Aishiteiru to itte kure [愛していると言ってくれ] Rating: 6/10 (Watched) After Orange Days and Long Vacation I started looking for other shows written by Kitagawa Eriko. This one took most of the 1995 TV Drama awards, so I figured I couldn't go wrong. In the end I just didn't get it! The acting felt overdone, the story dragged, the characters didn't grab me. Something just didn't click. In OD and LV I felt the pain that each couple was going through. I saw how the relationship grew and I desperately wanted them to have a future together. In this drama I really didn't care what happened. Part of me wanted to blame the quality on the fact that it was written in 1995, but then LV came just one year later! I'd say it's worth watching for fans interested in an 'early draft' of Orange Days, but I wouldn't expect the same depth.
Galileo [ガリレオ] Rating: 8/10 (Watched) A solid, fun mystery. A mix of the X-Files and Numb3rs with humor and without the annoying unanswered questions. Very good acting overall with lots of great guest stars to keep things interesting. My only complaint was the weak ending. It was like they threw away the believable plots and suddenly turned it into a goofy episode of Trick. Still, very much worth watching.
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e [花ざかりの君たちへ] Rating: 7/10 (Watched) Fun and watchable, but not a drama I'd put in my top ten. The plot thread involving Mizuki, Sano, and Nakatsu kept me watching, but I found the dorm competitions to be repetitive and unfunny. (I actually started flipping through them after hearing "Baby!" for the 10th time...) Aside from the three leads and Umeda (school nurse) I didn't feel any real attachment to the other characters at the end. I'd say it's worth watching for the leads and the interesting way it touches on ideas of love and gender.
Kimi ga oshietekureta koto [君が教えてくれたこと] Rating: 9/10 (Watched) Tomosaka Rie is excellent in this. Well written, well acted overall. It raises some interesting ideas about how much people should be expected to conform to "normal" society, and what motivates a person to help others. The story flowed very naturally and didn't have to rely on cliffhanger endings to keep you watching. One downside, as others have mentioned, is that the evil diet member subplot felt out of place. Still, very much worth watching!
Long vacation [ロングバケーション] Rating: 10/10 (Watched) I was always skeptical of early/mid-90s dramas. Most of the ones I tried watching were unfunny, predictable, and poorly written. Long Vacation blew away that stereotype. The writing is natural, smart, and quite funny. The characters are complex and believable. The dynamic between Senna and Minami is so perfect you almost wish they could continue forever as friends without the complexities of romance. So well written and acted you'll even excuse the cheap Ben Folds Five plugs!
Nobuta wo Produce [野ブタ。をプロデュース] Rating: 10/10 (Watched) This continues to be my all-time favorite drama. I admit it's not for everyone. Three high school students become unlikely friends, yet this is far from your typical high school drama. It's quirky, with the sort of characters you'd find in a Wes Anderson movie. It's deep and surreal, with the sort of musings on life that you'd find in an episode of Northern Exposure. If these references mean anything to you, you'll definitely love it.
Orange Days [オレンジデイズ] Rating: 9/10 (Watched) Ever since being blown away by Long Vacation I've been working my way through dramas written by Kitagawa Eriko. This one has a less comedic feel than LV, but is still incredibly addictive and touching. It was also enlightening, offering much insight into the world of the deaf. Shibasaki Kou does an amazing job as Sae. At times the whole "last days of college" theme felt cheesy and forced, but watching the Sae/Kai story unfold more than made up for it!
sekushii boisu ando robo [セクシーボイスアンドロボ] Rating: 8/10 (Watched) Incredibly underrated! A surprisingly thought-provoking drama about life and growing-up that just happens to revolve around an otaku and a junior high school girl. Excellent acting and lots of subtle humor. Not every episode hits the mark, but it's nice to see something different for a change. If you liked the quirkiness and sensitivity of Nobuta wo Produce (same writer), you'll enjoy it.
dokaben's drama reviews (1)
Sarariman Kintaro 3 [サラリーマン金太郎] Dark [Rating: 8/10] This was probably the darkest, most serious of the first 3 Kintaro series so far (I'm about to start SK4). It reminds me of the difference between Mission Impossible 1 and John Woo's MI-2. The lightheartedness of the first series gives way to more evil enemies performing more violent acts and an outspoke commentary on Japanese business corruption.
At times, many of the characters seem to behave in ways that are quite uncharacteristic when compared to SK1 and SK2. (Maeda, Tanaka, and even Kintaro come to mind here.) The ending is a little random and confusing, but overall the series doesn't drag a bit and is quite watchable. Recommended for Kintaro fans, but not for everyone.
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Aishiteiru to itte kure [愛していると言ってくれ]
Galileo [ガリレオ]
Hanazakari no Kimitachi e [花ざかりの君たちへ]
Kimi ga oshietekureta koto [君が教えてくれたこと]
Long vacation [ロングバケーション]
Nobuta wo Produce [野ブタ。をプロデュース]
Orange Days [オレンジデイズ]
