Do you ever feel like there aren't enough gay dating reality shows? Me too! The straights get to have all the fun with their dating shows, but the sexy (and let's be honest - sometimes more scandalous!) world of gay dating has largely been ignored on TV. Well, no more. There is a Japanese reality show that is swooping in to save the day and the TV landscape. Let's talk about The Boyfriend.
Asian TV shows are on the rise on Netflix. K-dramas and reality shows have been popular for some time, but the Japanese have proven that they are also fantastic at reality shows. Netflix got in on the game with this amazing reality show that brings Asian queer relationships to the forefront. The foreign show will feel very familiar and it's also easy on the eyes. Just look at these guys:
The show only just premiered on July 9. The first three episodes dropped on Netflix two days ago and it has the internet falling in love with some of these guys who are falling in love. The Guardian praises The Boyfriend as "the gay Japanese dating show that will have you punching the air with joy." It certainly is joyful as nine super sexy gay men stay in a swanky mansion together in their attempts to find love.
This is a truly groundbreaking series for a few reasons. The top reason is that same-sex marriage is not legal in Japan. Despite that, the next generation of queer boys and girls are breaking down boundaries and bringing former taboos to the forefront. This show proves that it is working! Do you know what else is working? The buff Japanese dudes who clearly work out!
Already people are falling for these eight beefakes. The guys are Usak, Alan, Kazuto, Ryota, Tae Heon, Dai, Shun, and Gensei. They are all in a house in Tokyo for a month together which is enough time to fall in love. Or lust.
The premise is that new housemates will join them regularly as they form all kinds of connections. They also run a business: a coffee truck called Brewtiful U. The boys of The Boyfriend choose one of the guys to run Brewtiful U together as they get better acquainted and caffeinated.
So far Shun and Dai are being super adorable together and people are already shipping this budding couple. What about the other guys? Well, they're just super hot. Tae Heon Kim has the body of an Adonis and he shows it off when he's kicking up sand on the beach. I bet he's getting sand in places where the sun doesn't shine...places I'd very much like to check out.
