Friends to BF/GF
LIKES:Music was decent, although the same violin bits became less impactful, because of how often it was shown.
Scenery and Cinematography were great.
Chemistry of FL Kitagawa Keiko & ML Yamashita Tomohisa, could be felt by the viewer, especially during the friendship phaze.
The great physique shots: The shirtless basketball guys didn't disappoint.
Them showing how much training the guys who play basketball do. Also the action part was good with the basketball games and the parts trying to beat the buzzer. It was interesting and not over done, so the games were never boring.
2nd romance of Mai (Kanjiya Shihori) and Shuji (Mizobata Junpei) was decent.
Good character development between FL & ML, no other characters seemed to have growth, but that’s because they were so under developed.
Acting done by FL & ML and the 2 couple of Mai & Shuji, were spot on.
DISLIKES
The male chauvinistic moments were over the top.
Production, some scenes were so obviously cut by editing. Also lots of shaking camera moments, which didn’t add drama and were just annoying, especially when it was a basketball game moment.
The last few episodes seem thrown together to complete the story and supporting actor storylines. There were moments throughout the show, where too much time was spent on things that weren’t needed and not enough time on what was (romance aspect)
No character growth other than FL & ML
A little more romance or at least kissing could’ve happened between the main couples, especially since they’re 23 and older, it was way less than even teen/ high school dramas
Love triangles for FL & ML; FL and the coach was cringe worthy. ML and Cheerleading Squad Captain , was okay, but Director didn't do the reveal moment with enough impact.
OVERALL:
I won’t rewatch except maybe a few scenes from FL & ML, but hopefully someone does a clip montage on youtube, so I don’t have to find the episodes I liked. If you like basketball or sports dramas and child like romance, then I do recommend you watch it.
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The story wasn't out of the ordinary but it still kept me interested till the end. I didn't think I'd like a drama about basketball cause i'm not in to sports but the writers did a great job of not making it the main focus.
I really liked the entire cast. Junpei was too cute in his role.
I really really liked the music. The theme song was catchy and the classical music was lovely.
I'd like to watch this drama again.
Overall this drama is a pleasure to watch because the cast is super.
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The relationship between Shuuji i Mai is lovely too. Especially the Ebina's personality.
Hmmm.. Basketball. I admit all scence on the gym I was watching with pleasure. The group of athletic hunks... ^_^
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It is not only a great sports-drama, but overall very good.
It is a serious drama unlike the usual goofy J-drama-style, but never tragic or anything like that.
It portrays even some sites of women that are not cliché.
The acting is great, too, and this one scene... man oh man, the guy even forgot to take off his shoes! :D
(not gonna spoil it)
The OST is awesome (and I am not a huge fan of J-Pop and stuff like that).
If I had any critique, it would be the unrealistic setting of the main characters at the end (which happens often in dramas, like seriously - as if they didn't have mobiles and skype and whatever...).
The ending is a good one, though, so no worries about being unsatisfied.
Just go for it! I think I will rewatch it now, too :)
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From the acting perspective it comes off pretty strong as we see everyone's beloved Yamapi putting an amazing front of this sportsman who's tryin his best for his family and his team.To score and win the championships.All he lacks is a proper drive.This thrist which can be quenched only if he forgets about everything else and focuses.He can only do that if he meets his once in a lifetime love..which he does btw..:D
Keitagawa Keiko is so pretty as Riko.I think i have a girl crush on her after this.She does her role as a violinist pretty well.
the chemistry between the leads is pretty good as i felt all the flutters that i expect to feel from a romantic drama.It wasn't an angsty drama according to me so it saves a lot of tears.It satisfied me on the romantic front.i loved loved the awkwardness of two strangers turning into friends and ultimately into lovers who are there for each other.The acting and the tranformation of these two people is so believeable.Its like it could actually happen in anyone's life if they are lucky enough.Two neighbours meeting up and their journey through love.Relistic and true to life
I wish they could have spared us the dragging end because after 8th episode it sort of lost it somewhere but came back again with a perfect end.I wished they had focused more on them staying together than on Natsuki who's the type i hate the most
as somebody said earlier its pretty much like watching a cliched kdrama.without all that melodrama stuff
Same song was repeated over and over again but i didnt get bored yet i wished they had more of such uplifting and upbeat music.If the music score had been more vast it would have been a treat.
Give it a go simply for the fresh romance it brings to the screen and how it mixes sports and love together in a brillaint blend..:)
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Clichés done right
The Title of this Drama gives the final scene away, but then anyone who starts watching this would be expecting exactly that. The thing that marks this a really enjoyable watch is the skill of the execution. It's how they get to that ending that makes for an entertaining journey. The Drama really doesn't put a foot wrong in any major way. In my personal database I scored this as 8.25/10 so here at MDL I gave it 8 rather 8.5 because the "evil ex" was a leeetle bit overdone, but only a tiny bit, and not for long. A very sweet and satisfying romance Drama that illustrates how it IS possible to stick to a very well-used formula and produce a real treat if the writing and acting come together just right. Overall, this one was "nothing but net"Was this review helpful to you?
Others have posted better summaries than I am capable of, but this is about two people who meet each other, both of whom are at low points in their lives because they see their dreams of professional success fading before their eyes. They meet, become friends and support and encourage each other not to give up on those dreams, even while others around them are discouraging, if not openly interfering with their fight to achieve those dreams. Somewhere along the way...they fall in love, but of course circumstances conspire to keep them apart. Even if you're not a sports fan, this drama is good, lighthearted, romantic fun interspersed with just enough angst.
The only caveat I have to offer for this drama is that the theme song is so damn catchy it will be stuck in your head for days after you've finished watching. Which is ok because I really like it, but if you don't really want to wander around with some Jdrama theme song stuck in your head - you were warned.
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I know many of you will watch this show for the male lead which is good. Watch it is an awesome show. And the other reason why you should watch this show is that of the freaking chemistry. In most Japanese shows I have to wait until the final to actually see the leads in love. But the in this show they had chemistry since the first time they met each other.
Overall, I give it a 10/10 because of its originality and the leads phenomenal chemistry.
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Okay, first of all, I watch this dorama because :
1. The lead actor is Yamapi
2. I love basketball
3. I love music
4. I love romance
And this movie didn't disappoint me. I can have all things above in this movie. Even the story is quite light and cheesy in my opinion, and the antagonist female makes me doesn't want to watch any movie she's in, but this series can warmed my heart. In the other hand, the antagonist male somehow makes me adore him ^o^
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I was really lucky cause this drama rocked it & the scene was more beautiful that the gif, it was so simple yet so beatiful , a drama that teach you how to go for your dreams & fight for it no matter what, I loved the motivation part in this drama.
Yamashita Tomohisa, this drama was my first meeting with this good looking, hot, amazing guy
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