Life has a funny way of bringing people together. Often, it’s the people we least expect who end up shifting our world the most, sometimes gently, sometimes chaotically.

Adapted from Hinohara Meguru’s beloved manga of the same name, Therapy Game introduces viewers to two men whose lives collide in the most unexpected way. Kida Naoya steps into the role of Mito Minato, a guarded, sharp-tongued man with serious walls built around his heart, while Tomita Yuki plays Ikushima Shizuma, a kind, soft-spoken veterinarian whose easy warmth makes him an easy target for being taken advantage of. One chance encounter at a bar leads them to spend the night together, but when Shizuma wakes up with no memory of it, Minato’s pride shatters. In a moment of impulsive emotion, he declares he’ll make Shizuma fall for him and win a bet in the process.

The first two episodes do a wonderful job establishing tone, chemistry, and the emotional groundwork. Minato and Shizuma begin as total opposites, one prickly and defensive, the other overly kind to the point of self-neglect, yet it’s clear their meeting sparks something transformative for them both. Being near each other forces them to confront insecurities they’ve carefully avoided: Minato’s fear of intimacy and Shizuma’s struggle to set boundaries. Their interactions are messy, tender, and layered with the kind of vulnerability that promises a meaningful and eye-opening journey ahead.

But beyond the main leads, Therapy Game shines because of the world it builds around them. The series gives space to identities and communities often under-represented in BL: from gender-fluid and cross-dressing characters to trans representation, bisexuality, and a club environment that feels like a safe haven for self-expression. The found family warmth among the regulars contrasts sharply with the reality of prejudice, judgment, and the ever-present threat of outsiders who don’t respect that space.

A good example is how eye opening and melancholic it is seeing the difference between the acceptance Minato receives inside the club and how he mutters “I’m used to it” when faced with homophobia outside of it.

This is what makes the show stand out: not because it reinvents BL tropes, but because it lets love develop authentically in a queer space that feels real, protective, joyful, vulnerable, and worth defending. The romance is sweet and slow-burning, but the representation, inclusivity, and emotional honesty give Therapy Game an added weight that touches the heart.

I’m already invested in both the main pairing and the hints of a secondary romance. If the series continues to balance heart, identity, and healing the way it has so far, we’re in for something beautiful.

For a series that offers warmth, friendship, and a safe place to fall in love, check out Therapy Game now on GagaOOLala.

Rating- 4 out of 5