Dokushin Kizoku starts of presenting itself as the story of three single people, two movie producer brothers born with silver spoons in their mouths and Kitagawa Keiko who doesn't want to get married to be a housewife. The older brother played by the half asleep Kusanagi Tsuyoshi is against getting married and can easily recite 100 reasons why marriage sucks and the younger brother played by Hideaki Ito is a serial playboy in the process of a divorce.
I was expecting Dokushin Kizoku to be a half clever look at single life but just like Renai Dekinai Riyuu, Dokushin Kizoku quickly reveals its colours as a reverse harem cinderalla story. Kitagawa Keiko is playing your average female character because she wears glasses and regular clothes but still looks hotter than every girl on the show not named Renbutsu Misako.
Kusanagi Tsuyoshi is seriously miscast here. They want to make him a boring character compared to his brother but he comes across as absolutely boring. Kusanagi's quiet, sleepy act only works with underdog characters, not a character who inherited a fortune based on his father's hard work and genius and while is referred to as talented, never produced anything good and is living off his father's past glories.
I used to think Kusanagi was a decent actor especially with the Boku series but now I'm wondering whether it was because of the writing, directing and that the stories were tailored to his half asleep look which is perfectly suited for playing underdogs.
Of course its up to Kitagawa Keiko to save the two brothers and change them. Notice how shoujo stories are about girls 'fixing' the guys while shounen stories are guys finding out what makes the girl tick. There is certainly some interesting story possibilities here in regards to the movie business but I don't think the target audience wants a dorama about the intricate struggles of getting a movie of the ground.
Anyone looking for witty dialogue and interesting characters, just rewatch KDO or Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi. For those who think One Litre of Tears is the greatest jdorama ever, this show is for you.
good idea to stop after 3 eps. I watched the whole thing and it gets much worse later on : P
ReplyDeleteI watched this mostly because of the boss like Suwarkano (is that her name?) but gave up after three eps too. I *wanted* to like it, but I just didn't, I got annoyed with the typical 'let's all hate the new girl' thing.
ReplyDeleteI think this had potential if they took out the let's hate the new girl thing, changed the casting a bit, and took the falling out of love with what's her name part.
Kusanagi can act (I still think about how amazing Boku no... was) but I think he needs the right drama.
Interested to see what you're going to watch this season!
Kitagawa Keiko is playing your average female character because she wears glasses and regular clothes but still looks hotter than every girl on the show not named Renbutsu Misako" -- Totally LOL.
ReplyDeleteSadly, the boys from SMAP have lately been cast to play characters outside their wheelhouse to disastrous results. Kusanagi is no exception.
I actually watched this for the movie references, hoping it might be a throwback to the classic cinematic love story but it's actually more like a Kdrama romcom. Steer clear, bro, lest you want to see Yamapi in a cameo.