What is The Boyfriend all about? Details about Netflix’s first-of-a-kind dating show explored

The Boyfriend is a newly released dating reality series on Netflix. While Netflix has an expansive collection of reality dating shows like Love is Blind, Love Island, and Too Hot to Handle, the newly released Netflix series breaks tropes by providing a refreshing take on reality dating.

One of the major highlights of the series is that it is the first-ever same-sex reality dating series in Japan. The contestants come from a varied range of professions, ranging between the ages of twenties and thirties. They are either gay or bisexual men and have taken a huge step in portraying LGBTQ+ love on Japanese television.

The series introduces viewers to a vulnerable and open group of contestants who will have to spend a summer together in a gorgeous villa called 'The Green Room' as they test out the waters to look for lasting connections. The Boyfriend premiered on Netflix with its first three episodes on July 9, 2024.

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What is The Boyfriend on Netflix about?

The Boyfriend is Japan's first-ever same-sex reality dating television series, which premiered on Netflix. The dating series offers a fresh take on reality dating as the contestants focus on organic relationship building rather than engaging in attention-grabbing antics (often associated with popular reality dating shows).

The series has set the task for the contestants to operate a coffee truck in Tateyama, a city in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Throughout the ten episodes, they will share details about each other as they operate the coffee truck, establishing a healthy bond. The narrative of the series not only revolves around romance but also helps forge lasting friendships among the contestants.

The official synopsis of the show reads:

"The Boyfriend features a group of nine young men who are attracted to other guys as they live together in a seaside beach house called the "Green Room" and run a peppermint-colored coffee truck. Whether they are here to meet a romantic partner, find a lifelong friend or improve themselves, these men bring their hopes and dreams to the Green Room to take part in the first gay romance reality show in Japan."

The Netflix reality series is a huge step forward in the representation of Japan's LGBTQ+ community in a natural manner without the use of exaggerated stereotypes. Japan is the only G7 nation not to have legalized same-sex unions. However, surveys indicate that over 70% of people would support the move.

The media's portrayal of the LGBTQ+ population frequently falls into flashy clichés, and Japanese celebrities rarely feel comfortable coming out since they frequently worry that doing so may harm their careers. Thus, The Boyfriend has reached a milestone in holistically showcasing same-sex unions.

The whole setup of the series is very authentic and eases the contestants into getting to know each other by sharing a common living and working space. The contestants can even take a break from living in 'The Green Room' to meet their friends, making the series very natural compared to other dating shows where contestants are forced to spend time with each other.

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Who are the contestants on The Boyfriend?

The show has a total of nine contestants who come from varied backgrounds. Here is the full list of all nine contestants on the show:

• Shun - A 23-year-old artist
• Taeheon - A 34-year-old designer from South Korea
• Uskak - A vibrant 36-year-old go-go dancer
• Ikuo - A 22-year-old food service industry professional
• Gensei - A 34-year-old Taiwanese make-up artist
• Dai - A 22-year-old University student
• Alan - A 29-year-old Brazilian IT company professional
• Kazuto - A 27-year-old Japanese Chef
• Ryota - A 28-year-old model and barista

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The first three episodes of The Boyfriend are available for streaming on Netflix. New episodes are slated to be released every Tuesday on the streaming service.