My Love Mix-Up – Series Review & Ending Explained

Story

Funny story

My Love Mix-Up begins with a misunderstanding over an eraser, which leads to a mistaken love confession. If it was real life, Aoki would quickly clarify the situation with his classmate and explain he doesn't have a crush. In the surreal world of BL fiction, we gloss over the obvious solution and opt for the comical response instead. Aoki accidentally misleads Ida, initiating a gay romance that neither of them wanted in the first place.

Despite the bizarre circumstances, an unexpected connection forms between the characters. Initially, Ida rejects his classmate. Before the first episode ends, he surprisingly reconsiders the love confession. If you aren't attracted to somebody, your reply would be a simple no. Instead, Ida actually said "…maybe?" to a gay relationship. His open-mindedness leads to many fun storytelling possibilities in My Love Mix-Up.

As the teenage characters navigate their confused feelings, they encounter many funny scenarios. The comedy accentuates the romance, adding a delightfulness to their relationship scenes. Much of the humour comes from Aoki's over-the-top reactions, as his expectations don't match with the reality. My Love Mix-Up is a hilarious series, balancing the enthusiastic jokes with a sweet, sensitive love story.

Love triangle

Aoki and Ida weren't attracted to each other at the start of the series. In fact, Aoki's first love was Hashimoto and not Ida. At first, the relationship dynamics are set up like a love triangle. Aoki secretly likes Hashimoto, who has a schoolgirl crush on Ida, but he might be interested in Aoki instead. None of the characters have reciprocated love.

What makes the drama so compelling to watch is the evolving relationships. Over time, Aoki and Ida change their feelings towards each other. Every time their romance takes a step forward, it's a pleasant surprise. We get excited whenever Ida accepts the love confession, agrees to start dating, and holds hands with his boyfriend. While these events seem minor on paper, we make meaningful progress episode by episode, so their journey feels rewarding and engaging.

Empathy

What I cherish about My Love Mix-Up is its empathy. This BL drama is deeply compassionate, encouraging us to embrace those who are different from the norm. Whether it's a pompadour hairstyle or gay sexuality, the characters' unique qualities are celebrated instead of mocked. The recurring themes throughout the series are tolerance and benevolence.

The signature kindness is evident in many episodes. Ida doesn't shun Aoki after his love confession and he even explores the possibility of dating a guy. Likewise, his volleyball teammates champion their friend's new romance without judgment. A more controversial example is Aoki's homophobic tutor, who changes his thinking and learns to empathize with his gay student.

All these storylines, among numerous others, help to spread positivity. At times, the messages are too heavy-handed, coming across like an after-school special. Nonetheless, I appreciate its sentimentality. My Love Mix-Up inspires us to be more open-minded, treating others with respect, kindness, and sensitivity.

Ida

I adore what Ida's character represents. He has a kind heart, high emotional intelligence, and a solid moral compass. His defining moment is in Episode 2, where a classmate teases Aoki for playing the Cinderella character. Everyone joins in the laughter, except for Ida. "It's not funny. Why are you making fun of him?" Ida asks indignantly despite facing enormous peer pressure. That was the scene where I fell in love with his character, but it isn't the only example. Ida keeps impressing me with his sympathetic responses on numerous occasions.

However, it's tough for me to connect with Ida's character. He's very guarded, shows little emotions, and keeps his thoughts to himself. The story is told primarily through Aoki's perspective, so we learn a lot about him. We see all his responses, experience his emotions, and understand his motives. In contrast, Ida remains too ambiguous and seems distant from the viewers. After ten episodes, he feels like an enigma and I can't get a clear grasp of him.

As the series progresses, I realize that Ida is a Gary Stu. It's a term used to describe a perfect fictional character with no personality flaws. In other words, he's too good to be true. Part of my disconnect is that Ida doesn't seem real. Sure, he behaves perfectly and says all the right things. However, he acts like a textbook example rather than an authentic individual. I wish we could've seen his vulnerabilities, his insecurities, or anything that gave him more definition. I still like Ida, but his characterization is a weak point for me in My Love Mix-Up.

Romance

Wholesome romance

My Love Mix-Up depicts a gentle and wholesome high school romance between two adolescent characters. The relationship dynamics might sometimes be messy, but it's a low-stakes love story that doesn't feel too intense. There are no problematic tropes or toxic relationships. You also don't have to worry too much about arguments, melodrama, or angst. My Love Mix-Up is relatively stress-free, ideal if you just want to watch a fun, lighthearted BL story.

With that said, this feel-good BL comedy isn't devoid of conflicts. Notably, a few subplots address homophobia and self-loathing, adding a touch of gritty realism to the fairytale love story. However, these storylines are handled thoughtfully and empathetically while retaining a healthy sense of humour. You can rest assured that My Love Mix-Up will promote empowering messages about its gay characters.

Aoki and Ida

To be honest, the romance between Aoki and Ida doesn't always feel credible. I think Aoki moved on from Hashimoto to Ida too abruptly. It's like someone flicks a switch and he suddenly changes tracks. His attraction to Ida could've been depicted more thoroughly. Nonetheless, their relationship scenes are really adorable, overpowering any skepticism I may have. Once they start dating, I feel more reassured about their connection for the long term.

Aoki and Ida are a cute couple whose opposite personalities complement one another. Aoki's quirkiness balances with Ida's seriousness, as they bring out each other's best qualities. Between the two, Aoki is more vulnerable and exposed. He's someone who wears his heart on his sleeves, constantly expressing doubts about himself and the relationship. Aoki often gets hurt since he thinks Ida doesn't feel the same way as him. Despite his insecurities, Aoki is an admirable character because he puts himself out there and commits to his romance wholeheartedly.

In contrast, Ida is a lot more guarded about his feelings. He needs "time" to contemplate his attraction to Aoki. It's a slow and lengthy process, taking him ten episodes to finally reach a conclusion. The way Ida approaches this romance is almost too analytical. While Aoki is full of passion and enthusiasm, Ida seems stoic and detached. His lack of emotions keeps Aoki speculating about their relationship, unsure how his boyfriend feels about him. Nonetheless, Ida opens up near the end and confirms the romantic feelings are mutual.

Aoki and Hashimoto

Aoki's feelings for Hashimoto are superficial. She's friendly towards him and has a kind personality. Once, she gave him leftover pastries on Valentine's Day. That generates enough goodwill for Aoki to desire Hashimoto romantically. Since she likes someone else, he accepts his rejection and stops pursuing her. His interest in her subsides quickly, indicating their connection isn't that strong in the first place.

When Aoki realizes his attraction to Ida, it seems as if he would become ~love rivals~ with Hashimoto. On paper, it's ludicrous the protagonist goes from having a crush on a girl to competing with the same guy as her. Nonetheless, this silly scenario works in the fantasy world of My Love Mix-Up. The plot plays out entertainingly with lots of charm.

However, there's a mix-up! Aoki misinterpreted Hashimoto, discovering that she likes Akkun instead. It means Hashimoto and Aoki aren't rivals since they have feelings for different people. Afterwards, their dynamic changes once again. Aoki and Hashimoto become each other's confidantes, offering moral support and gentle relationship advice. As it turns out, their personalities are similar and compatible. Both are kind, sensitive, and a little goofy. They grow close platonically and their friendship is one of the highlights in the series.

Hashimoto and Akkun

My Love Mix-Up deals with various cases of mistaken identity. One of the mix-ups involves the name of Hashimoto's crush. Aoki wrongly assumes that she has feelings for "Ida". However, what she actually wrote on the eraser was Aida, a different character who goes by his nickname Akkun. This revelation adds a fun, unexpected twist to the story. Best of all, it gives Hashimoto a separate storyline during the second half of the series and keeps her relevant in the narrative.

There are parallels between the Hashimoto & Akkun romance and the Aoki & Ida relationship. Both Aoki and Hashimoto harbour secret crushes, but they can't gather the courage to confess their feelings. As their characters go through similar circumstances, they lean on each other for support. However, their storylines go on different paths midway through the series. While Aoki and Ida officially start dating, Hashimoto is heartbroken when Akkun rejects her confession.

Many romances are powered by the concept of how opposites attract, but that's not the case here. The lively and extroverted Akkun admits he isn't attracted to the timid and introverted Hashimoto. Their personality differences pose an understandable barrier to the relationship. After the rejection, Hashimoto doesn't give up. She's eager to open up to Akkun, letting different aspects of her personality shine. The more he notices her, the more he opens up to the prospect of dating her. Eventually, Hashimoto's efforts win over Akkun as they become a couple in the end.

P.S. The sweet Hashimoto channeling her ~inner rage~ is my favourite mood.

Acting

Enthusiastic acting

My Love Mix-Up maintains its upbeat energy through a lively and enthusiastic cast. All the actors do an excellent job with their roles, bringing lots of charm that make their characters come alive. The performers also have excellent rapport and you will feel at ease watching them interact.

Aoki is an engaging protagonist, portrayed by a vibrant young actor (Shunsuke Michieda) with confident comedic timing. He gives cartoonish expressions, over-the-top mannerisms, and behaves larger than life. Every time he appears on screen, he draws attention and makes you laugh with his goofy antics. His screen partner (Ren Meguro) is dreamy, capturing the essence of a high school heartthrob. Acting-wise, I think he's the weakest in the cast, but only because his costars set a high bar. He still gives a decent performance and has cute chemistry with Aoki's actor.

The supporting cast is stellar as well. I really like the actress playing Hashimoto (Riko Fukumoto), who exudes genuine warmth every time she smiles. She's able to keep up with Aoki's upbeat energy and their rapport feels so natural. Similarly, Akkun's actor (Jin Suzuki) comes across as bubbly and vivacious. My Love Mix-Up is a much better showcase of his charisma than in Given, the BL drama he appeared in earlier this year.

Ending

Happy ending

My Love Mix-Up has a happy ending, where Aoki and Ida get back together after their break-up earlier in the episode. During the finale, Ida reveals that his friends from the volleyball team know that they're dating. However, Aoki doesn't take the news well, panicking because he got outed of the closet. Aoki responds so poorly that he suggests they end their relationship. After getting dumped, Ida is miserable and behaves like a shell of his former self.

Aoki's extreme reaction is triggered out of deep-rooted insecurities about his sexuality. Aoki feels self-conscious about getting teased and bullied at school if others know he is dating Ida. However, he realizes it's not a big issue after talking to Ida's open-minded friends, who support them very much.

Fortunately, the couple clears up their misunderstanding before the series ends. Thanks to his friends' advice, Ida takes the initiative to reunite with his ex. It's refreshing to see this fiery passion from Ida, who has been pretty passive and reserved throughout the series. Finally, Ida lets his guard down and admits he wants this relationship to continue. As they agree to become boyfriends again, the two of them embrace in the school courtyard. The Christmas lights illuminate around them, concluding the series on a gorgeous and festive note.

Ending explained

Admittedly, the My Love Mix-Up ending isn't perfect and feels strained in some places. The break-up feels sudden and irrational, presenting a lot of annoying drama before the series ends. However, the finale also contains some narrative themes that I find compelling. For instance, I appreciate that it explores Aoki's struggles with his sexuality. The series introduced this subplot in an earlier episode with the homophobic tutor, and it builds upon that storyline in the finale.

Another aspect I liked about the finale is that it verified Ida's feelings for Aoki. My Love Mix-Up began with a lot of confusion between the characters, but it ends with definitive clarity. After the first episode, Ida wasn't sure if he could be attracted to Aoki and needed time to contemplate. In the finale, he finally finds his answer. After breaking up with his boyfriend, Ida is confronted with the loss, making him realize how much he cherishes their romance.

Up until this point, Ida's character has been pretty passive, whereas Aoki is the assertive one in their relationship. Aoki gave the love confession, suggested that they start dating, and organized a detailed itinerary for their date. Ida is almost coasting along as he observes his boyfriend from a backseat position. That changes in the last episode, where Ida shows passion and desire for Aoki. One of Aoki's insecurities was that he doubted his boyfriend's commitment to their relationship. Finally, Ida opens up, shows vulnerability, and reaffirms his mutual feelings.

No kissing

My Love Mix-Up ends without a kissing scene between the characters. It's a chaste series, sanitizing all affections between the gay or straight relationships. The only physical interactions are limited to holding hands and an intimate embrace in the finale. There's one scene where Aoki fantasizes about kissing Ida, but their lips don't come close to touching each other. I must admit, the missing kiss influenced my final review of My Love Mix-Up.

Going into the last episode, I gave myself an ultimatum. If the characters kiss in the finale, I'd give this series a grade of A- and include it in my list of favourite BL stories. Otherwise, I'd bump down the review grade. As I suspected, there was no kissing. Not even a peck on the cheek. That was the main deciding factor that pushed My Love Mix-Up out of contention from the best BL dramas.

In my opinion, a teenage love story that ends without the leads kissing isn't a prominent flaw. I still enjoy My Love Mix-Up a lot. However, I'm irked with these Japanese BL dramas that shy away from displaying gay affection. I see this annoying trend in What Did You Eat Yesterday, Cherry Magic, and now My Love Mix-Up. Despite the empowering messages about acceptance, this series undermines its sincerity by not allowing the characters to kiss. Sorry, but I can't keep endorsing another mainstream BL romance that won't celebrate love physically.