I love a good Japanese BL and Love is Like a Poison (毒恋～毒もすぎれば恋となる～) is not just good. It’s hysterically good!

Ryo Shiba (Shogo Hama, 濱正悟), a genius lawyer, cleared the bar exam with the highest score while attending Tokyo University and became the youngest co-partner at a major law firm. He is valued as a legal advisor to numerous major clients, but he’s as cold as ice when it comes to his actual co-workers. He’s phased through 99 partners without even breaking a sweat all because he doesn’t think they are up to his level. But, Shiba doesn’t care. He’s got a plan and he is going to stick to it.

At least, that’s what he thought…

One night, at a bar, Shiba meets Haruto (Katsumi Hyodo, 兵頭功海). Captivated by his tender smile, Shiba experiences something different, something new, something he’s never felt before for another human: kindness – and a healthy dose of lust. However, what he doesn’t know is that this handsome and mysterious stranger is actually a genius con artist.

The longer Shiba is around Haruto the stranger his life becomes. Romance is new to him and he’s not very good at expressing his feelings, but still the handsome Haruto, so everything is a bit confusing. Even after he realises Haruto is a scammer, he’s unable to push him from his mind, his heart, or his home. He doesn’t want to let him go. In part because, as a con artist, he’s incredibly useful at getting information that could help him achieve his goal of becoming the greatest lawyer in Japan.

There is a nerdy sort of sexiness to Shogo Hama. Shiba is at once stern, serious, and put together while at the same time being absolutely unnerved. He’s always just this side of a complete and total mental breakdown and Hama walks the line perfectly. Katsumi Hyodo’s Haruto is funny and complex. He’s a character but not a cartoon.

Also, the OST is pretty on point! The opening theme “geometric” by osage is pretty catchy.

Adapted from the suspense-comedy novel Poisonous Love: If the Poison is Too Much, It Becomes Love (毒恋～毒もすぎれば恋となる～) by Makino Keisuke (牧野圭祐) the ten-episode series premiered on Tokyo Broadcast System (TBS) on 10 September 2024.

You can purchase / stream the OST through most online retailers including Qobuz which offers a 24-Bit/48 kHz stereo download in .FLAC format.

More BL drama review soon so…

Stay Tuned!