Gokusen

A Comedy That Is Gold!

So, Gokusen turned out to be a surprisingly fun experience! As someone who usually sticks to newer dramas, I didn’t expect an older one like this to hook me so much, but it definitely did. It’s about a yakuza heiress who dreams of becoming a teacher. She ends up teaching a class of rebellious students, and what follows is her giving them life lessons while they all try to figure out their place in the world.

There are a lot of dramas with a similar premise, but what sets Gokusen apart is how it balances humor with heartfelt moments. Each episode is kind of its own mini story, which makes it easy to jump into any episode without feeling lost. That said, they all tie together well enough that you feel the growth and connections among the characters.

The comedy in this show is pure gold! I couldn’t stop laughing in some moments, and there were a few times where I genuinely got emotional, too. The characters are what really make the show shine, and the students’ development is so satisfying to watch.

I also really appreciated the camera work. It wasn’t anything too fancy, but there were some cool angles and shots that made it more visually engaging than I expected.

There’s no romance plotline, which I was super happy about (thank you, Gokusen!). It’s clear that Shin is the "love interest," but the focus stays mostly on the students and their growth, which is refreshing.

Overall, I had a great time watching all 12 episodes. It's one of those shows that hits all the right notes of comedy, drama, and a bit of emotional depth. Totally worth the watch if you’re into stories about personal growth and unlikely friendships.

Rating: 8/10

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[WARNING: the rating and review I give have the possibility to be subjective due to my preference for the genres, scenes or casts]

This is one of the dorama I must watch in a holiday time (the other is Harry Potter XD). So, can you imagine how many times I watch this? (^o^)

Another legendary dorama for me. Many life values and quotes you can get. Friendship, family, education, work. Love this dorama sooo much ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

The casts’ acting were great too, although the one who have an outstanding acting is still Nakama Yukie. I adore her sooo much!!! ♡ ～('▽^人)

But! Watching this dorama makes me always want to eat ramen and takoyaki (^o^)

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A classic masterpiece

This was very fun and entertaining to watch. The plot is very original and the overdramatic-ness is hilarious , although it tends to be too overdramatic sometimes, in a way that it's giving anime in an overwhelming way.

I didn't find it realistic to involve all the characters in each and every episode. There is literally no point in having 27+ high school boys running around the city and getting involved in their teacher or classmate’s private business.

The characters are all unique and well crafted, which make the interactions engaging and entertaining to watch. Each episode left me wanting more, and it was definitely worth the watch. A bit sad that we never got to see if Shin and Yamaguchi ended up together (my ship!), and it's even more disappointing to see that Matsumoto Jun is nowhere to be found in the setlist of the other seasons (TT).

Gokusen is packed with cliques and scenes that will give you second hand embarrassment, but despite all this it still somehow manages to make me laugh, tear up and cover my face all at the same time. Truly a classic masterpiece.

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Endearingly campy with questionable morals/ethics orated in every episode

Overly enthusiastic rookie teacher cheer leads her underperforming students to graduation in such a way that it amuses everyone around her. Do keep in mind how old this and don't expect much from it! The cheesy preachy exhortations the rookie teacher gives are a bit long winded at time, but delivered in a heartfelt way. The lessons/morals being given to the kids sometimes feel a little propaganda-ish AND are a bit questionable at times, but how seriously can you take them, given that they are delivered so zealously that it's reduced to folderol (silly). Overall, it's a cheesy ,yet heartwarming, " watch the under dogs" zig zag their way to the graduation finish line, while learning life lessons along the way. I came in & out of this, using it as a drama filler & it was a bit over the top for me, so I will pass on season 2.
As for romance; the female lead does get an ending that implies she is on the romance track , but I was not impressed with the object of her affection as he seemed up for being with women casually , too often giving them the wrong impression & not caring.

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Misses the point

Ultimately, it says nothing about practicing nonviolence and acting for good against a wicked majority because there is always a superhero teacher who will advocate to the utmost for you, and who can beat any number of armed high school students. Without her intervention, all these kids would probably get killed, expelled, etc. so what does it really say for the value in being good and honest? And she's not like Moses whose powers are given to him by God to enact good and carry out some greater purpose. She just trained a lot and was raised under a Yakuza family. Which makes it really just feel like luck that the strongest person happens to be "good" in this world where the most powerful person gets their way (as opposed to a world where people are innately good, or in which there's an underlying order that's eventually restored, or a world with supernatural intervention).

I just don't like how it celebrates force at the same time it tries to promote nonviolence.

Besides that, idk it's pretty standard crap TV. One-dimensional characters, low production value, low brow humor. Ito Misaki is in it though, so definitely check it out for her scenes.

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It was okay but difficult for me to finish

It seems to be a recurring thing in Japanese media to have long winded speeches with empty platitudes that are preached and are either not followed or are of dubious value. I found Gokusen to have some interesting and funny moments but also moments where it felt like work to watch and I would need to take a break and not watch for days or weeks, and this season only has about a dozen episodes. I wish there were more yakuza and romance elements to this drama.

Characters I enjoyed: Yankumi (main), Tetsu (gangster), Uchi (3-D student with actual gangster vibes), Sawatari (school principal), Kawashima (school nurse), Kashiwagi (the supporting police officer)

I don't understand the fawning over Sawada by viewers. He rarely showed any personality or gave much dialogue until the very end of the season where he openly displays sympathy for Kuma and Yankumi. As for his looks (because it seems to be a major part of the attraction towards him), I much prefer Noda personally.

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