The writers of this show have, with a few exceptions, written an overall great story. And, while certain elements of its production were better than others, that is enough to make it an enjoyable watch and generally carry your attention throughout its runtime. There are a number of flaws with the show, and those will be vividly apparent to most people, but I think overall the show accomplishes what it sets out to do. One of the best aspects of it is that it carries a core theme which the characters can strive towards. So, let's go over some specifics.

As I mentioned earlier, the best thing about this show is probably the writing. The premise (a boy raised as a delinquent wants to live a regular high school life) carries inherent potential which the writers exploit quite effectively. They understood how to capture the essence of that idea, channel it into the tone and feel of the show, and still keep it interesting by introducing enough variation to the plot of each episode. With many shows of this kind which deal with delinquents or the Yakuza and which aren't entirely focused on action, the episodes can be very formulaic and uninteresting as a result. While this show does contain a few elements which are repeated through each episode, they are disguised and worked into a narrative which is different enough throughout the runtime to remain interesting. In some ways, the repetition even works in their favor, as the even distribution of action helps to balance the show and keep the audience engaged.

Another great aspect of the writing is the characters. A crucial aspect of any show, and especially those with action like this one, is to have driven characters who can evolve over time. Nanba MG5 gives us an extremely driven character with a well known and well explored goal, while still allowing him to change over time in the ways he views and interacts with others and himself. The evolution of the relationships between characters is a great indicator of how they change over time, and also can introduce some conflict to the plot where needed. In particular, the dynamic within the main character's family is both an important and well written example of this. That being said, the writing isn't perfect.

The most glaring flaw, in my eyes, concentrated itself within a few episodes, manifested in the unfortunate sexism written into the show. To be clear, it's fine to have sexist characters within a show, as long as it's clear that they are flawed and do not represent the opinions of the show. In this case, the show very clearly presents the sexist views of the characters and true and right, permanently damaging much of my respect for the show. Besides multiple instances of a 'damsel in distress,' which can be more common particularly in eastern dramas, the greatest offender is a certain episode which strongly peddles the idea that 'women can't fight.' Not only that they can't fight, but that they shouldn't fight. There is even a narrative around preventing them from fighting, something which is never an issue with the men. To me, this seems quite antithetical to the show's core message of being who you are, no matter what others tell you. There are also a few other instances of sexism within the characters, but those aren't as openly conveyed as true and good, and so are less problematic in my eyes.

The other flaw which occasionally makes its way into the writing is the dialogue, a problem which is often exacerbated by poor acting by some of the cast. There were very hit or miss performances by the cast, with the mc, and few of his friends, and some of his family delivering quite compelling acting, while others, like the romantic interest, the other friends, and some of the more minor family member characters didn't quite measure up. Sprinkle in some Jdrama style awkward pauses and unfortunate blocking, and some scenes can start to feel a little amateur. Luckily, these factors only coincide ever so often, so in general the show is not critically affected by it.

There are a few other performance issues, such as a quite mediocre spread of action scenes, and an entirely unconvincing romance arc, although luckily these aren't presented as the core of the show, and so their failure doesn't harm the show's integral message. Part of the lack in acting in these areas is alleviated by the complexity of the characters themselves, a virtue of the writing which rescues the subpar actors. Most viewers will also likely grow used to the behavior of the characters throughout the show, just as they will eventually, although with great difficulty, grow used to the incredible age gap between the main character and his peers. The main character is played by an actor nearly thirty years old, and it is strikingly apparent. The show has no canonical excuses for this (like him being held back, or something similar), and so we're just left to feel uncomfortable as an adult lives amongst teenagers. This was clearly a decision made to leverage the talent and fame of the lead actor, although in my opinion some (and I do mean some) of the younger actors would likely be just as capable in that role, without seeming so out of place. Also there's a talking dog, for basically no reason. It's... well it's there.

They say you only notice the soundtrack of a show if it's very good or very bad. Luckily, this time around, it was the former. Not only is the soundtrack a good collection of music, it fits the style of the show very well. There was a bit too much repetition for my taste, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, in the end, we have a well written show with some very clear flaws. Fortunately, writing is (in my opinion) the best area to be strong in, as it maintains engagement, pacing, and character arcs. Despite the hit or miss acting, the unsubtle sexism, and the failing romance, the show carries a balanced tone and an interesting plot with characters with clear goals and ambitions. Supported by a very well done soundtrack and generally solid visual production, we get a mostly pretty good show. If a mostly pretty good show with some action and some drama is what you're looking for, then I recommend this show.