Name: Stupid, Dumb, Morality-Questioning Fun.
Item: LOVE STAGE!!
Rating: 70
Author: shimainuu

Stupid, Dumb, Morality-Questioning Fun.

Where Do I Even Begin?

So I recently got back into this anime after I watched it once when I was younger. It crossed my mind again after having a discussion with a friend and I wanted to revisit it to rejog my memory and see if it was worth anything or was as weird as I remember. Love Stage!! was actually my very first Yaoi/BL watch when I believe I was about 17 or 18 or so. I couldn't really remember too much but I ended up watching all 10 episodes and boy oh boy... Did this show NOT disappoint in every department of making me feel like I was watching something I wasn't supposed to be watching lol.

First I want to start off with saying this show is a bit funnier than I remember the first time. I can't really compare it to other Yaoi/BL comedy as I have not seen too many outside of this and Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, but I do remember getting a few chuckles in. But not necessarily because it was FUNNY. But because certain things were so cringe and goofy and THAT'S what MADE it funny. The main character, Izumi, is quite a handful. He is your average true bottom and an expressive person beyond this shy and cheeky exterior he lives with.

Ryouma is...sort of childish and a goofball but the dynamic between him and Izumi was actually very wholesome to watch. Of course this is minus the morality questioning gimmicks that he would then pull on said main character...(Ahem). But every time it was them two on the screen, for the most part, is when the most fun was happening. Although I wished that their dynamic was a bit more fleshed out in a serious manner than a lot of being downplayed by the somewhat humurous BS that went on half the time.

As this is a more recent anime than something like Sekaiichi, the art style and animation is very reminiscent of 2014-2016 style slice of life story that you'd get from that time. (Rightfully so as this was made in 2014 I believe.) It's colors are vibrant and the characters each have their own distinct features that make it fun to look at. I can enjoy and appreciate depth in characters in anything that I watch.

Now for a few of the somewhat negatives...

Spoiler, click to viewclick to hide

If you cannot bear to watch slightly triggering SA content then this show is definitely not for you. It is the same with Sekaiichi, so I don't know if this is a common undertone in this genre but it does often have you questioning exactly what the motives of some of these lovers are. If you are uncomfortable when you watch this then I don't blame you, as I willed myself through it for the sake of the plot which I found to be just bearable enough to get me through the rest of the bafoonery.

I honestly don't have much to say outside of that. The premise is nothing to write home about, it's just a nice little story to get into. You shouldn't take this that serious to be honest. By doing so and lowering your expectations naturally, you will come to maybe enjoy this more than you would have if you were to go into it with high hopes. It's not the worst story in the world or the worst case of morale questioning content, but it is by far from the best as well lol.

I'd recommend this for anyone who just wants to watch something for some dumb fun. It's got just enough depth and cringe-worthy comedic relief to be slightly enjoyable, all while still maintaining that oh so necessary Yaoi exploitation that the people of this genre know and love.

Other than that, I don't have too much to say.

-Shimainuu~**