Mikami Hiroshi was THE leading man of Japanese romance dramas in the 90s. He exudes chemistry with whoever he acts with, and his portrayal of emotions really sucks you in. You just can't hate him no matter how vile or destructive he is, because he makes you feel his emotions through his facial expressions.
I only wish more of his 90s dramas were subbed. Sigh!
Watching this drama (90% in) makes me realize that country-building needs more than 1 lifetime to happen, so if it's done based on one person's sole power, it simply won't last long no matter the power, wealth, and strength.
Also when you get to a certain age during the process, stubbornness, past trauma and an inability to open up catch up to you. That makes you repeat past mistakes. Kiyomory here didn't do much country building, he just replaced the Fujiwara with the Heike. The whole thing with the trade with Sung seems to have gone on the back burner while he satisfies his greed, but the creation of that trade was the one thing differentiating the Taira.
The lesson here: to achieve your TRUE goal, you need to have someone to stop you, to overpower you when you derail.
Anyway, he's not the only one like that in that era. Goshirakawa is no different, and Yoshitomo as well. Yoritomo will follow suit and cause the end of the Genji. Funny how it wasn't the Heike that caused the final blow to the Genji but their own leader. The Hojo aren't any better.
It was hard for me to enjoy the movie. When I originally watched the drama, the concept of it was interesting,…
The movie quotes the famous saying "Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all" but the story goes against that. Both Huang Yu Xuan and Li Zi Wei kept on suffering from losing love, unable to move on or move forward, while Chen Yun Ru \ just avoided love to not suffer at all. Then you have Mo Jun Jie's character who is credited as a main character, always in the posters yet is written as such a passive character with no input in the story at all. Actually, the only character who lives by that saying is Wang Quan Sheng.
What confused me the most was the ending. So were Huang Yu Xuan and Li Zi Wei's fates changed based on other people's actions? What action actually triggered their fate anyway? It feels more like a "chicken and egg" question of what came first, we'll never know. Hence I don't get what stopped it.
It was hard for me to enjoy the movie. When I originally watched the drama, the concept of it was interesting, and the mystery part kept me invested in the story. However, The main mystery was solved in the drama (unsatisfactory explanation IMHO), so all that is left here is the frustration of the inability of the protagonist characters to change their fates.
Overall fun with lots of interesting characters. They all have annoying and empathetic sides. I know Mukai-kun is supposed to be the confused one here but the female characters here are all lost and expect the world to follow them when they’re unable to the lead.
When I read the comments for this movie, I realized this movie just isn't for me. It didn't move any emotion in me, and I disliked all the characters. It's just philosophying pervertism and immorality. Nice music score though :P
I didn't have issues with FL nor ML but her brother was annoying as hell. God it's been a long time since I watched…
that’s where the pacing of the drama was a problem, they only addressed it an itsy bit in the end, ML saying that reading his wife’s diary reminded him how she had mentioned kids before but he would run away from the subject then she stopped mentioning it. They didn’t say much but I think it has something to do with him being adopted, I think he was scared he wouldn’t be up to the task. It would’ve been nice if they had spent some time addressing this subject.
I didn't have issues with FL nor ML but her brother was annoying as hell. God it's been a long time since I watched…
I got it at first and I understood why she came back to her parents' home. At first, she was running away from everything, which was understandable, but thanks to him, she gave work a second chance and kept trying until she found herself. With him, it was constant rejection without him doing anything. The moment she feels bad or unsure, she just runs away from him.
I think it got to me worse when she was acting like that while her brother was conspiring :P On the other hand, the exbf was refreshing. His concerns were always within the friendship boundaries.
I finally finished it after a long time. It wasn't bad or dragging, but Kanako the female lead was frustrating. I get it at the beginning it's a shock for her as if she had skipped to the future with no way of getting back, but why, like WHY wouldn't she give a chance to understand her marriage as she does for her work? I'm not sure if they had the right actress for the role either, there was no particular chemistry on her side. Her blank stares really annoyed me (it could be a directing issue). Also, the character of her brother, I wanted to punch so bad so many times!!! haha
Anyway, it was still worth watching it for Takenouchi Yutaka. He was dreamy.
The rest of the cast failed to interest me, except for Kanako's mom Mariko. She didn't talk much, but her lines weren't wasted when she did. I especially loved her answer about what made her want to keep going in her relationship with her husband. Her answer was very realistic and true. It's all about what's best for the family as a whole.
Finally, it took me a while to notice my newest crush, Matsushita Kouhei, in this drama. Could it be because of the quality of the videos? :P
It's difficult for me to rate this drama. On the one hand, I enjoyed it to bits, on the other hand, it tries so badly to be something it simply isn't. Himura might have an odd character, but his thinking is very normal. Nothing about him indicates anything dark.
The main antagonist is a sad and lonely narcissist desperate for attention. I don't know why he gave that much thought in the last episode. Even if he had killed her, that wouldn't make him a monster, just someone protecting himself and his loved ones.
It’s a fun mystery with the inclusion of fairytales, funny characters and well chosen cast. The twist in the story was hilarious at first but then left a bad taste for the ending. I don’t even know if I’d watch if there’s a sequel.
I agree, the ending felt incomplete. She was bullied her whole life and then when she trusted one person, it turned…
i mean it was self defense yet they treated it as a crime, and the lack of compassion from everyone, including the heroine. I just wish someone would’ve turned to that prince and told him: you’re the real disappointment!
there is a situation that makes your heart boil because of jealousy because his wife lies about meeting her ex-boyfriend…
Honestly, his wife annoys me. I was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt cuz having years disappear from your life is scary, but she doesn't treat him like a stranger, she treats him with disdain. Her brother is even worse! He doesn't deserve the good people in his life.
I'm just 6 episodes in so still have a couple of episodes to go
Well, the synopsis was unremarkable, but since it's led by Tsumabuki Satoshi, I just had to check it out to see if it had anything special. Well, except for its star-studded guests, the drama, story, and performance had nothing much to it. It was generic to a T. Still a good place to be if you need anything to turn your mind off and relax :)
i loved this drama, it was great for turning my brain off and letting off steam, and while i didnt exactly find…
Same here I watched this drama while on vacation which was perfect for turning my mind off to it. And I also enjoyed the 2nd couple much more and I guess pat of my criticism is how much they cut their screen time after the high school phase only to focus on a pretty boring couple. I would've loved to see their "5th wheel" too as he grows. His scenes with his grandma felt homey and sweet (though at times to sweet but I was fine with it). They didn't even bother at all with his character in the last 3rd of the drama.
Breezy short youthful drama with a number of issues. I think of it as a politically correct version of Itazura na Kiss. However now I realize how the ridiculousness of the latter is what makes it addicting and memorable.
The main problem for me with this drama is its lack of identity. It aims for a school life story but follows the heroes to adulthood. It tries to be all about youth and friendship only to be uneven in their screen time with the characters. It wants to be all about the romance but the main couple are too perfect to be interesting. The romance here lacked tension.
As far as story telling though, devices are used to move the story forward with organically flowing. The events weren’t logical. Important subjects like emotional abuse and neglect are first addressed only to be glossed over.
The cast were likeable and cute and it was overall an enjoyable watch despite the drama’s flaw
6 
1 
I only wish more of his 90s dramas were subbed. Sigh!
Also when you get to a certain age during the process, stubbornness, past trauma and an inability to open up catch up to you. That makes you repeat past mistakes. Kiyomory here didn't do much country building, he just replaced the Fujiwara with the Heike. The whole thing with the trade with Sung seems to have gone on the back burner while he satisfies his greed, but the creation of that trade was the one thing differentiating the Taira.
The lesson here: to achieve your TRUE goal, you need to have someone to stop you, to overpower you when you derail.
Anyway, he's not the only one like that in that era. Goshirakawa is no different, and Yoshitomo as well. Yoritomo will follow suit and cause the end of the Genji. Funny how it wasn't the Heike that caused the final blow to the Genji but their own leader. The Hojo aren't any better.
Shigemori is the only one that's different!
What confused me the most was the ending. So were Huang Yu Xuan and Li Zi Wei's fates changed based on other people's actions? What action actually triggered their fate anyway? It feels more like a "chicken and egg" question of what came first, we'll never know. Hence I don't get what stopped it.
More under the spoiler tag...
I think it got to me worse when she was acting like that while her brother was conspiring :P On the other hand, the exbf was refreshing. His concerns were always within the friendship boundaries.
Anyway, it was still worth watching it for Takenouchi Yutaka. He was dreamy.
The rest of the cast failed to interest me, except for Kanako's mom Mariko. She didn't talk much, but her lines weren't wasted when she did. I especially loved her answer about what made her want to keep going in her relationship with her husband. Her answer was very realistic and true. It's all about what's best for the family as a whole.
Finally, it took me a while to notice my newest crush, Matsushita Kouhei, in this drama. Could it be because of the quality of the videos? :P
I started because of the comments/reviews, continued waiting for it to become interesting, and finished only because it was short.
The main antagonist is a sad and lonely narcissist desperate for attention. I don't know why he gave that much thought in the last episode. Even if he had killed her, that wouldn't make him a monster, just someone protecting himself and his loved ones.
I'm just 6 episodes in so still have a couple of episodes to go
The main problem for me with this drama is its lack of identity. It aims for a school life story but follows the heroes to adulthood. It tries to be all about youth and friendship only to be uneven in their screen time with the characters. It wants to be all about the romance but the main couple are too perfect to be interesting. The romance here lacked tension.
As far as story telling though, devices are used to move the story forward with organically flowing. The events weren’t logical. Important subjects like emotional abuse and neglect are first addressed only to be glossed over.
The cast were likeable and cute and it was overall an enjoyable watch despite the drama’s flaw