Age has a tendency to make people more afraid of choices. I think a lot of that has to do with overthinking everything that could go wrong when you’ve already been through years of trying to figure life out day by day. As a woman in my forties, I certainly overthink things way more than I used to in my twenties. And the same goes for Suzume in the Japanese BL 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40 (adapted from the manga 40 Made ni Shitai 10 no Koto by Mamita).

The drama follows Tojo Suzume (Kazama Shunsuke), a man whose life has quietly fallen into a set routine. Work, home, repeat. But with his 40th birthday looming, he realizes time is slipping away, and he decides to challenge himself with a list: ten small but meaningful things he wants to experience before the milestone arrives. When his younger colleague Tanaka Keishi (Shoji Kohei) stumbles across this list and volunteers to help, Suzume’s carefully ordered world begins to shift. What starts as a checklist quickly grows into something deeper, as the two men find themselves navigating not just tasks, but questions of identity, connection, and love.

When I first started this series, I was struck by how much I related to Suzume’s quiet hesitation. In the opening episodes, his cautious way of living reminded me of how easily we tuck ourselves into routines that feel safe but isolating. The pacing was unhurried, and I appreciated how the show let moments breathe without forcing grand declarations too soon.

By the time the story reaches its conclusion, 10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40 has stayed true to that same gentle rhythm. It’s a romance that leans into vulnerability rather than spectacle, showing us two men who must learn to meet each other across the divides of age, workplace roles, and personal fears. Suzume’s biggest obstacle isn’t external, it’s himself, and his fear of what it means to open up after years of hiding. Watching him wrestle with this was both frustrating and deeply moving, showing how much courage it takes to let someone in.

What elevates the series further is its ensemble cast. Rather than serving as mere background, Suzume and Keishi’s coworkers, friends, and family are given space to grow in ways that mirror and enrich the central relationship. Characters like Suzume’s longtime friend Kuroki Keisuke (Hirako Yuki), co-workers like Akane (Takayama Riko), and Keishi’s sisters aren’t just supporters; they embody struggles, joys, and forms of love. The result is a layered narrative where everyone is searching for something, and each small triumph resonates with the others.

By the finale, the romance has been earned, built patiently on shared time, misunderstandings, courage, and finally, trust. It’s not flashy, but it’s all the more powerful for being grounded in quiet truths about fear, aging, and the need for connection.

10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40 is a heartfelt reminder that love isn’t limited to youth. It can bloom in the most unexpected places, even after years of being alone and settled into certain routines. For anyone who enjoys slow-burn, character-driven romances that value emotion over action, this drama is worth watching.

Streaming now on GagaOOLala.

Rating- 4 out of 5