Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Can spending one month with a bunch of prospective dates in a beautiful beach house lead to love? Netflix’s gay dating reality show “The Boyfriend” (original title: Bôifurendo) is the first of its kind from Japan, featuring nine men from different walks of life, who get to spend time with each other in a house called “The Green Room,” a picturesque stay complete with a swimming pool.
Like Netflix’s “Terrace House,” where six men and women live together and explore romantic possibilities, “The Boyfriend” spans ten episodes and sees the men living under one roof and going on dates, all while a panel of five commentators, including an on point drag queen, share their thoughts on the unfolding events. Unlike some loud dating shows that have a lot of ugly rivalry, scheming, or even politics, this show is a pleasant breeze. Although that doesn’t mean there is no drama, of course there is! And the beach-y setting offers a pleasing backdrop to it all, while giving viewers a glimpse into how romance works the same way for everybody, regardless of their orientation.
Kazuto, a serious, hardworking chef who makes delicious dishes for the men, turns out to be the most popular among the men. I mean, obviously, who doesn’t like somebody who can whip up excellent food? Usak, a popular go-go dancer, provides some of the most entertaining moments in the show due to his strict diet and need for eating chicken breasts that often compromise the daily food budget. Usak’s personality is in stark contrast to his on-stage persona; he seems introverted and struggles to express himself. Shun, a musician, has the most difficult time in “The Boyfriend.” He instantly declares that nobody is his “type” on the show but does find himself attracted to someone whom he didn’t quite like at first. Shun’s hot-and-cold personality generates the most romantic drama in the show. “It’s like watching a proper TV drama!” the commentators exclaim while following Shun’s indecisive heart.
University student Dai and IT employee Alan are the cheeriest, ‘go-getter’ kind of people on the show, and interestingly, they knew each other from before. Make-up artist Gensei and designer Taehon (I wanted to see more of Taehon BTW!) are the most reserved ones in “The Boyfriend,” although each time they are on-screen, they exude a calming, sweet, friendly aura. Ryota, a model and part-time barista, is also on the reserved side, but he reaches out to his crush and has a hard time conveying his feelings.
Often, the focus in “The Boyfriend” heavily leans towards a select few participants, sidelining the others despite their individual charms. For instance, only one couple gets a proper date in over a week, highlighting a slower pace compared to shows like Korea’s “His Man,” where participants embark on dates from day one and can openly express their feelings through direct calls each night. The fact that there aren’t many opportunities to go on one-on-one dates limits the possibilities of contestants getting to know more about their potential romantic chemistry with the ones they don’t feel an instant attraction to. Although the biggest advantage of “The Boyfriend” show format is the fact that the men have almost a month’s time for finding love.
One unique aspect of “The Boyfriend” is that each day, two participants get to work on a Coffee Truck and are given basic barista training for it. Each day, the producers send a message saying who is expected to lead the Coffee Truck shift, and the leader is allowed to choose their co-worker for the day. That could be considered a work date, but through the episodes, it looks like there’s a lot more work to do and little “getting to know each other” during the coffee truck shifts.
Regardless, sparks obviously fly between a few of the men; some instantly (and surprisingly intensely) fall in love, while others take their own time or remain confused till the very end. “I am a grown man; why am I feeling so happy for someone else?” one of the commentators hilariously notes in one of the episodes over a romantic moment between two contestants – and he is speaking for a lot of viewers too. You’ll feel a lot of second-hand emotions watching the awkward and cute interactions between the men.
Episode six brings two major surprises: one participant leaves permanently, and a new contestant joins, adding fresh energy to the group. However, the mood remains mixed, with most participants feeling down during a group beach-side picnic due to their conflicting feelings or unrequited attraction, except for the new guy – Ikuo. Ikuo’s entry is almost pointless in “The Boyfriend” because despite being tall, handsome, and likable (at least from the little screen time he gets), he doesn’t particularly pique anybody’s interest, as everybody else already has their eyes on someone.
Despite a month-long stay and nine contestants, up until the last episode, only a few proper dates take place in “The Boyfriend.” The producers should have organized more outings or at least fun indoor games to shake things up. Regardless, in its current format, “The Boyfriend” makes for an entertaining study of the human heart and just how uniquely everybody tends to react in similar situations.
There’s laughter, tears, confessions, jealousy, drama, and quite some heartache in “The Boyfriend,” but some do find “love” at the end of the road. Watch the show on Netflix if you’re looking for a fresh dating reality series. I will be watching a season two, if there is one.
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