Season 1 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7 -| Review Score – 4/5
Episode 8 -| Review Score – 4/5
Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love is the latest TV adaptation of the webtoon of the same name by Jung Seo. Following the release of the K-drama version starring Song Kang and Han So-hee, AbemaTV and Netflix announced its J-drama a whopping 3 years later.
Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Season 1 follows the seniors of an art university in Kamakura who are all experiencing unrequited love. Betrayed by her ex, Miu gives up on love till she falls for the charming but mysterious womanizer, Ren. Osakabe cannot help but pine for the headstrong Hiraki while college dropout Saki has questionable feelings for her best friend and roommate, Megumi.
As for Ren, he is an art prodigy and recent graduate who has been invited back as a substitute teacher. While he keeps people away and only engages in one-night stands, his walls start cracking as he pursues Miu. The J-drama stars popular faces like Yokohama Ryusei and Minami Sara in lead roles and is directed by Nakagawa Ryutaro of Silent Rain fame.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the remake we expected. We can go as far as to say it is quite unfair to compare Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love to the K-drama version which largely focuses on the toxic romance between Park Jae-on and Na-bi before they both grow and get their redemption arcs.
In a bid to create a remake that stands out from the source or the previous adaptation, the J-drama takes a broader approach by studying the different shades of love via the whole friend group.
It also falls in line with most slice-of-life, romantic J-dramas as they tend to be philosophical and introspective, making the characters and the viewers ruminate on love and its different effects on different people. Unfortunately, that makes Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love a show that is not for everyone. This goes for all shows, for that matter, as there is no one genre that can cater to all.
If you find the Korean Nevertheless action-filled, sultry and thrilling, the Japanese version may feel dull, slow and boring. But if you tend to prefer slow burns and philosophic discourse, then you will definitely prefer the Japanese Nevertheless. There are no frustrating moments, unredeemable red flags or hair-tearing misunderstandings.
While the same problematic character traits are present in both, the Korean version uses it to further the will-they-won’t-they romance while the J-drama uses it to create fully-realised grey characters. It focuses on characters rather than actions, making them flawed but sweet, human and relatable.
When the very premise is meant to be problematic, characters need to be likeable to keep viewers hooked. So, while viewers may have hated Jae-on and his “girlfriend” for being toxic, the same viewers will be forced to understand where Ren and his “girlfriend” come from and why they do what they do.
Well, that’s a segue as any to the stylistic approach the Japanese production takes in their efforts to create a visual diagram for love and and its targets. Snapshots of natural elements pepper catalytic moments to symbolise the character’s inner turmoil.
From delicate butterfly wings for Ren and Miu to flittering leaves and dew drops for the secondary characters who are unsure of their feelings, it is bound to make viewers pause and find even more interpretations on a second watch. The students’ art pieces and their modes foreshadow their journey as well from Miu’s moldable clay to the little miss feisty that is Megumi using tiny, wooden frames for her art.
The chic and artsy aesthetic of the art students in their studios is paired with pop ballads which keeps Season 1 from getting dull. The theme song, ‘Faster Than Me’ by Yaffle (Youki Kojima) especially comes to the forefront during every episode’s ending when Miu has a parallel cliffhanger with her friends. With the spare arrangement, the acoustic guitar and the piano bring out a sombre yet hopeful melody which is the perfect representation of all the relationships.
The drama makes extensive use of voiceovers as well. While it can be considered lazy if not used properly, Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Season 1 allows viewers to understand the characters and actors better. In particular, Yokohama Ryusei shines as the closed-off Ren.
By allowing us a glimpse into his thought process, it elevates him from a simple red flag to a complex man who is worthy of sympathy. A man of few words, voiceovers and Ryusei’s soulful eyes make Ren an interesting watch as we are forced to give him the benefit of the doubt every time we want to jump him for making the most ridiculous decisions.
We do have to defend Minami Sara as well who recently proved her acting chops in the J-drama adaptation of From Me To You. While many may find her acting stiff and “pretty,” we beg to differ here. There is a place for being overly expressive and this isn’t it. With the overall subtle tone which banks on subtext and symbolism, Sara matches her co-stars’ energy with Miu’s shy demeanour before she finally breaks out of her cocoon by the end of Season 1.
We do wish that the J-drama had a different title so we wouldn’t link it to Nevertheless and could watch it from a fresh perspective. Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love flits back and forth from wholesome slice-of-life segments to necessary angst that helps each and every character grow.
Even secondary characters get their independent time to shine instead of acting as props for Ren and Miu’s relationship. To put it simply, if you want a bite-sized romantic show that isn’t bound to stress you out, Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love is for you.
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Verdict - 8/10
8/10
Hi Choo, thank you for following our coverage and for all your support. The finale was indeed satisfying and resolved all the loose ends with Ren’s POV. I didn’t have much expectations when the remake was first announced but the J-drama pleasantly surprised me with their approach of the story and how they explored all the characters’ journeys within such a short duration. Truly a superb take on how to create a refreshing adaptation.
Hi Lopa, thank you so much for dissecting each episode so beautifully and providing such wholesome reviews! I found myself eagerly anticipating the final episode, and it was truly rewarding to finally understand how everything unfolded through Ren’s perspective. Despite the short episodes, I feel this adaptation did a fantastic job of showcasing character development—not just for the main couple but also for their circle of friends. It beautifully captured both the beauty and the reality of love.
The season was masterfully executed, offering us continuous hope in love. It showed that while love can be fragile, it thrives through endurance, effort, and the lessons and memories we build along the way. Kudos to the entire team behind this adaptation and to the cast for bringing each character to life so wonderfully!