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When water is thicker than blood
The film navigates around the lives of two people brought together by fate in rather dismal conditions, to form a bond that is beyond that of blood relations. Being based on a true story makes it all the more convincing and hopeful...It is a sentimental and heart warming portrayal of the lives of two disabled men...Se Ha who is paralyzed and wheelchair bound due to his quadriplegia but is otherwise extremely sharp with an active and able mind, and Dong Goo who is mentally challenged(autism I suppose) with an understanding of a 5 year old, is athletic and has commendable physical strength...it is almost as though fate meant for them to meet and complement each other, so much so that they become one complete person. Se Ha was dropped off at an institution of the disabled after the passing away of his mother and Dong Goo was abandoned by his mother finally to be taken in by the same institution, where they then meet, and Se Ha prevents the others from bullying Dong Goo, after which their loyalties never waver...For twenty years they stay together as the perfect partners, where Se Ha manages the finances and is the brain of the two and Dong Goo is the brawn and helps execute the orders given to him...
The story is written very well with an adequate dose of humour to lighten the otherwise heavy premise, they realistically portray all the problems faced by them, but also convey hope by how they implement counters to all of that and can find joy in their everyday lives simply because they have each other...The plot is simple but is riddled with its fair share of problems and has a predictable yet impactful ending which was cathartic...
The main leads were brilliant in their roles and executed them to perfection...Lee Kwang Soo doesn't have much to speak but makes endearing, large and ludicrous gestures which frankly just say it all...Shin Ha Kyun in particular relies on his words and facial expressions to convey his feelings and intentions since his body is motionless, neck down...and he pulls it off fantastically, portraying the frustration, anger, disappointment and fondness ensued by their brotherhood with utmost finesse...
Overall it is done quite delicately and with utmost respect to the differently abled...It was a symphony of emotions I felt while watching the film and that's what made it so pleasurable...
And indeed, family is the people in your life who want you in theirs and accept you for who you are, family isn't always blood...
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This review may contain spoilers
Innocent, sweet, light, heart fluttering romance.
Really enjoyed this short drama. The romance was very sweet and made my heart flutter.I love how fast paced the drama was but at the same time, it didn't feel rushed. We got to see Do Hoon come to have feelings for Yoon Soo each episode and it was really cute to witness. Yoon Soo was also a fun character to watch; he was a master flirt and I loved how he'd always tease DH by getting all up in his personal space and making DH flustered. This drama will definitely have you giggling and holding your breath to see what happens next.
Aside from the romance, I also enjoyed seeing DH and YS in their respective workplaces. I liked all the interactions with the side characters too, even the intern who was crushing on DH.
The only thing I didn't like much was the misunderstandings between DH and YS because of YS's past relationship. I didn't like how both characters handled their feelings about it, but it's a short drama and I understand that a drama needs, well, drama...so I'm not too mad about it. Also, I sorta felt like YS was a bit too nice(?) with the way he handled his ex. Like, idk, I'd have preferred if he was more harsh to him especially considering the lengths the ex took to try to get back with him...but they'd been together for three years so maybe there was still some leftover affection there....(I don't think the drama intended for this to be the takeaway, but that was just the undertone I got from the whole ex-plotline which left a bad taste in my mouth and made me low-key side more with DH's feelings).
The acting was okay. I liked DH's actor the most. The character and actor himself reminded me of Ji Hyun from the Eight Sense; they both have that adorable and aloof vibe to them so it made watching him really fun. I mainly just had a problem with YS's actor and the intern. The intern's actor just came across as unnatural, but more like in a novice actor kind of way, which is understandable. Whereas my problem with YS's actor was the character always had this perpetual smile on his face. Idk if it was how the character was written or if thats just the direction the actor took. The smile was just so constant it made me uncomfortable in the beginning lmao. YS just always had a specific smile on his face regardless of whether the scene called for that kind of expression, so it really just pulled me out of the scene at times.
Overall, however, it's a really sweet, and light drama. For a short drama, it actually has some depth to it too which was nice.
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plot: the plot was incredible, it was thrilling, complex, and simple gorgeous. I loved how they made it really feel like you watched an entire life take places and watched as the character grew and matured with the difficulties life presented her with. some people may not watch it because its so ridiculously long, but trust me, when you start watching it, you'll want it to be longer. the plot threw quite a few twists and new developments so I never grew bored of it and I found myself cheering for the characters who stood for justice.
characters: loved the characters. they were all so brilliantly crafted with their own unique quirks and characteristics that I found it easy to remember even minor characters. Plus there is a certain richness in the characters and character relationships that only really long dramas can bring about so when tragedy strikes and someone dies, the tears just keep gushing out. I also loved how even the villians had depth to them so that you couldn't completely hate them and even felt pity for them. Even though I often cursed one of the characters in this and found myself wanting to rip her face off, I actually cried when she died. that's how awesome they developed their characters.
music: I really just want to hug whoever was responsible for the music in this drama. They did an AMAZING job. I loved all the soundtracks played in this, it was both haunting and beautiful. I would seriously rewatch this drama just to listen to the soundtrack. Towards the last few episodes, the soundtrack at the end was especially creepy and haunting which was fitting and just plain awesome.
In the end I would highly recommend people to watch and then re-watch this drama. A very heartwarming and at the same time heartbreaking tale of overcoming your obstacles and learning to forgive and value yourself. beautiful coming of age drama. its one of those that don't leave your mind for a while. Definitely going to watch this again.
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This review may contain spoilers
Death, Romance, and a Whole Lot of Cotton Candy
There’s something incredibly frustrating about a drama that almost works. Kokdu: Season of Deity is one of those shows that flirts with being something bold — a quirky fusion of myth, romance, and moral reckoning — but it never quite commits to anything long enough to hit you where it counts. It's like getting charmed by a magician who forgets the second half of every trick.The setup is promising: a grim reaper cursed to roam the human world, doling out judgment and — bafflingly — also trying to fulfill romantic duties. There's a whiff of Goblin-meets-Dali & Cocky Prince energy here, the kind of supernatural rom-com blend that could have been weird and wonderful. But instead of digging into the weight of its mythos or fully embracing its absurdity, it kind of wobbles in between, unsure of what it wants to be. The result? A story that looks delightful in screenshots but dissolves on contact.
The leads — Kim Jung-hyun and Im Soo-hyang — are game, and that’s important. They’re trying. You can see it in the way they push through the tonal whiplash with expressions that say, “We know this is silly, but maybe we can sell it.” There are flickers of chemistry, moments where something warm tries to break through the script’s clutter — but the writing never stays still long enough to let it grow. Scenes cut away just as the emotions are starting to breathe, replaced by another tonal swerve: now it’s wacky, now it’s tragic, now it’s flirty, now it’s revenge. The pacing doesn’t trust the audience to sit in a feeling.
And the whimsy — oh, there’s so much whimsy. But it’s the kind that feels studio-manufactured. Pretty sets, pastel palettes, feather-light music cues. It’s all sugar and no substance. The comedic side characters overplay their hands, the magical rules shift whenever convenient, and the whole thing starts to feel like a drama made out of marshmallows: cute to look at, occasionally amusing, but completely incapable of leaving any lasting impression.
There are moments, I’ll admit, where the humor actually works. A well-timed line, a visual gag that lands just right — those small, glimmering moments that remind you the premise isn’t the problem. The bones could have supported something great. But by the end, you're left watching actors treading water in a sparkling pool of ideas that never get deep enough to swim in.
Kokdu isn't awful. It’s just insubstantial. It’s a soft breeze of a show, more interested in being quirky than meaningful. And while I appreciate a good fantastical romance as much as anyone, this one felt like a dream I forgot five minutes after waking up. Pretty. Fleeting. Empty.
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This show is full of randomness and over dramatic scenes, but that's what makes it so entertaining for me! Overall, this a worth a watch! Make sure to watch the first season as well!
STORY-7, Nothing that special to the story. It's just about a couple and how they spend their time together, loving each other and thinking about taking their relationship a bit further. But it's really cute. I really like seeing Arata and Nika together. Renn and Mariya have such great chemistry! TO be honest, they have better chemistry in this season than season 1. Probably because they feel more comfortable now since they've already worked together. This show is stuffed with funny, romantic moments... random moments.. not any twists or trouble happening here.. but that's what makes it fun for me to watch! I've been watching dark dramas lately, so I decided to see a romantic comedy. I ended up loving this so much!
ACING/CAST-8. The acting from Renn and Mariya improved a lot. I can feel them getting much closer. I liked their chemistry in season 1, but I feel they have better chemistry in this season. The supporting characters did a great job as well.
REWATCH VALUE-7. I might re-watch this whenever I finish a depressing drama... Haha, I mostly likely will get a bit bored though.
Trust me, try this drama! You might end up liking this as much as I did!
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This lakorn is one where the more you watch, the more you notice the red flags.
Ramin is not the only issue here.
The first problem lies with Nita, the ambassador’s wife. Despite being in her 70s, perhaps even older, she lacks self-confidence. She becomes jealous when her husband shows attention to Wayoon and refuses to accept his explanations. This leads her to confide in Ramin’s aunt, a woman who places great importance on social class and marrying within one’s class. She already has her own issues. Influenced by the ambassador’s wife, she develops a dislike for Wayoon without even meeting her. She employs housemaids, drivers, and other women to whom she provides scholarships to follow and stalk Wayoon and Ramin. They harass Wayoon, making her life miserable. They gossip about her, labeling her as a woman who seeks out and sleeps with any man who has money. They even believe she had a relationship with Nicolai.
You’ll find yourself angry with Wayoon because she forgives Ramin too easily. That man did not deserve a second chance.
You’ll be left with second lead syndrome, as Nicolai was the only honest man in her life. He loved her unconditionally, took care of her, and even a baby who was not his.
It goes without saying that Nicolai deserved his own happy ending, with or without Wayoon. Ramin, on the other hand, needed to suffer a bit more and face the consequences of his actions. He believed his aunt over the woman he loves and was never a supportive boyfriend anyway.
below the stars is my original review
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It's been couple of weeks since I've finished this lakorn, I'm still humming Rak-Rae, it constant;y non stop playing on my mind.
This is not a revenge drama but it has slap kiss,
I cried a lot while watching this lakorn..
Ramin our main guy is handsome, hot secretary of Thai Ambassador of Austria, Ramin is attracted to Wayun since he first saw her before they've been introduced formally, Wayun is studying to be a simultaneous translator for UN.
They eventually fall in love Wayun falls pregnant and Ramin tells her, they're not ready to be parents, he offers her money with the influence of his aunt who's like his mother.
Ramin thinks Wayun had an abortion, he doesn't learn the truth until the very end and that's through his friend's gf, his friend's gf tells him if you see the baby you'll understand that there's no need for a DNA test.
And we have Nicolai a russian student also studying to be translator for UN also happens to love Wayun, unlike Ramin, Nicolai was always there for her whenever she needed, from day one to up to the end.
Some ppl find this lakorn boring but for me it was not boring, this one is one of the rare lakorns I've not skipped a scene.
Yes there are / were annoying characters, and you murmur hello wo the hell are you that you're putting your nose into a couple's relationship, business? if you can't turn a man to yourself it means he doesn't want you, move on,
I don't know how they find a baby that looks like both Pancake & Aom..
Needless to say Aom was as a hot as his usual self lol.
If I were Wayoon I'd never turn back and accept Ramin, I'd chose Nicolai a man who was with me all the time, who was looking after the baby not even related to him, while both working & studying, who was feeding, changing, bathing my baby, who was looking after me when I am sick..
who was renting me a flat a bigger one at a nicer area, just to be sure that I'm and my baby is safe.
But what does our girl do goes and accepts his apology to live happily ever after..
Nicolai could have easily given those to her, I used to think like the lakorn ladies before forgiving, accepting bla bla but now I think different. No matter how much you love a man, if a man is not man enough to be on your side, that love slowly dies, it never dies completely but it open your eyes.
One of the scenes that I cried when Nicolai gave his mother's ring to Wayun and giving back to the Ring as a necklace to baby Lila, it means he's not gonna love anyone like Wayun..
I also loved the beautiful scenery of Austria, Vienna , Salzburg, It just reminded me the Sissy Movies I've watched, pitty that they no longer show it on TV, the only option is buying the DVDs..
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Gil Bok Soon is a woman of focus, commitment, and sheer will
Gil Boksoon brought one thing to mind when I saw her "John Wick is a man of focus, commitment, and sheer will".This movie reminded me so much of what I love about the John Wick franchise: the assassins, the organizations, and the rules that govern their anarchy. I'm a massive fan of seeing groups that work so far outside the law being acquiescent to their own rules that combine their obscure forms of morality with their own back alley justice. The movie was undoubtedly an 8/10 for me and here's why.
Pros:
I live for action and the action scenes and sequences were immaculate. Slowing down the scenes to give you a better view of the fight added to the intensity of the moment where you clearly saw the characters fight for survival.
Her struggle with being a mother while living this life made you relate to the character more. She wasn't just some impossibly amazing assassin, she was a single mother who had to struggle with raising a teen (a task no parent would ever say is easy). But, the mother-daughter relationship was truly the heart of this film. Every choice Boksoon made and everything she did always seem to come back to her daughter. You could see how she struggled with balancing a career she loves and her daughter that she loves.
Each character played their role very well. I felt that I liked who I was meant to like based on their portrayal and I hated the characters I was meant to hate as well. Boksoon's daughter was also an interesting character. I couldn't say I was ever really sure what she was thinking nor was I certain at the end of the movie exactly what kind of person she is but she made me curious. At this point, I want to know what becomes of her character and what choices she would make moving forward, especially given what she now knows.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lee Jae Wok's cameo.
Cons:
I felt like some of the characters' stories could have been fleshed out more. I understand that it would have made the movie much longer, maybe even needed a second movie, but much of the stories felt too short. A backstory for Han Hee Sung or even Kim Yeong Ji would have added to the story. Side characters felt trivialised in the story, they had moments where they could have opened a dialogue to learn more about these individuals but they were just ignored. Fingers crossed this is to build momentum for a second movie...
Overall, I think it's a great watch if you enjoy action with a bit of real-life mixed in. I know it just came out today but I could see this easily becoming a franchise similar to John Wick. While it's reminiscent of John Wick, it still maintains its own identity. I'm definitely rewatching it!
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The Witty Dynamic Duo!
The chemistry is fire!This is a story regarding a brilliant but flawed lawyer and his by-the-book assistant.
Yoshio Haneoka is brilliant and has a photographic memory. However, he suffers from panic attacks whenever he is under severe pressure.
Shoko Ishida on the other hand has failed her bar exams 4 times. However, it is not because she is dumb. I will not spoil the reason as the reason itself is considered a major part of the plot.
They both now work in Ishida's father's law firm, taking on a variety of cases. The question is : can this flawed duo actually solve any of the cases that they take on? Can they overcome their own weaknesses and fears in the process?
Every episode deals with cases involving different scenarios and it's refreshing to see how the duo uses different approaches to solve the cases.
There's also a romantic angle involved but it doesn't overshadow the main story so it's really well done in that aspect.
The acting is top notch, as expected from the likes of Kasumi Arimura and Tomoya Nakamura.
Watch it, even if it's just for the lit chemistry between Kasumi and Tomoya.
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This review may contain spoilers
I made sure not to include spoilers. I included only the details which were present in the trailer. If you watched Chihayafuru Tsunaga or read the manga or watched the anime, I'm pretty sure you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.Additional note: Director Koizumi Nori mentioned that he communicated extensively with Suetsugu when he was writing the script for the third film. While it is not exactly what will come out in the manga, you can trust that the main backbone of this adaptation is faithful to Suetsugu's vision.
I watched this during the Japanese Film Festival in my country last July along with the first two films. Technically, it was an entire day of marathon of the three movies inside the theater. To me, the third film really achieved the perfect balance of entertainment and art that Director Koizumi Nori wanted to achieve. Musubi is not only a film about these kids wanting to play karuta, but it also questions why they even play it. In the 2nd film, the characters--particularly, Chihaya--were faced with their own individual struggle. But in this 3rd installment, there was a collective sense in which all of them are experiencing one problem, yet they had to face it on their own if they want to overcome each hurdle.
The sense of camaraderie among the Mizusawa team is ever-present. Seeing them be filled with passion for the karuta game makes you proud. This time, it's not just about winning a game. Even if that was the goal, these kids play for each other and for the love of the game that definitely bounded them. In his way, Arata was able to get back up and rebuild his connection with karuta. His own team may be far from the quality of Mizusawa, but they are well on their way of becoming a big contender (especially since they're made up of strong players). The Queen is still the Queen. Shinobu remains to be my favorite, mainly because Mayu Matsuoka is just as good. And Chihaya is still Chihaya. Passionate as ever. She will always be a 'karuta baka,' but it was lovely seeing her grow more and be more mature when she is faced with a sudden change in her life.
Now, to me the main highlight of this third installment was Chihaya and Taichi's relationship. In the trailer, it is evident that he left the karuta club and Chihaya was pretty devastated. I won't go into the details of what exactly happened as it will ruin the experience of watching it unfold. But in terms of character growth, it was really Taichi who shined here. He remains to be the flawed character that you cannot help but relate to. He loved karuta because of Chihaya. Now, he's just not quite sure if he should continue going on like this. His growth was poignant, and as always it feels earned.
I'm sure you're curious about the romantic aspect, but of course, I won't spoil that for you. But if you have been closely watching the film, the answer isn't very mysterious after all. Still, on the whole, the ending was satisfying and so was the entirety of this movie. Frankly, this is the best live action adaptation I've seen so far in the little pool of live actions that I've watched.
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This review may contain spoilers
Sweet and pure high school life
This drama i recommend! it's a good watch. Even tho its the school genre this one is done well with a lot of refreshing elements. The storyline keeps it from being boring or the same kind of story, like studies, test etc.The female lead is the class monitor, where she has to collect other students homework and turn it into the teacher. There she meets the male lead who is good at running. They are on bad terms because she successfully collected the male lead 's hw . The male lead is part of the track and field. He somehow has to combine classes with the female lead ( who studies english)
This drama is about their interactions and how they overcame each area, from the students in the english class and the students in running class not liking each other to overcoming their bias to help each other out. The male lead becomes more serious in his study and the whole class helps him fight of that he cheated in his test, to having a new celebrity idol come to the class, the female lead's sickness etc. They all go through i together.
The relationship between the leads was super cute too ! It was super sweet , pure and innocent. They finally had one kiss in the end. I really liked their puppy dog love. The times they spent together is super cute. Would love to see a sequel, maybe when they are in college.
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These women are bonded together in a way that makes you as a viewer intrigued,it goes beyond simply being connected through Tanaka Tamako as we find out in the first episode.Each woman has her own struggles and pain which is uncovered and healed somewhat through the comfort of their friendship with each other.They are united in their struggle against what I think all women struggle with,the male hierarchy in the world.They fight against this to succeed but its not a fame thing its more humble,they simply want to produce nice food that warms people.
And in the end I began to realise I didn't want this to a romance because that would simply ruin a good show and break such a beautiful friendship between 7 women..
Ken Yasuda's performance for me was just the best.. as well as Yoko Maki,I couldnt stop thinking about her performance afterwards.I cried when she cried and laughed when she laughed.She is a superb actress
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My heart wanted to burst
My heart wanted to burst just within minutes of watching this movie! Although it may have been very successful as a drama (with these actors, etc.) the simplistic nature of this movie hit all the feels. It was pure and straight to the point. It wonderfully covered topics on youth, coming-of-age, love, family, and friendship within just a span of two hours.This story is about a girl named Geng Geng who becomes deskmates with a boy named Yu Huai after they meet on the first day. It started with Yu Huai pointing out that his name (on the bulletin board) was next to someone called Geng Geng and together their name makes "Geng Geng Yu Huai," meaning to "take to heart." Turns out it was her that he was talking about. After becoming deskmates, they become friends and they even began taking interest in each other. Nearing graduation however, unexpected news leaves them parting ways. The story mainly follows their youth almost acting as flashbacks from present time but eventually comes full circle with them meeting once again after seven years.
Definitely recommend! In terms of the selection of actors and their acting skills, this movie was very well paired. Again, there were so many moments my heart wanted to just burst because of how cute and pure the interactions were.
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slice of life with three friends and a newcomer
Overall: a more realistic/angsty vibe. Think of this as a slice of life/coming of age rather than a BL series (because it is not a BL series, see my spoiler comment). 8 episodes about 25 minutes each. Aired on GagaOOLala.Content Warning: manipulation
What I Liked
- a few central characters
- glad the guy was interrupted as the other guy was sleeping
- mystery element
- production value (color scheme in particular)
Room For Improvement
- was disappointed because a character knew it was no use but had really high expectations and then had a public breakdown when things went exactly as they knew it would go
- a bit too slow without the mutual tension needed to sustain it
- where did they get that key from, random ropes hanging with a sign which anyone can ignore
- there were opportunities for some clever plot twists but there was nothing
- should not have had this as (especially the last) in the BL time slot
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Story:
If you've read the summary (or not) Tonari no Kazoku focuses on a couple namely Nana and Daiki in their endeavors of getting themselves a child. But, that's not what all the drama offers. Tonari no Kazoku also tells about 3 other families all with their respective problems. And to add up, all of them live inside the same residential complex. You know it takes a lot of getting used to warm up to your neighbours. The problems that exist in this drama are concurrent real life social problems and handles them really well. The many plot points nearing the finale lines up and creates a satisfying continuity, making the viewers feel a sense of connection between the characters.
Acting/Cast:
Speaking of which, the many characters that exist in Tonari no Kazoku is another great example of how to portray 'real' people in a sense. Each actors and actress in this drama outdid themselves, from the important main couple to the guest stars that appear in one or two episodes. My personal favourite character in the entire drama goes to Igarashi Satoko, or Daiki's mother just for the sheer amount of greatness in her character throughout the whole journey from start to finish. The emotions of the characters were on point, expressing their tears, smiles and laughs that I can believe the situations and conversations that take place in this drama can occur in a household in Japan. 'Antagonistic' characters are nothing too amazing but they're there. The main selling point is the rest of the relevant cast, which matters more.
Music:
Ah, music. For every J-Drama that I watch, the music aspect is one that I have really high expectations of (being a sucker for Japanese songs myself). Tonari no Kazoku did not betray my expectations. One thing I'd like to point out and give credit to is Mr.Children for delivering such a powerful and meaningful theme song in 'here comes my love'. The first time I heard the theme song was played, I knew I was in for a ride. The tone of the theme song was somewhat melancholic and the lyrics play a lot with metaphors and the likes. The OST for the drama was okay, nothing too spectacular but once again, the instrumental version of 'here comes my love' hits my heart every single time. The overall OST is nothing bizarre but special enough for you to reminisce about the show once you finish it.
Rewatch Value:
As with most J-Drama that I've watched before, rewatching was never really something I tend to do with them as most air around 40 mins+ per episode which would cause me to skip most of the part. Tonari no Kazoku doesn't escape that pattern, although there are some neat tidbits that you can better understand or if put in better words, understand earlier why certain characters act the way they do. Certainly not entirely as enjoyable as your first watch, but certainly some scenes that attacks you mentally would probably still do same (I'm looking at you Episode * and *).
Overall:
So, would I recommend this Drama? Yes. Totally. Although some might complain that a certain aspect in this drama will turn off some portion of the viewers, my advise is to either avoid those scenes completely or just pretend it didn't happen. I, myself am not fond of said elements but I take into account Tonari no Kazoku as a whole, and for me it did a splendid job in making a family-drama turned neighbours wars.
P.S.~ Every minute spent on subbing this drama has been a blast. Please do spread the words on what an amazing drama Tonari no Kazoku wa Aoku Mieru (Residential Complex) is!
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