hanako35

Regarding the speaking cadence that you pointed out, it was the writer-director who wanted this kind of delivery across all the characters. Albeit unrealistic (I also found it a bit too slow at times), it was definitely intentional. Narita Ryo (Yukio) in a recent interview said he'd start speaking and director Imaizumi would cut filming and say he should pause and go slower. Since there are other directors who worked on other episodes, they also applied the same style as Imaizumi's for uniformity (or, perhaps, that's a non-negotiable).

I am trying to delay watching the finale of a show so dear to me.

10 in total. The last one comes out on Friday.

Anybody who picked this up for subbing? 🙏🏼

On one of the usual places. The file size was incredibly large, though, so I ended up paying to get extra GB for downloading.

I would be lying if I said I'm satisfied with how this movie ended. However, it was quite a journey, and it was executed beautifully in all its simplicity.

Imaizumi really took his time with episodes 1-5, which many viewers may have found "sleepy." But those episodes set the perfect stage for the pivotal sixth episode, which revealed the reason why Ayana behaves the way she does, just before packing the next couple of episodes with more subtle twists that changed the trajectory of the story entirely. I'm glad I stuck to watching this series.

The second half of the series has been great so far. The momentum really picked up.

In my timezone, it comes out every Friday.

It's not yet done in Japan. There's just a 2-week delay for Netflix Global's viewers.

Different kinds of grief were depicted in Episode 7, but I am most taken aback by Yamada Sen's. All this time, he was living a different reality--a reality where his beloved is still alive. That, in itself, is so sad.

I think an underlying theme in this episode is making a choice. They have every opportunity to turn their lives around and escape from what's tormenting them, but they cling to it, almost like they're addicted to the toxicity that unrequited love brings. Kotaro continues to run to Ayana every time she calls even though he knows she doesn't love him back, but that time he gets to spend with her is more than precious to him. Ayana is the same with Ryosuke, she even realizes Kotaro is a pathetic mirror image of herself. And then there's Ryosuke who avoids Ayana's advances because their platonic relationship is worth more than any physical relations he will ever have after Maiko. These are choices they made, and we see how destructive some of these choices can be for them. It's the most layered episode so far in the series, and I can only hope things get even more compelling from here.

Director Imaizumi recommends watching from episode 5 down to 1 before watching episode 6 to have a look at the story from a different point of view, and it works in such a way that it nicely builds up to Ayana's current situation. Episode 6 acts as a "turning point" in the story, revealing a huge part of the reason why Ayana behaves the way she does, and it only gets more interesting from there. Episode 7 comes with a "twist"--as far as twists go in this kind of show, that is.

A few spoiler-free things I want to bring up (because I've got nothing better to do and have more things to say):
• The English title "Sounds of Winter" is so fitting for this show. I love how the sound direction makes it feel ASMR-ish. The hum at the laundromat, the sound of cigarette ashes being crushed in the tray, the clinking of dishes at the sink... they all come together in a beautifully mundane way. They sound so familiar, yet you only notice them in a series like this, where long pauses heighten the feeling of *being* in the scene.

• Adding to the sound comment above, Ep. 6 has this musical element to it, and it was woven nicely into the story. Of course, someone into the arts and humanities as Ayana herself would be drawn towards artists, and throwing in a perfectly imperfect music person as a love interest was a nice move. I find the casting of Matsushima So and Suzuki Airi rather interesting. They're not exactly the first people you'd think of when idol-actors are brought up, but the roles were offered to them specifically, and somehow, they blended nicely into the atmosphere of the show.

• Since we're already on the topic, I absolutely LOVE how the characters were cast. I've been following Hana Sugisaki for a while now and picked this up solely because of her, but I ended up loving the ensembleㅡeven the guest appearances. Everyone looks like realistic, flawed individuals who are dealing with their own circumstances, too. Recently coming from Ep 6, though, I find myself drawn even more towards Uchibori Taro as the enigmatic Yamada Sen. I think people who will stumble upon this comment will understand what I mean. I can't find much info about himㅡhe doesn't even have a page here (I've tried editing this page to add him to the cast)ㅡbut he's an unmissable presence in this series.

• I may be speaking with some bias as a fan, but I gotta say Hana Sugisaki is truly embodying Ayana. I love how she looks so innocent, and yet, she does things that will make you question her sense of ethics and morality. She's portraying a very complex human character beneath a cute façade, and she does it so naturally.

• I'm excited about where the story is headed. For shows that depict life as it is, things don't really get overly thrilling, but that's what makes you watch it more. You just want to know what happens next!

What I found fascinating in episode 6 is how Ayana is reflected in the two men featured in the flashbacks—Kotaro and Ryosuke.

On one hand, she’s like Kotaro, who’s helplessly (pathetically) in love with someone who didn’t love them back. (The banter between Sugisaki Hana and Okayama Amane is absolute gold!) On the other hand, she’s become somewhat like Ryosuke. She no longer takes relationships too seriously. But for her, it’s because she’s got feelings (and also herself) that she’s trying to protect, whereas, for Ryosuke, it’s long-held feelings that might never fade.

Unrequited love is painful, and it’s beautifully depicted in this episode. It is, by far, my favorite in the series. For fans of the idol scene, Matsushima So and Suzuki Airi also make a delightful guest appearance.

The episode ended with some shocking news, so I’m looking forward to how the next one will unfold.

There was a one-week delay in airing the sixth episode in Japan due to the Winter Olympics. It should be up this week.

I like how you pointed out the seemingly emotionally neglectful and avoidant family she has. Her dad has passed away, so maybe, they also never came to terms with the loss and are still grieving one way or another. I'm interested in how the rest of the show will unfold. We're halfway through now. How many more revelations about her past will be revealed?

This, too. A Japanese drama can be really, really good and still get 7-point-something hereㅡat best.

Probably because its style and themes are not conventional. It's very line-heavy (it feels as though you are reading a book, which is fitting since the protagonist is a novelist), and the female lead herself is rather complex. Personally, I enjoy it, but just like what another commenter here said, it's not everyone's cup of tea. Check it out yourself to find out.

I caught up to this drama just before it ends, and IDK... I will really miss it. Such a warm and wholesome series ;-;

If you loved the anime, the live-action version is even better.