Hello, hello, my friendly Misfits.
I hope you are having a fantastic day and you won’t have to fight with this grey and dark autumn weather like I have to right now. But I don’t know about you. I for one am a big fan of fluffy comfort BLs during this kind of weather. You know, outside it’s all so cold and you really have no desire to go into the wet and freezing outdoors. So what’s better than getting a nice cup of hot choco, a fluffy, warm blanket and watching some good old comfort BLs. sighs. That’s honestly all I am doing at the moment. So let me introduce you to one of my repeat offenders on this list of comfort BLs of mine. One that never fails to make me smile like a first class lunatic and one that always leaves me with a warm feeling inside.
Our Dining Table
Or
Bokura no Shokutaku
When it was released I was honestly over all these cooking BLs out there. The focus is too often too much on the food for me and too little on the relationships. Sometimes I even get the feeling that cooking BLs are just a bit of a cop out when the producers have no idea what else they wanna tell the audience. We have no idea for the next project? Oh, let’s just put two gorgeous boys into a kitchen together and something is gonna happen.
But we all know it’s just not that simple. And that’s why Our Dining Table was such a lovely surprise for me. Because here you honestly get the full nine yards of everything. An adorable setting with a heartfelt storyline and actors, who could read the phone book and we would all still be mesmerised. So let’s lean back and let me explain to you in waaaay too many details why Our Dining Table is maybe the best cooking BL ever made….
What Is It About?
Yutaka lives a very lonely life. He works in an office job, but even there he is not really mingling with his workmates. But things take a turn suddenly when little 5 years old Tane suddenly shows up in front of Yutaka during his break, demanding his lunch.
What starts with this unconventional encounter soon blossoms into a friendship between Yutaka, Tane and Minoru, Tane’s grown up brother. All three are lost in their own way but maybe together they can all find their way back to the light.
Why You Might Like It:
The storyline is based on a very popular manga of the same name by Mita Ori. And it clearly shows. The entire storyline is so well thought out. There are no loose ends, no plot holes and literally every character is fully fleshed out and completely believable. It’s just really one of these series where the plot in itself is already just freaking awesome. I would have watched it just for the storyline if the whole thing was filmed in a barn outside. This storyline is really the star of the show.
Buhuuuut you don’t have to fear anything regarding the production. Because it’s a proper awesome one where everything was chosen very carefully to fit the storyline. All the backdrops are very realistic and you really feel like you are following these people in their day to day life. It’s just really charming and all the production choices they made are just really paying off.
And on top of an awesome storyline and a very good production we also get seasoned actors. I know. It’s so rare that us BL fans can say this but it’s true. Everyone involved here has a MDL list that goes pretty much for a mile. So these guys know what they are doing. And our two leads even have experiences in the BL field already. Iijima Hiroki, who plays Minoru, you might recognise from the hilarious movie “Both Me And Him Are The Grooms” where he played one of our lucky grooms. And do I even need to mention Inukai Ashihiro’s credentials? I am sure every BL fan loved him as Mobe during “The Man Who Defies The World Of BL”. But in case you haven’t seen him in KeixJaku I would absolutely recommend you to rectify that instantly. But I am losing my train of thought. Sorry.
If you are a sucker for BLs with kids in it, then this series is so for you. I know that you exist as I am one of you. Unfortunately there are not a ton of series out there where a child is actually involved, but honestly this one is absolutely one of the best. Tane is such a character and I am sure everyone knows a little boy like this in their own surroundings. He is just so full of life and happiness and he really is teaching the adults in this show a thing or two.
And I think this is definitely one huge selling point for this series. It’s just really a beacon of light on a not so pleasant night. Our leads definitely have their issues and their own darkness, but together they manage to get through that and find love and happiness somewhere they never expected. I think it teaches us to be more open and to appreciate the simple things maybe a bit more.
Why You Might Not Like It:
Because there is a child in there. Lol. I know I just brought this up as a positive. But even though I know there are people who love series with kids, I also know some people really dislike it and find kids and BL doesn’t go together. If this is your opinion, that’s cool. This series won’t be for you in that case as it’s really filled to the brim with Tane shenanigans.
There is also the little issue of a parent dying. So if this is a touchy topic, this show is absolutely a no go.
In typical Japanese fashion this BL is very innocent. We get some skinship, but it’s pretty much on the lowest end possible. But I honestly think it fits the storyline and it fits the characters. So I don’t mind. But if you are expecting a deranged Shiro here… You will be very disappointed.
Finale Thoughts:
As you can see above I really was struggling to find reasons why people might not like this delightful little series. I would literally be splitting hairs if I tried to find more negative things. Because for me this really is one of the rare BLs where I have no notes whatsoever. I love every single bit about it. I love the incorporation of Tane and the whole family aspect. I love the interactions between Minoru and Yutaka. I just love everything, honestly.
So if right now, with all the cold and darkness going on, you need something uplifting and positive… This is the series for you. I can promise you that at least for the duration of this series you will smile like a loopy cow while sighing deeply into your pillow. Trust me. I’m the Doctor.
First posted on BLDA
Your Heart's Content 