Can We Just Stop Trusting Red Flags? – Enter Dairysia

A lot happened in the previous three episodes. Ren and Miu’s story intertwines as their shared belief in love’s impermanence pulls them together amidst personal struggles and emotional scars. Miu, haunted by her ex’s betrayal and an invasive sculpture, finds liberation when Ren destroys it, sparking a charged yet unresolved connection between them. Ren, an enigmatic substitute teacher with a rebellious streak, captivates Miu and others, but his aloofness keeps her guessing.

Their bond deepens through vulnerable moments—an interrupted kiss, late-night studio visits, and a tender outing to an aquarium—culminating in a night together at Ren’s greenhouse. However, doubts resurface when Miu finds another woman’s earrings, and her heartbreak intensifies upon seeing Ren with Chiaki, leaving her torn between pursuing him and protecting herself. Meanwhile, classmates like Osakabe and Hikari, along with Saki and Megumi, bring their own layers of unspoken emotions and hesitant confessions to the unfolding drama.

The Japanese series is based on the 2021 Korean adaptation Nevertheless, starring Song Kang and Han So-hee, which is an adaptation of the webtoon Nevertheless (알고있지만) by Jung Seo.

Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Recap

Episode 4

In Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love episode 4, We pick up where we left off, with Miu running off after her emotional grenade detonates. Who should she stumble upon? The ever-casual Hikari, who immediately picks up on the signs of romantic turmoil. Hikari, ever the philosopher in sneakers, ponders the futility of getting too close to someone. She’s the queen of emotional self-preservation, so much so that she can’t even toss out her tattered shoes. (Metaphor alert!) Her strategy? Never get too serious, never get too hurt. The conversation leaves Miu feeling even more conflicted.

But there’s no time for existential shoe talk because Ren calls. Why so mysterious, Ren? Who is Chiaki, and why does Miu feel like she’s not the only butterfly in his greenhouse? Despite her better judgment, she agrees to meet him – you know, for work. It turns out that Ren needs a model to practice drawing limbs. This scene is peak Ren: brooding, artistic, and just the right amount of smooth to make Miu question every decision she’s ever made. They chat about relationships, exclusivity, and labels, and Ren drops his trademark line: “I just want to be with you in the moment.” Miu knows she shouldn’t be falling for this, but here we are.

Things seem borderline idyllic until one late night when Miu overhears Ren on a phone call. Is it Chiaki? Is this the sound of Miu’s heart cracking in real time? (Spoiler: yes.) The emotional rollercoaster takes another dip when Chiaki herself strolls onto campus as the curator of the art festival. Ren introduces her like it’s no big deal, but Miu’s mood visibly plummets. Chiaki, to her credit, tries to apologize for their awkward first encounter, but Ren’s abrupt interruption stops the conversation before Miu can dig for answers.

Meanwhile, Hikari has her own awkward encounter when she runs into her ex, Tetsuo. The two chat amicably, reflecting on how their relationship fizzled out like a flat soda. Tetsuo, insightful as ever, points out that people like him and Hikari are wired to keep relationships shallow. He describes Osakabe’s emotions as overwhelming, which clearly hits a nerve. Hikari may act indifferent, but deep down, Osakabe’s vulnerability shakes her.

Also read: Loving Im Ji-yeon in The Tale of Lady Ok? Check Out These Kdramas of the Star!

And speaking of Osakabe, let’s get to the Kamakura Banksy subplot. Someone’s been leaving graffiti all over campus, including a new masterpiece featuring butterfly wings and a girl in torn sneakers. Hikari immediately knows it’s Osakabe’s doing (the sneakers gave him away, which was a rookie mistake), but what about the background? That’s unmistakably Ren’s touch. Flashbacks confirm it: Osakabe was inspired by Ren’s rebellious mural and started expressing himself through art. Ren critiques Osakabe’s work as too “direct,” but Osakabe counters that he just wanted to make his existence known. (Cue quiet applause for the emotionally honest underdog.)

The graffiti drama brings Hikari and Osakabe closer. Hikari, clearly moved, admits she doesn’t know much about relationships but wants to give it a shot. Osakabe, adorably flustered, gets his moment of triumph when she teases him into a kiss. Team Hikari-Osakabe for the win!

Back to Ren and Miu, things remain tense. Miu presses Ren for answers, trying to understand why he vandalized the mural. His cryptic explanation? “I just wanted to draw.” Chiaki backs him up, questioning why artists need to restrict themselves. She even takes a jab at Miu, accusing her of being too privileged to understand. (Yikes, Chiaki.) Hurt and frustrated, Miu runs off. Ren starts to follow but… you guessed it… Chiaki stops him. Miu ends the episode deeply disappointed in herself for hoping Ren would be different. Lesson learned: expectations are heartbreak in disguise.

Episode 5

In Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love episode 5, we open with Ruki being the unsung hero Miu needs. He cooks her dinner, offering quiet support as she tries to hold back her tears. We’re then treated to a flashback of Ruki and Miu’s first meeting. Ruki, the ever-kind cafe owner, extended his lunch hour just for her, captivated by her artistic eye and gentle spirit. Seeing her fall for Ren has been hard for him, but he’s determined to stick by her side. (Ruki deserves a medal for this level of patience.)

Meanwhile, Chiaki approaches Miu to apologize for her earlier harshness. It’s a rare moment of vulnerability as Chiaki admits she, too, wants to understand Ren’s true self. We get a flashback of a younger Chiaki and Ren, where their bond is clear: she’s always admired his artistry and his quiet, comforting presence.

The story shifts to a much-needed class retreat to Mashiko, where art, pottery, and awkward car rides await. Usami, everyone’s favorite teacher, organizes the trip and ropes in Chiaki, Ren, and Ruki for the ride. Cue the tension in Ren’s car as Chiaki and Ren reminisce about their past while Miu and Ruki share their own sweet moments. Ren? Not amused.

Once they arrive, the group dives into pottery-making. Ruki and Miu’s easy chemistry shines as they laugh over his failed attempt at a vase, much to Ren’s annoyance. Later, Ruki and Miu bond during a supermarket run (nothing says romantic tension like choosing vegetables together). Ruki opens up about his dream of owning a restaurant and his new job offer in Tokyo. Miu is happy for him but can’t imagine her life without him in it. (Cue the dramatic foreshadowing music.)

Then comes the onsen scene. On the girls’ side, everyone bonds with Chiaki, and Miu tries her best to get along with her rival. Over on the guys’ side, it’s a tense bro-down. Ruki drops a bomb, openly declaring his feelings for Miu and his intentions to care for her. Ren, predictably, mocks him, but Ruki fires back, warning Ren not to hurt her. Ren plays it cool, but we all know he’s rattled.

Later, Ren confronts Miu, asking if she likes Ruki. Miu, exasperated, flips the question back on him: does Ren even care? In a rare moment of vulnerability, Ren admits he does want to know. Miu presses further about Chiaki, but Ren dismisses the idea of romance. When Miu asks about herself, Ren struggles to answer… until Chiaki interrupts. Once again, Ren’s inability to communicate sends Miu spiralling.

The group gathers for dinner, where Chiaki’s drunken antics put Ren in caretaker mode. Miu, already on edge, grows even more upset. Ruki swoops in, finally deciding he’s done being a passive bystander. He confesses his feelings for Miu, catching her completely off guard. Before we can unpack this bombshell, Chiaki collapses, and Ren, for the first time, looks truly panicked.

Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love Review

Ren continues his reign as the reigning champion of emotionally unavailable men everywhere—our resident red-flag king, artfully dodging the “exclusive relationship” conversation like he’s Neo in The Matrix. It’s almost impressive how Ren can sprinkle moments of charm—like butterfly metaphors, late-night art sessions, and vague brooding glances—only to stomp all over them moments later with the casual apathy of someone rejecting a telemarketer’s call.

Miu, bless her conflicted heart, keeps falling into his emotionally vacant greenhouse of doom, where the only thing growing is her self-doubt. And while Chiaki’s presence adds an extra dose of “Is she? Isn’t she?” tension, let’s face it—anyone holding onto earrings left by mysterious women probably deserves to be ghosted, not worshipped.

Meanwhile, we get the unsung hero of the series, Ruki, emerging from the background like an overachieving golden retriever, making dinner, confessing feelings, and being a literal emotional support system. Is he too earnest? Perhaps. But in a world of Ren’s vague proclamations about living “in the moment,” Ruki is practically a life vest in a turbulent sea of red flags.

And let’s not forget Hikari, a queen of casual chaos, who somehow manages to make torn sneakers symbolic while brushing off Osakabe’s adorably earnest love confession like it’s a pop quiz she forgot to study for. At this point, Ren might as well just replace his butterflies with red flags as décor. Miu deserves better, and we all know it—someone gets Ruki a cape, stat.

Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love is airing on Netflix.

Also read: Unforgettable Characters of Light Shop Director Kim Hee-won That Left Audience Stunned!