I Fell in Love with a Friend of the Same Sex – Series Review

Naoki and Takuya are high school seniors about to graduate. The two share a close friendship. They're comfortable enough to spend time alone in the bedroom, even lying together on the same bed. Takuya had been dating his girlfriend for three years, but he was recently dumped. She thinks ending the relationship now is better since they'll attend different universities. Takuya is single for the first time in a while.

Unbeknownst to Takuya, Naoki harbours a secret crush on him. However, he doesn't dare to confess. Convinced his feelings aren't mutual, Naoki fears rejection and quietly pines for his friend. Takuya remains clueless, treating their interactions as purely platonic. He gets chummy with Naoki, even playfully tickling him in bed. Takuya is unaware of the deeper emotions he stirs. For Naoki, these moments only intensify the ache of his unrequited love.

Ayaka is Takuya's childhood friend. After his recent breakup, she sees an opportunity. She grows closer to him and even suggests they become roommates since they'll be attending the same university. However, she acts hostile toward Naoki, viewing him as her competition for Takuya's attention. Ayaka even confronts Naoki directly, asking if he likes Takuya. Naoki denies it, keeping his feelings hidden.

Naoki will attend a different university from Takuya and Ayaka. Takuya admits he'll miss Naoki and feels disheartened about them being apart. However, Ayaka teases him, casually pointing out that they're both guys, as if that should prevent any deeper emotions. Naoki becomes painfully aware of how little time remains with Takuya. He fears parting ways without ever revealing his true feelings to his friend.

I Fell in Love with a Friend of the Same Sex is produced by CUL DRAMA, a small Japanese studio specializing in short dramas. It typically focuses on high school romances featuring straight couples. This BL project is a notable departure from its usual work, a first attempt to do something different outside its comfort zone. As a teen series, the story is simpler and more wholesome. Understandably, the plot revolves around youthful themes like school graduation or secret crushes.

The first episode is the stronger of the two. Like a classic love triangle, Naoki has a crush on his friend Takuya while facing competition from his rival Ayaka. The scenario is so familiar that you can understand it without much explanation, allowing viewers to quickly immerse themselves into the plot. As the drama unfolds, the conflict is predictable but still engaging. Will Naoki confess his feelings? Does Takuya feel the same way? Will Ayaka steal Takuya's heart? These questions flicker through your mind during the ten-minute narrative. The resolution in the final scene is satisfying and wraps up the storyline nicely.

Unfortunately, the second episode is weaker. Naoki still pines for Takuya, who sends mixed signals without clarifying his feelings. The plot is clichéd and repetitive, reusing the same love triangle dynamic from before. The story doesn't bother to develop the leads, so we learn nothing about Naoki or Takuya outside their romance. Meanwhile, female characters only exist to create conflict, depicted as scheming rivals or clueless love interests. Episode 2 diminishes the charm of the first episode. It exposes this drama's limited imagination and reliance on tired tropes.

I Fell in Love with a Friend of the Same Sex offers plenty of fanservice. Both episodes start alike as Naoki leans close to Takuya, almost kissing him before he's interrupted at the last second. Another scene has Takuya climbing on top of Naoki in bed. While they remain fully clothed, the suggestive pose invites playful interpretation. This drama is genre-savvy, understanding the importance of optics to tease fans with BL moments. Aside from a brief kiss, the couple never crosses into truly intimate territory. It's more about fanservice than delivering a full-fledged romance.

Both leads deliver decent performances, but the short format doesn't offer many opportunities to showcase their charisma. Takuya's actor (Keishi Arai) has a more dynamic role. His character's ambiguous motivations allow for a broader range of emotions. He transitions smoothly between playful flirting and subtle tension. On the other hand, his co-star (Ren) is stuck with a one-dimensional character, who spends most of the time pining after his love interest. His portrayal is fine but underwhelming, as the role doesn't challenge him beyond being sad and mopey.

The series faces some limitations. Made by a small studio, its production values lack the polish of bigger projects. A few scenes appear overly blurry, although most visuals remain presentable. The short length limits the story's development. While there's a happy ending, it feels abrupt and doesn't offer closure for the couple. The concept has little ambition, as a high school love triangle is an overused trope that doesn't stand out in an oversaturated genre. I Fell in Love with a Friend of the Same Sex is pleasant, but it seems insubstantial compared to stronger BL dramas.