Mood Indigo – Drama Review & Ending Explained

Kijima and Gamoda

Focusing on the relationship between Kijima and Gamoda is a stroke of genius, and perhaps one of the biggest improvements made from The Novelist to Mood Indigo. The storyline with Kijima's mentor fixes a big problem in the previous series, where the plot only revolves around eroticism and nothing else.

Gamoda brings out a different side to these characters away from the world of sex. I feel like I understood Kijima's personality so much better in this series. He's allowed to be more vulnerable, more sensitive, and more intimate with his emotions.

Gamoda started out as a despicable character, but he's actually a tragic figure the more you get to know him. Here's a feeble and lonely man who is about to die, and no one is there for him in his final days other than Kijima. It was touching to see how much Kijima cherished this relationship, from taking care of household chores to visiting him in the hospital every day.

Even when Gamoda has given him a 'pass' and tells him not to visit anymore, Kijima wouldn't abandon this lonely old man by his deathbed. It shows a lot of strength and integrity in his character that I didn't think he had.

Father complex

It was interesting to watch Kijima and Gamoda's relationship develop, from their rocky start to the close bond they had at the end. I liked that Kijima saw Gamoda as a father figure, and the strained relationship he had with his real father also explains a lot about his personality. Kijima has a father complex that influences many decisions he makes in his career, his relationships, and his life.

I do think that the relationship between Kijima and Gamoda needed more depth. Mood Indigo could've benefited from a few additional scenes of Gamoda mentoring Kijima, which would solidify the emotional nuances of their teacher-student dynamic. Nonetheless, the series did a great job demonstrating how close Kijima and Gamoda have gotten, making their final scenes all the more heartbreaking.

Kijima and Kido

I don't know how to describe the complicated relationship between Kijima and Kido, but a romance wouldn't be the word I'd use. This isn't a sweet and tender relationship between two boyfriends. It's a sexually charged love affair driven by physical lust. What more is there to say? Kijima gives good head.

Notice that every time Kido and Kijima have sex, the two of them immediately part ways afterwards. They get sexed up and then they leave each other, never staying around for the morning after. Between the two of them, Kijima wants more of an emotional connection, but he's simply not ~wife material~ for Kido. There are relationships where you have fun and fool around, and then there are relationships that you can actually bring home to your parents. His relationship with Kijima is like a temporary fling, until Kido can find an actual wife to settle down with a kid.

Even though the romance between them is nonexistent, there's no denying that their sex scenes are ridiculously HOT. The scenes aren't just erotic, but they're also hilarious and entertaining to watch. Who needs romance when you have lines like "But I was thinking about you while I touched my ass~" or "I've managed to stretch it quite a bit~" Love is overrated. I'm completely okay with watching two people who are only together to drill and suck.

Kijima vs Kido

Although it wasn't obvious at the time, any relationship between Kijima and Kido was doomed since their argument in Episode 5. At the start of that episode, Kijima lays an almighty smackdown on Kido after learning of his betrayal. Not only did he get back together with his girlfriend, but Kido also transferred jobs and abandoned Kijima in the porn industry that he introduced him to.

An angry Kijima begins ripping apart every aspect of Kido's personality, outlining all his faults in extensive detail. He's spineless, he cares too much about what others think, he has a lot of pride but no conviction of his own. In short, he's the worst. Kijima's piercing words bring Kido to tears. He admits to not having the courage or the individuality to live life freely or love whomever he wants like Kijima does.

This weakness in Kido's character is ultimately the reason why he and Kijima will never work out. Some people are just not cut out to be in an openly gay relationship. They can only conform, they would rather repress their feelings, and they're too scared to live life outside the boundaries. That's Kido in a nutshell.

Great acting

All the actors were excellent in Mood Indigo. Kijima's actor (Terunosuke Takezai) is fantastic with the sensitive moments, showing a more vulnerable side to his character. He has powerful chemistry with Kido, and the two go at those sex scenes with so much vigour that it's incredible to watch.

The actor playing Kido's character (Munehiro Yoshida) is also outstanding, delivering such a confident and nuanced performance. He gives off a very authentic vibe with his mannerisms, his appearance, and just his overall demeanour. He can convey these deep, thoughtful emotions with just a single gaze in his eyes.

Finally, the actor playing Gamoda (Goro Oishi) puts in some heartbreaking displays before his death. The scene where he thanked Kijima for staying by his side was a memorable moment, as was the scene where he cried about his last regret in life.

Sad ending

Mood Indigo has a sad ending where Kijima and Kido don't end up together. Years later, Kido got married and had a daughter. Meanwhile, Kijima is happily shacked up with his rich, hot, and young boy toy Kuzumi.

When the two of them meet up again during an evening out, Kido tries to lean in for a kiss. Before the kiss can happen, Kijima wakes up, pulls himself away, and rejects his ex-lover with a quiet apology. Sorry, but unavailable! Dude, you made your choice long ago when you picked your wife and child over Kijima. This means you'll never be able to kiss him again.

Even after the first failed kiss, Kido STILL didn't give up. With a sudden change of heart, he dashes out of the taxi to chase after his ex-lover. Unfortunately, he stops in his tracks after seeing Kijima with his new boyfriend. He notices the two of them seem happy together. Kido retreats back into his taxi, looking crestfallen. How embarrassing for him. 🤭

Ending explained

The ending shows that Kido still has feelings for Kijima after all this time. His heterosexual marriage hasn't diminished the passion he felt for his former lover. Maybe years ago, Kido thought they only had a casual fling. But now that he's looking back in retrospect, his character has regrets about not cherishing their relationship more. As Kido questions whether he made the wrong decision to leave Kijima, he must live with this regret for the rest of his life.

Kido's final line in the episode is very poetic: "Somewhere in my heart, there will always be a flickering flame. During those heady days, we never managed to fully extinguish it. I think that flame will flicker until my dying day."

Kijima

It's interesting to compare between the older Kijima in The Novelist and the younger Kijima in Mood Indigo. In the first series, his character is a jaded and manipulative writer down on his luck. In the second series, he's also a struggling writer, but his personality is way more sensitive and sentimental. This Kijima feels like a nicer guy who wears his heart on his sleeves. I like seeing this emotional honesty and vulnerability to him.

Kijima has a quiet dignity to his character that I admire. It takes a lot of integrity to stay by Gamoda's side and care for the old man even as his health deteriorates. Kijima also showed that same mental fortitude when he had a heated argument with Kido. Even when Kido was in tears and wanted sympathy, Kijima maintained his stance and wouldn't forgive him so easily. He's a character that sticks by his convictions and I find that kind of inner strength really appealing.

The atmosphere

Mood Indigo is a stylish production with exquisite camerawork that captures the actors in the best possible light. The ambience is so elegant that you almost think you're viewing this series through a premium Instagram filter. Occasionally, we'll get these close-up shots of Kijima or Kido's faces, allowing us to explore the pensiveness in their expressions. It's a lovely cinematography choice that adds to the introspectiveness of the narrative.

This well-crafted atmosphere helps to set the mood while you're watching each episode of Mood Indigo. With the soft music and the sombre storylines, your heart will be filled with a beautiful melancholy that resonates deeply.

Butt nudity

Mood Indigo is an open-minded and skin-friendly BL drama that handles its adult themes with gusto. We see Kijima and Kido have sex plenty of times, although the lighting conditions are usually pretty dark. (I always know there's gonna be a naughty scene whenever the lights turn off. 😛) You'll find these men in all kinds of wild positions, with strategic camera angles that obscure the nudity, but they do so in a really classy way.

In the third episode, there's a risqué scene of Kijima pleasuring himself in Gamoda's house. The camera angles, his facial expressions, and his body movements are all quite…interesting, as you can see. Most of the nudity in this scene is obstructed from view, but you do see a side view of Kijima's butt after the scene is over.

Provocative sex

Expect lots of raw, explicit, and provocative sex when watching this BL drama. The sex scenes in Mood Indigo are the closest thing to gay porn without actually watching porn. These actors are so affectionate and physically intimate with each other. Plus, the raunchy dialogue can get pretty graphic in a hilariously over-the-top way.

The scene where Kijima gives Kido a blowjob at Gamoda's house made my jaw drop. We have been building up to this moment since the last episode, although I didn't really think the two characters would go through with such an outrageous proposal. But then Kijima got down on his knees, unzipped Kido's pants, and just started to suck. 🍭

Honestly, the scene is more shocking and provocative than it is sexy and erotic. Gamoda has a twisted and despicable mind, toying with these two men just because he has power over them.

Sex at a funeral

I don't know exactly how triggering this scene is, but I was dying of laughter when Kijima and Kido started having sex at Gamoda's funeral. Hey guys, his dead body is right there! OH MY GAWD.

Mood Indigo has these moments of dark humour, where the scenarios are so utterly inappropriate and morbid, that my only reaction is to laugh. Is there a funeral etiquette that states you shouldn't have sex in front of the dead guy's memorial picture? 😂