BrightestStar

I started this one a long time ago. On paper, it's the type of drama I enjoy and would want to watch quickly, but that wasn't the case here. I think it's mostly because I found all the characters bland, so finishing was a drag. A lot of actions made no sense and were never explained.

Also, the leads have no chemistry whatsoever! It's not that I didn't care for them, I didn't want to see them on screen together. They were both a bit more interesting when NOT together. Also, Nana had been deceiving Shota throughout most of their relationship, making you wonder why she got with him to begin with. And their wtv time they used to untangle a mystery was done at random without much depth to the dialogue. The whole thing was a failure lol

Still debating if I'll watch the SPs/Sequel

Kinda hard for me to rate this. It’s enjoyable to a certain degree but the plot itself doesn’t make sense to me. Maybe part of it is not knowing Japanese family laws cuz it makes no sense for a dad who doesn’t contact his kids just because he got divorced.

For me the most frustrating character is the dad. Being a loser to this degree is criminal. The mom being this weak is frustrating as well. I kinda understand Makiko’s frustration and hate.

Also, though it started like some sort if thriller, it ended up being a commentary about the addiction of social media. Makiko was bound to fall from grace at any moment, with so many lies she keeps up, without any help from Anzu et companie.

Wow! Just wow. I think this ending is the most heartbreaking of the Taiga dramas I've seen so far. It was well presented.

This era is very different from the eras in Japanese history that I have visited before so a lot of it was new to me. It's pretty extreme and a very painful time. Though I don't believe the Heike's main aim was Samurai rule, more the Heike rule or at least for them to replace the Fujiwara. Anyway, we'll never know the truth of the past. I don't get how killing other samurai would help the Samurai rule.

Though the cast varies in performance, it skewed more towards very strong and fitting acting. Why did I start having a crush on Matsuyama Kenichi with his "50 years old" look?

This was such a delightful ride! Superb cast, from main to recurring to guests. Even those viewed as annoying by Achan were actually cute and likable characters. The highlights of the drama were
Sometani Shota and Kuroki Haru.

Great ending. Nothing brings happiness like a genuine friendship.

I do wonder though about the characters. In a way, they all seem so limited in their world and can't see beyond it. I mean at first, I thought Asami was limited, but then there was Minako lol (then again as clueless as she is, she sure saves the day)

This drama made me realize how short life is, and how much it's not worth being mean/evil. It really had me thinking about my own life choices. I wouldn't want to relive my life though, because if I did, I'd still choose to make the same mistakes, grave as they were, to get to the most important treasure in my life. However, I wouldn't watch to go through the hardships again.

Maybe Asami Managed to go through it because she generally has a good and happy life, with a happy family.

Anyways, Highly recommended drama :D

Mikami Hiroshi was THE leading man of Japanese romance dramas in the 90s. He exudes chemistry with whoever he acts with, and his portrayal of emotions really sucks you in. You just can't hate him no matter how vile or destructive he is, because he makes you feel his emotions through his facial expressions.

I only wish more of his 90s dramas were subbed. Sigh!

Watching this drama (90% in) makes me realize that country-building needs more than 1 lifetime to happen, so if it's done based on one person's sole power, it simply won't last long no matter the power, wealth, and strength.

Also when you get to a certain age during the process, stubbornness, past trauma and an inability to open up catch up to you. That makes you repeat past mistakes. Kiyomory here didn't do much country building, he just replaced the Fujiwara with the Heike. The whole thing with the trade with Sung seems to have gone on the back burner while he satisfies his greed, but the creation of that trade was the one thing differentiating the Taira.

The lesson here: to achieve your TRUE goal, you need to have someone to stop you, to overpower you when you derail.

Anyway, he's not the only one like that in that era. Goshirakawa is no different, and Yoshitomo as well. Yoritomo will follow suit and cause the end of the Genji. Funny how it wasn't the Heike that caused the final blow to the Genji but their own leader. The Hojo aren't any better.

Shigemori is the only one that's different!

my question is, what happens to the inheritance? Also what about those with intent to kill?

The movie quotes the famous saying "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" but the story goes against that. Both Huang Yu Xuan and Li Zi Wei kept on suffering from losing love, unable to move on or move forward, while Chen Yun Ru \ just avoided love to not suffer at all. Then you have Mo Jun Jie's character who is credited as a main character, always in the posters yet is written as such a passive character with no input in the story at all. Actually, the only character who lives by that saying is Wang Quan Sheng.

What confused me the most was the ending. So were Huang Yu Xuan and Li Zi Wei's fates changed based on other people's actions? What action actually triggered their fate anyway? It feels more like a "chicken and egg" question of what came first, we'll never know. Hence I don't get what stopped it.

It was hard for me to enjoy the movie. When I originally watched the drama, the concept of it was interesting, and the mystery part kept me invested in the story. However, The main mystery was solved in the drama (unsatisfactory explanation IMHO), so all that is left here is the frustration of the inability of the protagonist characters to change their fates.

More under the spoiler tag...

Overall fun with lots of interesting characters. They all have annoying and empathetic sides. I know Mukai-kun is supposed to be the confused one here but the female characters here are all lost and expect the world to follow them when they’re unable to the lead.

When I read the comments for this movie, I realized this movie just isn't for me. It didn't move any emotion in me, and I disliked all the characters. It's just philosophying pervertism and immorality. Nice music score though :P

what great fun it was watching this SP

that’s where the pacing of the drama was a problem, they only addressed it an itsy bit in the end, ML saying that reading his wife’s diary reminded him how she had mentioned kids before but he would run away from the subject then she stopped mentioning it. They didn’t say much but I think it has something to do with him being adopted, I think he was scared he wouldn’t be up to the task. It would’ve been nice if they had spent some time addressing this subject.

I got it at first and I understood why she came back to her parents' home. At first, she was running away from everything, which was understandable, but thanks to him, she gave work a second chance and kept trying until she found herself. With him, it was constant rejection without him doing anything. The moment she feels bad or unsure, she just runs away from him.

I think it got to me worse when she was acting like that while her brother was conspiring :P On the other hand, the exbf was refreshing. His concerns were always within the friendship boundaries.

I finally finished it after a long time. It wasn't bad or dragging, but Kanako the female lead was frustrating. I get it at the beginning it's a shock for her as if she had skipped to the future with no way of getting back, but why, like WHY wouldn't she give a chance to understand her marriage as she does for her work? I'm not sure if they had the right actress for the role either, there was no particular chemistry on her side. Her blank stares really annoyed me (it could be a directing issue). Also, the character of her brother, I wanted to punch so bad so many times!!! haha

Anyway, it was still worth watching it for Takenouchi Yutaka. He was dreamy.

The rest of the cast failed to interest me, except for Kanako's mom Mariko. She didn't talk much, but her lines weren't wasted when she did. I especially loved her answer about what made her want to keep going in her relationship with her husband. Her answer was very realistic and true. It's all about what's best for the family as a whole.

Finally, it took me a while to notice my newest crush, Matsushita Kouhei, in this drama. Could it be because of the quality of the videos? :P

... meh.

I started because of the comments/reviews, continued waiting for it to become interesting, and finished only because it was short.

It's difficult for me to rate this drama. On the one hand, I enjoyed it to bits, on the other hand, it tries so badly to be something it simply isn't. Himura might have an odd character, but his thinking is very normal. Nothing about him indicates anything dark.

The main antagonist is a sad and lonely narcissist desperate for attention. I don't know why he gave that much thought in the last episode. Even if he had killed her, that wouldn't make him a monster, just someone protecting himself and his loved ones.

It’s a fun mystery with the inclusion of fairytales, funny characters and well chosen cast. The twist in the story was hilarious at first but then left a bad taste for the ending. I don’t even know if I’d watch if there’s a sequel.

i mean it was self defense yet they treated it as a crime, and the lack of compassion from everyone, including the heroine. I just wish someone would’ve turned to that prince and told him: you’re the real disappointment!

Honestly, his wife annoys me. I was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt cuz having years disappear from your life is scary, but she doesn't treat him like a stranger, she treats him with disdain. Her brother is even worse! He doesn't deserve the good people in his life.

I'm just 6 episodes in so still have a couple of episodes to go