Ainori: Asian Journey (2017)

Ainori was the show I didn't know I was missing in my life.

If you like travel, romance, and drama, this is the show for you.

Don't be turned off by how staged the first episode may make everything seem. The commentators and the graphics make the show seem really overplayed, but the interactions between the participants themselves, and not to mention the delicious restaurants and beautiful sights they visit, are 100% real.

I've laughed and cried watching this, and I wish I could follow all the participants on instagram to keep up with their lives after the show.

One of my favorite aspects of the show that wasn't necessary but was definitely a nice touch was the attention they spent on the culture of each of the countries they visited. Participants often visit a local family or organization and learn not only about those peoples' lives, but about a crucial aspect of the culture in which they are visitors. It's endearing to see how the show treats its hosts, and also interesting from a non-Japanese perspective to see the little ways in which Japan is compared to, for example, Thailand.

If you have some time to binge watch and want to get some pointers for your next Southeast Asia trip while following budding romances, this is the show for you.

One last thing - I'd like to point out how the commentary on this show got it right. In Terrace House, for example, I often found myself skipping the commentary sections of the episodes as I found them to drag on or to be too off-focus. In Ainori, however, the commentary never lasts for more than a minute or two, and very rarely strays from the topic at hand. Big ups for that.

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Llegué a Ainori con la esperanza de encontrarme con un reality en la línea de Terrace House (no lo es), y aunque me parece que tiene sus altibajos me ha dejado con muy buen sabor de boca. Los primeros capítulos son un poco lentos y no terminaba de acostumbrarme ni a los presentadores ni a los participantes, pero a medida que empiezan a soltarse y empezamos a conocerlos mejor no pude evitar cogerles cariño (en especial a los primeros siete). No voy a hablar de todos y cada uno porque se me haría eterna esta ''reseña'' pero: Depparin aka la mvp. Depparin nos ha dado tantos buenos momentos y tanto drama, y me alegro de que al final terminase feliz con Akira. Lo mismo digo de Asuka y Yuchan . Ay señor, cómo sufrí cuando se fueron los tres porque la mayoría de los que se quedaron hicieron un Wedding y por eso los tres últimos capítulos se me atragantaron bastante. A eso súmale que no entiendo cómo Kasuga decidió quedarse con Shy Boy, un tipo con momentos muy graciosos pero por lo general MUY CREEPY. En fin, sólo quería desahogarme un poco y dudo que haya redactado algo coherente pero que me ha gustado y espero con ansias una segunda temporada (¿sacarán algo de qué tal les ha ido a las parejas?).

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