Given – Series Review & Ending Explained

Okay story

Annoyingly, I'm going to keep comparing the Given series to the anime counterpart because it's a good benchmark. In the anime, there're eleven episodes to tell the story. In the series, you get only six episodes. Imagine drinking a beverage, and then being told that you have to pour out half the contents. That's how the Given series feels like to me.

Given has a good story at its core. However, it's way too streamlined and condensed in the live-action series. It includes all the major events, but lacks the emotional nuances to make us care about these characters and their relationships. The stories simply don't have enough time or room to breathe. Even two extra episodes would've made the difference, allowing the narrative to expand upon the characterizations.

Uenoyama

Is it just me or is Uenoyama a bit of a jackass? I was taken aback by how unpleasant his character is all the time. He stomps around in a huff of anger, he scowls at everyone in sight, and he's quite sassy towards Mafuyu. I don't know if it's because of the actor or the writing, but Uenoyama carries a negative aura and I don't like him in this series.

I was also shocked when he seemingly developed feelings for Mafuyu out of the blue. Most of their interactions up until that point indicated otherwise. Uenoyama acts like he barely tolerates Mafuyu on a good day, so where did this attraction come from? It doesn't help that the two actors don't have much chemistry, so their scenes together feel flat.

Also, what's up with his ~panic attack~ after he discovered Mafuyu had a dead ex-boyfriend? That was so awkward to watch, oh my god. Uenoyama's mood swings are just too volatile and I don't understand this character at all.

Mafuyu

Mafuyu is supposed to be a very complex character with sophisticated emotions. Unfortunately, the actor portrayed him too passively and I don't get a sense of intrigue from him. Even though Mafuyu is supposed to be the protagonist with a vivid backstory, he feels mundane. He gets outshined by Uenoyama (who draws attention, as unlikable as his character is) and the supporting cast. That's not a good sign.

A considerable part of Mafuyu's character is his grief over Yuki, his ex-boyfriend who passed away. Before his death, Mafuyu's final words to Yuki were: "Would you die for me!?" As you can imagine, it isn't the best sendoff to give to your dead boyfriend, and Mafuyu's guilt has been eating him away.

The way Given handles this storyline is okay, but it almost depicts the events in a very matter-of-fact manner. Yuki died. Mafuyu is sad. That's it. There's not much emotion emphasized. In contrast, the anime does a better job conveying the melancholy, sprinkling a little bit of sadness and sentimentality across all the episodes.

Uenoyama and Mafuyu

I've already mentioned several times in my review that the Uenoyama and Mafuyu romance is a bust. The characters don't interact meaningfully, the actors don't have much chemistry, and the scenes don't have any spark.

In the drama, they keep repeating how Uenoyama has feelings for Mafuyu, but I don't sense it. Uenoyama and Mafuyu don't act like two people who are falling in love with each other. From a romantic perspective, most of their interactions have been underwhelming. Even their kiss in the final episode doesn't feel that epic.

Akihiko and Haruki

I was intrigued by Akihiko and Haruki from the little that we saw of them. By little, I meant that they had a total of one scene together. Or maybe one and a half scenes, if we're generous. I don't know if Given was betting on a Season 2 to expand on this relationship, but the Akihiko and Haruki couple really got sidelined here.

Still, even with minimal content, there was the foundation of a potentially interesting relationship. I liked the Akihiko and Haruki scene because it successfully depicted their dynamic without any dialogue. Based on their reactions and glances alone, we can guess how Haruki and Akihiko felt about each other. It was a very effective moment, and I wished we got more scenes like that in the Given series.

Mafuyu and Hiiragi

The most successful thing about the Given series is that it turned me into a Mafuyu x Hiiragi shipper. I don't believe that was the intention at all, but I sensed more of a spark between Mafuyu and his friend than Mafuyu with Uenoyama. When the main couple doesn't appeal to me, my imagination always finds a way to create its own BL romances, no matter how random they may be. 🙈

What I like about Mafuyu and Hiiragi is that they already have a pre-existing bond. Hiiragi knows Mafuyu longer and understands him better than Uenoyama. Both lost a close childhood friend, and nobody can relate to their memories of Yuki except for each other. Although they drifted apart after Yuki's funeral, Hiiragi makes an effort to reach out to Mafuyu. He wants to repair this relationship and you can feel the sincerity behind his attempts.

Another factor is that the live-action series removed Shizu's character, the fourth friend in their circle, who appeared in the manga and anime. Without Shizu, the scenes between Mafuyu and Hiiragi felt more intimate because there were only the two of them. Inadvertently, the Given series created lots of one-on-one time with Mafuyu and his childhood friend. Their poignant exchanges seemed more meaningful than Uenoyama acting moody towards Mafuyu all the time.

Okay acting

The acting in Given is unremarkable and the cast doesn't put in a particularly memorable performance. Mafuyu's actor (Sanari) seems reserved and lacks on-screen charisma, always wearing a flat expression on his face. Uenoyama's actor (Jin Suzuki) is better, but still doesn't feel completely persuasive in delivering some of the moments.

I liked the sensitive performance by Hiiragi's actor (So Okuno) a lot. Earlier this year, I've watched him in another role in the BL movie Pornographer: Playback, where the actor shined as well. I wanna see more of him! Someone needs to snag up So Okuno and give him a proper leading role in a juicy BL drama before the straights claim him.

Happy ending

Given has a powerful ending where Mafuyu gathers the courage and sings his song on stage. Previously, he clammed up and didn't sing a single word. The others actually thought he didn't finish writing the song in time for their live show. Like his usual self, Mafuyu kept his everything bottled up and then surprised his band at the last moment.

Mafuyu's song is written about his relationship with Yuki. The performance was electrifying and unleashed all of his repressed emotions in one exhilarating moment. Uenoyama offers a great allegory about how the strings in Mafuyu's heart finally snapped, freeing him from his burden and distress.

After the performance, Mafuyu and Uenoyama walk off stage, where they share a tender kiss in the heat of the moment. Mafuyu thanks Uenoyama for guiding him through this difficult time. The Given series ends with a conversation between Mafuyu and his friend Hiiragi. The two of them seem to be on much better terms than before, breaking the ice since Yuki's funeral. Mafuyu admits that he might be falling in love again, and Hiiragi is happy to hear that Mafuyu has started moving on from his heartbreak.

Ending explained

The Given series ending signifies that Mafuyu has begun the healing process over his grief. He had been stuck in the past, unable to move on since his ex's death. Performing that song was a therapeutic moment, allowing Mafuyu to express all the emotions that he repressed. It's a happy ending for Mafuyu, as his character starts warming up to the prospect of falling in love again after Yuki.

The decision to end this series with a Mafuyu and Hiiragi conversation was really clever. Their relationship has been the emotional core of the series, and it's fitting that Mafuyu finds closure with his oldest friend. The emphasis on Hiiragi's character has been well-executed, one of the only storylines that doesn't get rushed during the series.