Thoughts on Ossan's Love (Japanese version)...mostly negative
I don't know what came over me but I decided to binge the original Ossan's Love last night.
It was kind of fascinating. Not good. But fascinating.
I haven't watched many BL's from before 2020, but I had heard mixed things about this one: mostly people saying that it's a classic but a problematic one.
There are parts of it that are very poignant and compelling. There are other parts that are like watching a train collision. It is overall a pretty mean spirited comedy that is quite cruel to its characters.
I will say I was never bored.
I also kind of liked the idea of a love triangle between an older married man discovering his bisexuality, a loser in his 30s also discovering his bisexuality under 15 layers of internalized homophobia, and a 25 year old guy who has already accepted his sexuality even if the world doesn't accept him.
I didn't even mind the rampant miscommunication trope that drives most of the plot. I thought Haruta's avoidant tendencies and his inability to cope with seeing anyone in pain to be as endearing as it is exasperating, and added depth to his bafoonish personality.
I could've done without the predatory gay trope, and the rampant consent issues. It was supposed to be played for laughs and it just didn't land. I hated the squeamishness around intimacy between men. Haruta's misogyny and homophobia could've been explored to greater effect if he showed any kind of introspection or growth by the end of the show. Instead he pretty much remains the same "loveable" idiot, and I was left feeling like he mostly wanted a maid instead of a boyfriend.
And because of that Kurosawa and Maki ended up feeling quite tragic to me. They both are shown to violate boundaries, but overall Kurosawa's pushiness comes across as almost childish overexcitement at the new feeling he's experiencing so late in life. It's meant to be cringe but underneath that it's pathetic and heart breaking. And Maki seems so accustomed to disappointment that him ending up with Haruta at the end doesn't feel like a triumph--it feels like a great guy who has decided that he can't do any better than an immature loser who refuses to touch him.
Again, many interesting ideas worth exploring, but they were handled in this mean-spirited punching down kind of way.
I think my favorite characters were Choko (Kurosawa's ex wife) and Mako (the young co-worker thirsting after her).
I don't know if I'll watch the other parts of this franchise? I'm curious about the Thai version because I love EarthMix, but if it's a faithful adaptation I don't know if I can handle it 😅
I agree with most of op's points. The way Soichi Harutan sees women and his internalized homophobia are horrible, mostly because this gets treated like a joke. It's really not funny tho. Except if you are a completly ignorant cis-man maybe. Also, Harutan is just lazy, selfish and doesn't show a lot of empathy.
Nontheless, the show was hilarious and very entertainig, mostly due to Tanake Kei's acting skills. THIS GUY!!!😂😭 He just safed it all by being an absolut comedy god.
I personally preferred the season 2 Ossan's love returns. It's actually A LOT!!!!! better than season 1. It's absolutly hilarious, Harutan actually shows some meaningful (and very necessary) growth and it's quite wholesome. I was surprised by how many mature topics it touched, while still being light and positive.
Harutan and Maki grow into a beatiful and mature relationship, while still being lovey-dovey. Apart from them there were other really lovely side-couples. And to make everything even better there were also a lot of loving and supportive relationships outside of romantic couples!
Of course it's not free from questionable content. But for me the wholesomeness, cute moments and good messages overweighed.
Would you trust your Blorbo with your bank account?
Yes
No
I don't have my own bank account
Voting ended onJan 18
Every poll on this blog is about fictional characters only. This request was sent to us and we made a poll in response to it. Send any Blorbo-related question you want to our inbox and we’ll make a poll on which people can vote with their own Blorbos in minds
Es ist einfach zu wahrscheinlich, dass ihr irgendwann irgendeine Schnapsidee habt und plötzlich fliegt eine random schwangere Frau mit meinem Ersparten in ein mysteriöses Land ohne Auslieferungspflicht.
Does your Blorbo react well to being rejected/being told no?
Yes
No
Voting ended onDec 31, 2025
Every poll on this blog is about fictional characters only. This request was sent to us and we made a poll in response to it. Send any Blorbo-related question you want to our inbox and we’ll make a poll on which people can vote with their own Blorbos in minds
wir haben darüber gesprochen, dass adam nach 15 jahren immernoch height advantage hat aber lasst uns drüber quatschen dass adam nach 15 jahren den typen wiedersieht, den er damals körperlich verteidigen musste und jetzt ist der mann plötzlich captain america. gebaut wie ein schrank, trägt t-shirts grundsätzlich ne nummer zu klein und wenn der sich bewegt spannt sein schulterholster. wäre ich adam wär ich so fertig
Vladi hat Rollen nicht bekommen, weil er zu hübsch dafür war??? Krass?
Haben ich und eine Freundin uns gefragt. Bisher hatten wir eher gedacht, dass mans im Schauspielbusiness schwer haben könnte, wenn man zu wenig koventionell schön ist.
Also haben wir den Filmstudenten, der sich zufällig in unser Wohnzimmer verirrt hatte, um Klärung gefragt.
Er hat uns dann eine eigentlich ziemlich offensichtliche Antwort gegeben. Viele Filme, die nicht nur mit dem Ziel von viel Cash machen produziert werden, suchen halt nach Realismus. Sie wollen Charaktergesichter, die die Rolle glaubwürdig verkörpern. Er habe bei seinem letzten Casting auch viele Frauen abgelehnt, aus genau dem Grund, dass sie viel zu hübsch waren. Weil, wie wahrscheinlich ist es, dass eine von Existenzängsten und einer harten Vergangenheit geplagte Mutter von zwei Kindern aussieht wie ein Topmodel? Genau, das kommt schon vor, ist aber eher unwahrscheinlich.
Trotzdem traurig, dass Vladi (unter anderem) deswegen gewisse Rollen nicht gekriegt hat😢 Das muss hart gewesen sein.
By the way, es würde mich soooo interessieren, welche Rollen das waren!!!
You have to write a fanfic that incorporates ideas or symbolism inspired by your five most recent non-face emojis. Are you able to write one that you would consider good?
Hell yes! This is gonna be great!
It’ll be difficult, but I think I can make it at least readable
