izabella61 - 2015-09-09 02:04:53

This episode really highlights the problems those new to BL come across.  It had me laughing.

I loved the main story, and I really liked that they added one more episode. It was a great addition to the story.  I think the main anime ended at a good place, but they could have easily have had this one be the last episode instead.

opollich - 2015-04-16 08:06:54

Love Stage, an interesting spin on romance anime. The bright colours and clean art style are visually appealing, the sound design is nothing hugely spectacular, but well done, the plot itself was simple, if not slightly problematic in parts.
But if you've seen Love Stage, you know all that.
So what does this OVA bring to the table?
First of all, this OVA was set at a time that I had personally been longing to see, right after the ending of the anime. The mystery of what would become of Izumi and Ryouma likely interested more than just me.
So, we have this, 23-ish minutes of delight. The plot of the episode is straight-forward, but unlike parts of the original series, feels very natural and plausible.
(Spoilers after this point! Go the bottom of the review for the conclusion)
Izumi and Ryouma have been together for a short time, with as Ryouma described it "Their feelings [being] mutual." Ryouma has been away recording a romance/drama TV show with Sena's father. Interestingly, the first minute of this episode was presented as that TV drama with no explanation, the first half minute even had me confused as to whether or not this was still the Love Stage OVA. An interesting opening, if not one that used a lot of time that could have been shortened and still held the same meaning.
After the jarring opening, Ryouma reveals to his co workers that his romance life has been getting better. After this point, you also learn that Izumi, back at home is dreading seeing Ryouma next.
I won't delve further into the plot, but it's definitely a strong premise.
(Spoilers end)
So, did this OVA feel necessary? Was a good addition to an already pretty strong Anime?
I'd say yes. A lot of the issues with Love Stage in the first place was that it felt unnatural, or that Ryouma was inconsiderate of Izumi's comfort and consent. This OVA serves to show that Ryouma and Izumi have moved into a life where they are able to communicate more openly with each other, and are able to respect each other's boundaries. Stuff like this might seem like obvious components of a relationship, but it is often lacking in the BL genre, which is why this OVA stood out to me.
Should you watch the OVA if you've watched love stage? Definitely.