366 Nichi

A drama with no clear identity or purpose

The story was an indecisive plot about a bunch of high school friends being indecisive until, ten years after graduation, their pent-up emotions force them to half-heartedly act. I'm not sure what the message was. And, while I like the ensemble style, I am not persuaded that those five people really knew each other like inseparable high school buddies should so I felt that the backstory had some really thin spots.

I'd have been content if it had lived up to the potential of being a light drama about the healing power of love and baseball. Instead it spends too much time in slice-of-life melodrama territory before it decides to blindside us with random resolutions while leaving us hanging on the main plotlines until the last second. And I got a case of SLS for Miyabe-san. Whoever tried so hard to make her character look creepy and pathetic: You failed and I don't like you!

It was competently acted but I think the directors failed to use the leads' strengths as physical actors who can fill the screen with motion. All that static, tight cinematography did not let them show their best.

I wouldn't watch it again and can't say that I really recommend it. Even for fans of the leads you're not missing out if you skip it.

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Every emotion you can feel is in this drama

This is an absolute rollercoaster ride of different emotions. Starting out happy and innocent to sad and extremely depressing, all within a matter of two episodes. Not knowing what the title "366 Days" really means when you start watching, you just need to stay focused and just keep watching.
Gordon Maeda, who I'm a long time fan of, gives a fantastic performance, playing really two roles, Haruto before the accident and Haruto after the accident. Alice Hirose is also brilliant at showing the difficulties when dealing with a catastrophic event in one's family or relationship. The two of them match perfectly together to make for a very believable story, giving you several tear-jerking moments.
The supporting cast is great, showing the importance of friendship, and how "best friends" are always there for you, in good times and in bad.
I must admit, I started having a change of heart toward this series around episode 7, not liking the direction is was going at all, almost to a point of not wanting to watch the final three or so episodes ... BUT I'm so glad I stuck with it. If you're watching it and feel an annoyance to even anger come over you later in the series, stick it out, you'll be glad you did. The final episode definitely makes it all worth your while!!!
A line given early on in this series definitely makes total sense at the end, "No one knows what the future will bring. You have to work today, for the sake of tomorrow"

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