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VCD Box
DVD Box
| | Title: | Batsu Kare
バツ彼
One Boyfriend Down | | Telecast: | 2004-07-01 to 2004-09-16 |
 Search forum for this drama
| | TV Station: | TBS | | Duration: | 12 Episodes
| | Viewership: | 11.8% |
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| Synopsis |
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He's divorced and a bit hopeless. Although considered a "loser," he's still a good person. She is in her 30s. Unmarried and no kids, she is considered by some to be a bit of a loser too which is a stab in the heart for any woman. There are men who are not offensive, but somehow useless. Men in their 30s, divorced and on top of that, a bit useless. Popular, but lightweights. That they are serious, but a bit dense is another mark against them. But there are some women, for whom this is actually a turn on. This is a different love story about guys like this and the women that surround them. It shows men and women in their 30s losing their way and making mistakes as they strive for happiness in a real and candid way. | | TBS |
| Soundtrack and Theme Songs (1) |
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| 1. | Love Storm 恋の嵐 [Lisa Loeb リサ・ローブ] | |
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| Drama Reviews (3) |
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!!WARNING!!
The review section may contain spoilers! Please understand
that you may find out about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | A standard romance drama upped by 10 years [Rating: 7/10]
TBS's synopsis is terrible, so here's something a little more accurate:
Kyousuke (Takahashi) has always had women coming on to him, unfortunately that's coupled with his inability to turn them down. But his easy-going, flirtatious style keeps them coming to him like moths to flame. His boyhood friend, the widower Youhei (Takashima), is Kyousuke's conscience and delivers long-winded lectures (with standard Takashima intensity) to him about his loose-moraled lifestyle. As the story begins, Kyousuke's wife has just divorced him for cheating, and he is forcefully separated from his cute-as-a-button kindergarten-aged daughter. He goes to live in a businessman's hotel, but spends all of his time at Youhei's apartment hanging out and cooking for Youhei's perfect 8-year old (or so) son.
At the same time, single-and-loving-it Natsuki (Maya) and her best friend, the soon-to-be-divorced Shouko (Inamori) are setting up a stationary and sundries shop in Youhei's neighborhood, and Natsuki moves into the apartment right across from Youhei. Their various 30-something personalities ignite sparks of anger, romance, and a combination thereof.
If you've seen many Japanese romantic comedies, you'll see how the story ends for certain characters from the first episode. (You might even be able to guess from the cast list.) The nice part is you can also see that most of the characters have a lot of growing up to do before episode 12 so the ride is good even if there isn't a lot of suspense over the ending regarding certain characters. There are a few twists I wasn't expecting, and some good chuckle humor...but thinking back on it, there isn't much I can really pick out about it that would make me recommend it except for one thing: I had to see the next episode. Good pacing, maybe? Clever cliff hangers? I don't know, I was simply hooked.
Takahashi and Maya play their parts with fluid ease. Inamori is a little more rigid, but turns in a reasonable performance. Takashima's performance was over-the-top, and it didn't quite mesh with Takahashi's comfortable-in-his-own-skin delivery, but after a few minutes you get used to it. Takashima's performance is only somewhat cringeworthy around Inamori, and that's because of the script.
The more minor characters don't add much to the mix. Masahiro (Amano Hiroyuki) tries to eat up the scenery with comic overacting in his part as the unattractive, overweight comic relief, but he doesn't really seem suited to the mood of the rest of the cast. There are no surprises with Kitagawa and Takisawa Saori as the scheming office rivals for Kyousuke's affections.
All though it is mainly by-the-numbers romance, there are enough surprises in the story to warrant a favorable review. The writer, Komatsu Eriko, seems infatuated with Kyousuke's character, and I have no doubt most of the audience will be as well. It's too bad that Maya's and Inamori's characters aren't as well developed as the two main male characters, but this is a buddy story as much as it is romance.
I give it a "Pretty Good." | | Reviewed by Old-Ant on 24 June 2005 | | 2. | watched it but... [Rating: 8/10]
never really got into it. The story seemed interesting, but for some reason I didn't really grow to like the characters I guess. I give it an 8 because there were some funny moments that really made me laugh. Bunch of goofy friends in this drama. Goofy friends and awkward moments between couples and ex-es. Haha amusing. | | Reviewed by noodlefreak on 18 March 2006 | | 3. | Not bad [Rating: 7/10]
Batsu means no way in Japan. A Divorced man and a single women past her late 20's are considered almost hopeless by many. The story moved along kind of slowly and was not super romantic in my opinion. I think it is a stronger story of friendship than it is of romance. Pretty enjoyable though. | | Reviewed by MonsterZero-65 on 9 June 2008 |
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| Comments From Users (13) |
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!!WARNING!!
This section may contain spoilers! Do not proceed if you
do not want to read about this drama's endings and plots!
| | 1. | Comments by norani [Rating: ?/10]
Cannot get this drama in Thailand | | 2. | Comments by MeowMeow [Rating: 9/10]
love | | 3. | Comments by Typo [Rating: 9/10]
Funny | | 4. | Comments by TimThein [Rating: 10/10]
All the actresses are beautiful. The story is great and has a good balance of humor and seriousness. | | 5. | Comments by noodlefreak [Rating: 8/10]
It was okay but I didn't find it that great... | | 6. | Comments by Super No. 1 [Rating: 5/10]
I think I slept through most of this one. It's a familiar story and I just didn't think it was very interesting. It has a great cast, but it wasn't enough to get me excited about watching it. | | 7. | Comments by jo [Rating: 7/10]
Good. Overacting sometimes. C+ | | 8. | Comments by Fight-oh [Rating: 10/10]
This show is about 3 men and 2 women who are looking for love in life for various reasons. One of them is Kyosuke who is a middle aged man who works in a building and sleeps around with many women.. although eventually he wants to stick with one girl and settle with her. The second man is Yohei who works at a construction site and wants to find love after his wife died at such a young age while raising their sun Taichi. The ohter man is a small short man who sells insurance for a living, but cannot resist other women that he meets. One of the girls looking for love is a lady named Natsuki. Natsuki is a middle aged women like Kyosuke and wants to find sumone to settle down with also. The second girl is Shoko. Shoko is a beautiful young girl who is trying to help her friend Natsuki with the construction of the store they are opening. She hopes to find a man who will not cheat on her and will be always honest with her | | 9. | Comments by ReDxFred4 [Rating: 10/10]
4 men and women involved searching for love in their lives..this drama is truly a great love storm/story between them...shows the true meaning of truth and love in life | | 10. | Comments by AjiKan [Rating: 8/10]
Good Drama ^^ The acting was done very well by Takahashi Katsunori and Inamori Izumi. Good story about friendship and love 8/10 | | 11. | Comments by Fujishiro [Rating: 6/10]
This is the first drama that I saw w/ making out and sex. XD
Still very good. | | 12. | Comments by Space Cat [Rating: 10/10]
Currently my favorite drama of all time. A perfect balance of romance and comedy, yet at times heartbreaking or dramatic. Maybe it's because some of my favorite actors are starring but trust me, if you're one to fall for light romance than this is the best you can get. | | 13. | Comments by kichigai45 [Rating: 8/10]
Favorite: Good story |
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| Users who voted for this drama (3) |
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| 1. | Fight-oh
A classic story of one man who is filled with love in his life and a man who is trying to get a girlfriend in his life after his wife is deceased at an early age...... | | 2. | ReDxFred4
Really entertaining and interesting drama bringing together guys and girls who are up and down in their lives. Bringing them together changes their lives and love arises between them! An awesome drama with actress Izumi Inamori! | | 3. | Space Cat
A unique love story that focuses on a different crowd of people, people who're considered past their "prime" or out of their game already. I was never bored, even for a second, while watching this funny,romantic, and always heartwarming drama. THE BEST OF THE BEST |
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Takahashi Katsunori
Takashima Masanobu
Maya Miki
Amano Hiroyuki
Takizawa Saori
Kitagawa Hiromi
Abe Sadayo
Inamori Izumi
