I loved this comedy, from beginning to end. At least watch the scene in Episode 1 where the Genji-kun, the time traveling nobleman, sips a matcha latte from Starbucks for the first time. He breaks into poetry-song and sings an ode to his drink, Heian-period style. It's priceless. Fun to Japanese entertainers satirize their own history. Except it's not really history, because the Tale of Genji was the world's first novel, so Genji is actually a famous character in a novel, not a figure from history...oh just watch the show. It's a lot of fun.
For those of you who fell in love with Sawada Shin back in his Gokusen days, this is a must watch. His hair is long again, and he's the most beautiful man on earth. BUT it's also just a tremendous production. Two episodes in and it's been exciting every second of it. Lots of great acting, powerful storytelling, beautifully filmed, and oh, the armor. I freeze the screen sometimes and just look at it.
Thank you so much! I'm a novice of Japanese history but this period has really captured my interest. I've learned as much from your comment as I have from wiki. Also, I've been trying to sort out the relationship between the Shiba clan as a cadet branch of the Ashikaga. Guess they descend from Ashikaga Yasuuji but I get confused about when the Shiba name reverts to Ashikaga and back again.....just in case you have an answer lol
Nice writing! For me the answer is, yes, history is inherently romantic because *it's easier to pretend it was.* But I've always seen the different leads in Asian romance dramas as classic Jungian psychological archetypes. In a female-driven story, the first male lead represents her unconscious masculine side and the second male lead reflects her feminine side. Why it's so agonizing to choose between them, because in truth she needs both. We all deserve two good men in our lives, not just one đź’ś
Can't tell you how much I loooong to see him display all the heroic swashbuckling we loved in Hwarang and make all the women on the other side of the world swoon as well....alas, I fear that will not happen in this role just because the universe NEVER answers my prayers lol. Still, I'm doing a happy dance.
Just a little note for Americans who are watching this 2017 drama....the tragic event that kicks off the plot is the collapse of a building, very much like that 12-story condo in Miami that fell down on June 24 of 2021. Life imitates art, eh? Don't think I'm revealing any spoilers. This is just a heads up in case that tragedy is still fresh for you. The show itself seems great! Just....these opening scenes are well-acted and realistic and a bit of a challenge in light of recent events in the US.
Omigod you can't just invent those super sexy neanthals and walk away from them. Bring them back! If it's a budget issue I'll personally supply the makeup and costumes for Season 2. I've been to Burning Man a couple times. I could make it work. Just finish the story pleeeeese
I consider this not only a work of comic genius, but a fascinating study on the interplay of dominance/submission in human relationships. All set in the prison atmosphere familiar to high schools around the globe. Lol. I can't recommend this show enough, but what do I know? I'm an American. I barely register that the BSDM stuff is sorta naughty. Prison School represents what I love about Japanese manga/anime/dramas. Wacky and sometimes profound stories that no one else has the courage to tell.
Dororo is definitely not the best live action ever made but if you're a fan of Eita, you kinda have to watch. That sexy samurai boy will stop your heart, he is so beautiful. Plus his armor is outstanding. It's such a hit-and-miss movie, but the scenes that work are really powerful. Just fast forward thru whatever becomes painful.
Well, our fellow Americans have petitioned for some bizarre things before. Remember the petition to deport Justin…
Hahaha. I totally forgot about that. Did we win, or is Justin still hanging out in LA? Hey I just remembered that the BTS Army completely torpedoed Donald Trump's big campaign rally in Tulsa Oklahoma last summer. They reserved all the seats and didn't show up. Event may as well have been cancelled. Now there's some interesting activism. A whole lot of mildly irritated American women expressing their voice of disapproval through seven really talented South Korean boys ?
As an American it's never occurred to me to petition my government to stop the production of a TV drama or a movie. You mean we could have prevented the movie version of Cats from ever being made if we just had enough signatures? Hey. Not a bad idea.
Weird. Historical accuracy isn't even remotely important to western historical dramas. If I had a nickel every time the close up of someone's European armor revealed construction based on modern leather pop rivets, hey, I could form my own production company! But, yeah, I keep my nerd voice silent about the historical accuracy of Game of Thrones because that's *fantasy* and anything goes. I don't get the hyper stuffiness about Joseon Exorcist either.
It's all about the wording. Just like the Japanese did throughout their history, he would never admit his own…
I don't understand why you're even watching Japanese dramas at all if you find Japanese culture so offensive. There are plenty of forums in the world to get attention. Why look for battles here?
I'm an American woman, but I'm not on top of how South Korean law works so I tend to delay judgment on K-drama scandals until I see fact patterns and evidence that look familiar to what I see in court rooms in the US. But this is an accusation of peer bullying from a group Kim Ji Soo was associated with in high school, as opposed to a current sexual harassment claim, if I understand that correctly. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to be corrected. Just trying to understand.
I see this as another completely misunderstood and underrated Japanese drama. It is not about human sex trafficking, as I see some discussing in Viki reviews. That's nonsense. But if you are unable to view Asian cinema without Western goggles, or you believe there is only one approach to feminism, then, yeah, this drama isn't for you. But for people familiar with Japanese traditions, from kabuki to manga to live action dramas, this is really fascinating look at how men and women chose to interact with each other, the goals they have, the fantasies and the reality.
The ending is purposely ambiguous. Usually I hate that, but it poses an interesting question: Does it take more than two people to make a marriage work? If you're a fan of Yokohama Ryusei, the answer is a resounding, "Of course!"
I Bought My Boyfriend On Loan isn't quite as satisfying as his Fierce Pink role in A Story To Read When You First Fall In Love, but he's such a marvelous actor, I'll watch him play anything. And he steals the show. He convinces me that he's the character that truly loves Tae. You can see why this drama led to the role as Fierce Pink Yuri in Hajimete Koi wo Shita.
Again, if you only enjoy romantic stories where monogamy wins the day, yes, you will probably be disappointed. But if you're open to discussion and a lot of very sly and/or hilarious comedy about what really drives relationships, don't miss this little gem. Not a masterpiece or anything, but so worth watching. I loved it. Wish they'd made more episodes.
But I've always seen the different leads in Asian romance dramas as classic Jungian psychological archetypes. In a female-driven story, the first male lead represents her unconscious masculine side and the second male lead reflects her feminine side. Why it's so agonizing to choose between them, because in truth she needs both. We all deserve two good men in our lives, not just one đź’ś
The ending is purposely ambiguous. Usually I hate that, but it poses an interesting question: Does it take more than two people to make a marriage work? If you're a fan of Yokohama Ryusei, the answer is a resounding, "Of course!"
I Bought My Boyfriend On Loan isn't quite as satisfying as his Fierce Pink role in A Story To Read When You First Fall In Love, but he's such a marvelous actor, I'll watch him play anything. And he steals the show. He convinces me that he's the character that truly loves Tae. You can see why this drama led to the role as Fierce Pink Yuri in Hajimete Koi wo Shita.
Again, if you only enjoy romantic stories where monogamy wins the day, yes, you will probably be disappointed. But if you're open to discussion and a lot of very sly and/or hilarious comedy about what really drives relationships, don't miss this little gem. Not a masterpiece or anything, but so worth watching. I loved it. Wish they'd made more episodes.