Eien no Kino (2022)

Definitely my no. 1 top bl so far; a supernatural teenage romance underrated masterpiece

(Apologies in advance for my grammatical errors, English is not my native language)

This series is a hidden gem—a supernatural teenage romance with hints of slice-of-life that unexpectedly gave me butterflies. Despite its melancholic tone, I found comfort and beauty in it. This drama is deeply underrated and deserves far more recognition. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s much more than just a sad or tragic story within the BL or supernatural genre.

Story:
The series gently explores the stages of grief, and many reviews have praised how delicately this theme is handled, a sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with. Supernatural stories aren’t always universally appreciated, but this one portrays its fantasy elements in such a grounded, realistic way that it feels incredibly natural. It strikes a perfect balance between the real and the unreal, which is where its charm truly lies.

But what I want to highlight the most is the ideal relationship between Koichi and Micchan. As an introvert, I really appreciate that they told a story about a healthy relationship between an introvert and an extrovert. I admired Koichi for understanding and seeing the beauty in Micchan's silence. I appreciated that he didn’t rush things, from being friends to becoming lovers. Introverts need personal space, and I love how Koichi respected that. He never pushed Micchan, instead patiently waiting for him to become comfortable. Even though it was love at first sight for Koichi, he allowed Micchan to fall for him little by little—a form of courtship or unrequited loved rather that’s rarely seen these days. Besides his patience, Koichi became Micchan's protector and safe space. His love was so big and selfless that he always put Micchan's needs before his own.

While many already recognize how ideal Koichi is—his gentleness, patience, and protectiveness are green flags for anyone—Micchan deserves more credit than he receives. He may seem emotionless on the outside, but he’s compassionate inside. The novel shows even more of how much he loves Koichi, even after many years have passed. His eternal love—choosing Koichi every day—is a true testament to their love. Also, the emotional energy Koichi received from him in order his body to function proves Micchan’s deep love for Koichi. Moreover, watching someone you love slowly disappear was incredibly difficult for Micchan. These are all signs that Micchan loves Koichi just as much as Koichi loves him.

Their relationship gave me everything I could ask for—a gentle love that makes you feel safe, someone proud to have you, someone who sees something special in you that others don’t, a love that you didn’t expect to be reciprocated out of pure genuine intent. It’s a kind of love that’s irreplaceable, one that makes you feel like you’re always the first choice , a love that continues to choose you every day. It’s just heartbreaking that this relationship was taken away too soon.

Acting/Characters:
Komiya and Inoue did an incredible job portraying these characters. Their chemistry is exceptional, and they never failed to deliver everything we could want. Their comfort with each other, the soft and gentle intimacy, and the subtle nuances they portrayed were delightful. Even during intimate scenes, nothing felt over-sexualized. I also appreciated the focus on the main couple. Their chemistry, facial expressions, and line delivery felt perfect. Everything seemed so natural to me—there wasn’t a single moment that felt awkward or cringe-worthy.

Setting/Cinematography:
I loved the Japanese countryside vibe during summer. The breathtaking backgrounds and landscape scenes were beautiful and relaxing. Although the weather differs from the novel, as a pluviophile, I appreciated the switch to rain. It was lovely to see rain play a significant role in every chapter of their story—from their first meeting, the beginning of their relationship, Koichi's accident, and lastly, his farewell. It felt like the rain mirrored their emotional journey, like falling in love as they did.

Music:
This is the best OST I’ve heard so far. The opening and ending songs perfectly define their story, and I can’t help but get emotional every time I listen to them. The musical score used throughout the drama also fit beautifully.

Rewatch Value:
It may sound strange, but I would give the rewatch value a 10 out of 10. I have a deep appreciation for melancholic stories, and even though this one is sad, I find comfort in it each time I watch it.

Overall:
Despite its sad ending, the story concluded in the most beautiful way possible. The narration at the end was the most painfully beautiful one I’ve ever seen. This is probably the best BL I’ve watched so far. It gave me the poetry, gentleness, subtlety, and bittersweetness that I seek in dramas. It also gave me valuable life lessons. I’ll be forever grateful that I discovered this drama. It left me emotionally wrecked for weeks, but I don’t regret witnessing this beautiful masterpiece.

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