pollobi brototi

I was excited because Tori Matsuzaka was starring in it, a versatile actor who have made a point in choosing diverse and compelling scripts. The first couple of episodes I was hoping that there will be some character growth, that the story has a destination in mind but it simply got lost among its thick humour and constant gag reels. The dialogues are weak and except for the decidedly comedic deliveries, none hit me with any significance. Taishi's speeches were tailor made for second hand embarrassment which they could've easily dialed down a little. It felt like it's not just Taishi at a loss for words but also the screen writers.
I had this false expectation that maybe this show is a grounded reflection on marriage, even if not completely sober or mature. I was absolutely wrong. The story just goes on being relentlessly redundant and pointless and finally turns annoying. The ninth episode was completely unnecessary. Except for Matsuzaka's gigantic effort in being a complete airhead with a whiff of sensitivity, there is practically nothing of value in this show. I like Naka Riisa too but her presence is just too loud and the plot doesn't help in establishing the chemistry she could've had (or needed to have) with Matsuzaka at all. The show just never finds a common ground between being a satire, a emotional drama and a plain comedy. It looks down on modern values while simultaneously pushing for them which just doesn't work. Nine hours of my life were just lost.
I wouldn't have minded much if I watched it with my usual sceptical hesitancy but for some reasons I was too hopeful of the show...the trailer looked interesting and the cast seemed promising...but god was I in for a massive disappointment! It's hard to watch someone as talented as Matsuzaka being wasted in a series like this-_-

PS: except for a slightly husky voice, I just couldn't see what it is that people find so charming in Nishikido.

Emi Takei was phenomenal in the role of Hikari. After her initial psychotic behavior it would seem impossible to root for such a character but she acted with such nuance, balance and heart it was nothing short of amazing. The emotions of being deeply troubled, traumatized, being hopelessly yet intensely in love, the immaturity with a hint of wise beyond her age aspects of Hikari were expressed brilliantly. Compared to the character of Natsumi, Hikari felt layered, complex and emotionally vulnerable in the most compelling way. I was shocked to realize that she had much more chemistry with Shuji and would have made a better couple which would also deliver an unique and fitting ending to the show (after all this show covered all sorts of social taboos).
PS: the student teacher interactions presented in the show were weird and I can bet far from being real, but a forced suspension of disbelief would do the charm-_-

Does she fall for Wataru?-_-

Thanks. I really liked the metal one...Tyrannosaurus rex on my tatami mat seemed like an intriguing lyric...

I can't find a list of all the tracks used in the movie...what are the songs Sakaba and Yukina were listening to in their earphones? And the ending track?

Okay, it seems like I'm a stark minority in that I liked this season better than the first. I thought it won't have a central story (just some misleading review), but it actually surprised me. I had tons of issue with the first season. Some of which persists in this one too but this season has few unlikable charachters and it's more intense. Since Shimazaki likes to heal people psychologically (along with guarding their body🙄) intense settings help, where him getting into random physical brawls isn't as implausible as it was in the first season (I guess as viewers we have to make our peace with this narrative cringe-_-). I absolutely adored Kasamatsu sensei and Shun (again, and actually he got better. He gets so few scenes and shines in all of them). Ichikawa Mikako was amazing as the independent and staright forward surgeon, I think I liked her almost as much as I hated the health minister. She brought a fresh air (which was really much needed) to the show. Suganuma surprised me towards the end and Sawaguchi deserves more screen time. Didn't like Takanashi, I mean this juvenile shit escapes me🙄. They can have their bromance and difference in attitude in a more realistic, nuanced way. He redeems himself at times but most of the times his dynamic with Shimazaki throws me off. The main antagonist (and predictably the last client-_-) president Ryu was a badly written character. I still don't understand why he needed to have a dead fiancée, the story would've worked finely without this. And why on earth do they let Taro go? That guy's an established loose cannon. And because they really need to mess it up in the end-_-, for some reason, despite being shot in the leg, Shimazaki didn't call an ambulance until collapsing on the ground (what, he didn't feel being shot?-_-) But, still I liked this season better. There were reasonable fights, personal moments, less crappy dialogues (not by a great margin-_-, but still better than the first season) and a nice rounded ending. First season ended on a suggestion that SP Ochiai and Tachihara sensei might come back. I'm happy Tachihara isn't in the picture anymore (at least, romantically) but I'd love Eguchi san back in the story. People seem to have a theory of the delivery boy being someone of interest, but I didn't get any such hint. He was a nice character though, could be fun if he becomes like a part timer in Shimazaki Security. I hope they make another season and end things properly. I still can't get around the fact that everything comes second to the job for Shimazaki. It's not a sophisticated portrayal but it still has a potential to be explored deeply. Another hope in vain-_- but be that as it may, another season should be there to wrap everything up nicely.
PS: Btw, how cringe is the opening and ending quote?-_-

I don't understand why Kimura Takuya can't manage a show with at least a mediocre script. The ratings and plot seemed promising but god! the amount of cringe! And I even approved of Mirai e no 10 count which had its own barrel of cringe. The only likable character is Eguchi's Ochiai, who only saves the scenes by his acting because the dialogues and character background are total crap. Everything is outlandish, most outrageous is how Shimazaki is so absolutely good-_- I mean does every law enforcement, or security personnel go to their job thinking I'd die today? Of course, it's a possibility but the objective is to help people without hurting their own selves. They don't tell their kids, "hey, I can die any day"-_- Episode 2 preview showed Shimazaki carrying the client's wife and I'm like "ok, lets see what happens...". Apparently, she left her regular shoes to wear hills on the prompt of the BG who knows they need to run right now-_- In fact, Ochiai's taunt that he's not only a Bondesque civilian bodyguard but also a marriage counselor, lands hard. In the next episode he jumped off a bridge, I mean, what the heck-_- And I never hated any character in my life as much as the health minister Tachihara. She literally has nothing to do but nose into Shimazaki's business. How are the rest of the politicians managing with the state police service? The way she spouts lies, one after another, I don't know why she gets even an ounce of respect from the people around her. The gestures at a possible romance were the most annoying. I just have no idea why would anybody like her. In fact, seeing her face again in the episode 6 preview is what led me here...-_- Kimura really needs to up his game, he alone can't save a drama and in this one, his character is the most unreal.

PS: After taking a little break I came back to finish it by hate-watching-_- I had to know why people liked it and it was in no way clear even after watching 5 episodes. Epi 7 wasn't bad, Yamaguchi Tomoko was a fresh air I appreciated, I could feel they had years of memories together (though the watch scene kept coming up-_- I mean, once was enough). Her performance saved the episode. I don't know how you just keep meeting the same person on every mission but Tachihara was there too-_- I like strong, forward characters but she's so absolutely annoying-_- Eguchi Youske's was the finest character, but did anyone figure out why he despises civilian bodyguards? I mean, that was no normal 'disliking'. Well, he predictably switched sides (I'm still not sure why it had to be there in front of the prime minister-_-). Next best character is Shimazaki's son, Shun. At first, I didn't like his attitude but he is sarcastic in such a delicate manner that you know he cares. Only with him, Shimazaki's dialogues don't seem like a mass of absolutely humiliating cliché. The end was rather fine. I hope Tachihara never returns, the only times she seemed relevant were when she and Ochiai were exchanging thoughts. It's a shame Ochiai isn't in the next installment though, I mean, he and Shimazaki had this nice contrast. But this season I might like better as apparently, it doesn't have much of a central story (I'd rather there's none as opposed to some half-baked cringe materials-_-). Didn't really like Takanashi, I don't get his awkwardness. It doesn't suit an adult playing a professional and his version of it is a little off. 1 episode in season 2 and he's already getting on my nerves. Why does there always have to be someone so irritating? I'd gladly watch these mindless stuffs, but this is how they ruin it all-_-

Thanks. I think I thought the sketch was of Oshino. I couldn't figure out if she liked Megumi why steal Sakane's stuffs? I kind of liked this season better so this was bothering me.

Did you get why Domoto was stealing things used by Sakane? Totally escaped me!-_- I commented above but feels like months might pass by without a reply, so...if you notice...

Can anyone let me know why Domoto was stealing things used by Sakane? Totally escaped me!-_-

Though this comment is too focused on the male lead's waning youth, it speaks the truth, unfortunately. I have been waiting for another drama starring Lee Jinuk for some time, and god! is it a disappointment-_- He does look a bit too old, but that could have been surpassed easily with better acting, direction, dialogue and story...this drama so far has none of those and I don't see it improving in the rest of the episodes. The drama promised a real-life spin on the story, which couldn't have been further from the truth. The leads have no chemistry and the gooey sweetness that they opted for is too sticky and unpleasant to watch, not to mention how unbearably unrealistic it is. I think Jinuk is more suitable for the quiet, laconic (a quality I admire a lot) and smart types of character which though doesn't speak much for his range (I did think that he did quite well in Return as a sort of childish, unhinged detective, venturing out of his usual style - guess that's why I hoped for something better, well, that served me well-_-) should at least make him be a little more selective when choosing his projects! Both he and the female lead felt incredibly limited in their roles which to top it all are so badly written that I feel like nothing can save this drama. Overall, a huge huge disappointment...

I'm a little turned off by Lee Joon's overacting, the show didn't even start and he's sobbing like a kid...I saw him before in Bulgasal where his inclination to do this mostly worked, though I have to mention that I wasn't as impressed as most people seemed. I'm fond of understated acting. So, does it get better, is this sobby beginning justified? Would love some feedback...

Damn, really have to have an eye to notice all that...sniper just seemed like a big deal, forgot it pretty much started out as a parody....anyway, thanks for the reply:)

I still don't get what the opening scene was about...wasn't Noh Go-jin like being targeted by a sniper? I thought it'd be tied into the story...what on earth was that?

Okay, I actually loved it despite its flaws and more so because this one certainly knows how to improve. And Dean Fujioka is mood! I loved the Japanese iteration, and how oddly faithful this adaptation is to the original. The music, especially the OP/ED, is spectacular. I liked how it opened every time, really unique. The supporting cast is amazing too. Lets' get on with the flaws then. The initial few episodes aren't that great plot-wise, but I was more invested in the style, so I digress. I'm not that fond of Wakamiya's portrayal and Iwata Takanori's acting. I mean, both get better with time, but his expression is a little obviously stagey, I'm not sure how to explain. And this version of Watson is too easy to read (almost childishly at times), Shishio doesn't need to work hard for that. Anyway moving on, that falling down scene was so badly shot-_- I mean, it's the great fall! We need more effort! They didn't even bother to actually jump?! And that's excluding the possibility that both can easily swim ashore-_- And the ending of the special...what do you do when your long-dead friend appears before you out of the blue? Do you say 'Shishio!' through tears or do you refuse to accept it and get angry due to the shocking insensitivity of your 'friend'? I mean, you grieved his death! That is exactly why I have trouble digesting Wakamiya...and this was right when I was hoping for a great ending, which was even almost on its way to be so-_- Now, to point out some facts I'd like explored in next adaptations (I'd really appreciate another season, I mean, movie is great, but still..) #Was that guy actually Moriya? Unlike the original, he took Sherlock with him in the water which makes sense because I believe Moriya staged all that to show the world that he's dead, hence the much tense suggestion of police killing. It aids Moriya. #I don't buy that nosy journalist Moji Karen, who on earth hacks someone's pc to read their personal journal? Also, she once mentioned that 'she's doing all these for 'love''; suspicious. These elements if left as they are, I think will greatly undermine the narrative coherence. I really enjoyed the series, and it left a great scope to build more. I appreciate that. And have to mention that the Irene Adler of this Japanese version is truer than most adaptations made before. I think her cold 'dakara nani?' is the best dialogue of the show. Can I also add, how psychotic Ichikawa's tongue biting was? That move was disturbing as hell and required really strong performance and direction. So, yeah, loved it. Could have been better, can still become better. I hope it does.

Maybe you've already figured it out, the theme runs in parallel with the characters. The tiger is the fear Geung yu denies to face, he'd rather live in this comforting but humiliating non-existence than to really deal with life. And the tiger's disapperance from the zoo also coincides with his own displacement. Yoo jung is suffering from a soul crushing creative inertia, is a possible alcoholic and though seems less inert than Geung, she actually is repressing more and god! if Go Hyun jung is not perfect for the role...Geung yu is faced with the pit bottom of another person and it reflects his own too. He finally almost meets the tiger one night and that fear is tangible, unlike his consistent defiance to live the way he wants to, his fear of expectations and being blown to smithereens when they are not met, so he flees. Then he sees someone really dying and all he can think about is meeting the tiger, his hidden fears of course, but also a real look inward. The whole movie is filled with scattered demonstrations of the dregs of the Korean gig economy, the death of literature, struggles of the artists. Our leads are part of that, it's supposed to be depressing but the visual is in contrast with the narrative tone, it's a really bright winter. So finally the story falls onto that when Geong yu meets his tiger (read fear) in broad daylight, which in reality turns out not so terrifying, rather innocent, a direct link and opposition to the growling tiger he met at night. He finally faces his fear, slowly takes back the things he quit, unlike his ex. I think the flip in the character study was really something, because at the end of the story they're quite not what they seemed at the beginning. The Hemingway reference overlaps with Yoo jungs Soju addiction, but the one thing I still can't figure out is what it means that Geong yu had a copy of that in his bag...I was kind of anticipating that he carries his own novel in it...
Anyway, so there you go, my interpretation. The long shots are fun but I felt like I can't see their faces most of the time, because it's either shot from the sides or their faces are hidden by cascades of hair, was that on purpose? Can't think of why that would be...the movie has some evident flaws, but I think it's very watchable and definitely thematically rich.

I fell in love with the drama after watching the first episode...it had that genre-bending feeling. 2nd, 3rd episode retained that horror, mystery element. And though things changed afterward, I still enjoyed it till the 8th episode. Then it faltered. I admire that they tried to stretch the story to the end but so not effectively that it hurts! Unlike many, I was waiting for the romance and Lee jinuk and Kown Nara have nice chemistry in my opinion and that is despite the vague writing that they got. The idea of reincarnation is tricky and if not dealt with tact feels stupid. Without their memories, none of the characters are what they were in their past lives. The 1000 year timeline is so long that it minimizes the connections in between- the relationship between Dan Hawl and Sol could have been explored more. The romance of Hawl and Sangun could have been more mature and direct, after all, they are grownups and the fatalistic outlook towards their relationship felt weird to me. I don't know if Lee Joon worked too hard for a character that is written in such a lackluster fashion, he created a buzz that the story couldn't justify, so all his eccentricity gets reduced to a certain sort of nuttiness! No motive just wishful thinking and unbelievably adamant belief in his victimhood. The monsters had no underlying plot, they just exist and Hawl just kills them...for episodes of running from them, this is disappointingly underwhelming. By episode 12 I sort of lost hope about how they'd wrap it in only 4 episodes, but they did provide some nice moments- especially Hawl's revisiting of Ms. Lee's life and Sangun's following comforting scene is a highlight of mine from the later episodes. What I don't like in many k dramas is how the story ends long before its runtime (maybe I haven't watched many) so, I liked how they were keeping the plot tight but who knew that would be a double-edged sword? The only redeeming quality is the performance of the cast which I thoroughly enjoyed. Even in the most childish scenes Nara and Jinuk had a gravity, their 1000 year past selves weren't even given any time, they just stand and stare at each other and it still worked! It started off with such a promise and went on with this gusto that I hoped they have something decent for us in the end but that was a misplaced hope. 50 years from now is stretching it so far that it literally doesn't make any impact. The ideal ending would have been in the present. Everything turned so flimsy in the end, I feel like if 1000 years ago Sangun told Hawl that she's leaving him for 20 something years and would come back later- none of this would have happened...or if Hawl tasted a drop of blood somewhere he could have remembered everything much easier and early. And now that I'm thinking I don't know why Ok Eul Tae couldn't kill this version of Sangun, what was the catch? I guess the victory of the show is in the fact that after this myriad of complaints, I'm still going to say that I mostly liked it. I liked the initial suspense, the pretty visuals, the amazing OST and mostly, the acting. I wish they had done justice to all these great elements by writing a decent plot that in the end wouldn't just fall flat like this.

Maybe he needs to die as a Bulgasal...who tf knows...they could have done it so much more neatly that it's frustrating.