Konin Todoke is our big budget renai dorama for this season. Konin Todoke is a shoujo manga style story about Seino Nana who agrees to have a sham marriage with Sakaguchi Kentaro in exchange for money.
Sakaguchi Kentaro's motive for the marriage is so that he can stay close to his sister in law Kurashina Kana who he is in love with. Its got an absurd premise but the most important thing is whether the show is fun and interesting.
Konin Todoke is not really fun. It shows glimpses of being fun but Sakaguchi Kentaro's character is super boring and there is not enough material for Seino Nana to carry the show by herself.
There needs to be more disagreements, more fighting etc. Seino Nana is falling in love by herself while Sakaguchi is moping for Kurashina Kana whole day.
Konin Todoke has Shokotan and Kobayashi Ryoko in the supporting cast but they are hardly used! This is a crime against jdoramas!
I think Konin Todoke needs fun supporting character stories to spice up the main story but they have mostly been relegated to the spin off dorama.The pet shop guy and the receptionist are just there and don't bring any laughs. Usually those two characters would be scheming together to bring down the marriage.
There is not enough momentum in the main story for Konin Todoke and chemistry between main characters is bleh and the side characters are unfortunately not there is save it. Could have been decent but meh from me. I have not watched the spin off but I think if they had put more supporting characters in, Konin Todoke would have been a better show. Will probably finish it for Kurashina Kana.
I've been watching this, but can't say I'm really enjoying this one. The best renai (or furin) drama this season is TV Tokyo's Janai Hou no Kanojo with Hamada Gaku. Can definitely recommend that one. :)
ReplyDeleteJust curious, why do you say it's a big budget drama? The set for their house looks like the refurbished set of the house in Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte (Kawaguchi Haruna/ Yokohama Ryusei's romance drama) half a year ago. TBS seems to have invested the money in Japan Sinks (also available weekly on Netflix) this season instead.
ReplyDelete@Anon1: Might check out Hou no Kanojo then though I must say I am getting sick of affair jdoramas.
ReplyDelete@Anon2: I guess it comparison to Japan Sinks its the budget is not as big but I was thinking in comparison with shows like Soredemo Ai wo Chikaimasu or Mushoboke. I think I should have said decent sized budget.
Speaking of the house, I hate that these two people lucked out and are living in a literal mansion instead of the usual Japanese who have to eek out a living in an 2LDK. How are we suppose to develop any empathy for them unless you are a 14 girl who does know how impossible it is to get a big house by yourself.