Nelly

If you're anything like me, after surviving the glorious, crack-fueled chaos that was 52 episodes of The Last Empress, your soul probably craved the cinematic equivalent of a warm, weighted blanket. My desperate search for tranquility led me, as it often does, to the soothing shores of Japanese drama. And so, I dusted off a forgotten gem from my "Plan to Watch Later" list: The Shapes Of Love ,the Japanese adaptation of Nevertheless.

Now, let's get one thing straight: I'm apparently one of the rare unicorns who didn't despise the Korean original. Call me a sucker for a redeemed red flag, but I find a certain charm in watching questionable characters slowly, begrudgingly, become decent human beings.

My journey into the Japanese version was, shall we say, unconventional. I powered through the first three episodes, then, with the foresight of someone who's seen too many rom-coms go south, I skipped straight to the finale. Why? Partially to dodge the inevitable angst and frustration I knew was lurking, but mostly because I was genuinely missing the effortless camaraderie and "group hug" vibes that made the Korean version so endearing.

Here's where things get interesting, or perhaps, a little unbalanced. Ryusei Yokohama is undeniably a force of nature. The man's aura could probably power a small city. He's incredibly talented, especially in those deliciously heavy, emotionally charged roles. But in Nevertheless, his sheer star power felt like it created a weird vacuum around the rest of the cast. It was almost as if he was overqualified, leaving a noticeable disconnect between him and everyone else. And honestly, I've watched enough dramas to find myself cringing every time he unleashed that signature, soul-piercing gaze on the female lead. It was a look that, bless its dramatic heart, was just a tad overused.

Ultimately, while I adore Ryusei Yokohama, and truly, who doesn't, this particular adaptation just didn't quite hit the mark for me. In the grand scheme of things, the original Korean version, in terms of both screenplay and overall cast chemistry, still reigns supreme in my book.