Winter 2021 Dramas Update
Not that it matters, but here are my thoughts (or feelings) on some of the winter dramas I've finished.
Shitteru Wife - I'll start with this one since it's the first one I finished. I loved this drama. I don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the original Korean version, but this, really, was so lovely. I couldn't wait for new episodes and, when it was done, binge-watched it with my sister, so I’ve watched it twice already. I had told my sister how much I liked the drama on our nightly walks without giving anything away. When it was over, I knew I had to have her watch it. I bought the theme song, not that it’s some weird thing for me to buy a Kanjani8 single LOL.
Oh! My Boss! Koi wa Bessatsu de - The second drama I finished watching. I would save up 2-3 episodes to watch at once since it was hard to wait for the new episode to air. I thought this drama was well-written. I love Japanese dramas, but it seems like characters make stupid decisions the same way in most of them. I often lament to my sister that there can be conflict in a drama without the characters being stupid and this drama finally fulfilled that for me. That’s not to say the drama was free of clichés (especially in the last episode), but I was happy every week when problems were resolved without wanting to yell at the screen. I'm going to clarify, though, that I am fine with clichés (they exist for a reason) and I am often disappointed when fiction doesn't use them when they should LOL. Again, I bought the theme song, but that’s Kis-My-Ft2 so…come on, I was going to buy it anyway.
Kakenai!? - The third on my original list of dramas I was watching this season. If Japanese dramas are in fact created like this drama portrays, I’ve assumed correctly about a lot of things LOL. But, really, I love Japanese dramas like the main character does and I have a degree in screenwriting, so I very much enjoyed this drama. Yes, it starred Ikuta Toma, a Johnny, one of my favorites, but let me just gush about Koike Teppei and Okada Masaki - I love those actors too. Yagami Hayato (Okada’s character) was too hilarious and kind of a hero at the end - am I right?
Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai!! - This ended up being one of my favorite dramas this season. I was disappointed with the last episode until I dwelled on it, then I got over what I thought it needed and realized it ended correctly for how the drama had played out the whole time. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I did not think the drama was going to go the way it did with the history between the mother and daughter - though I like that the daughter loved her mother and was always going to love her mother (my statement makes more sense if you’ve seen the drama - and even then, my statement’s kind of gobbledygook).
Toshi no Sakon - So, with this drama I watched the first episode and then two months went by and I finished it on Monday and Tuesday. The episodes were only a half-hour, so it was easy to watch it that fast. It was cute - that’s a boring word, one I use a lot to review some dramas, but that’s how I feel about it. It didn't strike me until near the end of the drama that I have a friend in this situation. Her husband is 15-16 years older than her and she's the boss’ daughter LOL. BTW, they could use some prayers (he's been fighting cancer since last year - he’s clear right now, we pray it stays that way).
Horimiya - This one wasn't on my list originally. I decided I wanted to watch it on a whim, but actually started watching the anime first. I was eight episodes into the anime when the entire drama had been subbed, so I paused the anime and watched the drama. It's the type of drama where, when I think I'm over high school stories (since I'm old and all LOL), I come across something like this and it's just plain cute (there’s that word again) and I love it and I'm left thinking, "I guess I can still watch new high school dramas" (and I complete a huge run-on sentence). I finished the anime today. The drama was considerably shorter than the anime in that the drama had 7 episodes and the anime had 13 - both had the same runtime for episodes. I just binged the drama in one day. I loved the cast and was especially impressed with the child actor who played Hori’s little brother - I couldn’t believe he was actually six years old.
So, that’s what I’ve watched up till today. I don’t know when I’ll get around to finishing the rest. I’ll probably try for Dekkee Furoba de Mattemasu (half-hour episodes) and Tengoku to Jigoku next.
I’ve kind of gone crazy with anime watching, so it may be a while before I finish these LOL. Yes, anime got me into Japanese dramas, but I’ve put anime on the backburner for thirteen or so years now - I guess I’m making up for that. Since the middle of March I’ve watched Freezing, Freezing Vibration, Murder Princess, Chrono Crusade, Yuru Camp Season 1 (& Heya Camp), Majo no Tabitabi, Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense., In/Spectre, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (2020), Bananya and the Curious Bunch (easy-peasy 3-min episodes), La Corda d`Oro: Blue Sky, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, and, of course, Horimiya. And I’ve started So I’m a Spider, So What?, Sword Art Online: Alicization (haven’t seen any of the others - why not start at series 3?), Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club (again, haven’t seen any of the others - why not start here?), Bakemonogatari, and Princess Connect! Re:Dive. Obviously, an insane mix of old and new. I feel like I’ve gone crazy - but I’m totally addicted again, and I can’t stop myself from randomly starting new anime. Not to mention, I'm slowly getting through Ojamajo Doremi Season 1 and Tokyo Mew Mew. I started those when they were on 4Kids and never finished them.
Shitteru Wife - I'll start with this one since it's the first one I finished. I loved this drama. I don't know if I'll ever get around to watching the original Korean version, but this, really, was so lovely. I couldn't wait for new episodes and, when it was done, binge-watched it with my sister, so I’ve watched it twice already. I had told my sister how much I liked the drama on our nightly walks without giving anything away. When it was over, I knew I had to have her watch it. I bought the theme song, not that it’s some weird thing for me to buy a Kanjani8 single LOL.
Oh! My Boss! Koi wa Bessatsu de - The second drama I finished watching. I would save up 2-3 episodes to watch at once since it was hard to wait for the new episode to air. I thought this drama was well-written. I love Japanese dramas, but it seems like characters make stupid decisions the same way in most of them. I often lament to my sister that there can be conflict in a drama without the characters being stupid and this drama finally fulfilled that for me. That’s not to say the drama was free of clichés (especially in the last episode), but I was happy every week when problems were resolved without wanting to yell at the screen. I'm going to clarify, though, that I am fine with clichés (they exist for a reason) and I am often disappointed when fiction doesn't use them when they should LOL. Again, I bought the theme song, but that’s Kis-My-Ft2 so…come on, I was going to buy it anyway.
Kakenai!? - The third on my original list of dramas I was watching this season. If Japanese dramas are in fact created like this drama portrays, I’ve assumed correctly about a lot of things LOL. But, really, I love Japanese dramas like the main character does and I have a degree in screenwriting, so I very much enjoyed this drama. Yes, it starred Ikuta Toma, a Johnny, one of my favorites, but let me just gush about Koike Teppei and Okada Masaki - I love those actors too. Yagami Hayato (Okada’s character) was too hilarious and kind of a hero at the end - am I right?
Uchi no Musume wa, Kareshi ga Dekinai!! - This ended up being one of my favorite dramas this season. I was disappointed with the last episode until I dwelled on it, then I got over what I thought it needed and realized it ended correctly for how the drama had played out the whole time. I don’t want to spoil anything, but I did not think the drama was going to go the way it did with the history between the mother and daughter - though I like that the daughter loved her mother and was always going to love her mother (my statement makes more sense if you’ve seen the drama - and even then, my statement’s kind of gobbledygook).
Toshi no Sakon - So, with this drama I watched the first episode and then two months went by and I finished it on Monday and Tuesday. The episodes were only a half-hour, so it was easy to watch it that fast. It was cute - that’s a boring word, one I use a lot to review some dramas, but that’s how I feel about it. It didn't strike me until near the end of the drama that I have a friend in this situation. Her husband is 15-16 years older than her and she's the boss’ daughter LOL. BTW, they could use some prayers (he's been fighting cancer since last year - he’s clear right now, we pray it stays that way).
Horimiya - This one wasn't on my list originally. I decided I wanted to watch it on a whim, but actually started watching the anime first. I was eight episodes into the anime when the entire drama had been subbed, so I paused the anime and watched the drama. It's the type of drama where, when I think I'm over high school stories (since I'm old and all LOL), I come across something like this and it's just plain cute (there’s that word again) and I love it and I'm left thinking, "I guess I can still watch new high school dramas" (and I complete a huge run-on sentence). I finished the anime today. The drama was considerably shorter than the anime in that the drama had 7 episodes and the anime had 13 - both had the same runtime for episodes. I just binged the drama in one day. I loved the cast and was especially impressed with the child actor who played Hori’s little brother - I couldn’t believe he was actually six years old.
So, that’s what I’ve watched up till today. I don’t know when I’ll get around to finishing the rest. I’ll probably try for Dekkee Furoba de Mattemasu (half-hour episodes) and Tengoku to Jigoku next.
I’ve kind of gone crazy with anime watching, so it may be a while before I finish these LOL. Yes, anime got me into Japanese dramas, but I’ve put anime on the backburner for thirteen or so years now - I guess I’m making up for that. Since the middle of March I’ve watched Freezing, Freezing Vibration, Murder Princess, Chrono Crusade, Yuru Camp Season 1 (& Heya Camp), Majo no Tabitabi, Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense., In/Spectre, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen (2020), Bananya and the Curious Bunch (easy-peasy 3-min episodes), La Corda d`Oro: Blue Sky, Natsuyuki Rendezvous, Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, and, of course, Horimiya. And I’ve started So I’m a Spider, So What?, Sword Art Online: Alicization (haven’t seen any of the others - why not start at series 3?), Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club (again, haven’t seen any of the others - why not start here?), Bakemonogatari, and Princess Connect! Re:Dive. Obviously, an insane mix of old and new. I feel like I’ve gone crazy - but I’m totally addicted again, and I can’t stop myself from randomly starting new anime. Not to mention, I'm slowly getting through Ojamajo Doremi Season 1 and Tokyo Mew Mew. I started those when they were on 4Kids and never finished them.