Beni Sasu Life (2023)

(almost) a great way to a show a modern japanese woman!

I have really enjoyed this drama! I think the story is fun and new, and the acting is great. I was hooked after the first episode when it became clear that the FL is a bad ass strong willed women, kind of feminist! I have not really seen this represented in Japanese TV before, especially not for a show that is marketed as very mainstream with a lot o Johnny's talents as the male counterparts. I really enjoy the whole entrepreneurial angle , the main focus for me was realyl the story of how FM and ML try to find their passion and go against societal expectations.

I also really liked the play with gender roles and masculinity and femininity. That was also really refreshing – and here come the spoilers. I also definitely enjoyed the little BL side story in it and but for something that is so modern and refreshing it was a bit of a letdown that the FL and the ML became a couple at the end. It was totally unnecessary. I think it would've been so much better if Masato and Yoriko become super close friends and business partners, and they kick ass with their business, but they do not force this love story. I think a lot of people would agree that Yoriko had much better chemistry with Kazuma, and they should've ended up together! They clearly had so much more in common, and there personalities were a much better match. Also their life experience, because, although I guess the age gap is not so strange, but with a 22-year-old boy and a 29-year-old women, they are just a different stage in life so it would've just made more sense if Yoriko ends up with the older brother. And I would've loved loved LOVED if Masato would have ended up with Hikaru! They also had such great chemistry.

I think it would've been super cute if we end up with two couples, but better yet what if there were no couples and there were no romantic angle? It could have been just really about them finding their way in the business world, becoming great friends, supporting each other and winning at the end against the big boss! (Who is terrible father uugghhh..) I think it would've been a very nice ending!

One storyline was kind of brought up, but then didn't go anywhere: the whole childhood love story, and that the two mothers knew each other?? It didn't really serve anything, but just so that the end Masato can say how small of chance he had to end up with his hatsukoi. I think they could've been dropped or it would've been more interesting to maybe learn about the mum, his relationship with his mum. The whole backstory of why he likes make up was so sweet, maybe ot could have been explored more.

Nonetheless, I loved this dorama and I would rewatch it again!

Read More