35sai no Shoujo (2020)

An outstanding drama, that only better as the series progresses.

Before I begin my review, let me first briefly summarise the plot for you. Basically, the story revolves around a girl named Nozomi who got in an accident at the age of 10 and had been in a coma since then. However, 25 years later on her 35th Birthday, she miraculously regains her consciousness only to realise that she is no longer 10 and the world is neither how it used to be nor she hoped it would be. And hence, she begins her long journey towards adulthood with the help of her family and a childhood friend.

Although, this form of time-travel troupe is nothing unique but what made it truly stand out was the way the show dealt with the theme of "growing up". Unlike other similar dramas out there, this one is neither cute nor fluffy instead it is quite realistic in the sense, the main character first starts of as a child trapped in the body of a 35 year old then progresses on to become a middle schooler, then a high schooler and finally, transforms into a beautiful woman. Next, I loved the portrayal of the family, the individual family members and their relationship with one another partly because unlike the typical families we are used to seeing in dramas, this family is a bit different - they are imperfect yet somehow perfect. Lastly, can we all take a minute and appreciate how good Shibasaki Ko's acting as Imamura Nozomi was. What I admired most was that she even got the small hidden details right, such as the way kids cry or even the way they talk and refer to themselves in third person. Honestly, I doubt anyone else could have played this role better than her. She was simply phenomenal.

Now, as we all know nothing in this world comes without a flaw and even though, there aren't any major drawbacks in this drama, there certainly are scenes that could have been done better. For example, I wasn't a big fan of the way the mother's character died. While the death of her character wasn't surprising it was definitely a bit abrupt. Furthermore, I'm still not too sure how I feel about Nozomi's job, Mana's award and Tatsuya's job, I felt as if it all happened so quickly that it made the last 10 mins seem rather unconvincing. It further made it seem as if the directors rushed to give everyone a happy ending which was a bit unnecessary, at least in my view. Aside from that, everything else was just perfect be it the rest of the cast's acting, cinematography and even the OST. The OST of this series was probably the best I have ever heard in a J-Drama. I don't think I'll be forgetting it anytime soon.

Finally, I would like to recommend this drama to those who are looking for something simple yet gripping and that too without any unnecessary cringe or exaggeration. Seriously, do check it out, I'm sure you won't regret it.

Read More

A modern fairytale rooted in reality

Despite some little flaws, this drama was like a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed it a lot.
It talks about growth and sorrow in a way which is both symbolical and realistic: family, love, self improvement, compassion and forgiveness are all part of the story...it feels like watching a fairy tale in real life, in fact I loved all the references to the book "Momo" by Michael Ende!
All the actors did a good job; Shibasaki Ko and Sakaguchi Kentaro were absolutely brilliant, they seemed deeply involved with their characters!
I hope that a lot of people will decide to watch it! :)

Read More

Great premise, meh execution

First few lines of this review will have no spoilers and will highlight what I liked about this drama and why I think you should try watching it.

This drama started off amazing. I loved the story until a certain point.

I loved the premise. I really did.
The actors really did an amazing job portraying their roles and special props to FL, Shibasaki Ko, for being able to embody such a complex character with such passion.
Music is so beautifully picked, suits this drama perfectly and stays in your head even after you're done watching. It felt like a wax seal on a letter, joining it all together perfectly.

The story, however, disappointed me.
Read no further if you wish to avoid spoilers.

I loved the story until the time skip, after which is became somewhat... unbelievable. First of all, no explanation was given as to how long she was "missing", but we can for a fact say that it's under a year given she turns 36 in the last episode. If we take into account how long it took for her to be able to walk on her own after such an extensive coma and how long it took for her to reach the emotional level of a high schooler, the only logical conclusion was a maximum of a few months (at best!).

How did that make the story unbelievable?

By eliminating most of the story. Her natural progress was cut so we'd be able to see her "actual", "age appropriate" progress. It was also implied that she learned everything she needed from the internet, without human contact, in a matter of months, while prior to it was unable to use a computer. And then she turns into an extreme opposite. Only to be reverted back in the matter of one episode. Which proves the fact her sped-up growth was just a way to enable the main plot to develop, while ignoring the context. How exactly does one go from being naive to ruthless to naive again so easily? Of course, she proves us that her naivete was not mere naivete, but a realistic goal given the fact how everyone seemed to achieve what they wanted in life. Suddenly, the world changed, even people she basically never met.

I personally would've loved to see her grow and learn, to see how she came to the idea that she needs no one, that everyone lies, that the entire society is fake. Explaining such complex development with "i googled it lmao" really downplays the seriousness of the situation that the main character was in. Last two episodes insisted on a happy ending and decided to cast away the pain that was building since episode one. It made it seem like the entire thing was... pointless. She didn't learn. A dose of realism that was supposed to be instilled in her by this experience ended up - not happening.

Read More

AMAZING!! Wish i could give 11 stars

WOW its been a while since ive watched a show that really touched my heart this much. I cried, laughed, and smiled throughout the show. Watching the characters grow and just seeing the story progress beautifully was such a treat. I wish I could give this show 11 stars for its depth and acting. This is definitely not a light watch, but its so beautiful if you are questioning whether to start it the anwer is YESSSSSSSSSS

This show really deserves more attention and just overall PR because I randomly heard of it but after seeing it im telling everyone to watch it.

Read More

Age is just a number in the end your determination and passion will define your future~!!

Sasuga J-Drama!!! I never expect it to be this unique and good yet they proved again how they're ONE TOP when it comes to producing Piece-of-Life themed stories. J-drama's are always the best when it comes to portraying peoples life experiences; and you can always count on them and expect them to deliver no matter what.

I watched this drama since Sakaguchi Kentaro's the lead and wasn't expecting a lot from it (Although i checked the reviews first and that even motivates me to start watching it). From the 1st episode itself I can't just resist to not watch the next episodes as it provides a clear idea of how the story will go and I can't do nothing but feel excited about it.

Thinking about it now this is probably the 1st drama with 10 episodes that I was able to finished in 1 sitting. The story itself just caught my attention and god knows how deeply touched and moved I am by the Mother Love this drama presented.

Story - 9.5, Story is very unique and it tackles a lot of things specially how people tends to change as they grow older. Something I love about this story is how it somehow highlighted that "Age shouldn't be the determining factor to ones future or success". It sends me so much motivation and lessons that eventually reminded me that we're on our own pace.

Acting/Cast - 9.5, It should've been a 10 but I felt like something is missing one way or another. Nonetheless, the actors/actresses were great! What I love the most are their clever and funny portrayal of their specific characters.

Music - 8, It was good. Although, I find the Ending Music to be a little dark but looking back now it do represents the story itself since that was also a preview of the next episode.

Rewatch Value - 9.5, I would definitely re-watch it most specifically when I feel like i'm losing all my confidence and motivations to move forward.

Overall - 9.5, It was indeed a worth while and memorable drama everyone should watch so that we can be reminded that "We should never rush things out, time may change but as long as you got the will there is a way".

Please let me know IF you find my review helpful.

Read More

Um Drama Repleto de Significado

Quando Nozomi acorda do coma após longos 25 anos ela encontra sua família completamente despedaçada e um mundo completamente diferente.

Quando criança, a garota era muito entusiasmada, idealista e sempre alegrava quem estava por perto. Agora, com 35 anos ela tem que lidar com problemas "de gente grande" sem ter nenhuma experiência de vida. Já deu para perceber que esta não será uma jornada nada fácil né?

Ao longo dos episódios vemos ela passando pelas fases que ela perdeu enquanto esteve em coma: o final da infância, a adolescência, a juventude e enfim a vida adulta. O enredo é muito envolvente e a história muito sentimental.

Para mim os japoneses são os conseguem fazer melhor dramas sentimentais. Apesar de evitar demonstrar suas emoções, eles conseguem as expressar de forma bem sutil em cenas memoráveis repletas de significado.

Voltando ao drama...A história consegue mostrar muito bem como quando crescemos deixamos de lado sonhos por nos deparar com uma realidade diferente do que imaginávamos. Como porque pessoas boas podem se tornar cínicas e insensíveis com o tempo e que precisamos manter o equilíbrio com uma boa dose de esperança, sem deixar nossos sonhos morrerem.

As atuações foram boas e a protagonista (Imamura Nozomi) fez um ótimo trabalho. A OST do final dos episódios é muito comovente e caiu como uma luva na trama.

Apesar da premissa parecer com a do K-drama Thirty But Seventeen este dorama é completamente diferente. Em 35-Sai no Shojo você encontrará uma história que te faz pensar e não apenas um entretenimento para passar o tempo. Resumindo: Um drama altamente recomendável

Read More

Um drama sobre amadurecer e ser quem você é

Assisti 35sai no shoujo por causa do Sakaguchi Kentaro mas me apaixonei por esse melodrama. Diferente de muitos dorama, principais coreanos, desse gênero, 35sai no shoujo não é muito arrastado, assistia os episódios sem perceber o tempo passar. Meu único ressentimento para com essa obra foi o formato: acho que 10 foram pouco para desenvolver todos os núcleos devidamente e acabou que o final ficou muito corrido mas fora isso a obra traz muitas mensagens. A história da protagonista que amadurece a cada episódio ao perceber que seu mundo já não é mais o mesmo e que as pessoas desistiram de seus sonhos e objetivos de infância para se adequar na sociedade me lembra muito como nós costumamos a esquecer de nós mesmos e acabamos fazendo o que convém ao invés de sermos nós mesmos. A irmã dela tentando a todo custo ter atenção do ex demonstra isso pois ela acredita que sua felicidade e realização estarão ao lado de um marido.

Altamente recomedado

Read More

Bagaimana bisa seorang gadis, berusia 35 tahun?

Untuk pertama kalinya mencoba untuk terjun menonton dorama yang sedang airing karena tertarik hanya dari judulnya 'Gadis 35 Tahun' dan soundtracknya yang diisi oleh King Gnu.

Ini adalah dorama kedua yang theme songnya diisi oleh King Gnu, berjudul Sanmon Shosetsu, ditulis Daiki Tsuneta bersama penulis naskah (Kazuhiko Yukawa) dan produser (Futoshi Ohira) dramanya. Sanmon Shosetsu bermakna 'deep' dengan konsep MV-nya ala teaterikal menyesuaikan dengan main plot doramanya mengenai "mau bagaimanapun dunia melupakanmu, seseorang akan mencintaimu meski kau menua" yang sejalan dengan karakter-karakter dalam dramanya. King Gnu berhasil membawakan lagu ini sebagai theme song atau soundtrack 35-sai no Shoujo yang menyemarakkan suasana dan situasi scene klimaksnya pada setiap episodenya.

Dari sisi story, tidak diragukan lagi, hanya dengan membaca sinopsisnya dibuat merinding akan menjadi apa dan dibawa ke mana arahnya. Bagaimana bisa seorang gadis yang tertidur selama 25 tahun, yang waktunya direnggut, mendapati fakta ia telah berusia 35 tahun dengan berbagai perubahan di sekitarnya bahkan pada dirinya, sementara waktu dan mentalnya terhenti di usianya 10 tahun? Maka menjadi judul yang tepat 'Gadis 35 Tahun' yang menggambarkan peran utama wanitanya masihlah seorang gadis (berdasarkan mentalnya) yang belum menjadi dewasa (dinilai dari fisiknya setelah terbangun). Sebuah perjuangan dan perjalanan panjang di tiap episodenya yang menceritakan Nozomi sendiri dan orang-orang terdekat di sekitarnya untuk berkembang (improvement), dengan pola teringat pada masa lalu (aku sangat menyukai scene masa lalu mereka!), mulai menjalani hari-hari tenang, sampai tersadarkan akan sesuatu dan tertampar akan realita, klimaks, dengan penutup di tiap permasalahan di tiap episodenya yang apik dan realistis. Jujur, tidak semua orang akan relate dengan story ini dan menjadikannya pembelajaran. Namun, bersyukurlah ketika kau menonton dorama ini dan menyadari bahwa nilai yang terkandung dalam drama ini tidak main-main. Siapa pun yang menonton drama ini akan relate pada masanya, sekarang atau kelak.

Dari segi akting dan para pemainnya, aku sebagai penonton yang pertama kali menyaksikan lakon mbak Kou Shibasaki terperangah bagaimana dirinya andal memerankan Nozomi ketika bermental 10 tahun, usia akhir SD (yang condong ke bersenang-senang), usia SMP (yang condong dengan umur-umur memberontak), usia SMA (yang condong ke romansa), bahkan usia-usia dewasa awal (yang seakan mengerti segala hal, padahal belum). Betapa ekspresifnya mbak Kou sebagai Nozomi dan aku sangat mengagumi sekaligus salut pada dirinya. Pemilihan male lead-nya juga bukan main, memilih Kentaro Sakaguchi sebagai Yuto dengan perawakan yang tidak biasanya oleh Sakaken. Bagaimana tidak, Sakaken memerankan Yuto yang lebih tua 6 tahun dari dirinya, alias Sakaken yang berusia 29 tahun memerankan seorang pria paruh baya berusia 35 tahun dengan penampilan memiliki kumis dan sedikit jenggot, serta gaya rambut tanpa poni. Semenarik apa akting Sakaken sebagai Yuto?! Dan ini pulalah poin plus, selain akting mbak Kou sebagai Nozomi yang ekspresif (padahal memerankan peran yang lebih muda darinya 4 tahun, ya, mbak Kou berusia 39 tahun alias berbeda 10 tahun dengan Sakaken!), aktingnya Sakaken juga tidak kalah bikin amaze karena sosoknya sebagai Yuto sangat suportif, tegas, dan to the point terhadap sosok Nozomi yang memulai perkembangan diri dan mental dari usia anak-anak. Sebuah peran pasangan kombo yang menutupi kekurangan satu sama lain dalam karakternya.

Selain mereka berdua, aku juga menyukai cast ibu Nozomi, adik Nozomi, ayah Nozomi, bahkan keluarga ayahnya yang baru. Aku menyukai pemilihan peran untuk ibu Nozomi, Honami Suzuki sebagai Tae Tokioka, baik ketika muda maupun tuanya. Bagaimana perhatiannya seorang ibu yang bertahan menjaga dan merawat anaknya yang koma selama 25 tahun sampai di titik pola pikir dan sikapnya berubah. Ai Hashimoto yang memerankan Manami, adik Nozomi, juga sangat realistis: sosok adik bungsu yang menginginkan atensi dan afeksi sang ibu yang sayangnya direnggut oleh sang kakak yang tertidur sehingga mencari di luar sana dan menjadi seseorang yang cuek atau tsuntsun terhadap keluarganya. Pertumbuhan Manami sering kita jumpai di kehidupan nyata ketika dalam keluarga yang harmonis tiba-tiba terjadi sesuatu yang tidak diinginkan karena sebuah insiden, ini menjadi pelengkap bagi sang kakak, Nozomi, bagaimana sifat mereka menjadi sangat bertolak belakang. Pemilihan peran sang ayah juga tepat, diperankan oleh Tetsushi Tanaka sebagai Shinji Imamura, seorang yang pekerja keras dan murah senyum, tetapi kesulitan dalam pengambilan keputusan dan sering kali menyesal. Namun, sosok ayah ini selalu ada untuk keluarga lamanya ketika dibutuhkan, meskipun konflik di keluarga barunya juga banyak lika-liku. Pemilihan peran untuk keluarga Nozomi ini menurutku sempurna karena saling melengkapi satu sama lain. Tidak lupa scene dan cast di keluarga baru sang ayah juga selalu bikin tegang dan tidak tertebak! Oh, scene-scene badass dari Manami dalam hubungan, pekerjaaan, dan passionnya juga bikin pangling!

Tim produksi juga menyorot tiap scenenya dengan sangat baik, apik, dan rapi! Aku suka suasana yang dibangun oleh tim produksi sehingga terlihat sangat riil, nyaman, hangat, tetapi di saat menegangkan dapat benar-benar tegang, bahkan ketika sedang puncak-puncaknya sedih, penonton--termasuk aku--juga akan ikut bersedih dan menangis! Apalagi ketika melihat Nozomi menangis... sumpah, aku benar-benar tidak bisa menahan diri untuk tidak tumpah:"). Untuk musiknya juga amat mendukung... terima kasih atas kerja kerasnya tim produksi dan para pemeran!

Pada akhirnya, dorama ini menjadi yang pertama untuk kufavoritkan dan akan kurewatch ketika dibutuhkan. Sungguh dorama ini seperti reminder untukku, untuk cerminan kehidupan bagaimana melewati tiap proses dan fasenya tidaklah mudah. Seperti pada endingnya, menjadi diri sendiri adalah jawabannya. Entah butuh berapa lama.

Terima kasih!

Read More