Summary
Netflix’sThe Boyfriendhas been a trailblazer since its premiere - due to its authenticity, it feels genuinely groundbreaking and sweet. Viewers can watch the unforced relationships among nine men unfold.The Boyfriendis the first ever same-sex dating show in Japan. Its debut has been quite revolutionary in comparison to othershows likeThe Ultimatum: Queer Love. Japan is one of the few wealthy countries that has yet to legalize same-sex unions. Therefore,The Boyfriendwill be a huge step towards normalizing queer relationships.
The Boyfriendis nearly perfect, and it is pretty easy to ignore a few flaws. Inspired by a popular Japanese dating show,Terrace House,The Boyfriendbrought nine cast members together, living in a luxurious beach house outside Tokyo.Dropping brand-new episodes each Tuesday,The Boyfriendhas already captured many people’s attention since it is different from any regular dating show.Within the first three episodes ofThe Boyfriend, there isn’t the general misinterpretation that characterizes shows likePerfect Match.
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The Boyfriend Men Are Stylish
They Dress So Well
The men arrived atthe beach house looking incredibly polished and clean. Some had subtle tattoos, and dressed in loose jeans, white t-shirts and thin silver chains. Their hair also looked amazing. Certain participants had their locks tucked behind one ear - others wore spiked hairstyles. These are some of the best-dressed cast members on reality TV.
Often times, people see reality TV stars wearing loosely fitting unbranded t-shirts paired with tight jeans and trainers. However,The Boyfriendcast members brought their street style to the show. Throughout the series,The Boyfriendviewers will seethe cast wearing different outfits, from knit tank tops and sweaters to hoodies and baggy trousers.
The Boyfriend Is Less Dramatic Compared To Other Reality Shows
It’s More Subtle & Meaningful
When the participants started interacting, they had great conversations with one another. Most questions revolved around learning why each person wanted to be on the show. Kazuto, a 27-year-old Japanese cuisine chef, stated that he wanted to face “romance head on”, whereas 34-year-old Taeheon added that hisdesire was to find someone he could connect with, even on a friendly level.
The Boyfriendis very suspenseful - it’s hard to figure out who will fall in love. This social experiment isdifferent from other dating shows. There are no pods where contestants get to know about each other. Instead, the men were tasked with using an old-fashioned method to express their feelings - letters. What made this concept even more exciting was the fact that an individual could express their feelings about their potential matchwithout writing their name, leaving the person guessing who their secret admirer was.
The crushes are blooming but aren’t that noticeable yet, thanks to the show’s pace. It means thatThe Boyfriendaudience will have to pay attention to hands brushing against backs or theparticipants' eyes meeting over cups of coffee. There aren’t hot make-out sessions and there isn’t any partner swapping. There is nothing wrong with people getting a little bit cozy on a dating show. However, since the hookup culture is now so prevalent, the show is exceptional as it shows something totally different. The scenes feel more realistic.
The Boyfriend Cast Members Are Polite
They Care About Each Other’s Feelings
The men on the show have been polite in their interactions, even while having difficult conversations. There have been no instances where participants have cussed out other cast members, no matter how agitated they were. In a certain incident, Shun Nakanishi and Dai Nakaideveloped a close relationship from the start. Unlike Dai, Shun wasn’t that demonstrative. Nonetheless, Dai didn’t shy away from showing he was interested in Shun. That included choosing him to be his partner while working in the coffee van.
Later, Shun came across naughty photos on Dai’s phone - this upset him. A prior bad experience with an ex-boyfriend might have triggered his reaction. Broken, Shun talked about his previous traumatic experiences. He did so in order to explain why he imagined Dai might be untrustworthy. Dai listened without interrupting him and assured Shun he would do his levelbest to provide him with a safe space.
“I want you to know I already like you so much. And I want to keep getting to know you more. I want to make you feel that I’m a safe person for you to get close to. And I’m going to prove it with my actions. Words are not enough.”
The scene shows how polite the cast members were while opening up about their fears to each other. Comparing this scene with what happened betweenLove Is Blindseason 6 castJimmy Presnell and Chelsea Blackwell, there is a huge difference in how the parties involved handled insecurities in their potential partners. Jimmy was critical of Chelsea to a point where he called her “clingy” for expressing how she felt.
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In several instances, Jimmy disrespected Chelsea. That’s not the case withThe Boyfriendcast members, making it such a comfortable yet vulnerable television show to watch. There are warmhearted moments, but viewers still getto see an emotional roller-coaster ride.The Boyfriendparticipants are feeling a lot.
The Boyfriend Represents Real-Life Situations
It Feels Natural
There are a lot of raw emotions onThe Boyfriend. There was a quick montage that showed snippets of the cast members' lives outside the show. The opening soundbites were more profound than expected. One of the cast members, Taehoen, a Korean designer, said he hadn’t told his parentsabout his sexuality and hopedThe Boyfriendwould give him a chance to do so (viaNetflix).
“I wanted tell my parents that’s men I’m interested in.”
In the trailer, Kazuto questioned why he was born that way while expressing how he felt about his sexuality. These are poignant confessions that are rarely on other dating shows. There will be no dramatic elimination because the cast membersinvolve people who are genuinely looking for a partner or long-lasting friendships.
These guys, ranging from 22 to 36 years old, will not be stuck in the house for a month without access to the outside world. There are numerous occasions that prompt the men to leave. For example, they aren’t in the house when they’re running a coffee truck or doing their regular jobs.
Moreover, there are no clout-chasers, and the rationale behindThe Boyfriendis living, working together and getting to know each other better. Despite the historical moment associated with the show’s existence,The Boyfriendis obviously giving its viewers a blueprint for a different type of reality dating show. It is a fascinating social experiment, and it will be interesting to see how the cast members continue to let their guard down.
The Boyfriend
Cast
A group of gay men, including an aspiring journalist and a former barista, come together to run a coffee truck in an attempt to find love. As they navigate personal struggles and romantic entanglements, their bonds deepen, leading to unexpected revelations and heartfelt connections.
