Hitori de Shinitai (2025)

If anything, watch for the last two episodes

Classic NHK when it comes to discussing social issues and making you reflect on your own life - I found the topic of end-of-life prep interesting and relevant even as a non-Japanese person, so I think it's worth a watch for that alone, especially if you're a working adult.

Where it falls short for me lies with the MC. I know that Narumi being selfish and naive is the whole point of her character, but it made it SO hard to empathize with her, and the ~ random xD ~ way Ayase Haruka played her only made it worse. On the other hand, I thought Nasuda was really compelling, so the last two episodes that focus on him really saved this drama imo. The confrontation between Narumi and Nasuda in the records (?) room at work after he spent the day giving her the cold shoulder had me glued to my screen! Sano Hayato was a great casting choice because his boyish looks disarm you and make you try to excuse Nasuda’s sociopathic tendencies (or, at least, it worked on me lol), and I was impressed by some of the subtleties of his performance.

While I could've done without the more quirky elements (the rap battle portion especially), I will say that the lighter tone despite the heavy subject matter made these ideas more digestible and left me feeling somewhat hopeful instead of doomed as is often the case these days...lol.

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