Love Stage – Series Review

Anda is a university student who comes from a famous family. His parents are celebrities, while his older brother Tee is the lead singer of a rock band. Anda has no desire for the spotlight, although his father keeps pressuring him to join the acting industry. Anda suffers from stage fright and doesn't enjoy performing before a crowd. Instead, he's content with leading an ordinary life, reading manga and hanging out with friends.

Anda participated in a wedding commercial during his childhood. The original actress didn't show up on filming day, so Anda's parents made him play the female role instead. Anda dressed up as a girl and portrayed the bride in the advert. His costar was Ryo, a child actor who grew up to become a famous young idol. Anda left a strong impression on Ryo, who harboured a crush for many years. Yet, Ryo has no idea about Anda's actual gender.

Over a decade later, the wedding company wants to produce a new ad with the same cast as previously. Ryo is excited to meet his adolescent crush again. However, Anda doesn't want to accept the gig. Thee bribes his little brother with gifts to make him change his mind. Reluctantly, Anda participates in the new commercial, dressing up as a girl again. His appearance is convincing, and Ryo becomes smitten with his costar upon their reunion.

Anda is unaware the wedding ad features a kiss between the couple. Earlier, Anda's father deliberately withheld information from the script, knowing his son wouldn't have done the commercial otherwise. However, his trickery backfired. Anda reacts terrifyingly when Ryo kisses him during the shoot. A heated confrontation takes place between the two costars. When Anda's wig is accidentally knocked off, Ryo discovers his childhood crush is a guy in disguise.

Ryo is upset upon finding out the truth. Anda wants to apologize, but their subsequent interactions are chilly and reserved. They have another confrontation at the gym, where Ryo forcibly undresses Anda to confirm his gender. Tee arrives in time and punches Ryo for hurting his little brother. Ryo is hospitalized, and his manager Aeko convinces him to seek compensation. Tee and his manager Jet are worried about the legal consequences. Anda visits Ryo once more, hoping to make amends and persuade him to drop the lawsuit.

Love Stage has the distinction as one of the first BL titles with an anime, movie & drama adaptation. It's an impressive achievement, cementing the franchise in the history books. Yet, its popularity confuses me. What exactly is the appeal of this mediocre story? I can think of many overlooked BL mangas that deserve a live-action series. Instead, the precious resources are wasted on remaking Love Stage again. Why do we need three versions of the same old crap?

The Love Stage drama suffers the same flaws as its anime and film counterparts. It has a weak premise, setting a shaky foundation for the rest of the series. It's tough to feel immersed in this childish love story with undeveloped characters, superficial relationships, and obnoxious interactions. Some storylines, such as Anda's aversion to fame or Tee and Jet hiding their relationship, have untapped potential. However, Love Stage is frivolous, approaches the topics on a surface level, and never explores its themes deep enough.

Occasionally, the series charms me with its upbeat tone, silly humour, and cheerful enthusiasm. I appreciate that the adaptation doesn't take itself too seriously, indulging in lighthearted campiness. Yet, the comedy feels juvenile, like I'm watching failed attempts at humour instead of actually making me laugh. Part of the problem is the weak acting, because the entire cast lacks charisma and can't energize the story. I think Anda's actor (Turbo) is a little adorable, but his performance appears amateurish and needs more refinement in workshops.

Ryo and Anda don't appeal to me as a BL couple. Their attraction seems random, and I can't understand what they see in each other. Worst of all, their multiple nonconsensual encounters are massive turn-offs. Oh my god, Ryo is so creepy when he makes out with a sleeping Anda in Episode 5. Love Stage portrays his actions as romantic, but the scene is offensive and uncomfortable. Frustratingly, the problematic tropes are prevalent in all three adaptations. Every Love Stage remake celebrates the protagonist's disturbing behaviour instead of condemning his depravity.

Regarding the love triangle, I was Team Bank from the moment his character got introduced. Bank is dreamy, respectful, and a much more appropriate love interest than Ryo. Also, the actor (Non) seems too hot to be in a supporting role. I kept wondering why he wasn't the lead instead. As for the secondary romance, I enjoy Tee and Jet's relationship. Their interactions are cute, cheery, and pleasant. Unfortunately, they have limited screentime and don't feature prominently in the narrative. I don't care enough about this couple beyond fleeting moments of interest.

Love Stage is a solid production with a bright and vibrant aesthetic. The colours radiate in every scene, stimulating visual excitement even when the storylines fall flat. Also, the series is skin-friendly, features steamy kisses, and devotes considerable focus to the sex scenes. Although the BL content is heavy-handed, I'm easy to please, so the gratuitous fanservice wins back lost points in my books. Despite some positives, the Love Stage series is significantly flawed and doesn't improve my opinion of this woeful franchise. I hope we don't see another remake in the future.