Is an 8.2-second stare the time it takes to fall in love at first sight?

The Japanese BL The 8.2 Second Rule (8.2 Byo no Hosoku) certainly hopes to achieve that. Starring Ohira Shuzo as Amai Koichi, a sweets-loving high school student who likes to bake, 8.2 Seconds takes viewers on a quick but insightful journey.

And it does it by merging food with psychology.

In his quest to fall in love by staring into someone’s eyes for 8.2 seconds, Amai finds himself helping multiple lost male characters find their way by gifting them sweets that coincide with their particular issue. From the imperfect pairing the dessert Ichigo daifuku represents in the first episode to the supporting role a coffee jelly can play in a meal, the food Amai offers opens the characters’ eyes to how shortcomings can become a positive quality.

But while Amai’s desserts help the men he tries to woo, the 8.2-second stare he hopes to use to connect with them never happens.

Even in the end, when Amai’s secet admirer appears, it isn’t a stare that connects them; it’s food. As they share a Mille Crepe (which also happens to be my favorite dessert), viewers are left with a tidbit of wisdom: everyone has that one person who notices their beauty. And it doesn’t take an 8.2-second stare to make it happen.

For a short drama, The 8.2 Second Rule does a brilliant job of showcasing the beauty of first love while also having a passion for something. Each mini-episode expresses each new character’s life purpose. It’s a drama that depicts the importance of striving to achieve a dream even when you feel less than.

Despite Amai’s search for it, romance doesn’t take center stage in the 8.2 Second Rule. Instead, it’s a subtle thing that happens to Amai when he’s not looking.

And, for me, that’s the beauty of this short piece.

Eyes are often seen as the windows into the soul, and there’s no doubt that how people feel is generally expressed in their gazes. But being the window into the soul doesn’t mean eyes are also the windows into the heart. Instead, they are the doors into what could become love later.

The theme of the 8.2 Second Rule may be centered around a love stare theory, but it also brings to mind the adage ‘the way into a man’s heart is through his stomach.’ Still, despite all the aphorisms the drama manages to use, the true beauty of The 8.2 Second Rule is how love happens out of nowhere when we least expect it.

For a short but insightful and subtle romance, check out The 8.2 Second Rule on YouTube.

Rating- 3.5 out of 5