Ossan's Love – Drama Review & Episode Guide

Haruta is a 33-year-old real estate agent with a goofy and naive personality. Due to his lack of business intuition, he isn't particularly successful in his job. His younger coworkers outperform him in monthly sales. In addition, Haruta is perpetually single and can't find a girlfriend. His mom is fed up with taking care of her adult son. She moves out and wants him to become independent.

Haruta's office includes several coworkers. He works with Maki, a 25-year-old employee who recently joined the team. There is also Maro, an ambitious 23-year-old with a flirtatious personality. Takekawa, aged 44, is a stern employee with a standoffish personality. The staff work for Kurosawa, the 55-year-old manager they affectionately call "Chief". Kurosawa is well-respected in the company and treats everyone well. He is also married to his wife, Choko, for many years.

One day, Haruta accidentally discovers Kurosawa keeps secret photographs of him on his phone and computer. Haruta is shocked and doesn't know how to react. Beneath his composed demeanour, Kurosawa is lovestruck with his much younger employee. One night, Kurosawa confesses his feelings. "I shouldn't lie to myself anymore." He plans to divorce his wife before getting together with Haruta. However, Haruta is flabbergasted and doesn't feel the same way toward his boss. He has no idea how to navigate this workplace dynamic.

To further complicate this workplace dynamic, Maki is secretly in love with Haruta. Maki acts friendly and caring. Deep down, he feels tormented by his crush. Haruta isn't aware of Maki's feelings and only sees him as a work friend. They move in together and become roommates. Living in close quarters only intensifies Maki's feelings. One day, he surprises Haruta with another love confession. Suddenly faced with two romantic suitors, Haruta is overwhelmed by this messy love triangle.

Ossan's Love is an iconic BL drama with a significant cultural impact. It has gained widespread popularity in Japan, even among viewers who don't typically watch this genre. The success proves gay love stories can appeal to mainstream audiences instead of niche demographics. Since then, the series has ushered a wave of new viewers and inspired other countries to create BL content. I'm so thankful for what Ossan's Love accomplished, breaking incredible barriers and promoting BL to the world.

I can understand why Ossan's Love became so popular. This hilarious series excels in over-the-top comedy. From exaggerated reactions to outlandish scenarios, the humour is so zany that you will laugh at all the absurdity. The characters sometimes behave like wacky caricatures for comedic effect, yet they have endearing qualities that humanize them to the viewers. Each episode contains an abundance of rapid-fire jokes, visual gags, and nonsensical shenanigans. Ossan's Love catapults into the most ridiculous scenes without missing a comedic beat. 

The most unique part about Ossan's Love is the Ossan himself. Kurosawa is a hilarious oddball, almost resembling a gay Michael Scott from The Office. Every quality stands out memorably, from his constant theatrics to his silly infatuation. You have never met such a unique character like him before. Not everyone may approve of Kurosawa's fixation with an employee almost half his age. His conduct seems inappropriate and borders on workplace harassment. Nonetheless, Kurosawa is defined by his goofy earnestness. His ridiculous antics make me giggle!

The BL content is standard. Haruta & Maki's relationship progresses predictably, but it's an entertaining journey. Their romance may pale compared to modern BL dramas, yet it seemed groundbreaking in 2018 when there were few precedents. Ossan's Love helped destigmatize gay couples to mainstream audiences. Another fascinating relationship is Kurosawa and Choko, whose divorce leads to surprisingly poignant moments. Both characters have emotional storylines, addressing themes of marriage, divorce, midlife crisis, and how to deal with unreciprocated love.

Ossan's Love is propelled by a brilliant cast. Being funny is a challenging task, but everyone has killer comedic timing. Each lively performer keeps the energy levels high throughout the series. Haruta stands out the most with his exaggerated reactions and eccentric behaviour. The actor (Kei Tanaka) is outstanding in the role of a lifetime, fully embodying his character in every aspect. Haruta is written cartoonishly, yet Kei brings a genuine charm to make his role lovable. Ossan's Love wouldn't be half as enjoyable without his bubbliness and infectious enthusiasm. 

Sometimes, Ossan's Love feels so ridiculous that I can't take it too seriously. The characters behave erratically, or the scenarios seem farfetched. However, I choose not to overthink the plot. Instead, I laugh at the quirky nonsense. A few emotional moments may emerge here and there, but the story is predominantly wacky. From the eccentric humour to the outrageous events, this series has gained popularity precisely because it's silly, surreal, and stupidly funny. Ossan's Love delivers hours of delightfully zany entertainment, and I embrace its comical shenanigans.