Hanzawa Naoki is a salarymen power fantasy so some of its proclaimed values may seem repugnant to the viewer. It wouldn't be a stretch to call the show very old-fashioned. The almost all male cast and overall sexism is hard to ignore too.
Having said that, Hanzawa Naoki is extremely entertaining show with fast pace and lots of tension. It's epic! That's why everything is grand and exaggerated. To blame the actors for overacting is to miss the entire point of the story.
I can disagree with the idea that salarymen are always right and I can still give it 10/10.
Many thanks for sharing this. Appreciate your effort!Disappointed with the Tomoe casting, so I have nothing else…
(BTW If you don't mind talking about idols, I'm gonna share what I think cause I'm too passionate about the topic. Hahaha, sorry.
It's no secret that Johnny's has been loosing their influence for a while. This has allowed many drop-dead-gorgeous actors to get the roles that would have previously gone to the true idols. Thus, a new generation of very beautiful but not necessarily skilled actors emerged.
So while Ryo is not a singer his looks were the main reason behind many of his roles. The same is true for Mackenyu or Yamaken.
Just like true idols, though, young actors sometimes grow to be quite skilled (which happened to Ryo, for example). The question is, have Mackenyu and Arimura grown enough so that their beauty rivals their skills?
And I'm so strict with Mackenyu (who indeed looks very convincing in the promos so far) because while he had several serious projects, he is still nowhere near, say, Fujiwara or Kagawa Teruyuki (even if they do have reputation for overacting). He is the main antagonist, after all, he has big shoes to fill.)
Many thanks for sharing this. Appreciate your effort!Disappointed with the Tomoe casting, so I have nothing else…
Ouch, haha, you are saying it like it is XD
Well, to be fair, Takei Emi was very young back in 2012. She also didn't have very complex role so it made sense. I know that many fans were pleased with her acting. I am personally ambivalent about her performance (she may not be great Kaoru but the script is the first to blame for this).
Arimura, on the other hand, has a very complex role. So there are more reasons to worry.
Many thanks for sharing this. Appreciate your effort!Disappointed with the Tomoe casting, so I have nothing else…
I see where you are coming from. This time all of the main roles went to the idol actors. And while Takeru improved a lot for the first Ruroken, it remains to be seen how Mackenyu and Arimura will fare.
On the other hand, Kingdom was a great hit last year and it had an idol cast. In the end, Yoshizawa Ryo even received academy award for his role there! And so many people had thought he had been casted just for his pretty face.
So I haven't given up yet. I'm almost convinced Mackenyu will shine as Enishi, and if they go with manga!Tomoe (quite and cute) instead of fierce femme fatale of ova than it will be the director's fault, not the fault of Arimura.
I love them both to tell you the truth. As I tried to compile this list as objectively as possible I hesitated…
Yeah, it'd be lovely to see Nishijima tackle some dark complex role but, on the other hand, one doesn't get as many advertisement contracts as he does by playing dark characters (I'm looking at you, Ikematsu Sosuke). Btw he played with Kagawa in Mozu too, it's funny how often they are partnered.
Regarding Uchino Seiyou, you took the words out of my mouth! I totally agree, he is phenomenal in Jin! His casting in Kinou Nani surprised many as his most famous roles are of hardcore villains (e.g., he played a big yakuza boss in the recent First Love with Kubota). I think he adds a bit of menacing presence to Kenji at times, haha.
Nishijima Hidetoshi and Kagawa Teruyuki?They both are great actors for serious, strong roles.
I love them both to tell you the truth. As I tried to compile this list as objectively as possible I hesitated to add Kagawa Teruyuki cause he has a bit of bad rep for over acting (as he comes from kabuki).
But I'll add him now. Cause I added Fujiwara and Kotaro so a bit of over acting from theatre actors should be fine.
Nishijima is a super hot charismatic actor and he is great at 'reliable stoic man' roles. But I don't think he earned reputation for performing outside of this type of roles.
One could say that Kamiki doesn't perform outside of several types of roles. But his roles include challenging ones so he has this advantage.
What do you think? Did you watch something with Nishijima that impressed you a lot? Do you think he would play someone other than sweet/strong/lethal/competent/ideal Japanese man with great gusto? And I am nit giving him enough credit? (I geniunely ask this cause I really love him and now I can't stop thinking how he would cope with playing, say a petty villain with no dignity etc)
I'm interested in watching this but your comment about gore is making me hesitant. Is it that bad? I don't mind…
I'd say it's not terribly graphic, I was more grossed out by my imagination (like I would hear about a character that had been tortured to death and I would end up imagining the level of pain this character had felt).
There are graphic scenes but they are not 10 out of 10 graphic. More like 7. There was a scene where a tooth was being ripped out from the tortured person's mouth, for example. With blood, screams etc. But by hollywood stadards, it wasn't the worst.
People on girl's channel joke that Arimura looks so full of vitality and health, no one would believe she would…
Well, she 'sinned' a lot. She married a popular idol, and she's young, successful, and beautiful. Netizens, naturally, can't forgive her 'sins'. Jealousy is like this.
Will have a second season. Only season one worth my time?
It's 18+ show, obviously, so all I say below is adreessed to the adult (older than 18 years old) viewers.
The show was very successful. But to enjoy it, the viewer should be able to stomach sexism (like gender violence, sexual exploitation, the production crew of the show being dicks etc).
It seems to be quite problematic show, some western critic noted that an american show would not dare be as sexist, it's frowned upon. But people have different tolerance for sexism.
I must add that it's 2020 now. There are ways to make stories with explicit content without sexism and, in particular, male gaze. It's getting harder to tolerate this stuff cause it's not sixties anymote.
I'm thinking of elaiza ikeda as tomoe or even better ai hashimoto, she can be fierce and sweet when required,…
People on girl's channel joke that Arimura looks so full of vitality and health, no one would believe she would die so easily.
They have this whole argument that Tomoe should have a beauty of a 'graveyard bloom' and be cold etc. But they are convinced Arimura has the role.
Btw they nastily add that Ruroken always casted wrong actors on the roles of female characters. I can't say I agree. But wouldn't it be wonderful if Tomoe were casted just as perfectly as Kenshin, Hiko Seijuro and so on?
My faulty retelling of the featured article about the new movies in the CUT magazine:- Takeru had to be convinced…
The moral is they know it is extremely hard to adapt Tsuiokuhen/Jinchuu. They are self-aware. That makes me see them in the different light; they probably did their best and nit-picky fans like me should not come at them with pitchforks and judgement.
Having said that, Hanzawa Naoki is extremely entertaining show with fast pace and lots of tension. It's epic! That's why everything is grand and exaggerated. To blame the actors for overacting is to miss the entire point of the story.
I can disagree with the idea that salarymen are always right and I can still give it 10/10.
Haha, I'm very apprehensive about Hanzawa too. Though it's nice to see the fave characters again but...
The biggest sin of BG is misuse of great cast. Oh well...
It's no secret that Johnny's has been loosing their influence for a while. This has allowed many drop-dead-gorgeous actors to get the roles that would have previously gone to the true idols. Thus, a new generation of very beautiful but not necessarily skilled actors emerged.
So while Ryo is not a singer his looks were the main reason behind many of his roles. The same is true for Mackenyu or Yamaken.
Just like true idols, though, young actors sometimes grow to be quite skilled (which happened to Ryo, for example). The question is, have Mackenyu and Arimura grown enough so that their beauty rivals their skills?
And I'm so strict with Mackenyu (who indeed looks very convincing in the promos so far) because while he had several serious projects, he is still nowhere near, say, Fujiwara or Kagawa Teruyuki (even if they do have reputation for overacting). He is the main antagonist, after all, he has big shoes to fill.)
Well, to be fair, Takei Emi was very young back in 2012. She also didn't have very complex role so it made sense. I know that many fans were pleased with her acting. I am personally ambivalent about her performance (she may not be great Kaoru but the script is the first to blame for this).
Arimura, on the other hand, has a very complex role. So there are more reasons to worry.
On the other hand, Kingdom was a great hit last year and it had an idol cast. In the end, Yoshizawa Ryo even received academy award for his role there! And so many people had thought he had been casted just for his pretty face.
So I haven't given up yet. I'm almost convinced Mackenyu will shine as Enishi, and if they go with manga!Tomoe (quite and cute) instead of fierce femme fatale of ova than it will be the director's fault, not the fault of Arimura.
I don't know how to feel about it.
I wonder why they hid it for so long considering the casting of Mackenyu and Arimura had been in the rumours for so long.
This season promises to be phenomenal.
Nogi Akiko brings back Ayano Gou & Hoshino Gen duo to her original drama while Yonezu Kenishi writes the ost.
Cinderella reunites Ishihara Satomi and Tanaka Kei while the great director handles the great source material.
Nikaido Fumi and Kubota star in asadora of all things.
Hanzawa Naoki and Haken are back!
Kimutaku and Takumi are back for BG (who asked for this??)
Tomoya, the current it-man, has two dramas.
Tanaka Kei plays in a detective show while Hirano Sho and Nakajima Kento play in Midnight Runners remake.
Takahashi Issei and Tamaki Hiroshi play twins in dark thriller.
Wowow unites Fujiwara and Ryoma in some action thriller.
All of this sounds intriguing. I can't wait to see the special with Tomoya and Tanaka Kei as well (it's already aired).
Regarding Uchino Seiyou, you took the words out of my mouth! I totally agree, he is phenomenal in Jin! His casting in Kinou Nani surprised many as his most famous roles are of hardcore villains (e.g., he played a big yakuza boss in the recent First Love with Kubota). I think he adds a bit of menacing presence to Kenji at times, haha.
But I'll add him now. Cause I added Fujiwara and Kotaro so a bit of over acting from theatre actors should be fine.
Nishijima is a super hot charismatic actor and he is great at 'reliable stoic man' roles. But I don't think he earned reputation for performing outside of this type of roles.
One could say that Kamiki doesn't perform outside of several types of roles. But his roles include challenging ones so he has this advantage.
What do you think? Did you watch something with Nishijima that impressed you a lot? Do you think he would play someone other than sweet/strong/lethal/competent/ideal Japanese man with great gusto? And I am nit giving him enough credit? (I geniunely ask this cause I really love him and now I can't stop thinking how he would cope with playing, say a petty villain with no dignity etc)
There are graphic scenes but they are not 10 out of 10 graphic. More like 7. There was a scene where a tooth was being ripped out from the tortured person's mouth, for example. With blood, screams etc. But by hollywood stadards, it wasn't the worst.
The show was very successful. But to enjoy it, the viewer should be able to stomach sexism (like gender violence, sexual exploitation, the production crew of the show being dicks etc).
It seems to be quite problematic show, some western critic noted that an american show would not dare be as sexist, it's frowned upon. But people have different tolerance for sexism.
I must add that it's 2020 now. There are ways to make stories with explicit content without sexism and, in particular, male gaze. It's getting harder to tolerate this stuff cause it's not sixties anymote.
They have this whole argument that Tomoe should have a beauty of a 'graveyard bloom' and be cold etc. But they are convinced Arimura has the role.
Btw they nastily add that Ruroken always casted wrong actors on the roles of female characters. I can't say I agree. But wouldn't it be wonderful if Tomoe were casted just as perfectly as Kenshin, Hiko Seijuro and so on?