This review may contain spoilers
When someone dies, are they really gone?
Well well that was a visually pleasing ride.
Story: I think the coffee being a large part of the story makes sense thematically. Coffee is an acquired taste that to some can taste very bitter. But some people have the ability to be able to discern those bitter flavors. It's a learned skill to understand the positives of the acidic and bitter flavours. Finding the positives in an otherwise negative like Yusuke said. Not to mention the circular motion you use to pour drip coffee for a perfect cup. This is another nod to Yusuke speaking about how the world is a circle and you eventually everyone ends up together again. The apples representing longevity speak to the movies message about the courage to live on no matter how many seasons pass.
Another thing that was enjoyable for me was the reinterpreted dialogue . I like that they came back to lines to really tug on your heart. As the story progresses it gets muddy in a good way. You can't really root for anyone here. It's actually so hard. You just want them all to be happy somehow. There just needed some creamer and sugar to really make this special.
Characters:
Saeko is immediately likeable with her struggles at the forefront. Kasumi always chooses to play characters who are gentle but will lock in and berate you when need be. It's a trait I look forward to in all her roles. Not to mention how her decisions are made with just her eyes. With expression and long dialogue cues, Kasumi is the star of the show.
Yusuke's consistent laughter felt a little fake, so it was hard to like him at first. I think they needed to build this character a little more to make the overall feeling more intense. I think this is one of the reasons why I didn't feel too strongly about the plot.
Naruse's character starts out kind of bland and boring but he opens up as the series goes on as it's one of the plot points lol. Although he says he changed personalities but it doesn't feel like it at all lol. He's at his best when he's conflicted. I think his character got better midway due to the various imposing forces on his mind but it didn't sit well with how sometime his dialogue was just “ah“
Miki, Nauruse's wife, seems to just all of a sudden be worried about change without much happening. It seemed kind of sudden. I felt that needed more time before her reacting. I can understand if you are seeing little changes and start to worry about your SO. But the initial worried reaction she had didn't feel deserved yet. You feel so bad for her though throughout the story. And also half the time you wonder where she is lol
Cinematography:
The show has movie quality shots.
I like how they chose Hawaii to film the initial episode. Not only is it beautiful, but to me it's meant to be a little insight into the feelings of the characters. A vast endless gorgeous world yet it feels a little lonely and isolated. There was a mirror like shot on the beach in the first episode that showed this sentiment. Throughout the episodes they go back to this feeling a lot with these scenic shots. It really establishes the mood of the series. There's also great balance of night and day sequences. I cannot stress how good the lighting is in so many shots.
Set design and music:
I enjoyed all the sets. I just wanted to mention how lived in they looked. The cafes, coffee plant and both homes were very picturesque with so much set dressing. Each set didn't feel barren, they were brimming with life. I loved the piano motifs in the movie. I'm sure many of you will now feel nostalgic hearing Jackson's fives "I want you back. " I enjoyed the theme song too.
Overall a decent series but I think some of the characters needed more scenes or dialogue to flesh out their motivations and impact.
Story: I think the coffee being a large part of the story makes sense thematically. Coffee is an acquired taste that to some can taste very bitter. But some people have the ability to be able to discern those bitter flavors. It's a learned skill to understand the positives of the acidic and bitter flavours. Finding the positives in an otherwise negative like Yusuke said. Not to mention the circular motion you use to pour drip coffee for a perfect cup. This is another nod to Yusuke speaking about how the world is a circle and you eventually everyone ends up together again. The apples representing longevity speak to the movies message about the courage to live on no matter how many seasons pass.
Another thing that was enjoyable for me was the reinterpreted dialogue . I like that they came back to lines to really tug on your heart. As the story progresses it gets muddy in a good way. You can't really root for anyone here. It's actually so hard. You just want them all to be happy somehow. There just needed some creamer and sugar to really make this special.
Characters:
Saeko is immediately likeable with her struggles at the forefront. Kasumi always chooses to play characters who are gentle but will lock in and berate you when need be. It's a trait I look forward to in all her roles. Not to mention how her decisions are made with just her eyes. With expression and long dialogue cues, Kasumi is the star of the show.
Yusuke's consistent laughter felt a little fake, so it was hard to like him at first. I think they needed to build this character a little more to make the overall feeling more intense. I think this is one of the reasons why I didn't feel too strongly about the plot.
Naruse's character starts out kind of bland and boring but he opens up as the series goes on as it's one of the plot points lol. Although he says he changed personalities but it doesn't feel like it at all lol. He's at his best when he's conflicted. I think his character got better midway due to the various imposing forces on his mind but it didn't sit well with how sometime his dialogue was just “ah“
Miki, Nauruse's wife, seems to just all of a sudden be worried about change without much happening. It seemed kind of sudden. I felt that needed more time before her reacting. I can understand if you are seeing little changes and start to worry about your SO. But the initial worried reaction she had didn't feel deserved yet. You feel so bad for her though throughout the story. And also half the time you wonder where she is lol
Cinematography:
The show has movie quality shots.
I like how they chose Hawaii to film the initial episode. Not only is it beautiful, but to me it's meant to be a little insight into the feelings of the characters. A vast endless gorgeous world yet it feels a little lonely and isolated. There was a mirror like shot on the beach in the first episode that showed this sentiment. Throughout the episodes they go back to this feeling a lot with these scenic shots. It really establishes the mood of the series. There's also great balance of night and day sequences. I cannot stress how good the lighting is in so many shots.
Set design and music:
I enjoyed all the sets. I just wanted to mention how lived in they looked. The cafes, coffee plant and both homes were very picturesque with so much set dressing. Each set didn't feel barren, they were brimming with life. I loved the piano motifs in the movie. I'm sure many of you will now feel nostalgic hearing Jackson's fives "I want you back. " I enjoyed the theme song too.
Overall a decent series but I think some of the characters needed more scenes or dialogue to flesh out their motivations and impact.
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