Reviews

If one reads anything about Ashita, Mama Ga Inai (“Tomorrow, Mama Won’t Be Here,”) that work will likely focus on the massive controversy shouldered by it. I won’t reiterate the details here; after all, there’s a great article about the situation already posted on this site. But after witnessing the drama for myself, I cannot help but wonder at all the noise. How did so many people work themselves up over what appears to be but a dark fairy tale?

Of course, that isn't to say some of the offense is incomprehensible. To the Japanese, image means a lot. It’s also impossible to control how viewers digest what they've seen on television. "Will they take it all as fact?" With Ashita, typically fantastical and almost always exaggerated, that would be worrisome indeed. But as previously mentioned, best to take it as the last shadows of a child’s dream, a bittersweet fable. Does Ashita seek to impart a worthwhile message? Certainly, and it succeeds; after all, fairy tales were born from the desire to impart morals, and dreams often contain some kernel of truth. But though we can learn from them, we know they don't fully reflect reality.

This drama rolls along a simple format, one often seen in Japanese titles. In the first half, each episode focuses on a different child and their “trials” with foster homes. This structure allows the viewer to uncover character history individually, learning about everyone at Kogamo no Ie (roughly "House of Ducklings") bit by bit. Viewers will encounter a heavy tone, with certain scenes sporting almost horror film-esque attributes. Oddly enough, the home/orphanage itself wasn't depicted as shockingly as one might assume; it was rather the potential adoptive parents themselves.

Each plot thread shares airtime in the second half, building upon and resolving what we've learned until that point. My issues with the drama began at the juncture between these two halves. If changes were indeed made by the network to sooth public tension, I've been told it would have occurred here. The story lightens, allowing for its natural humor to come out much more. Yet I found Ashita crumbling in places, culminating in at least two subplots without satisfactory resolution. There was eventually dialogue that broke my immersion, lines which felt like sermons. Despite these problems, the emotional aspect of the drama works consistently well throughout its duration. Overall an involving watch, to say the least.

Not surprisingly, most members of the Ashita, Mama Ga Inai cast are children. Ashida Mana towers above the rest with a precocious talent, her turn as Post incredible. She begins by acting like a cynical delinquent writ small, yet develops slowly into a “little mother,” to the other children; this is a child too mature for her age, yet still a child nonetheless, and Mana owns the role from top to bottom. Suzuki Rio is another powerful, budding talent, a young lady who excels at the natural expression of a normal child. Her Donki could have been written better, but she does well with what she’s given. The other kids were often hit or miss, sometimes exaggerated to a cartoonish point (Bombi, sometimes Piami), though somber scenes brought out the absolute best in them.

From the adult half of the stage, we’ve scene-stealer Mikami Hiroshi as the darkly handsome yet gruff director Sasaki Tomonori-san (better known to his charges as “Maou/Devil King”). Thundering about on a limp leg, aided by a heavy cane, this is a mysterious character whose almost esoteric motivations lend much to the thought of Ashita as a fairy tale. Is this character a wicked devil or an unexpected angel? Either way, he's wildly interesting... and that "Tch?" Unforgettable.

Like the presence of “Maou,” music bolsters the fairy tale approach of this drama. Most tracks introduce a very emotional tone to scenes, with many sounding very light or magical, often in a melancholy way. For example, the theme “Dare Ka Watashi Wo,” (Kotoringo) sounds just like a lonely lullaby.

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Although I gave this a 9 overall, i feel it really deserves a 10 in my books. Wow okay, where so I even start? This drama has everything, from handsome rich billionaires, to (apparent) ugly poor girls and all the love-triangles and crazy ex girlfriends in between. It is definitely the stereotypical Asian drama but if you aren't sick of that sort of thing yet, then this is the drama for you! If you are, then what are you still doing watching Asian dramas? ;)
The acting was amazing! Especially on Ming Dao's part. He played both Junhao and Da ou so completely well that it actually made you believe they could be different people. The female lead... made me want to throw my laptop out the window and never turn on this drama again. HOWEVER, when i did warm up to her after a few episodes she became one of my favorite characters and most of the reason i continued to watch.
The music was not the best but it fit the mood. I think they had like two tracks, one sad and one happy where they would play each episode at their respected parts. I found this amusing more then anything else. reminded me of bof and 'almost paradise'.. XD
Despite there being 30 episodes to this drama, I enjoyed every single one of them. At episode 15, i remember thinking what could they possibly add to this story to fill 15 more episodes? But they somehow magically did! watching the last few episodes I felt so sad knowing it was ending and wishes there could be 15 more.
I would definitely watch this drama again. I'm not the hugest fan of Taiwanese dramas either because I don't know the language as well as Korean and Japanese but this one surprised me :) I would definitely recommend it ^^

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I picked up this drama randomly at a dark time when not so good dramas were airing and I had nothing else to watch. I didn’t have a lot of expectations, it looked to me as the usual cliché rom-com that I would eventually drop but that would be enough to fill my evening routine.

However, the drama didn’t have any of the clichés I had expected. From the first episode I felt something new and refreshing about this drama, and I liked it immediately. What I enjoyed the most is that the characters, their circonstances, jobs or family backgrounds seemed REAL.

I really liked how the main couples didn’t have the monopole of the storyline as the two side couples were as entertaining as the main. Each story was unique and interesting. I was really curious about the development of their relationship as I could identify myself with the characters even though they are so different from each other.

What I enjoyed the most is that apart of just being a romantic drama, it mentioned some real and important issues as inequalities between man and women in their workplace, women’s sexual harassment, the financial problems to acquire a property in South Korea or the exagerated costs of a marriage.

Finally I think that the cast was just perfect, the acting was on point, not only for the main characters but all the others as well. Lee Min Ki was my personal fave, I found him so convincing and really enjoyed the fact that he was not the usual annoying rich mama boy who bullies the main female. His character was rational and pleasant to watch. I really look forward to see him in more dramas. Lee Som was also one of my fave, not only is she freaking beautiful, her character is the ultimate female bad ass working girl goal. All the actors did such a great job.

I tried to find some flaws because I’m usually really peaky but really, couldn’t find any. This drama is a precious gem. I would definitely recommend it to anyone if you wish to see a quality rom-com drama that is light and funny but also treats of serious issues, portrayed by amazing actors with an original plot.

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I personally liked it. I have only read chap.1 of the webtoon (b/c I am not someone who reads webtoons) before I started watching this drama, so I can't compare the two. But I thought the drama was made really well and the entire cast did a stellar job.

Story: About a man called Frost who due to an accident when young lost most of his emotions and had his hair turned white. He and his team of "buddies" solve cases dealing with psychology. Every episode deals with a different case - but there is one underlying case involving Frost that starts showing itself mid-way.

Cast: Dr.Frost (Song Chang Eui) This is the first drama I am recognizing him in and I think he did a great job, he's attractive even with the 'white' hair ;) His very rational and thought processing mind was very believable. I liked how I could see the puzzle pieces come together in his eyes. I wouldn't mind working for him myself^^. Yoon Seung Ah (Jung Eun Chae) First time I've seen this actress too, I liked her as the novice apprentice who has a totally different character than Frost - they worked well together. Cheon Sang Won (Choi Jung Woo) was great as the head professor. (I always enjoy seeing this actor in dramas). Song Sun (Lee Yoon Ji) at first I didn't like her b/c of her animosity towards Frost but about half-way in the drama, she stopped acting rude and was then pleasant to watch ;) Nam Tae Bong (Sung Ji Ru) I loved him as the Detective - always bringing new cases for Frost to help solve, he made the drama even better by being there. All the supporting and guest characters did a good job.

Music: It was good and suspenseful at times but I don't remember any actual songs.

Re-watch Value: 5.5 - If I get hungry for some psychological stuff again I may re-watch a couple episodes here and there.

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my brother in christ...

— i went in blind, & i haven't even read the summary beforehand...i should've. it's confusing at the beginning, but dots start connecting quite nicely somewhere after the first revelation. i don't believe that it could've been confusing to anyone, you just need to pay it minimal attention, at least.

— it's strange, & then it's quite horrid but overall it's just heartbreaking. i dislike sibling bonds in movies precisely because it was gut-wrenching to see the dynamic switch between the two brothers after we discover the truth. it's hard to bring your brain out of that illusion once you're convinced that they're blood-related. nonetheless, i liked this movie a lot. my brain glitched for good five minutes after finishing it because you rewind all little details that didn't make sense & you see them in a totally different light.
— i cried, like a lot.

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Tsuki No Koibito is the perfect example of a stellar cast totally wasted on a non-existent plot.
I watched it as soon as it finished airing, attracted by one of the best actors assembly I had come across in a long time. And true to their skills, they do an amazing job, given the luke-warm, inconsistent, shallow story they had to work with.
I understood none of the characters. Are they ambitious, serious, romantic, evil, malicious? No idea. They are all a mixture of those. Yes, in real life people are never clear-cut, but instead of coming out as imperfect human beings one can identify with, these characters appear like badly assembled patchwork quilts, behaving in a way one episode, the opposite way in the next.
The only character with a little consistency is Maemi, played by an impeccable Shinohara Ryoko.

Without spoiling the ending of the drama, suffice to know that it was so out of the blue, I could do nothing better than scratch my head in puzzlement.
What happened to that character? Why did that one act the way he did? What are they trying to say? What's the answer to that 4-coins quiz repeated to exhaustion?
All questions I found no answers to.

I can't remember the music. In these cases, I always end up giving it a non-committal 7. It certainly didn't blow me away.

What a pity.

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I loved the second couple

Overall: I absolutely adored Ai Di and ended up enjoying their dynamic/story more. Aired 13 episodes about 25 minutes each on iQIYI, GagaOOLala (not in Taiwan, Japan, Korea, or SEA), Viki & WeTV. Later aired on YouTube https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk2gvyPpHLRfpyBmdMhePR2ntRNk3GqGs&si=hjJj5M5ZwqmJN7Rm Watch the post credit scene in episode 13.

Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder, blood, violence, past parental abuse, trauma, non con kiss, dub con sex*, blackmail, manhandling, held against will, 17 year old/22-25? year old** (also teacher/student), stalking, manipulation

What I Liked
- more unique premise
- clear timeline (first scene starts in the present then the rest is 4 years before)
- sweet/caring moments
- styling, especially Ai Di
- secondary couple's dynamic
- cameos of HIStory actors, Be Loved In House actors and Plus & Minus actors
- Bai Zong Yi's family, and liked how they knew about most things regarding his decision/actions
- intimacy/nsfw

Room For Improvement
- overall it felt rushed, this covered a long time span but didn't feel that long, they could have removed some parts like the cliche wannabe girlfriend and spent that time explaining things more/showing time passing
- the ending felt especially rushed with cliche plot points tossed in and one plot point left open ended
- comedy sound effects in the beginning didn't fit with the very serious scenes/tone
- villain should have been smoking a cigarette not sucking on a lollipop (it's explained in episode 9 which was too late for me)
- evil wannabe girlfriend cliche
- I got pretty lost with the the gang plot stuff but I also fast forwarded a bit
- not a fan of manipulation/stupid "plan" between romantic partners
- *with the main couple, one was super drunk/on sleeping pills but it was the fictional scenario where he was an active participant and then seemed sober
- **I really wanted them to have aged up Bai Zong Yi but it actually was important to the plot that he was 17 and I do think 17 year olds can be mature enough to enter into relationships with those over the age of 18 so in this instance it didn't bother me and I didn't take off points, though they could have removed the teacher/student element

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Be ready to stuck by lightening

Where to start… its amazing story. From start to end a journey full of emotions, love and compatibility. The chemistry was on fire n I am not exaggerating if i say that they didn’t even need to kiss to create fire 🔥. Don’t worry you will get plenty of 😘. My favourite character was Li Xi although he seemed to be a stubborn guy (exactly opposite to a gentleman, sometimes acted like a jerk yes an extremely proud guy .. or Atleast he pretended to be) but deep down he was a softy. He took his time to understand his surroundings and value friendships but he tried after many events (considering his background we can digest it). All in all I congratulate Arther Chen for being my new offical crush (damn cute). The FL was good. The thing i like most about her that she was not hesitant to express herself. She didn’t care about the so called ‘I am girl’ image n confessed her feelings from time to time . She trusted him in every stage. She was not blinded by jealousy even he purposely tried to mislead her yet she knew him so well and trusted him till the very end!
Other characters played their parts well. Guo showed most versatility in his character. He made me like him, hate him and felt sorry for him. I wished he could stop himself but … it was too late when he realised! The friendship was stained…!! ( Still happy that he ended up with Xu Luna at the end (an ending different from novel)). Ran Di was cool… Fung Xiamo was also unique in her own way( I wished she could ended up with that guy from uni days (who had a crush on her) but the director didn’t put attention on her storyline as she was already additionally acted from novel). I like the changes they made in drama version but i also liked the novel (except the last part where the writer dragged it). All in all it was one of the best dramas with a good rewatch value.

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Too Short but Enjoyable - Cover Poster doesn't match the drama

Completed - 8/18/2022

When I saw the cover poster of this drama and read the synopsis, I was expecting a mature and sexy show with a focus on our female lead's romance and career change. After watching this, I feel like I got cheated. This is a simple, fun and light watch which focuses not only on our female lead's career but actually her personal growth. I am not saying this is a bad drama, but it's not what I expected.

Umi is an overworked employee at a TV talk show. We follow her journey of switching careers, finding love and especially finding herself. Although romance is a part of the drama, it is not the main focus. This is a story about Umi. I enjoy getting to know Umi and following her journey. I appreciate that she's not the typical, quiet, naive female lead. In fact, she is a ball of energy and not afraid to go all out to get the work done. It is quite refreshing in a way. She's easy to root for, though she could be quite loud especially when she was screaming/screeching when snowboarding. Actually, there are many loud women in this drama, though none of them is annoying. Everyone is sweet and supportive of each other. It's quite nice to see that.

I like the three main male characters in this drama. This is my first time watching Honda Kyoya. He is quite cute, though he does look young. His acting is OK. It's nice to see Shirashu Jin as President Keisuke. I love him in "I Don't Love You Yet". It's also great to see a different side of Izuka Kenta as the weird and funny Satoru. He's no longer the innocent college student in the "Pornographer" or the cool hotshot in "Rinko Wants to Try". I quite enjoy the friendship between Jin and Kenta, and isn't it interesting that they both were in a BL drama before?

One thing I really like about this drama is the use of silence. There are many significant moments in the drama where there's no background music. The drama lets the actors and their dialogs take center stage, and does not use music to manipulate viewers' emotions. Viewers can really feel the emotions happening on the screen.

My main criticism would be the length and pacing of the drama. I wish the drama is longer. "Animals" is trying to cover our female lead's career change, romance and personal growth, all in less than 8 hours. I would have loved to see her slowly transitioning to her new job. She seems to fit in too easily and transition from a novice on makeup to someone who seems to be an expert within an episode or two. I want to see the romance develop more and have more scenes between Umi and Kazao. We see their cute bickering (which I like), but I want some more romantic scenes to see how they realize their feelings for each other. The romance lover in me is not quite satisfied.

I also realize I know nothing about Japanese fashion. I find most of the outfits that FL and her sister tried on for the interview and date are really ugly. LOL. Of course, this is just me. I am someone who wears just a T-shirt and jeans.😆

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Be 100% you, wherever you are

The Makanai is a delightful and heartwarming coming of age drama about two teenagers who travel to Kyoto to train to become Maiko. The friendships and supportive atmosphere of the yakata will welcome you in and delight you with beauty and delicious food.

Close friends Kiyo and Sumire enter the world of the maiko at the age of sixteen. Sumire is a natural but Kiyo is not and is expelled. Fate as it does, plays a hand when the older cook of the house hurts her back and Kiyo steps in with her lovingly prepared meals and becomes the new makanai, fixing all the meals for the women. That is pretty much the whole plot, the story follows the two over the next year as they blossom and find their way in the world all while maintaining their friendship.

The drama does cover the lives of the “Mothers” who run the yakata and also the star geiko, Momoko. The women are supportive of each other as they face life choices, some choosing to stay and others to go. Answers to conflicts arrive as easily and gently as on a breeze. There is no hazing or jealousy, only a little friendly competitiveness and teasing. This is a glimpse behind the scenes and into the world of the maiko and those training to be one. Because one cannot be a married maiko or geiko, as the young women age, they are faced with leaving their art if they choose to marry.

More than focusing exclusively on the maiko tradition, the friendship is the heart of the drama. Kiyo and Sumire have a sismance that will inspire you. The young women are always happy, never depressed or sad living away from home. Everyone does their chores and lessons with a joyful attitude. It may not be entirely realistic but it does make for soothing viewing. The cooking and food prep is tantalizingly shot with great care. Be advised you may not want to watch this on an empty stomach as Kiyo’s dishes do look delicious!

Though the action is languorous, the scenes tend to be vibrant with conversations going on in both the fore and background. Laughter often fills the air in the cozy house. The acting is natural and approachable. This slice of life is an example of life being lived in the details.

With the exception of a boisterous and attention seeking geiko who returns after a failed marriage I found most of the main characters charming. The other exception to my enjoyment of this drama was a mai developed on Night of the Living Dead for a festival. But that’s my personal issue-I’m terrified of zombies even when portrayed by stunning maiko!

In a world that can be cold, this drama wraps you in its warm embrace and feeds you comfort food, giving you hope that your dreams can come true and that friendship can be for a lifetime.

1/14/23

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I am completely empty

This series was a blow to my emotions that I will never recover from. It's not just a depiction of a complicated story but a painful moment realization.

Wang, who has been searching for the remnants of his father's memory his entire life is suddenly drawn to a house in the middle of nowhere. An oasis... a cave? a cage where the man holding the key to the mystery lies impatient.

An unstoppable force meets the immovable object. As a young man full of resolve and fire, crashes into a man that only knows fear and regret masked as prudence.

With a Strindberg-esque theater in it's core, this show brings blade-sharp monologues and dialogues with amazing rythm and ruthlessness. It plays into the inevitability of family and the unfortunate blooming of a love that grows like weeds in concrete.

The cinematography is beautiful, the use of lines and colors to depict meaning is raw and subtle at the same time. Its impossible to pinpoint the "good moments" because it's all so meticulously planned that everyone I tried to get a quote written down I ended up with a transcription of the entire scene.

It's not necessarily sad. I don't cry at "sad". It was just too much. The situation, the emotions, the dialogues are multidimensional and overwhelming.

Pond offered a gut wrenching performance that was always topped with a smile that passes through you.

F*ck, how this shit tore me apart.

If you do not find theater entertaining, if you like explicit, easy, quiet shows definitely skip this one. This is not your typical BL, for the ones coming towards it only because of that label. It is BL, but it became so much more.

This is not a "fun" ride. It's a story of a bird trying to convince another to leave the cage. The door is not locked, the air is much nicer up there... but how could you convince a bird with no wings to fly?

Id rather stay in the labyrinth than join Icarus in the sea.

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Before writing a review for this drama, I needed time to cool down a little. Not only I am a fan of dark detective stories, I also love Takeuchi Yuko to pieces. Both premises may have biased my judgment of the show itself.

This drama starts in the very middle of things. Unless you have watched the 2010 special - which I haven't yet - you won't see any introductions, neither of the characters, nor of the setting. You are thrust into the first crime and given brief flashes of the characters' past, pieces of a puzzle you'll only complete by the end, and not in full. It's realistic, harsh and frustrating, but it worms its way into the viewer's interest in a very subtle, gradual way, until you come to the end and wish there were another entire season to watch at once.
The cases brought me more than once to the brink of tears. They are desperate and intense, involving such human characters I couldn't remain detached even if I wanted to.

The cast is downright brilliant. My favourite Takeuchi did not disappoint me. Her character's very complex, with a perpetually seething anger as palpable and incomprehensible at the beginning as it is understandable once her past is slowly revealed. I have a weakness for characters who are incapable of expressing their feelings, because when they finally let the slightest glimpse of vulnerability surface it's so much more intense and heart wrenching.
Which inevitably leads me to her loyal subordinate Kikuta, portrayed by an impeccable Nishijima Hidetoshi. He reads her without fail, and I love that his evident attraction to her originates from his admiration for her skills rather than a simple man/woman dynamic.
Some of the characters are downright irritating. The police director - whose role is quite a mystery to me - is so obtuse the sole purpose of his existence seems to be to provoke his detectives' reaction. While it works on a dramatic level, I hope such individuals do not exist in real police departments, or I'd give up on the Japanese justice entirely, mostly if he's paired with the older corrupt detective whom I wanted to punch in the face.
Good or bad, none of these characters left me unmoved, proof of their outstanding job here.

I loved the music: well chosen, well used, well balanced.

Re-watch value is very high, because at first viewing I found some details hard to follow, mainly because of the fast delivered lines and the unusual way the crimes unfold. Most of all, though, I am experiencing withdrawal symptoms regarding the characters and am looking forward to a continuation. I'd vote for a second season in no time.

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