Shimbashi Koi Story 3 – Series Review & Episode Guide

Jun-nosuke, also known as Junos, is in a long-distance relationship with Tatsuya. The couple met at a bear bar, where they fell in love and began dating. They have been boyfriends for several years. A while ago, Tatsuya's company transferred him to work overseas in China. He accepted the new position. Despite living in different countries, Jun-nosuke and Tatsuya try to maintain regular communication.

Six months ago, Junos suddenly lost contact with his boyfriend. He hasn't heard from Tatsuya since then. Tatsuya's phone number doesn't work anymore. Junos becomes concerned about his lover's missing whereabouts. He meets with his friend, Kotetsu, to express his concerns. Finally, Junos receives an update from Tatsuya's older brother. Tatsuya is safe, but he has quit his job and refuses to reveal more information.

Junos is relieved to hear about Tatsuya's safety. Regardless of what happened, he hopes his boyfriend returns to him soon. During his absence, Junos has befriended Shinji, a new patron at the bar. They get along well and even start meeting during their free time. Kotetsu has noticed their growing bond and wonders if there may be more to their friendship. Yet, Junos insists he will wait for Tatsuya.

Meanwhile, Shota and Ryotaro are friends who hang out at the same bar as Junos and Kotetsu. They are all friendly with each other. Shota used to have feelings for Tatsuya, but his love confession was rejected. Since then, Shota has gotten over his heartbreak. Lately, he starts flirting with Hiromasa, a restaurant chef. Shota insists they have a romantic spark. He and Ryotaro visit the diner frequently, hoping for an opportunity to advance this potential relationship.

Shimbashi Koi Story 3 begins with a strange disappearance. The protagonist's boyfriend has gone missing without any explanation, a plot development that surprises me. Based on the past two seasons, most storylines involved mundane relationship drama. I didn't expect to solve a mystery during the third installment of this trilogy. Despite straying into a random genre, I welcome this adventurous change. The Shimbashi Koi Story sequel tries something new to break the monotony of the old narrative. 

The amateurish storyteller presents the mystery sloppily, overlooking critical details. If your loved one went missing for six months, you'd take more proactive measures than venting to your friends at a bar. Even so, I disregard the blatant plot holes and focus on solving the case of the absent boyfriend. My theory is that Tatsuya stayed in hiding due to a terminal illness! Tatsuya eventually returns, but I feel underwhelmed after hearing his explanation. The reasoning behind his prolonged disappearance doesn't seem satisfying.

Tatsuya's storyline may be more convincing if we saw what happened to him. This central plot needs flashbacks to depict the events and clarify the details. Instead, it relies on flimsy dialogue that conveys little context. Tatsuya has sympathetic circumstances for his disappearance. Nonetheless, he should have contacted his boyfriend earlier. Tatsuya and Junos were in a committed relationship for several years. Not communicating with your partner about your livelihood seems irresponsible, inconsiderate, and cruel. Junos deserves better treatment.

After hearing Tatsuya's justification, I don't believe he should reunite with his boyfriend. I wish him well, but he's an unsuitable partner for Junos. Maybe I'd change my mind if the story redeems Tatsuya's character persuasively. Instead, many overwrought scenes dwell on gloom, agony, and indecisiveness. Tatsuya and Junos almost become the villains as they stomp on everyone's feelings. The couple's selfish behaviour makes me root against them. Their forced reconciliation also seems inevitable, making the constant drama and tiresome conflicts unnecessary.

Shimbashi Koi Story 3 displays several improvements. Despite the annoying melodrama, the story is more sophisticated than previous seasons. I appreciate the attempts at ambitious plots. The past two series have flat narratives, whereas this sequel occasionally delivers poignant moments. Likewise, the writing is sharper. I smile at a few funny jokes and witty lines in the conversations. Furthermore, I appreciate the diverse filming locations, taking the characters out of the bar. The production team uses their accumulated experience to create a presentable BL drama.

Yet, Shimbashi Koi Story 3 still suffers from many of the same shortcomings. The actors remain stiff and deliver lines unnaturally. There's also a lack of romantic content. The series focuses too much on relationship feuds and not enough on sweet moments. The secondary couple shows some promise, but they disappoint me in the finale. Worst of all, every storyline revolves around love triangles, one way or another. Shimbashi Koi Story perpetuates an endless cycle of aggravating rivals for the past three seasons. Sadly, this tedious BL drama has little imagination to offer.