Currently Watching: Love & π
Anyone who knows me will tell you, I love a good romantic comedy! I’ll watch any genre, but I am a sucker for romance, and I always hope for a happy ending! I love Japanese dramas, but I often find that there are not nearly as many that have romance as a focus in comparison to Korean dramas. Therefore, when I see one of these gems floats across the “Dramas Starting this Week” tab, I am instantly intrigued. However, as often times J-dramas also take a lot longer for subs, I tried not to get my hopes up too high. Luckily, this drama has been an exception and has been pretty consistent with subbing, especially because it technically only started earlier this month, which is super-fast in the J-drama world!!
Story
Love Rerun tells the story of Sayaka Minami (Nakamura Anne), who is about to be 30-year-olds, but has absolutely no relationship experiences. For more than 15 years, she has had an unrequited crush on her childhood friend, Ryo (Otani Ryohei), but has never had the courage to confess her feelings for him. After meeting up with him the day before her 30th birthday, she finally decides that she is going to tell him and makes plans to meet up with him the following day. However, when she wakes up, she is in a strange place, with a completely different style (contacts, clothes, etc.), and is greeted by a man (Furukawa Yuki) whom she’s never met, who asks if she’s done packing because she is supposed to be moving out of his house. She comes to find out, not only has she lost 3 months of her memory, but that the man whose house, she wakes up in is a new coworker and is now, ex-boyfriend!!!
Reasons to Watch (So Far)
Mystery
This story has a pretty common storyline of losing one’s memory and waking up with a man whom you’ve never met. It is reminiscent of the J-drama, The Last Cinderella (which is another lighthearted romantic comedy for anyone interested). However, this drama has a more intriguing concept because it was not merely one night that has been forgotten, but 3 MONTHS… and you come to find out quite early on in the drama, A LOT has happened in these months that she can no longer remember. This adds intrigue because, as a viewer, you want to piece together what happened. In addition, thus far, this drama has a great way of storytelling that gives you bits and pieces, but keeps you guessing and most of all keeps you wanting more!
For instance: Why did she lose her memory? Why did she and her coworker break-up? Did she ever tell her childhood crush how she felt?
So many questions, and I cannot wait to find out!!
Romantic Comedy
This drama has a lot going for it. It is fast paced, funny, and interesting all the while being a light rom-com that makes you want the main leads to end up together. Romantic comedies have the power to make you forget about the stress of the day and get swept away in the lighthearted, cute moments of two people falling in love. Three episodes in, and there are already moments that will have you rooting for Sayaka, and hoping she figures out who she is truly meant to be with. It has everything that makes a romantic comedy great: awkwardness *check*, romantic tension *check*, slightly unrealistic storyline *check*! This is a great drama to lift your spirits and one that will give your tear ducts a rest from all those melodramas that are out right now.
It is a J-Drama
Are you only a K-drama fan?... Well, let me tell you what makes this different than your quintessential rom-com K-drama.
- It is shorter. The episodes are about 45 min each and there are only 10. Whereas in K-dramas they are traditionally about an hour and are 16 or 20 episodes in length. What does this mean? This drama is faster paced and has less focus on side stories.
- Less drama clichés. I love me some clichés, but sometimes it is refreshing to have a drama that does not adhere to what I feel is the formulaic nature that is a k-drama, where there usually is: a back hug, piggyback carrying, evil mother, wrist grab, someone getting ill with literally two drops of rain, etc. What does this mean? This drama is different, you will NOT be able to predict every character or every romantic encounter.
Cast
This drama stars Nakamura Anne, Furukawa Yuki, and Otani Ryohei. All of them are experienced actors which definitely shows in the drama. And for those who love Furukawa Yuki from Itazura na Kiss, this is another chance to see him playing a similar role, which may be enough reason alone to watch the drama. Personally, I am not one to fan-girl over him, but I wholeheartedly admit that he is a very good actor. In the original description of the drama, it seemed as though it might portray an older female-younger man relationship. In actuality, however, both Nakamura Anne and Furakawa Yuki are 30 in real life, so I am unsure if they are supposed to be depicting different ages. (P.S. I still cannot believe he is 30! I, for one, would totally believe that he was in his low twenties if I was to judge on appearances alone).
Have you started watching this drama yet? If not, do you plan to start it?
Are you a fan of Furukawa Yuki?
Do you prefer J-Drama or K-Drama rom-coms?
Let me know, and share your thoughts in the comments below!
