Panda-san

We need more Japanese dramas like this one; action packed and suspenseful enough to keep you on your seat each episode. Fantastic performances by the main cast, especially my future husband Ichihara Hayato. Why this guy isn't being handed lead roles is beyond me. He can act half this new crop of actors into the ground.

The other issue is...I assume they will cast teenagers or actors in their early 20's to play the supporting cast. He will look so out of place lol.

Same thing I was thinking. lol

I'm not a fan of Kamiki per se ,but I must say this is probably one of the best live action castings I have seen this year. They both suit the characters so much! However...Sato is a bit too old to be playing a middle school student. XD But I'm definitely looking forward to this. I wonder who will play the other characters.

Am I the only person who hates Sato's hair in this drama?

One big thing I have noticed is students going to school...but there are no teachers or adults in sight, and they never seem to be doing any schoolwork! I see this a lot in Japanese dramas, especially the ones about delinquents who fight all the time. Look at Crow's Zero...if all they're going to school for is fighting, why go at all? They can just fight in the street...LOL. Same thing with Bad Boys J. These guys were out fighting all the time with no adults in sight...and they never seem to get in trouble for fighting, which is assault and you can get arrested for. Oh, and another thing: cops in Japanese dramas! They also chase the criminal on foot or bike. They don't have police cars in Japan? And it seems pretty easy for a criminal to get away from the cops just by running.

One last thing...whenever someone gets hurt and falls over, the first thing the other characters do is shake the person and call their name over and over again. It's like, call an ambulance? Saying their name isn't going to help them, plus you aren't supposed to move someone who is injured. I have seen this again and again in Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese dramas. Some falls unconscious? Don't call an ambulance, shake their lifeless form while calling their name repeatedly!

I really meant the character. I think they are similar in that they were wronged in some manner, and they both plotted long, carefully executed plans of revenge. But you're right, in Saki I did feel bad for the guys.

I'm originally from Brooklyn NY, spent the last few years in Texas, now planning to go back to NY (state at least lol)

Hm I might watch it...eventually lol. My currently watching list is way too long and it's going to get longer. If you don't mind, may I ask where you are from?

Yep, I agree! I think it's great that Ueno Juri can go from a silly character like Nodame to a serious character like in this drama.

I have yet to watch anything with Matsuyama Kenichi. Will have to check him out. Awww, a lot of people don't seem to like Yusuke...you either love him or hate him lol. And KimuTaku, I have seen a couple of his 90's dramas. They were pretty good. I haven't watched anything recent stuff with him other than Mr. Brain. I was thinking about watching Ando Lloyd but the mixed with reviews I'm not sure if it's worth it. I have also read that the ratings of Kimura Takuya's dramas have dropped dramatically...

Come back in a lead role in a drama! PLEASE!

I think your hair looks awesome! I don't do anything with mine. I just leave in in a fro most of the time. I just throw on some coconut oil and pick it out a bit and that's it lol. I've been thinking about locing it.

I love all the actors you mentioned especially Sato Takeru and Yamapi. I just read that Yamapi is supposed to be in a movie this year, woohoo! lol If there are other actors you are looking to get into I would recommend the dramas of Ikuta Toma, Mizushima Hiro, Yamamoto Yusuke, and Nagase Tomoya. Nagase Tomoya is a riot He makes the best facial expressions. My Boss My Hero and Unubore Deka are a couple of my favorites by him.

LOL that was my favorite part of that drama! I sort of like pandas, you see. I'm doing fine. I saw your picture in the thread and saw that you had natural hair so I had to add you. I have a fro myself.

After watching so many of these types of dramas this one is ridden with cliches and things that have been done many times before: bank robbery, hostage situation, bomb, creepy weird mysterious evil mastermind, all in one episode...come ON. It wasn't bad per se, I guess the whole father/son things makes it more interesting.

Your welcome! I like them both. I especially like Alice no Toge. Ueno Juri is back! lol And I like Yowakutemo Katemasu because I like those types of sports dramas even though I don't care for sports. I like seeing the bromance...and the cute guys lol.

Dang,we won't be able to see it until next year. lol

I actually really like this manga and read it in the original Japanese. For once I have actually read a manga before the live action comes out! lol I'm not too thrilled about the cast because I know that they simply picked flavor of the year actors (as they tend to do anyway for popular manga adaptions). I'm not a huge fan of Honda Tsubasa's acting but we shall see. Since it's being made into a movie the story will be greatly compressed so we can't hope for something terribly close to the original. I really would have liked to see it made into a drama, but there is a chance that it might be since it isn't uncommon for a manga to be made into a movie first, then a drama, like Honey and Clover. There's going to be an anime which I will definitely watch!

I can't be the only person who thought of Saki while watching this...

Cool thanks for the link! And I will definitely check that one out.