Utsukushii Kare (2021)

What Did I Just Watch...?

I feel like the last two days that I've been watching this show didn't happen. I feel like I lived in a simulation in which I thought I was watching this, but I would just end up waking up to it being all a dream. But nope, I really watched this. I heard nothing but amazing news about this series -- "It's perfect", "It's the best BL in a long time". I genuinely think we were all watching something different. No, I'm convinced there is another My Beautiful Man out there that is what everyone was talking about because this can seriously not be it. Utsukushii Kare is a perfect setting with the absolute worst story possible.

Let's Dive In.

The basics of this story is that Hira is a nobody and everyone treats him like trash, even including the guy he deems the beautiful-est human ever, Kiyoi, who is the high school's most handsome, and treated like a god among the others. A great premise, and sure, we've heard similar ones, but Japan has a way of telling a story that you can just never get bored with it, and I think this really could've been a good series -- heck, a great series. However, it crumbles under its own hold by having terrible characters, a god-awful plot twist, and a lackluster ending.

Let's start with what I liked: I liked Koyama more than anything else. He falls under the Second Lead Syndrome for sure. He was the definition of the perfect boyfriend: cute, funny, charismatic, thoughtful, caring, there to help Hira with his stutter, there to be his friend, someone he could talk to -- and Hira can't seem to see any of that..? It's okay, Hira doesn't deserve a Koyama, I do. I will take Koyama, because, who wouldn't?

Again, I think production was nice. The bike scenes were really nicely shot. I liked the sceneries and the lighting the most. There is a way Japanese series are shot that I just fall in love instantly, so this was a big bonus of watching.

The acting was really good, especially Hagiwara. Even if they really did his character wrong, he still played it to the best of his ability, and it comes off really nice. The rest of the cast did an excellent job too, even the bullies were good.

Alright, now into the terrible: Both Hira and Kiyoi were just horribly-written. Hira can't seem to stand on his own two legs, which is fine, some people are super shy, and stuttering's not even the problem -- it's the fact that he let everyone walk all over him, including the guy he liked. He would automatically do anything they asked, without hesitation, and it made me sick to my stomach. It was so hard watching him on the screen, I just couldn't stand him in any way. And Kiyoi was just the worst. I was thinking at some point, Kiyoi was going to be like, "Ha! I was only being mean to you so that you could finally grow some balls and stand your ground," nope, instead, he bosses Hira around like the rest, calls him disgusting, gross, a stalker, kicks him, pushes him down, and Hira still manages to fall for him for god-knows-what reason. Looks can only get a person so far. Instead, Kiyoi's big plot twist is that he also liked Hira, he just didn't know how to tell him. This plot twist is just pitiful. Why harm Hira then? Why call him names, have him do things for you? Nope, it still doesn't make up the fact that in the entire series, Hira is bullied to death by his own love interest. There's no turn in Kioyi's behavior until the very last episode. It's disgusting. And what makes it worst is that the ending is so lackluster. How could I care about them after all this time? I sat and watched Hira be used like a ragdoll, and you want me to sing Kumbaya..? No, just no. I think this behavior is dangerous in a BL, especially with me seeing so many people praising their relationship, and for what?

Ratings:

Story: 5 - How could I give two craps about the story when for the entire series is was Hira being picked on? I'll give it 5 stars for Koyama, and Koyama only.

Acting: 9 - I think the acting was the only good thing about this series.

Music: 5.5 - I don't remember it, meaning it wasn't a distraction. Great.

Retwtch Value: 1 - No.

Overall, this is one of the worst, if not the worst, series I've seen in a while. I can't comprehend what people like about this, and quite honestly, I don't care to know. It's sick. A BL like this is dangerous, it shows that a toxic relationship like their's is revivable, that it's okay when it's absolutely not! If this were real life, Kiyoi would've been cut off immediately, or he would've put a restraining order on Hira, cause I know I would. Not recommended in the slightest.

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Foundational Romance Tropes: whipping boy, spoiled prince, obsessive crush

I love a sympathetic main character and Japan delivers introvert well (emo is their brand, after all). This is a pretty classic whipping boy trope meets spoiled prince (it’s been a while my old friend).

Our POV is that weird kid who takes photos and thinks he wants to be invisible but actually just wants to be seen by one person (and belong to him). The beautiful boy who starts bossing him around is protective out the gate, having decided that this weirdo is HIS weirdo, no one ELSE can boss him around. This execution of whipping boy was a whole lot gentler than I expected, but because Hira is the seme character it did pivot into attack dog half way through and I LOVED that. One of the things I like about Japanese BL is that it's not afraid of darkness,

Utsukushii Kare managed to be harsh as all get up, angry with us and itself, reminding us of old tropes and archetypes long forgotten but still utterly appealing.

It was exactly as weird and as messed-up as any origin manga and it was great to watch a no holds barred authentic Japanese yaoi adaptation once again. Sure this was an angsty af warped little BL, but it was entirely true to itself with no attempt made to modify its POV for modern sensibilities or international audiences. It highlights one of the things Japanese cinema is best at, staying true to itself.

Up until the last episode this was a solid 8/10, right there with Japan’s other 2021 offerings... and then the final ep BLEW MY MIND. I did not understand how they could possibly end this series well, I half expected tragedy, but this BL turned into a life lesson in how to stick a landing. Japan, why you gotta do us all so fantastically dirty like that? I tend to put all my eggs in the endings basket, as a result episode 6 alone bumped the whole thing up 9/10. I may not rewatch all of Utsukushii Kare but I have already rewatched the final ep 3x. So, yeah.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, JUST KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO

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As gentle as a summer breeze, as all-consuming as the sun.

Yeah, well, I've watched it twice now. It's quite addictive, but way too short. I really don't think Kiyoi is the most problematic one in this relationship. He can be harsh and rude, but you honestly don't need a magnifying glass to see through that farce. They did have this power imbalance between them, but Kiyoi isn't the only one to blame for this.

Hira's obsessive behavior was just as problematic to me. It was pretty obvious what was going on between these two, and if Hira wasn't so self-absorbed all the time, he should have been able to tell. I feel like both of them are quite vulnerable and insecure people that deal with their vulnerability in different ways. Kioyi hides his feelings behind harsh words and actions, while Hira tries to be as invisible as possible while shutting everybody out. That's probably the reason why I didn't just mark it off as toxic, since it deals with people's insecurities and emotions in a sympathizing way, even if those can be self-destructive and unhealthy.

It's not as deep as it wants to be, but it definitely has its impactful moments that linger with you. I particularly enjoyed how they played with the view the leads have of each other and their relationship and how we, if we pay close attention, can already see everything. They were subtle, but to me the emotions were loud and clear and somehow that even enhanced the emotions when they got voiced out. We got some beautiful scenery shots and the way they played with camera angles, lighting and music made for some atmospheric and captivating shots between our leads.

Overall, I really liked the performance of the actors.
In some scenes the acting wasn't as nuanced as it could have been, but It wasn't for the lack of trying, so I'm really happy with what we've got since they managed to move me with their performance. I just wish this was longer since the short length kinda lessens the impact and there is still so much more to explore here. They're both incredibly flawed characters, but there's something about them that tugs at your heartstrings.

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Japan flexes their BL muscles and reminds us they are the OG

In spite of the dark undertones which often colour Japanese BL (because, let's face it, it's part of their yaoi tradition), you've gotta hand it to them - they know how to tell interesting stories in beautiful ways, which is why over and over again I find their BL outputs to be far superior to the ones from other Asian countries. They are not always going to pander to giggly girls, they are not going to dosh out that standard buff guy in the shower shot; in fact, they will make fun of this by giving you a really mediocre dude in the shower so we can laugh at ourselves and this weird and wonderful genre (yes, I am referring to Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai VS Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko). This show will no doubt rub people the wrong way, especially those who are new to BL and prefer the fluffy versions. The master/slave dynamic between the two leads is really painful to watch, but that's why it's compelling and it is these dark parts of both of their characters which make them so intriguing to watch. I can't say too much without spoiling it for you but I just want to say the last episode of this show has gone down in history as a personal favourite for me. There was no way of knowing how it was going to play out, but ermagerrrd the revelation and conclusion was so beautifully executed that I had to rewatch it a few times to wrap my head (and heart) around it - aaaaaahhhhhh! <3

The actors are so good in their roles - they really managed to highlight the nice and not-so-nice parts of themselves through nuanced acting. Their chemistry is as complicated and conflicted as their love story. Parts of this show are so beautiful to look at - I was reminded of ITSAY every now and then. This is by no means perfect but that's what makes it a really good watch. I look forward to seeing these actors again!

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THE HEARTACHE OF BECOMING A KING!!!! T^T

----------------------------------I might overthink-----------------------------------
THIS IS A SPECIAL CASE! In Hira case, he put Kiyoi on a pedestal as if he's a god and seems cute cause we all knew Hira thinks that he got no chance. He do it all without any intention of wanting anything in return from Kiyoi.
I'm just afraid someone might copy this or see someone do this and feel happy.. cause,, its not always the case in real life.. we all love Hira cause we knew, he do all that without the intention of wanting Kiyoi's body through this action,, ok sorry, I hope I'm overthinking things..

----------------------------------------REVIEW----------------------------------------
This is the first time I gave a drama 10 for all category!! It's that good!!!
I really LOOVEEEE the drama finale! (I may, or may not shed a tear)
THE DRAMAA! THE HEARTACHE!! THE ROMANCEEE!!! AAAAA

The drama got a really nice vibe! The character's personality are making this relationship complicated and I LOVE IT!
I recommend this! its a light story (which I love!) with enough drama to glue your mind into it!!
And u get those after rain feeling from this, like its raining but you know you gonna see a rainbow next hahah (idk haha) The fact that this drama show another side of the coin, as in the "king's" point of view of the relationship is really heartbreaking and exiting to see the outcome!

The way they narrated and use metaphoric visuals. it was beautiful.. its like they put you through the MC lens of world, all are dull except Kiyoi. It really set the mood and let the audience dive to the feeling of the MC. The words they choose, beautifully conveyed their feeling too
I love how they show Hira's heartache without forgetting that Kiyoi also try hard and hurt in the process as well.

You should try watching this! Nice flow in plot with the right amount of surprise, the proper use of possibilities! And killer OST.
I really like how they establish that Hira is madly in love with Kiyoi. But as the audience we know how Kiyoi and Hira feels through the actor's act. The actors did so well aaaaaa and I'm so happy that we got to see Kiyoi's point of view in the drama!

The finale really letting the actors to shine and it turns out soooooo great!!!!
Not only the face! They can even show it through their voice! Many actors conveyed well with eyes, but, its rare to see one who conveyed well with words! The way Kiyoi's voice just shakes as he talks, and Hira's hopelessness !!!
The actors, directors and staffs!!! Thank you for your hard work!

I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE OST THO!!!
The OST music they choose got this scrambled feeling of screaming, longing and desperation which really goes well with the MC's inner self which is far more complicated than his looks. It was a great choice for this drama. Without any unneeded sfx so people can dive fully tot he drama.

I do see this drama's previous review, which make me question myself, do I still wanna watch this or not..
AND IM GLAD I STILL WATCH THIS REGARDLESS!!
I don't think there's anything out of line from what Kiyoi do. And im not saying that bossing your friend to buy you drinks are right, I'm just saying that I personally can see this as cute, its not that complicated, I just like how Kiyoi still stand up for Hira and just overall things Kiyoi does just seems as a cute response of a tsundere character.

btw, we can finally see Kiyoi feeling after 4 episode of Hira's "one-sided love" hahaha

Btw, kudos to the staffs! The technique they use greatly conveyed the situation! the camera works and color hue they choose.
The blue hue for many sad and complicated part of their relationship and that scene in school... its blue, but the light shine through are beautiful.

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Kept me glued to Hira and Kiyoi’s story

Fascinating, different, intriguing, just a unique show. From the cinematography, the story, to the actors. The actors portrayed their roles so well. Kiyoi and Hira are both very distinctive characters.

This drama is based off the first novel Utsukushii Kare. There are three novels. Utsukushii Kare, Nikurashii kare and Nayamashii Kare. I also heard there is fourth book with content the writer wrote of extra stuff that didn’t make the three novels. This drama only tells the very beginning of their story which is the first book. With only having six episodes I thought it told the beginning of their story well. The pacing was a mix of you wanting more to you being hooked on each scene in the average 20 minute episode if that makes sense lol. I also loved the music!!

You really have to watch it before judging off of others opinions. I actually think it’s a bit more complex and unique than your average popular boy meets shy quiet boy trope that you might be thinking. This drama is for mature audiences and not for everyone. It’s not suppose to be a portrayal of reality so don’t come into watching it thinking that. Though I do like that it showed that flawed people with certain traits do indeed also have the ability to like someone and the difficulties in forming a relationship. I like that it doesn’t hide away from that and is essentially what it is about.

This is a great example of there is more thats meets the eye. There are many different perspectives to this drama and I saw it from the perspective of a great story showing two complex flawed characters trying to figure out love. They heal through each other in a way and become better and happier together. I would just watch it and see for yourself how you feel. I enjoyed it!

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2021 FAVORITE!

This show managed to do in 6 episodes what others haven't done in seasons. The characters feel so realistic and lived-in and I love that they infer the plot's trajectory. With any other show it might have seemed boring, but our two main leads are such complex characters that it just works. The script and the acting are my favourite things about the show as they paint a beautiful image of the character's inner worlds.

This is my favourite show that came out in 2021. Like, I got a gagaoolala subscription for it. But I do suggest watching the fansubbed version so you don't miss out on that beautiful script and character moments that the subs on gagaoolala tends to either overlook or just simply mistranslate.

I'm hoping for a second season, there's still so much character development and character dynamics to be discovered as they go through their university years and adulthood.

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Intense in the most beautiful way.

At first I wasn’t really checking for this drama as I thought it’d be another boy falls in love with his bully but it was far from it. This is my first ever review which should tell you how much I enjoyed this drama especially the final episode. Their romance was different…and intense and definitely not for everyone but for me it was the total package. I especially enjoyed how we were able to watch the story play out from one person’s perspective and then somewhat retold from another’s. The leads did a fantastic job bringing their characters to life. I’d definitely be rewatching this!

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Oddly entertaining but boys need to learn how to communicate...

This drama is very short, I am willing to say too short and shows these two very opposite boys with one thing and one thing incommon only and that is that both completely lack communication skills.

In a way the behaviour displayed by the beautiful boy is kind of the typical bad boy, ,r popular. king... or extremely insecure child testing his surroundings to see if people around him will stay or leave. So basically this guy is actually only crying out for love. Kind of sweet but not very good...

The other boy mr stutter is this super shy, obsessive fan who puts the beautiful boy on the pedestal catering to mr beautifuls desire to be loved. He is also driving by insecurity, and some times it does become kind of creepy and cross the line... However he is actually aware of this and admits to it which is what I do love about this drama.

They actually admit to the faults, they do not ignore the problematic behaviour and actually do show the story around it as well as the problems being put up or putting someone on a pedestal can create. They also show the problems with school hierkis and true friendship, whatever that may be power relations etc...

The second lead is the perfect second lead, he is sweet, kind, understanding and brings out the best in mr stutter.


To sum it up this way way to short but very entertaining and left me wanting more.

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Certain to satisfy fujoshis, will hardly appeal for the general public

A lot of people’s reaction to this drama was absolutely surprising. Most of the show's fans say that they relationship isn't abusive nor toxic, which is laughable. The story begins with Hira humiliating himself and allowing Kiyoi and his troup to use and abuse him to fullfill their needs, wheter it's to do their homework or to buy some drinks for them. When Kiyoi learns of Hira's feelings, he does seems to treat him better, but that doesn't stop him from pushing him to the ground and calling him "disgusting" at every opportunity. But that's what healthy couples do, no?

I aggree that not every couple has to be healthy but it's impossible for me to like a show in which a relationship is focused on humilitation. But it may satisfy some people's kink, which may justify the rating that this show have.

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utsukare? lots of misplaced criticism

If I'm gonna write one review per year then utsukare is my choice for 2021

I would have completely bypassed this drama if it wasn't for Yusei, but I was hooked from the first episode.

I have 0 knowledge of the novel so I'm judging this drama as it is. I think defending any criticism of the drama using the novel only devalues the drama production and its actors. A successful adaptation should be able to stand on its own. And this one does.

Is this drama for you?
- both protagonists are realistically flawed so if you prefer your characters to come out the gate perfect then this drama is not for you.
- writing is subtle so if you prefer to be spoon-fed then this drama is not for you.

regarding the 3 major points of contention among the (western) audience:
1. English translation of the Japanese expression kimoi/kimochi warui
Meaning changes based on context so it's not always "gross". But even in the infamous episode 1 regardless of the translation, Kiyoi saying it was valid because one should be allowed to express their discomfort at someone who's clearly acting out of pocket towards them.

2. hate boner for Kiyoi
Kiyoi is neither abusive nor a bully. You can call him bully-adjacent if you are pressed enough, for hanging around bullies and allowing some behaviour to happen, but Kiyoi who wants to keep his unbothered prince image, behaves subtly. Typical protagonist when witnessing bullying would jump into the fray with their chest puffed and full of self-righteous attitude. On the other hand, Kiyoi's behaviour is nonchalant but gets the job done, nonetheless. Making Hira be part of Kiyoi's clique is like having a pilot fish keep close to a shark because it offers protection from other predators.
Anyway, most of the story is told from Hira's POV and when it switches to Kiyoi we see that things are not as they seem although the clues were already there since the beginning.

3. they are toxic together
They are unconventional together, but they are not toxic. Being in a toxic relationship/friendship/whatever makes one or both parties deteriorate, mentally and in other ways. I wish people would stop assigning terms like that to whatever doesn't fit their ideal.
There is a power imbalance (created by Hira) but Kiyoi does not take advantage of Hira's willingness to do absolutely everything for him, beyond basic errands. Ultimately, they don't have a negative effect on one another, and they are not worse off together than they would be separately/with other people. Hero worship and subpar communication skills are their biggest obstacles and it's something they must overcome to be together.

I think both are multifaceted and interesting characters. A couple of young messy teenagers who are insecure, lonely and bad at expressing themselves and deal with those issues differently.
Kiyoi who keeps people at arm's length and hides his weaknesses behind a harsh exterior meets Hira and wants to open up to him. However, Hira, bullied since childhood which made him shut off from the world, tends to live inside his own head so it's hard to get through to him.

Performance wise, Riku and Yusei did a stellar job. Riku balanced the awkward and the disturbing well, while Yusei has very expressive eyes and knows how to use them like a weapon. Their acting in the final episode was especially good. I fully expected Riku to nail his scenes but Yusei surprised me. As a certified JrExile fan I have watched other projects with him like Mannequin Night Fever and Back to the Memories, but Kiyoi's character was complex, and Yusei rose to the occasion.

Rewatch value is high because for a drama as subtle as this the devil is in the details.

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A Complex BL Masterpiece (And the Actors Are the Main Reason Why)

This BL might be the only awkward, puzzling yet oddly beautiful BL series there is. If not, it would be very hard to compete against this.

Story:
First of all, the show highlights and puts a huge emphasis on great characterization. It is the icing on the cake.

The lead characters are well thought-out; unhealthy, imperfect and strange in their own ways. They have dark layers just like humans in the real world. What if the point is that the main characters in this show aren't just 'toxic/problematic,' but are humans who make mistakes and misunderstand situations?

The flaws of the characters also make sense because they connect to their personalities and behaviors, giving it a realistic quality. Most BLs just give a character a flaw, but doesn't know why or where it stems from, and sometimes the flaws go way over the top that it makes it incongruent to the fundamentals of the character, or even worse, they just add it to make the story 'interesting' even if it makes no sense to the plot.

Hira and Kiyoi also have relationship dynamics that are severely misunderstood.

At first, the lead characters are deceivingly different in personalities, like polar opposites, but as the story progresses, it's clearer they are equally obsessed with and desperate for each other because of how lonely and deprived they are from affection and trust. How they actually view each other is very similar.

This is why I think even if they're different on the outside, the reason why they're attracted to each other is because they possibly sense they share the same problems and they both match each other to fulfill their needs and desires, but both of them keep hurting each other because no one wanted to admit it or take action.

Honestly, this story is just excellent. I can write endless essays on it, and I don't even know how others and I are able to keep doing it. It's like you notice something new when you watch or rewatch an episode.

Also, an interesting thing I want to point out is that people might think that My Beautiful Man is only how Hira views Kiyoi, but that's how Kiyoi views Hira too. That's why in the main poster, they are symmetrical to each other. It's also clearly hinted from Kiyoi's point of view in the series. I don't know, I just find it to be a cool detail. It makes me think that the show might be implying everything about them (their love/frustration/misunderstanding) is precisely equal. I could be wrong and just assuming though.

Acting:
Hagiwara Riku is terrifyingly convincing. He seems to thoroughly understand the specific nuances his character possesses, and it is even more impressive that he knows how to act them out properly. From hand movements, posture, etc. It seems he views his character in an analytical way.

A character like Hira is very difficult to act out because he is distinct. Even if he is that 'stereotypical' nerd nobody likes, he has additional qualities that are uncommon, making the body language and expressions almost impossible to act out unless you've done research or have experienced seeing others/yourself go through the same. I even doubt an acting coach alone can make him this good.

Yagi Yusei is magical here. I can sense his patient and profound approach. Being physically beautiful is one thing, but to embody a 'beautiful' aura/vibe? Not everybody knows how that works, but Yagi Yusei knows how. He also knows how to make his eyes expressive, and you get an idea on what he feels depending on what/who he looks at. His emotions and intentions build up in every episode, and I must say, his performance in episode 6 is raw, outstanding, and quite unexpected. The way he acts frustration is natural, you can see how pent-up his character was. He did a great job.

Needless to say, the two of them are extremely good actors. People who love this series need to put emphasis on this more. Their acting is the reason why the characters are so good and intricate. Even if the writing is good, if you have bad actors, it would never work out because they don't have the ability to show visual details. They approached this very artistically and psychologically rather than just for the sake of being on a show to gain popularity. These qualities are rare, and even rarer that TWO actors accomplished it together, usually you only see one actor succeeding in such endeavors.

I desperately want to see them with each other again, or at least in equally complex series or films where they can showcase their talents.

Rewatch Value:
Obviously high, but I have to be honest here and say that this drama might only attract specific types of people, so I will reconsider.

The story and characters aren't simple at all, and you might want to rewatch to catch some details and further examine the nuances of the characters and the meaning behind the things they do or why they act in such ways.

In my opinion, it's not that much rewatchable if you're not into that kind of stuff and get headaches from confusing stories and subtle characters, because the story is heavily about people longing for each other, but keep misunderstanding each other because they both have personality and communication issues.

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