Junichi (2019)

The (debatably) simplified synopsis for Junichi in my opinion really doesn't do the show justice. The premise is basic, the characters are largely simple and there is sex in almost every episode. You can take it like that at face value if you like. But this is one of those dramas that can be basic and enjoyable, or you can make it cerebral and it will still be enjoyable.

Firstly we are presented with a (handsome) young man, Junichi, who likes to have sex but maybe that's how he feels he can relate to the women he encounters? We don't know. To me Junichi is a complex character who, like most people, hides a lot of himself from others and understands that real connections with people are hard to make and they can be quite scary despite his bold and upfront desires. He is likely comfortable with himself at this level. We get to learn more about the women he sleeps with who have their own stories and they all seem happy to use him sexually for their own purpose and largely likely due to his allure, availability and willingness to get down. In each episode though, we learn a little more about him. He is emotionally elusive and appears to like his life that way. It is a very modern way of thinking and comments on society with a brutal honesty.

I feel like at the end though, it's less about his libido and the porking and more about how he and the characters learn more about themselves as the story unfolds.

What I loved was the acting. It was simple. It was honest. And there was less dialogue to lead viewers in a pointed opinion towards each specific issue presented in each episode. I appreciated this greatly. It does also help that Shison Jun is just so gorgeous. Forget that he is jarringly thin, when you get to see his eyes and his lips there's something there that even I would have a hard time not giggling like a fool if presented to me.

The music was simple. There were lots of moments without music that made each scene more relatable because in life there is often no background music. But it was effective when employed. I enjoyed the nature sounds a lot.

In all honesty, I probably would not re-watch this unless I was craving me some Shison Jun. But it was an enjoyable watch and an interesting story.

Overall Junichi is the kind of drama I personally enjoy watching. It reminds me a lot of a summers' afternoon with a gin and tonic and cucumber, or a pineapple, mint and apple juice over ice with perhaps a splash of vodka or white rum... It's been hot and dry all day but then that sea breeze hits and that is Junichi. In a nutshell. That is the feeling that this drama gives me.

I'd be interested to see if anyone else felt similarly on reflection after finishing this drama, please drop a comment and let's chat.

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This Is Nothing Like Call Boy.

I think the synopsis is giving people the wrong impression. The kid is sort of a drifter and works doing odd jobs; so far he's been a bartender, moving man, and a construction worker. In Call Boy, the man took pride in his job and felt like he was doing a valuable service. In JunichI it feels like he's lost. When we meet him he looks devastated, like he's been hit by a truck. I don't know because they haven't uploaded the rest of the drama yet, but I think he might have a terminal illness or something similar... I think it was the tender way he touched the pregnant woman's belly that give's me that impression and the way that the women talk about him... at any rate, don't go into this drama expecting to see a hot guy who's mission it is to please women cuz this is not that.
Edit: I just finished watching the last two episodes and in the end this whole drama was pointless.... just like the main character.

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This show is more of an anthology of different women with different stories who end up having sex or some sort of romantic relationship with one kid named Junichi. So when I decided to watch this show, I was really laughing as to how silly it was. The first episode features a pregnant woman who feels empty yada yada and when she goes to see the doctor regarding her baby with her husband at the clinic, all she can't stop thinking about is the new kid whom she met at her Tai Chi class. I was like WTF! This is so unrealistic. I mean seriously. This is not how real people operate. I can't even remember the face of a person I just met yet this chick is fantasizing about this kid whom she just met at the doctor's office. From that point on, I pretty much knew where this was going. Skimmed through the rest of the episode to see that they somehow end up having sex. How fucked up does your life have to be and how fucked up do you have to be as a person to cheat while you're pregnant. Infidelity is one thing but indifelity while pregnant takes it to a whole new level. And the sex happens just like that. There's no chemistry, no connection, just sex for the sake of the plot because what else is there to do when someone's pregnant than cheat right?! XD
Then I deicded to skim through the other episodes as well. And they all have the same theme. Some unhappy woman stumbles into this kid and this kid somehow ends up having sex with them. There's no nudity in this FYI, just pretend sex with minimal skin. If I had to sum up this drama in a few words it would be Japanese porn without the porn part. Its like a slow drama which somehow leads to sex with this one kid. Turn off your brain and throw logic out of the window. Glad I didn't waste my time with this so if you wanna watch what I just described, then be my guest. Otherwise skip it and save yourself the time of actually watching this illogical sex snoozefest.

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Well, this was a weird and poorly written show. Each episode is a vignette of a different woman ranging in age from high school to middle-aged who all have an encounter with Junichi which inevitably ends with them sleeping together (with the exception of one). I can see some people viewing this show as thoughtful or intellectual, like each episode should make you think deeply about it, but honestly, none of the episodes connected together with a brief exception in the last two. Until those moments in the last two, I was contemplating whether or not the episodes even took place in the same timeline.

The acting wasn't bad, but the story lacked depth or character development. You don't really learn anything about any of the characters, even Junichi, who remained the most mysterious of all even at the end, besides the fact that they are all unhappy with their lives and hooking up with a stranger gives them a brief moment of happiness. What's so frustrating is that Junichi, the one character who should tie the whole show together, has no back story. Oh, sorry, we learned that he gave up his dog when he turned 18, but that's seriously it. I really think that the writer of this show just wanted to create a story where a young attractive guy hooks up with a bunch of older women.

This show is a waste of your time. If you love Shison Jun, just go watch Kimi Wa Petto because he gets more screen time and it has an actual plot.

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Disjointed, pointless, but interesting in a werid way

I was lost at first, because I was expecting a traditional storyline....instead I think this is actually an adult fantasy story. It only makes coherent sense once I realized that the ML is not real. I think he's a figment of each woman's imagination. Each of them seem to be at some sort of crossroads in their life (newly widowed, 1st pregnancy/new mother, Virgin thinking of having sex, crumbling marriage/divorce, etc)...and they obviously are having some sort of anxiety or emotional crisis...and that's when Junichi appears and he basically does whatever that woman desires or in two cases does whatever they need him to do to get them through their issue... usually its sex but not always. I don't even think the sex is real....its a symbol too. The sex is a symbol of their release of tension that comes with the resolution of a stressful/difficult time in their lives. Thinking of the series this way is the only way it makes sense to me....otherwise its just smut.

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Commitment Issues

There wasn't much acting going on, the story seemed pointless, including the last episode. ML has sex sometimes with women, their ages vary. He can't seem to commit to anything; pets, people, jobs, etc. The details of each episode are vague and even so it moves so slowly. Some shaky camera moments where someone forgot to activate the video stabilizer. No FX to speak of. A lot of scenes in the dark, where you barely make out the actor/actress or anything.

Scenery is okay, music was okay.

Almost a total waste of time. Even with no expectations, this was completely underwhelming. Not worth the original watch, wont rewatch and wont recommend.

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It's still strange watching Jun Shison in a serious, adult role lol but he did such a great job! This is such a detour from his usual fare and the way it's made its really intriguing and enticing. I really loved the women's stories, and the way every story also reveals the character of Junichi. But I have to admit it also rubbed me the wrong way toward the end. Maybe because I couldn't feel for him like I was supposed to. And I don't mind cheating, and I don't mind one night stands, so that's not it. I just felt like I couldn't connect. Regardless, this drama is still really good and a must watch.

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