Given poster
#7825 This Week

Given

Given  ·  2021, Japan
6.9
3,143 ratings
6
Episodes
0
Watchlisted
● Completed 🕑 2021

Sato Mafuyu, clutching his Gibson guitar, meets fellow student Uenoyama Ritsuka after a chance encounter on the gym staircase. Uenoyama, knowledgeable about guitars, agrees to fix Sato's and teach him how to play. He…

Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Episodes
Reviews (5)

Given is a tender Japanese live-action BL that follows the slow-burn romance between Ritsuka Uenoyama, a gifted but emotionally detached high school guitarist, and Mafuyu Satou, a quiet, grief-stricken boy clutching a broken Gibson guitar. After a chance encounter on a staircase, Ritsuka fixes Mafuyu’s guitar and reluctantly agrees to teach him how to play. As they spend more time together—rehearsing with Ritsuka’s band, eating lunch on the roof, and navigating unspoken feelings—Mafuyu’s past begins to surface through the music he writes. What makes Given special is how it uses music as a vehicle for healing: every strummed chord carries the weight of unresolved trauma, and every song becomes a confession that words can’t deliver. The series is a quiet, melancholic exploration of grief, first love, and the courage it takes to let someone new into your heart. Anchored by breathtaking cinematography and a hauntingly emotional climax, Given proves that sometimes the most profound connections start with a broken string.

E01
1
Given Episode 1
Season 1 · Jul 17, 2021
~ min
E02
2
Given Episode 2
Season 1 · Jul 24, 2021
~ min
E03
3
Given Episode 3
Season 1 · Jul 31, 2021
~ min
E04
4
Given Episode 4
Season 1 · Aug 07, 2021
~ min
E05
5
Given Episode 5
Season 1 · Aug 14, 2021
~ min
E06
6
Given Episode 6
Season 1 · Aug 21, 2021
~ min
6.9
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absolute_romance
March 2025
8/10
I went in with no expectations and came out completely smitten. The chemistry between Ritsuka and Mafuyu is so tender and real—I felt every awkward glance and lingering touch. The final performance had me in tears. Yes, it's slow, but that's exactly why their love feels earned.
PL
plot_logic_bot
January 2025
5/10
As someone who hasn't read the manga, I found the story confusing and rushed. The romance feels forced because there's barely any build-up—Ritsuka just decides he likes Mafuyu because he looks lonely. The suicide backstory is glossed over, and the side characters are more interesting than the leads. Disappointing.
FB
frame_by_frame
November 2024
9/10
Visually, this is some of the most beautiful work I've seen in a BL drama. The use of natural light, the shallow depth of field in intimate scenes, and the color grading that shifts from cold to warm as the relationship develops—it's a masterclass in visual storytelling. The final concert scene is pure cinema.
MR
manga_reader_4ever
July 2024
6/10
I loved the anime and manga, so I tried to be open-minded. The live-action cuts too many character-building moments—especially for Ritsuka. Mafuyu's trauma is mentioned but rarely shown, and the awkward acting from the leads doesn't help. Stick with the anime if you want the full emotional impact.
MI
melody_in_my_head
September 2024
8/10
I stayed for the music and wasn't disappointed. The original song at the end is hauntingly beautiful—even if it's a bit nasal at first, the lyrics absolutely wrecked me. The background score is subtle but perfectly underscores every emotional beat. I've had the ending theme on repeat for weeks.