When It Rains, It Pours – Series Review & Episode Guide

Kazuaki Hagiwara lives with his long-term girlfriend, Kaori. They have been dating for three years. They first met as coworkers before Kaori changed jobs to become a nail technician. She dreams of opening her own shop one day. At the start of their relationship, Hagiwara and Kaori were physically affectionate. Over time, Kaori lost interest in intimacy. While they still get along, she always turns down his sexual advances. Hagiwara grows increasingly frustrated and feels unfulfilled in their relationship.

One night, Hagiwara looks up restaurants on his phone and tries to send the choices to himself. His email is kazuaki0927@kuhoo.com, but he accidentally entered the wrong address and sent it to kazuaki0927@degole.com instead. Realizing his mistake, he sends a polite email to apologize. The recipient, Sei, replies back, telling him not to worry. They continue exchanging short messages, developing a casual back-and-forth. Despite being complete strangers, their conversations feel easy and natural. Over time, they become pen pals.

Hagiwara tells his girlfriend about his new pen pal. Since Sei is just another guy, Kaori doesn't think much of it. She takes pride in respecting her partner's privacy. She trusts her boyfriend and won't snoop around on his phone. Initially, Hagiwara and Sei continue exchanging light, casual conversations. As time goes on, Hagiwara opens up about his struggles. He confides in Sei about the lack of physical intimacy in his relationship. Hagiwara admits that he and Kaori were once affectionate, but now they haven't had sex in over a year.

Sei responds by sharing his relationship struggles. He lives with his best friend, Kazuaki Fujisawa, a famous product designer. After losing his parents, Sei relied on Kazuaki for emotional support and fell in love with him. Since Kazuaki has no interest in dating or marriage, he promises to stay by Sei's side forever. However, he refuses physical intimacy and repeatedly turns down Sei's advances. Sei and Hagiwara realize the parallels in their situations. They can relate to each other.

Hagiwara works in sales at his company. He doesn't know that his pen pal, Sei, is a coworker in the business administration department. They sometimes chat at work, but only as casual colleagues. Neither of them realizes they have already shared their personal struggles with each other. At the same time, Hagiwara and Sei grow closer around the office. The more they talk, the more they get along. Whether through messages or in person, their bond continues to deepen.

When It Rains, It Pours explores a special kind of loneliness. Both protagonists are in relationships, but their partners don't wanna have sex. Every attempt ends in rejection, leaving the main characters sexually frustrated and emotionally drained. The series does a fantastic job of capturing their heartache, such as this particularly poignant line: "The word forever means being gently rejected forever." The dialogue is filled with beautiful insights like this. Somehow, the writers have found a way to turn sexual frustration into poetry.

I love how the romance starts with an accidental email. Of all the ways to find your soulmate, imagine meeting them through a message sent to the wrong person! Sei and Hagiwara become each other's mysterious pen pals. But then, plot twist! They're actually coworkers at the same company. All these coincidences make the romance feel so wonderful, almost like it's their destiny to fall in love. They're soulmates who don't realize that fate wants them to be together. Doesn't that sound so dreamy? If you're someone who enjoys romances with the invisible red string theory, When It Rains, It Pours does this arc extremely well.

The series takes its time to develop the romance. After meeting each other, Sei and Hagiwara don't just immediately jump into bed. Nope, we're in for a slow burn! The series spends multiple episodes exploring their personal lives, so we understand why both men feel so unfulfilled. As Hagiwara & Sei open up to each other, they realize how much they have in common. I love how the story builds their emotional connection so carefully. Every interaction helps us understand why they're falling in love. By the time they grow closer, I'm rooting for this couple.

Hagiwara's actor (Jun Muto) is ridiculously handsome. His sharp jawline makes him look like a model, while those brooding eyes are dangerously attractive. He also has this sophisticated aura… Maybe I'm projecting, but he looks classy and dignified. I recognize his co-star (Asahi Ito) from A Man Who Defies the World of BL. He didn't leave much of an impression on me back then, but I like his performance in When It Rains, It Pours. He plays Sei as someone who keeps all his thoughts bottled up inside. I enjoy how he brings this quiet, moody character to life.

Although I enjoy most of the story, Hagiwara and Sei's partners feel underdeveloped. Kaori and Kazuaki are involved in so much of the drama, yet I feel like I barely know them. They're like plot devices standing in the way of the main couple's happiness. I wish the series explored their perspectives more, especially why they're so reluctant to be physically intimate. Episode 6 gives Kaori an excellent scene that adds some much-needed depth to her character. Kazuaki isn't so lucky. When he explains his motivations, I don't buy it. IMO, the series mishandles his subplot.

The finale is a bit underwhelming. I expected a grand finale where the emotions sweep me off my feet. Instead, it was like, "Hmm… That could've been a memo." Also, where's the passion!? This series is about two sexually frustrated men. I expected their eventual hookup to be steamy. Instead, the encounter feels surprisingly tame. C'mon guys, show me some fireworks! Overall, When It Rains, It Pours is still an elegant BL drama with many beautifully written moments. Some of the flaws make me slightly less excited to recommend the series, but my opinion of it remains positive.