it took me 2.5 years to finally find a 10/10, after countless disappointment finally I received a gem.it will…
A rarity always worth the wait..and the best thing about it is you can never know when it'll happen. It just caught you off guard & held you captive for ages. ^^
I've only watched the first 2 episodes, but this is what the J drama world needed, a modern well produced drama…
Well put..finally another comment that makes sense.
Most people here must be too young (or perhaps have watched too many tv series) to understand that this kind of production is a rarity in Doramaland. House of Ninjas has equal qualities in technicality, story & chemistry.
I believe that this series not having a rating of 8.5 above is just people's ignorance about J-Drama, in my opinion…
Am with the three of y'all here..
The last time Japan gave me a full fledged cinematic experience in terms of action thriller genre, with little to none fantasy element involved, was the Rurouni Kenshin live action pentalogy.
Plus we're talking about Japanese tv series where the themes and even the plot developed are kinda predictable in the doramaland, namely medical, legal, school, extramarital affair & business settings. They don't even bother changing the filters...arrgghhhhh >____<
I've been an audience of Doramaland for at least 2 decades, the overall quality that the House of Ninjas has is on a feature film level, in every production element it's a cut above the rest. Well done, Team Shinobi no Ie ^^
The finest, most impressive thriller-themed Dorama i've seen in ages. ^________^
Can't even remember when was the last time Japan gave me a tv series that's not a medical, legal & school-focused one, without an ounce drop of fantasy element, & solely centered on a single plot that did remarkably in both action & drama departments.
Such a fresh breath of air this drama has been.. it feels like i watched an 8 part movie because it presents you with such a wonderful cinematography, a tight plot & splendid action sequences, particularly the final battle. The actors also delivered their lines with fewer words but their feelings inside would appear nearly visible to the eyes.
Even though everyone knows about Ninjas, i don't think there was ever a tv series that dedicated its entire storyline to tell their story through the lens of the people who are involved in the world of Ninja. From the Shinobi family & lineage, the rules that bind them collectively & individually, to the way the agency manages their missions & the risks that follows, i learned it all through this series.
And the fact the script behind this project is an original one, co-written also by the very leading man of the show himself, Kaku Kento, is just the cherry on top. Everything about the writing feels so fresh but also familiar at the same time. The core theme is clearly abt Shinobi, but the way they tell the story allows the audience to see them more than just a killing machine. That they also have inner struggle with themselves & others, which also happen to be their own blood.
I've seen comments here complaining abt Karen (which was perfectly portrayed by Yoshioka Riho), & gotta say i'm exactly the opposite. She might be seen brazen to some of you here, but given her own backstory (albeit briefly) & her professional job, it was only natural for her be someone that's overtly curious & constantly suspicious over everything & everyone. Including, if not especially, the person of her interest, Haru.
I mean although it started as a work responsibility, she got to truly know him first as someone who switched meals with her, & was willing to take the knife for her, before ended up being caught up in the most dire situations together.
For Haru, she was the woman whom he fell in love at the first sight with & (judging from what he told her in the finale) it's likely that she is the only one he would forever genuinely love. Those of you who have experienced this kind of feeling would know.
Her bold personality is also what makes Haru's calm, collected demeanor instinctively attracted to her. She's so feisty, straightforward & upfront with her feelings & thoughts, girl fears almost nothing it scares him, but also gives him the reasons necessary to stay close to her & do everything he can to protect this lady who just abruptly came into his monochrome life and painted it with her bright colors.
I think Karen was the reason Haru feels like he was actually living & not just breathing. He smiles the most when he's with her. From the gyudon resto to that sunlit room, his face lights up every time she's with him.
That's why he even dared to say, despite the consequences, she's important to him. Because she's the reason he began to feel again & fully realize for a moment there, that he's a human before a Shinobi.
Another thing i also love about this series is that the production team doesn't always incorporate music background into every scene, particularly in conversations, makes every scene filled with compact & raw emotions.
My only wish if Season 2 is indeed planned to happen, is that Karen would also be in the picture because now that the turns have tabled against the Fumas, at some point of the story Haru would def go full legit beast mode & even start to lose himself in the process, & when that happens i believe only her can make him, him again.
They can whine all they want... This is still gonna do well just like high school gangster
Ohh..you thought so, too.. Well.. i havent seen it yet but from the synopsis alone & several reviews i came across few days ago, they implied that it doesnt feel sf enough, but also the romance plot also seems a bit intricate, if not unnatural.
Am gonna pass then, although i was exciting to see Ghj & Ojs reunion, if the plot wasnt solid enough (since the script seems like it goes in 4 vague different ways..) i'd rather not even start it & peacefully move on to the one that actually fits my preference or mood.
Thank you for taking the time to respond..truly appreciate it. ^^ Stay safe & healthy wherever you are.
They can whine all they want... This is still gonna do well just like high school gangster
Indeed. It's what makes them feel alive.
You & i both.. You can always choose not to watch dramas that's not to your liking, and simply move on to the next one. What's the point in being excessively bitter over a fictional work !? ^^'
They can whine all they want... This is still gonna do well just like high school gangster
Life..
some people need to get a life, their own lives, and take a breather with nonstop binge watching everything so they can actually enjoy being an audience who always owns the freedom to choose what they wanna see & calmly walk away from the ones they don't, without having the urge to trashtalk everyone & everything involved in the related project.
Peng Yu Chang hasn't disappointed me yet with his acting skill, and i think it'll only get much better as the time progresses. Hope this one would once again allow him to showcase his range as a multifaceted actor.
Hmm.. It looked like I was joking, but it did happen, man.. Since you seem pretty surprised, am gonna keep you guessing about from which country I could possibly be from (or not cause you're probably not that curious) ^^'
About the rough school days in China, i'd always known that Chinese societal systems had always revolved around the importance of education, but i did not expect it would be that rigorously cutthroat prior to Better Days (Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yi). The Gaokao exam is a serious business people literally would do everything to ensure their kids ace that particular test, like that one instance I also saw on Regeneration (Jing Boran, Zhou Yiran).
Unnatural and Miu aren't connected plot wise, but the characters are said to be living in the same universe, that's why in the second half of Miu, there were a few key Unnatural characters who appeared because of the case that Shima & Ibuki's unit was trying to solve. Such a pleasant surprise i'd say.
If it wasn't for Last Mile, i would've never known either that the two were essentially related.
I watched enough Bollywood movies growing up..it was on tv nearly all the time..so i was familiar with the acting capability of Hrithik Roshan and his unrivaled handsomeness (fine man, even finer actor)
But i gradually stopped watching them since i entered junior high. That's when Anime intercepted (it was all on 'Samurai X')and took over.
'Queen'? Who are the leads?
Indeed it is. I never thought i'd eventually watch it cuz Unnatural was so phenomenal, and comparison was bound to happen when a sequel-ish project was created, but since i found out about Last Mile, which quickly prompted me to look for its synopsis here, there was this one comment from one of the users who wrote that even though Unnatural and Miu are completely unrelated plot-wise, it was best for those who hadnt seen the latter just yet to give it a try, just so that we were slightly accustomed to the personal behaviors of its main characters.
And i never regret it one bit. Gen Hoshino was the perfect actor to portray Shima-chan with his calm collected, but lethal inside demeanor, but Go Ayano..mannnn,,dude is an actor's actor. He becomes one with his character almost seamlessly every single time. He's like the Koji Yakusho of his generation.
True that. They certainly got a knack for storytelling. And they do it either subtly or in the most extreme ways out there. I personally think Dorama and J-movies in itself are a separate, distinct genre.
Many people who are not familiar with both would say that most of them are slow-paced or boring, not fully aware that it was exactly the point of Japanese dramas and feature films, the audience is not supposed to just completely get the plot, but more often than not they are invited to learn about the way of thinking and living of the people that are incorporated in the story. How they manage their own thoughts and the way they process their situations and surroundings on a regular basis.
I do have a list but not kept here.
I feel you about the slump phase. That's why i often switch lanes between movies and dramas, Japanese, Korean, Chinese & Western productions, from one genre to another. Sometimes i don't even watch anything for a full week, so that i can sort of cleanse my viewing palate, if that makes sense, just to ensure i always have that thrill of enjoyment from watching a movie or a drama. I want it to feel like it was the first time every single time.
I just finished Miu 404, and since it was a rather impactful for me, i mean, Go Ayano & Gen Hoshino's natural bond was something i havent seen since Shun Oguri & Toma Ikuta's tandem in Ouroboros (& HanaKimi, lets not forget that iconic comedy showpiece), i tried to stay close to Japanese productions afterwards, which eventually brought me to Insomniacs After School (Nana Mori), a superb J-movie. This one will stay in my heart for sure.
Am currently waiting to find the right mood to finish Daily Dose of Sunshine (which i equally love as well, a K-drama unlike anything i've seen before, so raw and blatant about its intention to confront a rather delicate subject matter that everyone's well aware of but always avoid to talk or do something about which is mental health.) I will miss both dearly.
How about you, aside from Japanese series or films, did you find anything enjoyable, or perhaps even memorable, from Chinese or Korean productions recently (or ever) ?
Also, thank you for coming to my TedTalk ^^'' I'll try to write fewer words next time.
Promise myself time and time again, i'll def watch it. but when i scrolled up, it's gon take like, if GOD allows, at least a decade to finish it ^^'
I know i would.
what i watch..uhm..it usually depends on my mood, but i love watching cinematic work that give me a chance or a space to feel or learn something from the plot or the characters involved. i think tv series and movies are like people. They're individually different and got some specific stories to tell.
But genre wise, i love (interchangeably) psychological thriller, crime suspense, slice of life theme, true romance (with enough fluffiness and/or balanced logic), noir-fused action (long as it's done right) and medical series.
The thing is, it was up against Better Days for the final spot.
Most people here must be too young (or perhaps have watched too many tv series) to understand that this kind of production is a rarity in Doramaland.
House of Ninjas has equal qualities in technicality, story & chemistry.
The last time Japan gave me a full fledged cinematic experience in terms of action thriller genre, with little to none fantasy element involved, was the Rurouni Kenshin live action pentalogy.
Plus we're talking about Japanese tv series where the themes and even the plot developed are kinda predictable in the doramaland, namely medical, legal, school, extramarital affair & business settings. They don't even bother changing the filters...arrgghhhhh >____<
I've been an audience of Doramaland for at least 2 decades, the overall quality that the House of Ninjas has is on a feature film level, in every production element it's a cut above the rest. Well done, Team Shinobi no Ie ^^
Can't even remember when was the last time Japan gave me a tv series that's not a medical, legal & school-focused one, without an ounce drop of fantasy element, & solely centered on a single plot that did remarkably in both action & drama departments.
Such a fresh breath of air this drama has been..
it feels like i watched an 8 part movie because it presents you with such a wonderful cinematography, a tight plot & splendid action sequences, particularly the final battle.
The actors also delivered their lines with fewer words but their feelings inside would appear nearly visible to the eyes.
Even though everyone knows about Ninjas, i don't think there was ever a tv series that dedicated its entire storyline to tell their story through the lens of the people who are involved in the world of Ninja. From the Shinobi family & lineage, the rules that bind them collectively & individually, to the way the agency manages their missions & the risks that follows, i learned it all through this series.
And the fact the script behind this project is an original one, co-written also by the very leading man of the show himself, Kaku Kento, is just the cherry on top.
Everything about the writing feels so fresh but also familiar at the same time. The core theme is clearly abt Shinobi, but the way they tell the story allows the audience to see them more than just a killing machine. That they also have inner struggle with themselves & others, which also happen to be their own blood.
I've seen comments here complaining abt Karen (which was perfectly portrayed by Yoshioka Riho),
& gotta say i'm exactly the opposite.
She might be seen brazen to some of you here, but given her own backstory (albeit briefly) & her professional job, it was only natural for her be someone that's overtly curious & constantly suspicious over everything & everyone. Including, if not especially, the person of her interest, Haru.
I mean although it started as a work responsibility, she got to truly know him first as someone who switched meals with her, & was willing to take the knife for her, before ended up being caught up in the most dire situations together.
For Haru, she was the woman whom he fell in love at the first sight with & (judging from what he told her in the finale) it's likely that she is the only one he would forever genuinely love.
Those of you who have experienced this kind of feeling would know.
Her bold personality is also what makes Haru's calm, collected demeanor instinctively attracted to her.
She's so feisty, straightforward & upfront with her feelings & thoughts, girl fears almost nothing it scares him, but also gives him the reasons necessary to stay close to her & do everything he can to protect this lady who just abruptly came into his monochrome life and painted it with her bright colors.
I think Karen was the reason Haru feels like he was actually living & not just breathing.
He smiles the most when he's with her. From the gyudon resto to that sunlit room, his face lights up every time she's with him.
That's why he even dared to say, despite the consequences, she's important to him.
Because she's the reason he began to feel again & fully realize for a moment there, that he's a human before a Shinobi.
Another thing i also love about this series is that the production team doesn't always incorporate music background into every scene, particularly in conversations, makes every scene filled with compact & raw emotions.
My only wish if Season 2 is indeed planned to happen, is that Karen would also be in the picture because now that the turns have tabled against the Fumas, at some point of the story Haru would def go full legit beast mode & even start to lose himself in the process, & when that happens i believe only her can make him, him again.
Well.. i havent seen it yet but from the synopsis alone & several reviews i came across few days ago, they implied that it doesnt feel sf enough, but also the romance plot also seems a bit intricate, if not unnatural.
Am gonna pass then, although i was exciting to see Ghj & Ojs reunion, if the plot wasnt solid enough (since the script seems like it goes in 4 vague different ways..) i'd rather not even start it & peacefully move on to the one that actually fits my preference or mood.
Thank you for taking the time to respond..truly appreciate it. ^^
Stay safe & healthy wherever you are.
You & i both..
You can always choose not to watch dramas that's not to your liking, and simply move on to the next one.
What's the point in being excessively bitter over a fictional work !? ^^'
Choi Dae Hoon (Beyond Evil, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, One Dollar Lawyer) would fit comedy genre like a glove ^^
some people need to get a life, their own lives, and take a breather with nonstop binge watching everything so they can actually enjoy being an audience who always owns the freedom to choose what they wanna see & calmly walk away from the ones they don't, without having the urge to trashtalk everyone & everything involved in the related project.
What are you, 12?
Since you seem pretty surprised, am gonna keep you guessing about from which country I could possibly be from (or not cause you're probably not that curious) ^^'
About the rough school days in China, i'd always known that Chinese societal systems had always revolved around the importance of education, but i did not expect it would be that rigorously cutthroat prior to Better Days (Zhou Dongyu, Jackson Yi). The Gaokao exam is a serious business people literally would do everything to ensure their kids ace that particular test, like that one instance I also saw on Regeneration (Jing Boran, Zhou Yiran).
Unnatural and Miu aren't connected plot wise, but the characters are said to be living in the same universe, that's why in the second half of Miu, there were a few key Unnatural characters who appeared because of the case that Shima & Ibuki's unit was trying to solve.
Such a pleasant surprise i'd say.
If it wasn't for Last Mile, i would've never known either that the two were essentially related.
But i gradually stopped watching them since i entered junior high. That's when Anime intercepted (it was all on 'Samurai X')and took over.
'Queen'? Who are the leads?
Indeed it is. I never thought i'd eventually watch it cuz Unnatural was so phenomenal, and comparison was bound to happen when a sequel-ish project was created, but since i found out about Last Mile, which quickly prompted me to look for its synopsis here, there was this one comment from one of the users who wrote that even though Unnatural and Miu are completely unrelated plot-wise, it was best for those who hadnt seen the latter just yet to give it a try, just so that we were slightly accustomed to the personal behaviors of its main characters.
And i never regret it one bit. Gen Hoshino was the perfect actor to portray Shima-chan with his calm collected, but lethal inside demeanor, but Go Ayano..mannnn,,dude is an actor's actor. He becomes one with his character almost seamlessly every single time. He's like the Koji Yakusho of his generation.
They certainly got a knack for storytelling. And they do it either subtly or in the most extreme ways out there. I personally think Dorama and J-movies in itself are a separate, distinct genre.
Many people who are not familiar with both would say that most of them are slow-paced or boring, not fully aware that it was exactly the point of Japanese dramas and feature films, the audience is not supposed to just completely get the plot, but more often than not they are invited to learn about the way of thinking and living of the people that are incorporated in the story. How they manage their own thoughts and the way they process their situations and surroundings on a regular basis.
I do have a list but not kept here.
I feel you about the slump phase. That's why i often switch lanes between movies and dramas, Japanese, Korean, Chinese & Western productions, from one genre to another. Sometimes i don't even watch anything for a full week, so that i can sort of cleanse my viewing palate, if that makes sense, just to ensure i always have that thrill of enjoyment from watching a movie or a drama. I want it to feel like it was the first time every single time.
I just finished Miu 404, and since it was a rather impactful for me, i mean, Go Ayano & Gen Hoshino's natural bond was something i havent seen since Shun Oguri & Toma Ikuta's tandem in Ouroboros (& HanaKimi, lets not forget that iconic comedy showpiece), i tried to stay close to Japanese productions afterwards, which eventually brought me to Insomniacs After School (Nana Mori), a superb J-movie. This one will stay in my heart for sure.
Am currently waiting to find the right mood to finish Daily Dose of Sunshine (which i equally love as well, a K-drama unlike anything i've seen before, so raw and blatant about its intention to confront a rather delicate subject matter that everyone's well aware of but always avoid to talk or do something about which is mental health.) I will miss both dearly.
How about you, aside from Japanese series or films, did you find anything enjoyable, or perhaps even memorable, from Chinese or Korean productions recently (or ever) ?
Also, thank you for coming to my TedTalk ^^''
I'll try to write fewer words next time.
I know i would.
what i watch..uhm..it usually depends on my mood, but i love watching cinematic work that give me a chance or a space to feel or learn something from the plot or the characters involved. i think tv series and movies are like people. They're individually different and got some specific stories to tell.
But genre wise, i love (interchangeably) psychological thriller, crime suspense, slice of life theme, true romance (with enough fluffiness and/or balanced logic), noir-fused action (long as it's done right) and medical series.
am sorry for my long reply.