I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama 2 – Series Review

Akafuji and Hajime are actors who met while filming the BL drama I Love My Childhood Friend. They became a popular on-screen couple. Their clips went viral, gaining millions of views. Fans ship them together, unaware they are dating in real life. Only a few people behind the scenes know about their relationship. As rising stars in the celebrity world, they plan to keep their personal life private.

Now that they are a couple, Akafuji struggles with his insecurities. He feels self-conscious about his lack of romantic experience. His only relationship was brief, and he was dumped by his high school girlfriend. When alone with his boyfriend, Akafuji becomes nervous about physical affection. His hesitation frustrates Hajime, who wants to be closer. Whenever Hajime suggests something bold, Akafuji panics. One time, he even fainted in the bedroom.

The couple sees each other less because they are filming separately. Hajime's new project is a police drama. His co-star is Haibara, a handsome and mature actor who has known Hajime since childhood. Feeling uneasy, Akafuji asks his friend Kiromiya to spy on them. Kiromiya reports that Haibara and Hajime have become close on set. Haibara finds excuses to be touchy-feely with him, and their closeness makes Akafuji seethe with jealousy.

Meanwhile, Akafuji's new project pairs him with Yamabuki, a star director praised at the level of Cannes Film Festival. Director Yamabuki admires Akafuji and views him as a talented actor. They grow close while working together. Their bond makes Hajime jealous and uncertain about their relationship. Ironically, Akafuji and Hajime share the same insecurities, yet they avoid communicating with their partners. They keep their worries to themselves.

Akafuji's manager, Yukari, is romantically involved with Hajime's manager, Kijima. They are sleeping together, but Kijima wants a real relationship instead of casual encounters. Yukari acts distant and refuses, even as Kijima keeps trying. Deep down, Yukari used to be a devoted fan of Kijima's acting career. Yukari even built a small shrine for him in his closet. He keeps this hidden, though Kijima suspects he may have a secret admirer.

This review of I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama 2 brings good news and bad news. The good news is that I enjoyed the second season. The humour is still as sharp as ever. I laughed many times while watching the series. Sometimes, the comedy comes from a witty one-liner. Other times, it's a silly gesture, a goofy reaction, or an over-the-top scenario. Each episode includes inside jokes and fun visual gags. Just like the original, I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama 2 continues to amuse me.

Here comes the bad news. The second season is not as good as the first. The risk with sequels is that they often struggle to meet expectations, and this one is no exception. It's rare for the follow-up to match the quality of the original. Even Ossan's Love, the gold standard for BL comedies, took a couple of tries before delivering a worthy sequel. While I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama 2 is still funny, it doesn't engage me as much as it used to. The storylines feel less inspiring. The romance has less excitement. If I compare the two seasons, the original drama is stronger than the sequel.

After Akafuji and Hajime start dating, they're nervous around each other and don't communicate well. I like that the story explores some common issues in a new relationship. However, the plot focuses too much on their tension, overshadowing the couple's sweet moments. In the first drama, we watched them fall in love. But in the sequel, they get paranoid and wallow in self-doubt. Akafuji's fear of intimacy is also frustrating. He constantly panics instead of growing closer to his boyfriend. Even in the kissing scenes, the lack of passion makes the romance less compelling.

This season adds a new rival. Haibara's actor (Robin Furuya) is a heartthrob whose charm brightens any BL drama, but the character outstays his welcome. The love triangle brings a few laughs, especially when Akafuji overreacts with jealousy or competitiveness. After a while, Haibara's inappropriate touching and boyfriend-stealing antics grew too uncomfortable. Making matters worse, Hajime also has a jealousy storyline. Have we run out of ideas in the writing department? The story could've focused on his career problems or other topics besides this tired trope.

We already know Hajime's performer (Nichika Akutsu) has acting chops from the first season. The sequel gives him less emotional material to work with, so he feels pleasant but slightly underutilized. The writing for Akafuji is all over the place, but at least the actor (Alan Abe) brings high energy to the role. He carries many of the comedic moments, turning them into hilarious chaos. Alan also connects well with the rest of the cast. He can be tender with Hajime, banter with Kiromiya, or clash with Haibara. The series shows how easily he commands a scene.

There's a happy ending. I'm glad Akafuji & Hajime have resolved their issues and returned to being sweet. As the series wraps up, I remember the funny moments fondly. My favourite joke is the visual gag with Akafuji's grandma. My favourite line is, "We arrived at a beach that feels like a crime scene." I also liked the secondary couple, Yukari & Kijima, who had an engaging opposites-attract dynamic. Overall, I Became the Main Role of a BL Drama 2 is a solid comedy that brings plenty of laughs. Even if this sequel isn't as good as the original, it still has many positives.