Perfect Propose (2024)

Someone to remind us that a dull life can be worth living

Perfect Propose is a short Japanese BL with just six episodes – it neither feels too short nor does it try to cram too much into its storyline, making it a perfect light-hearted watch.

For Kai, taking care of the person he loves is enough — he doesn’t expect anything in return. When Hiro promises to take him to a festival but ends up being late due to work, Kai doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t even get disappointed.

It is for this reason — the fact that Kai’s presence is a quiet comfort without imposing any undue pressure — that Hiro finds himself increasingly attached to Kai.

Until Hiro met Kai, his life was nothing short of dull and meaningless. Bogged down by a heavy workload and a nasty boss who makes his life as a salaryman downright unebarable, Hiro only understands what it means to have a life worth living when he would much rather go home to Kai than spend another minute tapping away at his work computer.

What used to be the sole purpose for his life has slowly shifted its centre as the importance of work begins to slink away.

Perfect Propose is a short, sweet story about the little things that make life lovely – having a meal with someone at the end of a long day, looking forward to hearing their voice, and sharing the little things in life with another person.

Full review: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2024/04/03/perfect-propose-2024-bl-review/

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Nearly Perfect Propose

This series is a phenomenally gentle story of two individuals who by happenstance meet as boys in childhood with one becoming his savior and then 10 or so years later, they meet again where in the end the other becomes his savior. The story goes full circle. This is an exceptionally well-acted series, given its short duration. So much had to be accomplished and shown in such a short period of time. Even the supporting performances were so spot on. However, who really steals this series are the two young boys who play the younger versions. Surprisingly, for a Japanese BL, they did a good job of showing a connection and were unafraid to kiss with a certain commitment. It seemed honest, genuine, and realistic.

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Butterflies inducing hope

Practically perfect in every way!

A butterflies inducing, tears of rage provoking story of two lost men who find happiness and solution in each other's company, with love being the cherry on the top! One, Hiro, is a programmer convinced by his boss(workplace bullying/harassment) that he is incompetent and therefore putting more and more effort into ungrateful work. So much so that he is completely exhausted and drawing onto his last drops of strength. The other one, Kai, is a taciturn man used to being alone and always abandoned, expecting nothing from the world. When these two meet, their worlds slowly but surely start to change and merge, almost unwittingly!

The drama is full of romance tropes: opposites attract, childhood connection but it works perfectly well here. The actors have good chemistry and the evolution of their relationship is slow but steady, with their respective insecurities taking turns in blocking it. Misunderstandings appear but are solved immediately! There was only one problem I found in the first episode: in order to help him sleep, Kai "helps" him release the stress through a handjob which can be seen as SA since Hiro keeps saying No. He does sleep well afterwards but this scene just repeats the aggressive gay man stereotype! I thought we were beyond this!

Kudos to casting director who found young actors who resemble the main actors. I find this often in j dramas: more often than in other countries' ones! They really make it an issue of finding a believable looking young counterparts.

And of course there is food: what would a japanese drama be without it? Love goes through the stomach, everyone knows that!

The opening credits are actually the "happily ever after" sort of compilation of scenes we never really see since the drama stops when they get together.

It is a great watch. Japanese have done it again! Except for the weird title...

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Truly an (almost) perfect proposal

I wasn't too sure what I was in for when I started this series and you cannot imagine my delight at realising what an absolute gem this little show is.
The cinematography, editing, pacing, and performances are all stellar and create the perfect atmosphere for the somber but sincere tone the script strikes.
For such a short runtime, the story masterfully addresses topics of burn-out, workplace abuse, and even the meaning of life, in a way.
Its central message revolves around reaching for happiness despite life's apparent pointlessness as well as how relationships connect us as humans and tie us together for better or for worse.
Its critique of exploitative workplace culture (specifically in Japan) is perfect in its simplicity and there are several moments in the show which are so genuinely touching and meaningful I found myself tearing up multiple times.

The one thing I dislike about the show are its brief but inexplicable detours into tired BL cliches which happen repeatedly (although thankfully not all *that* often) over the course of the story. Presumably this is due to the source material, but that still doesn't change how uncomfortable and out of place these moments are.
The main instance of course being the scene in which one character forcibly gives the other a hand-job despite repeatedly being told "no" and "stop". Even putting aside how harmful the "predatory gay man" stereotype is, this scene just feels jarring and superfluous. I understand the intent behind it, but this is certainly the wrong approach.

Despite this flaw I cannot deny how wonderful this show is on the whole and how incredibly touching I find its quiet sincerity.
So if you are looking for short, highly character-driven slice of life drama about two people figuring out what's important in life and finding happiness in one another, then I'd highly recommend giving this a go.
Do beware of the SA trigger warnings though.

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much better than the manga...

I did read the original source and I think it was a medicore manga.
But this show fixed most flaws in the manga, reduced the story to the essential but did miss out on Hiros development so the ending feels rushed.

The jerk-off scene stired some controversy but I think it should show Hiros docile character, running like a machine without an option to decide what he wants.

I wished they had at least one episode more to go deeper into Hiros character. I don't think the office scenes were too long, they are essential to understand his struggle but how he did come to the conclusion to change his workplace was too fast, when Hiro has lived in a "treadmill" for five years. Also some flashbacks to Kais family live with his father would have helped the show.

It's always a problem with such short shows to go deeper when all you have are six episodes. I don't quite understand why they have to limit themselves. Two episodes more shouldn't do that much for the budget but could make the show better.

Some are impressed by the opening sequence which I don't like. Why? Because most japanese series show the happy end and they waste 1:19 of only 24mins runtime.

Regardless of the flaws it was a good show with high production value with some fluffy scenes and an adorable couple. MDL is missing a voting for cinematography and design which are also integral for a good series, so my endscore is higher than "calculated" :)

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"Being with people is heavy"

Okay so, do I wish this was longer...? 100%! Do I wish there had been a couple more scenes where Nomura Kota could've shown what a fantastic actor he is? 1,000%! But I have rewatched this twice now (rewatched the last episode a bunch more) and really enjoy it! When I tell you I have replayed the second to last scene repeatedly in my head since I watched it would be an understatement. The emotion, line delivery, and passion are unmatched for me personally. I just wanted more, and I know that's not a valid reason since it's a BL and those are always short, but I still wanted more. Would 100% recommend to anyone, honestly, so good!

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UMA BOA HISTÓRIA QUE PRECISAVA DE MAIS EPISÓDIOS

Essa é uma daquelas série fofas e intimistas (o que particularmente me agrada muito), mas precisava de mais alguns episódios para desenvolver o romance.
Os protagonistas são bonitos e o primeiro episódio é simplesmente impecável, eu não mudaria nada nele, e depois vamos acompanhando a dinâmica deles morando juntos quando o Hiro trabalha demais e o Kai está apegado a ideia de que eles estão prometidos um ao outro desde crianças.
Toda a história faz muito sentido mas poderíamos ter perdido algumas cenas de escritório para dar espaço a cenas românticas, mas o ideal seria uma quantidade um pouco maior de episódios para vermos como o Hiro vai lidar com o trabalho a partir de agora tendo um namorado e como o Kai vai superar o fato de sempre ter sido deixado de lado e agora ter alguém que o ame.
É uma boa série mas poderia ter sido muito melhor se tivéssemos mais tempo.

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6 episodes were not enough

I liked everything about this series but first of all the acting of the cast was great.
The story is soo endearing, of how two person with equally tired of life, finds comfort and happiness in each other through the medium of food. They didn't talk much, but just being in the company of one another only for a short time in the day was just enough.
It really touched my heart how , Hiro found a reason to return home early from work and was always looking forward to it. Him expecting and wanting to hear Kai's voice more even without realising.
On the other hand, Kai finding a reason to live and continue with his life by taking care of Hiro , making him food. Is the the perfect example of how two broken souls can be healed when they find their other half.

What I did not like about this series was:
1. The running time was too short with only 6 episodes. I would have liked to see Hiro and Kai's life together as a couple.. more and how they balance work and life together.
2. ABSOLUTELY, hated the boss making his employee work like robots.
3. All the food that were wasted, that Hiro didn't ate.

It is a quick watch, but totally worth it.

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Hearts melt when you share great meals together

This series stands out not just for the subdued performances of its main cast and the slow-developing relationship between them, but primarily for its portrayal of flawed characters who, together, become stronger.

The story revolves around Hirokuni, a troubled office employee suffering from low self-esteem. One night, while lying on the road exhausted, he encounters his estranged childhood friend Kai, who has nowhere to stay and insists on living with Hirokuni. Kai takes care of Hirokuni's daily meals, all the while flirting with him and reminding him of the promise he made to marry him. As days turn into weeks and then months, Hirokuni witnesses his life transforming and finds himself growing accustomed to Kai’s presence.

Although the main plot may seem generic, it is the nature of the two main characters that makes this series worth watching. Through multiple flashbacks, we learn how they first met, became friends, and eventually drifted apart. Kai, having lost his parents at a young age, becomes indifferent with no expectations from anyone, while Hirokuni is stuck in a thankless job with long working hours and strict schedules. A once youthful and cheerful Hirokuni has turned into someone gloomy and isolated. When they reconnect at a low point in their lives, they uplift each other through daily conversations and shared meals.

Kota and Shunya deliver exceptional performances, bringing to life the flawed and down-on-their-luck characters of Kai and Hirokuni, respectively. The audience is taken on a journey through their daily lives, rooting for them every step of the way. Their struggles and small victories are relatable, and you empathize with their situations while hoping for their happiness. Additionally, the series features the characters bonding over good food, which feels like a staple of Japanese BL.

In conclusion, this excels in depicting characters who have lost hope in life but find strength and transformation through their bond. The series is a heartwarming testament to the power of companionship and mutual support. A few of the plot points might feel rushed owing to the fact that it’s a 6 episode mini-series.

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