Unbelievably strong writing throughout the whole thing. It's a fantasy but manages to be really grounded, avoiding the trap of feeling too easy by not completely shying away from the harsh reality. Optimistic might be a good way to put it—it just felt refreshing to be around these cast of characters, especially because even at their worse it acknowledges the goodness that can be pulled out of them. No villains, just human shortcomings.
It has the usual Sunday Theater trappings of being a bit bloated and trying to please too many. There were glaring pacing issues, and you could tell even with the extra 15 minutes given for the finale that they were just scrambling to get it all in (and still wound up glossing over a bunch of points), but I still walked out of it feeling good. Nishijima Hidetoshi and Ashida Mana really elevated the material above just sweeping melodrama (especially for a series about an orchestra, it really drives home the melodrama). Could it have been more? Yeah, but what it wound up being is a decent enough watch.
Far too clean to really make any kind of impact. I initially thought we were being set-up for a put-down of a pathetic boyfriend. Instead, it's earnest about its title but gives you no reason to root for the couple. It comes across as a pastiche of much better break-up fare.... and a weak follow-up for Hashizuma Shunki after More Than Words.
I'm glad he got signed to a big acting agency in Japan. HoriPro seems to be taking much better care of him than BOC (probably getting paid better too tbh).
It's funny how old-school this drama is. Actually, it speaks a lot on how K-dramas are still perceived by the general foreign audience: glossy, frivolous, saccharine, escapist fantasies. I find that neither Korea or Japan really make these kinds of dramas anymore unless it's to cater to a very specific niche market. Which is to say that this is a drama practically tailor made to fit into those AI generated "Best Asian Dramas on Netflix" listicles. It certainly has its audience, and I certainly find it charming enough.
It's surprisingly intimate despite the prestige of a Sunday prime-time slot. I'm used to the bureuacratic stuff feeling shoehorned, but I think having Hibiki in the mix keeps things grounded. Anyway, very enjoyable so far hope so I hope it doesn't lose steam.
Finally finished this! It was over-the-top and irreverent in all the best ways and has, hands down, one of my favourite Koshiba Fuka performances ever, especially those last few moments in the finale.
It's not so often we get a drama that's just brimming with personality. It's so single-minded in its approach but the material is begging for it, they really couldn't half-ass anything. The actual structure of the story is formulaic but they make a lot of effort to not make it feel so episodic, it genuinely feels like we're building and building to something with each episode. I feel like maybe 1 or 2 more episodes would have been great to give the backhalf some breathing room, but I also love that we kept streamrolling to the end (in true spirit to how Kongming and Eiko crashed the party, so to speak). Anyway, the finale was epic and I'm looping the soundtrack now. ✌️
It leaned into the melodramatic a little too much at times, but I'll be damned if I didn't cry a bunch. It's a silly premise but it sells it. Maybe we all need a Daichi-sensei in our lives, even if just to look up to.
Airi keeps racking up the rom-com hits. Charming as ever! Also, this is probably my favourite Ryota role, he works better in lighter fare like this that's playing up his on-stage persona.
Fantastic finale. Like the rest of the series, a satisfying blend of intense sports action and charged melodrama.…
This drama has been the only thing on my mind for weeks now. If you could forgive my words, it's probably dramaland's first great LA sports anime (and Tsukhara Ayuko pays her dues to the genre, understanding what animation achieves that live action can't).
Fantastic finale. Like the rest of the series, a satisfying blend of intense sports action and charged melodrama. We already knew the outcome going in, yet the tension remained palpable. Truly who wouldn't be invested after seeing the miracle first years grow to become the core of Etsuzan High's baseball team? To see Nagumo-sensei rise from the ashes, Yamazumi-sensei realize a dream and the rest of the team create a legacy to be proud of? This whole thing was theirs to win.
Not the kind of show you think you would be holding your breath for each episode... but I do exactly that. I'm left speechless by the edit at times—one moment, slow and tense, suddenly, manic and rapid-fire. Like it's fighting itself, like it's a baseball game. Tsukahara Ayuko really outdoing herself here. She just knows how to make TV pop.
For the romantics. 💞 Yoshioka Riho and Nagayama Eita were stellar here.