Review of My Personal Weatherman, a BL series portraying a relationship between a highly unequal couple.

Boys’ Love series are fond of opposites attracting and power dynamics in intimacy. This Japanese manga adaptation goes even further (too far?) by immersing us in the daily life of a rather unusual couple.

The solitary, dreamy Yô (Atsuki Mashiko) fell in love with the charismatic, attractive Segasaki (Kohein Higuchi) at the end of his studies. Yô dreamed of becoming a manga artist but feared he would not be able to make a living from it. Segasaki, ambitious and self-confident, offered him a surprising arrangement: move in with him, allow himself to be supported, and, in exchange, let Segasaki do whatever he wanted with him! Fascinated by this dominant boy, Yô allowed himself to be persuaded. Some time later, we find him at Segasaki’s home, where he has become his jack-of-all-trades.

As he had imagined, Segasaki succeeded in life and became the presenter of a weather channel. He earns a good living and supports Yô, who remains shut in at home all day drawing… with the weather channel playing in the background. We discover just how unequal the relationship between the two boys is: Yô must keep the home clean, do the laundry, and prepare nice little meals when his man returns from work. He must not complain and must meet all his needs. It goes even further: intimacy is regulated. Segasaki has imposed a rule whereby he has sex with Yô only when a sunny day is forecast!

A BL series with a sweet yet ambiguous tone

This rather surprising premise, filmed in a mundane and colourful way, is enough to take one aback. It is not entirely clear how to position oneself in the face of this genuine domestic tyranny, especially as Yô makes clear in voice-over that, as time passes, he is becoming increasingly fed up. In addition to being a total macho, Segasaki can be cold and unpleasant, prevent him from interacting with other people… The red flags are countless!

Made up of 8 episodes of around 25 minutes, the series does not rely on much suspense, instead dissecting this strange couple’s intimacy. Little by little, we understand that Yô, despite his justified weariness, gets something out of the arrangement and is naturally submissive, as well as very much in love with his partner. And, when he wants to, Segasaki can relax and become more sentimental and caring.

A fragile balance that divides

Nevertheless, something is missing that would truly reassure us: yes, this strange couple seems to have found its balance, but it is hard not to remain uncomfortable when this fiction appears to completely normalize certain toxic behaviours within a falsely feel-good, sweet atmosphere. There are more moments in which Yô seems to endure the relationship than moments in which we feel he is fulfilled in a love tinged with BDSM that falls outside the norm. The whole also suffers somewhat from acting that is not always at its best, fairly generic direction, and a sitcom quality which, while offering a few amusing moments, may put off viewers who are not yet familiar with BL series. In any case, it is a very curious proposition, one that raises questions and opens up conversation.

Series produced in 2023 and available on the GagaOOLala platform

Other BL series to discover

• Big Dragon
• Love Begins in the World of If
• KinnPorsche