xploring wrote:

There are only 10 episodes, because TBS didn't think it will be a hit. They are trying to extend it now but because Sakai Masato has already been scheduled for Legal High 2 next season, it's not happening. From news report online.

Watched the first 10min....dropped it like a stone. This is like eating a pound of fruit cake every episode... ...I will watch it at Christmas. The style of it reminds me of White Tower. First half like an entree to the main course, the second half.

Why wouldn't it be a hit? It's lambasting bankers !

Eyeyore wrote:

The style of it reminds me of White Tower. First half like an entree to the main course, the second half.

That's exactly what it is. "Shiroi Kyoto" in a banking setting. And like you said, the first half was to give us background and show Hanzawa in action, the second half looks like he's going after even bigger fish.

^seems I have to check out Hanzawa Naoki - but I guess I'll watch it once all episodes have been aired. Same for Woman, things got a bit busy and I am at episode 5 but I will finish it once I have more time.

I did finish Gekiryuu ~ Watashi wo Oboete Imasuka? and it's definitely not a must-watch. Lame mystery and some bad acting (or bad directing perhaps).

Koi suru Top Lady starring Nakatani Miki
http://jdorama.com/drama.659.htm

Quite entertaining, the cast put in good performances, but the ending was rather underwhelming, and I was disappointed Chiharu (Nakatani Miki) never really grew or got serious with the work. Despite the title and description, there was not much romance, the lead pair didn't look like a couple anyway, though Nakatani Miki almost made it work. Okina Megumi was really good in the episode that focused on her, so much so that I wondered why they didn't make a series about her character. 7/10

Akuryobyoto 👍 is it currently airing in japan?

xploring wrote:

Kanjiya Shiori was really talented, particularly with emotional scenes, much more accomplished than many other actresses playing their respective asadora heroines, it's a shame she didn't seem get many significant roles since.

She is an A-talent actress relegated to B-list roles. Unfortunately she doesn't have the physical appearance that is required for her to be a jdorama star; the fact that she can act rings around her contemporaries means nothing to the powers-that-be in Japanese television.

Maybe someday they will stop pandering to fanboys and fangirls and start producing quality dramas again. Probably about the same time Democrats and Republicans will start working harmoniously for the betterment of the country. Don't hold your breath.

'Woman' episode 8. Focused mostly on Tanaka. Unless they throw something completely out of left field at us, like the father wanting a sex-change operation, I don't think there will be any surprises. But still, with these actors, it's a good watch.

Waiting on subs for other stuff stumbled across another one that I missed the first time around 'Gonzo': http://www.jdorama.com/drama.1311.htm.

Looks like this one might turn out to be pretty good.

People are always talking about the 'golden age' of dramas, this one came from 2008 and it looks like that was a good year overall. There was 'Ashita no Kita Yoshio', 'Daisuki', 'Muri na Renai', 'Pandora', 'Top Sales', 'Soratobu Taiya', 'Seigi no Mikata', 'Yasuko to Kenji', 'Akai Ito', 'Kaze no Garden', and 'Scandal'. Pretty fair selection, I'd say.

Of course, the two world-class A#1 stink bombs of that year 'Last Friends' and 'Innocent Love' are to be avoided at all costs!!

Finished 'Gonzo'. I thought it did have one hole in the plot:

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

In episode 7 when Kyoko comes back and tells Hiroki she knows where the killer is, as soon as the words came out of her mouth I said, "It's a setup! Don't go!" Now if I could see it coming a mile away why couldn't the hot shot detective known for his great intuition see it? Why didn't he at least call his buddies and have someone come over to guard Kyoko? And you can see from Kyoko's reaction when he leaves that she knows its a setup too. Why did she just sit there and not try and stop him from going?

But still, one of the better cop dramas I've seen. Great acting all around.

Watching Sono Sion's "Minna! Esper Da Yo!" I'm at the 5th episode, so far very weird and entertaining. It's similar to Love Exposure in many ways.

Probably going to be one of my all time favorites. So surreal, weird and fun

'Woman' episode 9. Coming down the stretch with this one.

Episode 6 of 'Hanzawa Naoki'. Hanzawa and Owada (Teruyuki Kagawa) lock horns for the first time and it looks like our old buddy from the tax department Kurosaki will be back for episode 7. Can never have too many villians!

"Sore wa, Totsuzen, arashi no you ni". I'm on forth episode! I like it so far!

Taking me awhile to get through Orange Days. Somehow I preferred the main actor in Shota No SUshi.
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Episode 7 of 'Hanzawa Naoki'. Hanzawa down, but not out, and Aya is a much better wife than we thought. The Kondo character and his side story is kind of a distraction though.

Watching Keizoku and Keizoku2:SPEC...

One a detective show, the other an alien show or Japanese version of "Men in Black". Why did they call it sequel? Such a leech on old fame.

Byakuyakou episode 1. Fukuda Mayuko was so good that I was disappointed that the characters has grown and Ayasa Haruka will be Yukiho from now on. The boy that played Ryouji was really good too. The atmosphere, story telling and the bond between Ryouji and Yukiho were all really well done. Not sure how the rest of the drama can measure up to that first episode, that plus the reputation of being one of the most depressing dramas, I don't think I will finish this series.

'Woman' episode 10. It looked like we might have a cliche there for a minute, but they avoided it. Nice scene near the end with Koharu and the kids. The subplot of the other doctor and her husband and kid has been nothing but a distraction.

I saw somewhere else on the web somebody referred to Rio Suzuki who plays Nozomi as the "anti-Mana Ashida". And it's true. Suzuki is not all cute and sweetness, she's more like a real kid which may mean she's a better actress. Also easy to overlook in this is Karou Kobayashi as Kentaro, Koharu's step-father. He comes across as kind of a deadbeat lazy stiff, but as we saw in the last scene of episode 8 (probably his best in the drama) he knows exactly what's going on and he's trying to straighten Shiori out.

Episode 8 of 'Hanzawa Naoki'. Still good but some of the scenery chewing is beginning to get to me. Kataoka Ainosuke who plays Kurosaki was fortunately only in one scene. He definitely graduated Magna Cum Loudly from the Nagase/Sorimachi school of overacting. Even a good actor like Kagawa is starting to get in the act. I think the director has a relative in the table manufacturing business. At least every other scene somebody is banging their fist on a table somewhere.

The Kondo character's storyline looks like it might be aligning with Hanzawa's, so that could be interesting.

Doctor X - wasn't as horrifying as I thought but some portions were a good prescription for insomnia .....but definitely a better alternative to Doctors2