DragonAlien

“Have you loved anyone deeply before? Is there someone you want to see right now? Destiny is like the Big Dipper, it always points in one direction. Meeting someone may mark the start of a breakup and a breakup is the beginning of another meeting. Within that short span of time, let us have hopes and advance together. Just a little bit more… A little bit more… I want to walk towards the ocean with you. Do you – is there someone you want to see right now?” This was a grand drama. One of the most meaningful dramas that I've seen thus far. It’s about that transition in your life when all your dreams and aspirations about the future battle against the reality that exists before you. The main characters are bound by an astrological society called Sagittarius that they joined in college, where deep friendships and love then bloomed. The story takes place a few years after graduation where the characters try to relive their carefree and insouciant youth in their busy lives. What's captivating are the backup stories of each of the characters that are somehow entangled to all of them and the rise of emotional upheavals that bring them closer than before. I loved how the series developed each character and there was not one person out of the Sagittarius group that I disliked. In fact, I could almost say that I admired each one of them to a certain extent. I love everything about this show – the characters, the plot, the plentiful conflicts which were so realistic and equally believable in their executions and outcomes… everything. My favorite aspect of the storytelling is the fact that despite having eight central characters, none were left by the wayside and each individual conflicts were different, yet resonated and were directly or indirectly interwoven to each other and reflective of the circle as a whole. The presentation of loss, failure, unrequited love, moving on and adulthood is handled with finesse and reflects a depth of reality wherein the world can be unfair and not everything is peaches and cream, which sets this drama apart from other syrupy ones. I love this drama for its unpredictable and realistic storyline that is solidified by engaging characters. I've come to understand the actions, decisions and outcomes of each character; I don’t always agree or like everyone equally, I admit, but I greatly appreciate that nothing’s black and white. I thought Tentai Kansoku completely understood adulthood for what it is: that even as adults, we don’t always have all the answers we think we would, nor do we necessarily know the directions we’re headed towards and most crucially, what they mean. The dreams we had had, do they stay the same? The essence of who we were and especially, who we were to each other, could they possibly stay the same? If they don’t, what does it mean, to have changed as a product of our respective experiences, frustrations, jadedness and more? It’s hard to really categorize the genre of this show; it’s a love story, yet it’s so much more than that. It’s a friendship story, most definitely, but it’s also not necessarily greater in sum than parts – both aspects were wonderfully executed with pathos, nuance and insights. I’d love to list it under coming-of-age, but it has none of the doe-eyed innocence of say, a teenager in full bloom towards adulthood. Rather, here’s a story of eight adults – fully grown, mature and wholly responsible for their respective lives – trying to make sense of their world, their presence and mostly, their own self-worth while remembering, realizing and learning that oh how blessed they are, to have each other to fall back on. There is no doubt that Koichi performed by Ito Hideaki who was brilliant, is perhaps my most favorite character because he’s so… real and oh so kind. He’s known for his obvious dislike at lying, trying so hard to live honestly and expecting others to do the same. His idealism and principles are challenged through questionable work outcomes and inevitably, a life-changing truth. I respect so much about him the fact that he always tries to be there for the other person. When entrusted with truth that is not his to reveal, despite the inner turmoil he clearly faced, he never did spill the secret or judge the other for it. His dependency is I believe, his greatest asset that when reality comes crashing to him squarely, that brokenness evident through his expression as the walls of ideals versus reality crashed. He broke down in sobs and across the screen, I wept for his lost innocence. I would say a few words about other two characters I liked the most: Tomoya as the most optimist one, if he wasn't there all of them wouldn't be there together, he was the one who always calls, cheers, give them support and that out loud smile and talk, he’s constantly putting others ahead of himself and I think his optimism and idealism is what kept their society the most alive, and Takeshi performed by one more genius and brilliant actor Odagiri Joe, the most tragic one, he is perhaps the character with the least screen time as a group, but made the most impact whether individually or together. Forced to grow up and face reality ahead of the rest and before he himself is truly ready, he’s since been hardened by his lack of lot in life. His presence – larger than life – and the irony that despite everyone’s open willingness to get-together and the like, it’s Takeshi’s quiet resilience and love for the friendship circle that’s perhaps most honest compared to any open expressions of affections and sentiments from the others. But all of them are amazing and every one of them had their bog role and values. The script for this drama is one of the best I've ever seen in my entire life, I found myself constantly repeat some scenes just to hear sentences, so many great quotes, full of life lessons and touching emotions, I admire the writer for that. As for the music, closing song of drama, Mika Nakashima's Will was simply astonishing and wonderful and so fitted the whole atmosphere. In terms of the friendship circle, ah hey broke my heart, mended it and repeated the cycle a million times over throughout the entire course of the show. I love that so much realism was injected in not only their individual conflicts, but also in terms of the roots of their friendship circle. How much do they really know about each other, as they absentmindedly promise to be there for each other? Preaching this and that to each other, how are they actually living their own lives away from their friends? As they wish each other happiness, are they themselves happy? While these questions and more were explored, questioned and interrogated, I love that regardless whatever takes place or not – they truly are for and from each other and none more evident than those scenes in the last two episodes. I love that in their search for themselves, they found not only each other, but themselves through each other. I love it even more, that though they walk in and out of each other’s lives and in the many years to come such actions would perhaps repeat, they realize that they can always return to one another. “Each of us is a small boat, even if we see someone drowning, we can’t help him onto the boat. This is a boat that can only take in one person. But that day, I thought… Even in the midst of storms, even if we lose our way in the ocean… If we gaze upon the same star, if we have companions by our side, perhaps we’ll be motivated by an overwhelming strength. Though it’s a boat that can only take one person, we can always feel one another’s presence. Such miracles may happen around you or me.” Tentai Kansoku is truly a story with so much heart, realism, love and above all, hope.