A cute story with great acting, zero drama and with no hateful characters, this will make your heart flutters... for real! I'm very thankful that Japan as well as other asian countries are being more open to make LGBT+ stories, this was a huge project with a lot of budget and great actors and for most of us it's one of the best BL's of the year if isn't the best one. [spoiler]I'm not gonna be dissappointed by the last scene because I'm expecting a second season.[/spoiler]

I came across Cherry Magic on MDL (My Drama List) two months before its official airing date. The plot summary and casting choices intrigued me. I had recognised both of the main leads, Akaso and Machida-san from their previous works, Nee Sensei, Shiranai no? (2020) and Joshi-teki Seikatsu (2018). Since Ossan’s love (2018), Japan has become more open to exploring BL/LGBT genre and well-known actors and actresses featuring in the genre. Considering those points, I had gone ahead and read the first two volumes of the original manga by Toyota’s Cherry Magic. I appreciate Toyota-san for writing the characters in a likeable manner. TV Tokyo is the broadcasting network for Cherry Magic, and they’ve also featured the manga adaptation. What did you eat yesterday (2019) that also includes 12 episodes. These details made me more intrigued to give the series a chance, mainly because it’s rare for a BL/LGBT show to have more than 8 episodes. Another part of me was uncertain due to the first episode preview and its lack of marketing. From my knowledge, it had one official interview article and two previews before it’s air time. However, that did not stop the show from becoming one of the most popular 2020 Asian dramas in Japan and worldwide. The story could have taken many different directions; however, I appreciate the staff and crew’s mindsets on the story's direction and structure. Having read the manga (Vol 1~4), and watched the drama series, I could sense the amount of thought that went into making the show fitting for a live-action adaptation while bringing heart and soul to these characters. In general, the majority of the Asian dramas tend to over sexualise and romanticise unhealthy relationships, including BL and LGBT portrayals. Therefore, Cherry Magic's direction proves that none of those portrayals is necessary to create an exciting and engaging show. It was quite refreshing to see a relationship built on trust, communication and maturity, especially in the given genre. Characters & Acting: I was concerned the show would limit its focus on character development, especially for the supporting characters. However, I gradually started to accept and realise this is Adachi’s story. It’s made clear from the start that we, as the audience, see the story from his perspective. I appreciate the writers for including a fair amount of development and perspective for our supporting characters later on in the show. I was able to see a part of myself in each of the characters. For example, Adachi, our main protagonists gradually overcoming his low self-esteem, Kurosawa learning to accept his less perfect side and Fujisaki having an optimistic attitude despite pressure from her surroundings. The acting was top-notch; I could feel the character’s emotions, including the scenes without any dialogue. I loved how the main and some supporting cast members were given a chance to show their range. It helped me become more invested in their characters. Setting the characters in a genre with both slice of life and a supernatural element could be quite challenging. Therefore, I believe the writers did an excellent job writing the main and supporting characters in a relatable and somewhat realistic approach. Setting: It was refreshing to see a drama set in a workplace setting with the given genre. It brought more opportunities to explore some realistic obstacles and a sense of relatability towards a mature target audience. Although the production value is relatively standard, the staff considers the setting, placement of props, and editing, reflecting the character’s emotions with their given surroundings. I appreciate the setting being viewed more than a stage or an aesthetic; it made me rethink the use of colour palettes (e.g. Blue for gloomy mood and Yellow for light and romantic). Music: I fell in love with both the opening and ending songs featured in the show. The lyrics had much depth and connection with our two main characters. I found it interesting the opening represents Adachi’s internal feelings while the ending represents Kurosawa’s perspective. Both songs complement each other, and the visuals fit the songs melody. The soundtrack is both amusing and emotionally moving. From my perspective, I did not feel any of the ost or songs were out of place. Last thoughts: If you are used to seeing skinship and rapid development featured in romantic relationships the show may not be your forte, however, I recommend you give the series a watch. While watching the show, it reminded me that falling in love can be a wonderful thing in life despite the depressing and heartwrenching moments.

I'll add to all the others by saying that is a very damn fine series. The only reservation I had is their suits. they didn't fit them at all. Ah, and the non-kissing thing.

This series was a lot of fun, and I absolutely adored our main couple. Adachi and Kurosawa's story is sweet, understated, and gentle. It was a pleasure to watch the relationship between them blossom, and I never doubted they belonged together. If the show were just them and their coworkers, I would've given it a 10. However, there was the side couple--which felt like it existed in a different show based on the acting and storyline. Adachi's best friend behaved like a cartoon character in the worst way possible. He didn't feel like a real person, but rather a caricature of one, which stood out to me like a sore thumb because of how everyone else was. If everyone else were giving the same type of energy and performance, it wouldn't have been a problem. I have seen other manga adaptations, queer or otherwise, that went that route, and I enjoyed them for what they were. But the difference between him and everyone else was stark, and I felt like it would've been much better to tone it down. There was also a stark difference between the care and effort put into establishing Kurosawa and Adachi compared to Minato and Tsuge. A slight toning down of the (I assume) source material in their case would've gone a long way in my opinion.