I liked that not only the development of the relationship between the protagonists was focused upon, they also gave time to view the latest development in Next Innovation and the Personal File project though of course with the big stress on the romantic line.
This special felt more real to me, meaning to say it expressed points in human relationships (especially between couples) that many can relate to. that those two's characters are so different you don't find any trouble imagining them having clashes if they are to live together.
It felt nice to make sure that love is not all about being lovey-dovey and happy all the time, there are times when difference in character and ways of thinking causes trouble in relationships. In a sense this special episode gave more meaning and depth to the drama's ending, I'm so glad they produced it.
I just have one tiny gripe against this episode.
I'll explain this just to be sure everyone knows this piece of information (which btw I didn't know before watching the special), This special covers events which took place during the 1 year & 9 months period which gets fast forwarded in the final scenes of the drama's finale, to be more precise after the scene where he sends her off at the airport.
So supposedly the finale's final scene where she comes back to japan and pays a visit to the company out of the blue takes place after the special's story. While the picture of the newly weds' on the wall that they showed in the finale nicely connects the dots, they still made one big mistake (at least imo), the Brazilian flag she has on her cheeks!! she's supposed to have been in Boston you know!!
Still, that mistake can be over looked since we know they didn't intend to make the special at that stage yet. But you know, why the need to make it in the US in the first place, why didn't they stick with Brazil and just made a Brazilian company buy the one where she was working at, but then that would need to make him go to Brazil for work instead which wouldn't make sense right?
Anyways, with all that being said, I really recommend this drama and special of course to any J-Drama fan out there.
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This review may contain spoilers
Spoilers for S1 finale
The special picks up where we left off in the Season 1 finale. Toru is reinstated as President & CEO of Next Innovation; Asahina is paroled and living a simple life as a software engineer; and Makoto is a world away in Brazil, pursuing her dream of becoming a research scientist.For one week she returns to Japan to be with Toru, who can't seem to make up his mind about what exactly she is to him.
I thought these two were already officially dating, albeit long distance, but turns out this is not the case. In the special they're given a chance to develop their relationship from a question mark to a period. Their journey is, of course, fraught with professional obstacles, miscommunications & Toru's eccentricities. Like with every new relationship having another person share your life, your personal space is an adjustment for both parties. But Makoto learns to ask for what she needs & Toru learns to compromise.
Sometimes I watch TV couples and think if they were real they'd never make it beyond TV land. But I feel good about this couple. I love their bicker and banter. They already seem like an old married duo.
Along the way there were moments when I wanted to slap the sh.. out of Toru. I mean how obtuse, stubborn & cantankerous can one man get? Everything worked out for the best though.
The ending was nice. Left a huge grin on my face. I even started to hate Asahina a little less. I didn't take notice of the OST before, but here it was very fitting. The theme song is actually quite beautiful.
Overall, this was a nice addition to the series. I enjoyed it more than the drama because there was more focus on the development of Toru & Makoto's relationship. Hence the 9 scoring. Not everything was as I had hoped for, but I still really, really liked it. Now I just hope they produce a season 2 because even though we got some closure on the couple's relationship, their story still feels incomplete.
I'd love to see them again, juggling life, career and love, and preferably living under the same roof. But this is a Japanese series we're talking about. I won't hold my breath on that happening even if they do make a S2.
Anyway, give this a go. You can watch it without having seen S1. You'll still be able to follow. Would I re-watch? Yes. I don't know exactly when it happened, but these characters have really grown on me. I'll never get tired of seeing them together.
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I would say the story isn't quite as in depth as the series, but there is something that Next Innovation is shooting for, and that carries most of the special pretty well. The cast all returns flawlessly, and they've got even more chemistry now. Ishihara Satomi and Oguri Shun are squee-worthy and adorable, but also emotionally matched. When they argue, you feel it in your gut. When they smile at each other, you're heart's about to explode with happiness.
The music I down-graded because they re-use stuff from the show, when I kind of wished it had been all new music. miwa does a new tune, I believe, but it doesn't have a second version or anything fun like that.
I wouldn't say it's as re-watchable on its own, either, but if you watch it as another episode in the series it works great!
Basically I loved it for its pandering to fans of the original drama, but not necessarily as a stand alone piece. It's certainly cute, but definitely not as hard-hitting as the source. Worth watching after the fact, and as another episode, but as a special it doesn't feel very... special?
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I watched this New York special twice already in less than a week, so the rewatchability is a perfect 10.0 for me.
One of the series' strength was its pace, how it was neither too slow nor too fast. And fortunately, this special wasn't any different. The storyline was simple thus easy to follow, understand, and relate to; but its simplicity didn't make it less exciting and enjoyable.
Honestly, storywise and demand-wise, the series had the potential to have another season. But I guess the last scene in the series kind of restricted them and maybe they also decided to play safe (since we all know sequel series have a bad reputation) so they just went on with a 2-hour special. As a fan, as much as I have wanted to get my hands on that season 2, I'm still contented with this thoroughly enjoyable 2 hours, basking in with the fact that I get to rewatch it whenever I want to because it won't take much of my time.
If the series alone doesn't satisfy viewers with the romance (like what several reviews said, to which I respectfully disagree), this special did a good job focusing on their relationship and giving it a good wrap. It's probably one of the best closures I've seen since it was able to tackle on the important issues they will inevitably encounter as a couple. This is why I thought a season 2 would have been possible storywise.
Even with the trivial inconsistency in the end (hint: the sticker on her face), the bad English pronunciation, the abuse of a single song several times in the series AND in the special, and the obviously low-cost production, I still give it a 10.0 because I hundred percent enjoyed the special and thought it was really good. Objectively, I'd give it a 9.0 but because I'm a biased fan, it's a perfect 10! Loved everything about it (which I wouldn't enumerate anymore since I already mentioned all of them in the review-slash-appreciation-post-lol I did with the series)!
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The story is about Next Innovation still trying to improve and develop the Personal File project, and Toru and Makoto's relationship. We are seriously playing fast and loose with the tern "NEW YORK special". Its a normal special with a few bits of cringey English and about twenty minutes in total of New York scenes.
I found the script and enjoyable and comedic, without being over the top. I loved the bit when Makoto was buying things for the house, it was very nice to see more of their relationship. The story was quite realistic and mirrored the normal problems we all go through when trying to figure out where you are in a relationship, and all the new things that come with it. The acting was amazing in my opinion, couldn't fault it at all.
While it was enjoyable, I probably wouldn't re-watch. Also, the soundtrack really starts to grind on you. There are only so many times you can hear the same song before wanting to mute the TV and stab yourself in the ear.
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There is so much cute in this special and believable conflict too! Often dramas end with the lead characters getting together and often the lead characters have different lifestyles. I end up wondering if two people with vastly different lifestyles can actually live together.
This special shows the after of happy ever after which most dramas don't show us. It provides a realistic and believable answer to my question whether two very different people can live together.
If you are a fan of the main drama then this special is a must see. Even if you weren't the biggest fan of the main drama I still recommend you check it out!
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