Feel good drama with mature characters and honest conversations

This drama filled my heart. This is what I would categorise as a "feel good" drama.

The characters clearly were not living fairytale lives and had their hardships and traumas to overcome, but the drama never dwelled on all that pain and sadness. We saw an honest attempt with characters reflecting on their lives and trying their best to live for the moment. It wasn't about forgetting the past and ignoring it, but rather accepting what happened and counting blessings for the people left behind, the time they currently have, and the future they can build.

This is why I love J-dramas so much, because it is not the plot or dramatic points that drive the characters, rather it is the other way round with characters driving the story.

I absolutely loved every character and couple in this drama and I would recommend this to anyone looking to watch something light yet healing. Watching this made me feel a little less lonely.

Special mention to the leads who really hit it out of the park with their acting. So much expressed through their eyes, and emotions. I teared up (out of happiness) at so many of their moments <3

All in all (and I rarely say this) - THIS WAS PERFECT.

Read More

Home is a feeling, and this felt like home

This will go down as one of my favourite feel good dramas because of how much I loved every single thing about this show, from the actors to the characters they played, to the writing. I felt compelled to write this review, because I hope & want more people to watch this show, and shower their love for this gem.

The writing was definitely the winning aspect of the show, which was perfectly complemented by actors who brought the script to life. Whoever that casted for this show needs a raise because replacing any of the actors would not make this show what it is. The acting was A1 and the entire cast had explosive chemistry together. I believed in their world, and wanted to be a part of it so bad. Their interactions together (right from the main leads to the supporting cast) felt real, organic and fun. Watching them made me feel like I was third wheeling because it looked so intimate. Conversations would sometimes start at point A and end at point Z, making me grin. The fun was well balanced with the heart, in the way the characters looked out for each other, loved each other & supported each other. I connected with them, & rooted for them each step of the way like they were real people that I cared about.

Kitagawa Eriko clearly surpassed herself with this drama, giving us a peek into a mother and daughter's heartwarming journey, a journey of unrequited love & a journey of friendship. The writing was sensitive in the subtle way that the writer didn't feel the need for the characters' relationships to be defined or confined by terms. They were all special to each other without having the need for their relationship to be spelled out. Aoi/Gon and Sora/Hikaru did not need to be partners for their relationship to be any more complete. You can see there was unrequited love there, but it wasn't presented in a heart-breaking profound way. It was what it was (and I loved that they were all self aware of each other), & you can see that they would still continue to love each other regardless. Sora and Aoi, despite not being real mother/daughter were probably more intimate than any mother/daughter. All the characters were friends, yet they were more than that, and I love that the finale did not give us an answer to this. They may or may not be any more. It’s like a puzzle where every piece forms a crucial part for it to be complete. It’s the same thing with this drama. Each character came together to make this what it was & they would continue to exist in each other's world. They are all inseparable regardless of how their relationship to each other changes.

There was no major dramatic moment or climax or decision that the characters had to make, and this is where the writing shone so much in keeping you engaged with the characters' emotional states. The world of Uchi No Musume felt small sometimes with just these small group of characters interacting with each other, yet it was huge & limitless at the same time, thanks to how progressive & real it was. Don't ask me to describe the plot of this show because I don't know how to.

I love that the show represented characters of different age groups (right from college students Sora/Hikaru to old man Shinchiro) & subverted society's expectations of how they were to behave or be. And the show never told us that, it showed us that in the way the characters interacted with each other & in the representation of the turmoils they faced. Aoi despite being a 40 year old was ditzy. Sora despite being an otaku was not socially awkward. Irino who looked to be image conscious turned out to be a sincere & mature guy. Gon who seemed mature but was somewhat a manchild looking for love. Shinchiro despite being 70+ had romantic relationships & was technologically advanced. Sally acknowledging that she had toxic parents & was looking for the stability that calm 70+ Shinchiro offered. Wataru who did not have romantic relationships because he was waiting for his school friend (the show mocked this trope).

The ending OST was beautiful & while I don't know what it means, it always uplifted me each time it played with the credits rolling. The styling was on point (keeping the characters in mind). I love how all of them dressed comfortably most of the time. That felt real. The set design was extremely beautiful, esp Aoi's room which had clouds on the wall, and stars on the ceiling. I want a room like that so so bad. I love how Aoi's big white, expensive house was contrasted with Odaya's design that felt cheap and warm yet claustrophic. Interesting how most of the cast interactions happened there, in that little space, making it look all the more intimate.

I don't know what else to say except that it's been a long time since I watched a show that had me so attached to the characters, and their world that leaving this makes me feel sad. They will always be a part of me, and many years to come, I will be thinking of what they are up to. These were not just characters. For me, they were real people that exist somewhere in this universe.

S2 please, writer san!

Read More

Imagine watching a rainbow after a long day :)

As usual, Japan is a CHAMPION in the slice of life genre. This is no different, from the heartwarming characters to the heartwarming conversations. In one word, this was UPLIFTING.

This is a drama that touches upon the lives of those living in a small village known as Niji no Mura. The FL relocates to that village because they are the only ones that hire her after she loses her job in a reputable hospital due to the discovery of her illness. She is distraught intially, but after moving to the village, she grows thankful for her illness that allowed her to meet these people in the village. While her job primarily is to cure them & help them out as a doctor, the relationship grows beyond that on the very first day that she relocates. The villagers are welcoming and warm. So are the surgeon and nurse, who she houses with in the clinic. As the drama progresses, we see how these people in the village are not just one community living together. They are essentially one big family that love and care for each other. They support each other on the darkest & happiest days. No one tries to exclude anyone. Everyone tries their best to understand & help each other.

The entire cast was perfectly casted & while there wasn't much of a plot, I tuned in each day to watch these people interact and support one another. The acting was BRILLIANT. This drama is all about human interaction & reaction. From the random to the heartfelt & meaningful conversations, to the tears & joy that just overflowed. It wasn't overtly sentimental or melodramatic but I found myself crying (both out of happiness & sadness) in each episode because of just how much I connected, and felt the characters & their conversations. For those of us (like me) who live in modern cities where we do not even know our neighbors or the people living on the same floor, this drama will have you craving for that sense of community support.

Special mention to the relationship between the FL, the nurse, and the surgeon. I have rarely seen a drama focus on such a beautiful platonic bond between two men and a woman. You even hear her say that she wants to hug them both & kiss them both because she just loves & treasures them so much. They support her on her toughest days & they argue like Tom & Jerry almost everyday. It was just such a WHOLESOME relationship.

The OST was an icing on the cake, especially the flute theme that made me emotional each time it played.

I don't want to give away too much about this drama. It is really an experience. I would recommend everyone to watch this. It will teach you a thing or two about being kind & compassionate to the people around you. Much needed in times of COVID where not only are people feeling isolated & lonely, many are being cast aside on the basis of their race or religion. This will show you what INCLUSION really is, & how inclusion is important for a mentally healthy society.

It is a 10/10 in every aspect.

Read More

This was so brilliant I wanted more

3 short stories, each tackling various different issues (which I won't disclose), each of which were brilliant. It was like art, you got to watch it to understand it and appreciate it.

What makes this a must watch:

- Brilliant acting
- Great use of music at high points (and lack of)
- Brilliant writing - both dialogue and script (it was both natural and yet at the same time, so intriguing.. like the ideas the show tackled blew my mind. How did the writer think of those and how they executed it.. so so brilliant)
- Great execution; this could not have been pulled off without great direction and screenplay. An example would be the way his supernatural power was depicted with the different sized books and detailing in the books

I love the little details like how the ML wore the same clothes throughout.. I don't know how to explain it but it gave this feel of intimacy - like how we were watching his world through his mind the way he read others' minds.

I wanted each story / concept to be explored more but I guess the shortness also added to the charm? It's like the show was teasing you with these concepts and giving you the bare minimum, then leaving that with you to ponder on...

The only thing I would say that this drama really lacked was exploring the ML's eccentricity. We got to know him through the stories but I wish we saw more of what made him the way he was, the kind of mangas he wrote, and why he was so recluse..

I hope we'll get a 2nd season? Or the writer deciding to make more of such short stories because the show definitely deserved more time and has so much more to tell.

Read More

All hope's not lost with social distancing

Set in the time of the pandemic with characters spotting masks, having to practice social distancing & reflecting on the changes the pandemic has brought on their world, this was a thoughtful, adorable and heartwarming drama with some equally beautiful love stories. WHAT A FREAKING GEM!

There was nothing dramatic about this show. It is as good as it gets when it comes to presenting real people facing real problems in the real world. We're all living in one world but we see it all so differently, whether you're a kid, a psychologist, a HR manager, a doctor or just an office worker. And these different perspectives are what makes interactions and character dynamics so fun to watch.

In brief, it is one of those dramas that everyone will relate to in so many ways
- the pandemic and how our world has changed
- the loneliness so many of us are facing
- intimacy in a relationship
- real characters
- online dating
- communication in a relationship (how difficult and important it is)
- office culture

I finished this drama feeling emotional yet hopeful for the world we're living in.

Great writing, acting, screenplay all around. WATCH IT!

Read More

My fav drama from 2023; Nojima Shinji is back with a bang!

A stellar combination of mystery + romance + psychological + slice of life.

First off, Nojima Shinji is one of my favourite screenwriters and I hate to admit that some of his works in the recent years have been underwhelming especially when we compare to the gems he wrote in the 90s and 2000s.

I don't generally write reviews but I got inspired to write this review because I loved this drama so much and want more people to see it.

What makes this drama so good -

(1) the screenplay; the way the story unfolds keeps you on the edge of your seat till the last scene. Trust me, you won't know where it is going.
(2) the story - it is original, it is creative, it is edgy. Once you start, you will find yourself binging it all the way.
(3) the writing; the sensitivity and care with which the characters and their relationships are written. I could see Nojima Shinji has evolved because this wasn't as dark, and there was a healing element to it (something most of his dramas lack)
(4) the acting - each cast member was perfectly casted.
(5) the romance - again, not your typical romance. But some of the scenes between the leads got me squealing. In the case of this drama 'less is more' really worked.

Everything about it is good. The only reason I gave it a 9.5 is because I do wish we got a little more of the leads' at the end. I wanted more of them. Hoping we'll get a special on them, though I doubt :(

For those who want to watch something different, don't hesitate to give this gem a try!

Read More

THE FILM THAT SHOULD BE MADE MANDATORY VIEWING FOR ALL

The title is pretty apt because a hungry lion is a predator that sees nothing but food. He sets his eyes on the meat, and will stoop to all means to grab it, even violence, and feel satisfied after eating it. And that's what the FL fell prey to. The hungry lion.
The poster is also pretty genius with the way her eyes are blurred, making it appear like institutions are trying to protect the identity of this teenager, when in reality her name and information is made public for all to see. That's why they say actions speak louder than words.

Now on to the movie -

A brutal, thought-provoking, disturbing hard-hitting and painfully real depiction of everything that is wrong with society;

(1) The way people engage in small talk & spread rumours about others without regard, and ruin another's life - regardless of whether she was the woman in the video or not, she didn't deserve to be filmed. People should have been kinder and shown her so much more love instead of spreading the rumours further and isolating her, that too when she constantly denied being the person in the video.

(2) The inhumanity with which society bullies and isolates others - right up to after her death, people talked about her as a slut or a bitch like they've never had sex themselves. Did they think even once about how they would feel if someone did the same to them? She stopped going to school, random men were approaching her outside school; why did people not protect her instead of furthering the narrative that she's easy. ALL JUST TO SUIT THEIR OWN STORY.

(3) The way family and social institutions fail to protect victims and try to make news out of them,
The dean isolated her and asked her to quit school and after her death says bull like please speak to adults because they will protect you. Her sister slut-shamed her instead of giving her a hug, but after her death we don't hear her voice at all. That might be her way of detaching, but that also points to her cowardice. Same for her mum who questioned her daughter if she was the one in the video, but didn't shut the journalists up after her death. Not only that, she brought home a man who pointed out her daughter's low skirt instead of being sensitive to the fact that they're all women in the house. The teachers constantly saw the way she was being bullied but didn't say a single word. They should have asked the kids to shut up, and given them a lecture on being sensitive. The way news outlets continued to publish news on her, making it look like they were looking for the truth, when in reality they were just en-cashing on her death. Nobody truly wanted to know the truth. Nobody wanted to understand what she went through. She went from being a slut, to a hero, to a victim because the narrative changed as it suited the news outlets.

(4) The patriarchal & predatory mindset with which people view women who have sex as 'easy' and think they can just have her without her consent - The audacity to ask her how far she went with Hiroko, and then rape her even when she refused. And then to throw her panties out of the van in a light-hearted manner saying they had fun, while she is standing there, sapped out of energy. The way strangers came looking for her after school thinking they'd have a go to satisfy their kink. Go to a prostitute. Why bother the school girl? Disgusting.

(5) The incorrect messages we send out - men who have sex with tons of women rejoice over "I did her" while the woman in the same situation is slut-shamed. Men are encouraged to have fun, while women are taught to be cautious, and maintain a clean, virginal image.

(6) Suicide - this film presents this issue freaking brilliantly. Her suicide is first met with opinions of 'the bitch / slut killed herself", then she is made into a victim who was kind and wrongly accused, and then she is made into a hero. While the girl who came in support from Fukouka seemed like the only sane and humane person, her act of putting the FL on a pedestal and calling her a hero highlights the problem of society. People are led to believe that killing themselves is the only way out, the only way they would be heard, and given a voice. And after a few weeks, people move on like the incident never happened, just like her family moved out of the house [leaving behind empty walls and rooms] to a new place probably looking for a new start.

Every damn thing about this film (its an endless list) was powerful and triggering. It made me mad and sick to my stomach. I ugly cried. I just don't have the words really because this has left me feeling empty.

And to think, this happens every day in some corner of the world. Films like this make you realize how the world can be a flower bed for some, and thorns for another. We talk about finding sufficiency and self-love in our own self, but is it really possible when no one is on your side, and everyone is only trying to push you over the edge? I honestly doubt that she wanted to kill herself. I think she tripped. But does it matter? Because the way things were going, she would have killed herself eventually. No one, literally no one was on her side. How could people be so inhuman?! But people are, and this film presented just that.

The film's brilliance also lies in the fact that we never get a clear cut answer as to whether she was the girl in the video or not. Because it would be easy to term her a victim if she wasn't. But I love that the film makes it clear that the answer doesn't matter. She is a victim nonetheless. Another bold move is the fact that she is not a virgin or a shy girl. She is outgoing, she does have sexual relationships with men, and she is beautiful. Regardless of that, she did not deserve to be slut-shamed and is a victim.

Even though there are many take-aways from this film, the biggest lesson I have learnt is to ' live and let live'. Focus on your own life and growth rather than spending time spewing hate on another.

On to the technical aspects - the way it was filmed may make it look like a low budget film but that's what made this even more powerful. Every scene and frame looked so real, like you were viewing the world from the character's perspective rather than watching a film. The documentary-like filming style also worked perfectly in creating this disgust you feel towards each and every person in her life. It was too real.

The acting - for a heavy-duty film like this, its interesting that there was hardly a scene of the FL crying or any rage expressed. But you could see the way she slowly withdrew and became lifeless.

The story and script - Freaking A1 from the start to the end. Not a single filler scene. Every scene tells you something, and leaves you thinking.

It's a flawless short film and I highly highly recommend this for all, even though it is not an easy watch and will trigger even the hardest of hearts. I just had to write a review because that is how much I just want everyone to see it.

Read More

A drama that forces you to think - was Lichuan selfish or selfless?

Please do not read this review unless you've seen the drama. I usually refrain from posting spoilers but because this is one of those dramas that can't actually be reviewed without really discussing what happened.

Does this have much of a plot? No. In short, the man is trying to keep the woman he loves away from discovering why he left her. He left her because he was dying. They wouldn't have to go through so much had he not pushed her away, but he did and he remained sincere to that till the end, and that is where for me, the beauty of this drama really lied.

Watch this for Lichuan because this is his journey through and through. Godfrey Gao did such a good job as Lichuan.

For many, this was repetitive because he kept pushing her away. For me, however, I viewed this drama, the leads' relationship and Lichuan very differently.

Yes, he was selfish because his actions hurt her, but at the same time, he was also very selfless in that he didn't want to share the pain with her, and what moved me (i also hated it at the same time) was that till the end, even after she finds out the truth, he doesn't budge, and forced her to leave. It was just so selfish and cruel yet selfless and moving at the same time. You got to really watch the drama to know what I am talking about. The sincerity, his love for Xiao Qui and just how strong-willed Lichuan was moved me, really.

The side characters were nice as well, with no one being irritating or evil. I was moved by Jichuan, Renee and grandfather's love for Lichuan in that they always placed him above their own affairs, and always gave in regardless of his stubbornness or even tantrums that came as a result of not being able to stay with Xiao Qiu. I constantly felt that Lichuan was so lucky to receive so much love.

Xiao Qiu was also persistent, stubborn and frustrating at times because he wouldn't let her in, but you know she came from a place of love. She gave him her all and when she was forced to leave towards the end due to the way he hurt himself, I felt her pain so strongly. You feel like she's scarred for life with the way Lichuan treated her (she never really got her closure), but at the same time you also understand why Lichuan just had to push her away in the first place because that's precisely what he didn't want her to go through, and he had use the last resort because he couldn't involve her and ruin her any further.

I loved the ending because it stayed true to Lichuan's intentions from the start, so even though she knew what happened, he managed to keep her away from being fully involved.

Yes, it is complex, and I don't think this is a drama for everyone, especially not for people who want a cute, fairytale love story with a happy ending. It is a fairytale rooted deeply in reality and just how complex humans can be.

The only downside would be that I wish the leads had more time and more happiness together so as to balance the heartbreak that followed.

Also, RIP Godfrey. Gone too soon!

Read More

A journey of 2 individuals who learn to love and respect each other

This is the drama that had me join MDL :)

A drama that is worth watching for the following reasons (in brief, without spoilers) -

1. A male lead that grows into such a beautiful, gentle, caring and respectful young man
2. A female lead that grows from a scarred, lonely soul who believes in an eye for an eye to a beautiful, loving young woman who learns to be patient and forgiving
3. A very subtle love story where leads fall in love with each other gradually (you won't be able to tell the exact moment when he falls in love with her)
4. Great scenery, and music (the BGM that plays for them in the romantic/sad scenes kills me each time)

The writing for the first 12 episodes or so is absolutely perfect, not saying that the 2nd half isn't great. It is, in terms of the progression of the leads relationship, especially E15 which is absolutely beautiful. I know that many people complain about the lack of romance in this show but what makes this show so romantic for me is the fact that the leads were able to acknowledge their mistakes, forgive each other, move on from the past and start on a clean slate.. like that is so freaking rare in lakorns where leads just move from hate to love without even acknowledging the way they mistreated or direspected each other. I cannot emphasise enough on how much I loved the respect and understanding the leads shared. Their conversations, scenes were so so beautiful. They had such warm, gentle chemistry which is another rarity amongst lakorns.

The villain's arc in the second half drags on, and I wanted more of the leads in the last few episodes, and that's the only reason why I wouldn't give this show the highest rating.

The acting was believable. Everybody did their best. Yes, there were some characters I disliked but none of them were bat shit crazy.

I stopped myself from giving out the story or what really happens because you got to watch it to feel the drama that this was. All in all, its a drama that is totally worth watching!

Read More

Short, simple and sweet

There is no real conflict in this drama. It's just a story of 2 lonely individuals who find themselves married through the NEET initiative and build a world of their own together.

Surprisingly, despite how short it is, it doesn't skip much and you can see how the leads gradually fall for each other and become a family.

The side characters, too, are sweet and don't hog unnecessary screen space.

The acting is decent. Nothing to write pages about, but nothing to criticise either. Special mention to the lead actress who is absolutely adorable. No one can dislike her.

Hands down the easiest, least complicated drama I've seen. Warm, fuzzy, soft and yet heartwarming.

Read More

Don't underestimate the importance of a ring :)

HANDS DOWN ONE OF THE MOST WHOLESOME FINALE EVER!
To all those of you wondering about the importance of the ring, please watch till the end!! The finale answers it, and you'll understand it's importance :)

First of all, this was no masterpiece, but strangely, there was nothing about this drama that I disliked. It definitely had it's heart in the right place. There was a sincerity in the script, and the message it wanted to convey about being true to ourselves shined through and through.

The concept was unique, and interesting. The ML loses the ring he was going to use to propose to his girlfriend on the metro, and the ring goes from one person to another, touching many different lives which are covered in short stories, while we see our lead couple re-evaluating their relationship. The little glimpses we got into the lives of the various characters seemed real and heartwarming. The lead couple were believable, and felt like a couple that had lived together. I liked them all, each character, and rooted for them. The acting was decent as well, the soundtrack was nice.

I must admit that before heading into the finale, I thought that this was just a decent watch, and had the potential to be so much more (in terms of the leads) but the finale was PERFECT, because it tied everything together so beautifully, and allowed me to understand the importance of the ring. I dare say I really fell in love with the drama at its finale (a first for me).

Yes, he could have just bought another ring, and proposed but he didn't. It is because that one ring (which was a promise of love) was indispensable. Just like how we can't replace our partner with another person, the little things & objects (like a ring) is as important because they symbolise our feelings, and are ways in which we give value to a relationship & a person. Once lost, it is hard to find it again, which is why we should hold on to it strongly, and appreciate its importance, whether it is a ring or whether it is a person.

I didn't give this a 10 because

(1) I do think it could have been longer. I wanted to see more of the stories (at points it did feel like it was touch & go with the stories) because the concept of 'happily ever after' doesn't exist. There is so much more to a relationship than just telling someone that you love them, or getting together and dating. You also got to put in the work, and make the relationship work, so I wish that was explored more with the various stories

(2) I like that Alan's character wasn't the typical second lead who comes in to incite jealousy, and make the ML realise that he can't let her go, and the FL was also very clear about her feelings and didn't string the 2 of them along (like we always see). So I appreciated that. But, he is the only 1 character in the story that I felt was not needed. He didn't really serve much purpose other than being her ex, and wanting to get back together with her. This ties in with my next point.

(3) I do wish the show explored the couple's 5 year relationship. I like that they gave us glimpses of their world - how they fell in love, how their relationship was like, and some of the problems in their relationship (like he's a clean freak & she tends to make a mess), and I love that they both attempted to adopt each other's lifestyles in that she tried to clean, and he tried to do things that she liked. But I wanted more. The screen space given to Alan's character should have been spent on the leads instead.

I would recommend this to everyone. It's a short, simple, heartwarming drama. I do wish it was longer because I wanted to see more of a lot of the characters. Nonetheless, it doesn't take away from the fact that this was SINCERE and HEARTFELT.

Read More

ADORABLE AND FLUFFY

Does this have any plot? No.
Is this worth watching? HELL YES!

This is one of those dramas that is driven purely by good acting and likeable characters. There are times when the plot doesn't make sense and you don't fully understand what is going on, but if you can leave your brains aside and just watch this, you will love it. This is one of those dramas that you either hate or love, and I loved it.

The leads are absolutely adorable and their chemistry is absolutely believable. It's the same for majority of the characters of the drama. It is a light drama that never drags too much or takes itself too seriously (minus the twist in the 2nd last episode)

Watch this for a good time without thinking too much. Give it a chance and you'll find yourself surprisingly addicted to the world of Thien & Muey.

I laughed, cried and fangirled over the leads, especially Mark Prin who plays Thien.

Read More