Wynter

This was a great show. It was light, and well developed, and the chemistry between KimuTaku's, Karina's, and Nakai's characters were awesome. I also really liked seeing Fujiki in this type of role. The supporting cast were awesome (especially Natsuki Mari) and overall the breakdown of the story kept me entertained.

I don't know if it's because I watched this drama after a long break from dramas, or because I really did enjoy it, but I've given it a 10. I loved the premise. I found it new and refreshing, and I absolutely loved Shun and Satomi as the leads. They had great chemistry, and together with a strong supporting cast, this drama held my attention through and through. I hope for a sequel!

Yonekura was awesome, of course, and really played her role well. I was disappointed with the overall drama, however. It was just a regular medical-template drama with little originality. I was hoping something would come of Daimon's background story (her father and the closing of his clinic) but this didn't come to head. Maybe they're planning a sequel?

Not a bad show, but nothing unforgettable either. I personally found it a little boring but the script only focused on a few obstacles so it went quickly. Sorimachi was excellent, though his talents could have been challenged more.

A good drama but a little less entertaining then some of Sorimachi's other dramas.

I guess I'll be going against the grain here, but I found this drama extremely boring. I fell asleep a few times and found it hard to get into the story. Normally I LUFF these slice-of-life stories, where you stumble into the lives of these characters and they continue living long after you've stopped watching. I didn't feel intrigued with this one, though. None of the characters grasped my attention and Suzuki was REALLY annoying. Her lack of expressive eyes (sleepy-dog eyes, really) were frustrating to watch.

Over all, the drama was watchable, but it's very forgettable and I will not be watching it again.

This drama was okay. It was very typical for a family drama so nothing new was presented. This is one of those dramas where the side characters (Pinko-san, Yamashita, and especially Tsunami-san ) really carry the show and make it entertaining. I liked the drama overall because I'm a sucker for family dramas, and this one delivered as one.

I found it difficult to get into this drama right away, because the science fiction was not convincing in the least. Over time, slowly, the characters started to win me over and by the end I was enjoying the whole JIN experience. I didn't mind the ridiculous operations and invention of Penicillin and rubber, since the characters were so thoroughly convincing ain each of their roles. I have to say, Ayase as Saki and Uchino as Ryoma really stuck out.

Instead of writing a review on the characters and plot again, since little aspired since the first season, I will say that I found the explanation of the time travel a good one. They used the globally accepted theory seen in western culture as well in the science fiction world, and even though it was explained in a rushed and unsatisfactory manner in the end of the drama, the logic itself was sound.

The part about Ryoma and Jin being "one", however, didn't make any sense and there was little in the drama in clarify this situation.

Either way, good end to a 2-series show.

I went into this drama with no expectations whatsoever. I figured I'd watch it because I haven't seen Aya in a drama in a long time.

This particular show was boring. The leads did a good job with the script they were given, but otherwise it was predictable with never little depth and even less potential for grown. At first I found that the two leads didn't have any chemistry together... but I'm not sure if I would still say this having finished the drama.

Either way, it's an okay watch because it's only 6 episodes. Watch it if you're an Aya fan, otherwise I'm sure there's loads better out there.

SPOILER!
It was just as enjoyable as Season 1. I did kind of wish that Hotaru and Seiichi had gotten married half way through the show so that we could see some post-wedding situations.

Fujiki was his usual amazing self, and although I will always love Ayase, she was sometimes annoying and a little too over the top. I really enjoyed it when Itaya and Yasuda were on screen, especially together, and they quickly became my favourite couple in this series.

Great comedy and overall good show.

Okay, so this drama seemed to drag on forever, but who cares! The longer the show, the more screen time for Takenouchi Yutaka. I think this drama was the epitome of hotness for him. I mean, he looks great now, but dang. That voice of his made me melt everything time I turned the DVD player on.

The rest of the drama was decent. It was a love story, and had its merits. I'm not sure I'm satisfied with the end and will never watch this drama again because of it, but it was still enjoyable while it lasted.

This is one of those dramas that you have to grow into. The warm atmosphere of La Petit Lapin and the convincing way Nakayama Miho portrayed her character's love for food, made this drama an easy sell.

I'm not quite sure I'm satisfied with the ending, but overall this show was a pleasure to watch.

On the likeness scale of bearability, I would say this drama is mediocre. The acting from the mother and father - Tomita and Furuya - was stellar and kept me entertained. However, because the drama catches a glimpse into a family's life, I felt disjointed from it. I couldn't really connect and I felt more like a voyeur than anything else.

It was good, but it was always forgettable and I'll probably never watch it again.

A scripted drama, to be sure, but it was just what the doctor prescribed.

It was light, corny, and romantic. I love Iijima Naoko in any and all roles, and without a definite reason, I was strangely attracted to Uchimura Teruyoshi. Instantly. I was also not-at-all annoyed by Uchiyama Rina. Perhaps it was her young age that actually made her endearing.

The one iff I have is that the end, although necessary, wasn't convincing. I still didn't truly believe Natsuo's affection.

As well. Still a heart-warming drama that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

The drama is light and has some cute/nice moments, but overall it was the most annoying show Ifve seen in a long time. Ifm sure I remember enjoying Aibu Saki in her previous dramas, so Ifll blame this completely on the character: Oba Nobuko was terribly annoying. I couldnft stand her. She was fine in the first few episodes, or perhaps I just hadnft realized yet how annoying she really was. Eventually I began to cringe whenever she opened her mouth. Itfs a good thing Aibu Saki is adorable. If I were watching her for the first time, Ifd think her talentless and overly exaggerated as an actress. Even Moko was annoying. What was the director thinking making them act like this? I didnft find either endearing.

The other problem I had with this show was Buukofs constant rebounding. She would rebound – and wefre talking like 80 pounds here – in less than a week, and then lose it in that much time. Give me a break.

Ifm not sure I would recommend this drama. If you like the leads, then watch for their sake, otherwise skip it.

It's taken me a few years to gain the courage I knew I needed to watch this show. I wasn't sure I had it in me to watch something so emotionally charged. I'm glad I finally bit the bullet and watched it.

After the first few episodes, and after crying through each one, I began to worry that this drama would continue to be a sobfest, but through cheap tricks the directors use to make their audience cry. It did continue to be a sobfest, but with a turn towards depth. I'm so glad the drama morphed into being more about the family and their connection with Yuzu, as opposed to a disabled person constantly being degraded by society.

Although there were some inconsistencies and loose ends, Karina's portrayal of Yuzu was so heartwarming that these flaws do not matter. She was wonderful. Kishimoto Kayoko was endearing, and even ol' Hiraoka Yuta, who has annoyed me since the movie Nana, has gotten into my good graces.

I may never watch this drama again, because I'm not sure I have the tears left, but it was beautiful while it lasted. I highly recommend it.

Two of my favourite gals are in this show and both delivered. Wonderfully. The story is lame, however, and the drama overall is quite boring. I would recommend that you watch this show for the chemistry between the two female leads, but skip it for everything else.

Okay, so here's the thing. Contrary to my better judgement, I enjoyed this show because I adore Ishihara Satomi. If she wasn't in this one, I might have been bored out of my mind.

That being said, although this was a poor rip-off of Trick, there were still some good moments. If you love Satomi-chan, then watch it. If not, pass by without a glance.

I was a little nervous about this one because MatsuJun was it, but I had faith in Takeuchi Yuko and therefore had some hope. I was not disappointed. Takeuchi Yuko played a great character really well and I loved seeing her in the role of a struggling mother. MatsuJun was sorta just there for the first half of the show, but he eventually grows on you and then things aren't so bad. Good show overall.

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!

Another "you can always achieve the impossible" story-line that is endearing if not completely original. I loved Fukatsu Eri and Abe Hiroshi. KimuTaku was adorable as usual, but a change in acting style would have been nice. Although the story is forgettable, I'll always remember the dynamics of the characters in that big ol' house.

Although the plot becomes redundant and the storyline becomes repetetive, I still thoroughly enjoyed this show. It's a food show, but the emphasis is moreso on the characters. I enjoyed every single character/actor, especially Akiko's role and Abe's role.

I watched the whole thing... and I still don't understand why the backdrop is a hospital and the medical career. Everything in relation to the hospital was absolutely ridiculous. They could have created the same story with a different backdrop profession and the drama would have been exactly the same. This is poor writing.

The first episode left a really bad taste in my mouth, but as the episodes progressed and as Manami's character calmed down and became more "real", it wasn't so bad. Completely forgettable, but not painful to watch.

The actors were great, even if their roles were poor. That's about it.

I don't think I would recommend this drama, unless you're a hardcore fan of Manami's. She was uber kawaii in this one.

Like Ruri's Island, this drama had a very warm feel to. Who would have thought that such a simple concept (troubled girl adopted and raised with morals and love) could turn into such a beautiful show.

Narumi Riko is such a talented young star. She has a unique beauty and a unique look in her eyes. They couldn't have chosen a more perfect girl to play this role. Takenouchi Yutaka was absolutely wonderful. I think this is his favourite role for me. He was really able to test his skills in this drama and of course he delivered one hundred percent.

I highly recommend this drama to anyone looking for some wholesome, good story-watching.

I liked it. It was a good vehicle for Ueno to show off her acting ability, but even moreso for the writers/directors to really fashion something creative and compelling.

As for my favourite, I liked Chapter Three. Ifm not sure if itfs because there was more to it than just Ueno, therefore more characters to get attached to (or at least have the option to) or because it seemed to be more layered than the others.

I found the episodes too short to make an impact, and therefore all five episodes are pretty forgettable. I wish they had given Juri-chan a bit more variety in the characters. She seemed to act the same for all roles.

Glitch: In Chapter Two (HOPE), Miyuki enters the elevator and plays with her wallet. When shefs finally able to leave the elevator, the wallet is filmed on the ground – left behind by her. When she returns later, and inevitably decides to use the stairs instead, the same elevator door opens. There is no wallet within.

I have no complaints whatsoever. I went into the show with no expectations. After the first episode I still felt a little lukewarm, but very quickly the storyline and characters grabbed hold of me and that was that.

I LOVED Matsushima Nanako. I always thought she was a bit overrated. I guess I just needed a role like this to make me see why people love her so much! And of course, I'm extremely attracted to Fukuyama Masaharu as an actor and I felt this role was great and fun.

I liked the dynamic between the characters at JBC News. I wish I had a workplace like that. It was so warm. And the small bits of romance were sweet and not overdone. Everything worked so naturally well with everything else.

It was a great watch. Woot!

This show wasn't bad, but I was quite disappointed. With all the hype I was really looking forward to it, but instead found that it had a very weak story-line that wasted 8 episodes worth of time. Aside from the final showdown between So and Jinno, I enjoyed the last two episodes.

I thought Oguri Shun was great. It was nice to see him in a different role. Mizushima Hiro was damn annoying and Yoshitaka Yuriko... well, she's lucky I was a fan of hers BEFORE this drama.

The show is redundant and boring and I was hoping for more. It's okay to watch one time through, but it's forgettable. Shame.

I hugely enjoyed this show, and I loved it throughout the first ten episodes.

Toyokawa Etsushi completely blew me away. So much so, that I've voted for him as a fav on this site. Not only was he convincing as a hearing impaired individual (his use of sign language seemed so natural!), but he truly encompassed the persona of a true artist. His quiet disposition, what he wore, the way he walked, his gaze... everything about him was so attractive.

I've enjoyed watching Tokiwa Takako in other dramas, but never really appreciated her as actress until now. Although her character faltered in the last two episodes, I found her riveting to watch.

My only complaint about the show was Hiroko's betrayal. Although I can completely understand how it came about and what she was feeling when it happened, I still felt it was out of character. As a result the whole ordeal left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm so glad it ended the way it did, though. A shimmer of hope. I'm really glad that they allowed some time to pass before the final (but hopefully not the last) encounter they portrayed in the show. It gave room for both characters to mature and truly be ready to continue with each other.

I love Sorimachi and I love Tsuruta. And Ifll never, for the life of me, understand why they chose to do this ridiculous drama. Itfs so ridiculous Ifm not sure what else to say about it in this review.

Except, the ending theme is great. Everything else is garbage. Literally (ref: last scene).

At the end of the drama, quite suddenly, you realize that the love story wasn't between Yoshimori and Kahori at all...

For the first six or so episodes I wasn't sure if I liked the drama. The scenery was marvelous, rivaled only by the amazing group of talent presented to us through intriguing characters. But I just couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe that Kahori was faultless. I kept seeing her as a seductress (ruby red lips in a ruby red car) and this clashed with my morals. And then there was the opening song (one of the best video interpretations I have ever seen) where I couldn't help but feel that Kahori was being represented by the chains binding Yoshimori.

But then, half way through the drama, Kahori dies... and everything turns upside down. The story comes together so flawlessly that you realize that Kahori really was a victim. She was "born to love and born to be loved". And her legacy would live on in the daughter she loved and the man who loved her.

Shibata Yoshimori has to be one of my favourite characters of all time. I don't know how Toyokawa Etsushi did it, but I'm in love. Tall and gentle, but strong... and silent. He moved and walked in a quiet space and it was so peaceful to watch him. He had such powerful chemistry with Suzuki Anne, who was serious a child prodigy; the way she drew you in and made you forget you were watching an actress and not a real person...

This was a beautiful drama and I'm so glad I watched until the end. I felt manipulated and tormented while watching the show, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Okay, I'm a sucker for these types of romances. The girl is pregnant and alone after going through a bad relationship (the end result, anyway) and has to face her family. In comes a dashing young man willing to play the part of her fiance. Of course, her father is absolutely against everything, and the young man must help the girl seek her father's approval. Throughout this process, they fall in love but are constantly bombarded with obstacles.

>>contented sigh<<

The storyline was great and I enjoyed the plot (although it was quite fast-paced and JAM PACKED with drama). What I liked best was the touching scenes between father and daughter, and how the writers portrayed the situation. Everything was so... endearing.

In terms of the cast, I think Wakui Emi has finally won me over. This is the third drama I'm seeing her in and, what's that saying? The third time's the charm. Of course I LUFF Sorimachi Takashi, so I won't waste time drooling over him. The surprise for me was Takeda Tetsuya. For some reason I'd made up my mind that I wasn't going to like him as an actor, although I haven't seen him in much of anything. I thought he was great in this drama. His performance was very touching.

And then of course, the icing on the cake for me was Yo Kimiko, whom I adore and love.

I definitely recommend this drama to all romantics. It's a great one.

Yonekura Ryoko is so lovely in this drama! I watched it mainly it see what outfits she would wear. In the first episode alone she wore 12+ different things! I lost count about half an hour into the episode lol.

The storyline is interesting, but could have been moreso had the writers pulled through. A lot of the episodes were left unresolved, which was frustrating since the incidents with the monster parents is always the focus of the episode. The subplot (with Miura-san) was good, and it was great to see recognizable guest stars drop in.

Overall the drama was fun for me, but mainly because I love Ryoko-san. Would I recommend it to someone who doesn't care much for Ryoko? Prolly not.

Will I remember Midnight Rain a few months from now? Probably not, but it was good while it lasted.

This is one of those dramas where the actors/actresses involved carry the show above anything else. Oda Yuji, Abe Hiroshi, and Ishiguro Ken are all actors I've admired in other dramas, and it was great to see all three of them play such different roles. This was my first drama with Matsuyuki Yasuko and I thought she was wonderful. She was so believable in her emotions and position that I felt only Nagatsuka Kyozo could match her episode after episode.

The story line is interesting, but I found the plot points a little too coincidental. Everything fit so flawlessly that this flawlessness became a loop hole.

Overall, good show, but I probably won't watch it again. It's great for those who like medical dramas, politics, and a little mystery.

I really enjoyed the drama... up until perhaps the end. Although the outcome is predictable, I didn't find it satisfying. The two main characters get together literally in the last scene or so, and so the 10 episodes of waiting seemed... such a waste.

That being said, the plot was great, but it was the cast that made the drama work for me. I LUFF Kyon Kyon, and although I've seen Tokiwa, Takenouchi, and Kusanagi in various dramas before, the rest of the cast was new for me. I liked the idea of the Red Thread of Fate, and also how one can denounce it and continue to live one's life. The mix of personalities was good.

I don't know if I would recommend this drama. Although the bulk of it was enjoyable, I still felt it was a bit of a waste because I wanted more outcome in the end. But that's a personal peeve, so...

I'm not a huge Kusanagi Tsuyoshi fan. I find him awkward to watch and he rarely has chemistry with his leading ladies. So I was a little hesitant when I started this drama.

It ended up being quite fun to watch! I'm still not a Kusanagi Tsuyoshi fan, but he was bearable through his interactions with Seto Asaka, who's performance was passable.

I found the supporting cast much stronger than the two leads. Abe Hiroshi and Fukatsu Eri were great, as they usually are, and it was nice to see Morimoto Leo's pleasant face again.

The storyline and plot were interesting and entertaining, but I found that the last drama really lagged. It was boring and stretched unbearably so. By the time the drama ended, I was annoyed.

When I first started watching this drama I was thinking "oh no, another arafo drama", where the woman is older, single, and can't get married. I was therefore pleasantly surprised that the arafo female was a strong woman who could have gotten married, but wouldn't settle for just anyone.

I'm really glad Amami Yuki got an award for her role as Ogata Satoko. She played the strong, independent female character perfectly. And I'm really glad that her counterpart was played by Fujiki Naohito. He's never really stood out for me in the many dramas I have seen him in, but he was favourite in this show.

It really is true that the older you are, the better you get, because the supporting cast was amazing. Everything/one just clicked, and the flow of the story was very nice.

I was very pleased with the ending, because the writers didn't "sell out". The character of Satako remained consistent and found this endearing.

I definitely recommend this drama.

I started watching this drama because of Natsukawa Yui (and I love her to pieces), but I kept watching the show because of Sakai Masaaki. What a great performance he gave! I went into the drama with high expectations, but I had very little for him because he's so heavily associated with the role he had in Churasan. However, he completely broke the mold for me and I really had fun watching him in this drama. Both the leads were great, with an okay chemistry between them. Tokui Yoshimi was great as the good-for-nothing boyfriend, and although his character was downright annoying, the acting was grand.

I was a little disappointed with the ending. It was too rushed for my taste, but the overall story was great. Although this drama is a romance, the comedic moments were fantastic. My favourite scenes were the ones between Natsukawa Yui's and Suzuki Sawa's characters. I'd watch the entire drama again just to see the two interact.

I definitely recommend this drama... especially if you're a Yui fan.

This is another blueprint drama that is predictable and lacking variety. Although some of the cases (one case per episode, of course) were interesting, the show failed to hold my attention. It was boring and dull.

That being said, the discourse between Kimura and Matsu was fun to watch. The presence of Abe Hiroshi, and later of Iijima Naoko and Ryo is probably what prompted me to give this drama a 7 and not a 6.

I would recommend this drama to KimuTaku fans. Otherwise skip it.

O, and is the Special worth mentioning in this review? Nah.

This was a very average drama. The story was quite normal: a doctor makes a mistake (which wasn't his fault at all), and as a result he runs to a remote island to "start" over. On the island he has to win over the hearts of the locals by doing a surgery every episode through which he manages to save every secondary character.

The plot was a bit fantastical. Most of the surgeries would have been impossible to do given the circumstances, and things went just a little too perfectly. Some events could have been heartwarming, but the incredulous quality of the event took away from the emotions.

The reason I'm giving this drama a rating of 7 is because I love the ending Theme Song, and also because I was completely captivated by Yoshioka Hidetaka. I've watched him in Kita no Kuni Kura, where he was just a boy of ten, and without knowing he was the one playing Dr. Koto, I recognized him right away. I also love Shibasaki Kou, which may also explain my rating, but also because the drama wasn't BAD, just not great.

I started watching this drama for two reasons: recommendations and Kuninaka Ryoko. How was I to know that I would find Eita AND Shiraishi Miho?!

The already amazing cast then came together with a story I can relate to. After all, Ifm a teacher, and I love kids, and Ifm constantly in a battle trying to prove myself. What wasnft there in this drama for me to relate to?

To be sure, the plot/storyline is very average. Itfs been done a trillion times. But the casting for this show is what makes it memorable.

I highly recommend this drama to anyone looking for a soft, heartwarming experience.

Like with all dramas that are recommended to me specifically, I go in hoping I really enjoy it. And I really enjoyed Love Shuffle.

Ifm already a huge fan of Karinafs, and to a smaller degree of Tamaki Hiroshifs, so the casting was really easy getting into. The chemistry between the four main characters is what makes the show hold for me. I fell in love with Ojiro, I got carried away with Kiku-rin, I wanted to be Ai-Ai, and I wanted to bully Usa-kun. Among the outer circle, I have to admit that Kojima Hijirifs character, Reiko, is my favourite, with Kairi being the most endearing.

The storyline is very interesting, but the plot is very normal. When you get over the initial shock of the gLove Shuffleh concept, the drama falls back on character development. I find the success of the drama, for me, comes from this fallback.

To be sure, there was one nagging element that really bothered me throughout this drama, and that was Shihori-chanfs character, Mei. Why couldnft someone have killed her off?! I have never experienced such a fake, stupid, manipulative, oblvious character in my life. Shefs the reason I rated the drama a 8/10 and not a 9/10 or 10/10.

Other than her, I found the show good. Ifve seen it three times already, so I think itfs safe to say that I highly recommend it. ^_^

I'm not quite sure why I don't like this drama. At first I thought my dislike was based in my morals, but on further thought I realized that this is not the case. I mean, I'm the one who is 100% on Angelina Jolie's side in the whole Brad-Jen-Angie triangle. So why do I have such a problem with this drama?

ALL the actors/actresses did an amazing job, and the plot is intriguing. Even the cinematography had its "wow" moments.

The only thing I can say is that I feel I've been lied to by the main characters. Tsukasa was portrayed as a naive, kind, caring female who you wish you could be like.

Yoshimoto was sensitive, gentle, and comfortable. You wished he wasn't married so that he could save Tsukasa from her miserable relationship with Shima.

But he was married. And becaue they fall in love with each other, they end up losing the qualities I liked about them. I was misled, and instead of getting some closure or resolve, I was left with an ending that betrayed the movements of the storyline.

Not cool.

Okay, here's the thing with First Kiss. I thought Inoue was great (though sometimes annoying, but still great), and of course Ito, who is extremely good-looking and exudes sex appeal - was as charismatic as ever.

But nothing really happens in this show. The plot is slim and the focus is more on character development. It was fun to watch while it lasted... but there's no pleasant after taste. There's no bad after taste, either. It's just... there.

I'm almost wondering if they're making a second season, because the first was left unresolved.

Do I recommend it? Only if you have nothing else to watch.

I donft really get the purpose of this drama. Therefs no resolve and no directionc therefs no real ending.

Itfs as if I dropped down into someone elsefs life, got bored, and left before anything interesting could happen.

To be fair, it had its cute moments and gMamah is hilarious. But I really wanted Shizu-chan to find love. So what if shefs tall and heavy for a Japanese female? It would have been endearing. Instead her heart is broken in all three episodes and in the end, she simply sucks it up because, really, shefll be rejected 99 times before guy 100 falls in love with her.

I guess therefs no hope for us gless attractiveh women.

O! I did really like the Christmas-y fell, though. That was nice.

Okay, I absolutely adore Nagase Tomoya, but this drama was just a drag. It took me SO LONG to get through it! The storyline was weak and therefore the plot simple slumped along. The entire story could have been communicated through half the amount of episodes the drama took.

The cast was okay. No one really stood out and no one did a particularly bad job. Everything was just mediocre. Near the end the plot got interesting (with the introduction of the real father), but there wasnft much of a finale and by the end of it all, it was confirmed that, really, I had just wasted 10 hours of my life.

So I fell asleep quite a bit while watching this drama. Although it was quite lovely to look at and although I absolutely adore Aoi-chan, the story dragged a bit during those middle episodes.

That being said, I must say that Ifm awfully glad I watched this drama. Firstly, it taught me so much about Court life and about Japanese history. It was amusing to realize just how much I had picked up from this drama when I visited the castles in Japan and was able to answer the questions posed by the tour guide. ^_^

Secondly, I was able to experience Matsuzaka Keiko. Where has she been all my life?! It was the strangest sensation feeling so devastated when her character, Ikushima, left Atsu-Himefs service &#8211; and then feeling this flood of joy when she returned numerous episodes later. The bond that is formed between Atsu-Hime and the women in the Ooku is truly infectious and I felt camaraderie between them and myself.

Thirdly, I love Taigafs because of the various faces that cross the screen. It was so refreshing to see the different actors and actresses pop up without me expecting them.

And finally, the drama was simply aesthetically pleasing.

I was really affected by the plot and the character of Atsu-Hime &#8211; so much so that I tried to look her up in historical literature to learn more about her.

All-in-all, although boring at times, I would still invest the billion hours to watch this show again.

I really did not like Tokyo Tower for a good 4-5 episodes. I found Ma-kun to be selfish, stubborn, and heartless and I could find nothing in him to sympathsize with.

But slowly, subtly, the story began to touch me. Okan (Baisho Mitsuko) gained more of a presence and I was instantly drawn to her. I could see a true, real mother in her eyes, and her affection for her son was infectious. I was able to forgive Ma-kun his behaviour because his Okan could. I should also give a shoutout to Kashii Yu, who plays Ma-kunfs girlfriend Manami. She did a fantastic job and I really believe shefs an underrated young talent.

I sobbed in the last two episodes, and it had nothing to do with a son losing his mother. It had everything to do with the world losing Okan. This drama was great.

So this was one of THOSE dramas. As an admirer of film production, I found this a TERRIBLE drama. The cinematography was inconsistent with limited variation in framing. The dialogue was mediocre, the storyline was weak, the plot was lame, and the actors/actresses were not at all passionate about their roles. Everything seemed so forced and fake.

However, I found the drama enjoyable to watch. Fukada Kyoko did not disappoint me. She was annoying and transparent, just as I expected. And yet for some reason, she convinced me that she WAS Toko. Something about the way the character was written and the way Fukada acted really clicked. Like Eve said, I really feel like this role was Fukadafs bestc and itfs not surprising to find that the role was written with her in mind. I guess the writers were looking for an easy way out.

Dohmoto, who is usually good, seemed to be in pain the entire time. I hated his character, and he seemed to hate it, too. Other than a few (rare) boxing scenes, he seemed disconnected and uninterested. I wasnft once convinced that his character was in love with Toko.

But I liked the angst. I liked the pathetic obstacles and the misunderstandings. When Toko was hurt by the selfish Yuji, I really felt for her. The drama for me is like one of those trashy romance novels. We all hate them, but when we pick up one to read, we enjoy it through the duration in which it lasts.

This was a girly drama through and through, which is probably why I thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was predictable and lacked consistency.

The drama is about a normal Salaryman who randomly meets a mega super star. Through a series of events they get to know each other, and eventually fall in love. Their love is tainted, however, by the fact that they live in two completely different worlds. Before either can even confess to the other, they overthink their situation, at which point enters some healthy angst.

I was pretty indifferent to Kusanagi Tsuyoshi in this drama (though I must admit, I was quite fascinated with his unproportionate body). The supporting cast held some of my usual favourites, such as Toda Keiko and Morimoto Leo, which was dandy. But it was Fujiwara Norika who completely stunned me. Ifve only ever seen her in Akimahende, and wasnft complete partial to her acting. But she totally convinced me in this drama. I even felt for her in the last few episodes. She successfully made me believe in her emotions, I found her smiling face heartwarming. Will I run out and get all her dramas? Probably not, but I thought she was great in this show.

I would recommend this drama to anyone needing some romantic sap to gobble up.

When I first started watching this drama, I was under the impression that there was a different story (case) for each episode, and so I didnft really pay attention in the beginning. Man, was I surprised when the entire drama seemed to revolve around one massive case!

This show is dark and at times quite creepy, and I loved nearly every second of it. Ifm not going to say anything regarding Ryoko-san, because everyone already knows Ifm a huge fan of hers. Nor will I go on and on about how amazing Eita was. What I will say is that I was totally blown away by Hamada Mari and completely creeped out by Terajima Susumu (who, btw, is smoking even at this age).

The storyline/plot/mystery case was amazing. There were ever so many twists and unexpected surprises. There are some parts, even now after some reflection, that I think were a bit farfetched. Ifm not sure the three components actually make sense as ONE case the way the end came out.

[spoiler]OMG! By the seventh or eighth episode I knew Ando was the murderer, but even until the very end was like gplease donft let it be him, please donft let it be himh. Ifm still disturbed by the outcome![/spoiler]

Cinematography was excellent, the acting was solid, and the mystery was gripping. What more do you want in a mystery show except a tub of popcorn with which to watch it?