Love Is a Poison (2025)

Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru (Love is a Poison) is a short series, but it’s a good one. With twelve episodes clocking in at 19 minutes each, it’s easy to get through over the weekend, so if you need something that doesn’t require too much thought, give it a shot. Sometimes we need something to get us through boredom, or we are feeling down and want to smile. Love Is A Poison provides the cure for such maladies.

Synopsis:

Shiba Ryoma, a brilliant lawyer and the youngest co-partner at a major law firm, meets the genius con artist Haruto at a bar. Intrigued by Haruto’s talent for impersonation, Shiba invites him to become his secret partner. As they work together to solve various problems, Shiba, new to romance, becomes enchanted by Haruto’s sweet devotion. Despite their contrasting personalities, the two grow closer, with Haruto falling for Shiba’s sensitivity and Shiba struggling with his feelings. Eventually, they face a dangerous confrontation with great evil.  (Source: MyDramaList)

Adapted from the novel “Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru”

Available for Streaming: Netflix

Cast:

Hama Shogo plays Shiba Ryoma

Hyodo Katsumi plays Haruto

Kogaken plays Kotaro

Kawai Aoba-Saki

Nakamura Ikuji plays Iwamine

Thoughts:

Ryoma is a man focused on one goal: to become the guardian of the law. He works tirelessly and relentlessly to achieve this. Haruto gets ‘injured’ by Ryoma in his favourite Izakaya’s bathroom.  Ryoma is annoyed at his carelessness. He worries Haruto might decide to stain Ryoma’s spotless reputation by placing blame on him. This guilt allows con man Haruto to ingratiate himself into Ryoma’s life.  He shows up more frequently in the places Ryoma goes to relax. Despite being an introvert whose only love is for his plants, he can’t seem to deny Haruto’s company. The more time they spend together, the more charmed Ryoma becomes despite his best efforts to guard himself.  Haruto is clever, good with people, can become anyone, and is cheerfully pursuing Ryoma romantically.

Ryoma’s gone through 99 partners due to his workaholic and inflexible temperament.  Haruto suggests that he himself be the 100th partner to work behind the scenes, gathering information pertinent to Ryoma’s cases.  As Haruto has no home to go back to, he suggests moving in to become Ryoma’s partner in work and life, cooking, housekeeping, and even becoming a boyfriend for the inexperienced single Ryoma.

The series starts slow. I watched the first two episodes without much enthusiasm. The actor Hama Shogo’s Ryoma was a caricature of a stern, unsocial, and not-very-nice lawyer. Hyodo Katsumi’s Haruto seemed sly, charming, and a bit of a scam artist.  I’m happy to say I was pleasantly surprised at the turn of tone and the character development in the last half of the series. Both actors delivered more nuanced performances in the latter half of the show.

When Hyodo Katsumi is onscreen, you are charmed. You can’t help but smile, even though his version of Haruto may be too simple. His slightly crooked smile and puppy dog eyes make you fall for him. As more of his backstory is unveiled through the episodes, you realize the kind, goofy smile hides a lot of pain. By the end of the show, you are rooting for his future. That is the sign of a good actor when you feel something about them.

Hama Shogo’s Ryoma is comically unlikable in the beginning. His redeeming features are his love of cacti and his belief in justice, law, and order. The cacti are anthropomorphic, responding to his words with giggles and coos. He talks to them as he would children, but probably more tenderly since he doesn’t have to be embarrassed at being soft in front of them. It’s a juxtaposition to his stern lawyer facade.

The seemingly lighthearted BL drama takes a turn, tackling issues such as mafia involvement, suicide, runaway youths, prostitution, and classism. In the end, it still manages to keep its heart. I began to root for Ryoma and Haruto to win, both at work and in love.

There are some unresolved plot points, so they could easily make a second season.  But if it ends in this one season, it’s still satisfying.  This is a series worth watching over the weekend.

Overall Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars. [See our Review Guide]