Seiten o Tsuke (2021)

An engaging first half, but a bit overwhelming later on

After finishing Reach Beyond the Blue Sky, I can safely say that Shibusawa Heikuro was my absolute favorite character. Mizukami Koshi’s performance was incredible—he is an exceptionally talented actor who made Heikuro so admirable and deeply memorable. His character arc absolutely broke my heart.

Chuichiro was another standout for me, though his storyline goes in an incredibly wild and chaotic direction. His choices and his downward spiral were deeply tragic to witness because he clearly had so much potential. It was really sad seeing his character turn out the way he did.

The show boasts a fantastic supporting cast. Machida Keita was spectacular as Hijikata Toshizo, and I also loved Hiraoka and his wife, Kisaku, and Eiichi's wonderful parents (especially his father). Even with limited screen time, Kamishiraishi Mone was wonderful as Tensho-In, and seeing Kasamatsu Sho in the cast was a huge bonus. On the negative side, the main character Eiichi made some frustrating personal choices that really pissed me off.

Unfortunately, the series lost its spark for me in the second half. From about episode 28 onward, after a major shift in the political landscape, it became a bit of a chore to watch. The political subplots became completely overwhelming—there was a lot of dense dialogue and complex power dynamics that went over my head, and I eventually gave up trying to follow it. Because of that, I couldn't understand why everyone held the last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, in such high regard. I wasn't a fan of the actor's performance either, and the character never quite stood out to me. If I would rewatch it one day, I would only watch the first half.

Overall, it’s a solid series for its first half, but it gets bogged down and boring in the later portion. Keep in mind this is just my personal take on the drama itself, purely as entertainment rather than a strict historical critique!

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