Happy of the End – Series Review & Episode Guide

Chihiro is 26 years old and currently unemployed. He used to be romantically involved with Matsuki, a wealthy older man who allowed him to live in his apartment for free. Behind his lover's back, Chihiro has been messing around with another man. He's having an affair with Shunichi, his high school crush. Despite their passion, Shunichi only sees their relationship as a casual fling and plans on marrying a woman.

Matsuki evicts Chihiro from the apartment after discovering his lover's betrayal. Before leaving, Chihiro steals a fancy card from Matsuki's wallet. He believes it is a credit card, but it's not. Now single, Chihiro visits a gay bar. He forms an immediate connection with the mysterious Keito, who flirts with him and wants to have sex. Chihiro and Keito find a place to hook up, but their encounter doesn't go according to plan. Chihiro is shocked and horrified by what this handsome stranger does to him.

Despite their failed one-night stand, Chihiro continues to rely on Keito for support. With no income and no home, Chihiro doesn't have other accommodation options. His family has disowned him for being gay, leaving him with nowhere else to turn. Keito allows Chihiro to live with him in a small, dinky apartment. Although the living conditions are shabby, Chihiro appreciates having a place to stay for free. He occasionally cooks for Keito to thank him for his hospitality. They also become fuck buddies and have sex regularly.

Keito's career is dodgy. He works for a crime syndicate, helping them recruit vulnerable women for sex work. Due to the precarious nature of his job, Keito must relocate a lot. Chihiro moves with him each time, and the roommates continue living together no matter where they go. Chihiro also meets Kaji, the colleague who introduced him to this line of work in the first place. From chatting with Kaji, Chihiro learns more about Keito and his traumatic upbringing.

Eventually, Keito opens up about himself. His mom was a prostitute, but she had abandoned her child to pursue a better life. Left to fend for himself, Keito entered the sex industry at a young age to support himself financially. His violent encounters with clients led to physical and emotional trauma. Keito also reveals his current name is an alias. His real name is Haoren, which Chihiro uses from now on, signifying the growing trust between the two roommates.

Happy of the End is a gritty BL drama filled with crime, sex, and trauma. In the premiere, the main characters have a one-night stand with a shocking twist, which will surely leave an intense impression. The story continues its pattern of volatility and chaos in the following episodes. Get ready for lots of gruesome violence, depraved antics, and disturbing imagery. Happy of the End embraces its risqué topics with pride. Some viewers will enjoy the gutsy series, but others may find the explicit content off-putting.

Early on, I knew Happy of the End wasn't my cup of tea. From the awkward chats to the outlandish events, I watched everything unfold with a mix of disbelief, confusion, and second-hand embarrassment. I find the writing laughably terrible. When the characters speak, they deliver clunky exposition that feels out of place in a natural conversation. They're just dumping information. The plot develops at a disjointed pace and with little semblance of logic. Ridiculous shenanigans occur, and we're supposed to go along with the dumb nonsense, even though most of it seems unreasonable.

Happy of the End tackles many taboo themes, including physical abuse and child prostitution. It doesn't hold back from depicting violence and exploitation. As the brutal encounters occur on screen, some chilling scenes stir up discomfort, distress, or genuine fear. Despite its ability to draw a reaction out of me, the series relies on a shock factor to grab my attention. I'm bored during the quieter moments of the narrative since the awkward dialogue and absurd plot developments don't interest me. My excitement dies down unless the story veers into extreme drama.

Chihiro and Haoren are flawed protagonists whose behaviour seems morally dubious. Yet, you may sympathize with them after they reveal their tragic backstories. Both have suffered terrible hardships and are trapped in a cycle of trauma. Admittedly, their circumstances feel dramatized, as if the storyteller is piling on a stack of angsty tropes. Regardless, I feel sorry for them. The leads capture the vulnerability of their characters. Haoren's actor (Rei Sawamura) looks cool and suave with a brooding expression, but I find him slightly unconvincing when emoting.

The couple begins their relationship through casual hookups. Happy of the End gladly showcases these sexual encounters, so expect plenty of juicy eroticism throughout the drama. We even see a quick glimpse of Chihiro's ass! After the leads grow closer, their romantic moments focus on emotional intimacy, but these scenes aren't as compelling. Some exchanges, like Haoren giving a necklace or Chihiro putting on a scarf, are supposed to be sweet. Yet, I find them inauthentic because the clumsy writing makes these interactions flow unnaturally.

Happy of the End has a happy ending as Chihiro and Haoren complete their redemption journeys. The last few episodes lean heavily into over-the-top theatrics. A few moments are exciting, especially as the story centres on a scary villain. Other moments are too ridiculous. The drama is supposed to be serious, yet I burst out laughing at the senseless shenanigans passed off as the plot. The finale confirms all the narrative flaws I've noticed earlier in the series. Happy of the End feels like an amateurish attempt at an edgy crime drama, and it falls flat for me.