Classic coming-of-age high school drama that still shines nearly 20 years after release!

The first time I watched this drama was when it was first released in 2005, and what led me to it back then was that I was a huge fangirl of the male leads. Nearly two decades on now, having appeared in nice HD quality on my Netflix, I decided to give it a rewatch and I'm so glad that I still found it so enjoyable, even through "more seasoned" (as in, older) and less biased lens. I have to say though, upon completing the rewatch, a light in this former fan has been reignited...

The story arcs in this drama encapsulate the growing pains and challenges in navigating social life in school, including sensitive issues, in thoughtful and eye-opening ways that are just short of being incisive, which I found refreshing in the midst of more recent high school dramas which tend to really amp up the discomfort when portraying such issues. In Nobuta wo Produce (NwP from here on), they are explored just enough to get a clear message across. Then the events come full circle back around which is especially rewarding as you follow the characters' growth journey. This is particularly apparent in the ending, the entire drama wraps up nicely. The insertion of comic relief adequately balances out scenes that could have turned out darker/heavier otherwise, and they preserve an overarching message that a certain teacher ♡ affirms repeatedly. On that note, the adults are also great -- Delphine and the Truth Man!

The chemistry between the leads in NwP, as well as among the wider circle of schoolmates, is also worthy of praise. I realise now that the personalities of the main characters are in fact quite difficult to portray on camera, but the actors/actress delivered strong, nuanced performances. Kamenashi's slight changes in his facial expressions, Yamashita's irreverently quirky mannerisms, the changes in Horikita's body language and aura as time passed. Honestly, it's impressive considering they were still budding actors at the time, and the boys were originally Jpop idols. Kamenashi deservedly won an award for this role.

Kudos are also due to the direction and story/screenwriting definitely, as without such strong support, the delivery wouldn't have been what we see on screen now. The background music tracks are also befitting the various moods of the scenes and although the composition is quite dated by now, breathes a charming, low-key retro vibe to the show and syncs well with the colourful characters (including the adults!). The lack of filter in the visuals and choice of rustic high school setting are also quite refreshing among recent dramas that apply various filtered styles for a more polished, cinematic finish. The resulting rawness in NwP somehow paints a better picture of the "spirit of youth" and all the more relatable to my own memories of school life.

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