Nobita-kun

not to mention a slap in the face to the real densha otoko. Can a script be more overly-dramatic/exaggerated? The appeal of the densha otoko story is the improbable romance did and can take place in real life. However, this dramatic rendition perverts that idea into a preposterous fairy tale nobody can identify with. Itosh Atsushi's over-acting makes it all the more unbearable. His portrayal of densha will go down in J-drama history as the most puny, spineless, pitiful, sniveling-weasel-like, poor-excuse-for-a-human-being character ever created! The guy acts like he's about to die from a nervous breakdown. His constantly whiny face and apologetic behavior makes me puke. Perhaps his moniker should be changed to "Trainwreck Man" because watching his hysterical crying fits gives one the same mental anguish as witnessing a tragic derailment accident. The last episode was building up toward what could be the first genuinely touching scene of the series until train boy started sobbing and hyperventilating uncontrollably (again). Hermes-san probably accepted his confession out of pity rather than love--after all, who could refuse the entreating of a wretched, fragile creature spewing tears and mucus all over the floor. I only forced myself to finish the drama for the lovely Itoh Misaki as well as the occasional glimpses of Maki in schoolgirl uniform, cool ASCII art wiz Oguri Shun, and Darth Miho.

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.