My Beautiful Man – Drama Review

Hira is a socially awkward young man who has struggled to fit in since childhood. Due to his stuttering problem, he has little confidence in himself and can't make friends. Even his parents have pretty much given up on him. When Hira's family moves to a new neighbourhood, they leave him to live in a house all by himself.

Hira is anxious about transferring to a different school and meeting new people. He hopes to stay under the radar during his senior school year. On his first day of school, Hira makes a poor impression and stutters as he introduces himself to the class. When the other students begin to mock him, they are interrupted when Kiyoi enters the classroom, fashionably late. His arrival distracts everybody, and Hira feels grateful that the spotlight has shifted away from him.

Handsome and aloof, Kiyoi is one of the most popular students in his class. Hira is mesmerized by his classmate's physical attractiveness and develops an immediate crush. However, the feelings aren't mutual. Kiyoi thinks Hira is gross and creepy, insulting him directly to his face. In fact, his nickname for Hira is "stalker".

Kiyoi and his friends begin to bully Hira. They constantly order him around to do errands or let them copy his homework, like a lackey for their group. Although they treat him with little respect, Hira is simply grateful to spend more time with Kiyoi. Occasionally, Kiyoi shows warmth towards Hira, defending him from other bullies or surprising him with a kind gesture.

Kiyoi dreams of becoming famous. He joins a talent competition, but ends up coming in last place. His pitiful performance turns him into a laughing stock. Even his friends have begun ostracizing him, displeased with how he has accepted Hira into their social circle. In a terrible fall from grace, Kiyoi goes from being the most popular guy to an outcast in the school. The only person who stays by his side is Hira, wholeheartedly devoted to his idol.

My Beautiful Man deviates from the typical BL drama. Notably, it isn't afraid to make the main characters appear flawed and unlikeable. The protagonist suffers from severe anxiety, and it's uncomfortable to watch him struggle in social situations. His love interest is a self-absorbed school bully, whose enormous ego outweighs his limited compassion. Other BL series want to portray their leads sympathetically, whereas My Beautiful Man shines a spotlight on their deficiencies.

Surprisingly, I like that My Beautiful Man doesn't give us a sugarcoated story with wholesome characters or idealistic scenarios. The sinister narrative disturbs me in some places, but it's also intriguing and thought-provoking. While Hira and Kiyoi behave frustratingly, I understand them enough to accept their imperfections. This drama takes place introspectively, giving us many insights into their thoughts and emotions. The decent storytelling turns My Beautiful Man into a riveting character study, rich with nuance and moral ambiguity.

I can tolerate the flawed protagonists, but that's as far as my appreciation goes. Hira and Kiyoi don't appeal to me as a couple. They have a problematic relationship, which consists of physically violent and emotionally abusive exchanges. Kiyoi exploits Hira in high school, and his few instances of kindness can't make up for the long streak of cruelty. He also looks down on Hira, constantly insulting and belittling him. I find it tough to endorse a romance where calling someone "disgusting" and "stalker" are supposedly terms of endearment.

Hira's self-esteem is so low that he takes the abuse and never stands up for himself. He has a warped view of Kiyoi, lusting after his high school bully in an unhealthy way. Later, Hira meets his kind-hearted university friend Koyama, who shows him respect and support. Despite being presented with a more sensible love interest, Hira remains fixated on his obsessive crush from the past. "I don't understand why you like him," Koyama comments about Kiyoi in one scene, echoing my thoughts exactly. Hira's inexplicable devotion to Kiyoi perplexes me.

With that said, the romance isn't entirely negative. Like many aspects of My Beautiful Man, the relationship is complex with layered dimensions. Several memorable encounters between Hira and Kiyoi offer a tiny morsel of sweetness to soothe their bitter moments. There are times when their scenes sway my heart and they almost come across as a picturesque couple. It helps that the credible acting, intimate encounters, and pleasant production values elevate this love story. My Beautiful Man wins points for being polished and presentable.

Nonetheless, I don't think Hira and Kiyoi are compatible together. Their pairing is missing the warmth and tenderness that makes me giddy about BL. There're too many red flags that scream NO for me, from the verbal abuse to the personality clashes. Even the ending leaves me unenthusiastic and unconvinced by their volatile dynamic. My Beautiful Man tries persuading me this dysfunctional couple deserves one another. Yet, I think they're better off staying the hell away from each other. I'm sorry, but I can't see the beauty of this ugly and toxic romance.