Mareina's Profile - MyDramaList.com

Jun 17, 2012 8 of 8 episodes seen 11 of 11 people found this review helpful

W no Higeki

by Mareina
- Overall 9
- Story 9
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 4
This is actually my first time writing a review, but I really want this drama to be noticed more!

I understand that this might not be to everyone's taste, so if you're looking for a Rom-Com or something light I suggest you watch something else.
On the other hand, even if it is titled as tragedy it's not THAT tragic in my opinion. Okay, maybe a little tragic, too, but not everyone-dies-in-the-end-tragic.

This show surprised me from the start, taking a direction I didn't expect, really making me wonder where we were going.
After watching the last episode I can say that the whole story was very well thought-out and in the end everything made sense.
It did a very good job at surprising once more in the end, when I already thought I had it all figured out.

I also realy liked the dark mood and the tension, especially in conversations between Mako/Satsuki and the detective.
Both Takei Emi and Kiritani Kenta did an awesome job. I have seen Takei Emi several times before, but each time it feels like a completely different character. This time she managed to play two characters at the same time in such a way that the audience is always able to tell the twins apart even when the line starts to blur.

Lastly, I set the rewatch value very low, because it's the kind of drama that won't be as interesting anymore if you know what will happen. It's the surprises that are catchy, but you won't be surprised the second time round. read more
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Oct 19, 2012 1 of 1 episodes seen 8 of 9 people found this review helpful

When I Was The Prettiest

by Mareina
- Overall 9
- Story 8
- Acting/Cast 9
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 8
The synopsis here is totally missleading. It's no university setting at all. I mistakenly thought it was about him meeting a (healthy) girl when his girlfriend is sick and the sense of duty towards his girlfriend. It's also not him who is doing the growing and learning part but rather the girl. It's more like he is teaching her.

The guy-with-sick-girlfriend-falls-in-love-with-other-girl part is accurate, though.

That said, it was a nice and beautiful short story. It wasn't what I expected, but I liked it nonetheless.
The acting is really good, so it's easy to sympathize with the characters in spite of the short amount of time. I didn't watch this because of Lee Jong Suk, but it sure made me notice him a lot more. If you watch this because of him I'm sure you won't be disapointed.

The short time is another forte of this special - it never get's draggy.

I'm not much of a rewatcher, but I might watch this again because it's beautiful and Lee Jong Suk is so damn hot.

P.S. if you watch this, you will be rewarded with hot kisses ;P read more
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Mar 22, 2013 10 of 10 episodes seen 4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Yakou Kanransha

by Mareina
- Overall 10
- Story 10
- Acting/Cast 10
- Music 10
- Rewatch Value 7
This show overwhelmed me with so many feelings I don't even know how to express that in words.

Each episode starts with a different person talking about their feelings and that episode will give you better insight into that persons point of view shedding a different light on what's going on.
That way the mystery is unraveled step by step, keeping it interesting until the last episode.
You might not come around to like all of the characters, but you will be able to understand all of them and cheer for them.

But what makes this drama so special is not the mystery, though it's really well done, but the character's realationships and interactions that are also unraveled bit by bit. Especially family relationships like mother-daughter/son, husband-wife or brothers-sisters really stand out in this drama, in a gripping and sometimes moving way.
There's a lot of issues, like domestic violence, bullying and social pressure, so it's a bit of a heavy drama, but it is in no way depressing. It has an uplifting note and leaves you with a warm feeling at the end.

I considered reducing one point for acting, because I found Suzuki Kyoka a little stiff, but everyone else does an amazing job so it outweighs her shortcomings. She's not bad though, just not as good as the rest imo.

I love the music, especially the ending. I think it fits perfectly.
Rewatch value is low, because part of it is a mystery, which of course looses tension when you already know everything, and I'm not much of a rewatcher anyway. But I might watch it again for those elaborate characters and their relations.

I can really recommend this show wholeheartedly to anyone looking for a not-just-fluffy drama. read more
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Jul 25, 2012 11 of 11 episodes seen 2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Mirai Nikki

by Mareina
- Overall 7
- Story 7
- Acting/Cast 7
- Music 8
- Rewatch Value 4
I really liked the Anime so I was quite excited about this show.

The premise is the same, but there are quite a few changes, mainly different characters. They made Arata plenty likable (opposed to spineless Yukki) and didn't repeat the flaws from the Anime.
So the first few episodes were enjoyable and interesting (though slightly repetitive).

Then they strayed so much from the original plot that I started to get confused. It took me some time to accept the huge differences. The last few episodes have nothing to do with the premise anymore, except that it's the same characters.
Nevertheless, they made the "new story" work and if you forget about the original solution, this version also makes sense. It's just that I like the original version better (Like usually, haha).

I think I would rate this 7 even if I hadn't seen the Anime. Even though there are minor plot holes the story is fine, but it didn't quite pull me in. Sometimes it's really predictable, other times I couldn't predict it at all.
The acting is sufficient, but not really that good. Plus, the love story is... it's not that it's unbelievable, but it lacks substance.

All in all it was a decent, short watch.

If you are a fan of the Anime and not so much fond of huge alterations, you should not watch this.
On the other hand, if you watched the Anime and think this will be boring, because you know the ending: be assured it's not like that.
If you don't know the Anime/Manga and are looking for some Psychological Mystery, you might as well give this a try. read more
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Mar 6, 2013 6 of 6 episodes seen 2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Onna to Otoko no Nettai

by Mareina
- Overall 5
- Story 4
- Acting/Cast 6
- Music 6
- Rewatch Value 1
I kept this review spoiler free.

This show had a lot of potential but it didn't use any of it.

The overarching conspiracy plot is not new at all and you will be able to figure it out waaaaaay before our characters do. But they keep being all mysterious and when the moment of the big reveal comes it doesn't have any impact at all because you knew all along.

When reading the synopsis (it was a different one than on MDL, hinting at attraction between the reporter and her object of surveillance) in addition to the revenge plot it was the romance/attraction aspect that intrigued me, but they didn't convince me at all. I felt like there was a switch: One moment no attraction, just focusing on work, and the next moment they remembered they where supposed to be attracted to each other and switched it on. I use attraction instead of romance on purpose here, because calling it romance wouldn't fit.

Also, Miyabe is faced with some moral questions but the topic is just brushed aside and she just irgnores what should have been on her conscience. This leads to her doing some VERY questionable stuff and makes it really hard to like her or sympathize with her.
It's similar for Shindo, who doesn't seem to care about his living son at all, which also made him unlikable to me. I felt really bad for the kid.

It would have been great if this show had elaborated the moral dilemmas faced by the two and maybe also explored their relationship a bit more instead of focusing on a conspiracy/revenge that everyone has seen in some other movie or drama a few times before.

In addition, this show is really slow. It took forever to get the story started and there where lots of boring scenes in every episode. Even if it's only 6 episodes, it felt like a long watch.
The actors didn't really stand out in either a bad or a good way, but I think they where limited a lot by the writing anyway. The kid did very well though.

If you read this far I guess you already know I can't recommend this drama. Better skip this and watch something else! read more
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