This review may contain spoilers
Impactful, important and very heartbreaking
This series shattered my heart into a million pieces over and over again.STORY - It's all about Koichi's realization that he cannot hold onto the world and Mitsuru forever and him feeling guilty about this and struggling to accept it until the last episode. Mitsuru's narrative really dives into what all grieving people must feel except it's even more painful for him as he has to slowly endure watching Koichi slip away from him and watch his grip on the world slowly get weaker until he has to let go. It is not just a love story but one about life and death and the crossover. It is super impactful and overwhelmingly sad and I'm sure many people endured the same but I just found myself crying along with them every episode.
ACTING - The actors did an indescribably good job at portraying the character's raw emotions and pains. It was honestly beautiful to watch and it didn't feel like I was watching a series but more like two actual people's story. I don't think anyone could have done it better and I'm grateful for that.
Music - The official soundtrack for this series went so well with the storyline that at first I didn't quite register it as for some reason it didn't feel like a soundtrack but more the emotions embodied into a song if that makes any sense whatsoever. In the final episode it really hit me hard.
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Dear reader, this series is a Tearjerker, watch own your own risk.
What can I say I'm speechless or you can say out of words. I just wanna hug koichi & michchan. They're adorable, I was just bored and looking for something to watch and eventually i found this series. At first i really liked the name," Eternal yesterday " I think it's quite interesting. I didn't aspect anything before watching this but when i completed this series i left with one question "what am i living for" "what's the purpose of my life" I hate sad endings but still I completed this series I felt the Emptiness inside of me. I already knew about the sad ending. I felt very bad for michchan. Another gem from Japan. Don't think about anything just watch. And I promise you will cry your eyes out.Was this review helpful to you?
UNCONVENTIONAL ROMANCE ?
Eien No KinouThis is an unconventional romance series based on a novel. You can tell cinematography is simple but grasped the mellow mood of a tragic romance between two young students.
I find this to be soft, quirky, emotional, and at times, low-key comical series.
The BGM blended wonderfully with the mood of the scenes without causing any distraction
support cast did their job of moving the story forward, and unlike many romantic shows where a side character upstages the protagonists, in this series they are all interconnected and contributed to the story. The series could’ve had an extra episode or two, because the climax leaves you feeling a little empty, like we deserved some more.
If you are a crier, grab some tissues and be prepared for a heart-breaking wistful ending.
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Unexpectedly good for this kind of theme
Even though I am the kind of person who is a sucker for stories with sad endings and supernatural themes, I think it would be unfair if I won't give this a 10/10. This series is excellent in terms of delivery of something that they want to portray which is grief. I could say this could still BL romance because we cannot deny the warmth, love, and authenticity that the two main characters have portrayed. I just loved how the story didn't focus in romance like we usually see from other bls. It was such a brave thing how they tackled this depressing theme but managed to still deliver a beautiful ending.Aside from the story, the acting and chemistry between the actors were very natural. Especially Sora, his eyes speak and expressions speak. Rio also delivered a great job of an excellent portrayal of the cheerful and lively character of Koichi.
Lastly, the ost was one of the ops I couldn't skip, and I just also checked the lyrics behind the song, and I didn't expect how the lyrics fit so much in the story
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Couldn't help but watch
Through the "tear jerker" warnings, I forced myself to watch this and I'm so glad I did. I honestly feel like this could've been a comedy in some parts. There were some cute and quirky moments I just felt made the series more lovable than sad with all the happy energy from our MC. Overall, it's an amazing series with a cute cast and heartfelt story that is greatly enjoyable. Death is inevitable but if it comes after we've been able to experience life's little sweet gifts, I feel it makes it so much more bearable.Enjoy!
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Beautiful and Heartbreaking Love Story
Subjective Gut Rating - 8.75If this is a regular BL love story, the focus would be on the budding romance of an extroverted and popular guy falling in love with a reclusive and quiet loner. The whole drama would be of how they fall in love, the push-and-pull and then many fluffy scenes of them together at the end.
But this is a Japanese BL and we know the Japanese are famous for having unique and interesting (sometimes weird) plots. “Eien no Kinou” aka “Eternal Yesterday” is one of them. When I heard about the story of a living corpse, I wasn’t sure if that’s what I wanted. I was so glad I am finally in the right mood to watch this.
“Eternal Yesterday” was told from the perspective of male lead Micchan’s monologues. Flashbacks are used to tell us how Micchan and Koichi met and fell in love. Koichi’s accident was introduced in the first episode and it’s not hard to guess how the story is going to end. Despite that, when I got to the final episode, all the emotions hit me hard.
Koichi is a lovely character and it’s very easy to like him when he was first introduced. Micchan, on the other hand, as the quiet one, took me a tiny bit longer. But I’ve come to love his character through his experiences, inner monologues and the emotions he felt for Koichi. The acting for both leads is great. I can feel their initial attraction for each other and unspoken spokens and heartaches throughout the drama. Both actors, Komiyo Rio and Inoue Sora, are easy on the eyes, so that doesn’t hurt.
I’ve always loved the use of silence in Japanese dramas without manipulating the audience’s emotions with music and songs. The quietness invites the actors to really express themselves through their acting. This is so evident during the quiet and intimate moments in the last episode. Since this is not a cute and fluffy drama, but more of a melodrama, the pacing is slower and some viewers might not like it. Because the drama is so short (8 eps at 20 mins each), the slower pace did not bother me.
My only criticism of the drama is the subplot of the teachers. It felt a little out-of-place and only serves the purpose of that one scene in the classroom with the biology teacher. I wish their story was a little more fleshed out and not out-of-the-blue.
“Eternal Yesterday” is a miracle that provides Micchan and Koichi time to prepare themselves, treasure their time and properly grieve. Each moment spent together is a gift and I’ve enjoyed this heartbreaking journey with them very much. In the last scene, I truly wish Micchan can find another number one in his life. The ending theme in the last episode feels like the ‘alternate’ happy ending that I want for them.
Completed: 7/22/2023 - Review #334
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Truly a Miracle Show
After watching the 1st ep , for a moment i thought about quitting, bcz of its lack of realism of kouchi's death, but hell i was so wrong, the following episodes really blew me up, as not only it has so great acting between leads, their love shown in their eyes, their expressions, their monologue, OST, kisses ans skinship, everything was exceptional. Even though i was somewhat expecting a Happy Ending during the last ep, as i hate tragedy, but still it is undeniably the best BL of this year, and maybe best Japanese BL too. Such a great story should not be missed.Was this review helpful to you?
Best JBL of the year
Not seeing this rated at least 9 is like a hate crime, there shouldn't even a rate for it it because it goes beyond numbers on how beautiful this is.I love every little parts of it. Every aspects of it is almost an excellence. Excellent story, excellent writing, excellent acting, excellent cinematography, excellent soundtrack
It also dethroned my top 1 bl. I will never forget this beautiful underrated masterpiece. It also keeps me wandering for weeks already.
This is a story that stays in your heart.
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UNDERRATED, this is perfect!
This is definitely one of the best Japanese BL, this drama needs more recognition!The whole drama is an art, is a masterpiece!
I love the acting from both leads, especially the iconic first meeting scene, which is very memorable for me.
It gives me butterflies everytime i watch that deep-gaze of each other.
I have watched a bunch of BL drama, and this is one of those with a unique and unusual plot within.
Also supported by the outstanding cinematography with a gloomy-melancholic tone.
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Best JBL that I've seen
It was unexpectedly beat all my top bls. I can't find enough words to explain how beautiful what ive seen. It's already near perfection, from the storyline up to soundtrack. I think it will be hard for me to recover from this one. It really set the standard so high for me, and this one will be really hard to beat in my heart.I just also want to note that, this is really definitely not for everyone, it is not just the usual bl, it's more than a bl which has many symbolism in every details, this may be too sad and too vauge for some if you are not a fan of subtlety and slow-pacing shows (specifically what you see as usual for jbls)
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This review may contain spoilers
AN UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE
THIS SERIES JUST RIPPED MY HEART OUT AT ENDING.... IT BROKE MY HEART FOR WEEKS AFTER WATCHING THE SERIES BUT THEN I REALIZED ITS TITLE JUST MAKES SENSE, "ETERNAL YESTERDAY". THEY ARE LIVING IN THE PRESENT BUT THEN THE OTHER GUY'S LIFE IS ALREADY SOMEWHAT IN THE PAST CUZ HE'S A LIVING CORPSE AND HIS TIME ON EARTH IS ALREADY FINISHED BUT WITH MICHAN'S LIFE AND LOVE ENERGY MADE KOICHI SO ALIVE. BUT IN THE END KOICHI CHOSE TO END THAT NICE AND MEMORABLE TIME WITH MICHAN BECAUSE IF HE STAYED ANY LONGER WOULD MEAN HE WOULD BE FEEDING ON MICHAN'S LIFE ENERGY AND THOSE AROUND HIM. HE IS SO BRAVE AND SELFLESS WHICH BREAKS MY HEART!!!!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS JAPANESE BL MAKING MY HEART FLUTTER WITH SERIES SUCH AS "CHERRY MAGIC" THEN BREAKS MY SOUL WITH THE MOVIE "LIFE" THEN AGAIN STAB MY HEART WITH "ETERNAL YESTERDAY"❤❤🩹💔😭😭 THERE ARE ONLY FEW JAPANESE BL's THAT ARE SO UNDERRATED BUT SO DAMN GOOD. SOME DOESN'T NEED A KISSING SCENE AND YET THEY CAN TAKE YOU WITH THEIR FEELINGS WITH THEIR ACTING. THIS IS WHY I LOVE JAPANESE BL SERIES..Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
This was my favorite drama of 2022. I can't say enough about how much I loved it. Was it hard to get through? Sometimes, yes. Especially as we drew closer and closer to Koichi disappearing and we were forced along with Mitsuru to understand that there was not going to be a last minute save. Koichi was going to leave and there was nothing that anyone could do about it.
A heartfelt meditation on grief and loss by increments, this show had me in a chokehold the entire time that I was watching it, and I still think about it sometimes. The acting was excellent - both Komiya Rio and Inoue Sora gave their all and it shows. Without them both being all in this drama wouldn't be half so decent. It also has maybe the best confession episode I've ever seen. I have rewatched that episode more times than I care to admit, but it's truly glorious.
The soundtrack still makes me cry, but both credits songs are amazing. I am especially in love with Sunshower.
This drama will come for your feelings, but if you can handle crying an ocean of tears, it's totally worth it. Mitsuru and Koichi's love story is beautiful, and in a lot of ways what this drama is is an ode to that kind of love and devotion - something so powerful that time itself stands still for it, if only for a short time.
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