10 reviews · average 6.5 / 10
Wynter · 20 Nov 2011
I was expecting a lot... given the cast. This drama started off strong, but lost it's speed really fast. By the end I felt it was a huge disappointment. It's really forgettable, there is little chemistry between the characters, and some of the plot is just ridiculous. I hope these actors make better choices in future!
Jackykero · 13 Feb 2009
I think it is the first time I fast-forward the end of a j-dorama.
The dorama is set up to be a romantic comedy between 2 lead characters, with a third one who comes for a few episodes to make the romance last a little longer. There is a recurrent theme with insects at each episode to bring some different flavor to the show, and some second plan characters to add some comic relief.
Unfortunately, even with a popular and talented lead actress (Takeuchi Yuko), this dorama proves that putting the ingredients together is not enough, it needs something more. Everything in this series is not good enough.
- The story is not elaborate enough, some episodes seem just to be dragging
- The relationship between the 2 main characters is superficial
- The acting is so-so (Takeuchi Yuko is great as usual but that is not enough to make it up for the other actors)
- The references to the insects might be fun the first couple of times, then it becomes forced into the story
- The comic relief is far from good.
I am a big fan of Takeuchi Yuko and this is what took me to the end of the dorama, and made me give it a 5, but all in all, it is a disappointment.
johnjeon · 30 Apr 2008
Takeuchi Yuko is such a likeable actress but is pretty much wasted in this drama. There's very little logical flow to the series and there was only about three episodes worth of plot; the whole thing felt very drawn out. The lead male character is not particularly endearing and Uchino Masaaki's poor acting didn't help matters. There just wasn't much interest in seeing the two leads get together. If you're looking for a romantic comedy/drama there are many more better choices.
Tokumei · 23 Mar 2007
This is an unfortunate example of an intelligent comedy completely destroyed by the translation. Initially I bought this series in the Japanese language version. Since I found this comedy very well-written and intelligently executed, I decided to buy it with English subtitles from Singapore so that my non-Japanese speaking family members could also enjoy the drama. Unfortunately, the translation is abominable. It is not just inaccurate, but it has completely changed the story and the characters.
Of course, it would be impossible to provide a gperfecth translation to this type of comedy with fast-paced dialogue. Some mistakes are easily identifiable such as geggplantsh translated as gtomatoesh in the scene where Yoshiko is experimenting in organic farming with ladybugs in a greenhouse full of eggplants.
Some of the simplifications or losses of nuance may be tolerated: such as the word gitoshii [meaning an affection for something precious]h simply becoming gcuteh in the translation. Some mistakes are actually funny: such as gbulky princeh (correct translation is gaging princeh (the rescuing scene in the mountain: the translator mistook gfuketa (aging)h as gfuyaketa (swollen, sodden).h
What is inexcusable is the translatorfs lack of respect for this award winning script, arbitrarily changing the story and the characters when the translator does not understand the dialogue. (The playwright, Mika Omori (woman), received the prestigious Mukoda Award for the best TV script in 2005).
Here are some examples.
Correct translation
gWhen my hair has become elegantly silver-gray.h@[Minamihara to Jinguji in the gym where he is fantasizing about seeing a long-lost daughter. He does not like parental responsibility, but like to have a child to hold and to give new yearfs presents.] gWhen I become a play-boyh (subtitle)
gSometimes it is OK to feel that you want to be coddled.h (In the bathing scene, Minamihara to fully-clothed Yoshiko, comforting her.) gBehave like a womanh (subtitle)
[mistaking gamaeru (want to be pampered, ask for a favor)h as gama = a derogatory way of calling women]
If anything happens to you, Ifll find you a new research lab job.h [Minamihara to Yoshiko, who is worried about losing her job.] gIf anything happens [, If]m looking for [a] new researcher.h [Here the subtitle indicates Minamihara is threatening Yoshiko whereas in fact he is comforting her.]
hI am a petty man.h [Minamihara is talking about his lack of courage, not a social position] gI am a low position (subtitle)h
graise the child togetherh [Minamihara, a parting scene toward the last.] gfoster him (subtitle)h [as if Minamihara was ordering Yoshiko to raise his son. The Japanese original says a child, not the son, and also raising the child gtogether.h]
There are numerous other serious mistakes.
dashx · 29 Sep 2005
Definitely not one of Yuko-chan best work but if you can drop any pre-expectation that you have and just enjoy the show as it it, you would find yourself pleasantly entertained by it.
The story, set around biology (especially the study of insect), is essentially at its heart a love story. It talks about how Jinko (yuko-chan's character) goes through her life (5 years in all, 2000-2005) and falling in and out of love, much in the mould of tokyo love story, albeit more lighthearted.
Well it is enjoyable to see yuko-chan and uchino-san let go of themselves and be totally dramatic (as compared to the restrained actings of many today's series). Overall, it is a enjoyable outing as you follow Jinko-san through life's ups and downs. But don't expect any oscar-winning story tho:)
Hiro Toyo · 17 Sep 2005
This is a simple love story with insects as its main setting. I had a hard time seeing anything special with the plot and as the drama progressed, anything that was interesting from the beginning just fell apart. I couldn't see where the love story was going,and neither of the two guys(one in the beginning and one at the end) made any difference to the general development of the overall plot. This whole drama is tied loosely on the study of insects and although there are some interesting and rather creative cinematagraphic scenes, it didn't hold my attention at all. The main guy basically tries to win her back throughout the whole series, and the stories jumps from present to future to past, making it difficult to really relate to any of the moods the drama is trying to convey.
momoechan · 13 Jul 2005
Didn't like this dorama very much, Takeuchi's character got quite irritating in many parts of this dorama. I've only watched the 1st 5 episodes and the last episode. And when i saw the ending, I didn't even feel like watching the rest of the dorama, waste of my $$
Akakage · 5 Mar 2005
Woo..I got so glued on this dorama..I really got to have it once it's available on DVD or VCD..hehehe.. you really got to watch it.
So hilarious and unpredictable...too..the kind of love story that I like!! well done Yuko!
Never thought she has great chemistry with Uchino Masaaki.
clcs85 · 13 Feb 2005
Only watched 3 episodes but quite interesting and special! Kikawada Masaya is very cute in this drama, like him so much!!!
UWFShooter · 12 Feb 2005
From the creator of Long Love Letter and Queen of Lunch comes this new series. So far so good on the love triangle with Yuko as its apex. Uchino is cooler than what he was in Love Generation, too.