shelf

(7.5)

Overall it's a good, but not great drama. A bit slow at times, but Kimura keeps things interesting when his character has focus. The kids are cute... unfortunately their stories are pretty sedate for the most part. This is a shame since they are the true focus of the drama.

The female lead, played by Koyuki is also a bit of a let down. She is kind and wants to help, but her nagging behaviour and clumsy stumbling-around is kind of annoying. So it's no surprise that the romance is kept to a relative low. While there is potential from Jiro's (Kimura) ex-girlfriend to create some kind of love triangle, the opportunity is mostly missed. There is a sort of 'missed potential' overall with the characters... looking back it feels as though you really don't get to know them too well. This could just be the result of having such a large cast.

Despite the shortcomings, it's entertaining enough to warrant a watch-through. Though it starts off slow, the ending episode is very good, and will leave you with a positive vibe.

This is a really good series, that definately grew on me. Although I didn't find the main characters incredibly likeable at first (Sae especially), after a few episodes they really started to open up, and you see their subtleties.

The characters are pretty emotional for much of the show, but they have balanced out that bitter-sweetness with Keita and his 'Orange Society' plans (hehe). The story overall is very personal, and stays focused on the small group of friends, without straying too much. It captures that intensity of college life/love well.

It's also quite interesting how 'flawed' many of the characters are, in a human way. They can be quite hurtful to one another. They get angry, jealous, and selfish. You get to see both sides, not just the 'perfect' view of their personalities.

A fun and satisfying show, that will make you think. Watch it! :)