Summer 2021 Drama(s) (and Anime) Update
Not that it matters, but here are my thoughts (or feelings) on some of the summer drama(s) and anime I've finished.
Mostly spoiler free thoughts on summer '21 dramas and anime.
Drama(s)
I have actually only finished Kanojo wa Kirei datta, so the other two I'll just put my initial reactions.
Kanojo wa Kirei datta - Like Shitteru Wife which I loved earlier this year, this drama is a remake of a South Korean drama. As of October 16th, I have completed watching the originals of both Shitteru Wife (Familiar Wife) and this one (She Was Pretty). Also, like Shitteru Wife, I had my sister binge watch it with me after I had finished watching it, so I have watched this one twice already. I feel kind of bad that I like the Japanese versions of both of these better, but I think the changes they made created better relationships in the dramas. Since I watched both versions of this drama so close together, it's interesting to see how the actors portrayed their characters - especially Akaso Eiji playing Higuchi Takuya (Choi Shi Won from Super Junior was the counterpart, Shin Hyuk, in the original). It's quite an eccentric character and I think Akaso Eiji made it his own. Also, Sato Ai was so spazzy in this one that I was actually shocked that Hye Jin was even more spazzy in the original.
Mostly I thought this was a sweet drama. I also bought my very first SZ single - the theme song got stuck in my head a lot.
# Kazoku Boshuu Shimasu - I've watched the first two episodes of this one and kind of got tripped up when it went on hiatus for three weeks. Shigeoka Daiki has done very well (IMO) tugging at the heartstrings with his character.
Oshi no Ojisama - This one I started watching when the series was almost finished airing. I've only watched the first episode. I started to watch it because of the plot (otome games!), and - just a little bit - because Dean Fujioka is wonderful eye candy LOL. I'll finish it, I liked the first episode.
Anime
The Duke of Death and His Maid - As the season progressed, this easily became my favorite of the summer. A fantasy slice-of-life anime with an adorable romance is right up my alley. I also thought the duke's little sister, Viola's, crush on the old butler, Rob, was fun. Rob is kind of hot LOL. The animation was quite interesting. I also bought the OP/ED theme songs (thankfully the same single). A second season was announced at the end of the first, so I'm super happy.
Remake Our Life! - Second favorite of the season. Loved the characters. Time slips are so iffy. Personally, when I write, I won't touch time travel, but I don't mind watching it at all.
RE-MAIN - An interesting sports anime. I say interesting because of the amnesia aspect. I loved the water polo team. Like when I watched the drama Suikyu Yankees, I was a few episodes into this when I remembered that in high school I had a crush on a member of the boys' water polo team. One of my close friends had a crush on a different member. We went to one of the games - I don't even remember who won, we were just quietly talking to each other about our guys LOL.
Love Live! Superstar!! - Probably my favorite group of girls after the Nijigasaki High School girls from Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. To be fair, though, I've only seen a few episodes of Love Love! Sunshine!!, and only the second season of the original Love Live! series, so that could change. It's a lot easier to keep track of 5 girls, though. I will say that I was not a fan of the purple blobs in Keke's hair. Bought the OP/ED singles.
The Aquatope on White Sand - This one is still on-going. I'll write about it when it's done, since I'm at the halfway point and the anime's gone into it's second half - essentially changing our location and the characters' journeys. First 12 episodes were very good - beautiful animation.
The Detective Is Already Dead - Interesting sci-fi/fantasy series. I liked it.
Drug Store In Another World - The Slow Life Of A Cheat Pharmacist - A pretty average slice of life anime making use of the person goes into another world genre. Not bad.
Peach Boy Riverside - I enjoyed it. Don't know if I'd watch more, though.
Girlfriend, Girlfriend - Awful. I was putting up with the off-putting plot because the first three main characters were funny enough, but when the anime introduced the character Hoshizaki Rika I just couldn't stand her. Considering she's a main character...nope. I'm very proud of myself for even finishing this.
No Autumn 2021 drama/anime posts. I'm watching some anime and may start some dramas, but I'm taking my time and watching older dramas/anime as well.
Mostly spoiler free thoughts on summer '21 dramas and anime.
Drama(s)
I have actually only finished Kanojo wa Kirei datta, so the other two I'll just put my initial reactions.
Kanojo wa Kirei datta - Like Shitteru Wife which I loved earlier this year, this drama is a remake of a South Korean drama. As of October 16th, I have completed watching the originals of both Shitteru Wife (Familiar Wife) and this one (She Was Pretty). Also, like Shitteru Wife, I had my sister binge watch it with me after I had finished watching it, so I have watched this one twice already. I feel kind of bad that I like the Japanese versions of both of these better, but I think the changes they made created better relationships in the dramas. Since I watched both versions of this drama so close together, it's interesting to see how the actors portrayed their characters - especially Akaso Eiji playing Higuchi Takuya (Choi Shi Won from Super Junior was the counterpart, Shin Hyuk, in the original). It's quite an eccentric character and I think Akaso Eiji made it his own. Also, Sato Ai was so spazzy in this one that I was actually shocked that Hye Jin was even more spazzy in the original.
Mostly I thought this was a sweet drama. I also bought my very first SZ single - the theme song got stuck in my head a lot.
# Kazoku Boshuu Shimasu - I've watched the first two episodes of this one and kind of got tripped up when it went on hiatus for three weeks. Shigeoka Daiki has done very well (IMO) tugging at the heartstrings with his character.
Oshi no Ojisama - This one I started watching when the series was almost finished airing. I've only watched the first episode. I started to watch it because of the plot (otome games!), and - just a little bit - because Dean Fujioka is wonderful eye candy LOL. I'll finish it, I liked the first episode.
Anime
The Duke of Death and His Maid - As the season progressed, this easily became my favorite of the summer. A fantasy slice-of-life anime with an adorable romance is right up my alley. I also thought the duke's little sister, Viola's, crush on the old butler, Rob, was fun. Rob is kind of hot LOL. The animation was quite interesting. I also bought the OP/ED theme songs (thankfully the same single). A second season was announced at the end of the first, so I'm super happy.
Remake Our Life! - Second favorite of the season. Loved the characters. Time slips are so iffy. Personally, when I write, I won't touch time travel, but I don't mind watching it at all.
RE-MAIN - An interesting sports anime. I say interesting because of the amnesia aspect. I loved the water polo team. Like when I watched the drama Suikyu Yankees, I was a few episodes into this when I remembered that in high school I had a crush on a member of the boys' water polo team. One of my close friends had a crush on a different member. We went to one of the games - I don't even remember who won, we were just quietly talking to each other about our guys LOL.
Love Live! Superstar!! - Probably my favorite group of girls after the Nijigasaki High School girls from Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club. To be fair, though, I've only seen a few episodes of Love Love! Sunshine!!, and only the second season of the original Love Live! series, so that could change. It's a lot easier to keep track of 5 girls, though. I will say that I was not a fan of the purple blobs in Keke's hair. Bought the OP/ED singles.
The Aquatope on White Sand - This one is still on-going. I'll write about it when it's done, since I'm at the halfway point and the anime's gone into it's second half - essentially changing our location and the characters' journeys. First 12 episodes were very good - beautiful animation.
The Detective Is Already Dead - Interesting sci-fi/fantasy series. I liked it.
Drug Store In Another World - The Slow Life Of A Cheat Pharmacist - A pretty average slice of life anime making use of the person goes into another world genre. Not bad.
Peach Boy Riverside - I enjoyed it. Don't know if I'd watch more, though.
Girlfriend, Girlfriend - Awful. I was putting up with the off-putting plot because the first three main characters were funny enough, but when the anime introduced the character Hoshizaki Rika I just couldn't stand her. Considering she's a main character...nope. I'm very proud of myself for even finishing this.
No Autumn 2021 drama/anime posts. I'm watching some anime and may start some dramas, but I'm taking my time and watching older dramas/anime as well.