If the creator of the show is crazy enough to make a sequel, then sign me up real quick.
Used to watch horror films and Anime as a kid, seen a few RomCom too but this is the first ever JDrama that made my heart sigh, made me wanna laugh, cry then laugh again. Sometimes wanna do both at the same time.Story wise, it's not that complicated. It's the typical girl meets boy by chance or fate. ML was a straight laced guy that wouldn't know fun even if it hit him on the face. He met FL and fall for her sweet smile and bubbly persona. She's a sweet girl with a loving family. A hard worker driven by her dreams. ML pursued her relentlessly, sometimes a bit creepy but it was just his unique way of doing things.
He's really unique in a way, he has his dominant ways that were never cruel unlike some other typical shows. His way maybe a bit weird but it's sweet and pure.
FL maybe sweet but has steel for a core. She's honest about her dream, about her feelings. Her dream was clear even from the beginning. Back when she didn't like the ML yet, she told it to his face. And when she decided to love, she gave her all, no half measures.
Actors did a good job, good chemistry. Entertaining supporting roles. Short but sweet backstory. And the most important thing, everybody has their own happy ending. If the creator of this show is crazy enough to make a sequel, then sign me up real quick.
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This review may contain spoilers
Cute Drama Perfect for Holiday Season!
This drama is surprisingly good for holiday season, since the setting was from Halloween to Christmas. Before, I tried to watch this drama once or twice but was turned off by how pushy and stalkerish the ML Takane is that I did not finish the first episode. Finally I picked it up again and after I got to know more of him and the rest of the characters I was hooked. This drama is cute and surprisingly well executed for a live action from manga. Since I never read the manga I reviewed the drama only.WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(+) Unique plot for a typical love story: Typical, since a man (Takane) and a woman (Junko) from two different worlds romantically meet. Unique plot because the Takane is a monk who is being sheltered the whole life in the temple with only his Grandma and the monks around him. And Junko is a career woman who dreams to move to New York.
(+) Overall story not draggy. Plenty of hilarious scenes, and heart-breaking scenes in the 2 last episodes with satisfying endings for everyone.
(+) It is well worth to note that the drama screenwriters are not the manga writer Miki Aihara, therefore the script is not choppy like coming straight out of a comic, but flows more with the plot. Although not excluding the uniqueness of manga storyline.
(+) Character Takane is mostly the main source of hilarity. since he is not familiar with how people act and live in the real world. His sincere yet clumsy adaptation to society after meeting Junko, her family, and ELA crew is funny and touching at the same time.
(+) I am glad that the story actually makes the Junko goes to New York in the end of the drama to pursue her life dream
(+) Interesting characterization choices the manga writer picked for her comic
(+) Seven cold shower scenes under takigyo (waterfall where monks meditate)!
(+) Great chemistry between Takane and Junko.
(+) The other couples' chemistry: Arthur-Momoe is good and Hachiya-Masako is okay (probably not much character growth and screen time for the last couple).
(+) Actress Ishihara Satomi is beautiful and hilarious at the same time. I saw her in Rich Man, Poor Woman but her role is better here.
(+) I have never seen the acting of Yamashita Tomohisa (Yamapi) prior to this drama. Although the monk Takane role does not make him talkative but his facial expression communicates amazingly well. Surprisingly good for a Japanese idol, and by looking at his filmography he acted in interesting and unusual dramas/movies.
(+) Remarkable casting overall, even to the supporting cast like Junko's family and neighbors, the ELA crew, the temple monks even to the little monk Naha. Overall, it seems like everyone were having fun filming this drama!
(+) I squealed when I saw Kaga Marikofor showed up in the screen the first time, played as Takane's grandmother! She is the villain mother from classic Hana Yori Dango. The actress is 75 years old now and is still active in dramas and movies, which is amazing.
(+) Stunning cinematography using fall season and holiday season backgrounds
(+) The OST is surprisingly good! The theme song is "Christmas Song" a romantic ballad by Japanese rock group Back Number (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEqOLMXqOlM). Other songs are mostly upbeat jazzy, and the softer tones are good for background music. I even played them while I was writing this drama. The playlist can be found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kbmiLfvUq0
WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT THIS DRAMA
(-) I feel like some scenes are like being dragged but others are being rushed. Probably editing issue. For example: the drama does not tell more about Amane and how he is redeemed by Takane. His character development from antagonist to protagonist is just too fast I have the impression the story just wants to add Amane character as a filler.
(-) Not really a dislike, but I wish the drama is longer. For example: I read in the reviews/comments that the manga gives more story to Arthur-Momoe couple.
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I like the protagonist, Sakuraba Junko. Her given character is very inspiring. She faced lots of hardships during whole drama but she never gave up, which leads to a good ending.
I hated the fact that lead hero don't even show his emotion which lookly he was just being forced by director to act though his character was like that but still their can be more improvement.
over all story was nice. It is a light drama to watch.
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i really liked the story although i don't believe in love from the first sight
but i loved his insisting to make her fall for him
BTW they should name it ( the impossible Kiss) or (inauspicious Kiss) LOL
only 3 things bothered me so
1st
(Yamashita Tomohisa) dead face expressions
2nd
they explain nothing about (Takada Hyoga) & why he was like that at the drama
3rd
i hated (Yamabuchi Momoe) character she is so childish till the limit of being vapid, trivial & shallow
there were v.nice chemistry between the 2 leads
& in total it was really nice & cute drama
watch if it's on ur list
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It’s cute
Cute, wholesome drama which made me smile most of the time. 10 ⭐️ well deserved. At the beginning you’ll be witnessing some traits in the ML which are red flags. But keep watching. This drama is a nicely told journey where both main leads grow and better their selfs with a lot of lovable side characters who will leave you highly entertained.(Review from 2021/11/12]
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Agora falando mais especificamente sobre o enredo: confesso que o único episódio que gostei foi o primeiro. Me lembro que quando comecei, embora não tenha sentido que seria um drama excelente, tive esperanças de ver pelo menos um romance divertido e legal, mas comecei a gostar cada vez menos do drama a medida que a história avançava.
O protagonista é aquele tipo de personagem que não gosto, isto é, um homem grudento e muito desagradável do inicio ao fim. E, embora eu tenha gostado de ver como a protagonista lutava pelos seu sonho de trabalhar e morar em Nova York, não consegui entender porque ela era tão inconstante.
No mesmo instante que víamos ela dizer que queria realizar seus sonhos e para isso, tentava afastá-lo a todo custo, jurando que jamais se casaria com ele; no próximo episódio lá estava ela tentando conquistar a avó dele para aceitar o casamentos dos dois. Constantemente eu pensava: "Como assim, o que essa garota quer da vida?"
Não consegui gostar desses dois como um casal, e por isso cheguei ao ponto de torcer para que ela terminasse o drama sozinha.
A avó do protagonista era uma velhinha insuportável que tinha como seu único objetivo de vida se opor a tudo que ele queria, e pior de tudo é que o ódio que ela sentia da protagonista era completamente gratuito, não tinha qualquer razão.
E se o fato de não gostar do romance, do protagonista, da avó dele dos amigos dela e achar a família dela muito interesseira. Ainda colocaram um irmão revoltado nos episódios finais da história só para dramatizar. Junte a tudo isso: intermináveis clichês chatos e repetitivos, separações banais, personagens secundários que não acrescentavam nada no enredo e que mais parecia que eram apenas adereços sem qualquer propósito.
Conclusão: esse foi um Jdrama bem abaixo da média, não gostei, não indico.
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Perfetto per chi cerca una storia d’amore dolce e positiva con un tocco di comicità.
Un drama romantico sorprendentemente perfetto per il periodo festivo, ambientato da Halloween a Natale.Inizialmente il protagonista maschile, Takane, può sembrare invadente, ma col tempo si rivela un personaggio tenero e divertente, rendendo la serie coinvolgente e piacevole.
Tratto da un manga, il drama riesce a mantenere la sua unicità senza risultare frammentato, grazie a una sceneggiatura fluida e ben costruita.
Punti di forza:
- Trama originale che unisce romanticismo e spiritualità: un monaco ingenuo e una donna in carriera dal sogno americano.
- Buon equilibrio tra comicità e momenti toccanti, con un finale soddisfacente.
- Eccellente chimica tra i protagonisti (Yamashita Tomohisa e Ishihara Satomi).
- Casting curato, scenografie stagionali suggestive e una colonna sonora natalizia azzeccata.
- Recitazioni convincenti, in particolare di Yamashita, sorprendentemente espressivo.
Punti deboli:
- Alcuni passaggi risultano squilibrati nel ritmo: certe scene troppo lente, altre troppo rapide.
- Serie forse troppo breve per sviluppare appieno tutte le sottotrame.
Un drama leggero, romantico e visivamente affascinante, ideale per le feste, con buone interpretazioni e un’atmosfera calda e divertente.
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