Stay By My Side After the Rain Review: First Love, Identity Struggles, Soggy Side Plots
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
All right then, here comes another Japanese drama about an office worker with low self-esteem issues. Kanade Shinichiro-san, the protagonist of ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ is also in the closet, has never been in a relationship, and has given up on finding romance, because his ‘first love’ didn’t work out. However, love finds its way to him through a fateful chance meeting.
Based on Rakuta Shoko’s manga Ameagari no Bokura ni Tsuite (雨上がりの僕らについて), ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ is a 12-episode drama that follows shy, closeted Kanade Shinichiro (Ikeda Masashi), whose humdrum Tokyo routine is disrupted by an unexpected reunion with his hometown friend, Mashiro Kosuke (Hori Natsuki). Kosuke is thrilled to reconnect, but what he doesn’t know is that Shinichiro once loved him. With no interest in rekindling a platonic friendship, Shinichiro confesses in hopes of pushing him away, Kosuke flips the script, claiming he feels the same way.
‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ swiftly sets up its primary conflict and premise right at the start. In the final moments of the first episode, an anxiety-stricken, shamefaced Shinichiro hides his face and, through frantic tears, begs Kosuke to leave.
“I don’t want to fall for you again… so just leave me alone….”
The rest of the episodes follow the pair navigating the challenges of dating and starting a new life together as boyfriends. A bulk of the story also focuses on the sunny-faced, easygoing Kosuke’s difficult relationship with his mother (played by Kirishima Reika), while Shinichiro too is almost estranged from his entire family due to his inability to be himself around them. Amidst all their personal struggles, the cozy cafe where they cross paths again becomes their safe haven, a place for shared coffees, conversations and delectable sandwiches.
Ikeda Masashi’s portrayal of Kanade Shinichiro is painfully honest and relatable, especially when Shinichiro is gripped with self-doubt, fears, and general anxiety over his new relationship. But it takes time to warm up to Hori Natsuki’s interpretation of the more confident Mashiro Kosuke. There’s something about his delivery that makes Mashiro Kosuke’s personality and passions a little suspicious. Add to that the onscreen chemistry between the lead actors is more awkward than romantic.
The end credits song in each episode of ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ features a sweet montage of Shinichiro and Kosuke strolling around and casually spending time together, which reminded me of the ending sequence in ‘Cherry Magic’, the romantic comedy starring Kieta Machida and Eiji Akaso. I suspect my expectations may have been heightened by the visual similarity, but ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ is nowhere near as entertaining, romantic, or “feel-good” as ‘Cherry Magic’.
Now of course, ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ isn’t a romantic comedy, so laughs weren’t expected, but its dramatic intensity often comes from people orbiting the protagonists rather than the leads themselves. Aya (Yamada Maho), a pushy colleague of Shinichiro, unprofessionally pressures him to consider another coworker’s feelings, while Aizawa Sumire (Watanabe Miho), who has a crush on Shinichiro doesn’t accept his rejection with grace. Both these side characters are annoyingly entitled, demanding to know why Shinichiro can’t go out with Sumire, when he doesn’t owe them any kind of explanation. Thankfully, they grow up and become more supportive of Shinichiro later in the show.
One of the more compelling sub-plot in ‘Stay By My Side After The Rain’ is Kosuke’s fraught relationship with his widowed mother, Mitsuko, whose grief morphs into an unhealthy reliance on her son. Her constant demands threaten to stifle his identity, yet Kosuke hides the strain, presenting a cheerful front to others and clinging to his belief that hard work can conquer all. Shinichiro is surprised to learn this side of his partner and then two work to overcome their problem together, without becoming overbearing.
The cinematography for the show is simple, visually pleasant, with most of the story unfolding either at the cafe the couple frequent, or in their one-room apartments. There was potential for entertaining personal conflict between Kosuke and Shinichiro as they grew closer in the second half of ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’, but the writers sidestep it, choosing instead to dwell on their issues with others.
Oh and the intimate scenes between the lead couple is so bland, they should’ve simply not shown anything, instead of serving awkward kisses. Even as their romance progressed, the intimacy between the pair remained like they were two friends hanging out. Instead of stretching on for 12 episodes, ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ could’ve been wrapped in 9 or 10 episodes. Although the last chapter does have a heartwarming end, which is preceded by Shinichiro reconciling with his parents.
If you’re looking for contemporary gay Japanese romances, this is worth a shot, some recent shows in the same genre that I rated higher are: ‘Futtara Doshaburi: When It Rains, It Pours’, Our Youth-Miseinen, Hishakai Shindo (Depth of Field).
Rating: 6 on 10. Watch ‘Stay By My Side After the Rain’ on GagaOolala.
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