Editorials 
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This review may contain spoilers
A Messy Road that Leads to Perfection
Moral of the story: people don’t need to be enmeshed in suffocating roles or relationships. They can set themselves free while still being connected to each other. That’s perfect.
Here are my feelings as they ebb and flow throughout the series. In case you’re wondering, my 10/10 rating comes from the last episodes and how things resolved themselves in the end:
In episode 5, the phone conversation between Sakiko and Seo in the café that Naoto is now taking care of, and after almost a year of her husband gone missing and disappeared and calling his café once in a while to see how she’s doing. All I can say is what a weird person, and even more cruel and sadistic to continue checking up on her like that. He did something like that and put her through all that trauma just to conduct surveillance and monitoring on her mental state and if she’s eating well or sleeping well. And then when she speaks to him over the phone, he gives one word answers. Why did he even bother calling if he’s gonna give one word answers sounding like an emotionally unavailable puppet? And Sakiko has to drag all the answers out of him but she gets nothing after a year of him disappearing, except one word answers. And even she is like putting on this false façade at first like “Oh are you eating well or are you sleeping well?” like who cares!? And she’s like Azusa was Sonoda‘s beloved wife why did you go with her and why did she die and he just says “mmm” and she’s left talking to herself. What an emotionally unavailable, cold, heartless conversation. This was the end of the relationship. And all he has to say is, “I’m glad you sound well. Take care.” WHAT?
It’s like they both try to act like they’re totally fine after he abandoned his wife for a year. Why don’t these people speak openly with honesty and vulnerability? Just be emotionally honest and ask straightforward questions instead of saying poetic nonsense like “Yes the sky is a deep blue today isn’t it?” while crying. And other people like Naoto and the bookstore owner that Azusa used to work at actually has the nerve to speak badly about Sonoda and Sakiko. When Azusa and Seo were sneaking around and caused them all this pain. I don’t see why the spouses left behind are the ones who have to suffer and be blamed for seeking comfort in each other. It’s like they also have to feel guilty getting along with each other and getting closer to each other. It’s as if they’re expected to hang onto the deceased forever and never allowing themselves to be happy ever again. That’s simply not fair. They didn’t do anything wrong. And even then, after speaking to him over the phone in this sad conversation, Sakiko acts like a martyr and says I can’t hate him. It’s really pathetic. Why does everyone have to act like a saint as if they’re not angry? Is this the expectation of saintliness in marriage and family? it’s not natural at all. It’s just a fake performance. An even despite having these phone conversations, nothing actually gets communicated. They just put up a fake front like a mask and persona. If you get one conversation with a guy who ran away for a year, wouldn’t you ask him real questions? Instead of having the superficial conversation and hanging onto this robot like husband who has nothing value to say? Sakiko and Sonoda are so much more open with each other. So they should be with each other. So the relationship between them that I was initially skeptical about now feels completely right. And then just as Sonoda and Sakiko are cleaning up her house with the conviction that she needs to get rid of Mitsuru’s things, even ordering pizza in a light moment of bonding, Mitsuru decides to come back with a beard saying , “Tadaima,” and expects his wife to say “okairi” like a robot. Unless this guy has some supernatural explanation kind of amnesia or some serious accident where his memory was lost, he has no right or excused to come back, showing his face to his wife who went through so much trauma because of him. How can this man just expect her to not move on after he abandoned her like that? What a terrible husband. No one openly communicates in this series- what is the point why does no one ask any question or communicate openly? What is wrong with these people? Why do they act like robots? Then Mitsuru goes about his business, making coffee like he’s not accountable for anything. Instead of asking any relevant question she asks her husband, “How are you feeling right now?” What?!? It’s not a therapy session, it should be an interrogation! Then she says “Seeing you acting all nonchalant like that makes me angry.” Finally, she’s getting a backbone. But he offers zero explanation. Then they talk about other useless things like “Do you wanna have a smoke while you’re drinking coffee?” and he says, “oh I haven’t smoked in a year.” what is this nonsense conversation and small talk at an intense time like this? It’s like they’re playing husband and wife saying all the scripted lines like “oh I’m going to the supermarket. Do you want anything?” Arrrg it’s so frustrating to watch.
Then it goes into a flashback of how these two met, and this husband seemed like a pretty dull character, even from the wedding that they met at. And they seemed to have bonded over negative things that each other hated. I don’t think this relationship had much of a future or foundation. Sakiko describes her mother who sounds like a narcissist, and seeing this man who seems to be emotionally cold and unavailable, it seems like she’s falling into his trap or developing a trauma bond with a wounded man. Then he proposes after the third date and then he disappears for three months and then text her saying he’s back from a business trip and she is so excited to hear from him again. These are huge red flags. They didn’t even have a wedding ceremony so the whole thing feels kind of shady. It is definitely a trauma bond and possibly a narcissistic abuse relationship.
Why are they doing this whole “Okaeri/tadaima/oyasumi” charade after the guy abandoned her for a year, came back, and still offers zero explanation other than “mmm.” Then “Did you clean the floor? Oh the warranty for the vacuum expired” like WHAT? Are either experiencing human emotions right now? Why does Sakiko need to do that performance? They’re just supposed to act like nothing is seriously messed up about this relationship? First they said he was dead, then he’s missing, then he did it on purpose and is weirdly checking up on her, then a year later he shows up acting like nothing even happened and as if he doesn’t even care or owe anyone an explanation. What is wrong with this show and the characters in it? Is this how robotic and emotionally dead relationships are? Why is this Sakiko so fixated on him and beating around the bush? They say a lot of nonsense but don’t get to the actual point, “Why did you leave for a year without a word and why did you come back? Why were you with Sonoda’s wife?” Why can’t these people talk about anything beyond the superficial and formal? Ask these simple questions for Heaven’s sakes! Why is it always passive aggressive?
Then they have the so-called important meeting where Sonoda is dressed up in a nice suit everyone is dressed up except for the husband who is still dressed like a hobo, and tea is prepared. Everything looks so formal and perfect and then all they end up asking were you having an affair with Azusa? Why don’t they ask this guy why he left for a year? I went to visit my parents without even telling my wife? Taking another woman on the trip with me and gone missing for a year? And why on earth do Sakiko and Sonoda not ask him that question? Why did you leave without a word? Why did you abandon your wife? Going to visit my parents is not explaining anything. All they can ask is about the affair, is that’s all they care about? Why don’t they ask more comprehensive questions? It’s so frustrating to watch these characters with such poor communication skills. And then Sakiko gives him the weakest slap that I’ve ever seen. He needs to be held accountable until he confesses what he’s been up to. Instead of doing this mysterious silent routine and pretending like everything is fine.
And then his husband actually has the nerve to ask “What exactly is both of your relationship and acts like he’s mad about it when he’s the one who ran away.” And he actually has the nerve to lecture to both of them saying how can you prove it’s not an affair, etc. Episode 6 is so frustrating to watch. The poor communication!
Episode 7 starts with Sonoda taking initiative to talk with the husband in private, but whenever they get to the real question of why he disappeared Sonoda is like ”I don’t even care to know the reason it doesn’t even matter.” What??! Yes it does matter!!!! Then Sonoda storms off after not even having a real conversation.. Meanwhile Sakiko is cleaning their tea cups at home as if they’ve just had a lovely meeting.
In the flashback of how Azusa and Mitsuru met at the laundromat, for some reason Azusa seems thoroughly unlikeable desperately trying to make useless conversation with a stranger just so she distract Mitsuru and call attention to herself. At first I thought it was sad that she died, but she seems to be quite an annoying character. I feel the most sorry for Sonoda who had to go through so much and now this loss.
As for Mitsuru’s excuse and backstory as to why he ran away… it was actually very believable. Shady, yes. But very believable. And it makes sense if he’s been doing that since he was a child. I know the feeling. I actually had empathy for him at that point once he started explaining. I think Azusa’s death was a result of her own silliness and desperation for attention following Mitsuru on a bus ride and getting herself involved in that bus accident. She seemed eager to start a relationship with Mitsuru.. I guess Azusa was his monthly therapy session (which he should have been going to in general) that kept him sane in his marriage relationship, so when his therapist died, he decided to disappear for a year. Interesting.
When Azusa starts this thing about tagging along with the bus ride, she seems to be proposing an affair. She’s trying to convince him that there was no affair and there was absolutely the precursor to an affair. She was proposing disappearing together and going something “scandalous.” She started the affair and it’s her own fault she died. If they had something to hide, even if I’m not against it and do understand, If it had gone on for longer, I believe it would have definitely become an affair between the two.
The episodes start getting more ridiculous after episode 8 with Sakiko running away and her husband calling a town hall meeting with all the characters to get info on her to find out where she could be. Then she ends up at the ocean with some ex-husband fisherman dude and his kids and she sounds more energetic and giddy than ever (seriously these characters are quite fake and performative with positive emotions). Then Mitsuru runs to Chiba and Sakiko runs back to Tokyo. And the husband Mitsuru actually has the nerve to act all worried that Sakiko has run away after his one year stint. These men really have zero sense of irony and empathy when it comes to their women.
In a hilarious turn of events, Sakiko’s side of the dysfunction reveals that she was married 4 times before. It’s hard to believe but uh.. okay!
There are still so many unexplained things like how Mitsuru was living with his parents for a year without any issues? And how is Sakiko supposed to live happily and normally without abandonment issues from now on? What a shame of a marriage. When he works late, she gets traumatized from not seeing him and not responding. How can there be any trust in the relationship anymore?
I love Sakiko’s attitude at the beginning of episode 10. In fact my rating is based on the resolution of this drama. I love how it all ended. She’s basically stopped giving a hoot about family or marriage or what her husband thinks of her relationship with Sonoda- and she’s like “yep yep having an affair, whatever! Think whatever you want.” After being alone for a year and discovering her own inner strength on her own, she realizes she doesn’t need a husband anymore and that’s when I can see her true strength and independence come out for the first time. She’s breaking free of this marriage/family trap. I love it.
The kitchen conversation after Mitsuru throws her divorce application in the curry pot, was the most honest conversation in the whole series. They’re spitting their true feelings at each other so easily at that point because there’s nothing more to hide or defend. Sakiko says let’s stop this ridiculous marriage role and have an easier relationship. I love that message. The marriage relationship and husband/roles are so heavy and suffocating that you can’t even be yourself anymore and have to run away. Freedom to be yourself is important. Family and marriage roles are so heavy that it ruins relationships. One person can’t fulfill all your needs.
I love the way they split up and the reasons they split up for. So they can be free human beings and not trapped in this suffocating relationship anymore. Even their attitude about it in the end speaking with a blind of freedom- harmonious without fighting, acknowledging each other’s sadness, and working together to wash the sheets and curtains before leaving. Their departure- Mitsuru’s departure was lovely, without conflict. With Sakiko’s self assurance that she’ll be fine. I like how everyone gets to be their messy selves and unburdened by the heavy roles of family relationships. I feels like the future of how human relationships should be.
They all come together and bond even in their sadness, kids, love, history, flaws, and experiences. I loved watching Sakiko living alone - connected to others while being alone in her autonomy and personal power. It was perfect. It ended up leaving a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart.
Here are my feelings as they ebb and flow throughout the series. In case you’re wondering, my 10/10 rating comes from the last episodes and how things resolved themselves in the end:
In episode 5, the phone conversation between Sakiko and Seo in the café that Naoto is now taking care of, and after almost a year of her husband gone missing and disappeared and calling his café once in a while to see how she’s doing. All I can say is what a weird person, and even more cruel and sadistic to continue checking up on her like that. He did something like that and put her through all that trauma just to conduct surveillance and monitoring on her mental state and if she’s eating well or sleeping well. And then when she speaks to him over the phone, he gives one word answers. Why did he even bother calling if he’s gonna give one word answers sounding like an emotionally unavailable puppet? And Sakiko has to drag all the answers out of him but she gets nothing after a year of him disappearing, except one word answers. And even she is like putting on this false façade at first like “Oh are you eating well or are you sleeping well?” like who cares!? And she’s like Azusa was Sonoda‘s beloved wife why did you go with her and why did she die and he just says “mmm” and she’s left talking to herself. What an emotionally unavailable, cold, heartless conversation. This was the end of the relationship. And all he has to say is, “I’m glad you sound well. Take care.” WHAT?
It’s like they both try to act like they’re totally fine after he abandoned his wife for a year. Why don’t these people speak openly with honesty and vulnerability? Just be emotionally honest and ask straightforward questions instead of saying poetic nonsense like “Yes the sky is a deep blue today isn’t it?” while crying. And other people like Naoto and the bookstore owner that Azusa used to work at actually has the nerve to speak badly about Sonoda and Sakiko. When Azusa and Seo were sneaking around and caused them all this pain. I don’t see why the spouses left behind are the ones who have to suffer and be blamed for seeking comfort in each other. It’s like they also have to feel guilty getting along with each other and getting closer to each other. It’s as if they’re expected to hang onto the deceased forever and never allowing themselves to be happy ever again. That’s simply not fair. They didn’t do anything wrong. And even then, after speaking to him over the phone in this sad conversation, Sakiko acts like a martyr and says I can’t hate him. It’s really pathetic. Why does everyone have to act like a saint as if they’re not angry? Is this the expectation of saintliness in marriage and family? it’s not natural at all. It’s just a fake performance. An even despite having these phone conversations, nothing actually gets communicated. They just put up a fake front like a mask and persona. If you get one conversation with a guy who ran away for a year, wouldn’t you ask him real questions? Instead of having the superficial conversation and hanging onto this robot like husband who has nothing value to say? Sakiko and Sonoda are so much more open with each other. So they should be with each other. So the relationship between them that I was initially skeptical about now feels completely right. And then just as Sonoda and Sakiko are cleaning up her house with the conviction that she needs to get rid of Mitsuru’s things, even ordering pizza in a light moment of bonding, Mitsuru decides to come back with a beard saying , “Tadaima,” and expects his wife to say “okairi” like a robot. Unless this guy has some supernatural explanation kind of amnesia or some serious accident where his memory was lost, he has no right or excused to come back, showing his face to his wife who went through so much trauma because of him. How can this man just expect her to not move on after he abandoned her like that? What a terrible husband. No one openly communicates in this series- what is the point why does no one ask any question or communicate openly? What is wrong with these people? Why do they act like robots? Then Mitsuru goes about his business, making coffee like he’s not accountable for anything. Instead of asking any relevant question she asks her husband, “How are you feeling right now?” What?!? It’s not a therapy session, it should be an interrogation! Then she says “Seeing you acting all nonchalant like that makes me angry.” Finally, she’s getting a backbone. But he offers zero explanation. Then they talk about other useless things like “Do you wanna have a smoke while you’re drinking coffee?” and he says, “oh I haven’t smoked in a year.” what is this nonsense conversation and small talk at an intense time like this? It’s like they’re playing husband and wife saying all the scripted lines like “oh I’m going to the supermarket. Do you want anything?” Arrrg it’s so frustrating to watch.
Then it goes into a flashback of how these two met, and this husband seemed like a pretty dull character, even from the wedding that they met at. And they seemed to have bonded over negative things that each other hated. I don’t think this relationship had much of a future or foundation. Sakiko describes her mother who sounds like a narcissist, and seeing this man who seems to be emotionally cold and unavailable, it seems like she’s falling into his trap or developing a trauma bond with a wounded man. Then he proposes after the third date and then he disappears for three months and then text her saying he’s back from a business trip and she is so excited to hear from him again. These are huge red flags. They didn’t even have a wedding ceremony so the whole thing feels kind of shady. It is definitely a trauma bond and possibly a narcissistic abuse relationship.
Why are they doing this whole “Okaeri/tadaima/oyasumi” charade after the guy abandoned her for a year, came back, and still offers zero explanation other than “mmm.” Then “Did you clean the floor? Oh the warranty for the vacuum expired” like WHAT? Are either experiencing human emotions right now? Why does Sakiko need to do that performance? They’re just supposed to act like nothing is seriously messed up about this relationship? First they said he was dead, then he’s missing, then he did it on purpose and is weirdly checking up on her, then a year later he shows up acting like nothing even happened and as if he doesn’t even care or owe anyone an explanation. What is wrong with this show and the characters in it? Is this how robotic and emotionally dead relationships are? Why is this Sakiko so fixated on him and beating around the bush? They say a lot of nonsense but don’t get to the actual point, “Why did you leave for a year without a word and why did you come back? Why were you with Sonoda’s wife?” Why can’t these people talk about anything beyond the superficial and formal? Ask these simple questions for Heaven’s sakes! Why is it always passive aggressive?
Then they have the so-called important meeting where Sonoda is dressed up in a nice suit everyone is dressed up except for the husband who is still dressed like a hobo, and tea is prepared. Everything looks so formal and perfect and then all they end up asking were you having an affair with Azusa? Why don’t they ask this guy why he left for a year? I went to visit my parents without even telling my wife? Taking another woman on the trip with me and gone missing for a year? And why on earth do Sakiko and Sonoda not ask him that question? Why did you leave without a word? Why did you abandon your wife? Going to visit my parents is not explaining anything. All they can ask is about the affair, is that’s all they care about? Why don’t they ask more comprehensive questions? It’s so frustrating to watch these characters with such poor communication skills. And then Sakiko gives him the weakest slap that I’ve ever seen. He needs to be held accountable until he confesses what he’s been up to. Instead of doing this mysterious silent routine and pretending like everything is fine.
And then his husband actually has the nerve to ask “What exactly is both of your relationship and acts like he’s mad about it when he’s the one who ran away.” And he actually has the nerve to lecture to both of them saying how can you prove it’s not an affair, etc. Episode 6 is so frustrating to watch. The poor communication!
Episode 7 starts with Sonoda taking initiative to talk with the husband in private, but whenever they get to the real question of why he disappeared Sonoda is like ”I don’t even care to know the reason it doesn’t even matter.” What??! Yes it does matter!!!! Then Sonoda storms off after not even having a real conversation.. Meanwhile Sakiko is cleaning their tea cups at home as if they’ve just had a lovely meeting.
In the flashback of how Azusa and Mitsuru met at the laundromat, for some reason Azusa seems thoroughly unlikeable desperately trying to make useless conversation with a stranger just so she distract Mitsuru and call attention to herself. At first I thought it was sad that she died, but she seems to be quite an annoying character. I feel the most sorry for Sonoda who had to go through so much and now this loss.
As for Mitsuru’s excuse and backstory as to why he ran away… it was actually very believable. Shady, yes. But very believable. And it makes sense if he’s been doing that since he was a child. I know the feeling. I actually had empathy for him at that point once he started explaining. I think Azusa’s death was a result of her own silliness and desperation for attention following Mitsuru on a bus ride and getting herself involved in that bus accident. She seemed eager to start a relationship with Mitsuru.. I guess Azusa was his monthly therapy session (which he should have been going to in general) that kept him sane in his marriage relationship, so when his therapist died, he decided to disappear for a year. Interesting.
When Azusa starts this thing about tagging along with the bus ride, she seems to be proposing an affair. She’s trying to convince him that there was no affair and there was absolutely the precursor to an affair. She was proposing disappearing together and going something “scandalous.” She started the affair and it’s her own fault she died. If they had something to hide, even if I’m not against it and do understand, If it had gone on for longer, I believe it would have definitely become an affair between the two.
The episodes start getting more ridiculous after episode 8 with Sakiko running away and her husband calling a town hall meeting with all the characters to get info on her to find out where she could be. Then she ends up at the ocean with some ex-husband fisherman dude and his kids and she sounds more energetic and giddy than ever (seriously these characters are quite fake and performative with positive emotions). Then Mitsuru runs to Chiba and Sakiko runs back to Tokyo. And the husband Mitsuru actually has the nerve to act all worried that Sakiko has run away after his one year stint. These men really have zero sense of irony and empathy when it comes to their women.
In a hilarious turn of events, Sakiko’s side of the dysfunction reveals that she was married 4 times before. It’s hard to believe but uh.. okay!
There are still so many unexplained things like how Mitsuru was living with his parents for a year without any issues? And how is Sakiko supposed to live happily and normally without abandonment issues from now on? What a shame of a marriage. When he works late, she gets traumatized from not seeing him and not responding. How can there be any trust in the relationship anymore?
I love Sakiko’s attitude at the beginning of episode 10. In fact my rating is based on the resolution of this drama. I love how it all ended. She’s basically stopped giving a hoot about family or marriage or what her husband thinks of her relationship with Sonoda- and she’s like “yep yep having an affair, whatever! Think whatever you want.” After being alone for a year and discovering her own inner strength on her own, she realizes she doesn’t need a husband anymore and that’s when I can see her true strength and independence come out for the first time. She’s breaking free of this marriage/family trap. I love it.
The kitchen conversation after Mitsuru throws her divorce application in the curry pot, was the most honest conversation in the whole series. They’re spitting their true feelings at each other so easily at that point because there’s nothing more to hide or defend. Sakiko says let’s stop this ridiculous marriage role and have an easier relationship. I love that message. The marriage relationship and husband/roles are so heavy and suffocating that you can’t even be yourself anymore and have to run away. Freedom to be yourself is important. Family and marriage roles are so heavy that it ruins relationships. One person can’t fulfill all your needs.
I love the way they split up and the reasons they split up for. So they can be free human beings and not trapped in this suffocating relationship anymore. Even their attitude about it in the end speaking with a blind of freedom- harmonious without fighting, acknowledging each other’s sadness, and working together to wash the sheets and curtains before leaving. Their departure- Mitsuru’s departure was lovely, without conflict. With Sakiko’s self assurance that she’ll be fine. I like how everyone gets to be their messy selves and unburdened by the heavy roles of family relationships. I feels like the future of how human relationships should be.
They all come together and bond even in their sadness, kids, love, history, flaws, and experiences. I loved watching Sakiko living alone - connected to others while being alone in her autonomy and personal power. It was perfect. It ended up leaving a warm fuzzy feeling in my heart.
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