Tokuo Koji can be hit or miss but when he's locked in he's definitely delivering bangers. First episode was great and Ono Machiko and Yagira Yuya being signed on has me optimistic; it'll be interesting to see how Bando Ryota holds up against them if they have any scenes as a trio in the future.
Feels like they ran out of crazy ideas for the last episode. Definitely nowhere near the high of the earlier ones. At least they took a hard stance on AI.
The Yukimi storyline was handled too cleanly. I think tying it into the (IMO, way too obvious) mystery surrounding Kagami was okay, but she hardly got pushed to a breaking point equivalent to his to make the parallel work. At most she came across as a teenager going through a rebellious phase.
Ultimately, that's a larger symptom with Ruto Toichiro's work; his bread & butter is farcical comedy so any darker elements are pushed to the side to not throw off the balance. The Joshima episode was wiilling to go there but I guess they didn't want two heavy episodes about suicidal ideation back-to-back.
I love how much of this story is about reclaiming. Reclaiming a home that stopped feeling like it, reclaiming a family you thought was broken (and, perhaps, hurt you), reclaiming a self that once was lost. Healing isn't always about just moving on; sometimes it's about looking back, and reconciling, before you can go forward.
I'm sorry ...based on a true story? what psychotic loveless individual would ban romance and sex, and to the point…
The actual real-life story isn't as extreme. The drama is mostly original, the only part inspired by real events is the student suing her school after she gets asked to withdraw for breaking the dating ban.
Watching UchiBen right now, and I immediately knew he had a hand in it. So this is my appraisal of one of the hidden gems of the industry: he doesn't get enough credit for managing to establish a distinct style on TV, and even if it doesn't work for everything, his comedies are always guaranteed fun rides.
At times, I found this to be hollow, almost hard to sink my teeth into. One second, its thoughts on existentialism and purpose could be really compelling, then the next, muddled by its casual cruetly. I mean, "live for those that love you" as a throughline is nothing innovative but still... those are the parts that really brought me to a standstill, or to tears. When it wasn't afraid to get heavy in a meaningful way that's when it offered pure catharsis.
There is a gay storyline. The main character befriends a gay college student in a relationship, and the struggles he faces dating a man is a catalyst for many events that happen throughout the series, especially the final arc. He and his boyfriend are not the main focus but their storyline does progress in every episode and it has a satisfying conclusion.
A little clumsy. On one hand, I enjoyed how it handled its familial themes, particularly the stuff with the Mitsuzawa family. It's your typical "B-plot parallels oveararching A-plot" formula but done well enough. On the other hand, mystery was the weakest aspect, so it lost me by the end. Feels like there were better ways to say what it wanted to say without resorting to some cartoonish villainy.
A very thoughful finale. By putting the story's agency entirely in the central idol character's hands, it managed…
If people are approaching this story as a straightforward romance, the final development will definitely have mixed reception. I personally liked it, but also because I agree with the idea that Mimika and Keita could only ever converge at this one point.
Mimika graduates not just from Tetra, but from being an idol, an imagined version of herself that she was never truly happy with. Just from reading Wakana's interviews, I get the sense that she agrees with or at least understands that the journey of an idol can be one of self-discovery, with graduation almost a necessary step in some ways. Like I said, I found it very important that up to the end it's in Mimika's hands.
Keita is in a similarly aimless position and his encounter and entanglement with her is merely a catalyst from his own change. They are two different people by the end of the story, and can't really move forward still carrying each other in some way, at least not where we leave them. It ends exactly as stated: a relationship between an idol and a fan.
A very thoughful finale. By putting the story's agency entirely in the central idol character's hands, it managed to touch on aspects of the idol world that are often glossed over. It's not overly cynical, but also not lying about itself. I would love to read Abe Wakana's novel one of these days.
Unbelievably strong writing throughout the whole thing. It's a fantasy but manages to be really grounded, avoiding the trap of feeling too easy by not completely shying away from the harsh reality. Optimistic might be a good way to put it—it just felt refreshing to be around these cast of characters, especially because even at their worse it acknowledges the goodness that can be pulled out of them. No villains, just human shortcomings.
It has the usual Sunday Theater trappings of being a bit bloated and trying to please too many. There were glaring pacing issues, and you could tell even with the extra 15 minutes given for the finale that they were just scrambling to get it all in (and still wound up glossing over a bunch of points), but I still walked out of it feeling good. Nishijima Hidetoshi and Ashida Mana really elevated the material above just sweeping melodrama (especially for a series about an orchestra, it really drives home the melodrama). Could it have been more? Yeah, but what it wound up being is a decent enough watch.
Far too clean to really make any kind of impact. I initially thought we were being set-up for a put-down of a pathetic boyfriend. Instead, it's earnest about its title but gives you no reason to root for the couple. It comes across as a pastiche of much better break-up fare.... and a weak follow-up for Hashizuma Shunki after More Than Words.
I'm glad he got signed to a big acting agency in Japan. HoriPro seems to be taking much better care of him than BOC (probably getting paid better too tbh).
It's funny how old-school this drama is. Actually, it speaks a lot on how K-dramas are still perceived by the general foreign audience: glossy, frivolous, saccharine, escapist fantasies. I find that neither Korea or Japan really make these kinds of dramas anymore unless it's to cater to a very specific niche market. Which is to say that this is a drama practically tailor made to fit into those AI generated "Best Asian Dramas on Netflix" listicles. It certainly has its audience, and I certainly find it charming enough.
It's surprisingly intimate despite the prestige of a Sunday prime-time slot. I'm used to the bureuacratic stuff feeling shoehorned, but I think having Hibiki in the mix keeps things grounded. Anyway, very enjoyable so far hope so I hope it doesn't lose steam.
Finally finished this! It was over-the-top and irreverent in all the best ways and has, hands down, one of my favourite Koshiba Fuka performances ever, especially those last few moments in the finale.
Ultimately, that's a larger symptom with Ruto Toichiro's work; his bread & butter is farcical comedy so any darker elements are pushed to the side to not throw off the balance. The Joshima episode was wiilling to go there but I guess they didn't want two heavy episodes about suicidal ideation back-to-back.
Mimika graduates not just from Tetra, but from being an idol, an imagined version of herself that she was never truly happy with. Just from reading Wakana's interviews, I get the sense that she agrees with or at least understands that the journey of an idol can be one of self-discovery, with graduation almost a necessary step in some ways. Like I said, I found it very important that up to the end it's in Mimika's hands.
Keita is in a similarly aimless position and his encounter and entanglement with her is merely a catalyst from his own change. They are two different people by the end of the story, and can't really move forward still carrying each other in some way, at least not where we leave them. It ends exactly as stated: a relationship between an idol and a fan.
(More spoilery thoughts under the jump!)