Gokusen

I just finished re-watching it since I watched it in my high school around 8 years ago.Why am I telling this?

I enjoyed it in my first time because the theme was fresh to me! I understand that there are many dramas with the school/youth theme, trying to deal with common high-school issues like rebellion, family pressure and so on. But at that time, it was the first, I would say, with this kind of theme. So I fell in love with this genre.

Now, my second time, I've watched a lot of dramas with similar themes (recently, School 2013). But, nevertheless, I think Gokusen is the best in School/Youth dramas of all times.
All these said, the story was realistic and focused (only on the development of relationships between Yankumi and her 3-D students)

I may be biased when the acting/cast is amazing because I am Matsujun-biased. I became his fan with this drama and Sawada Shin is still my favorite character of Matsujun.

Music, I neither like it nor dislike it.

Well, like I said before, I watched it twice; I enjoyed it. It might not be as fresh as before, but I enjoyed watching the interactions between the casts again. It will never bore me, I guess.


Overall, I think it is a great drama that's worth to watch if you like School/Youth drama, even the second/third time (I might probably watch it again in the future). You might also want to give it a try if you are Matsujun's fan.

P.S. You can read the manga if you think it wasn't enough after finishing the drama!

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An inspiring and heartwarming watch

I didn’t know what to expect when picking up this drama but boy I’m glad I watched it! I ended up binging the entire first season in my bed all day. I love how the FL isn’t a pushover and is super passionate about her students! She’s also super lovable because of her awkward personality in general.. I also found myself really getting attached to the students’ stories! This drama expertly handled telling numerous peoples’ stories in a way that you could feel for them without the details getting too muddy. Overall, I feel inspired when I watch this drama and I wish that it would have continued more w the same plotline/cast of the first season as it left me wanting more from certain characters.

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A Comedy That Is Gold!

So, Gokusen turned out to be a surprisingly fun experience! As someone who usually sticks to newer dramas, I didn’t expect an older one like this to hook me so much, but it definitely did. It’s about a yakuza heiress who dreams of becoming a teacher. She ends up teaching a class of rebellious students, and what follows is her giving them life lessons while they all try to figure out their place in the world.

There are a lot of dramas with a similar premise, but what sets Gokusen apart is how it balances humor with heartfelt moments. Each episode is kind of its own mini story, which makes it easy to jump into any episode without feeling lost. That said, they all tie together well enough that you feel the growth and connections among the characters.

The comedy in this show is pure gold! I couldn’t stop laughing in some moments, and there were a few times where I genuinely got emotional, too. The characters are what really make the show shine, and the students’ development is so satisfying to watch.

I also really appreciated the camera work. It wasn’t anything too fancy, but there were some cool angles and shots that made it more visually engaging than I expected.

There’s no romance plotline, which I was super happy about (thank you, Gokusen!). It’s clear that Shin is the "love interest," but the focus stays mostly on the students and their growth, which is refreshing.

Overall, I had a great time watching all 12 episodes. It's one of those shows that hits all the right notes of comedy, drama, and a bit of emotional depth. Totally worth the watch if you’re into stories about personal growth and unlikely friendships.

Rating: 8/10

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[WARNING: the rating and review I give have the possibility to be subjective due to my preference for the genres, scenes or casts]

This is one of the dorama I must watch in a holiday time (the other is Harry Potter XD). So, can you imagine how many times I watch this? (^o^)

Another legendary dorama for me. Many life values and quotes you can get. Friendship, family, education, work. Love this dorama sooo much ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡

The casts’ acting were great too, although the one who have an outstanding acting is still Nakama Yukie. I adore her sooo much!!! ♡ ～('▽^人)

But! Watching this dorama makes me always want to eat ramen and takoyaki (^o^)

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A classic masterpiece

This was very fun and entertaining to watch. The plot is very original and the overdramatic-ness is hilarious , although it tends to be too overdramatic sometimes, in a way that it's giving anime in an overwhelming way.

I didn't find it realistic to involve all the characters in each and every episode. There is literally no point in having 27+ high school boys running around the city and getting involved in their teacher or classmate’s private business.

The characters are all unique and well crafted, which make the interactions engaging and entertaining to watch. Each episode left me wanting more, and it was definitely worth the watch. A bit sad that we never got to see if Shin and Yamaguchi ended up together (my ship!), and it's even more disappointing to see that Matsumoto Jun is nowhere to be found in the setlist of the other seasons (TT).

Gokusen is packed with cliques and scenes that will give you second hand embarrassment, but despite all this it still somehow manages to make me laugh, tear up and cover my face all at the same time. Truly a classic masterpiece.

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Endearingly campy with questionable morals/ethics orated in every episode

Overly enthusiastic rookie teacher cheer leads her underperforming students to graduation in such a way that it amuses everyone around her. Do keep in mind how old this and don't expect much from it! The cheesy preachy exhortations the rookie teacher gives are a bit long winded at time, but delivered in a heartfelt way. The lessons/morals being given to the kids sometimes feel a little propaganda-ish AND are a bit questionable at times, but how seriously can you take them, given that they are delivered so zealously that it's reduced to folderol (silly). Overall, it's a cheesy ,yet heartwarming, " watch the under dogs" zig zag their way to the graduation finish line, while learning life lessons along the way. I came in & out of this, using it as a drama filler & it was a bit over the top for me, so I will pass on season 2.
As for romance; the female lead does get an ending that implies she is on the romance track , but I was not impressed with the object of her affection as he seemed up for being with women casually , too often giving them the wrong impression & not caring.

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Smiling, Giggling, Kicking My Feet

It was such a joy to watch this drama! It was a very feel-good story. It followed a pretty simple structure: each episode focused on one person and their problems. It definitely did not treat itself too seriously which, in this case, worked in its favour. In a way, it was a typical drama about troubled teens meeting this one "good/cool" teacher who finally tried to understand them and helped them along the way. What differentiated the drama was the humour. Nakama Yukie was great there, the transition (hairstyle, glasses) from a teacher to a yakuza heir was fun and brought a smile to my face every single time. Her enthusiasm was contagious. The students were good too, but for me Yankumi absolutely stole the show. It was a great stress-reliever.

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