Sugar Baby’s Review Corner: Kuzu no Honkai

Kuzu no Honkai

Seventeen-year-old Mugi Awaya and Hanabi Yasuraoka appear to be the ideal couple. They are both pretty popular, and they seem to suit each other well. However, outsiders don’t know of the secret they share. Both Mugi and Hanabi have hopeless crushes on someone else, and they are only dating each other to soothe their loneliness. Mugi is in love with Akane Minagawa, a young teacher who used to be his home tutor. Hanabi is also in love with a teacher, a young man who has been a family friend since she was little. In each other, they find a place where they can grieve for the ones they cannot have, and they share physical intimacy driven by loneliness. Will things stay like this for them forever?

MYDRAMALIST

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I happened upon this drama because it was the second drama suggested to me on Viki after Coffee and Vanilla. I decided that this one sounded better than the other as I have long been a fan of fake dating relationships. I went into this drama thinking at the very least that I could get some cute moments. Needless to say this drama was not at all what I thought it was going to be and I kind of liked that about it. I find that often with Japanese dramas I stumble upon the really innocent and sweet ones or the very raunchy ones as there is not much in between. This drama is more on the raunchy/mature side which I admit did make me a little uncomfortable from time to time, not because I am a prude or anything, but the scenes felt a little soft porn like in nature. School girl kind of raunchiness always makes me feel like that.

The plot was interesting because it totally wasn’t what I initially expected. Instead, I found that it had a very mature way of telling its story. It showcased a way in which teens are dealing with their first loves from various lenses. The actions of the characters themselves were a bit childish from time to time, but the narrative that it followed wasn’t. I think it was this progression that allowed every choice that each character made to be one that seemed logical and realistic. I was a little disappointed at the ending just from the perspective of what I initially thought I would get, but like I said, it was logical and it made sense. I will admit that this sparked a bit of my curiosity to see how the manga had done its storytelling and if it was in a similar vein.

The acting was nothing to write home about, but they did the job that was required of them. They were believable in their performances. Since a lot of them are young adults, it didn’t feel as weird or inauthentic. None of these characters were particularly likeable, but it was nice seeing the diversity with the perspectives of dealing with first loves, unrequited love, manic love, etc. The only issue I find that I consistently have while dealing with Japanese/Asian content like this is the premise of having someone pursue someone who is very clearly a different sexual orientation and convincing them otherwise. I also didn’t like the insinuation that it was just a phase that Sanae may have been going through.

This drama is filled with a lot of love lines and so much happens in the course of the episodes, but I think everyone received a deserved ending. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this drama as something to watch because they are better pieces out there that deals with similar content. However, you wouldn’t be losing anyways if you did decide to check out. Just be weary and certain that this is the vibe you’re looking for.