Synopsis

Cast & Crew

Episodes

Reviews (5)

Polyethylene Terephthalate is an intimate, raw Japanese miniseries that follows Ryo and Kaoru as they navigate the highs and lows of a committed relationship after a fateful drinking party brings their true feelings to light. Moving in together feels like the natural next step, but as time passes, small misunderstandings and unspoken expectations begin to pile up — especially around Kaoru's hesitation to come out to his family. Told through a series of fragmented, non-linear vignettes, the drama skips through months and years, capturing both the quiet tenderness and the inevitable friction of cohabitation. With an indie, almost documentary-style production, the series strips away melodrama to focus on the everyday realities of a gay couple in Japan: the joy of shared mornings, the weight of hidden identity, and the painful process of drifting apart. The title itself, referencing the plastic used in bottles, becomes a metaphor for the relationship's durability and its chances of being 'recycled' after breaking. This is not a fairy tale — it's a honest, messy, and emotionally resonant portrait of love that doesn't always make it.

Asai Hinata

Cast

Shigeoka Ryu

Cast

Romance

Cast

Gay Male Lead

Cast

E01

Polyethylene Terephthalate Episode 1

Season 1 ·

~ min

E02

Polyethylene Terephthalate Episode 2

Season 1 ·

~ min

E03

Polyethylene Terephthalate Episode 3

Season 1 ·

~ min

6.1

out of 10

583

437

1020

874

cinematic_bl_fan

August 2023

3/10

The concept is interesting, but the execution is a mess. The sound mixing is atrocious — whisper-quiet dialogue followed by booming foley sounds. The color grading makes everything look washed out, and the constant jump cuts gave me a headache. It genuinely feels like a student film that should have been a 15-minute short. I couldn't get past the technical issues.

logic_over_fluff

September 2023

5/10

I appreciate the attempt at a non-linear timeline to show the relationship's rise and fall, but it just left me confused. We're thrown into random snippets without context — you have to track hairstyles and clothing to figure out where you are. The characters are barely developed, so I never felt invested in their outcome. Not entertaining enough for a full series, but a decent experimental piece.

cherry_blossom_romance

October 2023

7/10

I actually loved the raw, unpolished feel of this. It's not your typical fluffy BL — it shows the messy reality of a relationship falling apart over real issues like coming out. The actors have genuine chemistry, and the intimate scenes feel natural and unforced. The ending broke my heart but felt honest. If you can look past the low budget, there's real soul here.

social_justice_lens

November 2023

7/10

This drama courageously tackles the difficult topic of coming out in Japan and the strain it can put on a relationship. I appreciated the nuance — it's not black and white, and both characters have valid perspectives. The open ending felt appropriate, though the confusing timeline undermines the message. It's a valuable conversation starter about identity and compromise.

melody_miner

December 2023

6/10

The background music is minimal and mostly sparse piano, which fits the indie vibe, but I wish they had used music more to emphasize emotional peaks. There's a recurring melancholic piano motif that really captures the sense of drifting apart. Unfortunately, the poor sound design — inconsistent volume, ambient noise — completely overshadows any musical intention.