Feb 3, 2021
“That Blue Sky Feeling” had a lot of things going for it at the outset; a fat lead character whose weight isn’t constantly mocked, the foundation for a nuanced examination of sexuality, and the potential to be one of the most wholesome and accessible BL stories ever. Unfortunately, the manga seems to sabotage itself at every turn, and by the end I was left disappointed and dissatisfied.
First of all, the story drags out far too much. Noshiro and Sanada should have come to terms with their feelings in volume 2, leaving the final volume to explore their relationship dynamic further and give them some real
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character development. As it stands, the manga has poor pacing and often repeats story beats multiple times, making each volume blend together and halting any real sense of meaningful progression.
The main reason that the plot has so many issues is because the characters are bland and lifeless. Noshiro, the protagonist, is so painfully oblivious that it’s beyond belief. He lacks any comprehension of social cues and is incapable of self-awareness. He also displays a stunning lack of knowledge around romance and sex, so much so that he feels more like an elementary school kid rather than a sixteen year old. Overall, the protagonist of this story doesn’t feel like a real teenager, so it’s hard to care about him at all.
Morinaga, Sanada’s “rival” who vies for Noshiro’s affections, is completely intolerable. Though the characters constantly remind you how “cute” he is, Morinaga is inconsiderate, obnoxious, and one-dimensional. His addition to the story is abrasive and unwelcome, and he sucks the joy out of any scene in which he’s present.
Most of the other characters are forgettable, but the character Hide, a twenty six year old man, is unforgettable for all the wrong reasons. His purpose in the narrative is to serve as a mentor to Noshiro, and in theory, this could have been extremely cute and interesting. Unfortunately, Hide is introduced in the story as Sanada’s ex-boyfriend, which has a lot of uncomfortable implications.
Even if you are someone who can overlook age gaps in fiction, Hide is still an extremely predatory character. He is constantly manipulating the teenage cast, making sexual references, inviting them into his home alone, and generally acting inappropriately. The worst part of all of this, though, is that the narrative doesn’t treat Hide like a threat at all. There is a complete absence of criticism when it comes to the adult man; the story portrays him as trustworthy, mature, and attractive. This dissonance made much of “That Blue Sky Feeling” an uncomfortable reading experience.
In the end, this manga had a lot of potential, but ultimately lacked the nuance and skillful execution that would have made for a satisfying and meaningful story. I’m surprised it even got the green light to be published in the West considering that most Western readers are likely to find Hide completely unpalatable. Whether or not you’re a fan of BL makes no difference, “That Blue Sky Feeling” is certainly not worth your time.
Reviewer’s Rating: 3
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