Can a Freeloader Make It as a Secretary? – Series Review

Keita Shirahata is an unemployed man living with his girlfriend until she suddenly dumps him for someone else. With no money to pay rent, he faces the threat of eviction. Desperate to find work, Keita struggles as every job requires qualifications he doesn't have. Keita eventually stumbles upon a posting for Kuroda Solutions. This company offers a position with no education required. Plus, the hired candidate can start immediately. Without researching any details, Keita hastily applies.

Keita gets an interview at Kuroda Solutions, a technology corporation far more prestigious than he expected. He arrives in casual clothes with a suitcase, completely underprepared and unaware of what job he applied for. During the interview, he meets the CEO, Joji Kuroda. He is accompanied by Shibata, his secretary. Shibata immediately takes charge of the interview, scolding Keita for his unprofessional attire. Keita defends himself, pointing out that the job posting said "casual attire allowed". Shibata dismisses his excuse and berates him for lacking common sense.

As the interview progresses, Keita casually shares details about his background. Keita admits he's broke and openly states that he wants the job for the money. He also mentions being dumped by his girlfriend, who used to support him financially. Shibata mocks him for mooching off a woman and calls him pathetic. Keita defends himself, arguing there's nothing wrong with the arrangement. His ex paid for the expenses, while he gave her affection in return. According to him, it's a fair exchange.

Shibata is furious at Keita's responses and declares the interview over. However, the CEO makes a shocking decision. He announces that Shibata will be transferred to another department and Keita will be hired as his new secretary. Shibata is stunned. After working as a secretary for 20 years, she finally became an executive assistant. Shibata protests, calling the decision unfair. The CEO firmly explains that her condescending attitude is the issue. He refuses to work with someone who belittles others.

Shibata storms out of the interview room, upset by the outcome. Meanwhile, Keita is overjoyed at landing the job purely by luck. However, his excitement fades when Joji proposes he work for free. He cites Keita's lack of qualifications and suggests an unpaid internship. Keita refuses, turning down the job offer if there's no pay. Joji then offers to cover his travel expenses, but Keita pushes further with a bold suggestion. Keita doesn't need a salary. Instead, he asks for a place to stay. Keita proposes moving in with Joji and becoming a freeloader at his home.

Can a Freeloader Make It as a Secretary ranks among the worst BL dramas ever made. The only redeeming quality is its short length, so at least this crap finishes quickly. Despite being just 40 minutes long, every second feels like a complete waste of my time. The series is plagued by severe issues, from its dismal plot to its soulless romance. Everything about it is unimaginably bad. I must give a low review score to let all studios know this quality is unacceptable for the BL genre.

In a comedy, it's fair to expect some absurdity for the sake of humour. However, Can a Freeloader Make It as a Secretary is so outrageously nonsensical that it undermines the entire story. None of the office scenes seem realistic, disregarding common sense about how workplaces operate. Employee misconduct goes unchecked, important company files are left lying around, and nothing follows any logic. Instead of being funny, the writing comes off as plain stupid. The characters are as equally irrational, like the CEO deciding to live with a secretary he just hired. WTF!?

Shibata, the former secretary, is the worst part of this series. Her character turns into an over-the-top villain with insufferable antics. She constantly schemes against the protagonist, even stooping to despicable actions like fake sexual harassment accusations. As the story unfolds, her behaviour becomes even more unhinged. Her idiotic plans and delusional motives are combined with cruel tactics. The narrative seems obsessed with Shibata, giving her far too much attention. Instead of a love story, the series revolves around Shibata tormenting the leads.

This romance is problematic on every level. Despite spending no time together, the CEO hires a stranger under bizarre circumstances and lets him live in his home. Their relationship is inappropriate, considering the boss-employee dynamic. There are boundary issues, power imbalances, and scandalous implications. Beyond the offensiveness, the toxic BL smut doesn't even deliver. Intimacy is limited to awkward hugs and long gazes without kissing or anything physical. Emotionally, it feels just as shallow. Their superficial interactions don't suggest that they are close.

I feel bad for all the actors who must tie their careers to this mess. Both stars do an okay job, playing their one-dimensional roles as written. However, they lack any real flair. The series is so exaggerated that it could be campy if the entire cast had leaned into the comedic aspect. Shibata's actress goes all out with her villainous theatrics, hamming it up like Maleficent meets Cruella de Vil. In contrast, the leads appear reserved. Their low energy fails to bring humour and charm to the story. With funnier or livelier performances, they might have elevated the material.

Can a Freeloader Make It as a Secretary is filmed vertically, and the awkward format makes watching this already awful drama even worse. It strains my eyes to follow the story through a tiny box where nothing fits properly. The short length also means a rushed ending. The plot focuses so much on the evil secretary that there's barely time to address the romance. That said, I wouldn't want this atrocious series to be longer. Overall, Can a Freeloader Make It as a Secretary fails miserably. Let's wrap up this review so I can bleach my brain and never think about it again.