for 2023. The way this high school BL was able to captivate my heart through the amazing chemistry of our leads. I love how everything rolled along with the pacing of the plot. I've seen others mention how generic the plot is, and I do acknowledge that. But the way everything was delivered just made this show so amazing to watch.

I feel the butterflies in each episodes and I did feel the anger about the shyness of the leads when it comes to communication. But this is a high school setting BL, of course they will have that. When I was their age, I was like that too. Even now at college, I still feel that shyness in comes to saying my true feelings.

Personally for me, I never found any part of the show boring. Each week I waited for the episodes, it all felt worth it to me.

Honestly part of me also wished that I had this kind of fluffy romance when I was in high school. That sweet diabetic type of love...

Please give this show lots of love. Because amongst the other Japanese BLs I have watched this year. This one sticked out to me the most and became my favourite. Others I have dropped or finished but felt like a chore to do.

To many more of this kind of fluffy BLs to finish by the end of this year. Cheers!

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A homage to Boy's Love

BL has exploded in popularity over the past few years but I'm grateful for this series when it took me back to its origins as a genre (and not just because its from Japan). Kakeru and Yamato embodied the feelings, uncertainty, clumsiness and beauty of young love. They casted these two perfectly and its almost like they jumped out from the pages of the manga . There are no antagonists, no side couples; just the slow burn of trying to cross the bridge from being friends to lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this series and could not find any flaws. It was made by people who have a deep understanding of the story they wanted to share and executed beautifully. The title "I Cannot Reach You" is spot on the plot but it definitely reached my heart.

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Platonic friends-to-lovers BL, quite disappointed by the acting

I'm quite dispappointed by this BL series. Friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite trope, especially in an high school setting. On paper, this series had everything for me to like it but unfortunately I did not appreciate the drama as much as I would have wanted to.

The biggest flaw of the series resides for me in the acting. It was honeslty very lacking, there is not that much chemistry between the two main males leads and both their acting feel very green. One is really too much overacting and on the contrary the other one tends to not show enough emotions and downplaying everything too much... It is a blessing that their romance stays very platonic because the tension is not there, it felt already awkward as it was, so I'm pretty sure than more skinship would have make it worse to me.

The soundtract was good with a very catchy ending song (which was maybe used a bit too much but that I enjoyed nevertheless each time it was played). The production value of the show was pretty good as well with some nice school moments very well captured.

I would not recommend this to people because I feel that are better BL stories out there. If you really enjoy japanese school life drama and/or friends-to-lovers trope, you might want to give it a go. It is mainly the acting that decreased a lot my enjoyment of the show and appreciation of it is pretty subjective afterall.

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"Unspoken Desires: 'Kimi ni wa Todokanai' (2023) Touches Hearts, Longing for More Romance."

Kimi ni wa Todokanai explores the delicate and intricate dynamics of friendship, unspoken feelings, and the yearning for a deeper connection. The film delves into the lives of Yamato and Kakeru, childhood best friends whose bond transcends time and shared experiences.

The storyline unfolds with a poignant exploration of the classic dynamic—the cool, smart individual excelling in almost every aspect, juxtaposed with the seemingly average, dorky friend who grapples with feelings of inadequacy. Yamato and Kakeru, though inseparable, find themselves trapped in a paradox where proximity doesn't necessarily translate into intimacy.

The emotional depth of the characters is brought to life through nuanced performances, capturing the essence of unspoken desires and the struggle to bridge the gap between friendship and something more. The screenplay tastefully navigates the complexities of their relationship, creating a palpable tension that resonates with audiences.

Adapted from the manga series by Mika, the film maintains a faithful representation of the source material. The storytelling is complemented by well-executed cinematography that enhances the emotional beats of the narrative. The pacing allows for a gradual unfolding of the characters' inner worlds, drawing viewers into the unspoken struggles that define their connection.

One notable aspect is the authenticity of the characters, each flawed and relatable in their own right. The audience is invited to empathize with their individual journeys, making the inevitable conflicts and resolutions all the more impactful. The chemistry between the lead characters is palpable, and the film beautifully captures the nuances of their evolving relationship.

While the film successfully delves into the complexities of friendship turning into something more, there's a desire expressed by some viewers for more cute romantic moments. The narrative's emotional depth could be further complemented by additional scenes showcasing the lighter, more tender aspects of Yamato and Kakeru's connection.

In conclusion, Kimi ni wa Todokanai is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the intricate dance between the two. It strikes a chord with its genuine portrayal of human emotions, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of connection to the characters. For those yearning for a tale that beautifully balances the bittersweet realities of unspoken feelings, this film offers a poignant and memorable experience.

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J-BL Gem of 2023

Oh yeah, this was the shit. This was everything and more to me. This is the kind of story I crave more in BL -- simplistic first love stories that can tug at every heartstring until you're desperately crying out for more once it ends. I Can't Reach You was a spectacular J-BL that I'm so glad I found cause this was exactly what my little soul needed.

Let's Dive In.

Friends to lovers will always be my cup of tea, but add on childhood friends to lovers and you've basically sold me. And then on top of that, it's a first love story where we get to go through them experiencing their firsts with each other. And then on top of THAT, you throw in a plot without evil scheming characters or a third wheel -- just pure fluff, and feelings. I loved this, but I think that's obvious at this point.

Oh gosh, how I loved Yamato and Kakeru. They were flawed individuals with traits and odd perspectives like that of any hormonal teenager. Seeing Yamato so head over heels was nice, but getting to go through the story and finding these little moments when you can tell Kakeru is starting to feel something too -- the longing stares, keeping little memorabilia, laying his head on his shoulder, holding hands, the sparkling eyes while he smiles -- urgh, fuck, I love that shit so much.

Everything was so perfect, it was the right mix of awkward first encounters with figuring out feelings and how to go about them. The leads had great chemistry and great connection. Off-topic, but Kentaro (Yamato) is the prettiest J-actor I've ever seen and I could write an entire essay on his essence and soft masculine power. And yes I mean the prettiest (aka hottest) sorry I don't make the rule.

I just loved the plot too. I spoke a little bit about this, but there's nobody getting in the way of the main characters but themselves. No conniving jealous person, no evil parents or siblings, no troubling third wheel. Truly just feelings and a bit of miscommunication (which they fix by the end! Gosh, I love them). And yes, there were the girls practically throwing themselves at Yamato, but they were there as a jealousy mechanism for Kakeru and vice-versa, not an actual third wheel that you would have to worry about.

I love the other characters. I loved Yamato's sister, I loved the blonde-haired dude who was pretty much their love advisor and helped move their relationship. I loved that we didn't spend any time on them coming out or Kakeru having some deep contemplation on the fact that he liked a guy or the fact that others didn't react to it either. It was just a regular-smegular love story between friends and it's perfect. This was just such a gem of a series, seriously, it was so great.

My only little negative thing to say was that I hated when the sparkles would pass by their faces, it looked like some really cheap editing, but that might just be me. Also, the subtitles weren't it for a couple of the episodes, but again, just slight nit-picking.

Ratings:

Story: 9/10 - So so good! The pacing was perfect the storytelling was perfect and we went straight into the plot as soon as the series started.

Acting: 9/10 - great! They all did really good! I won't say their acting was the best I've seen, but still did really well! I liked Haru (Kakeru)'s acting the most!

Music: 7/10 - I didn't pay much attention to it, but it wasn't distracting.

Recommendation value: 10/10 - I rarely give something a 10 out of 10, but gosh lee, this really was so good and I highly recommend it. It's good for wanting something simple and fluffy and happy. I know I'm happy!

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The acting is just.. so..

Easily one of the worst Jdrama BL's I have watched (or attempted to watch). It's rare that I drop dramas and even more rare that I write reviews, but I gotta write this to warn you: the acting is bad. One of the leads looks 5-10 years too old to be in highschool but I was willing the brush that aside. The acting actually gave me a innate physical reaction and that never happens. Both of the leads don't know what their characters are supposed to be feeling and in the more intense or sensitive moments, their expressions are so incredibly forced. There's not subtly. Ugh

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WATCH IT NOW!

Oh my god it is the cutest thing ever!!!! When I saw it on Netflix I was jumping with joy.
The actors did an amazing job, the story kept me wanting to know more and the plot was really refreshing for me.
Ohara is the sweetest thing ever! Even though I didn't really like what he did to Ashiya, he did show how sorry he was which made me love him even more. Ashiya is goofy and sweet! I do wish he was more positive about himself, it makes me (and Ohara hehe) sad.
I hope you guys watch it sooner than later, it really is the sweetest thing I've ever seen and I'd 100% watch it again.
I also hope I didn't give too much away lol.
Anyway, have a lovely day! <3

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