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Hapimari: Happy Marriage!? japanese drama review
Completed
Hapimari: Happy Marriage!?
7 people found this review helpful
by garabatos
Oct 15, 2016
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
Splendid show. This drama is much better than the manga.
I watched this series prior to reading the book (which I only decided to read after so many people claimed how much better the manga was…) Because I was not married to the book before watching the show-- unlike many others, I was able to appreciate and enjoy the six-hour TV series for what it is. This is a sweet adaptation given its limited budget-- 12 episodes (each 30 minutes) "inspired" by the original 40-chapter manga. (I found this is a much closer and sweeter adaptation compared to some other "adaptations" I've seen where the TV shows butcher the original story.)

COMPARING TV vs ORIGINAL MANGA
Firstly, the FL is always crying in the manga. She might have had a better office job in the manga, but I found her character weaker and very annoying, in general. In the book, the ML is royally handicapped when expressing his affection-- except when sleeping with his wife. In contrast, both leads are more responsive and communicative in the TV show.
Their feelings and frustrations are all bottled up for 66% of the manga. She gets upset with him, throws tantrums, locks herself up in their bedroom for over half the manga… She is capable of fully discussing feelings with her friends and office mates, but unwilling to communicate/work and hash matters out with her husband in the book.
We already know that ML is emotionally challenged…
Mind you that ML is a senior executive putting intense hours in a highly politically charged environment for him to be trying to second guess FL's annoying and repetitive lower-school mood swings and silence… I find that their character development is better in the TV show and as couple they grow to have better quality time together. Plus, Dean Fujioka and Seino Nana make a nice couple. In fact, I hope Dean gets to lead many more rom-com's.

Yes, the drama changes the details of the plot and the personalities/story of the secondary characters. However, the gist of the love story and plot is there and I care significantly more about the protagonists' story.

The 6-hour TV show is sweet and to the point (compared to the 40-chapter manga, which I found draggy). Sorry to those who started watching this expecting the same storyline and could not enjoy the show. I do wish this series had more episodes…
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