The Proper Way to Write Love – Series Review & Episode Guide

Hiroshi Suzuki was a timid student who stood out at his rural high school. Most of his classmates were delinquents or didn't care about studying. In contrast, he loved flowers and spent time tending the school garden. Hiro's gentle nature made him an easy target for bullies. Their constant teasing turned high school into a painful memory for him.

Of all his tormentors, Hiro remembers Natsuo the most. Natsuo followed him for years, always trying to talk to him. He wasn't cruel, but his constant chatter and clumsy behaviour irritated Hiro, who wanted to be left alone. One day, Natsuo asked Hiro to meet on the rooftop for a private talk. Before they could speak, the bullies showed up and teased them about a confession. Flustered, Natsuo joined in and pretended that Hiro was the one who had invited him. Hiro felt betrayed and saw Natsuo as just another bully.

Hiro used to be mocked for his appearance. The bullies made fun of his haircut, glasses, and awkward clothes. Their insults motivated him to change his look and prove them wrong. He pursued a career in hairstyling and found confidence in his work. Now, he enjoys helping others feel good about themselves. Hiro has become one of the top stylists at his salon.

One day, Natsuo walks into the salon as a new customer. Hiro is stunned to see his former classmate after so many years, but Natsuo doesn't recognize him. With Hiro's suggestion, Natsuo leaves with a stylish new hairstyle. Impressed with the result, Natsuo returns and asks Hiro to go out with him the next day.

Hiro agrees to the date but feels conflicted inside. He still carries resentment toward Natsuo for the past. Deep down, he plans to get revenge. His idea is to make Natsuo fall in love and then break his heart. For Hiro, that would be payback for high school. Natsuo has no clue about his hidden motives. He's simply happy to start their new relationship.

Early in The Proper Way to Write Love, the series delivers a streak of fun, enjoyable episodes. Episode 2 features the couple's first date at the botanical garden, highlighting their playful rapport. As Episode 3 explores Hiro's career and Episode 4 focuses on Natsuo's birthday, they reveal more of the characters' personalities. The humour and warmth make this stretch of the story feel incredibly pleasant. The BL drama shines in its simple portrayal of two boyfriends learning about each other and growing closer.

My favourite part of The Proper Way to Write Love is Natsuo's character. I absolutely adore this goofball. Natsuo is silly, excitable, and full of joy. He often behaves comically, cracking me up with his dumb antics and funny reactions. Natsuo almost reminds me of a cartoon character or the grinning emoji 😆 come to life. Every scene becomes more lighthearted with his presence. Best of all, the actor (Satoru Soma) has an incredible smile that radiates warmth. He always looks thrilled to be there, and his enthusiasm is contagious. Thanks to his charisma, the series becomes delightful to watch.

Hiro began his relationship with an ulterior motive. He wanted to humble Natsuo, who had annoyed him during high school. In the first episode, Hiro comes up with a plan: "I'll date him a bit and dump him hard." Sadly, this storyline drags on for too long. As the two grow closer, Hiro's hidden revenge becomes more uncomfortable. The story needs to resolve this tension sooner. A heartfelt talk and a sincere apology would have been enough. Instead, the series has the wrong priorities, focusing on inconsequential plots rather than addressing the prolonged conflict.

Around the midway point, I felt less charmed by the couple's relationship scenes and more disappointed with the story development. The series could've explored Hiro's trauma from bullying and Natsuo's efforts to make amends. Or it could've settled their high school conflict and focused on more mature themes. Instead, the writing is lacklustre. The Proper Way to Write Love doesn't take the plot in an interesting direction. Making matters worse, the first kiss is meh, and Hiro stays guarded about physical intimacy. I still like the couple, but their romance loses momentum.

The finale is the worst episode. During a tense confrontation, Hiro pins Natsuo against the wall, pulling down his pants in a failed attempt at sexual assault. Holy shit, I was disturbed! For all its faults, I still had a favourable opinion of the series until this point. It delivered seven episodes of pleasant relationship fluff. I was ready to give The Proper Way to Write Love a decent review score, championing it as a wholesome and funny BL drama. Well, not anymore. My entire argument vanished after this awful scene, which replaced the story's cozy vibes with a sinister aura.

The finale also includes a consensual sex scene, though the lighting conditions were poor. The series brings the physical passion that had been missing from the romance, which was one of my complaints. I got what I wanted, but Hiro's misconduct made me lose trust in him, and it dampened my excitement for the couple. Natsuo deserves a better partner. After everything, I tried my best to recall the charm of the first seven episodes. Ultimately, I feel conflicted about The Proper Way to Write Love, a BL drama with moments I enjoyed but flaws I can't ignore.