Netflix’s ‘The Boyfriend’ already has fans in a chokehold with sparking romances & emotional goodbyes
The Boyfriend, and if you’re not keeping up, you’re missing out on some serious drama!Oh, sure, no one ever raises their voice, and it’s all very sweet, gentle, and good-natured—but it’s drama nonetheless.
And it’s really worth tuning in!What makes The Boyfriend so groundbreaking is that it’s the first show to focus on queer romance in Japan, a country where same-sex marriage has yet to be legalized and very few celebrities and public figures are openly gay.Given the reach of Netflix’s global platform, that means the series is elevating nuanced discussions between men who love men about sexuality, relationships, masculinity, emotional vulnerability, and so much more in a way millions of people may have never seen.The fact that a show like The Boyfriend exists “shows a change in society,” according to Tokyo-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group Fair—and its clear that many involved with the series hope it can continue to push the conversation forward by normalizing the relationships between these men, whether they’re just friends or becomes something more.*Caution: Spoilers ahead for The Boyfriend up through Episode 6.*Netflix’s historic Japanese reality series unveils its very dateable cast.That tension between friends and lovers is the crux of what’s become one of the show’s most talked about relationships thus far: That between 22-year-old student Dai and 23-year-old artist Shun.The Boyfriend‘s refreshingly simple conceit brings a group of men (there are initially six of them) together under one roof in a seaside villa, where they’ll live together while also taking turns working in a coffee truck called Brewtiful U.Almost immediately, Dai and Shun (the two youngest cast members) warmed to one another.
The connection between them grew carefully, though the two got to bond while working alongside one another in the coffee truck.
However, Dai showed a number of signs early on—including opening up that he’s had relationships with both men and women—that gave Shun pause,.
