Typical Romance, but still good
9 / 10
mrsmith10 · 16 Jun 2011
This was no doubt a very typical romance drama, and even a bit cliche. However, it was still good. Take the movie Love and Basketball, but add a little more plot development and much more likable characters and this is what you get. Yamapi was descent in this drama, and I liked his character, Naoki. However, this was the first time I watched Kitagawa Keiko and she was brilliant in this drama. I'm definitely going to watch more dramas and movies with her in the future. My only real complaint was that there wasn't as much basketball in it as I thought there would be. Only the first and last episodes do you really see them playing a basketball game, the rest is just practice and training.
ester_grace · 27 Nov 2010
Just another common love story but it was entertaining. Love the casts esp aibu saki, she did very well to be an antagonist.
sherry1025 · 3 Jul 2010
This drama is one of the greatest dramas for me when it comes to the chemistry between the main cast and relationship development. As the drama progresses, the bond between Naoki (Yamapi) and Riko (Kitagawa keiko) grows stronger, and I came to really care about the two. Character development and the meaning of this drama is also very well done, you come to understand the characters' personalities and dreams, feel for their disappointments/insecurities/happiness. I'd say that this is one of Yamapi's best works!
Some say that this is a typical love story, but I completely disagree. This is a drama filled with passions about life, pursuing one's dreams and realizing the hardships in life. The actors' performance really delivered the drama's message!
I highly recommend this drama.
Typical love story
6 / 10
Limes · 20 Feb 2010
A typical romantic story full of cliches, unlucky coincidences, eavesdropped conversations, accidental spying, cheesy lines, and of course, running around. Yamashita Tomohisa is bland as the hero of the show; Kitagawa Keiko's voice and acting are annoying and there is zero romantic chemistry between the two, though as good friends they are quite cute together. What annoys me more is Kitagawa's character who so easily throws away the dream she worked so hard for, just for the sake of a guy. The real stars of the show are Aibu Saki as the bitchy ex and Kanjiya Shihori as the best friend. I found the romantic subplot between Mai (Kanjiya) and Shuji (Mizubata Junpei) more interesting and endearing than that between the two mains.
In its terribly complicated love triangle all spurned lovers, ex-es and people with unrequited love end up happy or happier; either with glad acceptance of reality or finding new love, which is too 'neat'. The last sequence of the story was totally ridiculous. No stadium goes completely silent at a freethrow attempt and there is a time limit for doing these things. Even knowing that the producers put it in for dramatic impact doesn't make it less silly. I could go on more about the strange and unnecessary appearance of the white conductor and random English phrases, but let's not even go there.
Let's end on a positive note though: good soundtrack, though I don't care much for B'z's opening (not a B'z fan).
Your Average Romance Drama
6 / 10
dekatrain · 17 Dec 2009
Your typical love story drama. It is fine if you're in the right mood, but it is merely a drama fun of cliches and predominantly uninteresting, cardboard-cutout characters. Aibu Saki was decent as the bitchy girlfriend that doesn't let go of her man, but Yamashita and Kitagawa struggle through a lot of bad acting and not much going on plot-wise. Kitagawa is certainly eyecandy but than cannot make up for a lack of chemistry between her and yamaPi and her acting really is found out here. Not bad, but certainly expected more tension. Too artificial.
johnjeon · 6 Nov 2009
If you've seen a few other Japanese romantic TV dramas then you've already seen this one. There's really nothing new here; just
a collection of the standard cliches. You know in the first episode how things will end and with the title of 'Buzzer Beat' you know how the final game will end. The theme of the series is how love gives you strength. You know that because it gets mentioned several times per episode and there is a giant sign on
the outdoor basketball court that says, "Love Makes Me Strong" that is featured prominently in most episodes. The show could have used some subtlety but the writers seemed to want to hit the viewers over the head with their message.
Some of the characters are pretty good but there are too many artificial obstructions keeping the main couple apart, obstructions which
only serve to drag the story out to fill the eleven episodes. This would have been much better as a two hour movie.
The tremendous appeal of Keiko Kitagawa as Riko is the main
reason to give this series a view but it doesn't save it from the
bad writing.
JEaddicthellyeah · 3 Nov 2009
Well~ This drama was cool, If you have the right mind on it. Yamapi was amazing here, I never thought he'd play basketball. well, being a 25-year old Je-boy... I couldnt care less. :)) Katigawa was good to. She gave the "simple but capable" feeling. Buzzer beater is a recommendable drama, please watch it. Spread the Yamapi love. :)))
KAZdoramma · 4 Oct 2009
It was really interesting in the first few episodes but went downhill in the latter parts which was ashame. I think the relationships were ok but the acting by the characters, especially yama P was cheesy in many parts, hence my rating. Really cringing in bits!!! but watchable :)
apithea · 10 Aug 2009
I've just finished watching 4th episode en I can't hardly wait to watch next episode. I think the story is very interesting. At first I thought it was all about playing basketball en less romance. But it turn out to be much romance n less playing basketball.
jessyazimah · 22 Jul 2009
the storyline maybe good.the cast also good esp pi and aibu but some didn't deliver it very well.keiko's acting a little bit flop and the crying scene was absolutely fake.the way she touch naoki when she gave him her support also seem wierd act..please polish it for the next episode...but i love the theme song..thanks to B'z 4 the great song.they remind me the theme song in beautiful life..