We’re more than halfway through the season of Netflix’s revolutionary Japanese gay dating show 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.*
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‘Boyfriend’ material? Meet the cast of Japan’s first same-sex dating show & see their hottest pics!
Netflix’s historic Japanese reality series unveils its very dateable cast.
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If this guy had “prior commitments abroad”, then why did they let him on the show? Didn’t he have to sign a contract?