I was thrilled when season 2 of "Utsukushii Kare" ("My beautiful Man") was announced, because in my opinion season 1 was one of the best BL series of 2021. After the four short episodes of season 2 I can only say that this is probably going to be one of the best series of 2023.
On the surface, the relationship of Hira (Hagiwara Riku) and Kiyoi (Yagi Yusai) still looks like a typical unrequited love, with Hira worshipping his "beautiful man" Kiyoi like a god, and Kiyoi "insulting" Hira time and again by calling him "gross" or "disgusting" (which is his way of saying "I love you") although they have been living together for quite some time. Their relationship has been called toxic or asymmetric by some viewers, but it isn't. In fact, both characters are scared to be left behind by their lover, and although Hira obviously has a mental problem, i.e. the complete lack of self-confidence, and thus seems to be the weaker of the two, Kiyoi is just as scared as Hira that their relationship won't last.
The seemingly asymmetric relationship is not only based on Hira's feeling of inferiority, but it is reinforced by the fact that Kiyoi is a talented, aspiring actor on his way to becoming a celebrity, whereas Hira, a talented photographer, doesn't find a job after graduation. So it makes perfect sense that their relationship becomes more equal when Hira finally gets a job as the assistant of a famous photographer, and Hira and Kiyoi's kiss in the final episode is a relief to everybody who wishes these two lovely characters well.
"Utsukushii Kare 2" underscores once again that often a short series with short episodes can be so much more satisfying than 14 episodes of 60 minutes that keep dragging on and on. If a series is written as well as this one, and if directing, editing, locations, and cinematography are so good, and if it focuses on the main protagonists and doesn't create artificial drama, it can succeed in displaying the main characters and their development in a depth that is often missed in long Thai series.
The cherry on top of this beautiful series is Hagiwara Riku and Yagi Yusai's acting. Hira's stuttering, a symbol of his lack of self confidence, and Kiyoi's arrogance and rudeness are just brilliant acting, and their shy and secret smiles indicate what's going on inside these two young men who depend on each other, and who are living evidence of the saying that opposites attract. Although the series focuses on Hira and Kiyoi's story, we meet some of the characters of season 1 again, among them lovely Koyama (Takano Akira), who – although his love of Hira was one-sided - still tries to encourage Hira as a photographer.
It has been a joy watching this series, and I'm thrilled again because we'll only have to wait for little more than a month to meet Hira and Kiyoi again when the movie "My Beautiful Man: Eternal" will be released.
Country: Japan
Episodes: 4 à 24 mins.
Director: Sakai Mai
Cast: Hagiwara Riku, Yagi Yusai, Takano Akira et al.
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Reviews of Asian BL Series
Non-FictionThis is a collection of reviews of BL-series and movies from Thailand, South Korea, the Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Japan, Cambodia, and Vietnam, some of which I have already published on mydramalist.com. The series I am reviewing here are not...
