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I haven't watched many JDramas, but I have sure as heck seen a crap ton of romcom anime. The first ep was as close to an anime as it got. This show is simultaneously serious, heartwarming and funny. Without further ado, let us start the review.
Story:
The story starts of kinda cliche. This aint the first drama to incorporate contract marriages. But lo and behold, as the story progressed it kinda delved into new ground. (Thankfully) The drama was able to stay away from common cliches such as blatant love triangles, awkward and funny situations just for the heck of it, etc etc. Some cliches were hinted at but managed to move away from that.
PROS: Not only is the story pretty fresh, character relationships were pretty well developed and complex as well. Unspoken feelings (practically one of main themes of this show) were abundant. But that's what makes the show's ending work so well. You get to learn and think about real life questions that affect society today.
CONS: Honestly, some times the side story with the side characters took up a bit more screen time than I hoped. Maybe I'm selfish for wanting to see the main couple but I felt that side character stuff could've been a bit less as it made the story go stale for a while.
So - 9.5 points off for dragging a bit + minor plot holes
Acting/Cast:
Whew where should I start. First of all, Gen Hoshino and Yui Aragaki really did an outstanding job portraying their characters. They really captured the "35 year old virgin engineer" and "25 year old determined jobless graduate" pretty well. (Ok my description of Mikuri was lacking but yea). Their portrayals were realistic and not too stiff.
PROS: ok. GAKKI IS JUST TOO MOTHERF**KING CUTE. AHHHH. ok. Now that's done with yes. Yui Aragaki was literally the living reincarnation of Asian cuteness in this drama. Her cute moments really made me smile stupidly as I watched the show. Surprisingly, her emotions weren't too stiff in the show which shows her growth as an actor. As Moriyama Mikuri, she acted well with good emotion and skill. Also, her daydream scenes are SUPERB. So original and funny.
Gen Hoshino also shows up later in the TV show as a good actor. (lol one line for Hoshino-san)
CONS: Gen Hoshino in the first couple episodes. Yup. It was kinda obvious to me that this dude definitely did not act for a living the first few episodes. His emotions and motions were stiff, and generally just a bit off. Yes, the character he was playing was an awkward virgin, but still, it felt unnatural somehow. He does go on to get better and better tho.
So - 9.5 points off bc of Gen Hoshino early on
Music:
Hell yea boi. Dat ending Koi Dance was one of the best endings to an TV episode I have seen in a while. I kept me engaged in the show even after it ended which is good. It gets really catchy and brainwashes you within a couple episodes. (mune no naka ni aru kara.. )
PROS: Koi by Gen Hoshino + the Koi Dance. Really well thought out dance that looks random at first until u start to dance with em. It upped the show's cuteness factor once again. BUT other than Koi, the BGM/background music of the show was pretty damn good too. When certain music cues up in the later episodes, you can know that either an funny or emotional moment is about to happen. The piano + string music in the background really hits the ball straight to my heart. Yea. It's absolutely wonderful.
CONS: ?_? not really.
So - 10.0 PERFECTO
Rewatch Value:
I have seen a couple episodes twice just because of heartwarming or funny that episode was. This show really leaves an impression and I would definitely rewatch it in the (near) future.
So - 9.0 affected by plot, I will need to skip parts that I felt were a bit dragging(aka side characters) during the first watch through.
OVERALL:
You bet it's 9.5. Close to a perfect romcom show that is able to discuss real issues in the society especially regarding women and becoming housewives. Yui Aragaki is cute af. Thanks! Happy watching!
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This review may contain spoilers
this is a very cute fluffy and pure love dramaIt was somehow weirdly cute in an adorable way.
although it was talking about married life in a very practical way
but they tried to deliver many messages
*that any marriage wont success by love only
*responsibilities should take two to work out
*sometimes u forget ur feelings towards ur partner at ur crowded life and problems
so u should figure out a solution that keeps u both remembering ^_^
i like how they described sensitive coward people act when they fall in love and how they think and react
and how sometime u should take a bold step to keep the relation on the right path
what bothered me and disgust me alot was (furuta atara) character i dislike him much and i didn't see any significance behind to be in the drama .. ( i don't like any thing abnormal and against our nature in general)
i wished they focused more one the side story for (ishida & otani)
cause they crossed by it fastly it was illogical for me although i loved it but i feel that the writer wasted the time many times at unimportant details while he can give this story some depth
cause otani said he already loved aragaki so how come suddenly he falls for ishida
that was weird for me
i wished it would have some delicacy and tenderness towards the end and they left the practical side away
i was a little disappointed
but still love the main couples and the story in general so much
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I don't expect Hoshino Gen as an actor (main lead even), He is a great singer though. His song Koi which is made into the ending song was really great. I love the dancing as well... is very cute and addicting. I don't expect there is a mandarin ver of the song as well, made by a fan (you can find on youtube. The song was really really good)
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Watching Hiramasa’s insecurities and worries might have been a bit frustrating but it was 100% relatable, I like the way he exposed the difficulties someone with low self-steam has to express themselves, and how it may cause misunderstandings.
As someone with the same kind of problem, it was also good to see the other side, to know that we don’t need to be so apprehensive about things we do or say, nor think that we’re a burden. Maybe being brave to say what you think could be enough to avoid many problems.
The way cultural differences became evident was great too, who could imagine that hugging could need so much training? lol
The comparison they frequently do between marriage and working life was also interesting, maybe not the most romantic kind but it reflected logic and real life. Plus, it doesn’t mean it was not nice to watch to, they made a super cute and funny couple that was a pleasure to look at!
Anyway, just wanted to do my part recommending this great drama. Romance, humor, slice of life, good content and a recall on the many kinds of love out there. Have fun!
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Marriage makes the best job ever
This is one of the few dramas where I am in love with the Female Lead more than the Male Lead (not that the male lead was in any way bad, but Mikuri was really something else and just too cute for words to express) Anyway, this drama deserves all the praise that it receives as one of the best contract marriage dramas out there. It takes such a surreal plot and makes it so... real. The arrival at a de facto/fake marriage is reached with rational logic, isn't rushed and you can see how both leads find themselves leaning towards giving it a go. Their chemistry is great and the build up is so fluffy and endearing.Not to mention, one of the things I love about a josei over a shoujo is how complex personalities can be. Instead of the flat cold hearted guy and ditzy, naive girl, Tzusaki-san is not actually cold but just acts distant due to shy and awkwardness while Mikuri is naive but not to an unrealistic degree for her age and although very free spirited and cheery she's not to be underestimated as she's very perceptive and goes for what she wants.
One flaw I will admit is getting a bit frustrated between episode 6 and 7, but I watched it through til the end and didn't regret the decision at all.
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A good rom-com that is so grounded that you can build a house on it
Japanese drama love to explore weird and quirky scenarios and characters. This show is almost the opposite to that which is quite refreshing. Other than one brain explosion from the FL which set up the whole “quirky” main plot, the rest of the show is surprisingly grounded. Of course, there are some over-the-top characters like the FL’s parents, but they are largely inconsequential to the bigger picture.If you are thinking that this show must be boring, then you are mistaken. It is actually very enjoyable and endearing to watch. This is largely because of the chemistry of the leads. They are both introverts but they are also soulmates just needed a chance to meet. With that type of personality, you don’t expect fireworks, but it is the methodical exploration of their feelings and the steady growth in their relationship that we are invested in.
The show is not without angst but the bulk of it is self-inflicted. The ML is so awkward around the FL that you don’t know whether to laugh or cry most of the time. It is just as well that the FL wears the pants in this relationship, and it is she who teased and nudged the ML out of his shell. There are other challenges which our OTP has to work together to overcome, and we bear witness to their growing attachment as a result. The 2OTP is also well written. It was not the usual fast track to romance like most 2OTP setup. It was full of uncertainties and trials. There are some really heartfelt moments with their interaction as well.
Acting is good from the pair of leads. There is an honesty in their portrayals. They don’t scream for attention, quite the opposite but watching their interaction is calming and gratifying. You just want to fan their little spark of romance; you want them to succeed. As I mentioned before, some of the support cast can be a bit loud but they provide most of the comic relief, so it is to be expected.
Actually, I stand corrected, the show can be quirky too. Every episode there is a segment where the FL would face her demons in a cartoon-y imaginary world. These segments are certainly cute and quirky. All the main characters do a happy dance during the end credits which is an unexpected highlight for me. The theme song is such an earworm.
At 11 episodes, the show is easy to binge and rewatch. There is an 2 hours special which was released several years later.
P.S. For bonus points, tell me the relationship of the leads in real life.
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This review may contain spoilers
Started watching this drama a bit late because I became a fan of Gen Hoshino and found out that he's also an actor. It brought up some topics that so many people are thinking about. Marriage, Housings, Money. The arrangement between Hiramasa and Mikuri might be one of the better solution hahaha. Really recommending it as a pick me up series to watch because you won't have the time to be sad while watching Hiramasa and Mikuri trying to work through their contract. The story are kinda fast paced (for me at least since I'm used to watching K-Dramas with the minimum episodes of 12 / 16), but they tell it in a flowing way so it didn't overwhelm the audience with so much data right at the beginning.
The supporting characters around the main couple are a band of unique and interesting personalities, Yuri and Numata are my favorites...look out for Mikuri's sister in law too btw (cue to her Kabedon-ing Chigaya at their parents' house)
The awkwardness between Mikuri and Hiramasa is just too cute!! My favorite scene between the 2 of them is the one where they practiced hugging and when Hiramasa tried to hide that Cobra extract from Mikuri hahahah
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High praise for the show's blend of humor, creativity, and emotional depth
"The Full-Time Wife Escapist" is a delightful Japanese drama that blends humor, creativity, and emotion in an 11-episode journey. The story revolves around Mikuri Moriyama, a psychology graduate struggling to find her footing, and Hiramasa Tsuzaki, a single professional for whom she becomes a housekeeper. The series expertly navigates themes of societal expectations, career, and married life, presenting a fresh take on the 'Contract Marriage/Fake Relationship' trope.The acting, particularly by leads Aragaki Yui and Hoshino Gen, is top-notch, showcasing excellent comedic timing and genuine chemistry, translating into their real-life relationship. The show's technical aspects, including cinematography and editing, are commendable, with special mention of the detailed graphics in Mikuri's daydream sequences. These elements, combined with a stellar soundtrack featuring a catchy closing theme by Gen, contribute to a rich viewing experience.
While the series is a must-watch for fans of light-hearted comedies, it requires patience for lengthy internal monologues, especially in the later episodes. Overall, "The Full-Time Wife Escapist" is a well-crafted drama with excellent writing, casting, and a thoughtful message, making it a refreshing addition to the genre.
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Delightful romantic comedy and a must watch in the contact marriage genre
9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2016 Japanese romantic comedy drama with 11 episodes in season 1 ranging 45-58 minutes run time and 1 spcial in season 2 running 121 minutes. It is based on a popular manga originally titled "Running away is shameful, but useful“ after a Hungarian proverb.
First I provide a synopsis then review
Synopsis
Moriyama Mikuri (Yui Aragaki) graduated and has only been able to secure part time work. Dreading being back out in the job market, her father secures her a house keeping position with a former work associate, Tsuzaki Hiramasa (Gen Hoshino). For the first time Mikuri feels supported and appreciated by her employer so when her father decides to retire to the country Mikuri comes up with a wild plan. Hiramasa at first rejects the idea but then runs all the scenarios and determines if Mikuri became a contract wife as she proposed, they could continue their mutually beneficial arrangement while keeping up social appearances. Knowing their friends and family would not approve of their arrangement, hilarity ensues as they struggle to make their marriage seem outwardly real. Soon they discover there may be more than just a contract drawing them together.
Review
I have not watched many Japanese dramas as I found they were either way too sexualized for me or didn’t make the manga to live action transition well. This one was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the marriage of convenience premise and that they fell in love very naturally. There were some breaks in the 4th wall moments but they were not obnoxious. It is overall a well paced and heart warming romance with many comedic moments. Highly recommend to anyone that is a fan of marriage contract and just heart warming rom coms with straight forward plots. The 2nd season special episode was actually a nice wrap up to the story. It was as well written as the main story and did not seem like an afterthought as some do.
Spoilers*
Hiramasa is very robotic in the beginning and it can be frustrating knowing how he really feels about something and watching him struggle to express it. These are big, complicated emotions for an engineer. It is enjoyable to observe his character development and they do a great job bringing the viewer in on that journey. Mikuri herself can be a little ridiculous about her emotions. I felt there were several times she misread a situation and got all spun up about it when she should have known he did not mean it the way she was taking it. But that is love which can cloud rationality. It took on some social issues like the traditional male and female roles. Japan is on a different path than the US and it is hard to watch them making some errors that US made that I think have caused problems. Mikuri wants to be equal with equal responsibilities and winds up putting a lot of pressure on Hiramasa. He learns and I think their relationship is better for it but it seems they are able to make it with one partner working and the next level is people not being able to make it and the state raises the child. They also tackle unequal treatment in the workplace, age gaps and homosexuality. To me it was interesting that the age gap was too large between the aunt and Hiramasa’s work colleague at 17 years but between the gay couple the age gap was not even mentioned. 17 years is a large gap but I don’t think, since they were both fully adults that is the only consideration. In their cases she was 50s but had a young bright personality that resulted in her fitting in with the younger crowd better than those her age. Her younger love interest, in his mud 30s, was so selective about partners that it seemed he would never select anyone his agenor close. The very things he did not like were attributes of his generation or younger. They were very compatible personality wise and it seemed if they weren’t together both would remain single. The special was also a reflection of early to mid COVID pandemic when we all though asymptomatic transmission was a thing, children were at high risk, and social distancing, masks and sanitizers were going to save us. It was heartbreaking their young family was apart but was an accurate reflection of the world at that time.
Deep Spoiler* Their chemistry in this is very real as the main couple married in real life. Gen Hishino is most famous as a singer and you can see a lot of his music videos.
#FullTimeWifeEscapist
#YuiAragaki
#GenHishino
#MarriageofConvenience
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