Fan reviews: Orange Days

chinapin0 · 17 Oct 2006

although this was my first drama i watched, i believe it was my favorite, the acting was good, Tsumabuki Satoshi needs more roles like these, and i hope to see more of him in the future

8thSin · 7 Oct 2006

Incredible! Amazing plots and acting. I was not at all expecting it to be so amazing when I started watching, but I was hooked after the very first episode, and watched the whole series in 1 day! Cried few times too, very touching. Shibasaki Kou's performance was even better than in Good Luck!!
Mr. Children's uSignv has the perfect lyric for this dorama too.
Two thumbs up!

YgY · 7 Sep 2006

one of the best television shpws i've ever watched. this drama has a perfect combination of good direction, competent acting and a simple but solid storyline. both leads were completely believable in their respective characters and their emotional scenes together rarely resulted to overwrought hysterics(unlike many other dramas in its genre). kou shibasaki is a great actress, she is pefect in this role, and the sign language aspect of it must have been difficult to memorize, but she did it so naturally. and tsumabuki satoshi is just a genuinely likeable actor, he seems so sincere and real in his role that i found myself wishing "if only such a perfect human being existed in real life.g overall, this is a sweet and engaging coming of age drama, its kind of formulaic, yes but also very very cute and endearing. if you have to watch a jdrama at all, it should be this one.

zoglog · 6 Sep 2006

I had recently graduated with a BA in a similar Degree as Kai so I found myself in many parallel situations and thoughts as him. Unlike him however, I did join that "watch company" though it's almost like a peek into what could have been ;)

But yeah, really how many deaf/blind people dramas do we really need? That whole aspect was a bit gimmicky

yetters · 31 Aug 2006

Story-wise, Orange Days was very rich and coherent. The story was about the most important things in life: love, passion, friendship and living. And the way that these elements were sewn together magically speaks to its audience. It's such an inspirational story. It somehow pushes you to ask yourself, "what are the important things in my life? What choices should I make?" Acting-wise, Shibasaki Kou and Satoshi Tsumabuki gave very very compelling performances! You wouldn't believe Kou could speak unless you heard it yourself. She was very believable. I think the entire drama was done in good taste, no overbearing elements, down to the last minutest detail.

Wynter · 29 Aug 2006

I don't exactly know what to write, for there is very little for me to criticize. Orange Days is about a group of friends stuck in the transition between adolescense and adulthood. As they try to define themselves and set up paths for their futures, they come to realize that defining oneself is harder than one may think.

The glue that makes the plot stick is Sae, a deaf, talented female who is bent on shutting everything out in order to protect herself from what she preceives as a harsh world. Her light in the darkness becomes Kai, and the Orange Society.

Although Sae's character seems to be in the centre of all things, it's not really about her or her own issues. It's about all five characters and their passage into a new, and alien, world. The storyline is very refreshing and true to real life, and the limited amount of characters makes it easier for the viewer to truely understand each one and feel as if the viewer is also part of the Orange Society.

This intimacy is helped along by Shibasaki Kou, who was surprisingly brilliant, and Tsumabuki Satoshi, who has the gift of communicating volumes with his eyes. Great chemistry between the two!

All-in-all, an excellent watch and highly recommended to all who enjoy a refreshing orange. ^.^

AppleTree · 21 Aug 2006

My favorite drama by far. I love the characters and the story is great.

Nobita-kun · 19 Aug 2006

I finished the entire series in two sittings and would've done it in one had I borrowed all the episodes at once. Needless to say, I was glued to this drama from the start. The two lead actors have excellent chemistry and delivered convincing performances. This is a true tear-jerker with pertinent lessons about love, life, and career.

monmon · 9 Aug 2006

love satoshi-kou couple. they got the feeling. satoshi is so cute in here. the character is also good, he's a very kind-hearted man.

chesed · 9 Aug 2006

Memories are what I value the most. Without memories, I can't see much motivation in what anyone is doing, regardless of personal value. If we can't remember or reflect on the past, how can we be prepared for the future?

Orange Days is an even-paced, bittersweet drama that causes us to reflect on our youth, be it middle school, high school, or college. The setting of the show is at a university, and the story revolves around what comes to be known as "Orange no Kai," the Orange Society. The small club is composed of five members and together they live out their last year on campus, their primary goal is to create many good memories before they graduate. Of particular focus is Sae, a deaf girl capable of hearing the occasional high pitch sound or vibration who is still trying to cope with her 4 year bout with her disability, and Kai, a student who's thoughts are dwindling between his carefree days as a student and the uncertainty of his future as an adult.

This drama is reminiscent of Asunaro Hakusho which has a similar setting without a member with a disability. While Asunaro Hakusho thrives on it's jilting melodramatics and intense character situations, Orange Days shines in it's subdued situations and subtle but powerful moments of emotion. In this respect, Orange Days is calm and serene and urges us that while there are many hardships that we as members of society have to overcome, as long as one has the strength to rely on others as much as ourselves, we will have a fighting chance at overcoming the hurdles presented to us.

The storyline was very well-written and absolutely never overdone. In fact, I'm somewhat surprised that something like this could come out of Japan as I am so used to dramas relying on shocking moments and "evil" characters to accentuate the happy moments they present. The only thing I didn't like were some of the actions of Sae's mother, who in later episodes did things almost opposite of what her character originally did -- it made me seem like I thought I knew her but didn't.

It's very refreshing to see that no awkward zoom-ins or traditional Japanese-ish camera angles were used... if there was English dialogue, this could definately pass as a Western show. However, the Japanese setting and social actions by the characters are what attracts me to these dramas in the first place, and are very welcome.

Also of particular interest was the mild and emotionally sublime soundtrack. Naoki Sato did an incredible job of capturing the essence of the memories of college life. The feel-good mood of the entire series can be heavily attributed to the soundtrack. The end song Sign by Mr. Children was very well chosen and complimented each episode. And while some people thought Shanghai Honey by Orange Range was jarring in the middle of a particular episode, I thought it did well creating a specific memory for Orange no Kai. It's moments like those that make you wish you could relive your youth.

Shibasaki Kou did a very good job at portraying a jilted, once-famous deaf person. Her character was annoying at times and forced the audience to feel what she herself was going through. At times I wish she could tear up a bit more, as I probably would have cried more myself if she did... it would have made her performance top notch. Tsumabuki Satoshi did very well himself. He never overacted and was able to convey every emotion required of his character. All the other actors did well, too, notably all of Orange no Kai.

One of the few things the show lacked was a strong ending. I suppose this is hard to do with such a subdued, realistic storyline. While I enjoyed the series from beginning to end, I think certain plot points could have been resolved in a way that could evoke more emotion than it did. Having been written more realistically, I felt I could associate myself with the main characters, but there were times where I wanted to cry more but realized there's no point in doing so if the character wasn't going to (although there were several points where they did emote well).

Still, Orange Days is a refreshingly subdued drama that never overdoes the dramatics. It does a wonderful job of creating the memories that form the backbone of it's story and development of it's characters. For this reason alone, you maintain a good feeling after each episode and complete the series with a good memory yourself -- watching Orange Days.

Susan · 5 Aug 2006

Okay, so I found the plot a bit obivous, and the characters seem to take forever to realize important facts and feelings. BUT, Orange Days was just so cute and funny that I found myself devouring each episode as I got them! I laughed and cried for all of the victories and dissapointments of each of the characters, and I couldn't help but root for their loves to be realized! The ending was perfect and lovely. Narimiya Hiroki, especially, was so fantastic in yet ANOTHER drama. I am looking forward to his future projects! He's so wonderful.

orange_k4zu · 2 Aug 2006

this is my 1st dorama i see about university student life. its kind a good. before this, i always seen dorama the high school student life. i've not finish seen the orange days yet but.....is was great!! v(^o^)v

youhei_mito · 17 Apr 2006

i admit i'm picky when it comes to jdramas, coz i rarely find any of them really compelling. but orange days is seriously one of the cream of the crop. :) the storyline is really nice, with nice pace & nice moments. if u wanna watch a drama about college life, friends & love -- then this is wat it's all about.

i have to say the star of the show was definitely Yuuki Kai (brilliant acting by the lead actor) -- this guy basically has the golden personality tat could charm any heart of steel (including Sae & her unreasonable mood swings). not to mention he's seriously cute. :) gotta mention the fact tat the rest of the gang was really amusing as well.

if there was one thing less-perfect in this drama, i would say it was the final episode. wasnt exactly in the league of the previous episodes, just so-so. would've been an amazing drama if there was more climax.

Gao · 29 Jan 2006

Orange days is one of the best i've ever seen.I hope when i go to college it turns out just like this drama. I hope i can learn japanese soon or I won't be able to get in to a japanese university. Anyway if you are looking for a GREAT drama watch orange days.

Luki · 21 Jan 2006

I love watching this dorama, I especially love the ending when Sae suddenly shout to Kai!!!

MissMonika · 18 Jan 2006

Absolutely amazing drama. A very touching and inspiring story about such a diverse group of friends. I love the chemistry between Kai and Sae. On their own they are really complicated people, but they do complete each other. It makes you want to believe in true love and the courage to move forward in times of hopelessness. Shibasaki Kou is so wonderful in this drama. She had me believing there for a second that she was actually deaf. Her performance in this show is brilliant.

sawadasmile · 17 Jan 2006

absolutely amazing. the chemistry between tsumabuki satoshi and shibasaki kou as kai and sae was undeniably strong. this drama made me cry, smile, and really hit close to home because it touches upon many themes that i see around me in everyday life... the music is great, the sign language is impressive, and i also love narimiya hiroki and shiraishi miho as a pair... absolutely adorable! it was my second time seeing both of them since gokusen and densha otoko, respectively, and they were captivating in their roles. great all around drama! i highly recommend it. :)

Kana Bana · 15 Jan 2006

finally a modern love drama that isn't suuuper typical! It's really enjoyable to watch, good characters, lots of fun. cute relationship :P and satoshi is hot, must mention that.

Deceased · 2 Jan 2006

One of the best dorama based on physically disabled. However i still feel beautiful life (another physically disabled dorama) has a better emotional acting skills and script.

Well, this one isn't too bad at all. The flow of the story is quite ok from episode 1 to the last. Neither too dull nor too slow. Just right!

It also shows the perspective of a deaf person how she comprehand her world in silence, love life and her attitude towards music, as well as her difficulties of making friends, studying and working.

One of the best plots and casting for 2005.
Definitely must watch it.

jaydoramalover · 19 Dec 2005

this drama is sooo good!