WingedBean

If this drama has taught me anything, it's that when my dream of living and working in a different country materialises, the 1st thing I'll do is enroll in a language school.

What I Liked
🥙The highlight given to all the food. You can make me watch almost anything as long as you mention that they will be talking about food from different cultures. I liked how Mari was curious and willing to try different foods. If she were real, I know that we'd go on so many food adventures together.

🌸Mari & Arikino's Friendship - Sure, it starts with Mari basically bulldozing into Arikino's life and dragging him along her adventures - his opinion be damned - but Arikino needed it. He needed someone to pull him out of that solitude and loneliness that had become his life. Someone to add some colour, taste, love (albeit platonic) into his life, and show him that not all humans are all bad. I love how he, over time, came to not only respect our lovely lettuce head, but also go out of his way to protect her against even his superiors

🚔A cold look at (some) foreigner experience in Japan - The world, at least today, loves Japan. There is a reason why the term 'Japan glazers' exists. I love how this show highlights how not every foreigner's experience is all cherry blossoms, mochi, matcha, and roses. I appreciate how they highlighted matters like xenophobia, racism, disregard from police forces, how language barrier affects daily life, etc., all things you never hear about unless you do a rather deep (and possibly depressive) dive into Japan - or any other country for that matter
PS. I also recently learned about a thing called 'hostage justice,' and Lord, was I traumatized. The thought of being a foreigner, getting arrested over there, having no language to explain yourself, and being saddled with legal enforcement that doesn't give 2 shits about you gives me shivers

💕How much respect and care Mari gave to Arikino & Oda's r/ship - She didn't make a big deal out of it, just simply approached the matter with care, and when Arikino finally opened up to her, lent a listening and understanding ear. She is such a good friend. We all need such friends in our lives (we should also strive to be such friends too)

🎶I did enjoy the OST by Balming Tiger. It's a fun little tune. But no other songs stood out

What Could've Been Done Better
🚨The police cases (and volunteer) - I would've liked it if we dove deeper into them. I wanted the show to dig just a bit deeper into the accused persons and the cases. But I suppose that wasn't the intention

🚨Mari's hair - It was distracting. Not the colour, but the roots and the intensity of the colour. I know TV shows/dramas are rarely shot chronologically. That is likely why her hair colour and roots growth differed so much. But, seeing her hair be bright green in one shot and a faded green with roots showing in another scene, and these scenes are supposed to be in one day or wto consecutive days takes you out of the story. They shold've gotten her a good wig or something

🚨The Villains - Mr. Volunteer guy played a much smaller role than I expected. He shpwed up in all white looking pretty but menacing and I thought he had a much bigger role. He doesn't. It felt like a waste.
Agawa did not get what he deserved. Yeah he got his throat slashed and might never wake up. Boohoo🙄. The man sold people to human traffickers, let murders slide, got that one witness murdered, threatened to out Arikino & Oda (leading to Oda's death) jeered at Arikino that one time they met at the station, and if left alone, would've gotten Mari killed too.
Being in a coma was too good for him. IMO, he deserved a worse fate