Reviews

Such a perfect, oh-so-Japanese, traditional tale of honor and revenge!

Amidst the recent, ever-surging wave of "westernized" j-dramas, filled to the brim with all sort of depravity, decadence, obscenity and utterly despicable characters, it does one's heart a whole lot of good to find a small gem like this "Hotarugusa"! Such a perfect, oh-so-Japanese, traditional tale of honor and revenge, with endearing, ethical, righteous characters one can't help but wholeheartedly root for, complete with a healthy dose of "mono no aware" (the eponimous flower being itself a symbol of this fleeting yet so strong feeling) and topped with a few moments of comic relief which are ideal to avoid making things too gloomy.
An astonishing performance by Kiyohara Kaya, as well as by the rest of the cast (with honorable mentions for Machida Keita, Hamada Mari and Ukaji Takashi - oh, and the kids are just *adorbs* - there, I never thought I would've used that word, LOL). Some extremely nice music completes the package. Perfect 10 all the way!

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"Where's the love in that?" —Kashiwagi Tatsuya

Many consider the 1990’s a golden age in Japanese drama. It’s been said there was a certain spark at that time, an outpouring of talented writers and actors, even more daring scripts and sizzling romances. Unfortunately I have yet to experience many of these gems from another era. But after Hitotsu Yane no Shita (Under One Roof), believe me when I say they will be a priority and a must! As one whose go-to genre must be considered “family,” I cannot remember the last time I’ve seen one as memorable or involving. Plus the screenwriter is Nojima Shinji (Pride), so how can you go wrong?

Viewers join Kashiwagi Tatsuya—or An-chan—as he attempts first to reunite with his scattered siblings, then to keep them together again. But can blood ties bridge seven years’ worth of separation, resentment, and loneliness? Are they better off as a family or apart in their new situations? Hitotsu Yane no Shita ventures to answer these questions, focusing on the Kashiwagis and their struggle to live both as individuals and a family. Each sibling is granted their own plot line, from which many types of stories spring (some with shockingly mature themes); these build up throughout the series and connect to the final arc with a masterful touch. What stays constant across the board is the unique humor and gentle warmth that allows Hitotsu Yane no Shita continued relevance. One might connect deeply with the members of the Kashiwagi clan, and then leave the drama feeling they’d all grown a lot. What an incredible experience—though I must admit I didn’t watch quickly. It would have meant saying goodbye to this wonderful family, and I wasn't ready to for a while.

For those familiar with Wakamono Tachi, they are very similar to one another. They have the same high-speed bickering, brotherly wrestling matches, etc.

Casting a family must be tricky. If one member fails to ignite chemistry with the others, you can bet the whole thing will be thrown askew. But have you seen this cast? It’s pretty much perfect for the purpose. First we have Eguchi Yosuke, now an exquisite veteran actor, but apparently he could carry a drama even twenty years ago. His An-chan is a lovable dummy who follows his heart with admirable determination and adores Ken-Ken the Dog (Muttley from Whacky Racers!); beneath all his silly bluster, An-chan is reliable, hard-working, and every bit a pillar of strength. Eguchi-san proves his ability to perform comically and turn right around with the most believable tears time and again. The second brother Masaya/”Chi-niichan,” lands us another present-day veteran in Fukuyama Masaharu. Perhaps being a good friend to Eguchi-san helped, but their scenes make you believe they might actually be brothers. An early episode between the two could be considered one of the best of the series for that matter. And if you allow me a moment’s shallowness, both are as cute as anything in Hitotsu Yane no Shita.

Of the other Kashiwagi siblings, most memorable are Yamamoto Koji and Sakai Noriko. Sakai-san performs beautifully as the backbone of the Kashiwagis, the adopted daughter Koyuki; her presence is calm, gentle one without being pretentious, and there’s a maternal strength in her performance that’s very appealing.

For someone who grew up in the 90’s, Hitotsu Yane no Shita is a delightful nostalgia trip. Every single track sent me back in time and was an utter delight, especially paired with the series. Probably most memorable will be the fantastic theme song, “Saboten no Hana” by TULIP; between this and the family Muttley-laugh, there's a lot that I'll take away from this series. You can bet it's worth watching twice, too~

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On a dangerous path as a choice

A young woman, sold from the “Flower House” to the prime minister to become his concubine, turns out to be a strong and independent personality with her own goals. She also has a mysterious connection to the prime ministers son-in-law, which makes her endeavour even more risky, while at the same time yields an advantage, as it enables her to involve him into her scheme. Being well prepared she turns dangerous situations into opportunities, so she is not afraid, to provoke such situations, despite being already almost killed by the prime minister, before even entering the mansion. There the story unfolds, as she works on settling old scores and retrieving something important, that had been stolen from her.


Maybe give it a try, if you are looking for something with more tension and passion between the main characters, than the average cdrama and if you can bear enemies/lovers stabbing and hurting each other in plenty of ways repeatedly… Also, if you are tired of the innocent, always nice and kind female lead characters, but also don't want her to be unemotional or a stereotypical physically strong woman/warrior type.

I would not recommend this to people, who only want to see sweet/innocent romance. This surely isn't a wholesome love story, since the main characters are set up to be “enemies and lovers” at the same time. Problematic behaviour occurs, but in my opinion, its framed as problematic, not as something to aim for.

I appreciated about the drama:
-that the female lead has agency. She is resourceful, confident and willing to take matters into her own hands. Additionally she has political aspirations besides her personal motivations, giving her purpose beyond romance.
-that the second female lead plays a role beyond being an antagonist to the main leads, not simply being a character to be exclusively hated by the audience, like in many similar dramas.
-that the acting is decent and the plot moves along quickly (there are more flashback scenes in the beginning, but its not excessive throughout the drama)

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The twisted version of the fairytale the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

This movie has an unique story, I've never seen it like this and this movie is quite remarkable. The movie uses the fairytale as the red thread, with some other things thrown in there.
The first half off the movie might come off slow and even boring, but this connects very well to the second part of the movie, so don't give up! I also had a hard time continue the movie, but it was so worth it.
The are some 'comical' parts, but I believe if they could have kept a serious tone throughout the movie that it would have made it better.
This movie is classified as horror, but I thought it has a more of a thriller/mystery vibe. But I do warn you that some things can be considered as gross.
The actors did a splendid job, I had sometimes a hard time with the facial expressions of the main lead. But overall it was well en greatly done!
The music was lovely, especially the music from the flute.
I would rewatch this movie, because I think it is one of a kind. But, this is also a movie that you really going to like or going to dislike, there is no inbetween.

Watch this if you like an unique storyline, great acting and good story.
Skip this if you want a horror movie or if you are expecting romance.

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This is a really good drama. I can't believe I just watched a legal drama without skipping and fast forward. I have watched too many this kind of drama setup especially Korean and ended up switching to others. I'm too tired of those some kind of hero or heroine became lawyer or police because of revenge, corruption, organization power abuse, trauma etc. and I have the same mindset before watching this. Thankfully this director and screenwriter brought a good mix to the character and storylines. Common cases and characters but fresh and full of life values related with current society. The cases are very close to reality and how they kept stressing about the public opinion sometimes affect the judgement, it is very relatable.

Nothing to say about the main leads. Jin Dong, Cheng Yi and Cai WenJing are very good although I sometimes annoyed with Ye Xin character. Maybe that's how the screenwriter wants to design her character. The supporting roles caught me. I really like how they portrayed them. Sister Fei, Xu Tian, Sister Wang, Su Su , Xiao Wei, this is the first time I watched them and I really like all the relationship between all the roles. Also, the supporting cast that appear maybe only for two episodes or less. They did really well.

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This is definitely a LONG drama lol - there were times where I was really happy, times where I was really frustrated, irritated, joyful, disbelief, happiness - lots of different emotions. I'd have to say I think this drama is a bit slow paced - maybe b/c it's a family drama - I liked Muyeong & Jisu best and then Eunha & Jimin, after them it was Sanghyeon & Eunju (I didn't care for them in the middle of the drama though). Muyeong & Sanghyeon's parents were really nice and I liked them.
They all really looked like families - since some of their stories didn't seem very interesting to me - I skipped quite a lot (but not enough to not know what was going on).
I loved the relationship between Muyeong & Jisu - you can tell they grew up as friends from a young age - they are VERY playful (it's really cute/adorable to watch) - when they are together it's the best. There was about 10-15 episodes that were frustrating between them - but it eventually ends and then comes the best scenes between them <3
Eunha was a bit annoying to me in the beginning through the middle - until the late 80+episodes when I warmed up to her & she was no longer a threat. I really like her with Jimin however ;)
Music: I only remember the theme song and a ballad song that I really want to find.
Re-watch value: I'd only re-watch the scenes of Muyeong & Jisu if I were to re-watch it.
I believe the title "High as Sky Wide as Earth" stands for: "I love you as high as the sky & as wide as the earth" - that's my belief anyway :P
Park Hae Jin & Han Hyo Joo are the STARS of this drama I believe - they really captivate me and made it worth watching <3

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Curto, Intenso e com Gosto de "Quero Mais"

Fobia de Amor é certeira ao abordar as inseguranças modernas nos relacionamentos. O drama explora como as cicatrizes emocionais podem impedir alguém de viver algo novo e como o convívio forçado ou inesperado pode quebrar essas defesas.

Por que a nota 8?
• Abordagem Direta: Por ter poucos episódios, a trama não enrola e vai direto ao ponto nos conflitos internos dos protagonistas.
• Identificação: É muito fácil se colocar no lugar dos personagens que têm medo de se machucar de novo.
• O Dilema da Duração: A nota 8 reflete a qualidade, mas fica aquele sentimento de que 8 episódios foram pouco. Com 16 episódios, daria para aprofundar ainda mais os traumas e a cura de cada um.

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Intelligent and sweet

If you are a fan of intelligent leads, healthy relationships and green flag couples, watch this drama. I stumbled on to this drama because I was looking for other dramas by featuring Zhang Wanyi and I am so glad I did.
The acting from the whole cast is stellar, the villain was human with shades of grey and not just evil alone. The OST is beautiful and the sets gorgeous. In the beginning, I thought it reminded me of The Story of Ming Lan, there are some parallels there, then it stopped doing that in the second episode and became its own show. It's much lighter, sweeter and faster paced than TSoML where I found the atmosphere much more oppressive and gloomy and I definitely enjoyed TRoN more.

The biggest positive for me were the leads who were all in when they thought they were siblings, all in when ML knew they were not siblings and all in when their relationship changes to more. its a healthy, intentional and reciprocal relationship of two equals with small misunderstandings, easily and quickly resolved through honest communication on both their parts. Can we please see more of these???
This drama has very quickly been added to my favourite historical dramas and let me tell you that is no easy feat.

I highly recommend it, whether as an easy binge watch or as a serious drama craving, it satisfies all your drama needs.

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Uncovering the infamous historical figure Akechi Mitsuhide

First of all, let's get our historical fact check. Mitsuhide is no other than the warrior who assassinated Nobunaga. While this is surely an act of betrayal. Keep in mind that both figures aren't perfect. Nobunaga might be famous for being one of the unifiers but he is also famous for being brutal & ruthless. There is no bad or good side here.

Mitsuhide might just also be one of the most mysterious historical figure of Japan. They don't have clear records of his childhood thus different to how Taiga dramas usually start (it most of the time starts with the lead as a kid) Kirin ga Kuru starts with Mitsuhide "Jubei" during his early days as a warrior just a few years before he becomes head of the Akechi clan.

When watching Taiga dramas I always look at the costumes, the way the characters talk, and the interior/sceneries. Costumes are on point, the acting & the way they talk truly takes you back to the sengoku period. Since Mino (Mitsuhide's hometown) is a village in the mountains there are scenes that captures the beauty of the mountainous region. Music was well matched depending on the scene although there aren't much. The opening is quite dark w/c is fitting to the destination of this story. I love openings of Taiga dramas including this so I recommend to not skip it, even just once, watch the opening credits as it is well made.

Hasegawa Hiroki as Akechi "Jubei" Mitsuhide and Sometani Shota as Oda Nobunaga reels you in with their portrayal. The way they talk, fight, or even just the way they stand, clearly creates the difference between these two men. They have a lot of scenes together and it was a feast watching these two great actors.

From the moment I started watching this, I've been wondering how would they end this, as most of us knows that Mitsuhide's life doesn't end in a good note. The ending was just right, a good take on one of the many assumptions on why he decided to turn his back on Oda.

Kirin ga Kuru "Awaiting Kirin", the title was mentioned a lot of times throughout the series. I like how they emphasized on it and explained this mythical creature the "Kirin". If you look at the poster for this drama, the black smoke-looking effect is actually a representation of the "Kirin". Try to look at paintings of a Kirin & you'll see the reference. I like what they did there.

Overall, I enjoyed this take on the mysterious man, Akechi Mitsuhide.

Just want to note that I am someone who mostly just watches Jdramas and interested in their culture and history. Please do read the tags/genre and plot before trying to watch this as this isn't your typical kind of drama.

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Wonderful surprise

Well, I must admit, I really was taken aback by this serie. Since the characters untill the graphical effects.

The story was (as expected) a little rushed, but in my point o view was well developed taken in consideration the time of the entire serie. Lines well acted by the actors, I really liked the chemistry between the ML and the FL.

The ending was kind of expected for me but even so, the plot twist caught me off guard, hahaha.

In resume, the story was simple, direct, effective, warmt and for those who like short stories this one put a "must see" tag on it. I recommend.

PS: I gave 6 on rewatch value because i seldom see a serie again.

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Enjoyable and funny mini-show with time travel theme

What a wonderful mini-show. This is one of these small hidden gems I’m sometimes lucky enough to stumble upon. The storyline of traveling between two worlds (or time travel) isn’t new but I don’t think I have ever seen one where the portal connects a living room in modern time and a bedroom in ancient time - allowing them to go through time/space any time they want.
Character wise we get this sweet FL that is a bit air headed but resourceful, a ML who is strong and clever, a not too smart princess and a general that is kind of a genius but also soft hearted. There are also a couple of interesting side characters.
Acting wise this might not reach the top but the actors all do a good job portraying their characters. Since it’s a comedy we always have to take into account that the characters are supposed to be a bit silly. Especially the general’s Kung Fu, is hilarious. I also loved the princess the King was originally supposed to marry - what a strong woman, LOL.
I enjoyed this mini-show a lot and since the ending is kind of open, I hope to see a season 2.
Anyway, if you like a sweet and romantic comedy - with a parallel world/time travel theme - this is well worth watching.

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A nuanced take on queer intimacy

Symbolic and a macabre--exactly what we're used to from Filipino indie cinema. I liked it; it's a daring and nuanced take on the dangers that young queer people must face when navigating hook-up culture. Unlike their straight peers, who can happily frolic out in the open, the gay dating scene is shrouded in secrecy. It is in dark allies and dingy bathrooms that guys connect with the strangers they've met online-- and just like the city of Manila doesn't bat an eye at the decomposing bodies littering their streets, nobody really seems to care about these young gay men risking their lives in the pursuit of intimacy either.

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Shortest way to give the synopsis would be: when a plan backfires, you should lie, lie, lie.
You've got the whole "lakorn to go" set in this one: possessive ML, secretes behind FL actions, plotting evil female, confused characters, mentor characters.. all well rounded up in a story that has enough energy to push you across the finish line. And we all end up cheering for our OTP (darn, I cheered for them from day 1, but it took them a sweet while)
WHY I LIKED IT?
I picked this one up because it had a good idea behind the story: while trying to help her friend get out of a forced wedding, our FL ends up messing it up so had, and they are now BOTH married. The good thing is: the marriage is only the beginning of the plot.
There is dramatic moment in every episode. That said, there are times the ML is a cold-blooded and vengeful guy, but the good thing is how he melts away in duration of a single episode. There are times FL is a scheming nuts (well, actually, that is her BEST feature) and she makes mistakes that aggravate not only ML, but it's cute how she warms up to every apology.
I liked it for the two of them.
And Mr. Writer knew how to give us the "fan service". Even when they were seemingly having fights, we were joyful, because that would lead to another cute/shy/*I'm rolling on my sofa laughing* kind of reconciliation.
Hats down for FL and her ability to do makeup: from re-creating fake bruises to drag-queen-gone-wrong, she did them all.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE
As a matter of fact, I didn't like the rest of the cast. :)
I didn't mind the second leads story, because it had some value to it. It's about how bad it is to lie about your baby-daddy and make a whole world of mess for everyone. Then, we get to see the actual reasoning behind this, and as we peel more layers, we get to understand everyone's action in that *backstabbing!* family.
The family itself is on a high level on insane. I can forgive the intensity of their madness. However, I didn't get the answer on what in the world happened to Pink's mom?! Where's my "who's done it" moment?! nothing? Fine.. live us in the dark.. it's not like this is the only drama that left me stumbling for answers and making up my own stories just to tie it all up.
And: it got a bit too draggy on all "let's not tell anyone about our secret mission" thing. Sure, fine, keep FL crying for a good long while (just so you know: I'd slap your face so hard for that.. you'd fall over!)
THE MUSIC
Good.
It has followed the story.
The couple theme was appropriate.
But, let us give applause the special sounds producers added in conversations, emphasizing the intensity of some looks. That was a nice touch! I approve it :)
RE-WATCH VALUE
Some parts, some funny/adorable moments - yes
The entire Mad Family Plotting scenes - heck, no!
OVERALL
What would you do for your family? How far would you go?
If you want to know - give this one a go.

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This is a good drama- based on a kind of forbidden romance, which is handled really well. The connection between Tae in and Na Bo Ri is where the drama shines. Their relationship evolves throughout, but always exudes a simple warmth and affection.
The drama has it's share of absurdities and annoying people. At times during the first half, you have to throw away logic and reason. At other times, you become intensely frustrated with some people. But,none of it is a reason to not like the drama. And those people do redeem themselves in the end.
Gong Yoo and Gong Hyo Jin are reason enough to enjoy this drama. And the ending makes it worth the while.

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The movie starts off slowly and progresses in much the same manner. Patience will be rewarded. The heartbreaking realization that life is repeating itself from mother (who is no more than a child herself) to son (who is forced to be more of an adult than he should be too soon) in an unbreakable cycle, is all too evident and all too depressing, particularly to those of us who see it in our daily lives in our own family, friends,or workplace. It's a theme pretty universal without much differentiation from country to country. It can make watching a movie like this even more difficult, but the performances, especially by Seo Young Joo, are their own reward.

There are many reviews online that are better than anything I could write. There are scenes which touched me...One: at night in the reformatory a boy asks to be told a funny story and another boy relates a short anecdote about fish cakes which sends them into fits of giggles. Young men who, in all likelihood, never had a parent or grandparent to read them bedtime stories. My heart clenched as I remember the joy of sharing those moments with my own son and the wonderful memories both he and I carry of those times. At all times while watching this movie I could not stop thinking how different could some of their lives have been if they had just one person who loved them unconditionally and completely. It's true there are those who are true sociopaths without empathy or any ability to understand right and wrong. But this movie shows the sad reality of societal and family breakdowns and the repercussions on the children as a result. It's a theme the director and writer portray beautifully.

There is also the scene by the river where the mom promises her son she will not abandon him again, and the heart wrenching look on his face as he listens. What is he thinking? That nothing she says can be believed because she is a chronic liar and user whose own life is completely out of control? The sad understanding that, no matter how much he is wishing for it, she will never, despite her fantasies, be a real mother to him and he will spend his entire life being either another caregiver to her or being betrayed? It's a look full of pain and disillusionment and hopelessness.

The ending pretty much matched the tone of the entire movie and is very fitting with the message the director and writer are trying to tell. No easy answers. Nothing tied up in a pretty pink bow. Is there any hope on the horizon for either of them or that poor little girlfriend of his? What happened to them? I think there are thousands and thousands of children out there you can ask that question about and it absolutely breaks my heart that, while there are lots of answers, there is never any real solution.

I paid no attention to the music. I would not rewatch it purely because my heart can only take so much angst. I HIGHLY recommend it. As a person who gets way too emotionally involved in her movies and dramas, you can tell I'm not very objective. If you can watch this from the perspective that it is a beautiful piece of work that succeeds mightily in telling its story, you will be glad you shared in the experience.

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