This review may contain spoilers
Fight, Suffer, and Fight Again
Japan always delivers when it comes to making characters diverse—and that goes for both women and men. Every guy is unique, standing out with his own clothing style, hairstyle, hair length or color, and even tattoos. However, when it comes to the plot, the logic is definitely lacking.
I understand this is a school drama and nobody expects to see actual classes, but at times it feels like the school exists solely as a place for fights. Shimura is supposedly struggling financially and saving money wherever he can, yet he casually skips work, somehow always has food to eat, and still manages to pay his mother's bills.
The romance line also raises a ton of questions. Out of nowhere, Asamiya asks Shimura on a date, cries when he gets beaten up, and worries constantly... But when did she even develop these feelings? How did they get close? Shimura can disappear for a whole month without a single word. Another time, he shows up at her workplace only to be told, "She quit a month ago". So they don't talk for months at a time? Maybe I missed something?
And Rumi's story is a bit strange, too. It's okay for an underage schoolgirl to climb the career ladder through sex, but drinking alcohol, as her client told her, is a big no-no. Oh yeah, sure...
I was expecting a story about a weak guy gradually getting stronger, learning how to fight, and pushing past his limits. But a few episodes in, it feels like his only "growth" is just being able to take a beating for longer. You can barely call his match wins actual victories—it's more like the villain just got exhausted from punching a nice guy and lost.
I haven't read the manhwa or watched the anime, and maybe (actually, I'm pretty sure) the story is fleshed out a lot better there. Overall, though, it's a cool, fast-paced J-drama.
I understand this is a school drama and nobody expects to see actual classes, but at times it feels like the school exists solely as a place for fights. Shimura is supposedly struggling financially and saving money wherever he can, yet he casually skips work, somehow always has food to eat, and still manages to pay his mother's bills.
The romance line also raises a ton of questions. Out of nowhere, Asamiya asks Shimura on a date, cries when he gets beaten up, and worries constantly... But when did she even develop these feelings? How did they get close? Shimura can disappear for a whole month without a single word. Another time, he shows up at her workplace only to be told, "She quit a month ago". So they don't talk for months at a time? Maybe I missed something?
And Rumi's story is a bit strange, too. It's okay for an underage schoolgirl to climb the career ladder through sex, but drinking alcohol, as her client told her, is a big no-no. Oh yeah, sure...
I was expecting a story about a weak guy gradually getting stronger, learning how to fight, and pushing past his limits. But a few episodes in, it feels like his only "growth" is just being able to take a beating for longer. You can barely call his match wins actual victories—it's more like the villain just got exhausted from punching a nice guy and lost.
I haven't read the manhwa or watched the anime, and maybe (actually, I'm pretty sure) the story is fleshed out a lot better there. Overall, though, it's a cool, fast-paced J-drama.
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