I went into One Room Angel solely based on the fact that it starred Takuya Nishimura of Lil Kansai. I’ve never read the manga written by Harada so I was 100% unfamiliar with the source material. However, throughout the series 6 episodes, became one of my favorites out of Japan this year. 

Originally airing on MBS and TVK, the series was not the most sexualized, but it was one of the most romantic. Funny, sweet, and endearing, One Room Angel, was a series that showcased that no matter how dark things become, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Trauma isn’t forever.

Part of what made One Room Angel such a special series was how undeniably good Nishimura portrayed The Agnel. Even in his human life, as the ill-fated Takashi Takashina, there was an innocence about him. He was so sweet and lovable. Shuhei Uesugi, as the unlucky Koki, a mortal man with no hobbies and no happiness, also did an excellent job. 

One of the things I love about the Japanese BL dramas is that they don’t always give their characters a happy ending. One Room Angel, like Eternal Yesterday, another supernatural/fantasy (which also aired on MBS) featured a love story doomed from the beginning. Still, even though I knew they could never have the traditional happy ending, it was worth it.

Written for the screen by Aya Watatane the series was directed by Yuuka Eda who also helmed the incredibly popular BL series Minato’s Laundromat in 2022. From the credits, it appears that the six-episode series will be released on Blu-ray/DVD, though the date has not yet been revealed.

10/10.

More One Room Angel, as well as other BL series soon so…

Stay Tuned!