This review may contain spoilers
I am not really sure how I feel about this dorama. On one hand, I like that there is a female MC that kick ass, that has morals and wants to help other women in need of help. Nami (Ayase Haruka) does what every woman would want to do to rapists and women-beater and kidnappers... give them a good punch in their damn face. So not only she is strong and doesn't let anyone to intimidate her, but she also lives in a gorgeous neighborhood, has 2 lovely friends and a charming husband.. (or does she?) I also like the cast, specially Ayase Haruka and Hirosue Ryoko... And of course her husband (Nishijima Hidetoshi) was good, even more when he was serious and in "enemy" mode, but for me it was a bit hard to see them as husband/wife since I was watching "Yae no Sakura" when this dorama started...On the other hand (and there may be some spoilers)...
As much as I love seeing Ayase Haruka in action scenes, I wish she had a different instructor. Her fights were a bit slow and too synchronized, much like a choreography. The bad guys she fought against were so, um, wimpy? One punch, one kick, and they were out. None of them was a challenge for her. And also, there was one fight scene in every episode (which I wanted), but they were too short, again, because of those wimpy guys. I was too greedy I guess, since I wanted more action.
Her two friends deal with family problems, so all 3 of them have their own secret. Unfortunately, the main problem her friends deal with is 1) one of them is cheating on her husband, and 2) the other one has her own husband having an affair. I can't with cheating in books, and I guess I also dislike cheating in my doramas. I find cheating an unforgivable sin, but since they are married I guess it is not that easy...
And lastly, the pace of the story. First couple of episodes, it was good because it is when we see Nami trying to be a good housewife and befriending her 2 neighbors while being secretly a bad-ass heroine. And last 2 episode were also good since it is when we see that her husband is not who he appeared to be in all the previous episodes. I specially liked the ending, more so because it is obvious there is going to be a SP/movie. But what I didn't like was that the episodes in-between felt more like fillers... I wish the "Mr & Mrs Smith" happened a lot sooner, like around Ep. 4 and from there, more about them and their secret identities. I feel like they (the scriptwriters and whatever) didn't take full advantage of the plot.
At least I have high hopes that the sequel is going to be awesome XD
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This is such a smart drama. I just loved Isayama’s tongue in cheek way of fighting. Though the tone of this drama is humor, this drama takes on some serious issues from domestic abuse to cheating. This drama aims to address a number of the threats to marriage in all its shapes and sizes. While some may find this manner of approaching such dark topics a little cavalier, I found this drama so smart and refreshing! Ayase Haruka is magical in this portrayal. Her energy and comedic timing is so admirable. She brings her all to this drama. I know this drama may not seem so exciting since it focuses on housewives, but please put aside your apprehension and give this drama a chance! This drama is so fun and clever!!!
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✿奥様は、取り扱い注意 ✿
This drama was amazing, Ayase haruka who is from the same Hometown as me (Hiroshima) was the main role as Isayama Nami.In order to start over her life and to find happiness she got married with the man she fell in love with at first sight during a blind date and moved to a quiet high-end residential area. Nami isn't really into housewifing including cooking or cleaning, but she has a very strong sense of justice and it would be very ill-advised to make her angry. She was born and raised without a single relative and had to experience a life without knowing what it means to love or be loved. By making friends with other housewives, who she occasionally saves from various predicaments. She fights everyone in her own way and always wins. This drama is worth 100% to watch!!Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
An interesting drama that shows how great yet restricted and loving Women are.
Where do I even start?! Hmm, actually I'm contemplating whether to give it a 9.5 or 10 cause there're some part that I felt upset about but then I realized that this is a drama and that is its plot twist. So the moment i get my emotional involved only means I'm sold. Hahaha~! Definitely a 10, Story wise.×× Dislikes
→ I hate how Kyoko even thought of keeping his relationship with his husband after he cheated. Like, I know she almost forced him to marry her but cheating is cheating. Sooner or later he will do it again. Sighs.
→ I symphatized a lot with Yuri but i'm kinda irritated on how she's bearing with his authoritative husband.
→ I hate how Women need to go through such pain and stress and act as if nothing has happened! They deserved the BEST!
→ I HATE how SHORT this drama is, I need MORE!
×× Likes
→ I just love the passion and kindness inside Nami. Someone who's very determined to change herself and to seek for peace and normal life.
→ I enjoyed the moments when she's with her Friends learning new things and it made me excited to see what she's up next.
→ Fighting Scenes! It's not the smoothest and cleanest but she DELIVERED! Some of it maybe corny or ridiculous to others but as I drown deep into J-Dramas, I simply understand their unique way of making their own masterpieces.
→ Nami's interesting way of cutting the vegetables and how she cut it perfectly when she confronted her husband. That gave me the "Bitch she's real mad" feeling.
Story - 10, I enjoyed it a lot. I was swayed and got myself excitedly anticipating for each coming scenes. I love how they highlighted Housewives/Women's concern as a whole and how Men shouldn't be trusted in any possible way. (I'm a guy btw)
Acting/Cast - 10, They delivered and it was fun watching them act. It was able to sent me warmth and place a refreshing smile ony face. I hate all the guys (their Characters) though. Hahaha.
Music - 10, That one sound they always play when something's about to happen just set the scenes for me. I guess i didn't notice the other BGMs if there is? but i'm satisfied.
Rewatch Value - 10, No questions needed to be ask. Release a sequel and i shall rewatch it right away. Hihi
Overall - 10, Well deserved! This drama made me think IF giving a 10 is okay? then I started re-evaluating the entirety of the drama itself and found myself uttelry satisfied. I realized that every drama has its own flavor and taste. The genre doesn't lining up to my usual standard doesn't mean it should be a level lower but it's more of ME finding another genre I'm starting to get into.
IF you find my reviews helpful please let me know.
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mind blowing plot twists.
very mind blown! loved the acting and story line. loved the friendship the ladies had. must say I thought Nami had the most perfect husband until the twist I saw coming but was in denial about!! aaaah “careful what you wish for” is exactly what I thought. disappointed that the writers didn’t play around more with that twist. also hate that the series ends on a cliff hanger. like they just gave up writing. Loved the insight of what house wives go through. sad for women going through these things.a masterpiece non the less.
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Can anybody tell me about the ending? I'm a little bit confused here XD Despite that, I love this drama and I thought maybe I'll be as clumsy as Nami when I become a housewife, but unfortunately not as strong as her (^o^;)
This drama provide a lot of marriage issues, and how the household facing it and solve the problem. It can be some lesson for me (or for you) in the future (^_^)
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This review may contain spoilers
“Love at First Sight is a Horrible Thing”
After watching a couple of other series starring Haruka Ayase, like “I Want to Die Alone” (Hitori de Shinitai), and Hotaru no Hikari, and seeing that our birthdate is just a few days apart in the same year, and seeing how she plays empowered, independent and quirky women characters that are very similar to my own personality and mindset, and taking into her account her exquisitely beautiful face, I’ve decided that she is one of my most favorite Japanese actresses.This series does not disappoint. Starting with that super catchy samba style intro theme song/music, and Nami’s badass ninja fighting skills, the story goes into how she is a woman who just wants love and has been fighting and defending herself and protecting others in this dangerous world. It’s a very interesting set of stories. Except for a few, many of the “bad women” are not actually bad but are trying to create justice for a terribly unjust situation. The men on the other hand are all portrayed as selfish, bullying, narcissistic, entitled, exploiting, misogynistic, and controlling- especially in marital and family relationships. This is not far from the truth obviously. It shows how marriage is basically a soul trap for women, where they are reduced down to objects wearing a happy mask that cook, clean, and wake up the man, pouring their life and soul and love into him and the kids, while he’s busy having affairs.
I don’t understand the martyr complex that the women have. Like Kyoka- she trails and finds her husband cheating and still says that she loves him and is waiting for him even when her own mother in law kicks her cheating son out of the house. She puts on this “brave, martyr, saintly face” in from of her friends Nani and Yuri as if bearing the torture somehow makes her a good saintly person. It doesn’t. Her husband doesn’t respect or love her any more for her saintly doormat act, and nor does anyone else. Then she misses him and like a soggy doormat, she ruins her own self empowerment and leverage in the situation and calls her cheating husband crying and saying “I miss you, please come home!” While the husband basically says no and disempowers her further. Can the wives be any more powerless? Why do they have to be like this?
I wonder why everyone is so two faced- I get it, it’s part of the culture. Not just Japanese but worldwide too. In marriages and social interactions people put on a happy clown face to others and show off and brag while hiding the horrors underneath. Marriage and family are a kind of performance for show. This series exposes that so well. Even Nami finds out that her charming husband is not the person she thought and hoped he was- whatever these women are in love with is a projection of their own longing. But the men in reality are despicable as husbands. For example, Yuri’s husband was her college professor who basically decided that he wanted to “have her and keep her” so he got her pregnant immediately so that she would get married to him and never leave the house. Possessing her like an object and treating her like utter trash. He is such a loathsome creature. If it weren’t for survival and having a roof over their heads, I’m sure most women would leave these ball and chain marriages where they are treated as indentured servants who should be grateful for their servitude. It is utterly deplorable. I’m glad that Haruka Ayase brings these shows where the woman is a little more empowered- even though her characters do want love deep in their soul, they are true to themselves and authentic and to some extent, free.
As Nami starts to find out that her own husband is a shady character, and that scene where the husband comes back from home and she’s cutting the cabbage and then throws a knife at him, and he blocks it with his suitcase- that moment when the mask drops is just so satisfying and thrilling to watching as they get down and dirty in the fight. It’s bizarre how married people live together for decades and are essentially strangers wearing masks in front of each other, trying to cover up over their true identity and seething hatred for each other, all in the name of a “stable life”, status, image or for survival or financial reasons. All so bizarre and all so fake. It would be one thing if it were just a TV show- but this is exactly how it is in this world. Nishijima is the perfect charming handsome fake husband with a streak of danger. There is something terribly romantic about one party coming to arrest another party but upon meeting her he forgets his mission and falls in love. But is it romance or thrill? Well there is no better way of controlling, subjugating, and surveilling a woman than to marry her. I was very impressed and squealing with excitement at Ayase’s fighting and stunts- she’s a true badass.
A very chilling dialog between husband and wife in the last episode.
Wife: “How long will I be watched? Until I die? I’ll have to live like I have a collar around my neck right?”
Husband: “If you behave yourself and live like an ordinary housewife, the day you can take the collar off, will come.” OUCH. This is the status of women in marriages. Treated as objects, slaves to serve the man and child.
The wife says: “There are couples who can be happy without telling each other what they really think right? But I don’t want that. Because I love you. I adore you. I want us to be honest with each other. We’ve been deceiving each other until now, so I want us to fight with all our might and make up with each other. And yet you want to put a collar around my neck? Do you not love me?” The woman, the wife is trying to break free from this torture.
Then a housewife who decided to have a short affair as a way to escape her husband who was literally being an emotional abuser and acting like slave owner, then gets blackmailed and subsequently beat up by men, while the “boss” says how boring it is. These scenes are very disturbing to see that much misogyny and it made me very sad.
It did make me happy to see Nami beat up guys in the warehouse to the legendary title samba music. But why do they approach her one by one like zombies? Anyways.. Shes a true hero. And very thrilling to watch. The last scene, the last moment was.. WTF .. a cliffhanger??
With all that said, even though I did not watch it and have no plans to, it seems like the story may have been inspired by Mr and Mrs Smith- an ode to the boring middle aged married couple that are secretly assassins. It explores the idea of a double life among all the characters very well, with a Japanese twist. I can confidently say that this series would be far more enjoyable than subjecting myself to the pompous nonsense of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
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Gostei muito da forma que a história é contada, cada episódio a história de um dos personagens que aparece se resolve deixando assim somente as tramas dos personagens principais para o próximo episódio.
Realmente valeu muito a pena, foi bem legal de ver como ela tão desajeitada tentava fazer tarefas corriqueiras para "pessoas comuns". Sua relação de amizade com as suas duas vizinhas e o desenvolvimento de seu relacionamento com seu marido são outros pontos bem interessantes que prenderam minha atenção do começo ao fim neste drama.
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