This review may contain spoilers
Beyond revenge: Well-written characters, Of Growth & Healing and Differing Fates
Disclaimer: I've not read the Manhwa or seen the K-Adaptation. Contains some spoilers ahead! Might be lengthy as I biasedly gush over the writing and depth of the characters. Feel free to disagree or not!As someone who's admittedly not a fan of revenge plot (especially over-dramatized ones), this show really surprised me as it somehow hits all the right notes for me as by striking a delicate balance between the progressively heavier, darker revenge plot with some comedic moments and plenty of beautiful, heartwarming moments of platonic, familial and romantic relationships - all of it brought together by breathtaking cinematography, lighting and color palette.
Ultimately, what really drew me in were the characters and their progression. Whether you find yourself rooting for them, hating them, empathizing or sympathizing with them, the characters' grounded, consistent writing and/or growth were truly a joy to watch.
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✧ MISA
Koshiba Fuka's performance was truly the highlight of the show. I do find myself cringing whenever I notice instances of over-acting (I hope I'm not too harsh here) in Jdoramas but Misa's portrayal here felt so natural in every scene even as she progresses into different phases of her life which really showcased her acting range. IMO, even in her first life, Misa had qualities of a character you'd want to root for. What she really needed to learn was prioritizing her own needs and setting boundaries around toxic relationships. And that's exactly what she did in her second life - she's still the Misa (with her likeable traits) who struggles to be a villain, who’s kind and genuine to people she loves, except now she's also willing to take chances, stand up for herself, learn from her failures to ultimately becoming someone truly and unabashedly comfortable in her own skin. After all, growth and healing take time. What a joy to watch.
✧ WATARU
Takeru Sato's performance is a little stiff by design, because underneath the cold and aloof front is a socially awkward man who blurts out (mean) things which he doesn't mean. Think of paddling ducks: calm and collected on the (water) surface, but panically paddling to stay afloat. Underneath the tsundere appearance is actually someone who also needed to grow as an individual - even if Wataru had initially believed that he should dedicate his second life to Misa, to the extreme of wanting to pay with his own, a parallel to Misa at the start when it comes to neglecting their own needs. Despite his attempts in his second life to play a more proactive role in Misa's life, he still struggled with the occasional bad decisions and hesitation when the moments mattered the most - hesitating to ask Misa out (during the drunk Misa phone call), casting aside his true passion for research, not being upfront with Misa in the latter half and trying to take matters into his own hands. Like Misa, Wataru can and should learn to live the life he wishes to live. And like Misa, he too needed to make mistakes and learn from them. As much as we (Or just speaking for myself) love seeing more Green Flag couples portrayed on screen, it's hard not to appreciate Wataru being written as a more grounded character learning and working through his own flaws and insecurities (ie. believing that his role in the company was not due to his abilities but familial circumstances), some of which stemming from his humble origins instead of being born into a life of riches and comfort.
✧ REINA
Undeniably the second highlight of the show was Shiraishi Sei's performance as Reina. And her performance only got better and more unnerving as Reina's psyche got progressively darker and more twisted. I've said it before but I really enjoyed her backstory that allowed me to understand how she might have become who she is and how her defensive/coping mechanisms came to be. Backstories which explain but not justify her actions and character. I'm hesitant to psychoanalyze further to avoid potential stigmatization but my impression of Reina is more lastingly one of a tragic character. Perhaps an unpopular opinion but I'm left wondering how life could've been different had she had loving parents or adults who not only loved her but also guided her towards accountability when things go south. What might a second life for Reina, perhaps even further back into her childhood look like? Ultimately, I'm reminded of the phrase - Hurt people hurt people. Alas, huge props to Shiraishi Sei for doing such a phenomenal job.
✧ TOMOYA
I felt kind of bad that Yokoyama Yu had the least to work with in terms of Tomoya's character but the dinner scene with Reina made me come to terms that that's just who Tomoya is - a man who is the opposite of Reina - someone who's emotional yet reactive (Think back to the countless scenes where he lashes out without a plan, even showing his abusive side by taking advantage of Misa's kindness.). Yet, he's also naive and gullible in his own ways - seeing how he got so easily swayed by Reina and Misa's words and who can forget ...'how to get away with murder'. In a sense, Tomoya's lack of accountability and naivety are likely products of growing up in an overly sheltered environment. Tomoya's character arc parallels more closely with Reina but differs in other ways. Tomoya had a loving mother (To be clear, I'm not saying she's a good person. She's awful.) but one who had coddled him to the point of detriment. By comparison, Reina had none (No loving parent or any understanding of accountability). Applying the second life scenario again, unlike Reina, Tomoya offered a slight glimpse of 'what could had been' in his final apology to Misa (And no, Misa doesn't have to forgive him.) and him reaching the realization of how badly he messed up. But alas, too little too late.
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❤️ MISA & WATARU
Aside from the obvious heart-warming scenes Misa and Wataru both share on screen, the progression of their relationship felt natural all the way to the end. What I really appreciated was the full circle writing with how they both complemented each other as the story progressed.
Phase 1: Despite lacking in social skills, Wataru understood boundaries (ie. How repulsive he felt towards Reina and Tomoya) which was what Misa needed. Whether intentionally or unintentionally provocative with his upfront remarks and questions, he helped Misa realize that she is more than capable of standing up for herself (Yes, even against Wataru) right from the get-go.
Phase 2: However, doesn't Wataru remind us of people who are good at dishing out advice but horrible at applying them to their own lives? Re my previous point that Wataru still had the tendency to make the wrong decisions when it mattered the most. We see Misa became more comfortable pursuing and expressing what she wants while Wataru remained stagnant in his growth, likely because he was more focused on Misa's well-being than his own. Now, enter a more confident Misa to complement Wataru's flaws, not only by reminding him to heed his own advice but to also be more honest in expressing his true feelings.
Phase 3: Both Misa and Wataru acknowledging that they want and need each other in their second life, regardless of how things might go - that it's more important for them to walk together.
❤️ MISA & REINA
I really enjoyed how everything played out at the end, especially the parallels in their fate (Even Reina's with her mother's was an eerie parallel). This might be a hot take but I thought it felt more satisfactory seeing how their story arcs (through Misa's POV) are not restricted to the idea of forgiving / not forgiving, but in acknowledging the nuances of the circumstances and ultimately the need to learn, move on and heal. Understandably, if you want a more revenge-centric plot, I can see why this might be disappointing.
Another hot take being that ultimately it isn't about what we as the audience think is right (though I want to acknowledge that our varied responses are valid as they are shaped by our individual values and lived experiences) but what made sense through Misa's POV, her character growth and the story's themes.
IMO, Misa likely sympathized with Reina's painful childhood (and abandonment trauma) but she also possesses enough self-awareness to acknowledge her own shortcomings of not being more upfront with Reina earlier all while remembering that she is also not responsible for Reina's actions and behavior. Multiple things can be true at the same time. Misa can and should cut off toxic relationships which are beyond repair and ultimately that's what she stood firmly by even in the face of death. Had she done the opposite, it might not have sat well with me either. And ultimately, no matter how much Misa plots and schemes (understandably due to the plot mechanism), it felt more grounded and satisfactory to see Misa realizing that she needed to face her fears up front instead of running away or pulling strings from afar. Like how she first learnt to be direct and not let anybody talk down to her, here too did she need to be direct and leave the toxic relationship.
Even more impressive when you realize this seemed to be the way the writer managed to circumvent the plot mechanism (second life + time travel + death substitute) and relay a message or life lesson that could be applied practically - that there come points in our lives where we need to face our fears and problems head on.
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✧ SCREENPLAY & WRITING:
Writer Oshima Satomi's screenplay here excels not just through the consistent characterization of our 4 leads but also the tight writing. Most of the scenes and dialogues seemed to serve a purpose without feeling forced, cheapened or unnatural. Even the plot - how characters learnt about various information - flowed logically and naturally, for most parts. What truly impresses me is how satisfactory the rewatching experience gets once you start noticing the countless call-backs, references, motifs, parallels and foreshadowing being sprinkled throughout the show right from the get-go. There were definitely moments that felt too convenient but ultimately, I felt like this show's strengths are good and enjoyable enough to cover the flaws.
✧ BONUS THINGS I LOVED:
- Nearly all the scenes involving Misa's father were comforting and heartwarming to watch. Tsuda Kanji did a great job portraying the loving father.
- The 1-2 mins flashback of Misa remembering 'how she never liked it when others were in a bad mood' and 'how she felt the need to keep the peace' was a very subtle yet insightful look into Misa's psyche and very relatable due to personal experiences. Maybe this is why I find myself rooting even harder for Misa (and acknowledging that she is flawed like everyone else) and her growth as a person?
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In conclusion, I've said plenty and would definitely recommend everyone to give this show at least a try (and for me, multiple rewatches in the future). My reasons are obviously just my own for why I've enjoyed it and it's not a show without its flaws. If you've read this far, thanks for your patience and I hope that my word salad wasn't a waste of your time 😂
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This review may contain spoilers
'When everything is aligned, it starts to rain'
I first came across 'Okaeri Mone' only because of its soundtrack due to me being a fan of its composer Masakatsu Takagi. Little did I know, this would also be my first introduction to what is known as Asadora aka. Morning Drama. Now that I'm finally done with all 120 episodes, I can officially say that this is one of the richest and most satisfying Jdoramas I've watched.If anything, it way exceeded my expectations.
✦Comparisons: It could be my first... and last Asadora✦
I've only 2 Asadoras to compare to: 'Natsuzora' (Completed the first arc) and 'Amachan' (I'm at week 3). But frankly speaking, I'm struggling to continue with the 2 asadoras because IMO, the depth of Okaeri Mone's writing shines the most when dealing with heavier subject matters with sensitivity and honesty. To my understanding, this is also what makes Okaeri Mone a little unusual and sort of an outlier for an Asadora, for better and for worse - depending on the audience's taste.
✦What I've enjoyed✦
Stories & Themes: Taking place in post-2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, 'Okaeri Mone' is largely about characters coming to terms with grief and survivor's guilt. Of course, there are plenty of heartwarming , humorous and inspiring moments, but where 'Okaeri Mone' absolutely shines is not shying away from the heavier and vulnerable moments and dialogues,. It doesn't seek to resolve those moments in a flash, instead opting to let these moments linger before hitting more satisfactory conclusions. Like in life, it takes time to heal. The theme of nature is literally and metaphorically fitting with story's central themes as we are often reminded of the duality of nature - that while it can be scary and reminds us to be humble, it can also be beautiful and enriching when we learn to understand and attempt to live in tune with it.
Characters: Kiyohara Kaya absolutely shines in her role as Nagaura Momone. I appreciate how Mone's character is written - an introverted, introspective and inconspicuous character which aligns better with the more grounded, introspective tone of the drama, allowing the audience to sit with the raw emotions and dialogues without rushing to resolutions. Not that a classic, cheerful FL would be bad but I'd imagine that to shift the tone of the drama significantly because that archetype of heroine will like deal with issues differently than how Mone was written. Another pleasant surprise was how important Mone's childhood friends (and younger sister Michi) would be throughout the story. They all get character developments and would have their lives intersect with Mone at different junctures of her life. And the same could be said to most of the supporting characters around Mone - from her Tokyo colleagues, to her own family (which was such a delight to watch). And a special shoutout to Natsuki Mari for her portrayal of Nitta Sayaka as Mone's mentor during the first arc of the story as she was arguably my second favorite character of the whole series.
Writing: I absolutely love the nuances in some of the topics discussed throughout the drama. From the more philosophical takes on nature (and learning to be humble and live with it), to the inner struggles the characters bared - ranging from the inner conflicts and dilemmas that people born in the countryside might face (whether it's okay to prefer the city life or outsiders questioning their decisions to remain rooted in disaster-adverse places) to characters having open, vulnerable conversations about the inability to speak about trauma and guilt. There were also moments where Mone played more of an observer role. which were just as satisfying to watch.
Music: Being a fan of Masakatsu Takagi, I felt that his light, ethereal composition is a perfect match for 'Okaeri Mone'. They always seem to hit the right note, never overwhelming or overshadowing the show. The show's opening theme 'Nanairo' by Bump of Chicken is the icing on the cake with its more energetic and inspiring beat to begin every episode.
✦What I've qualms about✦
To be honest, there is really not a lot to nitpick about the show.
If I really had to, it would mostly lie with the last few weeks of the show where things felt a little rushed and Mone was sidelined a little too much. I felt that Michi's central guilt (relating to the 2011 disaster) should've been flashed out or revealed a little earlier because something of that significance should be given more time to dwell on and resolve. If anything, I would've loved for the show to have an extra 2-3 weeks to conclude things better. Then again, I wouldn't mind watching more weeks of the show because it's just that good and enjoyable.
✦Conclusion✦
Even comparing against standard 45-60min long Jdoramas, 'Okaeri Mone' had one of the richest and in-depth writing I've seen so far. (Perhaps due to the luxury of having 120 episodes). If I'm being honest, this show has been largely a tear-jerker and most of my favorite moments where the ones that had me teary-eyed. I'm definitely looking forward to rewatching this series.
Last but not least, a special shoutout to HPriest for subbing this wonderful project and allowing many of us to enjoy this wonderful drama.
Edit: It's only been a week since I finished this series and I already feel like rewatching it.
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