After the Rain is currently streaming on major platforms, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The show says what it needs to say in a single season, no filler. With 85 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Hiroaki Hirata's performance alone is worth the time investment. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, After the Rain is worth clearing space for. The jokes in After the Rain land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Akira Tachibana was once the ace of a track club, but an injury forced her to quell her passion for sports. Masami Kondou, a divorced father, had ambitions of being a writer and now manages a restaurant, where Akira works. It is the intersection of Akira and Masami’s seemingly disconnected lives that makes each of them reconsider and redefine everything about themselves. Hiroaki Hirata and Sayumi Watabe lead a cast with the timing to make it work. After the Rain premiered in 2018. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and After the Rain holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

After the Rain is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. Fans of Ai Yori Aoshi will recognise the sensibility here immediately. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch if your schedule allows. Hiroaki Hirata is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.

After the Rain wrapped up in 2018 — and 1 season is available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro's free voice app makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just say the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.