“The Boyfriend” concluded its internet-beloved 10-episode run on Netflix this morning, giving audiences a refreshing summer romance with the nine queer men living together in The Green Room and running a coffee truck named Brewtiful.
A dating reality show in name only, the resulting series was both tender and moving, allowing nine strangers to connect with one another (some romantically) but also push themselves out of their comfort zones and come to big, life-altering realizations. None more so than perhaps Taeheon, who ended his time in The Green Room by deciding that he would come out to his parents. Guiding viewers (and often voicing what we were exclaiming alone on our couches) was a panel of celebrities — Megumi, Chiaki Horan, Thelma Aoyama, Durian Lollobrigida, and Yoshimi Tokui — watching the action unfolding along with us.
“The Boyfriend” effortlessly proved that high drama and swoon-inducing moments can still exist on reality TV without any editing manipulation or booze-fueled nights. The men barely ever took their shirts off, that’s how sweetly sincere this Japanese-language show was. Days after “The Boyfriend” ended with Dai and Shun and Alan and Kazuto pairing off and leaving together, IndieWire caught up with producer Taiki Takahashi and executive producer Dai Ota over email.
IndieWire: The commentators added so much to the show, and watching them exasperated and moved only enhanced our own reactions. What was the process of screening the episodes for them? Certainly Durian Lollobrigida had enough time to do some really great looks!
Taiki Takahashi: We showed the MCs the almost fully edited episodes over the course of three days. With their outstanding commentary skills, the MCs made the show highly engaging, joining the viewers in getting immersed in the content. Their reactions, whether laughing, crying, or expressing empathy, made it feel like a watch party, greatly enhancing the experience of the show.
In terms of the editing process, how did you decide what stories to focus on? Certainly, Dai and Shun’s tumultuous relationship got a lot of attention, but it was great to see every guy get a moment to really win our hearts.
Dai Ota: When we began filming, even as the production team, we had no idea what kind of chemistry would develop among the boys. In the editing phase, we decided to faithfully portray the deep human relationships that naturally formed from living together daily for a set period, showing how they cared for each other, nurtured love and friendship, and grew as individuals. As a result, I believe each person was able to become a beloved protagonist in their own right.
What was the casting process like? What made someone a good fit for the Green Room?
Taiki Takahashi: From the perspective of the casting I was responsible for, I considered choosing boys who would be loved by the audience right from the start. It seems that the boys who were highlighted genuinely displayed their true selves on camera. The Green Room was more of an addition later on. The priority was, first and foremost, the boys who would participate and the balance among them. We gathered people who, in their natural state, could become favorites and be loved by everyone.
“The Boyfriend” avoided the pitfalls of manufactured drama, but one of the most shocking moments was when Usak announced he was leaving shortly after being open and vulnerable to Kazuto. Was his early departure always planned?
Taiki Takahashi: Usak had a predetermined period to stay in the Green Room due to his work abroad. It was his choice not to inform the other boys about it until just before his departure, and we respect that decision.
A big part of the show is the Brewtiful coffee truck where the boys work every day. Has anyone been disappointed now that the truck is gone? Are they missing their lattes?
Taiki Takahashi: We haven’t heard anyone say they miss the Brewtiful lattes! This is because, as you know, the coffee truck wasn’t very well-known at the time of filming, and sales weren’t that great, haha. I’m not sure how many people actually tried the lattes…. However, now we receive many requests from people wanting to try the coffee and lattes made by the boys!
All episodes of “The Boyfriend” are now streaming on Netflix.
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