Too much ToDai promotion?

Comparing this drama to its predecessor from 16 years earlier is unavoidable. But since my memory of the first season is vague, the memory of my impression of it will probably be biased. That being said, there are a few angles to analyze as to what worked and didn't work for me in this season.

I'll start with the setting. In the first season, my impression throughout the whole drama was Sakuragi saying it doesn't take a genius to into Tokyo University, just the right tools and tricks to study. ToDai was never presented as this "solve-all" solution. That is the impression I was given in the current season. While students were encouraged to choose their own paths in the end, until they got there all Sakuragi was saying was something along the lines of "if you don't give your all to enter ToDai you will remain a loser. It felt like the whole drama was promoting the university.

Next, while the setting was annoying, I liked how the school was presented. It did not exaggerate it to be all teens rebelling and playing around. It was a normal school. That did make me realize how colourful people were in the early 2ks and how visually dull it is nowadays. I did like how the students were gathered and their individual stories. Some stories were stronger than others. My favourite was Fujii's and the growth he goes through. Suzuka Ouji was great at performing a vulnerable character hiding behind a know-it-all bully.

If anything did annoy me about some of the student backstories, it would be the condoning of all sorts of abuse and not taking any actions whatsoever about it. Some things can be forgiven away, but some require getting people accountable for their actions. While there was more than 1 character abused in the drama, Iwasaki's was the most irrational and ridiculous to not address.

Finally, the biggest detractor of this drama in my opinion is the conspiracy surrounding the school. While it did give the story an interesting angle of not necessarily wanting the special class to succeed, it did consume a lot of time in the drama and was generally written badly. Hayashi Kento was so wasted here, that he barely said anything and spent the whole drama just giving mischievous laughs while his friend and he were too obvious. The characters taking part in the conspiracy were all caricature-like it wasn't even funny.

Overall worth the watch for nostalgia's sake!

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The World's Most Unfortunate Private Investigator doesn't realize her luck some times

What a delightful watch! I kept postponing it because somehow I misunderstood the synopsis when it said "The World's Most Unfortunate Private Investigator" to be dumb but that wasn't it AT ALL. She was just unlucky in that things always seemed to go the more difficult path for her. Yet as the story goes on, she seems more lucky than she realizes, just not in the predictable way.

The character of Akira herself is interesting to follow, as is her thought process and attitude. The people at the bookstore who work with her are likable but, except for the female, don't get time to get fleshed out as characters besides being some sort of information gatherers. The characters of the cases get much more attention in understanding their resolve, even if not all get clarified.

Another great seller of the drama is Mamiya Shotaro. Though he doesn't show up often in most episodes, when he does, he has such a strong presence and IMMEDIATE chemistry with Shishido Kavka who plays Hamura Akira from the first time they meet. It's hard to describe it, especially when their relationship is pretty formal but like they can't ignore each other's presence. It's also interesting that halfway through the drama you start doubting Detective Okada's intentions which makes their interaction even more interesting.

My only complaint is that the drama isn't a full-length drama. It is true the story doesn't answer all the questions it poses, but it's not some glaring open ending. They are just answers that weren't found by the detective. In any case, while this drama is not for all I highly recommend it if you like Japanese quirky dramas with a bit of a SPEC element.

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Will 2.5 households become the norm in reality?

It's an enjoyable and relaxing watch of a lovely family in their sweetness and flaws. As Masaharu takes small steps to move forward in life, we see the family adjusting to the new situation. It sounds great on paper, but adjusting or readjusting yourself to live with others isn’t easy. But with rising inflation and recession felt worldwide, probably more and more people will look into living with family as an option like they used to in the past. Therefore the situation presented here will have an increasing number of viewers identifying with it, myself included.

The characters feel very mundane, everyday people which makes it easy to connect with the characters. The focus here is on the choice to live together or on our own. Both have their challenges and rewards, and one must choose which challenge they are willing to face.

There is the grandpa who is used to being served and not pushing himself to help out. He can’t stand being criticized for it by his daughter because he’s always been told it’s okay. Grandma is always here robe of help to everyone, never vocally complaining but her health can’t help it and internally judges. She loves her kids so much that she does too much for their good. The daughter and her husband struggle with wanting support but not wanting to lose their place in their children’s lives. Saori in particular is typical of every working mom, trying to do her best everywhere, an impossible feat, and constantly feeling guilty that she’s unable to attain such expectations. It comes out as frustration and being ungrateful. Ema is a sweet teen whose introverted self makes her resistant to change and moody about it. As for Red, not only is he adorable, but rarely do we see children on TV present it authentically. That morning resistance to go somewhere where he’ll essentially play all day is oh so very real.

Then, there Masaharu. Unlike stereotypical Hikikomori, he’s actually a very normal guy in the way he lives his life immersing himself online in ways he can’t in the real world. It’s not online when we immerse ourselves in sites like MDL and others but maybe gone to the extreme. It’s not like he refuses to live normally, he just doesn’t have the courage. Taking the step for it needed a little motivation from the outside and a GENTLE push from within. I love his connection with the convenience store clerk. But you can tell one of his more important reasons for change was to improve his relationship with his niece. That development went smoothly and felt authentic.

The point here isn’t for the protagonist to become independent and work. It’s made clear that it’s okay to stay, accept help and receive support, as long as an active role is taken at home, to do things together while also pursuing things alone. That’s the difference between being reclusive and being home.

The only part of the drama I might be critical of is Saori’s workplace. It was shown as if we know the characters and are just returning to them, as Saori is. The failure is, that we never get the chance to connect with them or even be interested in them. The cut to their scenes always felt off place and sometimes I’d just skip it.

I have to say, I love the way the new house was presented and the camera filming the family’s movements. The directing makes viewers feel as if they’re peaking into the lives of everyday people. It made the scenes at home that much more interesting and intimate. The actors never felt like they were acting but just going through life, which in itself shows their talent.

The drama is rounded up with fitting music with many quiet moments for contemplation.

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A story about Friendship? Not really, more of a story about a story about being bound by a secret.

When I finished watching this drama, I wasn't sure how to feel about it. I mean as a story and the way it was executed is excellent by all means. The characters were multidimensional and intriguing. What didn't sit well with me though was the ending. Not the actual ending, but how it was viewed? Like condoning what those 3 did?

I find this story excellent at showcasing the wrong in being in a world where it's all about gossip and being afraid of the law alone without having a sense of values to believe in and follow. Basically, as long as I don't get caught, I'm free to do as I please. There is no owning up and taking responsibility. Because society's opinion is their God and true law. And that is what makes Maho and Satoko the worst type of "friends" you can have. What they had there wasn't friendship but a bind.

As for Yuri, it's a bit of the opposite. Very early on, her sensible little self took on the burden of someone else's pain and lived the rest of her life feeling guilt over something that had nothing to do with her. That guilt lead her to take each and every action she took later on in life. And no one seems to notice her pain, not her family, not even her so-called friends.

Other than the main trio, I also enjoyed the writer's character, and how she was doing her research instead of just depending on a biased point of view of the story. The detective was interesting as well, smart in some cases, and really stupid in other times.

Directing of the drama is great. The pacing is great. What surpasses it is how lighting and colour were used. Present-day colours were vibrant, while when we go back to the past, particularly to scenes with Yuri, it gets dimmed. It's a notable contrast that helps you both immediately know where we are in the timeline, as well as portray the characters' psyche at the moment.

In short: I never thought a story about 3 high school girls would have so many twists and turns that kept me intrigued till the last moment. Depressing but a good and solid drama.

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Overall entertaining drama that is easy to recommend, especially if you like strong female leads and cute couples with chemistry.

I’m not sure if the creators of the drama or the original manga intended it, but what was portrayed to me in this drama is a case of abuse and generational trauma. Each character of that family portrayed a different side to it. When a mentally healthy and strong character enters such a home, it would inevitably disturb the fragile base of the family.

I was hesitant to start this drama because I was afraid it would be the frustrating type, where the male lead is useless while the female lead is being stepped on. But oh boy was I wrong. Sato knew when to put her foot down and when to let it slide. She was a fighter. Of course, Sato wouldn’t have lasted a day in that house though if Kento wasn’t unquestionably supporting her. I was afraid they’d do the whole “he’s busy at work ignorant of what is going on at home. Well, he was a bit away during the first 1-2 episodes but overall he was always there and always aware. Each of them was fighting a different battle of the same war.

The drama had its flaws. I didn’t like how some problems were solved through outside forces, otherwise, our protagonists would be powerless against the force they were fighting. It’s not a big thing it’s just that it’s hard to see anyone succeed in changing what is wrong with a family (or a community) if one is to rely on luck. Some storylines weren’t followed through like that of the sister or the business deals that Kenta seems to just keep starting haha. I would’ve liked to have more of the aunt. She felt like a breath of fresh air when she appeared despite being childish. Finally, I didn’t like some of the character reconciliations at the end. They honestly just didn’t deserve it. It logically wouldn’t happen at that point with how the character had been so far.

When it came to acting, it was overall a great cast. I don’t think anyone could’ve done Sato’s role justice like Tsuchiya Tao. It wasn’t just how mature she was at facing problems, but also how she could firmly tell someone off, whether young or elderly, yet still in a respectful manner from her words to her stance, her facial expression and her voice level. She shared such a sweet chemistry with Matsushita Kohei.

The one that takes the cake performance-wise was Matsumoto Wakana as Miyama Mihoko. She was too mischievous to root for but too hilarious to hate. In character from head to toe, like the way she looks at her husband or the manner she uses her phone when planning something. She might’ve had only one serious scene and that scene was very heartfelt and convincing and didn't feel out of character. It was a delight to have her on screen. Ishibashi Ryo, Kimura Tae, Ishino Mako and Onoe Matsuya were also great in their role, opinions about their characters aside.

The pace was a bit fast at times. I generally am a fan of problems being solved within the episode but some areas would’ve benefited from more time and exploration. I generally don’t pay too much attention to music but the choice of song and soundtrack added to certain scenes.

Overall a light and fun watch, with depth and character growth.

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Shinsengumi history summarized

This movie centers around the historical figure Hijikata Toshizo. He can be seen as famous or infamous, depending on which side you're looking. Written and directed by Harada Masato, who also was behind the sengoku period movie Sekigahara, you should expect a lot of information thrown at you throughout the movie, like having a history lesson. Watching it required a lot of concentration but the story and its portrayal was very engaging. The pace of this movie was much better handled, without being incomprehensibly fast, nor extra scenes to skip. I loved the way the narration helped in understanding situation, while giving us a breather after intense scenes. It moved the story smoothly.

Unline Sekigahara, Baragaki engaged me more by focusing on the relationships and interactions of the characters, all of whom are based on actual historical figures. Well almost all, I'm not sure if Oyuki existed. Her relationship with Hijikata isn't central to the plot and her characters does seem to represent many women during that era so it didn't bother me. It didn't aggravate me like the love interest in Sekigahara.

No matter how you view him, Hijikata Toshizo had a hand in affecting history, and changed the lives of most who have known him, be it by his words or swords, therefor a very interesting point to look through. Like many historical settings, this movie did try to emphasize the heroic of its leading character, however this time it was well balanced with other elements of the setting, including the characters representing the most important people in Hijikata's life.

I think the best part of this movie is the casting. I cannot complain with any of the casting, and some of them were so spot on. I never viewed Okada Junichi as a "Hijikata" type of character but he sure convinced me here, especially with his interactions with Suzuki Ryohei. Now they wouldn't have been able to find anyone more suiting than him to play Kondo Isami, in all his strengths and fragility, in the way he lets himself be manipulated or when he wants to follow his beliefs. The rest of the cast did great as well, fitting perfectly in character and setting. On a personal note, I find it funny when Saito Hajime keeps being played by one of my crushes. This time it's by my newest crush Matsushita Kouhei.

Another thing I loved about the movie, where Sekigahara was also successful, is action scenes. In this movie, the choreography for both dance and fighting was enchanting to watch, with a dose of realism.

My review might be all over the place, I wasn't ready for it. I just felt the need to write one since there is no reviews for this movie. I would definitely recommend it to any history lover. Though this movie was made for an audience that have studied the history, I think it can be enjoyed even without history knowledge. I highly recommend this movie to at least be given a chance.

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It’s a guilty pleasure kinda watch, but overall it felt lacking in many areas including the romance. The story and characters felt like it just got out of a manga from that genre.

Writing wise, what most stood out is how people jumped to (the right) conclusion without substantive evidence. It made no sense.

Overall the characters were over the top. The female lead Nao claims she wants revenge but isn’t smart enough for it and has too much of a weak spirit for it. I didn’t have much sympathy for the Tsubaki because he was the type that takes wtv narrative that suits him and knowingly ignores everything else.

This story isn’t about love despite all the characters keep repeating it. It’s about obsessive attachments. The parents of the leads were more guilty about it, none ever owned up to their actions. In the flashback when Itsuki said “it was all my fault” I was like yup right you are about it. He dragged everyone in his actions and inactions, in life and in death.

It wasn’t all bad. I like the how Shiori took hold of her life. In a way, she was more independent and showed more growth than Nao. My favourite part of the drama was the interaction between Tsubaki and his grandpa. It was the most authentic performance and where real growth happened. Their conversation in the last episode was beautifully delivered, and summarized their relationship. Any points I give this drama would be for that part of the drama.

Don’t get me wrong, it was addictive so it’s not a drama you can easily drop haha

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Would this drama make drink more coffee?

Up to episode 6, it was such a relaxing beautiful watch! I loved the first 4-5 episodes where we followed 2 stories revolving around different types of coffee. When we got around the main lead's background, yes the drama took a turn, but it remained interesting. I think it's in part due to Nakamura Tomoya's acting, it was interesting to see his vulnerable and human side. However, the last 2 episodes became kinda wishy-washy with that 3rd generation boss due to his That self-pity cry-me-a-river coddled spoiled brat persona who's upset he's not the centre of everyone's attention. Like Ewwwww. And the way it was resolved made less sense. I have to admit some punches given were great timing and much-needed.

Up to episode 6, it was a 9.5-score drama for me. Episode 7 brought it down to 5, and the last episode brought it back up, but not enough. Basically what disrupted my joy of watching this drama was the character of the 3rd generation boss.

It is the type of drama you'd want to keep watching and not want it to finish. Therefore if there is a 2nd season, I'd definitely watch it! it'd definitely be better than the first season since we'd get more of what he had in the first couple of episodes, which was perfect and beautiful

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Ridiculous premise yet such a fun ride full of heart.

I started watching this drama for the premise and for the leading man Mamiya Shotaro who has earned my admiration since his role in Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store. Not many actors can convince you at being serious in a ridiculous setting. The other actors that come to mind are Yamada Takayuki & Sato Jiro. That's why I don't think they could've picked a better choice than him for this role.

Initially, I thought the premise was kind of ridiculous. But then I thought of the dilemma and identity crisis our hero goes through throughout the drama, and suddenly these thoughts become all too familiar to me. Especially during teenagehood and early adulthood. Didn't we all go through something similar during those years of searching for ourselves? Don't we sometimes show a different part of ourselves to different people? It is very true for me, having lived as a minority in a country where the majority are from a different background. The person I showed to the outside world was and still is a part of me, but polished to fit their liking. But I never showed that side to my family, who know my inner self more than myself. Then there are my close friends who are aware of both sides and treat me as a whole. Therefore I felt a particular Familiarity with Tsuyoshi's conflict.

Another point I found ridiculous in the setting is the Nanba family and their expectations. You'd think they'd be overjoyed that their son is thinking seriously about his future rather than chasing some pointless teen glory, yet they eat and breathe it daily. I thought maybe it's because it's the only thing the parents feel can be proud of since they raised their kids to be proud and not back down. The fact they provided a loving home for their children should've been more than enough (and they are such a loving family!)

As the episodes go on, Tsuyoshi makes as many friends as he made enemies and each friendship felt genuine. My favourite was episode 4 where he catches up with a previous middle school classmate. Despite all his sacrifice to attend the school of his choice, ironically not a lot of time was spent exploring his schoolmate, except for 3 of them (one an ex-gang member), however, his attachment to the place does grow on you. Many viewers complain about the love interest and, yes she does make a REALLY BAD impression on us early on, but it made sense for him to like her. And to not like the other girl in the club. It's because she's part of the package he wants, while the other girl would be too similar to the life he's leaving behind (though they'd make a strong powerhouse, especially for their duality haha). Anyways all this to say, even where at times things don't go where I prefer them to, it makes sense in the context of the drama, and in the character of Nanba Tsuyoshi.

Now to explore another department of this drama, acting and casting ranged from excellent to mediocre. As mentioned earlier, Mamiya Shotaro is what makes this drama work, this couldn't have been cast any better. most other characters were perfect for their role, to say the least. The one miscast in my opinion was Kamio Fuju. Don't get me wrong he is pretty and nice to look at, but the role and whole character felt awkward, and unnatural in the drama. Honestly, nothing about his character felt genuine as it did with say, Daimaru, Takeshi, Ichimatsu's boss in early episodes, or even that annoyed neighbour of theirs. But since I'm biased and enjoyed his looks I was okay with it :P

Music is rarely something I give much thought to while watching a show, unless, like it is here, it is an essential part of the show's identity. It just added to the fun of watching this drama.

Overall fun drama, I recommend it for a fun ride. Just, don't take it too seriously.

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I enjoyed the cases that are closer to our daily lives than the usual law kdramas

While this drama (I think) is most popular being about the "genius autistic lawyer", what I liked most is how the story spreads beyond that. Being more of a workplace drama, as she gets closer to her coworkers and gets to know them better, we learn more about who they are. Cases are also interesting. They aren't the usual heavy cases with conspiracies and corruption. They are closer to day-to-day cases with people similar to those you know in life. This is what made the drama feel closer to the viewer.

The drama has its ups and downs, but it did leave me with a smile on my face and a desire to watch more, without needing to binge-watch to get it over with. In short, a decent and relaxing watch. Most of the points of my ratings is for that reason

Now we do need to address the elephant (or in this case the whale) in the room, which is having a leading character that is officially on the autism spectrum. I can't, and neither do most viewers, tell to what degree the portrayal is accurate. I don't think you can tell even if you know or have someone in your family on the spectrum. That is because it is a spectrum, in addition to each person having their own personality and quirks even without being on the said spectrum. I can say though, I didn't get the whole whale show every time our leading lady figured something out to make her case, and neither did I appreciate it much.

The part I appreciated the least in this drama was romance. I actually wish it was written out. Kang Tae Oh does have a romantic look in his eyes and is generally pleasant to look at, and I'm not totally against the romance being there but it did happen way too soon. It felt uncomfortable, and didn’t make sense to me as to when the love actually happened. I would've liked to see the development of their friendship instead. The secondary couple made even less sense to me. It came suddenly out of nowhere. I just didn't feel it.

The part I enjoyed the most is the friendship and camaraderie portrayal. The dependence and trust Young Woo develops towards everyone's favourite (for good reasons) attorney Jung, the growing bond between her and Choi Soo Yeon, her relationship with her father, and so on.

Actually, her relationship with her father was actually is actually what the most stood out for me. The distance felt when having an autistic child at times, closeness beyond any at other times, the worrying about always being available for your child, and the loneliness of being a single parent, all felt too real. The portrayal by Jeon Bae Soo could hardly be matched. He rarely needed to express it, the look in his eyes and his mannerisms said it all.

Out of all the other actors, Joo Jong Hyuk as Kwon Min Woo stood out for me the most. His character didn't actually make sense to me at times, especially in the last couple of episodes, but the actor's performance added more consistency and realism to the character.

Another point I enjoyed is the portrayal of the dilemma that comes from being a lawyer. Yes, most cases did eventually find an ideal ending, but the potential damage that comes from doing their job isn't glossed over. And I liked that Young Woo wasn't there to be the paragon of virtue, her priority was that of any lawyer, to do her job well and serve her client.

The writing had strong points but was uneven at times. Strong performances from the actors, and good directing made up where writing was lacking.

The drama ended on a good note, giving it a satisfying ending while leaving us with a taste of potential in case there is a second season. If the second season does happen, I look most forward to seeing a growing relationship between the siblings (WITHOUT the stereotypic overused Rubik's cube - FYI It does NOT indicate genius!).

PS. Does anyone know the actor playing CEO In Cheol? He looked so manly to me no matter how much he cried and begged LOL I think I just developed a major crush on him XD
Any recommendation for this actor is welcome for me :D

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Hope for a different way of governing

I haven't been in the mood to write a review in a while but I felt I had something to say here so here it goes.

To start, if it wasn't for the last episode (or Sachi's character specifically), I would've rated this drama a 9 or a 10.

The story itself is about the experiment of changing the way governments rules today. I'm not into politics but I do think we need to change how we're doing things because it's just NOT WORKING! ANYWHERE! Unfortunately, the last 2 episodes focus on drama. I guess it's also telling why we should let people grow beyond teen years before giving them important tasks. Some can take it, like Maki-kun, most will most probably just become brats when things don't go their way, like Sachi. To be fair, I understood how she felt, but still, her actions were inexcusable.

Acting wise who most stood out were Sometani Shota and Hoshino Gen. When I used to read blogs about Japanese entertainment in the past, I didn't quite catch what they saw in Sometani. However, every role I've seen him in made me understand. He really LIVES the character, that he stops from becoming a character, but a real person. A totally different one. As for Hoshino, he managed to express that adult which used to have so much aspiration that died down over the years from, well, adulting, and how much it burdened him. That look he gave to Maki-kun, filled with admiration, envy, and also disbelief, said a lot. I haven't seen Kamio Fuju much and I can't say much about him either except that he fit the role well, and has beautiful eyelashes lol. Yamada Anna was on point with her character, I just got to hating that character so I can't say much. The other supporting roles did do much to the drama except fill space.

Overall enjoyable, and short enough to be recommended to everyone. The experiment itself is great too and gives us ideas of how things don't need to continue the way it has so far. And hope for change.

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Makes one wants go to prison ?

Unoriginal concept. Original storytelling and story unfolding. Spot on comedy despite the somewhat heavy subject. True to anyone who’s seen work penned by Kudo Kankuro

It’s actually interesting that, other than one character, they all were guilty of their crimes. Watching them come to terms with what led them there was endearing. Being in a place away from their comfort zone and influences helped them find companionship through their true selves. By the time I was done with the drama, I loved each and every character despite their flaws.

Also, the presentation of gaslighting was frighteningly accurate. They don’t name it but it’s recognizable right away.

The acting ranges from excellent to perfectly matching the character played. I could write a whole essay about the characterization of some of the characters but my time is limited so I will leave it at “it was beautiful to watch”.

I do wonder though, is that an accurate presentation of prison in Japan? Seems too neat to be true. Life seems to go really well once all the prisoners go out into the world. Forgiveness isn’t what Japan is known for. Is it satire? Also the number of qualifications one can get made going to prison better than going to college XD

It does make it easier to watch either way.

I had a hard time going through episode 5 due to the subject of the episode. I’m glad I did. The ending outcome was satisfactory.

Highly recommended!

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Is it a detractor that the drama leaves you beyond wanting more of it?

Though the story itself felt complete as is.

This drama has so much going for it. To get it out of the way, the acting was excellent as expected from the cast. I think it was my first time seeing Suda and Kamiki in a drama together but they did not disappoint, I love their scenes together. Taiga completed the trio with his endearing silliness. The female characters were all cast on point, the most noteworthy being Furukawa Kotone for the role of the kind soul Tsumugi. As for Arimura Kasumi, I wouldn't say she displayed many complications as Rihoko, but her characters speak to us all when it comes to our pride of being someone's fan. That part of her character was the most endearing.

Storywise, on the surface, it seems pretty simple, the characters feel a bit childish, and the sketches... aren't really funny (but on point). It never fails at being fun, but the more you watch, the deeper it digs into your heart. I love how this drama explores the theme of failure, how individuals reflect upon it, and how society treats it. Everyone is quick with the should have and shouldn't have, offering unsolicited advice, while completely ignoring the efforts put in despite the failure.

It lead me to think of how my life had gone so far, and how it is viewed by those around me. We are brought up with the belief that hard work entitles us to success, we become adults when we realize that is not necessarily the case. We become complete when we accept our past failures as a stepping stone for the next phase of our life.

When their teacher spoke to the trio about the next 10 years, it hit straight to my heart.

However, depending on what stage you are in life and what you experienced, each person's take on this drama might differ.

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It is hard for me to pinpoint how I feel about this drama. It had a lot going on for it but also had a lot of flaws. It had some of the most beautifully shot and memorable scenes, yet so much of the drama was filled with skippable fluff.

The setting of the drama is what initially attracted me. At the turn of the century, it is an important time for Joseon, where their fate for the next few decades, even up to our day and age, would be determined during that time. One of the themes that were emphasized in this drama is the injustices some Koreans went through at the hands of their people, especially due to hierarchy. This resulted in many people with a grudge against their own country, especially against the nobles.

Another very strong point about this drama is the character development. Other than the Japanese antagonistic, and the depiction of some traitors, many of the characters were given layers and layers, that you can't help but feel for. Of course, it all bloomed thanks to the talented actors behind it. Starting with Kim Tae Ri playing the character with a mission Go Ae Shin. This character could've easily become overbearing (think Gaksital FL), yet here she remains constant. As the story goes on, you can't help but be driven by her plight. And that is what happened with all 4 other leads. Eugene Choi on the other hand is the character I connected with the most. The feeling of not belonging to neither country can be lonely. You see him struggle daily trying to understand where he stands. I admired how he never felt ashamed of his origin and felt for his pain and grudge against those who caused it. Then you see his grudge falter as he is met with people that kept challenging the preconceived notion of his birthplace. Lee Byung Hun really gave his all for this character, especially towards the end.

Watching Yoo Yeon Seok after seeing him in "Hospital playlist" it is difficult to accept that is the same person. Looks aside, his character is the most pitiful and toxic. He has no problem slicing anyone in half if they got on his wrong side, yet he won't hesitate to protect them if he sees anyone being unfairly treated. The most tragic character is Kudo Hina / Lee Yang Hwa played by Kim Min Jung. Having been sold off previously like some commodity really shaped her personality. She is all about being in control, however, the one thing she could never control is the action of her parents. This breaks her time and again throughout the drama. You can also sense the sadness in her eyes. Finally, Kim Hui Sung played by Byun Yo Han was the main reason for me for starting this drama. He was the actual sunshine here. His smile lightened my day, even when you could feel the heavy burden behind it.

Of course, what made this drama memorable is a large number of supporting characters. Gunner Jang was a character I followed and rooted throughout. This story was as much his story, as it was Go Ae Sin's story of a man who rejected the leaders of his country but chose its people. He was the forever rebellious Jang. Another character that stood out is the king. He was frustrating for most of the drama, but as the story went on, you realize how helpless he felt, and how carefully he chose his actions to protect his people. Being in his place is the most crumbling experience. There were many more, too many interesting characters.

The horror of colonialism is really well exposed here. The actions the Japanese did makes you wonder if it was possible to lose one's humanity to this point. Now, I do not know if what was portrayed was exaggerated. Some instances couldn've been, while others not. However, I do know the dangers of collective brainwash. When being constantly fed on how those "other" people are less than you, your brain accepts it and you become desensitized. Seeing what my beloved Japanese people did was really conflicting. But that is the truth of becoming a colonizer. Though they suffer a lot later due to losing the war, I think that was a blessing in disguise. It helped them reflect on what they have become and change. That opportunity was never offered to those that never lost a war.

Action scenes were great overall, but especially the sword fights with Gu Dong Mae. The scenery was beautiful, and some scenes were haunting. The train scene will probably go down as one of the most beautiful scenes in my memory.

While the drama had all those great things going for it, it still took me so long to finish. I lost my motivation to watch due to the lack of direction for the story to take. Each episode was between 75 - 80 minutes, with much of it had the characters walking around and eating dessert. The actual story starts at around episodes 19-20. Yes, it took THAT long for the story to take off. That is too much fat needed to shed. There is also the mix of history and myths that bothered me, and no reasoning given for actions that took so long to be taken. For example, the Mori character made no sense. They used it to turn the Japanese colonization of Korea to be some family centuries-old conspiracy when this had nothing to do with the truth, nor the overall story. Just added drama that didn't amount to anything. The portrayal of America is also in the same vein. On one hand, it's treated like this paradise, only to be brought down to reality by our Korea-American hero. One line said really stood out:

"America & Britain lent Japan a total of $410 million dollars, and 40% of it is being spent on the war. The two countries basically forced Japan into the war. Hence, America will never help Joseon. The Russo-Japanese war will result in a great deal of profit for America”

The music was overall negligible, but there was some sweet background that brought peace to the scenes.

It was overall a good drama to watch if it wasn't for the dragginess. I do recommend it to all.

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Needs a prerequisite on Japanese history during the Sengoku era before watching the movie

I've been wanting to watch this movie for soooo long! Being a fan of Japanese history AND a fan of Okada Junichi, watching this film is a must.

I actually enjoyed the movie overall. However, it wouldn't be easy to recommend. This movie is made for those with a knowledge of Japanese history (Basically, the Japanese population who are forced to study it when they are in school). A newbie will not be able to understand the story, nor the stakes of this battle. I have watched numerous dramas about this era. I have also read about many of the lords involved in that decisive battle, so I managed to follow the story without too much trouble.

There are several things to appreciate in this movie. For starters, the acting of key figures in the movie were well cast and superbly performed. Okada Junichi continues to impress with his acting skills. This movie is a testament to how far he's come. I also could not have imagined a better actor to be cast as Tokugawa Ieyasu than Yakusho Koji. He managed to portray the many sides of Japan's third unifier despite the overall biased take of the events in this movie.

What I found interesting is the portrayal of "Ninja-wars" that happened alongside the story. Information was definitely key to winning the war. Therefore their portrayal brought clarity to how it happened.

The action here is portrayed realistically and beautifully. Nothing too gory, but bloody enough to understand the horror of it.

Yet, there were many issues in this movie that prevented me from giving it a better score. Narration is a big one. Narration is often done in Taiga dramas. However, in this movie, it is indistinguishable from the conversations done between characters. Another huge issue is the choppy editing throughout the whole movie. I know there is a huge amount of information to be portrayed, but I wish they had given more time to smoothen the scene-to-scene.

Another mini-complaint is putting the character Hatsume at the forefront of the movie when it is an imaginary character, who doesn't have any true effect on the story. I also find it weird that princess chacha/Yodo-done wasn't given much of a role in this movie when historically, she plays an important part in the events preceding the battle. The movie mentions the connection between Mitsunari and Yodo-dono, yet neither explored nor even portrayed.

Overall, I still enjoyed that movie despite its flaws. I recommend this movie solely if you have at least a working knowledge of the Sengoku era of Japanese history.

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