This review may contain spoilers
Even though Teppan seems ordinary, it still brings warmth.
Teppan is my 17th Asadora! Honestly, it’s one of the most ordinary Asadora and doesn’t have strong plot compared to others. However, even though it’s just about a young girl starting her life as part of society and finding her identity, Teppan is still worth watching.
♡ THINGS I LIKE:
1. The Murakami Family – They are the most harmonious Asadora heroine family and one of my favorites! I love their way of life, welcoming everyone with sincerity and warmth. Their family consists of various personalities: a hardworking father who is strict yet deeply loving, to the point of being unreasonable when it comes to Akari; a kind, sincere, and strong mother; Kin-nii, the most understanding, kind, and sweet older brother; Tetsu-nii, who may seem lazy but has a warm heart; and Akari, the bright light who fills the Murakami family with her cheerfulness.
2. The Music – Even though the opening song is an instrumental, there are many songs and background music throughout various scenes, adding depth to the story.
3. The Way It Handles Adoption – While I initially disliked how the narrator seemed to suggest that the Murakami family wasn’t Akari’s "real" family in the early episodes, I liked how the story developed. No matter what, Akari is a part of the Murakami family, and I loved how even Akari’s grandmother was considered family by them.
4. The residents of the boarding house – I love the dynamics among the boarders. While it’s not as deep as Churasan, I still enjoyed it. I like how they support Akari during tough times, how they always have breakfast together, and more. Oh, and let’s not forget the neighbors in Onomichi and Osaka too!
5. The realistic ending! – For me, Akari’s final decision was the best and most realistic choice. At just 20 years old, her strong determination to continue running her Okonomiyaki restaurant feels like a great beginning. There are still many opportunities for her in both life and love in the future. I’m glad to finally see a heroine who sticks to her choice, persisting until the end with her chosen career.
6. Learning new cultures – Asadora is my favorite type of drama because I get to learn about different cultures. For example, I love how Ozouni varies from city to city, with different broth and filling variations. Even Okonomiyaki is adapted to suit local tastes!
7. Akari’s journey in cooking Okonomiyaki – I love how she learns to cook Okonomiyaki step by step. Watching her being taught from the basics, how to select good ingredients, choose the right sauce to develop her own signature flavor, and so on.
♡ THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
1. The narrator’s narration in the early episodes – I didn’t like how the narrator seemed to imply that the Murakami family wasn’t Akari’s real family and how it felt like she had to choose between her adoptive family and her biological family.
2. Teppei (the heroine’s brother) – He could be a bit annoying at times. However, I still liked him because he meant well and was an important part of the heroine’s life.
3. Some draggy plots in the second half – the introduction of a new character who was pregnant (which took up many episodes), the sudden appearance of the heroine’s biological father, and how the romance only really developed in the final weeks.
4. The heroine herself – She doesn’t necessarily need to be on this list, but while I don’t dislike her, I can’t say I really like her either. Initially, I found her character likable, but in the second half, she started to frustrate me. She often found herself stuck in dilemmas, became a burden to others when she was confused, and struggled with indecisiveness. She also had a tendency to whine whenever she panicked.
5. The romance – Honestly, I was really sad that Akari didn’t end up with Takizawa. However, her final decision was the best and most realistic choice, as I can’t imagine her moving away just to follow the guy she likes and leaving behind her Okonomiyaki restaurant, which was her true passion.
Overall, I still like Teppan! It’s one of the lighter Asadora and doesn’t leave a bitter taste after finishing it. I highly recommend it because I’m sure you’ll love the Murakami family as much as I did!♡
♡ THINGS I LIKE:
1. The Murakami Family – They are the most harmonious Asadora heroine family and one of my favorites! I love their way of life, welcoming everyone with sincerity and warmth. Their family consists of various personalities: a hardworking father who is strict yet deeply loving, to the point of being unreasonable when it comes to Akari; a kind, sincere, and strong mother; Kin-nii, the most understanding, kind, and sweet older brother; Tetsu-nii, who may seem lazy but has a warm heart; and Akari, the bright light who fills the Murakami family with her cheerfulness.
2. The Music – Even though the opening song is an instrumental, there are many songs and background music throughout various scenes, adding depth to the story.
3. The Way It Handles Adoption – While I initially disliked how the narrator seemed to suggest that the Murakami family wasn’t Akari’s "real" family in the early episodes, I liked how the story developed. No matter what, Akari is a part of the Murakami family, and I loved how even Akari’s grandmother was considered family by them.
4. The residents of the boarding house – I love the dynamics among the boarders. While it’s not as deep as Churasan, I still enjoyed it. I like how they support Akari during tough times, how they always have breakfast together, and more. Oh, and let’s not forget the neighbors in Onomichi and Osaka too!
5. The realistic ending! – For me, Akari’s final decision was the best and most realistic choice. At just 20 years old, her strong determination to continue running her Okonomiyaki restaurant feels like a great beginning. There are still many opportunities for her in both life and love in the future. I’m glad to finally see a heroine who sticks to her choice, persisting until the end with her chosen career.
6. Learning new cultures – Asadora is my favorite type of drama because I get to learn about different cultures. For example, I love how Ozouni varies from city to city, with different broth and filling variations. Even Okonomiyaki is adapted to suit local tastes!
7. Akari’s journey in cooking Okonomiyaki – I love how she learns to cook Okonomiyaki step by step. Watching her being taught from the basics, how to select good ingredients, choose the right sauce to develop her own signature flavor, and so on.
♡ THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
1. The narrator’s narration in the early episodes – I didn’t like how the narrator seemed to imply that the Murakami family wasn’t Akari’s real family and how it felt like she had to choose between her adoptive family and her biological family.
2. Teppei (the heroine’s brother) – He could be a bit annoying at times. However, I still liked him because he meant well and was an important part of the heroine’s life.
3. Some draggy plots in the second half – the introduction of a new character who was pregnant (which took up many episodes), the sudden appearance of the heroine’s biological father, and how the romance only really developed in the final weeks.
4. The heroine herself – She doesn’t necessarily need to be on this list, but while I don’t dislike her, I can’t say I really like her either. Initially, I found her character likable, but in the second half, she started to frustrate me. She often found herself stuck in dilemmas, became a burden to others when she was confused, and struggled with indecisiveness. She also had a tendency to whine whenever she panicked.
5. The romance – Honestly, I was really sad that Akari didn’t end up with Takizawa. However, her final decision was the best and most realistic choice, as I can’t imagine her moving away just to follow the guy she likes and leaving behind her Okonomiyaki restaurant, which was her true passion.
Overall, I still like Teppan! It’s one of the lighter Asadora and doesn’t leave a bitter taste after finishing it. I highly recommend it because I’m sure you’ll love the Murakami family as much as I did!♡
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