Hanzawa Naoki (2013)

Comments (36)

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  2801nabibo Apr 27, 2016

  This is a drama about modern samurai spirit ~
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  blg Dec 8, 2015

  Some scenes were over-acted but other than that,it was a brilliant show.still...i would give it a 10/10 if it ended at EP05
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  Pixiemage7 Aug 26, 2015

  ughhhhh.. i want season 2. This is one of the jdrama that was just so thrilling to watch. if get what i mean
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  sakuraKhey Aug 9, 2015

  I downloaded this in HD, but I couldnt watch it. I don't understand it and bank stuff gives me headache. I may be too dumb for this.
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  lifedreamerm Jul 27, 2015

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  Seriously man, whenever I see Kondo crying, I wanna cry also. He is the character that had the most character development and he suffered so much.
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  Simplifica Jul 26, 2015 - edited

  clearly a good drama, but clearly overhyped too (because of the rating)
  8 - 8.5 is max IMO ... :) and i'm being generous
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  sylwia Jun 25, 2015

  Looks like that accounting diploma finally came in handy heh.
  Entertaining drama, my favourite character was probably Kondo, I wanted to give that guy a hug
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  Andre Feb 24, 2015 - edited

  Honestly, this show is very uneven. It starts out really good. Acting is superb, script is amazing, production is top-notch. However, by the middle of it there's a drastic drop in quality. It becomes cliche-ridden and the whole thing gets super dumbed-down.
  
  I know it's based on a series of books but it's clear to me the scriptwriter didn't put much effort beyond the first few episodes. I'm amazed at how many reviewers are ignoring how stupid the shows gets. The title character starts out as relatable and full of layers but there's zero character development: he basically becomes a big caricature. And besides Hanazawa, most characters are one-layered and badly written. The plot twists starts to get unbelievably silly and you get super sick of Hanazawa shouting out his little catchphrases 38437756 times per episode.
  
  Overall, the show is entertaining and fast-paced. However, don't believe the hype: it is not very well-executed beyond the first few episodes and it's basically brain candy.

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    PickyMcpickleton Feb 24, 2015 - edited

    Funny for me, it picks up around the second half. The first half was really asking me to suspend belief. As in, he's in an unrealistic amount of debt and he is going to have flashbacks. You must swallow that part of the plot or get over it. So I swallowed that part of the plot as it was cleverly presented. The second part I was susceptible too because it's a rehash of the first part but the stakes are heightened, the dealers dealt the cards and in a world series of poker fashion is slowly revealing them. At the end, Hanzawa reveals his cards and there's a moment of joy because you think he's won. He's had his vengeance but the wolf always dresses in sheep's clothing. This drama is freaking clever, I don't care what anyone says about it. Though to be honest, judging by your complaints, you should have read my review. I did warn some of you cynics that the declarations of friendships and super-hero esque moments will induce some mega cringing. I speak no lies :p. *Sips tea*
    
    PS. I've already written a gigantic and rambly reply to your other post and I would go into more details about the characters but heck, took me practically a page to explain at face value. The details might take pages. Especially in regards to how the characters are presented because I really think they absolutely present all the characters brilliantly, especially in terms of the antagonists. Ugh. I just want to get rambly about it because they did this so cleverly!!!

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    Andre Feb 25, 2015

    Honestly, I didn't thought it was clever at all, even though I liked the final twist. To me, it was on the same level as something like Hana Yori Dango: super entertaining and fun but kind of empty and sometimes way too cringe-y. That said, I commend them for producing a super entertaining drama and, at the end of the day, it is one of the biggest social phenomenons in Japanese TV so they obviously did something right.
    
    That said, I thought your review was very good, even if I disagree with some points in it.

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    PickyMcpickleton Feb 25, 2015

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    Unfortunately, I've never bothered with Hana Yori Dango beyond the manga in my teenage years. I'm not sure I would like it much now so I can't say although considering it's a completely different genre with a different target audience, I doubt there's anything comparable. Empty, is the last description I would give this. For one, they do so many things so cleverly especially with the characters. It wasn't just Hanzawa but the antagonists. For example, it starts with the Branch manager completely screwing over Hanzawa and we are put in a situation where it's clear he's the antagonist. He's a total arsehole throughout the first arc but then there's the one scene where he's with his family. He's nice and loving and just a regular husband and dad and it humanizes him. He's not just an arsehole, he's also a pawn in this game who's trying to survive just like Hanzawa is. It's moments like those that layer the characters for me. The climax was also one of my favorite moments in the history of dramas. I don't say that lightly either. See, I'm getting rambly but I feel like this is one of those dramas that just is really well done. Hanzawa's character is also really complex and yet again, I wrote a super long reply about this below and I almost wish this conversation was face to face because I feel it is my duty to convert you. Lol. To drag you to the moments that I felt elevated this drama beyond entertainment. I actually think it's great that this is one of the higher rated dramas because it gives me hope. On this site, this is about the only highest rated drama that I finished and had very few problems with.

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  Schnarf Dec 19, 2014 - edited

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  that ending was some biggity bullshit. screw you chairman nakanowatari, hanzawa for chairman 2015!
  
  but seriously, i'm very disappointed that sakai masato wont be reprising his role as hanzawa for the next season. for that reason, i probably wont watch it

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    bluesilhouette Jan 28, 2016

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    My thought exactly.
    I decided to watch this because of sakai masato, don't bother much about the rating.
    I got mixed feelings about Hanzawa's being transferred out, as like his wife said, he might see a bigger picture if he leaves the bank.
    
    and yeah, I replied this in 2016. :P

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    Schnarf 17 days ago

    haha, glad to see a response. havent watched any dramas in almost a year now, looking to get back into it

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  Sheng Her Dec 11, 2014 - edited

  Can someone please tell me? How bad does he turn? Does he experience a downfall at the end? I don't like watching good people turn bad and experiencing downfalls.

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    Regs Jan 9, 2015

    Take a plunge, it's totally worth it. And there is a second season coming this year! ;)

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  encre Nov 26, 2014 - edited

  the only good thing in this drama is Ueto Aya

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    PrettyCarEye May 15, 2015

    How?

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    encre May 23, 2015

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    predictable plot
    overacted
    underdirected

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    PrettyCarEye May 23, 2015

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    She did not play a very expansive role though. She was more like an afterthought, which is how female roles are typically written in many j-dramas. Anyway, I saw you gave it 1.5. LOL. A bit harsh ... :)

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    encre May 23, 2015

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    Ueto Aya is like a sugar on a bitter cookie
    not the main ingredient, but I was really thankful she was there

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  NewKDramaAddict Oct 3, 2014 - edited

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  He ROYALLY got screwed!!

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    Blademan2 Oct 5, 2014

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    I so agree with you in that he royally got screwed, but at the same time, he did it to himself as well, he went too far and crossed the line as the chairman said, revenge is sweet, but it also has consequences sometimes. I'm so glad though he was able to do what he set out to do in both halves of the series. I'm looking forward to season 2 to see Abe come in and dig himself out and come back up to the top... :))) It's too bad they change actors for the same character, I hope Ueto Aya will be coming back, but probably not. It was so nice though to see all the support he got, especially from his wife, she never once looked down on him for anything, but was his strong support, forever encouraging him from the background. I really commend the writers in how they wrote this drama, and showed how a husband and wife should be, very loving and very caring and very supportive of each other. This is one of the rare times I get to say, WAY TO GO WRITERS!!!!! :)))

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    NewKDramaAddict Oct 5, 2014

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    And friends and being a friend! Wish I had just one like him!!

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    Blademan2 Oct 5, 2014

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    Amen to that!!! I was so glad he had the support he had, even from the chairman, I don't think the chairman had much of a choice but to do what he did in the end. As you had said he got royally screwed, but by himself, he let his revenge get the better of himself, it's going to be great seeing him get back to where he belongs in season 2. I've had this one sitting on my computer for well over a year, dunno why I didn't watch it till now... Silly me... :P :)))

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    NewKDramaAddict Oct 5, 2014

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    Glad to have given you the boost you needed to watch!! Watching Kundo, the movie. Love it!!

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    Blademan2 Oct 5, 2014

    Haven't seen it or heard of it, will check it out though, just watching a drama special, Ai wa Mieru, a true story about a blind gal, meeting a blind fellow, getting married and having a child. Half way through, she just has the baby, really good story thus far. :)))

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  kreps Jul 25, 2014 - edited

  Waw, Hanzawa has a sexy wife,

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    Blademan2 Oct 4, 2014 - edited

    I fully agree, I so love Ueto Aya, she's an awesome actress!!! :))) I've seen many of her drama's, only one I didn't like and dropped was Hotelier, in my most humble opinion, she betrayed the guy she loved for another guy, and I don't like that, I loathe that kind of thing, so I dropped it immediately when I see the beginnings of it happening... Otherwise, I really love her and her works... :)))

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  superpasta Jul 22, 2014

  they said there will be a season 2 in autumn ~~ should we believe i wonder....
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  NemiMontoya May 4, 2014 - edited

  Only on 2nd ep so I might change my mind later on, but so far I'm kind of puzzled as to why this drama is so highly rated. It's not bad, but not all that great either IMHO. To me it's just okay. However I will keep watching and see how I like it as a whole.
  
  Edit:
  Finished. I enjoyed it quite a bit, but I still don't quite love it. But it was entertaining.

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    PickyMcpickleton May 7, 2014 - edited

    My love comes from the fact that it is almost impossible for me to find a drama full of engaging characters (both protagonist and antagonists) and also well written. I mean the drama actually was really well written. I feel like Japanese dramas are on par with western shows in terms of writing. I'm talking good western shows. Everyone bitches about the mediocre ones when you don't even have to go far to get good shows like House of Cards, Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad, etc. When it comes to Korean dramas, I find I have to tolerate A LOT and attribute it to cultural differences. I would never tolerate a western drama that is written like a Korean drama though. Water throwing step mothers, mediocre actresses and lazy scripts, no heavens. Yet, I watch K-dramas the most because the high production and pace is just addictive. Nonetheless, if a drama like this made it to the west, I think even western audiences would appreciate it.

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    Andre Feb 24, 2015

    I honestly disagree Hanazawa Naoki is well-written and it is not comparable to top-notch Western shows or even quality Japanese dramas. It's basically brain candy, full of cheap twists and catchphrases meant to become a hit. I agree it is an entertaining show but let's not get carried away....

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    PickyMcpickleton Feb 24, 2015 - edited

    It's very comparable for me. For one, it has an extremely solid foundation. Definitely brain candy but these are well developed characters polished by a very well crafted plot. It's a touch over the top which is why I did not give it a perfect ten but I didn't fault it for that because those moments don't take away the foundation of this drama. It presents work place politics and thrills in some exaggerated moments but nonetheless, you take what you take from a drama. As my initial review states, this to me was about Hanzawa being embroiled in banking politics. Some entertaining plot developments and engaging characters elevate that very basic plot to brilliantness for me. The big one is the anti-hero that Hanzawa is. Essentially a nice facade coated with something that exists in all of us. This is pulled out by a thirst for vengeance. What you fail to see is that he's not trying to save the bank really. He's trying to get vengeance and the only way is to gain power somehow. Heck, he tells you that through his rambunctiously shouted phrases that for him, it's about payback. There really is only one twist here for me and that's the end. It was definitely entertaining to see him weave out of situations but they weren't really twists as we got to see the process and hold our breath knowing he would succeed but not sure how. To me those aren't twists so much as elevated suspenseful moments of what we know is to come. The end is the twist when it betrays our expectations and the show throws cold water at us in an almost realistically twisted method. So you worked hard and excelled? Well, guess what, it doesn't always work out. I think what prevents you from enjoying it is a cynical skepticism at the irrelevant details. It has its caricature like moments, no one can dare deny that but this is a fly swat detail to me. This reminds me of when I tried to get my friend to watch A Deep Rooted Tree. Long before giving the plot a chance to seduce her, she was nit picking at minute details such as the action scenes. Which is justifiable, they were horrendous and not exactly necessary but the synopsis is about King Sejong creating writing, a deep rooted philosophical discourse takes place before he has to do that. The action scenes feed into that and the moment, you focus on the action, you've already missed the plot. You missed those simple moments where he's breaking down at the stress of it all and if you hadn't you would know he was thinking about whether these sacrifices are worth it. Then he'll dust himself off and return to being king, shed away a little bit of that humanity. Though I suppose it's all a matter of interpretation. One of the most mediocre dramas I've ever watched is I Hear Your Voice and it gets amazing reviews here. *Shrugs* We can all take a bit out of the dish, it won't taste the same for everyone. This, still is one of my faves.