From the first episode, it is clear that this is not a show in which characters will agonize over being different rather it's a show about coming to grips with one's feelings–whatever they may be. This helps to maintain the lighthearted tone that permeates the whole show. Where many characters will go into a state of gay panic when presented with the idea that they may have feelings for another guy (like in The Highschool Life of a Fudanshi) Sasaki doesn’t get bogged down by self-doubt and simply accepts his feelings, understanding that it's no different from having feelings for a girl except for the social barriers. One of the most refreshing things to see when watching Sasaki and Miyano is how easily Sasaki accepts his feelings for Miyano. This is what sets Sasaki and Miyano apart.
The BL genre is plagued by convention (both of the storytelling and societal varieties) and some unfortunate tropes, most of which are entirely absent from Sasaki and Miyano. This by itself is fine but with such limited options to begin with, it becomes even more apparent when certain issues are prevalent in the genre. Usually, this involves a slice-of-life style stories wherein the two leads fall in love. Most queer stories that are getting told through anime are BL, meaning they’re largely focused on a romance between two boys. Sasaki and Miyano is the cheesy slow-burn romance we’ve been waiting for.įinding anime with queer characters is hard enough and finding good anime with good queer characters is even harder. It’s a light and comedic BL anime that’s a refreshing addition to the genre. The show follows two high school boys, Sasaki and Miyano, who bond over Miyano’s love of BL manga and eventually develop feelings for each other.
Sasaki and Miyano is a hit BL (Boys’ Love) manga series that’s recently been adapted into an anime.