"Machine no Owari ni" watches like a typical Japanese star-crossed lovers film. From the way the plot unfolds very strategically, to the plot devices in the form of characters and life circumstances, and finally, the emphasis on single moments shifting the entire narrative, it checks all the boxes of similar films that have come before it. (The director of this film is also the same person who helmed "Hirugao".) Fukuyama Masaharu and Ishida Yuriko are brilliant actors and carry their characters beautifully - Fukuyama is almost perfectly cast as a famous, and somewhat tortured, classical guitarist - but there's nothing new or particularly fresh about this story or film. Maybe hearing all the main actors speak lots of English and be in Western countries (France, Spain, the United States)? Recommended for fans of "Hirugao" and Fukuyama Masaharu probably more than anyone else.
"Destiny" wants to be a romance-mystery-thriller drama where the mystery pulls together the romantic leads in such a way that the watcher is spellbound into their story. Unfortunately, "Destiny" is not this and it truly is a shame because it had a great deal of potential. From the amazing cast led by Ishihara Satomi and Kamenashi Kazuya to having the backing of Netflix broadcasting it worldwide with English subtitles, clearly there was a lot of hype for this drama, but it is a let down. The story and the mystery plot are rather predictable, formulaic, and dry at times. Ishihara and Kamenashi light up the screen in their flashback moments together, but feel a bit bogged down by the heavy drama and awkward writing in the modern timeline (which is most of the drama). Shiina Ringo's "Ningen to shite" feels very misplaced as a theme song from the start, and even at the end, it doesn't feel tonally appropriate. I'm a huge fan of Ishihara Satomi and Kamenashi Kazuya's acting, so I stayed knowing that they would keep the drama afloat for me, and they did. The two did what they could with the material given, but I don't know how much I would recommend this to viewers who aren't huge fans of their work.
When I heard that "Unsung Cinderella" was a drama about pharmacists, I couldn't believe it. I didn't really know what to expect because, how do you build drama around pharmacists?! Well, this drama did that, with the help of Ishihara Satomi as the lead actress. Ishihara really does make this drama a worthwhile watch for me, as I cannot imagine anyone else being able to pull off such an idealistic and heroic hospital pharmacist as Aoi Midori. (She's absolutely unrealistic, yes, but I have low expectations of realism when it comes to medical dramas anyway.) Each episode is quite formulaic, but Aoi genuinely sees the good in people and the stories of how she supports patients struggling with their illnesses and medication are quite beautiful and definitely will make you cry every episode. I think the development of some of the regular characters are lacking (some of the supporting characters who were patients were much better fleshed out because of their direct connection to Aoi's story), but again, Ishihara Satomi will have you coming back to this drama. She really can make almost any drama, any genre, work! This drama is a testament to that for me. :)
"Trillion Game" is a rollercoaster of fun, and the movie just keeps building right where the drama left off. Haru returns after two years and him and Gaku continue their climb to be the richest in the world by building Japan's first casino. Of course though, it is not easy by any means, and if you know Haru and Gaku, there will always be something up their sleeve rooted in the purity of friendship and trust. Always a fun ride, hilarious with touches of wholesome, the movie does feel like a compressed story arc from the drama - for better, and for worse. It's fun as all get out and has the grand scope of a film (the glitz, the glam, and the action!), but at times, it does feel like some of the beloved characters from the drama don't get as much screentime (especially Rinrin and Kirika, who have great foil moments for Gaku and Haru respectively, but I always want more). Meguro and Sano truly are so much fun to watch as Haru and Gaku, and they are the heart of the film, so really it's hard for this one to go wrong. If you loved the drama, you will enjoy the film easily, but don't really expect more - the ride continues and doesn't miss a beat!
"Saki ni Umareta dake no Boku" loosely translated is "Me, who was just born earlier (than you)" and I think knowing that really says everything about this drama. This philosophy on education, which stresses the importance of growth and learning at all ages and the relationships between students and teachers, is so beautifully illustrated by the drama's story of a businessman being transferred into the position of a principal at a low-rated high school owned by the large corporation he works for. Narumi struggles with how to apply his business know-how to this new environment and it is exciting to watch him slowly figure out for himself (and then engage the teachers and students!) in understanding how education can motivate and inspire, and not just be a simple means to an end. They even get into pedagogical discussions, which I've never seen in a school drama before! The first half of this drama is definitely compelling for these reasons, but starts to lose a bit of steam in the second half because of an extraneous side plot involving Narumi's romantic entanglements. The drama could've easily minimized it or done without it, and still been interesting! Sakurai Sho is strong in his role as Narumi (though he's not straying all that far from his idol persona) and so is Aoi Yuu as Mashiba. (Unfortunately, Tabe Mikako is absolutely wasted in her role.) As a professional who works in education, it was really refreshing to see a school drama tackle some of what it is like to be an educator, with all the complexities that go beyond just teaching, and not just focus solely on the students. Definitely recommended to those looking for something a little different in the school drama genre. :)
"Nihon Chinbotsu" had a lot of expectations to meet and honestly, it did an okay job. Loosely based on a famous novel from the 1970s, this natural disaster drama plays out the question of, "What happens if Japan sinks?" From the science, to the government's reactions, to the individual human stories, and eventually the final event, it tries to show all the different perspectives that weigh in as the natural disaster slowly unfolds. And that's where the drama probably tries to do too much. The plot is so basic and simple because it's trying to juggle so much - it develops in almost a predictable manner. There are a few surprises, but they are hardly plot twists and more just excessive, unneeded side plots. The acting is solid and on point, with Oguri Shun leading the charge. Even with mediocre material, he still impresses with his skill. Kagawa Terayuki is great, but I feel like he's always fantastic with eccentric characters - it's definitely his thing. And I enjoyed both the OST and the theme song that heightened my feelings appropriately. As the first Japanese drama that aired simultaneously on Japanese television while being released weekly on Netflix worldwide, I definitely wished it could have been a more intriguing and well-developed drama; that's probably my own bias as a long-time Japanese drama watcher. It's a solid drama for sure, and Oguri Shun fans will enjoy, so at least there's that.
