The Boyfriend: A Full-Season Review

The Boyfriend, Netflix’s new Japanese queer dating show, is a welcomed breath of fresh air. It features nine queer men, all thrown into a house together for a month, with the intention of seeing if any of them hit it off romantically. The mix of personalities invited to the show make for very interesting television indeed. Despite dating shows existing for decades around the globe, The Boyfriend feels fresh and new during a time where television seems to be stagnating. 

A queer dating show might not be anything eyebrow-raising to the West but this is a pretty big deal for Japan. The country still has some work to do on same-sex rights within the country, and at the time of writing, Japan still has not legalized same-sex marriage rights for its people. In 2023, according to The Asahi Shimbun, 72% of Japanese citizens support same-sex marriage, but the government seems to be falling behind, or outright ignoring public opinion. Furthermore, despite the social progression in this area, Japan has very few out-and-proud queer celebrities (there are a few, but numbers are limited), and general discussions of queer issues are not so commonly had. 

Shows like this are important for changing these values and attitudes. As people around the world watch these men interact, sympathize with them, and invest in their endeavors and their relationships, discussions about change inevitably ensue. It’s media like The Boyfriend that are instrumental forces in shaping and driving reform. 

These nine young men are just like everyone else. They are relatable, they have professional lives, personal interests, past traumas, messed-up relationships. They love, they laugh, and they move through the world (and inevitably their time in the house) experiencing life as everyone does, trying to make the best of the world around them. They’re enigmatic, lovable, and just like us and you!

Set against the backdrop of Tateyama, Japan’s idyllic beachside community located in the Chiba Prefecture on the Boso Peninsula, Netflix gives these young men every opportunity possible to fall in love and make new friends. The house they live in – The Green Room – is a gorgeous setup painted and decorated in colors of blue, green, and pink to create an atmosphere of hope and happiness. 

The Premise

As they arrive in the house, all the men know they are there for one purpose – to make connections, romantically or otherwise. They’re only given a little bit of time to get to know each other before the creators are setting them up to start moving things forward. In the first episode, they’re asked to write an anonymous letter to the person in the house that has sparked their fancy so far. And just like that things are set in motion. 

They don’t just get to sit around the house drinking cocktails and flirting with each other though, they have to earn their keep while they’re in the house. The creators have given them a coffee truck and challenges come in regularly about who is supposed to work the truck that day. The coffee truck earns them money, but it’s also an opportunity for the contestants to spend one-on-one time with each other away from the house. 

As they’re put through the challenges and opportunities provided to connect, it isn’t long before preferences start emerging and friendships and allegiances are formed. 

The Contestants

Perhaps one of our most favorite things about this show, and definitely something that sets it aside from its Western counterparts, is that it does an excellent job of showcasing the Japanese culture to the rest of the world. Within the nine contestants, there are both extroverts and introverts, all with varied interests and professions, family backgrounds and life stories, but they’re all just so polite with each other. 

There’s a gogo dancer, a make-up artist, a barrister, a student, a chef – the diverse list goes on. Some are from the country, some aren’t out to their families, some have had terrible experiences in relationships, and some of them seem very sure about who they are and what they want. Despite the fact that they’re all strangers, they’re considerate of each other, respectful of their differences, and don’t force anything. 

Unlike a lot of Western dating shows of similar nature, nothing about The Boyfriend feels scripted or contrived. While it’s obvious the creators put the mechanisms and opportunities in place for them to connect, it’s the men themselves who are in control of this narrative. Because of this, both romantic connections and friendships are formed that will make even the most casual of bystanders stop and invest themselves in these young people. 

Connections

As the show progresses, a clear favorite in the house quickly emerges. By the 7th episode, a total of four housemates have pulled Kazuto aside and confessed that they’re totally into him. One of the contestants who arrived at the house late (Ikuo) even says it was love at first sight. Kazuto is a difficult man to read and keeps his emotions close to his chest. He’s got a killer smile and beautiful eyes, but neither of those attributes give anything away. 

Ryota, an introverted barrister and model, surprises everyone in his relentless pursuit of Kazuto. Usak, also very introverted despite being a gogo dancer, seems to watch on in pain as his other housemates actively pursue the man he’s interested in. Alan, extremely extroverted and exotic in heritage, takes a liking to Kazuto as soon as he enters the house. He makes sure to tell everyone, Kazuto included, of his feelings. And then there’s Ikuo, who joins the house very late, seemingly unaware of his competition around him, and makes a play for Kazuto as well. 

How does Kazuto cope with all the attention? It’s likely you’ll spend much of the show screaming who do you want, man! at the television. Kazuto’s complex web of options is definitely the biggest conflict in the show. How does it play out? You’ll have to watch episode 10 to find out. 

A possible coupling does emerge among other contestants pretty quickly though. Dai, 23 and a university student, sets his eyes on DJ Shun almost immediately after arriving at the house. Shun, however, doesn’t make Dai’s quest for him easy and the man plays the epitome of hard-to-get. He’s hot one minute, cold the next, and absolutely nothing in between. Shun’s behavior regarding Dai creates tension in the house – it wouldn’t be peak television without a little tension – and it’s entirely unclear what the future holds for these two young men until the very last moment. 

Despite this, Dai is unwavering in his commitment to Dai and does everything he can to learn about the man, adjust his behaviors accordingly, and be the best version of himself he can be. Out of everyone in the house, Dai quickly emerges as a crowd favorite and audiences everywhere are going to be enamored with the way this man handles himself. 

Other connections are made and incredible friendships are also forged. The absolute joy of The Boyfriend is watching these young men forge relationships with people that they might not ordinarily find out in the wild. They’re given community, support, and opportunities to reflect on themselves. Taeheon, a contestant from South Korea who is not out to his family, leaves the house with the strength to finally reveal himself to them, all because of the love and relationships forged within the Green Room.

The Boyfriend is heartwarming and will make you smile until your face hurts. At a time when there is so much conflict in the world and everyone seems intent on highlighting the differences that exist among people around the globe, this show does the opposite. It reminds us that, at the end of the day, we all want love, acceptance, and community. We all want someone to come home to, someone to respect and see us, and someone to share our experiences with. 

Whether you’re male, female, introverted, or extroverted, regardless of where you’re from our human desires are essentially the same. We have more in common with one another than we don’t, and the young Japanese men in this show – with their decorum and their moxy – are doing it like no one else. The Boyfriend is a class act, a must-see watch for all. 

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All ten episodes of The Boyfriend are available to stream on Netflix now. Follow us on X and Instagram for all queer stuff!

Featured Image: Courtesy of Netflix