Haikei, Chichiue-sama (2007)

Granted, I watched this drama only because of Ninomiya, but am very glad I did. I thought it was slow at first; the basis of the plot was very mellow, as was the visuals, that didn't have a pop of colour but rather just a meld of the warm and the cool undertones. But, I think that is what added to the feeling of it. It was refreshing not to see the bright lights and instead using a subtle mature tone. The plot was light, but sufficient. In terms of acting, I appreciated their work. The opening music was great and it took me to the setting of the drama and that mindset very quickly. When watching the first few episodes, one might think it to be a bore, that there is no action or flavor, but some scenes are quite fast-paced. If I have to leave it with anything, as a fan, I would say the best part was Ninomiya. I feel that out of all the dramas that Ninomiya acted in, this one suited him the best so far. It was made for him and he acted quite naturally.

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To be honest, at the beginning of episodes 1 and 2, I thought it was a bit slow and I almost stopped watching... However, being the actor that he is, Ninomiya Kazunari completely captivated me by the end of the second episode! The cast was really well brought together and had a really great respect for each other; the way they brought the story out was perfect to me. Yokoyama Yu (or is it You..?) was also a fantastic actor in this series; he showed a completely different side to himself than how I've seen him previously. Both Ninomiya and Yokoyama did very well in this series, almost as if they were exactly who their characters were. Fukuda Saki, whom I at first didn't recognize, was really wonderful in this series as well; she was a great character to watch! This show is heartwarming, sweet, silly, and doesn't lay on the romance as thick (which I'm grateful for). I like that there was romance in this drama, but that it didn't effect the entire story. This is definitely a fantastic show to get caught up in!

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going into this with nothing but a summary, i figured it would be a pretty easy watch. i would still describe it as 'low-calorie'; like something you can eat a lot of without getting full, i was able to consume multiple episodes in one sitting gluttonously. but this was not synonymous with 'low-stakes'. things like your future, relationships, and pride, instability in any of these could make you feel like the sky is falling down! i was right there with ippei, i'm telling you: his stress was contagious. so was his happiness, and his decisions and logic, including his mistakes. there is no way from the premise i could've anticipated that this show would have me asking, "are they really going there?"

so grounded to the point where i'd call it unconventional and sometimes risky. there is no plotline or character untouched by action. it is continuous, like the work in a busy kitchen, or a town that's changing by the day, and the lives of its residents. ippei's surroundings ripple onto his perspective, and what that looks like during a time of disarray... you just have to find out!

seriously, there aren't a lot of dramas that struck a chord so hard i started reflecting on myself. shock, disgust, embarrassment, some weird form of despair, maybe the sorriest i've ever felt for an individual in a tv show, none of this was what i signed up for! and to think i almost hadn't experienced it, if not for my obsession with clearing filmographies! i hope that, at the chance you're someone without an ulterior motive like mine, you'll try this show even if you don't think it'd be to your taste. i was inspired to create this review just to convey this!

(... and if you are also someone who likes ninomiya, this role was specifically written for him. naturally, his performance is seamless here! must watch!)

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