I never read a synopsis before I watch a drama I watching just for the actor/idol, because then I second guess watching it like I did with Flowers for Algernon. (that was a big mistake because it rocks).  So that being said I had no idea what type of drama I was getting into with this and after seeing Aiba in Kizoku Tantei I was hesitant to dive into another of his dramas.

This drama was no disappointment at all, it is a believable slice of life drama of single father-hood in Japan.  The child actress was very good and did her part excellently.  There is an unconventional love story here which I will not spoil but I promise you it is there.  The actors did their part of making you believe they are father and daughter, and I totally agree that this drama is totally under rated.  It should be on more peoples favorites list.  And to top it off Episode 10 has a guest cameo of another Arashi member.  

Now off to watch another drama.....

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Up front, any time there is English in this it really is bad, not the English, the acting.  Even the "American" they got sucked at English.  It was so jarring. And if he speaks Japanese, why do Kana and Sion have to speak English when they are alone?  I would get it if he was Korean and she was Japanese and English was the common tongue, but that is not the case, but I digress.

Now let's push that aside, and look at the series.  I decided to look at it a super hero origin story, those are always kinda clunky, having to mush so much stuff in such a short amount of time.  The first 5 episodes are flashback heavy, the same flashbacks, but you see more each time.  For those anime fans out there think Naruto's swing in front of the school, that level of repetition flashbacks.  

Ok lets get past that.  There was lots a pretty in the movie with Taemin and Shota, that helps me forgive a lot.  Its Matsuda, so yes its an artsy film, like Depp he doesn't do any other kind.

The songs What's this Feeling and I'm Crying by Taemin are really good.  It's a coherent, even if sketchy story line.  

If you like Sci-fi or super heroes, Matsuda  Shota or Tae-mini I recommend this title. Despite the way this review sounds I liked it a lot, I just feel if you go in with low expectations you'll enjoy it more.

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I want to begin by stating the fact that I am woman over 40 with a family of my own so my views are influenced by my life experience.  

I read an article one time that stated the fact that every one that goes into Johnny's (it was an articles on JE so I will expand and say Asian Idol Entertainment in general) knows that this is part of being an Idol.  That the people are groomed and trained and are a part of the managing staff's Product to present to the fans or Customers.

This drama humanizes my above statement, having recently watched all the apologies from KAT-TUN in the 10ks Tour for Taguchi leaving to be with his longtime girfriend, I know that the drama represented here is real, probably dramatized, but real.  I watched this to complete "Sho-Kun's" acting list for me, but was surprised how much I loved watching all of Kanjani 8 and Nikishido Ryo in this.  The acting was well done and the situations were as real as one can get with a blended family.  As far as the romance not being to showy...comfortable love is sometimes like that.  Sharing the burden with someone you will be with for the rest of your life is sometimes more important than a kiss or even a hand hold.  You get that from this drama.

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Just finished watching this and was extremely happy I chose to watch this movie tonight.   Kimura was amazing. Erika Toda does excellent with her part.  If you like samurai movies AT ALL you must watch this movie.  I am a huge Kurosawa fan and this movie gives you the same feel.  More like Hidden Fortress than any of his other stuff.  Yes there is blood and gore but not too over the top.  The girl needing protection isn't too whiny or too stony she comes off as a real person.

I recommend this is you like action samurai movies.

Oh and the sound track at least the closing song I must find it!

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I was able to avoid having to read this in high school but I did know it by reputation and really wasn't interested in it.  But being the completionist that I am I wanted to bring my Yamapi watched list to current.  I am now sorry I waited as long as I did to see it because Yamashita Tomohisa totally owned the main part in this.  His mannerisms in the beginning are spot on, we have a friend of the family who is autistic and I recognized the signs. As the story and the character changed so did the acting and you believed it.

Yamapi has been criticized in the past for his "wooden acting" but this work just blew it out of the water.

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This show was difficult for me to complete and I skipped a lot of the "Main plot" just to follow the part I was slightly interested.  This was my first Aiba Misaki drama with him as the lead that I have watched so I wanted to be fair.  The ending was satisfactory to the plot line I was following but It took a long, grueling 11 episodes to get there.

To be honest I dislike this style of detective show (both I have dropped are of this format Meitantei no Okite and MONSTERS not even Matsuda and Yamapi could make me finish them). If you like this sort of thing though the the acting is well done and the music is Arashi so of course its good.

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Please see the other review as I concur with most of its points.  I have seen Hana Yori Dango/Boys over Flowers/Let's Go Watch a Meteor Shower and now Meteor Garden.  I had to space months between each one to even want to ride the emotional rollercoaster again.  I will state this now HanaDan is still my favorite.  There is a new Chinese version coming out in 2018. It may have potential but somehow replacing MatsuJun/InoueMao chemistry on screen has not been recreated yet.

This has 27 episodes in one season and has more time to tell the story, it feel more natural yet the chemistry is not there.  You know he loves her, she hangs out with like 5 other guys while trying to distance herself from Dao Ming Si I am not sure that was in the manga, it sure wasn't in the other three versions.
This version has no amnesia and no "Lost in Snow" Incident which the other three did.

Lei's character (Rui) is ok TBH the Korean version fleshed him out so much better and while I love Oguri Shun as Rui there just wasn't much meat to his story.

Xi Men -The potters son/Tea maker/ who knows what his fathers job is in this, is an interesting story arc, and better done than Hana Dan this couple was my favorite in both BOF and MG.

So here's my recommendation Watch HanaDan for Domiyogi/Makino, watch BOF and MG for other F4 love stories.

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I watched this raw and no I do not speak Japanese but i have watched the first 2 so I figured I would give it a try. I know it was filmed in a short amount of time due to scheduling and it is the first movie they starred in together since 2007, which was Yellow Tears.

The story basically told itself , I may have missed out on the dialog but just watching them reprise these roles I now know where Haru, Shun, Chuu, Bon, and Takuma’s  life have taken them now that they are in their 30's.  Trying very hard not to post any spoilers but if you watch this for nothing else the costumes are uniquely Arashi.

And pimp daddy Nino : )

If you liked the first 2 which I found english subbed relatively easily, you will love to reminisce with  the characters with or with out subs.

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