Sugar Dog Life – Series Review & Episode Guide

Isumi is a 20-year-old university student who has joined the school's cooking club with his friends Yohei and Shoji. Since he is handsome and a talented chef, the other club members all admire him. After a party, Isumi is pretty drunk as he walks home. He encounters Amasawa, a 30-year-old police officer. A concerned Amasawa asks to see Isumi's ID to verify he isn't an underage drinker. Afterwards, Amasawa accompanies Isumi to ensure he arrives home safely.

Isumi works a part-time job at a convenience store. During his shift, he's surprised to see Amasawa, the same neighbourhood cop he met last night. Amasawa is interested in buying lunch at the convenience store and asks Isumi for recommendations. Isumi seems reluctant to talk to the police officer who interrogated him yesterday. However, Amasawa maintains a cheerful demeanour. Eventually, Isumi picks a few items from the shelves and helps him assemble a healthy meal.

Amasawa keeps visiting the convenience store to buy food. Each time, he asks Isumi for product recommendations. Although Isumi is initially annoyed, he notices Amasawa's tendency to pick unhealthy foods from the store. During the cooking class, Isumi made an extra lunchbox. He wants to give it to Amasawa so that he can try more nutritious foods. The police officer is touched by his gesture. As they talk, Amasawa invites Isumi to visit his apartment and cook dinner.

Amasawa is single and lives alone in his apartment. From the state of his empty kitchen, Isumi can tell that Amasawa has no culinary experience. Using limited ingredients, Isumi still makes an impressive dinner for Amasawa, who is overjoyed to eat something so delicious. Isumi feels flattered by his sincere praise. After exchanging contact information, Amasawa regularly invites Isumi to hang out at his apartment. They start enjoying homemade meals together.

Despite their age gap and different backgrounds, Isumi and Amasawa become unexpected friends. As they spend time together, Isumi admires Amasawa's kindness toward everyone. The friendly neighbourhood cop enjoys helping people and protecting the community. Isumi slowly develops romantic feelings for his new friend. Even though he has a secret crush, Isumi thinks Amasawa doesn't reciprocate these feelings. He can't tell for sure since Amasawa often flirts with him. The line between friendship and romance becomes blurred.

Sugar Dog Life had me smiling immediately. The first few episodes are so cute! You have an earnest police officer, an adorable convenience store worker, and plenty of wholesome interactions. Their friendship develops naturally, so I enjoy watching these two sweethearts spend time together. The series finds the right levels of sweetness and playfulness without becoming unbearably sugary. Add in the warm colours and vibrant visuals, and the drama feels like a cozy little serotonin boost. My happiness levels? Through the roof.

Both characters are ridiculously easy to like. Isumi will plan a birthday party and work his butt off making a fancy cake. Amasawa will cook a meal, sprinkle sugar over the food, and joke that he's adding a touch of love. Stop being so precious! I can't handle it! Their kind gestures and oddly endearing quirks make the relationship feel warm even before the romance properly begins. You can see why these two would be good for each other. They enjoy each other's company and look out for one another. The age gap (around 10 years) is noticeable, but their personalities still fit together surprisingly well.

Around Episode 4, the series begins to stall. Isumi develops a secret crush, but he doesn't believe his feelings are reciprocated. The story's pacing slows down as he agonizes over his unrequited love. Isumi and Amasawa are still bonding, but only by a little. They must stay in the friend zone instead of exploring their relationship adventurously. While not every couple needs to get together quickly, there's a long wait before this romance escalates. The lack of progress drains my enthusiasm, and I don't feel as emotionally invested in Sugar Dog Life as before.

Is Amasawa secretly flirting or just being friendly? That's the question I keep asking. You may interpret his behaviour romantically or platonically, and the series leaves enough ambiguity to keep you guessing either way. It gets harder to understand him in later episodes. Amasawa goes on a date with Isumi, holds his hand, and cuddles in bed. These gestures appear so intimate that he should've discovered his feelings earlier. As a viewer, I'm frustrated that he can't distinguish between friendship and romance. He seems out of touch for not realizing how his actions come across.

At least Sugar Dog Life always looks pretty. The cinematography is polished, and the cameras are obsessed with Isumi's telegenic actor (Koki Tanaka). His face was made for close-ups. The story is told from his character's perspective, giving him plenty of opportunities to show his range. He can be funny, vulnerable, lovestruck, or dramatic without it feeling forced. His costar (Hideya Tawada) is pleasant as Amasawa, but his role is so one-note. He smiles handsomely, but that's the core of his performance. I wanted to see what he could do with meatier material.

By the finale, Sugar Dog Life has spent so long tiptoeing around the romance that I'm ready to push these two together myself. Surely Amasawa has finally figured out his feelings, right? "Can you give me more time?" Well, no! You had the whole series to think about your feelings. He's like a procrastinating student begging for an extension after the assignment is overdue. Thankfully, the story does end on a happy note, so I'm not leaving Sugar Dog Life angry. I'm just less enthusiastic than I was at the start. It settles into the pile of pleasantly middle-of-the-road BL dramas.