Living With Him – Series Review & Ending Explained

Episode 1

Episode 1 Review

I like the premise of this BL drama. Two childhood friends reconnect after moving into an apartment together. This living arrangement is the perfect setup for a cozy romance, allowing for many scenarios of domestic bliss. I like that Ryota and Kazuhiro are old friends who have drifted apart over the years, but now they're catching up again. They share a history together, so their relationship has a pre-existing foundation. Yet, they're still rediscovering each other as young adults. There's a mix of familiarity and novelty to their interactions.

OMG. Why are Ryota and Kazuhito acting like such a couple already? It's only the first episode, guys! 😅 Getting matching cups and shopping for furniture together is giving off the energy of a long-term couple in their love nest. But I secretly love it, hahaha~ Go ahead, do more couple activities together! I like it when BL characters do platonic activities that are thinly veiled romantic gestures.

"I will find your faults from a girlfriend's perspective." LOL, what is this exercise? In real life, I would never suggest doing this with a friend. It's just begging for awkwardness and unnecessary drama. Of course, Ryota doesn't find anything wrong because Kazuhiro is basically perfect in his eyes. "You're handsome, kind, athletic…" Whoa, these compliments are starting to sound like you're the one crushing on him~ Is there something you want to share with the class, Ryota? 🤭

Episode 2

Episode 2 Review

During a conversation, Ryota casually mentions Yoshida (the female friend) is good-looking. Kazuhiro flashes a look of nervous apprehension before replying, "Huh? Is that so? I'm not really sure…" Oh my gosh. If I were Ryota, Kazuhiro's response would have triggered my gaydar. Ping, ping, ping. It's the vagueness and uncertainty in his tone, as if Kazuhiro doesn't know how to react inconspicuously to his straight friend talking about girls. Kazuhiro tries to play it cool, but I know what you are~

The episode ends with Ryota's hilarious version of the gay test. He wants to find out if Kazuhiro has feelings for him. Rather than asking the question directly, Ryota makes a series of bizarre requests. Can we hold hands? Can we hug? Can we kiss??? LMAOOOO. Ryota, what are you doing!? I thought the whole point was to be subtle and avoid being awkward with your friend. Instead, this guy has thrown all decorum out the window and asks for an absurdly intimate gesture. What would happen if Kazuhiro said yes? OMFG. 😅

Episode 3

Episode 3 Review

OMG. The kitchen scene was soooo awkward, but I secretly love it~ A self-conscious Kazuhiro rejects the kiss despite having a secret crush on his friend. Then, Ryota tries to play off the moment as a joke. I can't imagine how Kazuhiro must feel about his friend's mixed signals. First, you suddenly want to kiss me! After you get my hopes up, you change your tune and pretend your feelings for me aren't serious. Talk about an emotional whiplash!

I love seeing Ryota's interactions with his family. From the easygoing banter to the affectionate teasing, their exchanges exude a natural warmth. We don't know what happened to Ryota's dad, but he isn't in the picture. Ryota was raised in a loving home with a single mom and two younger sisters, which partially explains his gentle temperament. He's considerate, doting, and attentive around them. These family scenes help me understand his character and form a positive impression of him.

After the family dinner, Ryota walks his mom and sisters to the bus stop at night. It might be a tiny gesture, but it highlights his thoughtfulness and sense of responsibility. I appreciate these little details that enrich a character's personality. I also like hearing the mom and sisters' conversation at the bus stop. As they share their thoughts on Ryota and Kazuhiro, we hear a different perspective on how others perceive our protagonists. This insight adds another dimension to their characterizations, helping us understand them better.

Kazuhiro's love confession comes unexpectedly in the middle of this episode, catching me off-guard. Typically, these milestones are placed at the end of the episode, so I was like omg we're ahead of schedule! When confronted over his feelings, Kazuhiro admits to having a crush on Ryota. I appreciate his honesty in this moment. Despite being put on the spot, he opens up and becomes vulnerable. As Kazuhiro explains calmly and maturely, he handles himself very well. His poised response raises my opinion of his character.

Kazuhiro explains why he rejected the kiss earlier. "It's not that I don't want to kiss you. But if you're not interested, I don't like the idea of it happening by force." Wow, we love a respectful king. All the other problematic BL dramas are found in a ditch! Kazuhiro's attitude is admirable. Even though Ryota offered to kiss earlier, Kazuhiro could tell it wasn't sincere. He doesn't want them to kiss just because there's an opportunity. Instead, he wants this intimate moment to feel genuine, consensual, and meaningful for both of them. Good for him!

"Besides kissing, is there something else you want me to do?" LMAO, why did my mind go to a naughty place? Despite my perverse thoughts, I understand Ryota's question comes from good intentions. After rejecting the love confession earlier, he wants to check in on his friend. "Isn't it tough living together while holding onto these feelings and pretending like nothing happened?" I commend Ryota's ability to empathize and see the situation from his friend's perspective. The protagonists are thoughtful toward each other, teaching us how to treat others with kindness

Kazuhiro and Ryota have a sleepover, a cute callback to their childhood experiences. They play board games and eat snacks, highlighting their cozy friendship. Yet, this sleepover is also a vaguely romantic moment. Seeing two grown men share a tiny bed feels physically intimate, and it doesn't seem as innocent as a childhood sleepover. Despite Ryota's earlier rejection, we're starting to see the line between friendship and romance become blurred.

At the end of the episode, we see a flashback between Ryota and Kazuhiro during a childhood sleepover. On the surface, the two kids are talking about the scary movie. Kazuhiro tries to appear brave, but Ryota tells him not to pretend and that feeling scared is normal. The discussions of pretenses and normalcy remind me of a gay-coded conversation. The series subtly alludes to Kazuhiro's hidden feelings. He's pretending around others, but Ryota comforts him by reiterating that these feelings are normal. If you read between the lines, the subtext is powerful.

Episode 4

Episode 4 Review

This episode focuses on Ryota and Kazuhiro's strained relationship after the love confession. First, we see Ryota recoiling when Kazuhiro puts an arm around his shoulder. It's supposed to be a friendly gesture, but Ryota feels self-conscious since he attaches a romantic sentiment to their physical contact. Later, Kazuhiro works the whole shift even though his boss allows him to leave early. It's sad he'd prefer to do extra work instead of going home and facing Ryota. He feels awkward about their relationship. 😢

Ryota and Haruna (the male friend with glasses) have a meal on campus. Haruna gives a comedic reaction to the spicy curry, but Ryota barely cracks a smile and makes an excuse to leave early. Later in the episode, Ryota has a late-night meal with Kazuhiro. Their cup noodles aren't fancy, but Ryota seems relaxed and smiles delightfully. The storyteller juxtaposes these two scenes to highlight how Ryota's feelings for Kazuhiro run deeper than friendship. His behaviour around Kazuhiro appears more comfortable than around a platonic acquaintance like Haruna.

While preparing the cup noodles, Ryota struggles to reach the supplies on the cabinet's top shelf. Kazuhiro comes over and leans over Ryota's body to help him grab the items. I like this visual a lot. Firstly, it highlights their height difference. Secondly, it teases the proximity between them. The cinematographer has picked a clever way to build tension and hint at the couple's growing attraction.

Episode 5

Episode 5 Review

Our protagonists go on a camping trip, but they must borrow a lighter from the female campers. Did you notice how Kazuhiro would stop Ryota from speaking to them? Whenever Ryota volunteers, Kazuhiro immediately reacts, "NO!!! You stay! I'll go talk!" The story never explains his odd behaviour, but I have a theory that Kazuhiro's jealousy is acting up. He doesn't want to take any chances and have Ryota mingling with that group of girls lmao~ Calm down, they aren't gonna steal your man!

After the camping trip, Ryota scrolls through his phone to browse all the pictures they took together. Oh my godddd, there are a million photos of Kazuhiro in the camera roll. WHOA. He went a little overboard, don't you think? Typically, you'd only have this obsessive amount of pictures for someone you're dating. It's like Ryota couldn't resist capturing Kazuhiro from every moment and angle. Someone is smitten!

Yoshida still has lingering feelings for Kazuhiro after their breakup. During the work party, he admits to her about having a one-sided crush on a secret someone. She handles the news well and tells him, "I'm not going to pry into who you're interested in, but I'm rooting for you."  That's a very mature response. I like that Yoshida supports her ex-boyfriend while still respecting his privacy. Their conversation is low-key, but it's another example where Living With Him demonstrates empathy and thoughtfulness.

Episode 6

Episode 6 Review

Oh, I love this flashback episode. It fills the missing gaps in Ryota and Kazuhiro's backstory. The story describes how the two drifted apart over the years simply because they weren't classmates. Although the reason seems ordinary, it happens in real life as we grow into different social circles. I also appreciate learning more about the ups and downs of Kazuhiro's baseball career. I'm sad for him, knowing he came close to achieving his ambitions. 😢

In Episode 2, Haruna joked about Yoshida stalking Kazuhiro and forcing him to be in a relationship with her. At the time, I thought he was just exaggerating. But then, we see Yoshida & Kazuhiro's relationship during the flashback, and I realize Haruna was kinda right about her lmao~ Damn, she was persistent! 😆 With that said, I respect an assertive queen who goes after what she wants. I also admire how she dumped Kazuhiro instead of letting him string her along in a loveless relationship. Good for her!

"What should you do when you feel like you're losing yourself?" Kazuhiro asks Ryota for advice after feeling demoralized about his injury. Imagine not talking to your friend for years, but he shows up one day to quiz you philosophically. I laughed at Ryota's snarky reply: "Sudden deep question, huh?" 😅 Ryota gives an earnest answer about staying true to yourself. He doesn't say anything profound, but it motivates Kazuhiro to work hard again. I like seeing this moment between them. It's cute and uplifting!

Episode 7

Episode 7 Review

The relationship drama has dragged on, becoming particularly noticeable in this episode. Kazuhiro confessed earlier, and Ryota now realizes he feels the same about his friend. They should just get together already! What are you waiting for!? Although I prefer a quick resolution, I still have some patience left. I'm not annoyed yet. Besides, I like learning more about Ryota's perspective as he comes to terms with his feelings. His various insecurities give this romance more depth. Ultimately, the final hurdle he must overcome is himself.

Ryota shows off the bento boxes he makes for his younger sisters. Yoshida is impressed by his work and asks, "Is there room for an older sister?" Hehe, that's funny. 😄 Yoshida also teases Ryota about making food for Kazuhiro, which he denies with a blush. Ooh, everyone is starting to pick up on these two being an item~

Ryota meets Kazuhiro's mom near the end of the episode. She expresses her hopes for her son's future: "Eventually, I want him to run this inn with his wife." Her statement sounds innocuous, but as BL fans, we all understand the implications. Just the word "wife" has me paralyzed with dread and anxiety. Living With Him is a gentle series and doesn't include homophobic content. Nonetheless, the story is realistic about heteronormative expectations. It creates conflict by alluding to how Kazuhiro is presumed to find a female partner.

Episode 8

Ending Review

Haruna has some funny lines in the finale. "Do you know my hobby? It's observing people." The way he has phrased this statement sounds so hilariously odd. Then again, my hobby is watching BL, so I shouldn't judge. 😅 Another clever line is when Haruna says, "He'll shower you with a lethal dose of affection." It's an amusing way to describe someone's love. Overall, I like the writing in Living With Him, which often shows an understated wit.

Ryota's conflict comes from the fear of prejudice, some of which he has internalized. His statements, "I don't want Tanaka to be looked at weirdly" and "He doesn't have a future with me", are common concerns about same-sex relationships. Faced with societal judgment, you lean into your insecurities and talk yourself out of pursuing this romance. Thankfully, Haruna offers a thoughtful argument: "Do you think dating him would be a waste of your time and happiness?" I love their gentle chat, filled with positive reassurances. Haruna is like a love advisor for Ryota's first gay relationship.

As Ryota admits to his feelings, there's a clumsiness to his love confession. He messes up his words initially, which I find endearing and relatable. Despite feeling flustered, his tone comes across as sincere. I also like Kazuhiro's teary-eyed response to the confession. His reaction is a mixture of pure joy and overwhelming disbelief. The couple reaffirms their love with two kisses, one initiated by each partner, confirming they're on the same page with their feelings. Aww, I'm just grinning from ear to ear. I'm so happy for them! 🥹

After Ryota and Kazuhiro become a couple, the series references some familiar symbolism from past episodes. We see the matching cups from Episode 1 and the fireworks from Episode 5. Also, a recurring theme is that Ryota eats alone, representing his growing distance from Kazuhiro. In the finale, the couple finally shares a meal again. I like seeing these details, like the mementoes from various points of their relationship journey. I become an emotional sap, going "aww~" whenever I see the cups, fireworks, and homemade meal. 🥹

I love the bedroom scene, which is so beautifully done. Ryota and Kazuhiro are in bed, sharing one pillow and facing each other. They hold hands while exchanging gentle kisses. The moment is quiet without music. We only hear their soft voices and the sound of birds chirping in the background. The warm glow of the morning sun envelops them as they smile at each other, creating a subdued yet elegant atmosphere. It's such an ordinary moment at the start of their relationship, but it shows the comfort and warmth they'll share as a couple.

The final scene is a seemingly mundane chat in the kitchen. Ryota talks about making omelette rice, but there's a hidden subtext. "If you get the hang of it, it's not that hard. If you're too early, it gets messed up. And if you're too late, it burns. You have to get it just right." His words allude to the timing of a love confession, one of the central plots in this series. I love how the story wraps up by delivering a meaningful thematic message, but it's packaged within an ordinary conversation. Living With Him can be subtle and clever with its metaphors, which I love!