Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love – J-drama Episode 5 Recap & Review

Episode 5

Episode 5 of Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love begins with Ruki making dinner for Miu. She is still teary-eyed but tries to indulge him and he feels sad for her. He has never seen her trying to hold her tears like this.

It cuts to a flashback to when they first met. He has wrapped up after lunch hour but makes an exception when Miu arrives late and exhausted. He likes her artistic touch and the way she is kind and cheers her friends. He has seen her in love but is still shocked when he sees her kiss Ren. He wants to stay by her side but it is hard.

At present, Chiaki apologises to Miu for being harsh and assuming things. However, she insists that there should be no restrictions when it comes to art. And like Miu, she wants to know who Ren really is. She is also intrigued by what Miu sees through her artistic lens. Miu is unsure and Chiaki is envious that at least she is self-aware.

A flashback shows a young Chiaki being injured and a young Ren keeps her company. She loves watching him get engrossed in his art. He has also always been by her side no matter what. 

Ruki’s cafe hosts another get-together for the seniors, Ren, Chiaki and Ms. Usami. The students learn about Chiaki’s impressive portfolio. She was also in charge of Ren’s touring exhibition. Hikari acts jealous and Chiaki jokes that it was hard looking after someone careless. Ren jokingly acts indignant but his smile falls when he sees Miu watching him.

Usami reveals that her nephew has launched an artist’s retreat in Mashiko and she invites the class. Chiaki invites herself, Hikari invites Ruki and Megumi invites Saki. Miu leaves early and tries to pay for the previous meal. Ruki refuses as he made it just for her which Ren overhears. 

Soon, the group leaves for the retreat. Usami’s car is loud, chatty and energetic. Ren’s car is awkward as it includes him, Chiaki, Miu and Ruki. Chiaki and Ren get into a nostalgic conversation. But when Miu and Ruki do the same, Ren looks annoyed.

The first activity is pottery. Miu and Ruki laugh about his piece and Ren watches them. He is further troubled when Ruki invites Miu to the supermarket to shop for dinner.

As they go through their task, Ruki asks Miu her reason for taking up sculpting. She wants to create something certain and he understands her. She feels bitter as she thinks the human heart is uncertain which is why people create art. Ruki reveals that he has been offered a job at a Tokyo cafe and he is closer to his dream of owning a restaurant. She is happy for him but can’t imagine a life without him.

Later, the group goes to an onsen. The girls’ side is cheerful as they are happy to include Chiaki. Miu too does her best to get along with her. The guys’ side is tense as Ren and Ruki sulk. Ruki suddenly declares that he likes Miu and can take care of her. Ren finds him careless and pointless with his declarations. Ruki warns him not to hurt Miu and Ren callously asks if she is hurt.

But Ren does care as he later asks her if she likes Ruki. She is exasperated by his ignorance and in a moment of vulnerability, he confesses that he wants to know. She takes her chance and asks about Chiaki. He scoffs as nothing is going on with her. Miu then asks about herself. But before he can answer Chiaki calls them. Miu leaves and Ren looks upset.

At dinner, Chiaki is drunk and Ren takes care of her. This upsets Miu and Ruki goes to her. He wants to be by her side but he never did anything in the past. However, he decides to stop being a bystander. He confesses he likes her and she is shocked. At the end of Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Episode 5, Chiaki faints. Ren is frantic as he calls for help.

The Episode Review

Each “nevertheless” statement of each character at the beginning of the episode is up for interpretation. But when the chapter unfolds, we see their arc and their intentions become clear. And as seen with Hiraki and Ruki, they try to change their stance in the same chapter.

It is quite interesting though that we get Chiaki’s POV in the J-drama version. Even though limited, she has a storyline too. She is more than just a prop to push Ren and Miu together. She is also a spokesperson for the art for art’s sake argument as evident in Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love.

Unfortunately for Chiaki and Ruki, even though this episode highlights their arc, Ren steals the spotlight. Pretty ironic since storywise, he has also stolen Chiaki’s love and Ruki’s crush. But Ryusei Yokohama does such a great job as Ren that we can’t help but keep our eye out for him.

Despite being your typical tsundere male lead, he shows more emotions with his eyes than some actors who are meant to be the emotional male lead. Dare we say that his portrayal is even better than Song Kang’s Jae-eon in the K-drama version.

Don’t get us wrong, we love Song Kang but it has more to do with the characterization than the actors. Jae-eon’s earnest and affectionate nature makes his lack of commitment frustrating. But with Ren keeping a distance from the start, viewers will likely give him the benefit of the doubt. Which is why this version works in the male lead’s favour.