Things I have watched in these last months
I am starting to forget what I have watched this fall, so maybe it's time to write the usual (?) recap post.
There are a few things aired in winter too, since it's already the end of January /facepalm
There will probably be typos and/or grammatical horrors, bear with me.
Kieta Hatsukoi
They are BABIES and they are ADORABLE.
There's really nothing much to say, it's an adorable little drama, I'm still shocked that we're getting good BL content and even more shocked that two young JE boys (one who literally debuted with the theme song of this drama) are playing these roles (I know that it's all about money, marketing etc, but STILL).
Ah, now we're all Meguro Ren's fans, right? RIGHT? (the Johnny's Festival didn't help, thank God I don't have it in me to stan new groups... at the moment).
Super Rich
Oh well, that was disappointing.
It wasn't BAD, I watched it without issues, but... I don't know, I wasn't impressed.
I liked the fact that it covered more years, to follow the vicissitudes of the company and the growth (in theory, at least) of the characters. But... I didn't care about any of it XD Following the company things was just frustrating, because it was run by incompetent people and we are supposed to feel sorry for them when they're betrayed by others.
And the characters... no one of them was likeable? They all had some nice moments, but most of the time were various degrees of unsufferable. I mean, you cast Machida Keita and Akaso Eiji in the same drama (and the promoting team knew EXACTLY what they were doing, because they pushed on them so much XD) but with these characters??? Keita's character was annoying most of the time, Eiji's was better but just because he has the sweetest smile in the universe and I kinda forgive him anything. Anyway, every time they were together on screen, my mind started transforming the drama into an enemies-to-lovers where they discard Mamoru and fell for each other (fanfictions writers WHERE ARE YOU - I don't think I'm able to write anything anymore so I have to rely on others).
Wadake no Otokotachi
WHAT A SURPRISE. I honestly expected something a bit boring and wanted to watch it only for Aiba, even though I was sure he would play the usual so-good-he's-dumb character. But! It was so good???
There are fun moments that are somehow absurd but never too much, the family banters, the whiny grandpa, overall the relationship between the 3 Wada men is the best thing of the drama. But there's so much more, it's a very present-day drama, with Covid, the growth of net news, how TV and papers are reacting to this new market and what does it mean to write news, to be a journalist. There's family, a bit of romance (weird, always weird, no one is normal in this drama) and politics. There's also Aiba being all soft and pretty.
I loved his Yu. At first he may seem that nice guy who never stands for himself and let other people do anything they want with him, but he's so much more. He's a gentle soul who's always ready to help others and doesn't like conflicts, he starts off with no ambitions, he thinks he'll never conclude anything relevant in his life, and he's okay with it; but then, with his new job and living with his relatives he starts to expand his horizon, to think he can/wants to something. And yeah, he's nice and often naive, but never stupid and when the moment come he's ready to stand on his feet and to make even difficoult choices to not betray his own values.
Honestly, one of the best Aiba's drama and character, I liked it a lot.
Saiai
This drama was generally really well liked and I see why, it didn't blow my mind but I still really enjoyed it.
Fun thing is that after the first 5 minutes I was getting some familiar vibes, I checket and, like I suspected, the scripwriter is the same of N no Tame ni and Yaku Kanransha; the vibe is similar but the dramas are still different, which is good. Saiai didn't emotionally involve me as much as N no Tame ni, and the mystery wasn't that much compelling, but it was still a good and emotional one, even if I understood who the main culprit was around the 8th or 9th episode, so it wasn't that shocking.
Anyway, it was really good.
Avalanche
Again, nothing much to say, it was just really good.
The concept isn't the most original one, Japan periodically do these things about the corruption of politics/police forces etc. and a group of vigilantes/outcasts that wnat to expose it. Crisis with Oguri Shun comes to my mind, but Avalanche was particularly enjoyable because of the development of the characters, we care about them and there are some really emotional moments. Both writing and acting were good, even Fukushi Sota was nice? I mean, boy is pretty but not the best actor, but it's true that a good script and a good director can really do the difference.
I love Ayano Go as always, he's so good ;_;
Utsukushii Kare
This was totally random. I wasn't really interested, but I saw people on twitter liking it and I ended up watching it in one sit.
It isn't the best drama I've ever watched, but considering the fact that I was expecting nothing but trash and problematic shit, it went well. I mean, the first episode is bad and I still think that some stuff is a little toxic, but overall it wasn't bad.
Shinbun Kinsha/The Journalist
This one is a winter drama, but all the episodes were released on Netflix so I have already watched it (it was also only 6 episodes long).
Had this been a western show, it would have had a lot of success, I'm pretty sure of it.
Once again, it's about the corruption and wrongdoing of political figures, there are some amazing characters (and amazing actors) and I think making only 6 episodes was a wise choice, because they managed to tell everything with a nice pace.
Can I write again that I love Ayano Go?
I also watched two Specials aired this winter: Dekinai Futari, which is a nice, short, romance drama, and 99.9, which reminded me once again how much I love this series. It makes my head hurt (especially when I start to sub it ;_;) but I love it, it's clever, crazy and perfect. I can't wait for the movie even though it will really be the last Miyama's adventure ;_;
I'm also in the middle of Koi Desu because only the first 6 episodes have been subbed so far, but I'm loving it ♥
There are a few things aired in winter too, since it's already the end of January /facepalm
There will probably be typos and/or grammatical horrors, bear with me.
Kieta Hatsukoi
They are BABIES and they are ADORABLE.
There's really nothing much to say, it's an adorable little drama, I'm still shocked that we're getting good BL content and even more shocked that two young JE boys (one who literally debuted with the theme song of this drama) are playing these roles (I know that it's all about money, marketing etc, but STILL).
Ah, now we're all Meguro Ren's fans, right? RIGHT? (the Johnny's Festival didn't help, thank God I don't have it in me to stan new groups... at the moment).
Super Rich
Oh well, that was disappointing.
It wasn't BAD, I watched it without issues, but... I don't know, I wasn't impressed.
I liked the fact that it covered more years, to follow the vicissitudes of the company and the growth (in theory, at least) of the characters. But... I didn't care about any of it XD Following the company things was just frustrating, because it was run by incompetent people and we are supposed to feel sorry for them when they're betrayed by others.
And the characters... no one of them was likeable? They all had some nice moments, but most of the time were various degrees of unsufferable. I mean, you cast Machida Keita and Akaso Eiji in the same drama (and the promoting team knew EXACTLY what they were doing, because they pushed on them so much XD) but with these characters??? Keita's character was annoying most of the time, Eiji's was better but just because he has the sweetest smile in the universe and I kinda forgive him anything. Anyway, every time they were together on screen, my mind started transforming the drama into an enemies-to-lovers where they discard Mamoru and fell for each other (fanfictions writers WHERE ARE YOU - I don't think I'm able to write anything anymore so I have to rely on others).
Wadake no Otokotachi
WHAT A SURPRISE. I honestly expected something a bit boring and wanted to watch it only for Aiba, even though I was sure he would play the usual so-good-he's-dumb character. But! It was so good???
There are fun moments that are somehow absurd but never too much, the family banters, the whiny grandpa, overall the relationship between the 3 Wada men is the best thing of the drama. But there's so much more, it's a very present-day drama, with Covid, the growth of net news, how TV and papers are reacting to this new market and what does it mean to write news, to be a journalist. There's family, a bit of romance (weird, always weird, no one is normal in this drama) and politics. There's also Aiba being all soft and pretty.
I loved his Yu. At first he may seem that nice guy who never stands for himself and let other people do anything they want with him, but he's so much more. He's a gentle soul who's always ready to help others and doesn't like conflicts, he starts off with no ambitions, he thinks he'll never conclude anything relevant in his life, and he's okay with it; but then, with his new job and living with his relatives he starts to expand his horizon, to think he can/wants to something. And yeah, he's nice and often naive, but never stupid and when the moment come he's ready to stand on his feet and to make even difficoult choices to not betray his own values.
Honestly, one of the best Aiba's drama and character, I liked it a lot.
Saiai
This drama was generally really well liked and I see why, it didn't blow my mind but I still really enjoyed it.
Fun thing is that after the first 5 minutes I was getting some familiar vibes, I checket and, like I suspected, the scripwriter is the same of N no Tame ni and Yaku Kanransha; the vibe is similar but the dramas are still different, which is good. Saiai didn't emotionally involve me as much as N no Tame ni, and the mystery wasn't that much compelling, but it was still a good and emotional one, even if I understood who the main culprit was around the 8th or 9th episode, so it wasn't that shocking.
Anyway, it was really good.
Avalanche
Again, nothing much to say, it was just really good.
The concept isn't the most original one, Japan periodically do these things about the corruption of politics/police forces etc. and a group of vigilantes/outcasts that wnat to expose it. Crisis with Oguri Shun comes to my mind, but Avalanche was particularly enjoyable because of the development of the characters, we care about them and there are some really emotional moments. Both writing and acting were good, even Fukushi Sota was nice? I mean, boy is pretty but not the best actor, but it's true that a good script and a good director can really do the difference.
I love Ayano Go as always, he's so good ;_;
Utsukushii Kare
This was totally random. I wasn't really interested, but I saw people on twitter liking it and I ended up watching it in one sit.
It isn't the best drama I've ever watched, but considering the fact that I was expecting nothing but trash and problematic shit, it went well. I mean, the first episode is bad and I still think that some stuff is a little toxic, but overall it wasn't bad.
Shinbun Kinsha/The Journalist
This one is a winter drama, but all the episodes were released on Netflix so I have already watched it (it was also only 6 episodes long).
Had this been a western show, it would have had a lot of success, I'm pretty sure of it.
Once again, it's about the corruption and wrongdoing of political figures, there are some amazing characters (and amazing actors) and I think making only 6 episodes was a wise choice, because they managed to tell everything with a nice pace.
Can I write again that I love Ayano Go?
I also watched two Specials aired this winter: Dekinai Futari, which is a nice, short, romance drama, and 99.9, which reminded me once again how much I love this series. It makes my head hurt (especially when I start to sub it ;_;) but I love it, it's clever, crazy and perfect. I can't wait for the movie even though it will really be the last Miyama's adventure ;_;
I'm also in the middle of Koi Desu because only the first 6 episodes have been subbed so far, but I'm loving it ♥