One of the better dramas out there
I give this drama a VERY solid 8/10. It was entertaining, I liked the main actors/characters. There was a lot of drama, some predictable and some not super predictable. You won’t be wasting your time if you choose to watch this drama. (and oh my goodness, the cast is super good looking- and little Nao is so ADORBS!!!!!!)Good things:
1. Nao is not the usual naive, optimistic, too-good-natured protagonist. It's quite refreshing to watch (although ep 3/4 had me doubt this a little bit).
2. The main characters were written well. There were layers upon layers of events and internal conflicts to flesh them out. The conflicts in the family were displayed well.
3. Tsubaki is the typical tsundere but unlike the other tsunderes, he warms up to the audience a lot faster. By the end of the 1st episode, you already see his struggles and empathize with him.
4. I don't watch period pieces so it's great seeing people in gorgeous kimonos and yukatas all in the time in beautiful wood houses. (and the sweets looked so good, I want to try them!!!)
Things I think would have improved the drama:
1. I wish it was a darker drama and that it was less theatrical. The opening was very anime-like and I liked that. But as for the actual production, I wish they didn’t have certain scenes like people smiling creepily and ultra dramatic music etc. It would've been great as a melodrama.
2. They did not take enough time establishing Kougetsu An as the leader/brand name it was. I was trying to figure it out for a long time how big they were, how much money and power they had and why they were relevant. Their shop looked small so I just couldn't make the connection in my brain. They should've done a quick monologue/explanation about it in the beginning.
3. They fell in love too easily. His side? Ok, fine. But her side? She's hiding her secret and holding a 15 year grudge against him and his family.... but then she almost sleeps with him... because they were playing a couple... and they didn't even like each other then... Doesn't make sense. They needed more scenes together talking and naturally getting along despite having ulterior motives or scenes where they went out of their way to help each other/care for each other.
4. Nao literally has no friends/no world outside of Kougestu An. There was the potential of the girl in the very first episode, but they never explored that. She needs a "sane" friend, her voice of reason, her escape from this darkness. But it could be very intentional because as a young girl, her closest friend betrayed her, which could cause her to mistrust all people. Either way, I wish it was addressed.
5. I enjoyed the performances from both leads, but some scenes just lacked the emotional intensity it needed. I wanted to see more internal conflict on their faces, especially Nao. and especially the hospital scene after the fire after she talks to Yuko (got some bad news), I wanted her to be balling her eyes out so that I could feel sorry for her poor soul and all that she’s suffered and cry with her... but I didn't.
I love that it is 8 episodes, but I think they could've made it better with another episode or two.
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Bland, dated and probably filmed with your grandma's 1970s camera
This colours/vibe of the show seems very dated. The plot offers no excitement since much of it doesn't even deal with the suspense part of it. Most of it is spent on over dramatic people being insane about weird things. The relationship between the leads was extremely toxic and I didn't even feel like shipping them together. They were just not likeable at all. The only plus points for the show were the good looking leads and the beautiful sweets. But there's a limit to the impact they can have on a viewer.This was actually my first Japanese drama. In the beginnning I tried getting into the different vibe since I know that Japanese dramas have a more sombre atmosphere than Kdramas or Cdramas. Eventually I was extremely disappointed with the plot, the chemistry between the leads, the mystery, the supporting characters and basically everything on the show.
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AMAZING!
I LOVE THIS. The perfect romance, mixed with suspense and an insight into the world of wagashi (japanese sweets)!It was perfectly paced, and the perfect length.
Nao and Tsubaki are such a sweet couple.
I also loved learning more about Japanese culture, and about wagashi, and the incredible artisans behind it.
I couldn't stop watching this - literally...binge-watched one episode after the other, and finished it in a day!
10/10 recommend. Give it a go, you won't regret it!!!!!!!
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This review may contain spoilers
Beautifully Written Out
Overview:Most of the dramas that I have seen have been mostly Thai, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean. I've dabbled into a few animes but I've dropped most of those quickly since they're so long. I am not patient enough to watch all of it without skipping to the end (if there is an end) and spoiling it for myself. However, if you want something short, sweet, and simple, this Japanese drama is for you!
Story:
Since there are only 8 episodes, the storyline was developed very quickly and the romance picked up within the first two episodes. There were a few typical drama tropes like sweet second main lead, evil/mean mother in law, fake marriages, inheritance, etc. However, the storyline never got boring nor draggy. I finished this drama all in one sitting because it was so addicting. It felt like I just finished watching a movie rather than a drama. Everything dialogue was well written and every scene was just beautiful. There was a purpose for each scene and action. I haven't seen many Japanese dramas, but I would definitely rank this drama number one on my list. Additionally, one of the main reasons I loved this drama was how they really showed the villain's purposes. Most of their reasons weren't because they were flat out psychopaths and evil human beings. Instead, the reason they choose a certain decision or path was due to moments of emotional breakdowns and uncontrollably fear for the future. Most of the time, some dramas really do the "villains" injustice and so having some relatable and understandable villains really makes you appreciate the storyline better.
Acting/Cast:
One of the main reasons I never really got into Japanese dramas is how cringy the acting usually is. There's typically a very overdramatic, innocent, naive, cute young girl and a very handsome, stoic, cold ice prince as the lead (but this is just based on hand few Japanese dramas I've seen, no hate). The thing I really liked about this drama was the female lead was very different from the typical Japanese female lead. She was strong-minded, mature, and dedicated. On the other hand, the male lead wasn't a flat out jerk (minus the first 1 and 1/2 episodes, just ignore that). He's not "cold" because that's just his character, he became that way because of his deary, traumatic, depressing childhood. The cast for both the main lead was great. Their chemistry was ON FIRE. I really have to give props to the male lead's evil mother. She acted her role very well and freaked me out quite a bit. Overall, the acting was surprisingly very pleasant to watch. I didn't have second-hand embarrassment at all and the acting was very natural. I'm super in love with the cast and I'm definitely going to have to check out their previous works.
Music:
The background music was okay. It sometimes makes the scene more dramatic than it needs to be. Otherwise, it wasn't too bad.
Rewatch Value:
I would 100% rewatch this drama. It's just so short and sweet. If I ever just need a break, this will probably be on my first to rewatch list. It's not a fluffy as some other dramas, but sweet enough to get me going.
Overall:
I'm glad I didn't pass on this drama. It changed my whole perspective of Japanese dramas. I'll probably try out some more to see what is there to offer. Overall, great storyline, cast, and ending. The ending was really, really, really good. The last episode took us on a whole roller coaster ride (still overcoming that shock though). I could not think of a more perfect ending for all the "villains" and the main leads happily ever after.
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Writing wise, what most stood out is how people jumped to (the right) conclusion without substantive evidence. It made no sense.
Overall the characters were over the top. The female lead Nao claims she wants revenge but isn’t smart enough for it and has too much of a weak spirit for it. I didn’t have much sympathy for the Tsubaki because he was the type that takes wtv narrative that suits him and knowingly ignores everything else.
This story isn’t about love despite all the characters keep repeating it. It’s about obsessive attachments. The parents of the leads were more guilty about it, none ever owned up to their actions. In the flashback when Itsuki said “it was all my fault” I was like yup right you are about it. He dragged everyone in his actions and inactions, in life and in death.
It wasn’t all bad. I like the how Shiori took hold of her life. In a way, she was more independent and showed more growth than Nao. My favourite part of the drama was the interaction between Tsubaki and his grandpa. It was the most authentic performance and where real growth happened. Their conversation in the last episode was beautifully delivered, and summarized their relationship. Any points I give this drama would be for that part of the drama.
Don’t get me wrong, it was addictive so it’s not a drama you can easily drop haha
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highly recommended Japanese drama. One of the legendary drama of Japanese industry. I think no one shouldn miss this masterpiece. if you love drama and didn't watch this its a big miss
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From starting to end , it was too good . The best part of the drama is screenplay and sweets . The way they tell the meaning behind the sweets was so great . And also how can I forget the characters -tsubaki and Sakura., Their acting was awesome . The best part is their chemistry.
The story mainly focused on suspense.
I can totally agreed that this is the best suspense japanese drama I have watched.
About tsubaki's mother's role. I really liked her character
And the last episode was fully a roller coaster ride. I was not expecting this.
But so far this drama is very addictive.
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Never have I ever wanted to try Japanese sweets so badly
Likes: Very pretty leads makin some very pretty desserts.Dislikes: The soap opera style. Tried too hard to be poetic.
If you can adjust your lens to view this as a soap opera than I think you'll be ok. I, however, struggled with that as soap operas are not my style...I just find them too exaggerated and over the top, but I stuck it out since it was only 8 episodes.
The leads are very pretty . Nao looks straight out of a manga and there were quite a few moments where I could actually visualize the drawn manga version of her expressions. Tsubaki is also very pretty, but has a manly vibe too.
There were a few smoldering moments that had me wanting more, but this felt more melo than romance.
The two are top confectioners making beautiful Japanese sweets that had me dying to try. Not because they looked delicious. But because they looked like beautifully sculpted play doh that had me so damn curious to what they tasted like. It reminds me of my first impression of Taiwanese pineapple cakes. When I saw a pic, I was like why would you eat this bland looking dry fig newton? And then I tried it on my trip to Taiwan. Pure buttery chewy heaven. Let's just say the multiple boxes I then bought after never made it home with me on the plane. It was a massacre. I ate like 15 in one sitting. Which makes me wonder about these Japanese sweets....but I digress.
This story has murder, revenge, broken relationships, and love all mixed in with some overly dramatic music and acting, especially from the villainess mom. It also had some twists that took me by surprise, so if you're ok with soap opera-ish style, then you may enjoy this. For me, it's already fading from my memory...except for those sweets. Gotta try those...
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A Story that Visits Every Aspect of Trauma.
I had low expectations of this short drama. I had came into the first episode expectant of a cliché love story that would absorb the plot to the point of where anything else seemed to not matter. In short: a fluff piece. And boy, was I wrong.Story- The overall story is engaging and goes completely against expectation. The flow of the plot had me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of just where the director is taking it. At times I even questioned: Would they really go that far?
From episode one, you were thrusted into trauma forming before your very own eyes and as each episode progressed, you watched as each piece of that trauma unraveled itself. As the series is only eight episodes long, you may be asking yourself: "Isn't it rushed to address every characters trauma in a matter of just eight episodes?" And to that I answer: "No". In seven 50 minute episodes and an hour and a half series finale, this eight episode series effectively addressed every single character's trauma stemming to the main plot in a way that made you feel invested. By the end of the series, I felt like I had come to know the way each character thinks and feels.
Despite the main plot being intensely driven, the underlying undying love of Japanese sweets makes you yourself appreciate the fine art. The characters love for the creations makes your taste buds all the more curious. The freeze frame descriptions of each sweet will surely appease your curiosity, if not the meaning behind each sweet within the plot.
From lies to betrayal, hate to love, life to death--Watashitachi Wa Douka Shiteiru truly had it all. To place this title under a single genre is nearly impossible. Romance, Crime, Adventure, Slice-of-life... it has it all.
Acting- This is my first encounter with any of the actors in this series, so I can't effectively compare their acting in this piece to any other. However, I can say that I never once felt that the actors were awkward or outside of "the zone". Feeling each characters pain as effectively as I had, tells me that the actors were able to accurately deliver the story as intended, which seems hard to find in a drama these days.
Music- The ending OST is by far the best OST. I say this because it is the first time I had ever sought out an OST to add to my playlist.
As for the soundtrack within the drama, I never felt that the music was out of place or distracted me from the scene. It played an effective role of setting the mood of the scene, but never overshadowed the scene.
Rewatch Value- I'm the type of person who finds it hard to rewatch things I've previously seen. Especially if I had to force myself to finish the series the first time. However, I do believe that because the plot is so deep and rooted with deception, that it is worth it to rewatch just to find any hidden messages or changes in face from specific characters.
Overall- Watashitachi Wa Douka Shiteiru is a piece that makes you question what it takes to overcome trauma and how your experiences help you shape a new definition for forgiveness. It is a piece written carefully with consideration of how the plot will shape up in the end. I recommend this for anybody willing to be taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, knowledge, and deception.
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Pretty good...
I accidentally came across this and decided to give it a try because of its plot and I was impressed. Although the first episode was okay, the story picked up from the second episode. For someone who has a crazy sweet tooth, I literally wanted to try all of the sweets they showed on the show. I had no idea that Japanese sweets could be so visually pleasing. Coming to the actors, I didn't see any of their previous works so I guess it's safe to say they've done a pretty good job. Although I must admit I hated Tsubaki's mother to the core, at some point in the last episode I actually felt a tad bit sorry for her considering how she became, the person she became. The actress who played the mother's role did a splendid job because she actually made me hate the character.The plot is quite engrossing. I'm not sure if it's worthy to be called a spoiler but up until the end I was suspecting so many people but the actual culprit. And I liked the way they ended the show, it was a good ending, I'm kinda satisfied. It's a happy ending(for most part). And I really wanted it to be longer, in terms of the number of episodes. If you're thinking to watch it, I suggest you give the first two episodes a try and then decide. I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed if you do watch it till the end. It's only 8 episodes, so not too many episodes to watch :)
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This review may contain spoilers
A sweet cultural drama
Let me start with the bad points first,I didn't like the drama in the first half episode due to the awkward scene settings as it gives me a lot of cringe moments such as the ML suddenly grab FL arm even when its their first meeting. I mean there's nothing wrong with such script but the way they edit the scene (and some of the similar scenes like Kabedon) feel as it they just wanna show how cool is the ML and all. That kind of scene just make me feel all awkward and definitely cringe. But as the story and plot goes on, its getting more interesting and they way they keep the suspense hooked me up too. The acting skill of ML and FL are overall quite flat, not much of in-depth emotions going on, I would say the best actor goes to Kyoko (Tsubaki's mother), even though on the surface she is the pure villain in the drama but the way she act there's more in depth about this character which I develop more empathy than hatred to her. I got really hooked up watching this drama, only when I play the video at 1.25x speed, or else I would feel the normal speed pace is too slow and draggy. And what I find most annoying is the number of unnecessary flashbacks. I think the flashback for a same scene is played for over 10 times throughout the whole drama. Totally unnecessary and draggy.
Well, the good points are,
I love the how the story is about Japanese artisanal sweets, its educational to me. And how the people value about craft and artisan, its very inspiring to me. Their professionalism, passion and dedication in perfecting their products and how they serve their customers. I love the story line and the plot. The insights of Japanese traditional family and historic background. The drama highlights Japanese culture so much that I really enjoy watching it.
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I FINALLY FOUND ANOTHER GEM!!!
Every episode is *chef kiss* it makes you crave for the next one! (waiting every week was indeed a struggle >.<) I can't believe the last episode really made me a clown! Lmao what a ride!!! It got me real good! ><This journey was truly worth it and so satisfying! I really love the plot. It's different, and they were able to keep it interesting all throughout! It had me from start to end.
Also, YES to strong female leads! ;)
This is now one of my favorite jdramas! A true gem! ~something I would not hesitate to recommend!
ps. the beautiful culture and aesthetics~ makes me want to create my own sweets too and tea party ^^ yayyy~
Huge thanks to Blitz Fansub for subbing! ❤
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