- The Japanese dating show aims to encourage genuine connections among men
- READ MORE: Just call her Nicki no-show! Rapper blasted for 'disgraceful' Dublin gig that lasted less than an hour called off her show in Bucharest a day later - after a string of cancelled appearances
Netflix's latest dating series following a group of men in Japan on a quest to find love and friendship has received a slew of rave reviews from fans.
If you're a PDA-filled and drama-fuelled dating show buff, you might want to look away because The Boyfriend is all about fostering genuine connections.
While that could be considered groundbreaking in itself, the series has a more striking aspect – it's Japan's first same sex dating show, despite the country not legally recognising same sex marriage.
The Boyfriend follows a group of nine men in Tateyama, Japan, over the course of a month as they try and find a connection while living under the same roof and working together in a coffee van.
The first three episodes of the show debuted on Netflix on Tuesday, and it's already received praise from critics and viewers alike, with the Guardian hailing it as 'genuinely groundbreaking' and the Independent claiming it's the 'antidote to Love Island'.
Netflix's latest Japanese dating show - The Boyfriend - has been hailed 'genuinely groundbreaking' by critics
The series follows nine gay and bisexual men from varying backgrounds as they arrive at their new home called the 'Green Room'.
In an attempt to mimic the conditions of life outside the show, the contestants work in a coffee van together.
And unlike most other dating shows, contestants can leave the house for work-related queries and to see friends and family if necessary.
The Boyfriend encourages participants to reveal their emotions in a way that might be done in the real world, for instance, with a letter writing task.
Instead of hearing phrases like 'tall, dark, and handsome', contestants say things like: 'If you love yourself, then you are ready to be loved by others' and 'prepare your heart, love yourself first before you try to love someone else and hope someone loves you.'
A group of commentators watch the participants throughout the series, offering insights and opinions as the sparks fly throughout the series.
'We started out wanting to highlight the young men's friendships and personalities,' said executive producer Dai Ota in conversation with Netflix.
'Our focus wasn't just on romance but also on spending time together and experiencing personal growth.'
The dating show follows nine gay and bisexual men in Japan on a quest to find a genuine connection
The show encourages participants to take part in exercises like writing the person they like a letter
The Independent branded the new Netflix dating show as 'the antidote to Love Island'
Elsewhere, the Guardian branded the show as 'grippingly sweet' and 'genuinely groundbreaking'
The show has found success among UK critics, with Daisy Jones of the Guardian saying: 'Netflix's reality series feels genuinely groundbreaking and deeply, grippingly sweet. You'll watch these unforced romances unfold with bated breath'.
Jones added that the contestants are 'polite' and 'tentative' and are aware of each other's emotions.
For Jones, an added bonus was that the show had an inviting living space, leaving the white lights and bright colours of typical dating shows behind, in favour of a living space that would be expected on the outside world.
She said: 'Already, The Boyfriend resembles comfort TV at its finest. Reality shows are usually fluro-lit and agitating, with contestants fighting over unbranded sparkling drinks. This one is the opposite: it's dreamlike, like ASMR.'
Elsewhere, the Independent's Katie Rosseinksy said: 'Netflix's The Boyfriend is not just groundbreaking – it's the antidote to Love Island'.
She added: 'We'll have to wait and see whether it will change attitudes in Japan – but it certainly gives us a blueprint for a different kind of dating show, one that's the perfect antidote to Love Island fatigue.'
She explained that the show is a 'huge step forward in normalising queer relationships' and pointed to the fact that while Britain has allowed same sex marriages since 2010, it was only in 2023 that a same sex dating show reached UK screens with BBC's I Kissed a Boy.
Contestants moved into to a luxury seaside house called the Green Room for the duration of the series
Viewers have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share their thoughts on the show and many are impressed
It's a clear shift in the history Japanese dating shows, and while its impact on same sex relationships in the G7 nation is yet to become clear, it's attracted already created a buzz among viewers.
Viewers have taken to X to share their thoughts. One said: 'The Boyfriend on Netflix, the Japanese gay dating reality show is really lovely to watch. Nice cool breezy vibe, fast crushes etc, simple storylines - very nice.'
A second added: 'I'm watching the boyfriend on Netflix and this show is SO GOOD!'
A third said: 'Started to watch Netflix's The Boyfriend, a Japanese show about gay men living together and exploring love and friendships. Very happy Japan is airing a dating show like this. Already feel I might up crying over some of the boys.'
A fourth wrote: 'Started the Boyfriend on Netflix last night and it's all I can think about... I *need* new episodes'.
