“How should I write this review?”

I contemplated on the answer to this question before diving deep into the oceans of “The Boyfriend”. Compared to most dating shows I had watched in the past, this one was unprecedented. And I’m not even talking about the contestants. When I first learned that the contestants would be running a coffee shop, I had doubts of my own.

Will this bring them closer? Will they learn more about each other? Will it be a simple cohabitation and nothing more?

Curiously enough, that wasn’t the case. The said coffee truck became a source of income and also a place to share their thoughts, opinions and most of all, their feelings. It was a “created opportunity” for the contestants to know each other better while working in close quarters; you can call it office romance with a bittersweet twist!

Banking on the freshness of a unique concept and a casting that includes mature men and gregarious commentators, “The Boyfriend” quickly rose to fame. Week after week, the contestant’s attempts to win over their crush/loved ones was scrutinized by the public as it was by the commentators. In short, the show was an enormous but a risky attempt, that actually paid off (here’s hoping that Netflix learns something from this endeavor and stops canceling queer oriented shows). Before we dwell into the mechanics, let’s talk about the contestants again.

1) Shun, 23 Artist (Gay)

2) Taeheon, 23 Designer from Korea (Gay)

3) Usak, 36 go-go Dancer (Gay)

4) Ikuo, 22 Food service industry worker (Gay)

5) Gensei, 34 hair and makeup artist, Taiwan (Gay)

6) Dai, 22 University student (Bisexual)

7) Alan, 29 IT company employee, Brazil (Gay)

8) Kazuto, 29 Japanese cuisine chef (Gay)

9) Ryota, 28 model & barista (Bisexual)

Joining them offscreen are an eccentric group of commentators offering insights and opinions, with the contestants vying for the attention of their loved ones!

1) Megumi (Japanese talent, actress, singer and former gravure idol)

2) Chiaki Horan (Japanese actress and tarento from Tokyo)

3) Thelma Aoyama (Japanese pop and R&B singer)

4) Durian Lollobrigida (Japanese drag queen)

5) Yoshimi Tokui (Japanese comedian and actor)

Shun & Dai

The “Nation’s Boyfriends” debuted to great curiosity and intrigue as fan rallied to watch the ups & downs in their relationship. Shun is rather cautious because of the failed relationships he has experienced. His regretful past never lets him trust anyone implicitly, he is hugely reserved and painfully insecure. Dai, on the other hand is ray of sunshine, an eternal optimist and rather passionate about romance. There was a lot of pull & push in their relationship, with Shun deciding that they are better suited as friends. Dai, the gentleman that he is, agreed to the terms while hiding his own feelings. The twist came, when the newcomer Ikuo got enamored with Dai and that got Shun rechecking his priorities. The one thing that strikes a chord is Dai’s dedicated approach and his loyalty. Throughout their journey and considering Shun’s diabolical mood swings, Dai was persistent and patient. He never gave up on Shun, no matter how unreasonable he sounded. This relationship wasn’t easy, but that’s what makes it more meaningful!

Alan & Kazuto

Alan & Kazuto were another oddball couple (or not there yet, but on the way to becoming official). It was the same story as Shun & Dai, an extrovert meets an introvert; except that Kazuto was hugely popular (the ones who didn’t want to deal with Shun’s melodrama rallied after Kazuto). Obviously, he is a prize catch, being mature and independent; but Kazuto had reservations of his own, which prevented him from connecting with any of the contestants who were actively vying for his attention (which includes Ryota, Usak, Alan & even Ikuo for a short period). He had men falling for him right & left, unable to pick anyone from them. Alan’s efforts backfired a little when they went on their first date (Alan is huge on skinship which made Kazuto uncomfortable). Alan had to backtrack his steps until they got back into a comfortable zone where Kazuto began trusting him again. They are still in the talking phase but some people take time to fall in love and Kazuto is one of them. Good for him, because like his best friend, Dai; Alan also has loads of patience.

Gensei & Taeheon

Two contestants who absolutely won my heart were Taehoon and Gensei. Even though they didn’t find any romance, they were inherent in forging strong friendships and offering sound advice. Especially Taehoon, who is still struggling from the fear of “Coming out” to his own family. It isn’t an easy endeavor, because no one knows how they would react. Will they accept him wholeheartedly? And if they don’t, where will that leave Taehoon? The one thing I loved about this show was the positive portrayal of solid friendships, even though the contestants were competing with each other; there was no outbreak of toxic rivalry or outmaneuvering. Everyone sat down for honest conversations and shared their opinions, that was something I had never experienced in a dating show before!

Final Thoughts

It was a beautiful journey of love, but mostly friendships!

At the end of the day, I will miss everyone in this show, from the contestants to the commentators who were both funny and thoughtful. I don’t know how Netflix managed to bag this show, but it was a good attempt at creating a dating show in a country like Japan where same sex marriage is still unsanctioned. The contestants were able to address the issues plaguing their existence, the societal prejudice they face; I’m not sure how much difference this will make, but it is the right step towards the future. Each contestant had an individual journey to trace and a story to share. I will remember these guys for a long, long time!

Rating- 4 out of 5

Streaming on- Netflix