Meh...

Just my opinion: season 1 was far better than this season 2. However, I even felt season 1 became weaker with the "beach" plot. Everything before the beach was perfection. It still was an amazing 1st season though and kept you on your toes. This season however, had new characters I didn't care about and way too much dialogue. It sidetracked into back stories so often that it became a drag. The suspense of the 1st season was gone. There were whole episodes where the main character, Arisu, isn't even in them. The story was just all over the place, with some characters never seeming to die no matter how many bullets hit them or how much they bled out. The best games were with Chishiya especially the prison one. The rest of the games were meh and it seemed like there were less than previous season. Also there's a fare bit of male gaze moments that weren't needed such as a cheap crotch shot of a character in a school girl uniform. Then again the whole 1st game could be seen as one long female gaze moment. So I guess it balances out? As for acting it was average to below average. I know Kento has a lot of fans who would probably want to wring my neck after saying this, but I find his acting hammy. Very handsome guy no doubt, but he's not the best actor amongst the ikemen actors of his generation, not by a long shot. The fl that plays Usagi and has starred with Kento in many projects isn't much better. Lastly, I found the ending in this season very underwhelming.

This gets a 6/10 from me.

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Melodramatic and cliché-ridden

It was honestly difficult to rate this drama. On the one hand acting performances were top tier and the cinematography was wonderful. On the other hand the script and plot devices were frustratingly poor and predictable. So, I'll start with recalling some of the positives about "First Love." I have to give credit to the amazing acting of the female lead actress Mitsushima Hikari. She plays the adult version of the character Yae and I thought her performance was very convincing and well done. She acted with her eyes and facial expressions without needing a word of dialogue to convey what her character was thinking and going through. A highlight is the scene where Yae gives her son away and is crying on the road. That scene broke me and felt so real. Another great acting performance was that of the young Harumichi played by Kido Taisei. I thought the actor stole every scene he was in. He was very charismatic and multifaceted. He brought a teen and young adult Harumichi to life. Another plus, was frankly how this drama was beautiful to look at. The way color, lighting, and scenic details were used made for a pleasing experience to the eyes.

Now on to the things that made me rate this drama a 6.5.
To start, I could understand that this drama is based on a ballad "First Love" from 1999 and is clearly inspired by the melodrama romances of that era including Majo no Jouken, which interestingly enough used the song First love as it's theme. Also, I see the Taiwanese drama Autumn's Concerto as a possible influence as well. That's all fine and good, except First love 2022 incorporates all the hair splitting frustrating cliches of that bygone time and combines it into a mess of inconsistencies and plot driven narratives. And like a lot of 90s-00s melodramas, First Love starts off with promise and leaves viewers hooked only to fall flat on its face midway through. Like some reviews already covered, the tired old amnesia cliche is used as a plot device to separate our main leads. We also have the villain parent(s) that purposely keeps the young lovebirds apart, ruining their lives in the process. Very annoying! Yae gets amnesia and conveniently doesn't remember Harumichi at all. Her friend visits and even mentions him to her yet Yae never looks him up or investigates further. Yae's mother sees how her daughter is suffering for years and never tells her the truth. There were several moments that the mom made me want to punch my fist in a wall. The perfect time for Yae's mom to tell her the truth was when Yae gave up her son to her divorced husband. At this point the marriage and rich lifestyle the mother wanted for her daughter had failed so why not confess to Yae about her lost first love? In fact why was anyone keeping Yae's past from her, including the adult Harumichi? All these poor writing choices found in the worst melodramas like this one is to keep the main couple apart for as long as possible and make unnecessary events come between them. It's supposed to make for a powerful epic reunion of the lovers, but often it just results in an anticlimactic ending where viewers like myself forget to care.

Some bonus nit picks and wtfs:
*5th episode sex scene. Graphic and ill fitting for a romantic love story. Ml has sex with a random, has another scene where he gets physical with a gf, and Yae gets no intimate scenes at all. Did she have an immaculate conception or what lol.
*Harumichi's sister randomly tells Yae that her brother breastfed until 3rd grade and was addicted to pornos spending a whopping amount on AV tapes. Later in the timeline, Harumichi offers some of these porno tapes to Yae's 14 yr old son, yikes!
*Episode 8 where Harumichi just up and leaves Yae permanently and moves out of the country. Yae confessed that she loved him and he had already broke up with his fiancee. So wtf. Again, the show threw sense out the window for an "epic" reunion.
*Adult Harumichi cheated with his fiancee by kissing and flirting with Yae. What a swell guy.
*The time line issue. The first past timeline is supposed to be in the late 90s but things don't add up, such as "First love" the album and song came out April 1999. The CD is seen on display at a music store at the end of the first episode as if it's just been released making the year 99. Yet, teen Yae and Harumichi go to the theater to watch Titanic, came out in 1997 or Armageddon, which came out in 1998. I doubt these movies were still playing in Japanese theaters in 1999. Also, the CD player and earbuds used in the show look like a later model than what existed in the late 90s. Several other time period inaccuracies are present if you notice them.

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True love, the nose knows...

I really loved this show so while it's still fresh in my mind I'll list the reasons why.
*Healthy non-toxic relationship: I love how the main couple actually were honest and talked about their feelings. No several episodes of uneeded drama due to lack of communication here. It was one of the best relationships I've seen on screen. Very romantic and cute.
*Original storyline that is offbeat and often times hilarious. And the way this drama handled bedroom scenes was absurdly creative to say the least.
*I liked that the female side characters weren't backstabbing witches like we often see in other dramas.
*There's character growth for both the female and male lead. They both help bring out the best in each other. I loved that!
*Fast paced and addictive. No filler episodes. I binged this show in one sitting, something I almost never do.
This is definitely a feel good drama and will leave you with a big smile on your face. I couldn't see any fault in it. I give it a 10/10!

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A feel good story about personal growth and love.

Is physical intimacy always needed on screen to show how much characters care for one another? I personally think not. I'd much rather have strong chemistry between two leads and a great story with character development, which this show has in spades. I will also add that I'm not a viewer of only bl dramas. I watch jdramas of all kinds and don't care if there are little to no love scenes, it does not affect my rating of a show.

So with that said I'll begin my review:
I didn't know what to expect when I decided to first watch this drama that had the longest title I'd ever seen. I ended up falling in love with the story from the first episode though and looked forward to watching it every week. I'm going to miss it. I consider this drama to be a slice of life and about the journey the doom & gloom manga artist "Mamocchi" goes through in order to accept love, friendship, and career setbacks. The second male lead, Issei, is an idol that's always smiling and puts others first before his own desires. He has a lot of people including his fellow band mates counting on him to keep a squeaky clean image for the public. So what happens when these seemingly polar opposites that knew each other as teens are reunited again as adults? Well I'll leave that for you the viewer to find out.

Bonus/ some things I loved:
*Zany whacky characters that weren't too over the top, but made me laugh and smile every time they were on screen.
*The fictional idol group "Shiny smile" were awesome! I became a fan haha. Their song was a bop! Seriously I never skipped the opening credits so I could listen to it. I also liked how a slowed down instrumental version of the song was used in the show's serious moments. It really tied everything together.
*Loved the clever production of this show and how it felt like a manga that's come to life.
*Great acting by everyone in the cast.

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Admittedly its been a minute since I was a teenager, but sometimes a drama like Shounen no Abyss reminds me of what it was like to be inbetween a child and adult and all the angst and self loathing that it entailed. The feeling of wanting to be anywhere but here and dreaming of leaving to a bigger and better city.
For the two main leads, Reiji and Sakuko, that place is Tokyo.

Reiji plays the role of a dutiful son that helps his single mother with taking care of the house and his sick grandmother. The weight of responsibility is all on his shoulders as his older brother is a hermit that never leaves his room and his mother is always busy working. Reiji's only friend in the small town he lives in is a girl named Sakuko. Sakuko and Reiji have known each other since they were children. Sakuko escapes from reality of her strict home life by reading stories and dreams of writing one of her own someday while Reiji likes to escape by watching videos of a female idol group. But behind Reiji's complacent smile is a secret he hasn't even told Sakuko and that is that he wants to die. His suicidal ideation is breathed into life when the idol he is a fan of named Nagi suddenly shows up in his town. Nagi also wants to end her life and asks Reiji if he wants to commit suicide together with her. This all happens in only the 1st episode and from then on, we the audience, enter into Reiji's abyss.

Without giving too much away I will say this drama is not for everybody. At its heart Shonen no Abyss is a drama/mystery. Very atmospheric, moody, and often creepy. I felt that the story was bleak but ultimately realistic in it's portrayal of teens and how they navigate through the issues they are put in by the adults around them.

Everything and the kitchen sink is another way I would describe this drama. All the taboo topics you can think of that can be found in jdramas are in this show.
*child abuse
*suicide
*sex with a minor
*sexual dialogue between adult and teen
*incestual undertones
*inappropriate relationship between student and teacher
*bullying
I would also give a warning to viewers since the actor playing Reiji, Araki Towa, is underage and a lot of the scenes and subject matter is mature and might make for an uncomfortable watch. I personally found out Towa was 16 in this drama after I had already watched it. I thought he did an excellent job in this though, especially it being his first staring role.

Production was a plus. I felt the budget was definitely there and this didn't look like a cheap drama. Each episode reminded me of a mini movie, very stylized with great scenic design and use of color to set the mood. Specific scenes would stick with me long after the episode was over. An example was the dreamy like scene where Reiji and Sakuko sit in her room and cover their faces with sheets like they did when they were little to tell each other their deepest secrets. It was beautifully filmed.

So with all that said I rate this drama a 9/10. I was thoroughly invested and sucked into this story wondering what would happen next and how it would end. My only gripe was the final episode did feel a bit rushed.

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A classic and the best adaptation.

This 1996 version of Itazura na kiss is the original and in my opinion the best one.
Here's why:
Nostalgic: It's a blast from the past and a fun no frills adaptation of the manga. If you love and miss the 90s like I do then you won't be dissapointed with this version. Great stylish wardrobes from the leads. Kotoko and Naoki really can dress haha. The sets are great too. Before the popularity of the internet and cell phones, people had to actually communicate and hang out in person. That's all here. The nostalgia of the burger joint Kotoko hangs out in with her friends after school and even the Tower Records-esque store Naoki once stole a CD from.
The best Naoki:
Yes Kassy's Naoki is the best version of this character. He's not a robot or as cruel as the other versions. The emotions are all in his eyes. Kassy's acting is subtle and natural. It's clear Naoki loves Kotoko from the start and it doesn't seem like their relationship and his feelings just come out of nowhere. Naoki is detached and stubborn here but not a complete jerk. He's just a teenager that feels pressure and fears for the future.
Best Kotoko:
Sato's Kotoko is loud, funny, and annoying like her character is written, but this version actually has a backbone. She obsesses over Naoki but doesn't let him get away with treating her or his family like crap. You can see she slowly changes Naoki in a positive way and he starts to open up. Her character progression is nice in this version as well.
The best kiss scenes:
When comparing this 1996 version, the other adaptations don't hold a candle to this one. I'm specifically talking about the 2013 and Korean versions where Naoki kisses Kotoko for the 1st time to be cruel and lead her on. 1996 Naoki isn't arrogant in the first kiss scene or domineering. It's Kotoko who chases an upset Naoki down the street at night and tells him she's fed up with how he treats everyone and says she hates him. He then tenderly kisses her asking can she ever really hate him. It's the way these lines are delivered and the way Kotoko closes her eyes and kisses him back that makes this scene romantic and not toxic like other adaptations. Also, in this version Kotoko kisses Naoki for their 2nd kiss shortly after their first. And describes her kiss as warm and filled with love. Again it was another romantic bittersweet scene.
Chemistry:
All the cast have great chemistry and work off each other well. The two leads have the best chemistry and come across as believable. Also, Kotoko and her dad have such a great relationship. Their father/daughter bonding moments in the series were really sweet.
Best ost:
Seriously the soundtrack to this drama is so good and perfectly fits the scenes enhancing all the cute, sad, romantic, funny moments. I usually get sick of the songs that are repeated throughout a drama but not this time.
Bonus:
I loved the style of filming (very 90s) with closeups of the characters and sometimes exaggerated facial expressions for comedic effect. Another thing I loved was the opening and ending credits which I never skipped. It was cute how they had Naoki and Kotoko recreate scenes out of the manga and show the drawn version vs irl. Also cute the way Yuki was a sort of narrator of his brother's relationship with Kotoko.

All in all, I give this version a 10/10. It's a must watch!

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Twisted, dark, fantasy

I saw this movie yesterday and I can't get it out of my head. Aside from some of the most beautiful cinematography, No call No Life is a very deep complex story that I believe would need a second viewing as all good movies do. It's at the forefront an eerie mystery with a starcrossed romance. The cast play their roles brilliantly especially the two leads, Inoue Yuki and Yuki Mio.

I also noticed quite a few things that may be missed or overlooked.
*The theme of elements:
Earth (dirt plays a significant part in certain scenes) The characters feeling tied down to the place they live and the hope of being able to uproot oneself and start over.
Air: I believe air is represented as literal airwaves of space and time. The mystery of the odd phone calls...
Fire: Fireworks play a significant role in how the two leads meet and is used in pivotal scenes throughout the movie.
Water: This element is the main one that is symbolized in the movie. The Female lead is named Umi meaning ocean/sea. The male lead is named Harukawa meaning spring river. I don't think this a coincidence. Umi also has the surname Sakura, which are found in the springtime. Basically both Umi and Harukawa are the same (The season Spring (renewal) and the element water). Umi's cousin mentions how similar she is to Harukawa more than once and warns that them being together could only end in tragedy. Also, water is brought up a lot..from a bucket of water in a love scene, the omnipresent ocean representing escapism and freedom, a broken glass of water that leads to confession, even a water maintenance man showing up in one scene. Umi and Harukawa symbolize water afterall and this is their story.

Not everything is explained, but that's okay here and it just adds to the unsettling dark atmosphere of this film. I give it a 9/10.

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This drama is verrrry slow moving and frustrating. The characters are all unlikable except the ex boyfriend's boss. The teen ml is a stalker and pot stirrer causing more trouble than anyone with a right mind would allow in their life. He's hot for teacher and anyone against it be damned. Mom of ml is a psycho that needed to let her grown baby boy go by 18. And the fl is so wishy washy and weak with a do gooder attitude, yet she's simping over a minor for years. Like make it make sense. And how is this woman still teaching after all the events that transpire in this story?? She must have 9 lives when it comes to her dream profession. Absolutely ridiculous! Also, exactly when does the "love" of this couple blossom? From what? A hard slap (Akira slaps teach in one of their first encounters and she never reports it), a shared proclivity to take bad pics of sunsets on their phones, reciting a random poem, or was it the many many sensei wrist grabs whilst running away that the ml does?? Your guess is as good as mine.
I've watched dramas and movies with this taboo teacher/student plot before so it's nothing new to me, but this one was overhyped and just not good.

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When a sociopath falls in love...

I normally don't like Kdramas, I'll just throw that out there. Most are too melodramatic and Disney level cheesy for my taste. So, there are very few that I can finish, but I couldn't stop watching this one. Maybe I was a cheese in a trap, because I found the male lead, Yoo Jung, one of the most interesting characters I've seen in a Kdrama. He wasn't there as just some good-looking hood ornament that has blinders on for no one else but the fl. No, this male lead had depth and was sinister. There was clearly something wrong with him from the beginning, an inner anger bubbling just beneath the surface, and only the fl, Hong Seol, could see it. How intriguing...

If you're like me and usually root for the villian in a movie and find them far more entertaining than the vanilla hero, than "Cheese in the trap" might be for you. It had a psychological aspect that I loved, where the show could have easily been a thriller. It's dark in various places and really explores why we as humans act/react to certain situations and the people around us. I got a kick at the mind games Yoo Jung would play on various characters and the ultimate chaos that would ensue. This dude fought with his cunning mind and not his fists. (Actually, he did get in a physical fight once lol). Now I know you're probably saying, but there are several male leads in dramas that are cold, insufferable douches, so what makes Yoo Jung's character any different? Well, in short, Yoo Jung I strongly believe is a sociopath and it's more or less implied several times in the show. He isn't a misogynist jerk like we've seen time and again in other romance dramas, he's actually quite a gentleman to Hong Seol and treats her well. But lord help you if you try to get between these two love birds. I believe Jung's flawed character worked in Cheese in the trap because he never intentionally tried to hurt Seol while they were dating, and the characters he did try to harm let's be honest had it coming.

I also really liked the female lead in this drama. Hong Seol is not the typical wimpy, weak, dumb fl that is so often found in romance shows. She's smart and hard working. She doesn't need saving, hallelujah for that! How many dramas have I seen now that had cringy soapy situations happen for the sole reason to have a fl need saving by a man. I've even seen several shows where the fl can't seem to walk upright without tripping every 5 seconds. It's tiring! So seeing a capable lead like Seol is refreshing. She commutes for hours on train, she works, she studies, and she can walk in a straight line without crashing into the ml like some kind of cartoon character. Aaahhh..and best of all she's likable and real! Her character did seem to dissapear a bit though toward the middle of this show, but no biggie. I also, had little issue with 2nd ml. He was a good guy but not boring and was given enough screen time for viewers to care about him. He seemed to be a real contender to win over the fl. I also loved his off the rails gold digging sister. She provided a lot of comedic moments and was a pretty good villain in her own right. Even with all the crap she pulled, I still wanted her to have a good ending and I'm glad she did.

Now I love lists, so here I will list the things I normally hate in Kdramas and how "Cheese in the Trap" measures up:
1.) Horrific sound effects used way too often. Usually barn yard animal sounds like a goat etc. Very distracting..
(Cheese in the trap): None. Happily there are no annoying sound effects.
2.)Toilet humor
(Cheese in trap): None
3.)Repeated too often songs from OST that are below average and by the end of 16 episodes make you want to pull your hair out.
(Cheese in the Trap): Great diverse OST. Each song fits scenes well and wasn't repeated too much.
4.) Too much yelling. Most Kdramas I've watched had every character barking/shouting out their lines.
(Cheese in the trap): Some yelling by side characters including elders but not too much to give you a headache.
5.) Love triangle
(Cheese In the trap): Yes, however it didn't bother me for some reason maybe this is due to good writing..
6.) Hiding/over hearing convos a character wasn't supppose to know about.
(Cheese in the Trap): This happens a lot and no one ever notices the person eavesdropping.
7.) Annoying side characters.
(Cheese in the Trap): Most of the characters are likable.
8.)Great start..draggy middle..wtf ending!
(Cheese In the trap): Great start, a bit draggy middle, pretty realistic ending. Many romantics would probably hate the kinda open ended ending this show had, but I didn't. Jung really hurt a lot of people. The man destroyed lives, he couldn't simply walk hand in hand into the sunset with Seol lol. There relationship was far more complicated than that.

Overall 9.5/10.
It cracks me up that this show's been labeled "the worst drama in history" and it's the one Kdrama I really loved. Haha go figure.

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An epic romance fantasy done right!

I have a short attention span and am very critical. I usually watch jdramas that run max 10 episodes at 24 min. each. So very quick dramas. It takes an exceptional show to keep my attention beyond that. I have, however, watched some really great cdramas that were so addicting I didn't even realize I had watched 30-50 1hr. long episodes.
This is where Love between Fairy and devil come in. This show was my first xianxia drama and the bar has been set very high. I binged all 36 episodes in a few days and finished today. I couldn't stop watching, it was perfection, and I didn't want it to end. I could actually watch another thirty plus episodes about Orchid and Dongfang Qing Cang. It was hands down the best drama I've watched in 2022!
I loved everything about this drama. From the character development, forbidden slow burn love story, to the costumes, and amazing CGI. Also, this show's OST was one of the most beautiful I've heard and fit scenes so well. Every character comes to life here and I found myself growing attached to all of them.
The acting in this drama was amazing as well. Everyone did a phenomenal job with their roles. I had never seen the fl actress that plays Orchid in anything before this, but she really blew me away with her performance. She had several character shifts in this story and she acted them out flawlessly. Plus, she had great chemistry with the ml and 2nd ml. I also want to give mention to the actor that played Dongfang Qing Cang's brother. He was awesome as the semi-villain character. Lastly, a stand out of course was Dylan Wang as Dongfang Qing Cang. He never dissapoints. I, like a lot of others have been a fan of his since his debut in Meteor Garden. I thought back then although he was so young that he had a lot of potential and then I later saw him in the drama The Rational Life (which I highly recommend btw) and it just solidified how talented and versatile of an actor he is. I think he is the king of facial expressions and he really outdid himself in Love between Fairy and Devil. And since as I write this review it's Dec. 20th, I want to wish Dylan a happy 24th birthday. Its been great seeing him grow as an actor :D

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"Oh my little girl..."

Damn this drama was a gut-wrenching rollercoaster. It tugs at your heart and won't let go! I cried so many times throughout, and I normally don't get that emotional. I guarantee you will shed a tear whenever Yutaka Ozaki's song "Oh my little girl" plays. The characters are so well written that you feel they are real. The two main leads played by Suzuki Honami and Mikami Hiroshi acted the hell out of their parts. Their transition and degradation of character is shown perfectly.

I had never seen a female lead quite like Mariya before. She was a chain-smoking leather jacket wearing tom boy bad a** by day and a beautiful hostess by night. Tough but with a heart of gold. It wasn't easy to pull one over on her because she was also street smart. Multi-faceted like people are in real life. Shiro was a male lead I had not seen before. He was everything Mariya wasn't, weak, prideful, and easily lead by others. A self described "Robot" until he met Mariya. They were the most unlikely pair coming from different worlds joined together by fate. Two lonely, tortured souls colliding into one another like a car crash. The side characters Nana, Jun, and Kamiya are just as well written as the leads. They are all flawed. In need of love like us all. Scarred literally and figuratively by this cruel world. I won't give any of the story's plot away since there are so many twists and turns. This drama is an experience that shouldn't be told but viewed.

Symbolism throughout including Christian imagery and a bird adequately named Blue. Everything has a purpose in this layered complex masterpiece. Haunting, dark, and raw similar to the 1993 drama Kou Kou Kyoushi (written by the same screenwriter),
Kono no Hate will leave you wrecked and thinking about it long after the final credits roll. I understand what people mean when they say the 90s produced the best Japanese dramas and they don't make em' like they used to.

Rating:
10/10

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The good, the bad, and the idiot.

I couldn't get past how incredible Nao was...incredibly stupid that is! Out of all the female leads I've seen in dramas, Nao wins as the most dumb, gullible, and annoying character ever. Quite a feat! Seriously, she never learns from her mistakes and constantly needs saving. You would think after her former teacher deceived her she would have wised up and get that the world is not cotton candy and rainbows and humans aren't all sugar plum fairies. I wanted to throw my device everytime she came on screen with her wide eyed, mouth gaped open stare. There's innocence and honesty and then theres just good ol plain stupidy. It's actually offensive how much of a ditz Nao is, and it's her character alone that makes me lower this show's rating from a 10 to a 7.5. What a pity.
Now on to what still makes this drama a good classic show...
In one word Akiyama. Yes, the male lead. He not only saved Nao again and again, but he saved the show. He's a genius but not boastful. Very cool and collected. It's fascinating to watch how he will get out of a jam (which Nao put him in), outwit contestants and win in Liar game. Speaking of games, that's another highlight of this show. The games are intellectual and take strategy to figure out. Great stuff! Side characters are all purposely exaggerated like the Austin Powers wannabe mushroom haired villian. It works though and helps keep the story light and not too heavy. However, If you don't like dramatic anime style characters, then I would steer clear of this show. So without giving too much more away I will say this, Liar game keeps you on your toes. It's exciting and fast paced, making this drama one fun ride.

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A modern take on young love in your 20s.

Judging by reviews, I see this drama is one where you either love it or hate it. I personally loved it and it will be my first review on here. I think if you like a show like sex & the city, then this drama is for you. It has fresh and open dialogue about love, obsession, traditonal values,...and yes sex! I've never seen a Jdrama quite like this. The first episode alone tackles a subject with the male lead that is usually never discussed. I will also say I loved the side characters as well in this drama. Plus, the opening song is hella catchy.

Positives:
Characters: This show has basically only 4 characters and it focuses solely on them and their relationships with each other. I love that because with the limited time, the show is able to delve into past events/back story of why each person has their hang ups and makes the choices they make.
Female Lead: Terada is the main character and I found her so funny. There were moments where I was cracking up. She has a hard time after college and finds herself working at a grocery store part time barely getting by. She needs to find herself and find what is special about her. I liked how she seemed real and relatable.
Male Lead: Tomo is hard to understand at first because he doesn't know how to express his emotions, and at other times he's shockingly blunt and honest. He's a writer that doesn't write and has no motivation. He has a problem only Terada can seem to fix.
2nd male lead: Hase was one of the most interesting characters to me. He is confident and polite, but with a lot of mental hangups from his childhood.
2nd Female lead: Funny Akari. She's odd and quirky and is not your typical side female character. She idolizes and is a fan of Tomo because of his previously published books.
CHEMISTRY: The chemistry is off the charts with Terada and Tomo. Just the way Tomo would look at Terada with smouldering eyes in some scenes..ahh.
Love Scenes: If you are sick of the stiff kisses in dramas where the female lead looks shocked, eyes bulging outta her head, while the male lead barely touches her lips then Kakafukaka is for you. There are definitely some steamy heart palpitating scenes haha.
Negatives: Not much negative to say. This drama was a wild crazy ride. It was different in a good way. Rewatch value 10/10.

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A snoozefest about a Mary Sue and her two wet blanket suitors.

This was a chore to get through. I'll list this as the worst drama of 2022. It felt more like a bad kdrama. All the unique creative dialogue/storylines usually found in jdramas were replaced with gloss and superficiality in Animals. I was nodding off at times out of boredom. Aside from the promising first episode, nothing interesting or engaging happens. Minute by minute details about developing projects within a cheesy beauty company is not what I would consider entertainment.

Some things I hated:

One dimensional characters:
They were happy and smiling all the time to the point that I was surprised they didn't break out in song. Female lead is the quintessential Mary Sue character where she is always nice, always pleasant, good at everything except keeping herself upright and walking in a straight line, average in the looks department but men flock to her anyway. She annoyed the hell out of me! The two male leads that vie for her attention are no better. Both have zero personality and could literally be replaced with cardboard cut outs and none would be the wiser. And how creepy was it that the fl leaves one company where her boss overworked her to the point of collapse and then gets hired by another company where the boss is hitting on her and trying to get a date. Eww. It's seen in this show as romantic when it is anything but..

Also, the styling in this drama is some of the worst I've seen. It's ironic when this show is made out to be hip, sleek, and cool. Women and men look like they haven't washed their hair in weeks due to too many products weighing it down. As a result, every character had greasy lifeless styled hair. Make up was nothing to write home about either and often characters looked sickly and washed out. Wardrobe was atrocious as well especially the clothes for the female lead. She rather as well had been in a potato sack and high heels.

Lastly, the cover poster for this drama is misleading as all get out. Anyone looking at it would think this will be a spicy enjoyable romp of a show for mature audiences and not another run of the mill saccharine sweet office drama. I feel like I've been punked lol.

I rate this a 1.5.

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