Takara-kun and Amagi-kun – Series Review & Episode Guide

Takara and Amagi are high school students in the same class. However, they don't have a close bond. The cool, standoffish Takara belongs to the popular clique. Their group receives constant attention around campus, especially from female classmates. Meanwhile, Amagi is a happy-go-lucky guy who hangs out with his ordinary friends. Takara and Amagi's social circles don't overlap.

Lately, the two teenagers have noticed each other. They often sneak glances at one another in the classroom. Takara and Amagi find alone time while participating in the environmental committee after school. Suddenly, Amagi confesses his feelings. To his surprise, Takara agrees to be his boyfriend. They begin dating, but their unlikely relationship remains a secret from the rest of the school.

Sometimes, Amagi feels insecure because his boyfriend is popular with the girls at school. Takara also has a reserved personality, so figuring out his real feelings is tricky. Feeling troubled, Amagi shares these relationship problems with Katori, his best friend. Amagi speaks vaguely and never discloses Takara's identity. Yet, Katori figures out his friend's secret romance. Katori quietly supports Amagi, providing love advice without exposing the truth.

Meanwhile, Takara grows antsy about the physical aspects of their relationship. His best friend Tanaka is a playboy who flirts with many girls at school. Tanaka plants a seed in his friend's mind that sex is crucial to a relationship. As Takara makes an advance, Amagi seems nervous and admits to being sexually inexperienced. Takara respects his boyfriend's boundaries and waits until he is ready. Nonetheless, the couple must carefully navigate their different views on physical and emotional intimacy.

Takara-kun & Amagi-kun is a cute high school love story, but I couldn't connect with the series initially. The breakup drama in the first episode bugged me, setting a lousy early impression of the couple. The protagonists seem insecure and oversensitive to little problems in their relationship. Their moodiness is typical of two teenagers who started dating, so I understand why they behave clumsily. Nonetheless, I find the titular characters in Takara-kun & Amagi-kun a bit annoying.

After a while, I got used to the main characters. Even their irritating habits turn into strangely endearing qualities. The romance feels sweeter with each episode, and I'm warming up to this couple more than previously. Takara and Amagi don't always respond to their feelings elegantly. They get upset, misunderstand each other, and stew in unhappy thoughts. However, working through the issues is a part of their journey to become better boyfriends. As they navigate their relationship drama, I enjoy those sweet and tender moments with delicate emotions.

Takara-kun & Amagi-kun follows a slice-of-life format, so there isn't an overarching plot. Sometimes, the narrative feels aimless and uneventful, almost devoid of purpose. Unless you care about the romance, the episodes lack a compelling reason that urges you to continue the series. With that said, the story explores intriguing themes in the long term. Takara has trouble becoming emotionally intimate, while Amagi struggles with physical affection. Both protagonists receive character development and make steady breakthroughs in their relationship.

Takara-kun & Amagi-kun loves writing fun, lighthearted banter. There are plenty of clever exchanges with a whimsical touch, like Amagi describing his best friend as "a kindred spirit". Often, the story drifts in and out of random chats. You'll hear the characters having spirited discussions about irrelevant topics. The standard narrative only includes dialogue pertinent to the plot, whereas this drama defies convention and embraces babbling. The little details add to the quirkiness of Takara-kun & Amagi-kun. I can appreciate a BL series that operates on a slightly offbeat rhythm.

I'm not the biggest fan of how Amagi's actor (Nao Oriyama) handles the role. His demeanour is too cutesy and perky, which gets on my nerves. In contrast, his costar (Arato Sato) has the opposite problem as he depicts a stoic protagonist. Takara fails to enthuse me with his bland expressions or mild mannerisms. Together, the couple doesn't share as much chemistry as I'd like. Surprisingly, Katori makes the best impression in this cast, overshadowing the two leads. Katori is a likable supporting character, portrayed by a vibrant and charming performer (Kosuke Suzuki).

Takara-kun & Amagi-kun peaks in the middle. It experiences an enjoyable stretch of episodes, balancing gentle romance and warm sentimentality. Yet, the series loses me near the end as it drifts into unappealing subplots about friendship. Generally, the storylines are pretty hit-or-miss. I grew tired of the repetitive conflicts between Takara and Amagi, who always seemed to whine about something. Over time, my interest shifted to the other supporting characters with livelier personalities. I'd rather watch a BL series about Katori-kun and Tanaka-kun instead.