Japanese series Badly in Love has officially wrapped its 10-episode run on Netflix, and fans are still buzzing about the final chapter. The Japanese drama brings an emotional mix of love, conflict, and redemption, and the last episode ties it all together with both heartbreak and hope.
Viewers who stuck with the series from the start found themselves hit with a finale that pushes the characters to face everything they have avoided throughout the season, leading to a raw but uplifting closing moment.
Set deep in the mountains at the Badly in Love Academy, the drama follows a group of former delinquents as they navigate life, friendship and first love.
Across two intense weeks, relationships form and fall apart, tempers flare, and emotions run dangerously high. The show mixes the wild energy of its delinquent cast with surprisingly heartfelt storytelling, making it stand out from typical romance dramas.
Is Badly in Love a happy or sad ending? The truth is that it lands somewhere in the middle, but with a hopeful tone that left many viewers satisfied.
The final episode highlights how far the characters have come, especially in learning how to express their feelings instead of hiding behind pride. Some confessions end with mutual feelings, while others fall short, but the story makes it clear that growth matters more than the outcome itself.
Throughout the season, the cast of eleven individuals steals the spotlight with their tough exteriors and vulnerable moments.
The men include personalities like Shunya Tsukahara, Takumi Sato, Sho Tsuda, Nisei Sakurai, Isamu Nishizawa, and Tensei Nanahoshi, each bringing their own history of conflict and redemption.
The women—Otoha, Yuria, Hikaru, Kirei, and AMO—balance strength and softness as they confront their pasts and open themselves up to new connections. Every character arrives with scars, and the final episode lets each of them stand on their own rather than leaning on the chaos around them.
The ending centres on the graduation ceremony, where everyone must confess their truth. Several couples finally express feelings they’ve hidden all series long. Some find their moments returned, leading to warm, hopeful resolutions.
Others face rejection, but even those scenes are handled with maturity and quiet acceptance. Instead of focusing on winning or losing in love, the drama emphasises honesty, healing, and the courage to move forward.
The ending can be seen as hopeful rather than sad because it leaves the characters on a path toward better futures, whether or not they end up romantically together.
The cast shared their thoughts after filming wrapped, and the reactions have been overwhelmingly positive. Many said they felt proud of how the story concluded and that the emotional depth of the final episode made everything worthwhile.
They were especially grateful for the fan support that pushed the series to break internal streaming records on Netflix Japan and become one of the most-discussed Japanese dramas of early 2025. Merchandise sales skyrocketed during the finale week, and the actors expressed their gratitude, saying the fans’ enthusiasm motivates them to continue delivering memorable performances.
Several cast members also mentioned that they hope the story continues, and they would love to return if Season 2 gets approved.
Fans, meanwhile, are already demanding a second season. The ending leaves several open doors, mainly involving the characters who didn’t end up in confirmed relationships.
If Netflix continues the story, Season 2 could follow the graduates as they navigate life outside the academy or introduce a new round of emotional challenges that bring the cast back together. The final scene, which hints at unresolved feelings and undiscovered connections, gives just enough material for viewers to imagine what comes next.
Short review: Badly in Love closes with a heartfelt and grounded finale that balances emotion, conflict and character growth.
The drama doesn’t rely on shock value but instead on honest storytelling and strong performances. With a hopeful ending, impressive cast chemistry and record-breaking reception, it stands out as one of Netflix Japan’s strongest titles of 2025.