A no spoilers review. The score 1 to 10 ratings show that this series isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. The series deserves a much higher score. I liked it and really wish for a sequel. It’s Japanese, so it’s different then drama’s from Korea or Thailand. See it for what it is: a simple first love high school series, in a specific Japanese genre. The story is small, but so what - it’s deep love we’re talking about. No real bodywork, it’s real cute and fluffy (holding hands etc.). You’ve got to like and respect that, and the meaning of the series - also in your ratings.

I didn’t read the manga. I also didn’t mind the overall scoring of the series, in the way that it would make me not watch the series. I’m very interested in Japanese series, because the are always unique. There’s no plot, no speed and no surprising action. It’s a series with a main role for the colors beige and blue to set the tone. The voice-overs for Takara and Amagi are great in their worth.

As I wrote in the headline: it’s like reading a manga and watching a series in one go. The main characters seem flat/2D in their expressions - like in a manga book, but aren’t. There’s a lot of room for communication and finding out how a first and also very deep love works between them. They make small mistakes and learn. The 2 boys also look like they stepped right out of a manga book. The lighting on their faces is specific, it suits the manga idea. I ‘fell in love’ with both main characters and their personalities. You see their struggle together and alone on being (not) populair, (physical) needs and finding a balance in that. There’s a process of adjusting going on.

The 2 most importend supporting roles seem like boys who could have been on your school, they are real. Their roles are well written and played. I want to see more series with these 2 guys. The chemistry between the four boys was very good.

The going forward and back in the story is not my thing, but suits the story.