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estellenijma

Spain

estellenijma

Spain
Unmei ni, Nita Koi japanese drama review
Completed
Unmei ni, Nita Koi
3 people found this review helpful
by estellenijma
Dec 5, 2020
8 of 8 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 8.5
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.0
Music 6.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

An underrated wonderful story

What a delicate and thoughtful drama ! Finding out that only two reviews had been written on this one, I felt the urge to add mine, which is my first ever review after watching about 70 dramas.
It may not be a 10/10 but it has so many appeals that it's a pity not more people would watch it. A hidden gem, really worth it. Let me try and explain you why.

First, Harada Tomoyo 's acting, very subtle and moving. I really fell under her charm, so much that I'm thinking of adding it my list of « mesmerising performances ». Her portraying of this struggling working class lady is beautiful and dignified. She never falls into bitterness and retains a natural glory all through her hardships that makes you believe that a younger handsome and successful designer would fall for her.
But don't let yourself fooled by the air of cinderella. Ozawa Yuri is nothing like a prince charming. And their story has unexpected twists and ghostly presence from the past that won't let you skip a single scene, And for that we have to thank the two women in charge of this drama : screenwriter Kitagawa Eriko and director Ichiki Masae. I'm a fan of Kitagawa Eriko and I always fall for the guys in her stories. They are complex, with a dark edge to them and a sense of mystery and secrecy, fascinating characters indeed !
In Kitagawa's universe this drama has a place of its own. The outstanding element would be the aestetic sense that derives from the profession of the Ozawa Yuri. There are magic and poetry in the way objects, designs of all sorts fill this drama. I enjoyed every moment they get into the making process of an exhibition or any random objects such as a rugby shirt. The starting point of the drama is a wooden chair where only Kasumi can seat as if the object itself could choose its host. In addition to this there are beautiful sceneries like the window wall in Yuri's flat, the fairytale terrace in Fukami's house and the paradise on earth represented by the childhood secret place, a wonderful landscape that looks like the Maldives (at least how I imagine it) or my home place in Brittany (look at my photo profile if you're curious).

Of course, this drama has some flaws too. Don't imagine a masterpiece, it's not it.
The filming and editing could have been a lot more meaningful in my opinion (something like It's okay not to be okay). And the secondary characters are a bit annoying (the over the top master Fukami, the sassy witch Shirai Mao or the naive Aoi Kaichi) as they are very one sided characters. But there is a remarkable exception with Kasumi's son Tsugumi and his cute encounter with his stalker Kameko. Finally, I must say I don't appreciate much the disease trope even if I acknowledge its usefulness in the plot and defining process of the characters.

All in all, go for it, it's really worth the eight episodes !
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