Wakaba no Koro (1996)

This is a great drama judging from the first two episodes (which are the only ones I can find available). The settings are dated but none the worse for that, as the main drama works despite being 20 years old, as all good dramas transcend their period. The story is not original.But the main characters and actors are great, showing very well the attraction yet tension between two students of polar opposite, poor and advantaged, backgrounds within the local snobby elite high school - the pride and anger of the poor kid with a one-parent family, alcoholic father, determined to forge an identity without denying the reality of his background but pushing away friendship in the process; the bewilderment of the rich kid in rejecting the values of his father but also unable to cast off the burden due to lack of acceptance of his genuine search for friendship based on the person, not the social and material position. Main back music is the only negative from my viewpoint - an old British pop song dating I think from years before the series itself, not my style, too sentimental and gets on my nerves frankly and detracts from the drama which is definitely not sentimental but very realistic. I would re-watch the two episodes I've seen, but obviously this whole review is limited by unavailability of the remaining episodes. (I have to put all episodes seen or I apparently can't post the review!!) Would really like to see how this works out but the series is way back and there don't seem to be any other sources.

Read More

Inconsistencies Hell

Amazing first episode that was masterfully crafted to kick start the story and prepare it to venture in all kinds of directions. There was a slight decline in the writing moving forward but it kept holding its own weight for awhile. That prison warden was quite the character. The OST was pretty decent. There was also some glaring inconsistencies like the alcoholic father suddenly becoming sober just to get to the next point in the story. However, the drama hit a major unsalvageable road block. Specifically at the beginning of the last 1/3 of the drama. It turned the drama into cheap vapid melodrama diminishing any merits it previously established for the past 8 episodes. The ending was questionable at best, it didn't really allow for real conversations to be had. It's really unfortunate after it had a very solid run before flipping the switch.

Read More