My first impression of this drama was not much as i didnt expect much of it.. Like a regular drama the pacing was good and the story was of a manga so it is original. TBH, the story was kinda frustrating.
The casting was nice individually (as in the characters were done justice by the cast) and the acting was also great. But somehow, i didn't like the couples or should i say i couldn't feel much romance.
The best thing about this drama was the music. Of course, because some really talented musicians made them. I love the ED Machigae Sagashi by Masaki Suda and Kenshi Yonezu.
Thank you for reading this review
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Comparing the Drama and the Movie
I watched the movie first and then the drama.Things I liked about the DRAMA:
- A very detailed depiction of life with paraplegia. Writers presented all the different complications that come with the condition, without making it too sad or pitiful.
- ML Matsuzaka Tori. Wonderful actor. The vulnerability in his big eyes never failed to make me cry. He faced the world with a smile and the stubborn determination to succeed.
- FL Yamamoto Mizuki. Drama FL is a way better actor than the movie one. She displayed a good range of emotions, convincing the audience of her love, her perseverance, her respect for him, and her simple happiness whenever she was with him.
- The father-in-law/son-in-law(ML) relationship. They fleshed it out well. I cried happy tears watching the growth of their relationship.
- There were two main characters who had leg problems. ML was paraplegic and the other guy was an amputee. I liked how both faced their problems in very different ways. While ML was more mature and reserved about it, the other guy was young and hot-blooded, shouting out his frustrations, fighting back, and trying to pretend to be as normal as possible. It was nice to see two perspectives of one story.
Things that the movie did better:
- ML. I can't decide who's a better actor, but the movie ML made me fall head over heels in love with him at first sight. I loved his captivating, beautifully blinding smile. Both MLs were amazing and believable in their portrayal of a paraplegia, inspiring everyone around them with their brilliant, resilient personalities. These men were fighters. They did what they set out to do. They didn't give up or let anyone pity them. It was very easy to fall in love with them.
- Didn't have unnecessary dragging around. The drama drags around in the middle. I didn't really like the way the main leads tried to move on from each other by encouraging the SML/SFL. I found their separation infuriating at times.
- The overall message. I thought the movie portrayed it better. But the drama did quite well, too.
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This review may contain spoilers
Movie vs Series - Watch the movie first before series.
This review is a combination of both the series and the movie.So let me talk first about the pros and cons between the two.
Pros:
Movie:
Is short and is not full of angst and the heartache part is relatively short which is understandable since it is only an hour and 42
Series:
We get to know all the characters and their backstories. We get to love, hate, and then be okay with some of them. The story was properly expressed and we can properly root for the main lead and their second leads about their life.
Cons:
Movie:
The story overall was not properly expressed and I felt that with this kind of story, it must not be just an almost 2-hour long movie. Some characters are just there because they are "needed" to be there but are not necessarily part of the movie's overall story. Also, there are so many skips in timelines (maybe because this is a movie and they need to keep it as precise as possible, and maybe because I watched the series first). So maybe for those who are going to watch this movie and series, I would suggest to watch the movie first and then the series for a more satisfactory watch. Also, I felt that the casting for the movie did not match the characters. Like for example Miki and Koreda. Also, the acting of ML and FL (for me) is a little off. I just can't seem to sympathize with them or their characters at all.
Series:
I know it only has 10 episodes (and before I watched this, I asked if it has a happy ending because I tend to not watch if it's not), and in terms of drama - cdrama- in particular, 10 episodes is relatively short but because it has at last 3 episodes of pure heartache and slight angst (these are the episodes where I start to hate the second leads, especially the 2nd FL) that I had the urge to just skip it. and watched the good part. But as they say, no pain no glory, so I pushed through it (barely) and hated the 2nd FL and felt sorry for the 2nd ML. But I have to say, the 2nd ML has it coming. He knew that the FL was still in love with the ML but still pushed and pushed the FL to marry him. And the 2nd FL, I just can't understand her logic at all.
Do not get me wrong, I still like the movie but because I started with the series that the movie felt so rushed and add to it that I did not feel the connection of the cast with their respective characters. Take for example the ML in the early part when he was hospitalized. In the series, you can see and feel his frustration that he can't work but I did not see that in the movie. Another example is when the ML is doing the "I will let you go because I only make you unhappy" scene/speech, in the series, it was so heartbreaking that I felt what the ML is feeling as well as the FL, and I cried with them but I did not do that in the movie.
However, let me say this, the ML in the movie has a beautiful smile but then again as well as the ML in the series. He even has a beautiful crying or trying so hard not to cry face because he was so happy in Episode 10 when FLs father said "Please make her happy".
So if you are going to watch the series first, I suggest not to watch the movie at all. It will leave you hanging and feeling to watch the series all over again! hehehe
Also, I love Chako!!!hahaha..
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This drama made me understand again what I somehow already know. There are realities we often shrug off until we face them ourselves. Only then that we'll understand certain decisions which may or may not be in our favor and how difficult they must have been made. It's up to you how you're going to be when making a move-- selfish, selfless, rational, blind, fool...
What I love the most in this drama is that it made me even more aware of what may be inside the heart and mind of a disabled person and what they're going through. I like how they didn't hold back in showing them. I really appreciate it.
On a side note:
There are scenes I think are not necessary. They just prolonged the story. Also, there are times where the actors/actresses are lacking emotion like it's not enough to make you feel how the scene should feel. Nevertheless, they did well. Kudos to Matsuzaka Tori and the mothers in the drama-- Horiuchi Keiko and Aso Yumi.
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Predictable but you still root for the Lead Couple!
10/21/2021This drama shows the challenges that our male lead experiences after he had a spinal cord injury and became paralyzed from the waist down. I do not have have such an injury and do not use a wheelchair, so I can't really judge whether the depiction of his and his circle of support's experience is realistic or not. However, I feel that this drama does enough for us to know the hardships that they have to go through. It touches on the more common physical accessibility issues, but also the lesser known and more embarrassing challenges. It doesn't shy away from letting us know that a different kind of love from lovers, family members, and caregivers, is needed to provide and support someone with such a disability. This drama also reminded me a little of the C-drama "Crush", a story about the main lead who is visually impaired, and his challenges (great first half of the drama).
It's nice to see that our ML is still quite optimistic in life, is able to climb out of the abyss of despair, and lead a somewhat normal life as an architect. I am happy that he's not a gloomy ML and needs our FL to bring him out of his depression. Of course, he has his moments of weakness and needs emotional and physical support as well. Matzusaka Tori did an amazing job portraying his character. He's charismatic when he's upbeat, but when he's devastated and in pain, I cry with him. I want to hold him in my arms when he's wriggling in pain and protect him from everything. *sigh* I am always wary of FL in Japanese dramas, as they are usually too innocent and naive and are such pushovers. Thank goodness our FL here is not like that. She might be shy sometimes, but she speaks up when needed, and takes the lead in challenging injustices and support our ML. Our leads make a great couple and their chemistry is good. I wish the kiss scenes are a little more passionate =)
With such a great lead couple, we have to have some annoying second leads. I do not personally like them. I understand where they are coming from, especially when they both have been in love with our leads for decades. But I do not like how pushy and manipulative they are, when they know our leads have no interest in them at all. They are too desperate for my taste.
As my title said, the storyline is quite predictable. There aren't any surprises, but that doesn't stop me from binge-watching and wanting to know what will happen. I root for our leads and want to see them live happily-ever-after.
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A BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY WITH AN OVERDOSE OF FRUSTRATION
I cant believe that this is my first review of a japanese drama so I will do my best not to scream.I honestly believe if there was a K-drama adaptation of this,it would be a bit.And I have few leads in mind
Zo In Sung and Song Hye Kyo would slay it..Remember "The winter the wind blows?
Japanese writers live on sadness,they pay their bills with our tears,there is no J drama that i have watched
that didnt leave me bitter and angst.The only thing I enjoy is how they make the pain short and wrapped in 10 episodes
But for the first time I cried only once and this is a record breaker.
I dont know why the title is Perfect world but there is nothing perfect about the story, it should have been called
Resilient world because that what the characters went through.Resilience.
Its a beautiful love story of a woman Kawana Tsugumi who falls in love with her high school crush and when they meet years later
even though life hasnt been good to him,she is still in love with him regardless what her surrounding says.
Unfortunetly things dont turn out as she hoped for,it seems her fighting spirit can't save the love of her life Ayukawa Itsuki
He has already decided that love to him was not something he should try due to his disabilities and no matter how genuine it feels.
They had a mixture of good and extremily annoying characters that made you want to pull them out of the screen and slap them.
Japanese writers are generally wierd and fear nothing in terms of walking on thin ice,they tend to lean toward abnormal storylines
that would make editors in other film industries scratch the floors with nails.
I won't spoil the rest but be ready to roll your eyes in anger and lots of WTF moments.
I won't talk about the technical and cinematography stuff,we all know Japan does it best.
But I will talk about the FL wardrobe.Thank you wardrobe team for ignoring those manga style,
And giving our FL a proper,chic and beautiful outfits,she was looking like spring in all the shots.
Overall,I liked it for it was more on an educational spectrum about disabilities.
But I wish there was some good romance in there..Just dose of it would have been perfect
although the powerful vows at the end made up for my yearn for these two to be lovey dovey..
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Story
At first I didn't expect much when I accidentally click the drama on netflix. I just tought the synopsis moved me. Evetually, after I watched the 1st episode I couldn't stop. I finished it all in less than 24 hours :"). The storyline is simple, the problem is real and i happens to people who has relationship with disable. I respect Ayukawa's character and Tor Matsuzaka protrayed it beautifully. He act out of respect towards disabled people. The female lead character, Tsugumi Kanawa, is also a simply brilliant one. She seems fragile but she actually could stand up for herself and most importantly for the one she dearly loves. I love her! They both make a great couple in this series. The music just beautiful. My heart is ache for the story but I'm glad with the ending. Will there be a possibility of season 2? Because I really really love this drama!Was this review helpful to you?
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A beautiful, yet frustrating drama
I was quite hesistant to continue this drama, because at some point, it really gets frustrating. Like, really really frustrating. But at the end, i am glad that i didnt give up.This drama is not really romantically. I love a good drama with lots of love and romance, but the focus here is more on other things. Of course their relationship is the topic, but its not like we get a lot of cute moments between them. Its more about the obstacles and how they overcome them. Thats also the point why the drama was so frustrating. They get problems from everywhere around them. Her parents, her sister, her childhood friend, his caregiver. Like uff, gimme a break. But that also led to the most beautiful character development ive seen in a long time - her dad is really great at the end. Seeing him together with the others at Ayukawas basketball match was so heartwarming!
The characters are...tricky. I feel like i liked everyone more than the leads. At least more than the FL. She is so annoying and frustrating and with every episode ive got more tired of her facial expressions, because her acting is really not that nice. Its not unbearable bad, but damn, she isnt that good in showing emotions. The ML was more likeable and i definitely did understand him better. And his acting was quite nice. She needs to grow a backbone asap. x) But what's really saving the show are the support characters! There are a bunch of likeable people and oh my god, i was so happy to see them. And no, her sister is definitely not part of this group. I dont approve her ending up with Haruto, because this precious man deserves so much better! He was, along with Mr. Nabe, Sawada and Ayukawa's mom my light at the end of a long, dark and frustrating tunnel aka drama, lmao. Even Miki got so likeable and nice through the show! They were all so much fun to watch, supportive, funny and loveable!
The Ost is also really great and i listened to it often.
All in all, i would recommend this drama, if you can bare with a ton of frustration. It gets dragged from episode 5 to 9, lol. I dont like it much when conflicts get dragged so long, but they spending time together, although the broke up, saved the scenario. So keep this in mind, if youre not sure. It was annoying as hell, but still bearable to watch.
7 out of 10 stars for the OST and the precious support characters, lmao.
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Not for those who do the want to be disturbed
I’ve actually read Perfect World manga before delving into this drama so I have an inkling of the flow. This drama (the manga and movie) is not for the weak of heart and those who don’t want to be disturbed. The whole storyline delves into the struggles and the pains of encountering an accident and having your entire life changed. It also isn’t what one will usually see in other dramas that just takes a quick dip and immediately retracts into another cliche. Perfect world sees the iceberg for what it is and goes into the pain —the physical, emotional and societal aspects of it.Was this review helpful to you?
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A beautiful and heartwarming love story
9.5 out of 10 for a beautiful, heartwarming series that has warmed my heart in this winter.It was on my watchlist for a long time and finally I was able to finish it. I discovered this series because of its ost song performed by my favorite artist Suda Masaki. I have been listening to this song for years. I was so excited that he also did a cameo appearance in the series.
Anyway, I love the series very much. I've watched the movie first and already loved it, although it felt rushed. Both 2 versions have their own beauty, and for me, the series feels much deeper, heavier, more serious and realistic, and also more dramatic compared to the movie.
The story in this series is very beautiful and well-performed. I like almost every character, except for the nurse. She's annoying. Other characters may also cause different difficulties and misunderstandings for the main couple, but I find their behaviors understandable, but the nurse's behaviors don't make much sense to me. She treated the female lead badly as if she was a criminal for loving the male lead, hurt her feelings and manipulated the female lead several times. That's the only thing that I don't like in this series. The story would feel better and more complete if they didn't did her so dirty, in my opinion.
To sum up, Perfect World is a heartwarming series that has strengthened my belief in love and the beauty of life, and appreciate more little things and live more in the moment. I'm grateful to this series.
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Prepare a box of tissues because you're going to be crying your heart out.
I don't cry easily but I was sobbing watching this drama lol. So inspiring, so touching, so beautiful. Also Tori never disappoints. What an actor. I can tell that the show took a great deal of care, research into making this drama and I really appreciate it. I'm never rewatching it again even though it's so beautiful but it's a little too sad but I really loved it. It's a beautiful emotional love story.Cinematography, music, plot..... everything was amazing. I love how it shed a light on how the daily life of people with that disability.
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