I know, I know, I'm contradicting myself. But how can I help it? I'm going to review this objectively for people who have seen the first two seasons before I go into my feelings in more depth.
To begin with, there's actual small bits of kinda storyline at points throughout this season. While they still rely heavily on tropes, there is enough plot mixed in that it isn't the same drab formula over and over again. However, I will warn you that it does cut down on the ~smexy~ scenes quite a bit compared to the two preceding seasons.
As for the art, it's an amazing improvement. I hated the art of the first two seasons, but this is so much cleaner and so much prettier that I can actually see how some characters might resemble proportional and possibly attractive human beings.
The OP and closing are always upbeat as always, but I also appreciated the soft romantic background music that they began to use this season. It was a nice touch compared to before.
However, again, the characters are my main problem with this show, like usual. They are honestly just fetishizing gay men and sexuality in general is kinda warped. Also, the men don't act like men? I doubt any actual gay man was involved in this project. It's very 'young woman writer writes about smexy alpha males who are paired with a variety of ukes who are very feminine and therefore expose the young female audience's dark fantasies without them having to face the fact that they like the idea of a dominating male' kinda thing. And in all honesty, the trap the show throws is exactly aimed at me-- I'm the audience they're looking for. So despite the lack of any real characterization, I still enjoy this show to bits.
All in all, I really have to say that I hate myself for liking this, haha.
I would recommend this if you: like classic yaoi, liked the first two seasons, like love triangles and jealousy plots, like seme/uke stuff
I would NOT recommend this if you: hated the first two seasons, hate fetishization of sexuality, don't like the seme/uke dynamic, don't like heteronormative gay relationships
P.S. I have to add that the 'rapey' scenarios are pretty toned down from seasons before as well.
Have a great day everyone!
