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A review by smallpalething
Therapy Game 02 by Meguru Hinohara
5.0
2022:
I cannot say how much I love this series. In some regards, Minato reminds me so much of myself... it's sometimes a bit scary.
I'm so glad that we got the spin-off, too, in Germany.
2020:
It's already been a while since I read it but I really like this two-volume series*. It's not *perfect* but it really is one of the best stories on the German BL market at the moment. After the cliff-hanger of the first volume is taken care of and Minato and Shizuma are back together, this volume sheds light on Minato’s past and explains why he is so hesitant to form stronger bonds with people and dismissive when it comes to relationships. It's clear that he longs for a loving relationship and he loves Shizuma, but he's afraid to hurt him and to get hurt himself. Shizuma is a good counterpart to him. He is an open, honest, and understanding person who is able to convince Minato through words and actions that he is loved, even when he makes mistakes.
What’s great about this story is that their relationship doesn’t “cure” Minato, he still struggles with his fears and there are problems they have to overcome.
It often happens that female representation is pretty non-existent in BL and while that’s not ideal, I can live with it. This manga does have women in it, but two out of three are not presented in a good light, to put it lightly. And the third one is only a *very* minor character here.
Content warning for both volumes (may be incomplete)
- dubious consent
- murder
- suicide
- (childhood) trauma
- homophobic & biphobic rhetoric
* There is a story by the name of “Therapy Game Restart” by Hinohara but I didn’t look further into it.
** So, I had to edit my review a bit, to clear something up and avoid more misunderstandings and hurt, hopefully. I stated that I was mad at what happened with Minato's friends and it got misinterpreted because of how I worded it. Hopefully, I'll do a better job now:
I was mad because of what the friends did because your friends shouldn’t do that kind of thing to you, ideally. Not in real life, not in a story. But of course, I am aware that it happens in real life, and that seeing it accurately represented in a story means a lot. I think the situation is portrayed realistically and that it's important that such aspects are addressed in Manga and other media. Did I like that it happened? No, because it hurt Minato and his friends could see that he was already hurting and insecure. Did it dampen my joy over the story when I came about this scene? Yes. But I was also grateful for how the scene was handled and pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t left unresolved.
I apologise for my choice of words.
I cannot say how much I love this series. In some regards, Minato reminds me so much of myself... it's sometimes a bit scary.
I'm so glad that we got the spin-off, too, in Germany.
2020:
It's already been a while since I read it but I really like this two-volume series*. It's not *perfect* but it really is one of the best stories on the German BL market at the moment. After the cliff-hanger of the first volume is taken care of and Minato and Shizuma are back together, this volume sheds light on Minato’s past and explains why he is so hesitant to form stronger bonds with people and dismissive when it comes to relationships. It's clear that he longs for a loving relationship and he loves Shizuma, but he's afraid to hurt him and to get hurt himself. Shizuma is a good counterpart to him. He is an open, honest, and understanding person who is able to convince Minato through words and actions that he is loved, even when he makes mistakes.
What’s great about this story is that their relationship doesn’t “cure” Minato, he still struggles with his fears and there are problems they have to overcome.
Spoiler
Like Minato's friends who are “only trying to help” by telling him that the bisexual Shizuma will eventually leave him for a woman so he can marry and have kids.** Minato gets angry at them but they managed to plant a seed of doubt in him because he is still insecure. Shizuma wants to reassure Minato and reads up on the current situation for LGBTQ+ people in Japan, about getting old together, having kids, etc.It often happens that female representation is pretty non-existent in BL and while that’s not ideal, I can live with it. This manga does have women in it, but two out of three are not presented in a good light, to put it lightly. And the third one is only a *very* minor character here.
Content warning for both volumes (may be incomplete)
Spoiler
- dubious consent
- murder
- suicide
- (childhood) trauma
- homophobic & biphobic rhetoric
* There is a story by the name of “Therapy Game Restart” by Hinohara but I didn’t look further into it.
** So, I had to edit my review a bit, to clear something up and avoid more misunderstandings and hurt, hopefully. I stated that I was mad at what happened with Minato's friends and it got misinterpreted because of how I worded it. Hopefully, I'll do a better job now:
I was mad because of what the friends did because your friends shouldn’t do that kind of thing to you, ideally. Not in real life, not in a story. But of course, I am aware that it happens in real life, and that seeing it accurately represented in a story means a lot. I think the situation is portrayed realistically and that it's important that such aspects are addressed in Manga and other media. Did I like that it happened? No, because it hurt Minato and his friends could see that he was already hurting and insecure. Did it dampen my joy over the story when I came about this scene? Yes. But I was also grateful for how the scene was handled and pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t left unresolved.
I apologise for my choice of words.