Zoku Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi eps 1+2

I wasn't really eager to watch Zoku Saigo Kara storyline-wise, there wasn't really anything interesting in the first season and it was entertaining on the strength of Koizumi Kyoko and Nakai Kiichi's chemistry along with Okada Yoshikazu's dialogue.

Episode one was pretty funny and reminded me of the strengths of the first season. Chiaki (Koizumi Kyoko) and Wahei (Nakai Kiichi) can argue about the most mundane of things and make it entertaining. Storyline-wise, Chiaki's moved up to management and is bored stamping documents while Wahei is now known for losing the world heritage bid and is in charge of two departments.

Uchida Yuki is now a full fledge writer, Asada Ryutaro is getting married to Satsukawa Aimi and Ijima Naoko suspects her husband of cheating on her. To add some spice to the story, Kase Ryo returns to Chiaki's life as her former failed scriptwriter boyfriend and Hasegawa Kyoko shows up to be Wahei's friend while looking for the angel of Kamakura, Asada Ryutaro.

There's going to be relationship triangles and quadrangles and what will make this show good is whether Okada Yoshikazu can make it consistently funny until Chiaki and Wahei get together in the end, or not. I like the addition of Kase Ryo and Hasegawa Kyoko but I don't have confidence in the story because in season one, other than the two main leads, everyone else was pretty boring.

More of the same watchable stuff from first season. Hopefully Zoku Saigo Kara doesn't get too drawn out.

Zoku Zoku Saigo Kara Niban me no Koi Episode 1

 

The second sequel to Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi is here. I don't remember much about the first sequel. I remember the characters and Kamakura setting and that's it. I was surprised to see Nakai Kiichi and Kyon Kyon are still not together after 2 seasons. I guess if they do then it is the end of the series?

The one reason I am excited about the sequel I don't think anyone asked for is that Sakaguchi Kenji is back. He has not been acting for a very long time time because of health problems but him being back is a good thing. I remember seeing him once since he left the industry in a wrestling wrestling youtube video or something because his dad and brother are wrestlers.

Anyway, Kyon Kyon is one year away from retirement contemplating what to do with her second life.

Nakai Kiichi retired but went back to work to deal with tourists in Kamakura. Who are these crazy people who have more than enough money to retire and would still rather work?

We have a scene at the very famous Slam Dunk spot in Kamakura with Mandarin speaking tourists getting in the way of the locals.

I love the scene where Kyon Kyon who works tv producer asks why doesn't Netflix invite her to make a show for them? I can imagine every writer and producer in jdoramaland wanting that Netflix money and freedom. Hmm, looks like Okada Yoshikazu has written 2 Netflix shows so far. I will need to start up my Netflix soon but I am putting if off because there will be way too many Japanese shows to watch.

The highlight of the episode is the dinner scene between Nakai Kiichi and Kyon Kyon. Coincidentally, they were both going back home from attending funerals, Nakai's was a colleague who joined the same year and Kyon Kyon's was her boss. Their dialogue was funny and sad and Okada Yoshikazu's script writing abilities were in full force. These two have perfect chemistry and I can watch them talk about anything.

Looks like Ishida Hikari is going to be Nakai Kiichi's new colleague and love interest and Yamaguchi Momoe's husband is going to be Kyon Kyon's new doctor and love interest.

I am keeping my expectations very low for this. According to my reviews, season 2 was basically a retread of season 1. Let's see what Okada Yoshikazu has up his sleeve. Watchable first episode. I need to get back to Kamakura one day.

Zoku Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi eps 3-11

Zoku just feels like a retread of the first season with Wahei once again being trapped in his own harem and like all harem anime, not doing anything about it except being a very nice guy. Okada Yoshikazu tries to fill the series with entertaining storylines until the end but they all just seem like filler. From Kase Ryo to Hasegawa Kyoko's sex friend nothing interesting happens.

One could argue its more of a family comedy than a story about Wahei and Chiaki but the conversations between those two are the only thing that kept me watching until the end and everyone else is just dull. Some may find this show like comfort food but to me it feels like forgettable fluff.