Life is a continuation of choices.
After watching "Clover" 3 years ago, I have waited for next slice of life/romance drama from Okura Tadayoshi. I feel my wait has been rewarded well and his acting has improved greatly.I didn't like the original, Familiar Wife, but I loved Shitteru Waifu from the first episode. Familiar wife, seemed more frustrating and didn't invoke that nostalgia and longing sadness which Shitteru Waifu exceled at. Japanese remakes have disappointed me. By some magical stroke of luck, the creators took familiar wife and made it their own style, the classic Jdrama style of raw emotions.
Initially, I couldn't stop myself from comparing both but the difference became so obvious as show progressed.
I couldn't stop myself from admiring the narration style, the nostalgic flash back scenes filled with beautiful light glare effects and the music which felt like a tune you had heard long time ago.
I couldn't stop myself from feeling both resentful and sorry for ML. (He looks aged now or is that his level of dedication?!)
I couldn't stop myself from saying "ah cute" at both the leading ladies,(and feel bad for them) and cutest of all, the FL's mom. (I love my mom, but she is so cute and sweet, I just cant..).
I couldn't stop myself from pausing mid-episode, and ponder my own life choices.
I couldn't stop myself from crying a tiny bit in every episode and at my own regrets.
I couldn't stop myself from feeling that elated joy and satisfaction of the ending. (I wish I could talk about the ending and how starkly different it was from the original's.)
I couldn't stop myself from being sad now that it has ended.
I couldn't stop myself from thinking about the innumerable messages from this show.
I don't think I can stop myself from fondly lookback at this show for years to come. (surely will do a full rewatch some time later.)
I guess, I couldn't stop myself from giving a personal and biased review. (There are minor flaws, like they didn't show much about bank people in last episode, or most of the scenes were a bit predictable but I'm not complaining.)
To quote the show, life is a continuation of choices. You could choose to watch this show and feel grateful for living or you could choose not to watch this show and live with regret of not pressing the play button.
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The choices we make, makes you.
Shitteru wife is a meaningful drama, that teaches us to cherish our loved ones & think twice before we say something as words once spoken can't be taken back.
Loved the acting of both ML & FL and their character development from first episode to the end. The acting of supporting characters were good too.
Totally recommended for people who want a heartwarming drama. You'd surely listen to the dialogues & reflect the words to your own.
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This review may contain spoilers
A universal message
The story starts off with Mio and Motoharu as a married couple but instead of a happy picture of a family, we were presented with relationship that's about to fall apart. That was the sole reason why our protagonist, Motoharu, decided to take a chance with the coin given to him by an unknown old man who talked of time travelling. Of course, he had found it unbelievable at first, too. After a series of events where we can see his choices reflect changes on his life upon his time travel... the question hangs in the air, is it really enough to change his life by avoiding some things knowing the outcome? Or in the end, are we played upon by fate?Shitteru Wife is a drama that could get really cheesy to a typical melodrama with a touch of fantasy. But what will keep you watching is probably the thought of wanting to see how our protagonist try to change his fate, for better or for worse? I think there were frustrating moments in the drama but overall, I do think It was a good and enjoyable watch. The drama has the essense and soul of a typical Japanese human drama, it will get you attached to its character and their relationship, and get a universal message when it comes to "relationship" once you reach the very end.
Acting-wise, I think Hirose Alice did a great job and I mainly watched for her but stayed anyway. The background theme or OST is very fitting.
Overall , a good watch. I found the ending satisfying despite the cheesy touch and I am not familiar with the original but I am sure it is worth trying to see the charm of this version as well.
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This review may contain spoilers
Male MC deserves nothing.
This man deserves nothing! Absolutely nothing. He is the worst.He wants to change the past because he hates his wife, hates his life, completely stressed (see how selfish he is?) and only after changing the past realises he's been the terrible one and terrible to her; doesn't pay attention to her, doesn't communicate with her, is over focused on his work, assumes she hardly does anything, throws assumptive stuff at her "don't do any more hours, it's too tough with your housework, right?" without even getting to know her or what she does.
But then he does the EXACT same thing with his new wife in his new timeline; no communication, throws in surface level assumptions ("You're the goddess of the uni.") without actually getting to know her, ignores her in favour of giving his previous wife attention -- because all of a sudden she's happy again, and working and successful so he's interested -- EVEN THOUGH IT'S HIS FAULT BOTH OF THE WOMEN HATE HIM.
He could've at least gone back to his original timeline and try to sort his relationship with his original wife. It feels such a cop-out that he gets the one that wasn't ruined by him in the end.
I cannot stand him. He deserved NOTHING.
Both women and his work friend were better without him completely.
I wish it hadn't taken 10 episodes to go back to changing and playing with timelines, I would've preferred seeing different versions every other episode or something. I was so bored from the middle to the end. It was obvious what the problem was, he wasn't changing, he was making the same mistake in his new timeline, ugh it was so frustrating to watch.
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Casts are doing good job overall, Miori Takimoto as Sayaka in particular managed to make me kind of accept her drastic actions due to jealousy without being over the top. The other side characters have an important part and have their own growth too - which I appreciated. I don't have much complain about this series overall, but towards the end it became a slightly boring and draggy. Luckily, the last episode saved the last part of this drama with its "surprises".
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This review may contain spoilers
Good watch
I literally marathoned this show from beginning to end - yes all in one go! I'm glad that it was only 11 episodes, I think it would have started getting draggy if it was longer than that.I was hating Motoharu so much the first two episodes. He slowly realizes his mistakes as the series went , my hate eased up as the story progressed but I could still feel hints of selfishness in his character.
I liked the present Mio lively and energetic until she started to have feelings for Motoharu - I felt for Tsuyama :-(
I honestly was rooting for Tsuyama the whole show - of course I know he wasn't meant to be with Mio. Though I also didn't want him to end up with Mio being how Mio was, so I guess I am glad that he got back the "present" that he did before the ride was "stolen" from him.
I did like Nagisa and Kida pair, they had a good "present" no matter how many times Motoharu went back to the past.
All in all the drama wrapped up well, I'm glad to see Mio's mother well, the mysterious Koike finally had a lively expression in the end, even Sayaka got a love of her life.
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Un air de déjà vu, ou pas ...
Qui n'a jamais rêvé de changer de vie ? Retourner dans le passé pour modifier si ce n'est qu'un seul de ses choix. L'être humains est un animal rongé par les regrets et la frustration. Moi, si je pouvais retourner dans le passé, ce serait le moment où j'ai fait le choix d'apprendre la langue japonaise. Je changerais alors ce choix pour la langue coréenne. Et j'aurais pu alors, donner mon avis sur la série originale de 2018 dont est tirée ce remake. Une fois de plus je ne ferai pas de comparaison, car bien sûr les voyages dans le temps n'existent que dans les romans. Et on peut dire que c'est un filon plus qu'exploité depuis la Machine à explorer le temps de HG Wells (1895, un sacré bon dans le temps, donc) Mais qu'y a-t-il encore à raconter en 2021 sur le sujet ?Déjà le parti pris de la comédie romantique est plutôt rafraichissant. Loin de la lourdeur de Theseus no Fune ou Erase (2 conseils de regardure). La présence (pour mon plus grand bonheur) de Hirose Alice dans le rôle secondaire apporte beaucoup à la série. Même si une fois de plus son jeu est empreint de lourdeur. Mal dirigé, peut être, ou difficile de se faire passer encore pour une lycéenne à 26 ans, les scènes de flashback peuvent faire sourire malgré le message qu'elles veulent faire passer (émotion, émotion, émotion ....). Mais les premiers instants de la série sont mémorables et Alice est à la fois flippante et touchante en jeune mère de famille désabusée et aux abois. J'en étais à me demander si ce n'était pas son meilleur rôle, jusqu'aux scènes ou elle force son sourire, donc.
Mais le vrai rôle principal est tenu par Okura Tadayoshi qui à 35 ans passé ne peut plus jouer les jeunes premiers. Le voilà donc en père de famille frustré, vivant la vie de millions de salaryman du japon et d'ailleurs (mais surtout du Japon). Metro boulo dodo c'est son lot quotidien, avec l'espoir d'être accueilli par un okaeri et un sourire de sa femme en tablier, après son passage à l'izakaya. Soucies d'argent, au boulot et nuits blanches à répétition avec gamins en bas ages, sans, selon lui, recevoir l'amour et la reconnaissance qu'il mériterait de sa femme. Il rêve de changer de vie, c’est-à-dire, de femme.
On peut s'interroger sur la morale et encore une fois les préjugés des mâles en Asie et ailleurs, face à la cellule familiale idéale. Femme soumise au foyer et homme apporte l'okané. Mais on dira que c'est pour les besoins de l'histoire. D'autant plus qu'Alice prend vraiment sa revanche et travaille (un peu) pour améliorer la condition féminine. Très ancrée dans la société japonaise cette série choquera certainement les occidentaux peu au fait de celle-ci. Mais plus vous évidemment.
Les rôles secondaires sont plutôt intéressants et réunissent la jeune garde des acteurs trentenaires japonais, avec Kawaei Rina, qu'on ne voit pas assez souvent en 1er rôle et Matsushita Kouhei qui tout comme Rina avait illuminé mon année 2020 et dieux sait qu'il le fallait pour oublié ce virus, dans .... #Remolove. Leur vie sera totalement bouleversée et nous de même par les choix de Tadayoshi.
Drama destiné comme souvent à un public féminin (cliché ?). Petit à petit c'est la vision sur les (sa) femmes du héros qui change et en même temps peut-être celui du spectateur homme. Ayant vu pour l'instant peu d'épisodes je ne sais pas encore si la série continuera dans ce sens. Mais j'espère bien qu'elle contribuera un minimum, à faire intéresser les hommes à savoir ce que pensent ..., ce que ressentent...., bref, à mieux connaitre leur épouse.
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