Why is it worth a perfect score?
Story: I love this kind of stories. It's a story about people who have a very responsible and demanding job, who love that job and practically live for it. It's a really motivating drama, makes you wanna find your dream profession, pursue it and then do something meaningful in your life. The drama does not drag at any moment(well the beauty of jdramas- they have only 9-11 episodes and you're left wanting more). There is also a love story, though not a heart-wrecking romance as somebody observed, but as it normally happens - you meet someone you like, so you want to be with them and you wish all the best for them. There is also a great bromance,heart-warming family(Shinkai dad-GREAT!)and random hilarity (the girl next door-LOL) in it as well. Generally, all of the characters were very well crafted and you want to know more about them.
Cast: It's Kimutaku in his prime - with his boyish charm and in uniform ^_^. But all the cast members were great and their characters were complex and interesting.
Music: As it didn't attract my attention at all, I have nothing to say about it.
Rewatch: I already want to rewatch! Actually I even did a bit- the best scenes.. ;)
This drama is really outstanding in my opinion, so I highly recommend it.
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I like the way its scriptwriter measures various contents in Good Luck!! because they are well-balanced. Most of the story lines are revolves around the career of Shinkai. Every details and his job in the airlines (such as safety, seniority, check lists, training, and even periodic medical check-up) are portrayed very well. It's not suprising that this big-budget drama is supported by a premium airlines in Japan, All Nippon Airlines, so it didn't fail its expectation. Not only the pilot's everyday life, but his relation with fellow pilots, family, girlfriend, and neighbor are amusing as well. It's all natural and very realistic. Some anticlimax near the end may have deducting the overall points of this drama, but that's not a great deal.
Perhaps what bring this drama into life are the actors portraying the characters, particularly Kimura as young first officer (one rank below captain) Shinkai and Tsutsumi (my personal favorite actor) as Captain Koda. While Kimura plays his usual style, Tsutsumi stole the limelight with his superb acting and depth. The supporting casts play well too, while the actress playing the veteran flight attendant Togashi deserves honorable mention. Even some actors who are not known for their acting prowess play well here.
Last but not least, this solid drama may make you turned into an aviation enthusiast like I was. If it's not, at least you will be entertained along the show.
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The acting of Kimura Takuya as usual was great. I guess I have to say that I am an official fangirl of his!! Even though this is an older drama and it does not focus solely on romance, it is still a really, really great story! Well worth the 10 hours to watch!!
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This review may contain spoilers
A place where you can almost reach out and touch the sun
I was in a slump, nothing was interesting and then I found this. I watched it in two days.Story
I liked it. The theme of the whole drama is flying, healing and never giving up but every episode had it's own little story.
The problem would happen and be solved in the same episode which kept me watching. Nothing dragged.
Ep 9 is emotional damage but I still liked it.
Things I liked
- The characters.
- The focus is on pilots everyday life.
- The romance is a side dish.
- The romance between Shinkai and Ogawa was so cute and natural.
- Every character has it's own story.
- Koda's and Shinkai's friendship. The way they care and understand each other.
- Shinkai's and Togashi's friendship, I liked how they would sit down over coffe and talk about things.
- The friendship between characters in general was a highlight.
- The way the trauma was dealt with. I liked the line: Do you think you are the heroine in Greek tragedy? It was something like that but I laughed so much.
- They actually behave like normal people.
- Not everything needs to be serious and dramatic and I liked that approach.
- The ending song, I never skipped it.
Overall, I enjoyed watching this and I would recommend it to anyone who likes character driven stories.
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Gets off the ground but doesn't soar
Thanks to Netflix picking up more Jdramas I’ve been able to check out some of Kimura Takuya’s older dramas such as the enormously popular Good Luck. I enjoyed it for the most part though some of the older tropes haven’t aged well. Kimura has like a fine wine though.Rookie co-pilot Shinkai Hajime is called upon to land a passenger plane in an emergency. Once on the ground, both a cranky mechanic and the pilot auditor call him on the carpet for his errors. Ogawa and Koda are always ready to cut him down to size and call into question whether he should be a pilot. If those two aren’t on his case, his father is ready to let him know he’s a failure as well. Flight attendant Togashi Noriko and Head Purser Ota give Shinkai more balanced perspectives. Despite all the name calling, a romance burgeons between the co-pilot and mechanic and Koda also grudgingly realizes the sunny Shinkai has his uses.
One unrelentingly critical, combative, unpleasant character regardless of their reasons is enough for me in a drama. Two is pushing it. Three made me want to parachute out of the drama. Only Kimura’s goofy grin and positive energy kept me seated with my tray table in an upright position. I’m not a believer that being good at your job entitles you to belittle people in public and get personal with criticisms. The big reveal for Koda’s horrible attitude was weak and arrogant. Ogawa’s crankiness and drop-dead stare she continually leveled at Shinkai began to grate and I could never see the chemistry between the two characters. She had great chemistry with the equally cranky Koda. Both characters and actors appeared far more relaxed together than with their scripted love interests. Only Shinkai and the ever reliable Togashi kept me engaged.
Good Luck was an interesting look behind the scenes at the Japanese airlines with their dedicated and sometimes horny crew-which should have come as no surprise with all of the gorgeous pilots, FAs, and mechanics wandering around. Characters found love, friendship, and redemption. The drama was a solid commercial to show that air travel is safe and well regulated. But I also learned that I hope I’m never on an ANA flight that is delayed or detoured because Japanese businessmen can become dangerously hysterical. And men think women are overly emotional. Lol
16 August 2025
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Proves that a good story stands the test of time
I was a little skeptical when I started this, considering it is 22 years old. But I would say it has stood the test of time surprisingly well. It just proves how much a good story and well done acting has to say.The reason I chose to start this despite my small skepticism is that I have a soft spot for the aviation industry, and I wanted a change from C- and K-dramas, and this doesn't have too many or long episodes.
Rather instantly this reminded me of the Chinese "Flight to you" from 2022, which I enjoyed.
This story focuses on young pilot Shinkai Hajime, who is popular amongst the female flight attendants, speaks frankly, and has great empathy. He clashes with the strict captain and auditor Koda, who feels responsible for an accident 12 years ago.
Shinkai also bickers with female mechanic Ogawa Ayumi, but they are drawn to each other despite their banter every time they cross paths. There is also a connection between Koda and Ogawa.
The cast is good; Kimura Takuya as Shinkai is charming, and I think he managed to express a lot with his facial expressions and eyes/glance.
Tsutsumi Shinichi pulls off stone-faced captain Koda well, although his character had less to act on, it was the tiny things that made you understand this person was not really cold-hearted.
What I liked the least must have been the music ... there was a few scenes where I did wonder "why on earth did they use THIS track here now". I felt the soundtrack was a bit too "grandiose" overall, but I think that is probably time and cultural related.
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The acting is good. The music was good, especially the ending song "ride on time".
The story is pretty interesting, focusing on a life of a pilot.
I also found the characters to be written well, especially the main love interest, who has a backbone,
is serious about her work, critical, and not a people pleaser in anyway.
Yet I did not like the drama, it felt like a drudge to watch it.
It felt for me to much like a general shounen plot,
the main lead wants to be captain but is opposed by his boss Captain Koda,
and has to undergo several trials to test if his determination is strong enough to become a captain.
There also a more emotional story underlying the serie,
but to be honest I did not really feel it.
While I found the backstory of the love interest pretty good, coming to terms with her own fears,
I found the backstory of Captain Koda not believable, I do not understand why it was such a traumatic experience,
he feels responsible for something what really is not his fault, and I really do not understand why he had to break up with his girlfriend.
The ending of the drama also dissapointing,
they could have given it a mature ending about dreams and reality,
instead it ends like a typical shounen plot.
If you want to watch something with a deep message then do not watch this,
instead I recommend watching The Wind Rises (ghibli).
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