For an 8 episode drama, the series did an amazing job telling a heart-felt story and concluded it well, with no plot holes or empty ending. While I wouldn't label the series too dramatic or too sweet; it's mature and well thought out with a balance of ages that makes it appealing to young and old drama watchers. All the characters good and bad, minor and major get fleshed out fairly well and their relationships with one another are well identified. While some elements of the plot are a little typical, they aren't so glaringly obvious as to ruin watching. I was on my toes through the entire 8 episodes.
While Yuri and Kasumi are the main couple, we also get a taste (just a taste) of young love found in Tsugumi (Kasumi's son) and Kameko. We also see relationships that aren't lovey-dovey with Riri's admiration for Yuri, Yoji's sense of loss for a particular character, and more. The story isn't just a love story, but one of relationships and how they can blossom or rot.
Aside from Saito Takumi, I wasn't familiar with the majority of the cast, but everyone was excellent. There was an amazing chemistry between all the characters. The story played out well. The music was so-so, mood appropriate but nothing much more. I'm not a huge re-watch fan, but this is one I might revisit should I need a breather between highschool aged romance and rom-coms.
I highly recommend this series for those who love a serious romance, or are just tired of rom-coms and highschool aged love. It surely won't disappoint.
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A slow and deliberate drama about two people who fall in love and yet to the outside world do to not seem to fit. This drama was beautiful and painful, brought to life but an impressive performance by Saito Takumi. This drama is not meant to rushed or hurried. Instead, it is one of quiet contemplation.
However, although the premise and some of the performances were exceptional this drama is not without fault. The camera work was poor at time, it was muddled by some over-the-top performances from supporting characters, and contained some unnecessary drama tropes. The soundtrack was also barely existent.
There were some small twists that added to the story’s complexity. Also, the son’s subplot displaying his brewing first romance added some humor and lightheartedness to the drama.
Overall, this drama is worth watching once, when one wants a more serious and somber melodrama on whether two people can be truly destined-in-love or if one must create their own destiny.
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This review may contain spoilers
An underrated wonderful story
What a delicate and thoughtful drama ! Finding out that only two reviews had been written on this one, I felt the urge to add mine, which is my first ever review after watching about 70 dramas.It may not be a 10/10 but it has so many appeals that it's a pity not more people would watch it. A hidden gem, really worth it. Let me try and explain you why.
First, Harada Tomoyo 's acting, very subtle and moving. I really fell under her charm, so much that I'm thinking of adding it my list of « mesmerising performances ». Her portraying of this struggling working class lady is beautiful and dignified. She never falls into bitterness and retains a natural glory all through her hardships that makes you believe that a younger handsome and successful designer would fall for her.
But don't let yourself fooled by the air of cinderella. Ozawa Yuri is nothing like a prince charming. And their story has unexpected twists and ghostly presence from the past that won't let you skip a single scene, And for that we have to thank the two women in charge of this drama : screenwriter Kitagawa Eriko and director Ichiki Masae. I'm a fan of Kitagawa Eriko and I always fall for the guys in her stories. They are complex, with a dark edge to them and a sense of mystery and secrecy, fascinating characters indeed !
In Kitagawa's universe this drama has a place of its own. The outstanding element would be the aestetic sense that derives from the profession of the Ozawa Yuri. There are magic and poetry in the way objects, designs of all sorts fill this drama. I enjoyed every moment they get into the making process of an exhibition or any random objects such as a rugby shirt. The starting point of the drama is a wooden chair where only Kasumi can seat as if the object itself could choose its host. In addition to this there are beautiful sceneries like the window wall in Yuri's flat, the fairytale terrace in Fukami's house and the paradise on earth represented by the childhood secret place, a wonderful landscape that looks like the Maldives (at least how I imagine it) or my home place in Brittany (look at my photo profile if you're curious).
Of course, this drama has some flaws too. Don't imagine a masterpiece, it's not it.
The filming and editing could have been a lot more meaningful in my opinion (something like It's okay not to be okay). And the secondary characters are a bit annoying (the over the top master Fukami, the sassy witch Shirai Mao or the naive Aoi Kaichi) as they are very one sided characters. But there is a remarkable exception with Kasumi's son Tsugumi and his cute encounter with his stalker Kameko. Finally, I must say I don't appreciate much the disease trope even if I acknowledge its usefulness in the plot and defining process of the characters.
All in all, go for it, it's really worth the eight episodes !
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At present, she has 18 years old son. He has his own viewpoint on his mother's relationship, which is probably supposed to be funny... Also, his line with the girl-stalker was totally unwatchable so I skipped the son entirely.
Saitoh Takumi is a bit hidden in his long hair in this one, at times he looks a bit funny but on the other hand, he'd be too hot for the woman otherwise:) There's the "Sexual Content" Tag... After the two meet, they get to be alone as soon as episode 2. At one point, she starts crying and he starts kissing:) Then they become lovers but it's heavily subtexted by the childhood backstory and that he lies about something which interrupted the viewing flow for me (but it's not that there are long or explicit bedscenes in this anyways). After some anticipation, it fell flat for me when they got together as I was not interested in all the past stuff. (Including the recent past, like the woman he dumped for the main heroine, but we keep watching her.)
The last 3 episodes, I finished them only out of courtesy. (When on the top of everything someone is revealed to have brain tumor, I really wished to turn the show off.) It was a pitty because Harada Tomoyo was really cute and attractive in this drama in her unique way, I actually liked the more the longer I watched her. And her Kasumi had enough character charm even for younger, successful man to fall for. This did not need all the added stuff (I might even say, all the added cr*p). Unfortunatelly, that got to dominate and it whole did not prove to be as sexy as it promised to be. (Even Maho got no nice scene with Kaichi.)
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