A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 – Series Review & Episode Guide

Mob is a university student with a strong aversion to romance. He lives in a universe that skews heavily toward gay couples. The single men keep falling in love with each other, and inevitably, they all end up as couples. Mob considers himself an exception to the rule and tries to resist any BL scenarios. If someone shows an interest in him, Mob makes up a hilariously silly excuse to avoid them. His goal is to stay single forever.

Last season, Mob discovered he had romantic feelings for his classmate, Kikuchi. Before Kikuchi leaves to study overseas, Mob arrives at the airport to make a grand love confession. Or, at least, that is the initial plan. He's about to kiss Kikuchi for the first time, but the moment passes after a flash of hesitation. Kikuchi departs the country, while Mob regrets his failed love confession.

After Kikuchi's departure, Mob seems determined to stay single again. Many romantic scenarios keep happening around him, which he tries to avoid as much as possible. He comes up with hilariously silly excuses to avoid the typical BL cliches in his life. Mob's brother, Ayato, feels concerned about his erratic behaviour. Despite Mob's extreme resistance, he meets Haruno, a persistent high school student with a crush. Haruno seems eager to change Mob's mind about love.

A Man Who Defies the World of BL is back for a third time. The 2024 series brings a fresh set of quirky jokes, zany characters, and hilariously outlandish scenarios. This sequel carries the same offbeat comedy as the past installments. As always, the humour pokes fun at the prevalence of BL tropes. It mocks popular cliches, like drying a love interest's hair or offering a jacket in cold weather. A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 is a treasure trove of inside jokes and cheeky references for fans of the genre.

The humour pops up occasionally, but the series isn't funny enough to evoke laughter at every instance. Often, the writing takes too long to set up a scenario before it arrives at a punchline. Luckily, the lead actor (Atsuhiro Inukai) always brings the energy, even during slower moments. His hammy reactions and exaggerated mannerisms help elevate the playful atmosphere. He can turn unfunny jokes into goofy entertainment through the sheer power of his charisma. A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 is the perfect showcase for his comedic gifts.

A common problem with sequels is that they lose the novelty factor. The comedy in the original drama seems funnier because it's our first experience, so there's a surprising charm. By the third series, the humour suffers from predictability. As it repeats similar jokes, the impact lessens. Many of the scenarios also feel too alike. Once again, the protagonist reacts to BL couples falling in love, like every other time. A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 is like a one-trick pony that has already used up its best ideas. It struggles to create fresh storylines in the sequel.

A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 has a stretch of dull episodes around the middle. I find myself getting bored, especially when the series tries to introduce a new love interest. Hatano's scenes aren't fun, and his bland romantic drama lacks this franchise's signature humour. Most subplots are also hit-or-miss. Some come across as too serious, others feel like pointless gags, and the worst ones are downright offensive. I hate the weird age-gap storyline with the 25-year-old man and 13-year-old boy, which ends by suggesting they have a future romance. WTF!?!?

The sequel tries to set up a love triangle, but I don't care for either of Mob's romantic prospects. Hatano and Kikuchi show little personality beyond being one-dimensional love interests. Both lack an engaging rapport with the protagonist. The secondary couple, Ayato and Toujou, have several minor scenes together. However, this pair is heavily sidelined and always feels like an afterthought. Also, the series continues pairing up many guest characters in random romances. They share one or two short exchanges, but none of the couples are memorable.

At least the guest actors are attractive. A few caught my eye: Mizuda (Hibiki Suzuki), Amemiya (Takumi Momose), and Atsushi (Ryudai Onikura) are my top candidates to star in future BL dramas. I also enjoy the vibrant soundtrack, which enriches the romantic atmosphere. This series has polished cinematography with solid production values, showing artistry in many scenes. Despite the positives, A Man Who Defies the World of BL 3 doesn't excite me. The staleness of a sequel, repetitive humour, and a lack of meaningful romances remain this drama's worst flaws.