A bittersweet coming-of-age story of a driven, competitive, and ambitious FL who stops at nothing to achieve her dream of becoming an actress, with a phenomenal performance by Adachi Yumi as Maya. The drama did a great job in showcasing the ins-and-outs of the entertainment industry, with lots of lessons in method acting. My only gripe was the slightly melodramatic turn it took in the last 2 episodes. Nonetheless, it was a very satisfying watch that I would recommend for those who love a good classic, and an equally good character-driven story. On to Season 2!
Yumi Adachi‘s performance is so freaking amazing. I was not prepared for this! :-o
Completely agree! I'm only at E8 and she was fantastic in her role as Hellen Keller. In fact, she was great in all the characters they had her play. It baffles me how she didn't become a huge star..
What a fantastic performance in Glass Mask. To think she was just 16 at that time.. damn. How did she not become huge after that?! EDIT - Just watched Ie Naki Ko, and she was amazing! Damn.. I am gonna go down the rabbit hole of watching all her work..
Other than the heartwarming and adorable relationship between the gentle ML and his lovely mature daughter Shizuku…
The ML's past was never addressed. The darkness he spoke of was never addressed. Why he blamed himself for Shizuku's mother's death was not fully explored. Her scars / her rocky relationship with her father in the initial episodes was not explored. Matsuda Shota's character was here... for what reason? Also I get that the ML is a nice guy but the way he just let Naoya into the house and then let him stay.. like dude you have a daughter. Same with giving FL the money. Like shouldn't you keep a portion for emergency? After finding out about the FL, ML keeps quiet. Again, I have no problem with him being nice but if only we got to know why... like his inner thoughts were never revealed. Had he said something along the lines of he didn't want to let her go or he loved her etc I would have been fine. But its the way his character was just not given a voice constantly in the show that made it hard for me to connect with him and his actions. Like he was just written as a one-note nice guy without depth. Shizuku's real father - again what was his reason for appearing? He brought nothing to the show. Shizuku's grandfather was easily forgiven like nothing happened. And the tapes - he was watching them so why is it that only the FL discovered the ML wasn't the father.. such bad writing. Not a fan of both the ML and FL's acting in this show - she was unbearable when she cried, and he had moments when he was very stiff. Weird because I've seen solid acting from both of them in other shows. Not to mention, they didn't have chemistry. The ML's ending dialogue of 'life is beautiful' was very superficial. Nothing about this felt like it was written by Nojima Shinji.
Shizuku was the best actress in this. Her relationship, her maturity, her emotional scenes and her smiles were the best thing about this. She kept me watching and invested.
Other than the heartwarming and adorable relationship between the gentle ML and his lovely mature daughter Shizuku (she stole the show), everything else about this drama was underwhelming. I can't believe Nojima Shinji wrote this because the writing lacked depth, had boring characters and was filled with plotholes. Again, did Nojima Shinji write this because he always writes such layered, complex characters filled with depth that tug at your heartstrings. I didn't see any trace of his writing in this drama. The actors also didn't have the charm and chemistry I've seen them bring to other dramas / movies. It was there in the initial episodes but fizzled out quickly. Pretty disappointing watch.
It's probably been a decade since Oguri Shun did a romance drama.. And Okada Yoshikazu has written so many of my favourite dramas!! And then there's Oguri Shun and Han Hyo Joo's pairing that looks so promising. LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS!
3 
9 
2 
1 
1 
On to Season 2!
credit: raredoramas.com
In love with her after Glass Mask.
Hope someone subs this.
How did she not become huge after that?!
EDIT - Just watched Ie Naki Ko, and she was amazing!
Damn.. I am gonna go down the rabbit hole of watching all her work..
Enjoyyyy!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Love youuuuuu :)
Her scars / her rocky relationship with her father in the initial episodes was not explored.
Matsuda Shota's character was here... for what reason? Also I get that the ML is a nice guy but the way he just let Naoya into the house and then let him stay.. like dude you have a daughter. Same with giving FL the money. Like shouldn't you keep a portion for emergency?
After finding out about the FL, ML keeps quiet. Again, I have no problem with him being nice but if only we got to know why... like his inner thoughts were never revealed. Had he said something along the lines of he didn't want to let her go or he loved her etc I would have been fine. But its the way his character was just not given a voice constantly in the show that made it hard for me to connect with him and his actions. Like he was just written as a one-note nice guy without depth.
Shizuku's real father - again what was his reason for appearing? He brought nothing to the show.
Shizuku's grandfather was easily forgiven like nothing happened. And the tapes - he was watching them so why is it that only the FL discovered the ML wasn't the father.. such bad writing.
Not a fan of both the ML and FL's acting in this show - she was unbearable when she cried, and he had moments when he was very stiff. Weird because I've seen solid acting from both of them in other shows. Not to mention, they didn't have chemistry.
The ML's ending dialogue of 'life is beautiful' was very superficial. Nothing about this felt like it was written by Nojima Shinji.
Shizuku was the best actress in this. Her relationship, her maturity, her emotional scenes and her smiles were the best thing about this. She kept me watching and invested.
Pretty disappointing watch.
Will anyone ever sub this sighhhhh..
I've seen 90% of her dramas.. have just 2-3 left.
She really picks quality scripts.
And Okada Yoshikazu has written so many of my favourite dramas!!
And then there's Oguri Shun and Han Hyo Joo's pairing that looks so promising.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS!
Her elegance and beauty is on another level in Ichi.
Probably her best look along with this movie.
Kimi Ga Kokoro Wo Kuretekara
Prism
Brush Up Life
Okaeri Mone
Soredemo Ikite Yuku
Ukiwa: Tomodachi Ijo, Furin Miman
Suna no Utsuwa
She was so breathtakingly gorgeous in this movie.
https://doramatv.live/love_2000
English subs:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cM3H5LrQydFt5aU5ZapiTtWhg0k5s56V