It's a slow burn and the pacing is definitely quite "Asian" in Kimi ni wa Todokanai--the title actually translating into I Can't Reach You with Peace--but the two young leads are really fine. The series reminded me of Heartstopper in that it is emotion, not sex, at the heart of what drives the plot: one character struggles to express his hidden feelings and the other must come to grips with the feelings blossoming inside him. There's no mindless sex or inane double-entendre and that saves it from lapsing into rom-com territory: it's simply a story of two classmates who've been childhood friends and then slowly face the reality of what's happening between them. I liked that they're a bit of a visual mismatch, which also placed more emphasis on the emotional side.
There 's a lot of manga-induced "HUH!?" and some fun cultural stuff. Kashiwagu Hari is especially good at the bumbling parts of his role, a natural comic. I think Maeda Kentaro has a tougher job, as his character is supposed to be aloof. I can't say there's much "heat" between the two leads, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.
There 's a lot of manga-induced "HUH!?" and some fun cultural stuff. Kashiwagu Hari is especially good at the bumbling parts of his role, a natural comic. I think Maeda Kentaro has a tougher job, as his character is supposed to be aloof. I can't say there's much "heat" between the two leads, but it's enjoyable nonetheless.