My Strawberry Film – Series Review & Episode Guide

Ryo and Hikaru are high school students who have become best friends despite their opposite personalities. Ryo is quiet and reserved, preferring to listen to music over socializing with others. He's often found with a pair of headphones over his ears. In contrast, Hikaru is loud and extroverted. He is always buzzing with excitable energy, unlike his companion.

Hikaru takes the initiative to approach Ryo and befriends him. The energetic teenager has successfully brought his shy friend out of his shell. They hang out together during lunch and after school. The pair is often joined by Chika, a cheerful classmate who sits near them in homeroom. Chika gets along with Hikaru and likes to banter with him. At the same time, she enjoys spending time with Ryo in intimate exchanges.

Recently, the trio of friends is hanging out in an abandoned school warehouse. They discover old film footage featuring a beautiful teenage girl on the school rooftop. Hikaru is smitten with her ethereal appearance and wants to learn more about her background. He convinces Ryo and Chika to participate in an investigation for fun. These three amateur sleuths begin their search, asking various teachers whether they know the girl from the film.

The trio doesn't find much relevant information during their investigation. They still know little about the mysterious girl's identity, which disappoints Hikaru. Just then, a new exchange student joins their class. To their surprise, Minami looks almost identical to the girl from the abandoned film. Despite the uncanny resemblance, Minami denies any connections. She doesn't know why there is school footage of her lookalike.

Minami starts hanging out with the trio after Chika befriends her. The four would hang out in the school warehouse while investigating the mysterious film. Hikaru becomes smitten with Minami and wants to ask her out. Ryo pretends to be nonchalant, but he seems bothered by Hikaru and Minami's new bond. Chika notices Ryo's loneliness while grappling with her own unrequited feelings. She has a secret crush on Ryo, which her friend doesn't seem likely to reciprocate.

My Strawberry Film has an uninspiring storyline based on an odd premise. A group of high school friends investigates the origins of a vintage movie. They want to find out the identity of a random girl in the footage. If you assume the characters will uncover anything meaningful, please lower your expectations. This mystery is merely a plot device, giving the protagonists a reason to spend time together. Instead, the main focus of My Strawberry Film is on exploring the romantic feelings between the characters.

Much of the plot revolves around unrequited love. Chika has a crush on Ryo, who is secretly smitten with Hikaru, but he develops an interest in Minami instead. The four leads experience longing, confusion, and heartbreak while navigating their feelings. Unfortunately, My Strawberry Film doesn't deliver much substance or sophistication. The characterizations are too shallow, so you hardly know anything about the protagonists beyond one or two defining traits. Their relationships are also underdeveloped. There are no bonding moments, cherished memories, or special experiences to make the viewers feel emotionally invested.

My Strawberry Film has BL content, at least in theory. Ryo's secret crush on Hikaru is supposed to be a significant plot. I keep waiting for their platonic relationship to evolve, but it never does. They remain stuck in the friend zone. Don't get your hopes up because nothing happens between them. Ryo and Hikaru don't even share many scenes together. Half the time, they're in separate subplots with the female characters. The lack of romantic development is disappointing for a series marketed toward BL fans. We only get a flimsy bromance instead of a real couple.

The cast seems young and inexperienced, especially Ryo's performer (Ryusei Fukada). His character is supposed to be a sensitive soul tormented by unrequited love, but this actor can't convey the depth of emotion needed. He looks like a sad Eeyore with one facial expression for every occasion. Chika's actress (Mizuki Yoshida) also struggles in her role. Some of the crying scenes don't reflect her best effort. On a positive note, I like the actress who plays Minami (Ririka Tanabe). She has a classic ethereal beauty that gives her a mesmerizing screen presence.

Episode after episode, My Strawberry Film fails to impress. To be fair, it was never bad enough to be unwatchable. I completed the series, understood the plot, and didn't consider quitting midway to do something else. I can't say the same for every awful drama reviewed on BL Watcher. Yet, my viewing experience was pretty bland. I sat through each episode in constant indifference, occasionally checking my pulse to ensure my heart hadn't gone numb. Watching My Strawberry Film is like eating plain bread for three hours straight. Sure, I can stomach it, but there's no enjoyment.

My Strawberry Film becomes so angsty toward the end. The last few episodes feel bleak as all the characters mope around gloomily. Even Hikaru, the bubbly one in the group, seems miserable. I wish the storyteller could've infused more enthusiasm into the narrative. It's too preoccupied with moody teenage drama and doesn't spend enough time highlighting the joy of adolescence. Overall, My Strawberry Film has an underwhelming story with an unsatisfying romance. I finish the series feeling bored, irritated, and frustrated by its mediocrity.