At 25:00 in Akasaka – Series Review & Episode Guide

Yuki is an unknown actor auditioning for the lead role in an upcoming BL drama. Although Yuki used to participate in his university's film club, he was never cast in any mainstream projects. Despite his inexperience, Director Kawada is impressed by Yuki's dedication and sees potential in him during the audition. To his surprise, he lands the gig and becomes one of the leads. This is a significant breakthrough for his career.

Yuki's costar is Asami, a handsome actor with a large fan following. Asami is already famous before participating in this project. His casting creates a lot of positive publicity for this BL series. In contrast, Yuki is an anonymous newcomer with no experience or reputation. Asami's fans aren't fond of Yuki and express doubts about him co-starring with their beloved idol. They worry Yuki might drag down the production of this drama.

The discrepancy in their fame causes Yuki to feel inferior to his costar. He is also incredibly nervous about his first leading role. There is a lot at stake in his acting career. As pressure mounts, Yuki fumbles on the first day of filming. From messing up his lines to missing production cues, he makes many rookie mistakes. The director tries to remain patient with Yuki, but she points out his subpar performance and wants him to improve.

After making a lousy first impression, Yuki's morale drops. His agent and the other actors try to be supportive, but he still feels demoralized. Asami has observed Yuki's struggles and also encourages him. As the cast gets to know each other better off-camera, Yuki and Asami reveal that they used to be acquaintances. Both went to the same university and participated in film club. Asami was Yuki's senior, although they only talked a couple of times. Still, Asami remembers Yuki from the past.

One night, Yuki and Asami meet at a bar. Yuki reveals his insecurities about the BL drama. In addition to his lack of on-screen experience, Yuki has never fallen in love. Since he doesn't understand the intricacies of relationships, this contributes to why he struggles to portray his role. Asami listens to his costar's problems attentively. Then, he makes a risqué suggestion that changes the trajectory of their relationship.

Inside me, there are two wolves. A part of me wants to enjoy At 25:00 in Akasaka, an artsy love story with rich atmospheric vibes. The series is about two actors who secretly yearn for each other, and their desires create a compelling source of sexual tension. Unfortunately, another part of me is so bored by this slow-burn romance. At 25:00 in Akasaka moves at a glacial pace and becomes painfully dull in the second half. This uneventful series loses my interest with each passing episode.

At 25:00 in Akasaka begins decently. The first episode has a memorable scene at a gay bar, which cracks me up because of a hilariously bizarre exchange. I gasped, scrunched my face in confusion, and cackled at the ridiculous antics that could only happen in a BL drama. 😅 From the start, this series teases the relationship dynamics between the leads, leaving enough ambiguity to intrigue you about their romantic potential. Yuki and Asami have quite a lot of intimate interactions, such as affectionate hugs or canoodling in bed. There's enough juicy material to fuel your will-they-or-won't-they fantasies.

Yuki and Asami are the stars of a BL series, but the line between acting and reality is often blurred. They would share an affectionate moment, only for the camera to pull back and reveal that they were filming a scene for their drama. At 25:00 in Akasaka pulls this stunt many times, almost annoyingly so. It wants you to feel uncertain about what's real and what's not. This confusion captures the inner turmoil of Yuki and Asami, who keep questioning their feelings for each other. The moody love story draws you in with its quiet introspection and understated emotions.

At 25:00 in Akasaka wants to prolong the sexual tension to build up to an emotional climax toward the end. However, this romance drags on for too long without gaining momentum. Episode after episode, Yuki and Asami yearn for each other. They awkwardly repress their feelings instead of taking the initiative to confess. The series adds an unwanted love rival midway, and his meddling stalls the relationship even further. The pacing, especially in the second half, slows down so much that it feels unbearable. As my excitement dwindles, I stop caring about this couple.

Yuki and Asami's romance feels inorganic. Early on, they become intimate too quickly, crossing boundaries that don't make sense at that point in their relationship. I don't believe the characters are falling in love naturally. Instead, the storyteller manipulates circumstances or relies on cliched tropes to force them together. The series also introduces a boring backstory about how Yuki and Asami met during university. A compelling history could have enriched the characters or strengthened their relationship. Unfortunately, the flashback episode is quite dull.

I appreciate the earnest performance of Yuki's actor (Taisuke Niihara). The sincerity in his expressive eyes makes the emotional scenes more compelling, especially at the end of Episode 3. I also have positive thoughts about the music. The series has a powerful soundtrack that heightens the drama in each episode, elevating small moments into memorable encounters. While the acting and production values give a slight boost, they don't significantly improve my opinion. Overall, At 25:00 in Akasaka is a middle-of-the-road BL series that bores me instead of engaging me.