Mistress: Onnatachi no Himitsu jdorama review

Mistress as the name suggests is about four women who are good friends with each other and each of them is involved in some sort of mistress relationship.

Hasegawa Kyoko who looks even more plastic nowadays is a doctor who's lover had just passed away, Mizuno Miki is the housewife whose husband died many years ago, Hyunri is does not want to have a child with her husband and Omasa Aya gets into a lesbian relationship with ex AKB48 Shinoda Mariko.

For those sukebes wanting to watch this for Omasa Aya and Shinoda Mariko action, there's nothing really to see here.

Mistress is a dorama that has some interesting ideas but doesn't really go anywhere and in the end I was asking myself why I watched all the episodes for? I guess I enjoyed the friendship aspect of it.

 It feels like a show without a strong vision. Could have been decent but feels very run of the mill. Meh.

Nijiiro Karute Episodes 1~4 review

I never intended to watch Nijiiro Karute because the poster looks absolutely horrible.  It looks like a horrible photo-shopped picture that looks like it was designed by a 5 year old. Can someone tell me who the hell this poster is suppose to appeal to?

Robert and Anonymous recommended Nijiiro Karute and I decided to give it a go. I was not sure about the first few episodes. Its a countryside dorama about a clinic with a doctor, surgeon and nurse and Takahata Mitsuki (Kahogo no Kanako) is the doctor who has an uncurable illness.

I didn't buy episode 3 with the short term memory loss story because everyone acts like its their first time but they have gone through it many times. I just found the episode trying too hard to be touching.

That is until episode 4 which was the saddest and the funniest episode of the series. I don't think there will be another episode as good as episode 4 but I am now willing to watch the rest of the series to find out.

Just before writing this review, I realised that the writer is Okada Yoshikazu, the writer of too many great jdoramas including Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi and Iguana no Musume. I am definitely watching until the end.

In summary, if you want a everyone help each other out feel good and touching countryside jdorama, then Nijiiro Karute is for you.

Otona no Otoko Jdorama Review

 

From Love or Not which featured 3 guys and 3 girls in various love triangles, we have Otona no Otoko, a jdorama from 1997 about 3 single guys who are turning forty and 3 women. 

The cast for Otona no Otoko is exceptional with Yakusho Koji as the cowardly Mizumachi, Furuhata Ninzaburo's assistant as the womanising Nonomiya and Matsumoto Akiko as Mizumachi's old flame, Oda Miyuki.

Of all the fun and interesting characters in Otona no Otoko, Oda Miyuki is my favourite because she goes through so much but always puts on a brave face. I don't remember seeing the actress Matsumoto Akiko before but I definitely won't forget her character.

Otona no Otoko is a funny and interesting show about what being a single man means in 90s Japan especially with the shy man syndrome. Throughout most of Otona no Otoko I was thinking it could possibly be a must watch show.

However, there are two things I do not like about Otona no Otoko. Firstly, the 13 episodes run time is way too long. It should have been 11 episodes at most. Secondly, the ending really sucked. The story sort of had to end that way but it did not have to but I feel like I wasted my time getting invested in those characters for 13 episodes.

Alas, I can only recommend Otona no Otoko for fans of old school jdoramas. It is well written, funny and memorable for the most part but you might not like it in the end. Thanks to GreGG for transcribing the subs.

Dragon Zakura Season 2 Episode 1

Once upon a time, there was a study jdorama called Dragon Zakura with Abe Hiroshi shouting his famous line "bakas and busus go to Todai!" and it was surprisingly good jdorama despite the presence of Yamapi.

Since then we have had good study shows like Biri Gal and Juken no Cinderella. The concept is foolproof. Who won't get behind underdogs working hard for their goals? Especially when you compare with shows where things just happen so the main character can win at the end.

Many years later, Abe Hiroshi and Nagasawa Masami are back and the first episode definitely has energy. Things move at a good pace to reestablish the characters and episode 1 plays out very much like the first episode of GTO. (the Sorimachi one, not the crappy one)

Something has happened to Abe Hiroshi and Masami who became a lawyer has to find him and help another struggling school to get 5 students into Todai. 

The students seem appropriately cast and the first episode was surprisingly enjoyable. Promising first episode and I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the episodes. The English subtitles are available from miamaw subs here.

Rikokatsu Episodes 7+8

I really wanted to like Rikokatsu. I thought Eita's Obara Koichi character could be an interesting source of comedy and juxtaposition of showa ideas of marriage vs modern ones.

However Rikokatsu is turning out to be not as interesting as I had hoped and the worst thing was getting the Eita and Kitagawa Keiko divorced and turning it into a Kitagawa Keiko harem show.

Rikokatsu is a show about a couple who got married in a hurry without knowing anything about each other and then deciding to divorce. The fun thing was supposed to be them get to know each other while everyone on both their families go through divorce. 

Now that the couple have actually divorced quicker than they got married and the writer doing way too many bait and switch scenes, I have lost my care factor. I don't care about Kitagawa Keiko's character and her non descript editor job. What does she actually do in her job besides act as the phone friend for the writer and get pushed around?

Sadly, the writer Izumisawa Yoko also adapted the great Akuma no Bengonin but the writing in Rikokatsu just feels like its just trying to stretch the story as much as possible until the ending without being entertaining. Oh well, I was hoping Rikokatsu would be this season's Shitteru Wife but its turned into Toshi no Sakon. Meh.

Love or Not season 1 review

I can't remember the last time I saw Motokariya Yuika. I always associate her with her role in Gonzo: Densetsu no Keiji and Lady Joker, two of my favourite shows so she is always in my good books.

Love or Not is about 3 guys and 3 girls who who get together for a goukon and of course, the wrong people fall for each other. The main couple is of course Motokariya Yuika who still pines for her childhood love Kosuke but of course Kosuke won't admit that he is the one or else we won't have 10 episodes to fill.

I would describe Love or Not as another version of Daisy Luck. Everything is a walking cliche from characters to dialogue to the main couple who are oblivious to the fact that they are meant to be together. 

However, like Daisy Luck it is fun because it manages to to be entertaining while keeping the main couple from confessing their feelings over 9 episodes. Being neighbours is a great idea to easily allow both characters to keep running into each oether. Plus the 25 minute runtime means the story is very lean and things happen one after another without any filler.

If you are after a light and easy rom-com that does not feature high schoolers, I would suggest Daisy Luck first and then Love or Not. Expect nothing and the 10 episodes will end before you know it. Thanks to BeSmiley for subbing this. There is apparently a season 2 but I can't find the raw. Love or Not may not be memorable but you won't have a bad time watching.

Konto ga Hajimaru Episodes 1~3

Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to say that Konto ga Hajimaru has the strong potential to challenge Shitteru Wife and Ore no Ie no Hanashi for for jdorama of the year!

I was not interested in watching Konto ga Hajimaru because the synopsis said it was about 20 something people overcoming their failures. I had this image that this would be a bunch of friends with everyone having a dream and probably a triangle relationship in the middle and it would be boring and generic.

Konto ga Hajimaru is anything but boring and generic. From the first episode, I could tell it was a confident script with great dialogue and a strong idea where to go. A lot of times, jdoramas feel like mishmash of ideas as in they try to be a bunch of jdoramas combined but don't have their own voice. Konto feels confident and special and the 3 episodes are really, really good.

Konto ga Hajimaru is about 3 comedians who do skits and are not popular and Arimura Kasumi is their biggest fan. I know it doesn't sound promising but this show is so good. Arimura Kasumi's manager did a great job getting her in this show because if I were an actor, I would do this for free.

This is must watch stuff because by the end of episode 3, I guarantee you will be in love with all the characters. A big thank you to neet21 for subbing!

Sakura no Tou Episodes 1-6

 

Tamaki Hiroshi seems to be working very hard recently because he seems to be in everything. Tamaki is in yet another revenge show after Ryu no Michi except its a police show with a twist; its about political factions in the police vying for power.

Tamaki Hiroshi plays an ambitious police officer Ren who will happily break the rules in order to help his political ambitions. Ren isn't that likable of a character because he is a single minded revenge person without much of a personality.

I would not say the politics and twists and turns is superbly written but it is decent enough. Big plus for the show is Hirosue Ryoko as Tamaki's childhood friend and Naka Riisa as the bosss's daughter. 

Two of my favourite actresses though Naka Riisa's role is a bit underwritten, especially for her talent. Hirosue Ryoko does a decent job I have to say after Ueto Aya, I think anyone makes a more believable police detective.

Watchable show if you like factional politics, backstabbing and your shades of grey characters. Thanks to Deedlitmurata for subbing!