First Love
First Love
Now Showing

First Love

8.1
Yr 2022
Status Ended
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Young, free and madly in love. As teenagers, the world was their oyster—but, as adults, their lives seem dimmer, like a very important piece is missing.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 85 /100

First Love received largely enthusiastic reviews from critics, who praised it as an epic, heartwarming, and breathtaking Japanese romantic drama. Spanning more than two decades, the series was widely lauded for capturing both the silliness of young first love and the deep, enduring emotional weight of adult longing and fate.

Reviewers highlighted the show's stellar cast, heartfelt performances, and gorgeous visuals, noting that the narrative brings real emotional satisfaction when it matters most. Its charming atmosphere and well-developed themes of destiny and responsibility made it a captivating, binge-worthy experience for romance fans.

While the reception was overwhelmingly positive, a few critics noted minor drawbacks, pointing out that the narrative could occasionally feel longwinded or slightly too idealized and pristine. However, these pacing concerns did little to diminish the show's strong overall emotional resonance.

“an epic love story that spans over 20 years with marvellous visuals and heartfelt performances from a stellar cast.”

“First Love radiates such an incredible charm that you wish to close your eyes and hug the screen tightly so that this world and these characters never leave your grasp”

“Its themes of love, responsibility, and fate are well-developed across the episodes, meaning that when it counts, First Love can satisfy emotionally”

“The series is a brilliantly executed romance drama”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Netflix Standard with Ads
CA • US • UK
Netflix
UK • US • CA
Why fans love it

This 2022 drama miniseries taps directly into the bittersweet ache of lost romance, charting a relationship that burned bright during adolescence only to dim over time. As teenagers, the central couple lived freely and madly in love, seeing the world as entirely theirs for the taking. Following their path into adulthood reveals a much dimmer reality, where their separate lives feel subtly incomplete and missing a crucial piece.

Viewers connect with the contrast between an exuberant early connection and the quieter disappointments of growing older. Anchored by compelling lead performances, including Hikari Mitsushima, the series highlights how a first love can linger well past youth. It offers a reflective look at romantic nostalgia, centered entirely on the enduring impact of a bond that never truly dissolved.

Production Board

Crew

Visual Effects Production Manager
Other
Editor
VFX Supervisor
Assistant Editor
Visual Effects Director
Production Design
Executive Producer
Visual Effects Coordinator
Visual Effects Compositor
Director
Screenplay
Producer
Decorator
Signal Match

Similarity

Where First Love overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

love romance miniseries first love lost love
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
November 24, 2022
Status
Ended
Origin
JP
TMDB Votes
144