Completed
BrightestStar
7 people found this review helpful
Aug 12, 2016
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 6.0
Fun short watch!

What made this drama great and different is the directing. It's a great combination of behind-the-scene documentary, stage-play and an inspirational story. The last two minutes always include some great hit from the past and some stage-dancing. We got introduced to many stars of the past and hits that made them famous. It also teaches you about the history of television in Japan and how that affected the lives of the people.

And WOW dramas were LIVE!!! Everything was live. I think in those times, more than talent, it was nerves and endurance was required to succeed. When the industry was still small, it was always the same people working together, which created life-long bonds and that was very heartwarming. It was all about the group effort to make it work. Even as the industry grew, the bonds stayed as they were.

I don't know where to start with the acting. Mutsushima Hikari is fascinating as the young aspiring
Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, trying to find her place in this world. Even as she grew older, she was great at portraying her maturity as she keeps her playfulness. Mimura as the quiet and attentive Mukoda was effortless. Nakamura Shido as Atsumi Kiyoshi was awesome as someone who kept his country way of thinking and protectiveness as he grows into the industry. Yoshida Kotaro as Morishige with that special character and charm, Matsushige Yutaka as their long time viewer as he follows their careers throughout their lives, Hamada Gaku as everyone's director, all did a great job. Also great guest roles and from famous actors. If you don't look attentively enough, you might miss them.

My only complaint is something I'm been complaining often in many dramas, seeing totto into her 60s-70s still looking like a 30 year old. The way she dresses changed. In a way I understand why they didn't bother in here, felt somehow appropriate in the surrealness of the show, but I have issues XD

Other than that, I wish we had seen Totto's relationship with different people simultaneously, but it could be the way it was portrayed more appropriate.

And of course having the actual Tetsuko in the drama was a delight. She really was an Omoshiroi Obasan!

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
J Overland
5 people found this review helpful
Aug 24, 2016
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.5
Story 9.5
Acting/Cast 10
Music 9.5
Rewatch Value 9.0
I was really looking forward to Totto TV, mainly because it stars one of my favorite actresses, Mitsushima Hikari, and I wasn't disappointed at all. It's a really short watch (I finished it in just a few hours), but it's also really fun.

The story was great. It was really cool learning about Tetsuko's life and how the TV business started in Japan. I loved the style of the show: it's very lighthearted, and it quickly makes you hooked. I laughed a lot, specially during the first 4 episodes. There are few moments during the last few episodes that are more dramatic, but they're just as heartwarming as the rest of the show.

The acting was absolutely top-notch, just like I expected. Mitsushima Hikari's performance is arguably her best beside Soredemo, Ikite Yuku and Woman. It's clear that she had a lot of fun playing this character and that shows on screen. She carries the entire series on her own, but the rest of the cast was also very good, specially Yoshida Kotaro, Hamada Gaku and Nakamura Shido. It also made me really happy when Nishikado Ryo showed up for a couple of episodes, since he's one of my favorite actors. He's as charming as ever, of course.

As for the music, there is one performance at the end of each episode, and I really liked how they were incorporated into the story.

I also want to comment on the style of the show. It mixes a lot of different elements: there are times where it feels like a documentary, while at other times it feels like a biopic or theatre. It's a very original approach to the story and it makes Totto TV different from any other dramas.

In conclusion, Totto TV is probably the best drama I've seen this year, thanks mainly to a brilliant, charming performance by Mitsushima Hikari. I really wished it would've been longer because it's awesome. I recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, short watch.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
YueofBlueGables
1 people found this review helpful
Mar 25, 2019
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 10
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 9.0

I felt like I was watching an Asadora, only much much shorter (7 episodes of 25minutes long approx). There were times where it was lively and uplifting, and others where it was sad. As expected, since this is a semi-biography of Tetsuko, who has lived forever and it is one of the most popular TV personality in Japan. Since she has been for many, many years, she has met numerous people and many have died; friends, colleagues... so it was expected to be sad.

This is the kind of role I love to see for Mitsushima Hikari. Of course she is beyond amazing in sad roles like "Mother" and "Soredemo..." but I prefer to watch her in quirky, lively roles, like this one. I don't want to see her cry anymore :(

There are many cameos, of actors who I knew beforehand had a guest role (Ryo, which makes it a mini-reunion from "Gomen Seishun") and others who were a completely surprise (Daichi! and Matsuda, which makes it a mini-reunion from "Quartet").

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Josh
1 people found this review helpful
Jan 21, 2017
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 10
Story 10
Acting/Cast 10
Music 10
Rewatch Value 10
The interesting story reels you in, then you have a good laugh and by then end you will need some tissue.
Was this review helpful to you?
Completed
Crisl
0 people found this review helpful
Oct 6, 2019
7 of 7 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 7.5
Story 7.5
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
Чудесная небольшая дорама о жизни Куронаяги Тецуко - первой актрисы телевизионного японского канала NHK. Повестовование начали с 1953 года и перед нами открываются страницы истории японского ТВ, кино и вообще страны. Этакий капустик с Тото-чан в заглавной роли.
Она культовая фигура в Японии, не только медийная фигура, но и писательница, занимается благотворительностью и просветительской работой. Жива, бодра и весела.
Актриса, исполнившая главную роль -Мицусима Хикари просто очаровательна, а ее голосок... я прям влюбилась с первого взгляда. Конечно, она звезда этого шоу, но и остальная свита, традиционно, была профессиональна.

Read More

Was this review helpful to you?
Totto TV (2016) poster

Details

Statistics

  • Score: 7.7 (scored by 190 users)
  • Ranked: #4499
  • Popularity: #12464
  • Watchers: 508

Top Contributors

21 edits
7 edits
5 edits
5 edits

Popular Lists

Related lists from users
Japanese Dramas & Movies
819 titles 5 loves
J-Drama Year #2016
38 titles 2 loves
Favorite Dramas
34 titles 2 loves

Recently Watched By