Mmmm so good and tasty.
This is good.
Japanese dramas are usually rated lower than their foreign counterparts because they are sometimes pretty sucky… or they could be missing some sort of fundamental quality that a viewer is seeking.
I can't lie, I've felt like J-dramas have been on a downward trend since the 2010's but every once in a while Japan will surprise me with something good actually.
Romantics Anonymous is one of those for sureeee.
I will start off with the negatives since there is so much good to discuss.
This show is wayyy too short, the modern “Netflix” format of 8 episodes is much too short for a story this heavy. The lack of runtime makes it so that the viewer is left feeling rushed through the story. 10-12 episodes would have been perfect. The episode titles follow a gimmick where each episode is named after a branded chocolate piece in a box set… They literally skip over some of the pieces because they don't have enough time to dedicate an episode to it.
All my criticism is linked to that lack of runtime. The rushed ending, the shallow exploration of the characters' backstories… All of it was addressed as best they could but… it was still a jot unsatisfying.
Anyways, everything else was GREAT.
Liked that it tackled phobias and gave plausible reasons for why they form and can sometimes get worse. LOVED seeing people get professional help from a mental health specialist, and introducing coping mechanisms and self affirmations to an audience who may not have ever heard of them.
It can be powerful to see characters whose problems mirror your own, seeking out help…
The romance was delicate and slow, very cute and satisfying. I loved seeing two adult strangers get to know each other, admire each other and finally realizing they are soul mates.
Both leads were amazing! Haven't seen Oguri Shun do a rom-com in a while… but… uh… he's had the sauce for twenty years… he'll always have it…
Haven't seen Han Hyoju in anything since W… but here she is quirky, earnest, and lovable as Lee Hana.
Love that no one's issues are magically fixed by the end. They just make progress towards wholeness.
Great watch, I've been obsessed with it since I completed it.
Japanese dramas are usually rated lower than their foreign counterparts because they are sometimes pretty sucky… or they could be missing some sort of fundamental quality that a viewer is seeking.
I can't lie, I've felt like J-dramas have been on a downward trend since the 2010's but every once in a while Japan will surprise me with something good actually.
Romantics Anonymous is one of those for sureeee.
I will start off with the negatives since there is so much good to discuss.
This show is wayyy too short, the modern “Netflix” format of 8 episodes is much too short for a story this heavy. The lack of runtime makes it so that the viewer is left feeling rushed through the story. 10-12 episodes would have been perfect. The episode titles follow a gimmick where each episode is named after a branded chocolate piece in a box set… They literally skip over some of the pieces because they don't have enough time to dedicate an episode to it.
All my criticism is linked to that lack of runtime. The rushed ending, the shallow exploration of the characters' backstories… All of it was addressed as best they could but… it was still a jot unsatisfying.
Anyways, everything else was GREAT.
Liked that it tackled phobias and gave plausible reasons for why they form and can sometimes get worse. LOVED seeing people get professional help from a mental health specialist, and introducing coping mechanisms and self affirmations to an audience who may not have ever heard of them.
It can be powerful to see characters whose problems mirror your own, seeking out help…
The romance was delicate and slow, very cute and satisfying. I loved seeing two adult strangers get to know each other, admire each other and finally realizing they are soul mates.
Both leads were amazing! Haven't seen Oguri Shun do a rom-com in a while… but… uh… he's had the sauce for twenty years… he'll always have it…
Haven't seen Han Hyoju in anything since W… but here she is quirky, earnest, and lovable as Lee Hana.
Love that no one's issues are magically fixed by the end. They just make progress towards wholeness.
Great watch, I've been obsessed with it since I completed it.
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