Fumiko

What I like about Fumi is that she can also play scenes in which she creeps you out so well.

One example I can think of is the scene in My Man in which she faces the girlfriend of Asano's character (the scene with the earrings)

She is so talented I really like that she has so many different roles.

Is there anybody else who really dislikes this dramas bashing/downplaying of the historically relevant/cool Sanada women Ina/Komatsu (Yoshida Yo) and Otani Yoshitsugu's daughter (Matsuoka Mayu)?

I really disliked this since I like both figures: Ina in history is cool and Otani Yoshitsugu's daughter tragic and likeable. I also like Yoshida Yo and Mayu however the script of this Taiga was so bad.

I like Shibasaki Kou a lot especially as Kichou in Nobunaga Concerto. However I think they should have chosen someone like Ishihara Satomi (ironically Naotora in Samurai Warriors is designed after Ishihara). Shibasaki does not fit the motherly Naotora especially since a certain future red clad Samurai is now part of the main cast.

I like the cast though.
My favorite is Nanao as Sena/Tsukiyama. Her scenes with Takechiyo/Ieyasu are so entertaining and I am curious how they will depict her plot...

I enjoy Naotora way more than Sanadamaru.

So far looking on the official webpage the cast seems decent. Let's hope that Sekigahara will be depicted as huge as in Aoi Tokugawa. Shiba Ryotaro's novel has been filmed before as a special and I am glad that after years a movie version was possible.

Especially for Sena/Tsukiyama. The little girl really looks like Nanao XD.

The first half was entertaining and decent however the second half full of clichees and lazy writing.

I like Tokiwa Takako and Matsuoka Mayu thus I plan to watch it.

Mayu is so talented and a very beautiful girl. She has a new role this year (in Yasuragi no Sato) however I hope to see her in even more roles this year.

It's addictive somehow a guilty pleasure show. Which means that I will watch all episodes lol.

This Taiga's story is actually really true. I have summarized what happened in history in the other reply under spoiler. (Beware heavy spoilers for the entire drama)

This story is actually true. The Ii clan really had a female head for some time due to succession problems. She is known as Ii Naotora (Jiro Hoshi).

The reason why she was head of the clan was:
Naotora's father Naomori died in the Battle of Okehazama. Naotora's fiancee Naochika married another woman and had a son named Toramatsu/Naomasa.
Naotora herself never married.
Since Naotora's ex-fiancee also died Naotora became the female head until Toramatsu/Naomasa became old enough to take over.

Best Japanese Drama: Juhan Shuttai!
Best movie: Chihayafuru, if cats disappeared from the world
Best comedy: 99.9
Best Manga Anime adaption: Chihayafuru
Best actress: Haru Kuroki (Juhan Shuttai!)
Best supporting actor: Masao Kusakari (Masayuki in Sanadamaru)
Best supporting actress: Mayu Matsuoka (Haru in Sanadamaru), Haru Kuroki (Ume in Sanadamaru)

Fumi was also good in a more normal role than usual. However the camera almost always zoomed out which was really annoying especially Kento's character would have benefitted from more close ups since Kyoya is hard to read.

After 38 episodes instead of a comedy to me it now feels more like a trashy soap opera version of the Sanada clan. Also Nagasawa Masami still gets way too much screentime despite her character being of no relevance historically she is pushed into every possible scenario.

Rather stick with Sanada Taiheiki if you want to see a decent TV show about the Sanada clan.