I think everyone experiences a point in their lives where they feel worthless. Hopeless. Lonely. No matter who we are or where we come from, these moments are universal. Whether these feelings stem from a fleeting thought or a lasting situation, they’re still there. Waiting.

In the new Japanese BL One Room Angel, adapted from the manga of the same name by Harada, worthless and undeserving is precisely what convenience store worker Kouki (Uesugi Shuhei) feels.

Opening with a stabbing that should have ended his life, Kouki awakens to find himself miraculously healed and suddenly living with a beautiful angel (Nishimura Takuya).

From the very beginning, One Room Angel has a somber, bittersweet tone that promises to inspire while also delving into darkness.

The first two episodes focus largely on the tenuous growing affection sparking between the leads. Their random deep conversations speak of hidden pain and mysterious origins while trying to overcome a jobless situation.

But, despite the show’s emotional hold, the most intriguing thing in the series is the angel himself. He’s blunt, naive, selfish, and crass in a way one wouldn’t expect, considering his divine origins. And yet, he’s also empathetic, optimistic, wise, and comforting. It’s a unique blend of traits at war with each other, which somehow makes sense.

While I’m unfamiliar with the manga this drama is adapted from, it’s easy to see that the journey Kouki and his angel are about to embark on will be challenging but healing.

From the human voices and feelings the angel is drowning in, the feathers he keeps losing in response, and Kouki’s unspoken desire to keep moving forward when he has already given up, One Room Angel weaves a story that feels both lost and found.

And it works.

For a bittersweet drama that promises to face itself, check out One Room Angel now on Gagaoolala.

Rating- 4 out of 5