^ You should read all of the previous posts.

Two fine performances by Juri-chan and Eita were completely wasted just to get high ratings.

I did see some of them and a) I don't see how wanting to get good ratings is bad and b) I really don't see how it "destroyed" the series as you make it seem. I couldn't care less what happened or why they did it.

The result was an amazing series that managed to get many people and many problems together and make great observations about the human condition.

What were you expecting? It's a drama about these people and their problems. And good on them for touching all these taboo themes with so much respect towards the people who suffer or/and are confused by them.

You may find it boring, or for some reason not like it, but you at least have to see the importance of this series. Not to mention amazing performances from all of the cast that I, personally, didn't expect to see in a jdorama.

It's a matter of preference, I guess. I know I'll never forget this series and that it touched me as a person and made me feel so many wonderful feelings. I was just under the impression that most people saw what I saw and was surprised to see this series didn't leave you with the same thoughts and feelings as it left so many people I've talked about it with.

Edit: I also read about how they put aside Ruka's character for Sousuke (is that why you're mad?), but personally, I think it turned out just fine. You can't force love and, personally, I didn't want Michiru to end up with Ruka. From the start, it's easy to tell Michiru sees her as a best friend and not romantically. For them to have them be a couple just to make everything peachy when life isn't always so great or simple, would have bothered me more.

Also, I don't feel like Ruka was neglected. Juri-chan's performance is so amazing, nothing and no-one can overshadow that. Plus, the people apparently wanted to see more of Sousuke and figure him out since the polls showed so, so how are they so evil if they just did what the people wanted? It's not like the ruined everything. Personally, to see them all love each other as people and friends is the best ending I can think of. That's real life and I consider people who have such friends that love them as human beings, lucky.

Juri-chan must have been mad, of course, but she stuck with it and I'm proud of her cause it's an amazing series.
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^ The story was altered to focus more on the DV and Nishikido Ryo than the two supposedly main characters that Juri-chan and Masami...

The writers dragged out the DV story for a ratings grab and completely lost track of the main story and the characters at the sharehouse, which would've made it a very interesting story.

I found myself loathing the DV story and its gratuitous stalking and violence: I kept fast-forwading past those scenes...

As I said before if they had stayed on track and focused on Juri-chan's and Eita's characters issues and pushed aside the DV story instead of making it THE story, the drama could've be really a memorable, top-notch show.

Well, it's memorable to me and I got no complaints, so

I was scared shirtless during the entire show that

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

Ruka or Takeru would die. I was wishing for that psycho to die... Or Michiru, but it wasn't the poor baby's fault

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Orion-chan wrote:

It's a huge shock to me that you guys don't seem to like such an amazing work in which Juri-chan is giving a remarkable performance as well.

That is because bmwracer did not "get" this series at all. (I'm sorry bmwracer for being so blunt. )
In an other thread he wrote:

bmwracer wrote:

If the writers stayed on track with the story instead of trying to grab ratings with all that DV crap, the drama could've been pretty good.

That is like saying "Gokusen would have been pretty good, had they left out those stupid school boys".
The whole show of Last Friends is about this "DV crap" and how each character deals with it. And how Michiru is saved by a group of "weirdos".

The reason I personally do not like this drama is because it wasted so much potential. Hiring Nishikido Ryou for any main role is the single biggest mistake you can make as Japanese TV producer. And the writer could have done a bit more research on DV to create more realistic scenes.

Bbbut wrote:

That is like saying "Gokusen would have been pretty good, had they left out those stupid school boys".

Actually, it would've been great without those delinquent pretty boys.

Quote:

The reason I personally do not like this drama is because it wasted so much potential. Hiring Nishikido Ryou for any main role is the single biggest mistake you can make as Japanese TV producer. And the writer could have done a bit more research on DV to create more realistic scenes.

I totally agree.

The drama had TONS of potential... But to change the focus of the DV story to the aggressor instead of the victims (to appease Nishikido Ryo fangirls, apparently) was a BIG mistake.

bmwracer wrote:

(to appease Nishikido Ryo fangirls, apparently)

That thing has fangirls? *tried to resist, but coudn't*
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Orion-chan wrote:

That thing has fangirls? *tried to resist, but coudn't*

Hard to believe that a wooden plank would have fangirls, ne?

Don't get me wrong, he's great at his part too, but the fans creep me out. He doesn't do much more than the same stuff throughout the series so what exactly did they love seeing?

"OMFG! Did you see how he hit that be-yotch?!?! He's like SSOOOOO HAWT!"

Are they really like that? Man... a series tries to teach you somethin' about life and you're going gaga over a guy... (if it were Eita, I'd understand... at least his character rocks...)
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Orion-chan wrote:

Don't get me wrong, he's great at his part too

I didn't think so... His character was emotionless and wooden... The writers didn't give his character much depth at all.

I think his and Masami's characters pretty much ruined the drama for me.

This thread is just like Sousuke: just never seems to go away. If looking moody and sullen all drama long was the main requisite I'm sure quite a few of my co-workers would've played the role just fine.

bmwracer wrote:

^ You should read all of the previous posts. Two fine performances by Juri-chan and Eita were completely wasted just to get high ratings.

I agee with bmwracer..not good and a dorama wasted...cus i had high expectations and the only thing that proved to be worth watching was Juri chan and Eita`s acting..
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Well, let's agree to disagree in this one, luvs
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Orion-chan wrote:

Well, let's agree to disagree in this one, luvs

I think thats the bestest option ..or mabye just the only one
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bmwracer wrote:

His character was emotionless and wooden... The writers didn't give his character much depth at all.

Well sadly that is not entirely true. The writer did try to portrait two sides of him, he just could not deliver.

Remember the kid he was talking to at the playground? This was to show the audience what a caring guy he was to children. And there were a lot scenes were he should have shown his love to Michiru but his wooden face just would not cut it.

In the hands of a competent actor this role could have been very memorable. A caring lover, lovable to kids and generally the nice son-in-law type, who just happens to be very insecure when it comes to trust his girlfriend and thus turns to DV. "The lovable beast" if you will.

Bbbut wrote:

Well sadly that is not entirely true. The writer did try to portrait two sides of him, he just could not deliver. Remember the kid he was talking to at the playground? This was to show the audience what a caring guy he was to children. And there were a lot scenes were he should have shown his love to Michiru but his wooden face just would not cut it. In the hands of a competent actor this role could have been very memorable. A caring lover, lovable to kids and generally the nice son-in-law type, who just happens to be very insecure when it comes to trust his girlfriend and thus turns to DV. "The lovable beast" if you will.

Yeah, that probably was part of the problem... Though I think they put too much emphasis on him and the shock value of the DV (excessive, IMO), rather than how the others handled the DV and their own personal issues.

I disagree with the domestic violence being the central focus of the story. If it was, it would have led somewhere. The two "primary" characters involved with domestic violence were Sosuke and Michiru. From beginning to end, neither character developed at all. I'm not talking about bad acting; they never developed because the material never developed them. And Sosuke's end is about as far from reality as you can get.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

"Wife-beating" isn't about someone's pitiable past or sorrowful needs. Like rape, it's about control and dominance, not just of body but of spirit. A wife-beater does not kill himself in regret or self-pity. If anything, it increases the violence. The closest thing would have been a murder-suicide when he realizes he crossed the line. But kill himself because of the "sorrow he's wrought"? Doesn't happen. To try to redeem Sosuke in the eyes of his fangirls took any message they had and beat it like a baby seal cub.

^ Good points.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

I disagree with the domestic violence being the central focus of the story.

I agree. For me I thought originally this show was suppose to explore the relationship between Juri's character and Masami's character. It was suppose to explore the theme of homosexuality. At least that's what I thought/believed, when this show was in the promotional phase, unless I completely misunderstood.

Orion-chan wrote:

It's 5:38 a.m... I've had not sleep and I got school in a couple of hours... But watching this show was worth it. We watched it in a one-go since 6 p.m yesterday. Simply one of the best series ever made. Juri-chan is indeed a very talented lady and Eita just made us fall in love with Takeru. I'm too tired and too amazed and moved to say anything more. Just brilliant.

Glad to hear it, others really like it, I've read most of the pages since #1. Don't know why, had the urge to watch a show I had no clue about, picked this, am transferring a couple episodes to disc right now. After reading all these reviews and posts, 125 pages(!) can't wait.
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