It's a marvel that 'Say I Love You,' a gem from 2014, escaped the clutches of modern political correctness before the thought police could censor it. This Japanese TV series, brought to life by director Asako Hyuga, premiered on Fuji TV in July 2014 and unflinchingly tackled the authentic experience of a teenage girl grappling with the complexities of social anxiety and budding romance. Mei Tachibana, the quiet protagonist at the story’s heart, attends high school without ever uttering the words 'I love you'—until she crosses paths with the charismatic Yamato Kurosawa who changes her world.
In what era could such a straightforward story about interpersonal connections be considered revolutionary? Well, in an era obsessed with finding offense in every nook and cranny, apparently, people rather dismiss genuine human emotions. If our current entertainment climate took hold of ‘Say I Love You,’ it would likely be burdened with side plots about intersectionality and awareness campaigns instead of focusing on, you know, actual human development. The Japanese writers didn't shy away from real issues either; they just had the sense to weave them into a personal narrative rather than sermonizing at the expense of storytelling.
First of all, watching Mei navigate through life with introversion and insecurity gives off an aroma that anybody—but especially conservatives—can appreciate. Let's face it, any character daring not to be the flashiest person in the room is instantly refreshing. In a world that celebrates perpetual extroversion, Mei's subdued strength and genuine evolution often get overshadowed by forced narratives that involve one too many global issues rather than an individual’s journey. Any show that lets its main character grow through lived experience without pivoting to social engineering deserves applause.
Yamato Kurosawa, her unlikely romantic interest, is a representation of what masculinity used to be—assertive yet protective. The kind of virtues we are told by the modern left to demonize at all costs. He is full of empathy and offers her the encouragement she desperately needs. Here's a guy who, while popular and handsome, takes the time to understand the deeper issues Mei faces. Their love story unfolds naturally, without any artificial impositions about who they should or should not be.
Forget the fact that he isn't lecturing her about the patriarchy every five minutes; Yamato helps Mei not by bending to the winds of social commentary, but by being a pillar she can lean upon. It’s not that the show doesn’t address difficult issues; it simply does so through a personal lens rather than a collectivist one. And dare I say, it's about time our cultural conversations took a page from this book.
We watch as Mei learns the value of friendships that thrive not off backhanded political agendas but off mutual respect and understanding. We see the sweet but often painful instances of misunderstanding that occur between real people attempting to communicate their true feelings. It’s almost as if the creators trusted the audience to find these universal truths without beating them over the head with overbearing commentary.
In the current climate, you might find it difficult to imagine a story like this not being drowned out by the noise of agenda-driven content. How refreshing is it to watch a story that prioritizes emotional truth without having to make everyone fit into predetermined social squares? It's almost tragic to think that current "creative" industries would sideline such genuine stories for ones laced with PC agendas.
And let's not ignore the fact that 'Say I Love You' made no attempt to shy away from the discomfort of personal growth. Mei’s progression through her social challenges was meticulously slow, a true reflection of real life rather than a socially engineered utopia where magically everyone just accepts her overnight. This painstaking development urges the audience to live through both her victories and her insecurities.
This hallmark of genuine storytelling has led 'Say I Love You' to be celebrated for its authenticity and relatability, an ode to simpler times when telling a real story was more important than pushing a narrative. Wasn’t it nice when you could watch something unfold so naturally that it didn't feel like a TED Talk? When people on-screen were just people, not mouthpieces for every cause under the sun?
'Say I Love You' reinforces the reality that love, personal growth, and understanding don’t get rushed by some overarching societal obligation. While the current cultural gatekeepers might prefer regurgitating the same old lectures, 'Say I Love You' reminds us that sometimes the best way to engage with important ideas is to let them bubble up naturally from honest human experience.
Sure, it’s just a simple story, but a beautiful one at that. In today's entertainment minefield, it might just have been a bullet sacrificed for "progress," but isn't it lucky that this 2014 series made it through unscathed?