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Completed
Yamada Taro Monogatari
6 people found this review helpful
by Iwyn
May 19, 2016
10 of 10 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.0
Story 8.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 7.0
Rewatch Value 9.0
I started to watch this drama on a whim, but for some reason, I couldn't stop at the first or second episode, so I finished the whole thing in just one day!

The plot doesn't seem much at first and it actually may appear to be very superficial, but sometimes appearences may fool you and I think so was this case with this drama. Even though the story is indeed very light and easy-going, the peculiar thing about it is the way it portrays human relationships, not with all the drama and troubles, but the way they're supposed to be - simple and based on understanding and mutual help. Sometimes, we need light-hearted stories to remind us to be optimistic and forget about our daily problems and this drama it did its job. It's very heart-warming and touching at times, so you'll find yourself quickly drawn into the story and root for the characters. And it's also very hilarious - the kind of funny that it both makes you laugh and touches your heart.

There are a variety of characters - from the poor, nice, family-oriented boy to the rich, but distant guy. Again, they might seem too standard at first, but they actually grow on you. They go through some things, they learn what's important and by the end of the day, their view on life, no matter their differences, changes. There's actually a lot of debate on whether it's good or not to be poor as long you still have a loving family beside you, or being rich, but not being able to express yourself and get closer to the ones you cherish.

The male leads are really the ones who make this drama what it is and I have to say what else would you expect from two great actors such as Ninomiya Kazunari and Sakurai Sho. The character that Ninomiya plays might seem the usual happy-go-lucky type of guy, but he's really very thoughtful and caring, not to mention pretty much a genius; while Sho's character is more of a cold, reserved guy, he actually starts to come more out of his shell and embrace all of his emotions, without refraining himself from anything. Taro's family is also a big part of the story and you can't help but loving each one of them, especially those adorable kids who always try their best for their brother and don't cause any problems. The only character that annoyed me was Ikegami Takako, the female lead, who kept her strong belief in superficial things such as money and popularity almost all the way through the end, so I just ignored her.

There's also a lot of bromance not only between the main characters, but also from a supporting character as well, or should I say, especially from one of the supporting characters... you'll get my point if you watch it! I just loved their relationship because it was so simple, yet so strong... it was really a good add to this drama!

I definitely would rewatch this sometime in the future because it's very entertaining and warm, and just a nice way to spend your time!

I know some of the supporting characters were annoying and their reactions were a bit exaggerated, but overall I enjoyed this drama. You should give it a try if you're in the mood for something light and funny, but also with a bit of insightful message!

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Completed
Clone Baby
1 people found this review helpful
by Iwyn
Apr 8, 2016
11 of 11 episodes seen
Completed 0
Overall 8.5
Story 10
Acting/Cast 8.0
Music 8.0
Rewatch Value 7.0
This review may contain spoilers
Story: The plot is very original and complex as it deals with themes such as human cloning and human rights. I think that the main question that is debated in this drama is if human clones have the same right to life as normal people. The beginning is pretty confusing as you're still trying to figure out the whole mystery behind the story, but every episode is very intriguing and it will make you keep watching. There is also some romance - even a love triangle, but it's not something too heavy. There was a second couple too which I didn't think it will work out in the beginning, but by the time it ended, I've started to really love them.
And about the ending... The way I saw it, I think they just left it open on purpose; everything would have been wrapped up properly if it wasn't for that last scene. In general, I can accept an open ending when they want to leave to the viewer's imagination what the future will bring for the characters, but not when they just throw another twist at the end and leave us with even more questions.
Acting/Cast: There are a few well-known faces in this drama and I was pretty content with their acting, but I was a little bothered by the main lead's reactions every now and then as they seemed a bit exaggerated.
Music: The songs that apperead in the background were all by Hurts and they've mainly used 'Stay' and 'Better Than Love'. It was an unexpected choice of music, but I don't think it was a bad idea because they matched well with the storyline. Also, they kind of give a more dramatic feeling to each scene, especially when they were played at the end of the episode.
Rewatch value: The thing with mysteries is that after you watch them once, your excitement just won't be the same because you already know what will happen. But I won't mind watching this drama again some time in the future.
Overall: There are a lot of good points to this drama - from the mystery that builds up each episode, to the intriguing circle of murders and the very touching moments between the characters. There are also some lacking points, but overall it's pretty good. If you're in the mood for a mystery drama with some psychological elements, this is perfect for you!

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