I'm happy to say that Doukyuusei passes that test with full marks. Rather than stressing the sexual orientation of the characters, what is proudly emphasized is the fact that love knows no specific orientation, and it does not matter who we choose to confide in so long as they can grant us feelings of self actualization and acceptance in who we are. Doukyuusei is not only a gay love story. It's an exceptionally written love story.
As tends to be the case in love stories, the lead characters are as opposite as can be. Sajou has neatly trimmed, short black hair, is introverted and studious. Kusakabe has curly blonde hair, is extroverted and lacks direction in his life. It is together that they manage to fill the gaps in their personalities and inevitably conquer the pitfalls that so often doom young relationships, number one of all being lack of communication. The narrative is split into four separate arcs with each taking place in a specific season. In each of these seasons the viewer can the viewer observe a change in the dynamic of Kusakabe and Sajou's relationship, and a broader theme being applied to their development - such as not being afraid of failure, acceptance of oneself and not giving up when a string of fate is cut temporarily.
The visuals are consistently impressive - Shoujo Nakamura uses a lurid mix of warm watercolors and atmospheric backgrounds that emphasize the season taking place. This makes the aesthetic appear almost dream-like, creating a feeling of relaxation and making it easy for the viewer to sink into their couch for fifty minutes and watch the drama unfold itself. The character designs are somewhat typical of BL stories - long limbs seemingly trying to run away from their torso, beautiful facial features and large hands, but nonetheless befitting of the characters and appealing to look at.
Doukyuusei came very close to being a 10/10 on my list, and only two negatives in a sea of positives managed to bring it down to a 9. I felt that Kusakabe's initial aggression towards Sajou was bordering on sexual harassment. If it were a heterosexual pairing with the male asserting his dominance over the female, my inner raging feminist would be taking the same issue. Lastly, I found myself wanting to know more about our lead characters backgrounds. Their family history, what contributed to their personalities and interests.
This is a romance that deserves a larger audience than it has, but probably never will gain because of the divisive yaoi tag that prematurely splits audiences upon first glance. Yet as expressed above and in many other reviews on this page, Doukyuusei goes beyond the initial hook of a homosexual romance and speaks to broader themes of communication, self acceptance and empowering your better half that anyone can sympathize with and apply to their own lives.
