Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Abe Alan and Akutsu Nichika are back as the hilariously awkward protagonists Akafuji Yuichiro and Aoyanagi Hajime for season 2 of ‘I Became the Lead in a BL Drama’ (‘BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita’), which remains just as entertainingly un-serious as before!
Directed by Kumasaka Izuru, the new season spans six episodes and follows the comedic struggles of its lead pair who’ve entered the ‘dating phase’ of their relationship. Akafuji Yuichiro (Abe Alan) is a popular rising star in the industry, but he still behaves more like a ‘fan boy’ than lover towards boyfriend Hajime (Akutsu Nichika), leaving the latter confused, frustrated, and questioning their status. Meanwhile, the clueless Yuichiro, boils in jealousy over Hajime’s cozy rapport with new co-star Haibara Ryunosuke (Furuya Robin), a handsome senior actor.
Honestly, ‘I Became the Lead in a BL Drama’ (‘BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita’) isn’t even romantic-comedy, it’s just comedy, packed to the brim with silly jokes and funny moments. Interestingly, the subplot between Hajime’s manager Kijima Joji (Watanabe Shu) and Yuichiro’s manager Yukari Hiroomi (Ogoe Yuki) sees more romantic development than the leads themselves. Even their relationship leans into an idol-fan dynamic, as Hiroomi is revealed to be a closet fan of Kijima, a former star turned manager. Both couples may remind viewers of Utsukushii Kare (My Beautiful Man), which shared a similar setup, though that was a much more serious drama, and its protagonist, Hira Kazunari, belongs to a whole different league.
‘I Became the Lead in a BL Drama’ (‘BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita’) thrives on comedic awkwardness, insecurities, and the sheer inexperience of its leads when it comes to romance. For instance, while Yuichiro gets jealous and competitive with Haibara over his proximity to Hajime, Hajime on his part begins to doubt Yuichiro’s cozy rapport with new director Yamabuki Wakaba (Oshida Gak). One of the most hilarious sequences in season 2 was when Yuichiro and Haibara play a ‘who knows Hajime better’ quiz, complete with props and Hajime stickers.
Nearly half an episode of ‘I Became the Lead in a BL Drama’ (BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita) is devoted to producer Yayoi (Iriyama Noriko) and her colleague hitting up karaoke and fangirling over Hajime and Yuichiro’s characters from the BL drama they worked on. The two excitedly scheme about pushing for a second season (yes, the meta angle is genuinely funny), all while being completely unaware that the actors are dating in real life. Instead of falling back on stereotypical vampy female roles, the show offers a refreshing twist by portraying them as enthusiastic BL fans.
After two seasons of ‘I Became the Lead in a BL Drama’ (BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita), I’m still not sure if Abe Alan and Akutsu Nichika share any romantic spark, but they are a riot to watch (in a good way) as bumbling actors stumbling through their first attempt at love. Having previously seen Abe Alan as a creepily predatory antagonist in ‘Smells Like Green Spirit’, it’s easy to gain a newfound appreciation for his comedic turn as the harebrained, celibate Yuichiro. Meanwhile, Akutsu Nichika is especially endearing, infusing Aoyanagi Hajime with a sincere, childlike charm, blissfully unaware of his own appeal and the effect he has on Yuichiro.
The bizarre background music, which feels like an auto-tuned, goat-bleating sound, and served as a running gag in season one, returns in the new episodes and is just as hilariously absurd as ever. If you enjoyed the first season, you’ll be entertained with this follow-up too.
Rating: 7.5 on 10. The show is on GagaOoolala.
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