Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Some might find uptight, asocial, nerdy lawyers who chat with their succulents a bit eccentric, maybe even a little offbeat, but for others, that’s the perfect romantic bait. Enter Shiba Ryoma (Hama Shogo), a top-notch lawyer with zero social life, who crosses paths with Haruto (Hyodo Katsumi), a mysteriously charming con artist. What starts as an unconventional partnership on legal cases soon teeters into uncharted territory. Haruto’s motives are shady at best, but Shiba lets him stick around just to see what happens. Spoiler: romance wasn’t on his agenda.
Based on Makino Keisuk’s novel Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru (Love Is A Poison), the 2024 series follows the well-worn trope of ‘opposites attract’, with wealthy, awkward genius Shiba Ryoma falling for rogue hustler Haruto. Over 12 episodes long, the show is a genre cocktail of legal drama and rom-com antics with mixed results.
“You’re the one that’s harmful. When I think about you, my brain goes numb, as if a poison is spreading through my body.”
Shiba Ryoma cannot decide if love is a poison or the best energy drink in the world. Hama Shogo’s portrayal of the character takes some warming up to, his asocial ‘genius’ shtick feels more caricatured than convincing initially. In contrast, Hyodo Katsumi brings immediate charisma to Haruto, blending charm, mischief, and emotional depth. Haruto smoothly transforms from a shady conman to a golden retriever-like partner. He often reminded me of Kusakawa Takuya, who played the titular lead in Minato Shouji Coin Laundry. While the leads’ chemistry is inconsistent, there’s enough romantic tension to keep things engaging.
Shiba Ryoma, for all his lawyerly seriousness, is unintentionally hilarious as he navigates the poison that is love – an emotion that threatens to upend his career and principles. However, the cases they tackle together aren’t very thrilling, often coming off as “constructed” for the screen. The show’s last few episodes are centered on corruption and major revelations, which weren’t consistent with the rest of the tone of Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru (Love Is A Poison).
One can easily spot the budget constraints of the show, with most scenes unfolding in a pub or Shiba’s apartment. Although, some of the court scenes aren’t all that bad. Yet, the real issue lies in the show’s genre juggling. The first half leans into goofy romantic comedy, only to veer into tragic melodrama and heavy backstory territory by the end. Haruto gets a richer character arc, while Shiba’s past remains a mystery, leaving his character feeling half-baked in comparison. His most serious relationship is with the succulents that talk back to him in screechy, cartoonish voices.
Despite the execution hiccups, the show gets some things right. Shiba and Haruto make a compelling team, whether they’re tackling fraud cases or fending off corporate villains, hired goons, and homophobic saboteurs. Their ability to communicate openly and avoiding the typical rom-com misunderstandings, is a breath of fresh air, despite significant suspense over Haruto’s past in the first-half of the show. If only the script had steered clear of some unnecessary tragic twists, this could have been a lot more entertaining.
Final verdict? This Japanese series is a flawed but fun one-time watch.
Rating: 6/10. “Love is a Poison” is on Netflix.
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