Definitely a Gem.
This series was surprisingly good. It is a bit slow paced but it was consistently endearing. I’ve watched many Jdrama’s and this one is by far one of the best I’ve ever seen. Aside from the initial awkward moment, it’s genuinely a well written series. No supremely weak and and easily manipulated females. No forced dating. No weird triangles. Just good friendships, communication and humor. I loved how supportive the friends were towards each other and how they treated each other like family. It was a very warm series. There were some sad moments but so many heartfelt and funny moments too. I highly recommend this and will most certainly put it on my rewatch list.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Unexpectedly Not Triggering and Heartwarming
As a CNBC (childless-not-by-choice) woman, I tend to avoid plots that would provide lots of potential triggers for me. Although I have accepted life as CNBC for about a decade, there are still some shows that trigger my infertile side. I knew this would be about an ob/gyn clinic, but I was nicely surprised because it wasn't triggering AT ALL. Most likely it's because of the layered aspects of the clinic part. It's not all roses and happy endings for couples or individuals when the female gets pregnant. Things can get complicated. This drama has managed to show a lot of different layers of pregnancy/birth/grief experiences. Different individuals react differently, but the overall tone of this show is positive and heartwarming.As for the deaf/mute plot, I've seen more serious ones, but this one is kept heartwarming and positive, too. I have a slight problem with the way they dealt with the (spoiler alert) "villain" in this drama, but at the end of the day the way they continued the road with how they dealt with him was still acceptable for me. In some of the scenes, the villain character surprised me with his acting chops, so even though I hoped in real life they would deal with it differently, he got to show more of his acting chops because of the plot.
The dynamics + chemistry between the two main leads are awesome, too, for an age-gap drama. I love the way they communicate with each other. I appreciate the way that (spoiler alert) the ML kept repeating signing "I like/love you" to the FL because he said he didn't want to regret anything. This is something I can relate to and it feels realistic based on his background of losing both his parents. Plus I love the OSTs, so much, especially Yuka's "Hoshizukiyo". It fits the drama and the lyrics are so good. And Doyoung's voice is so soothing and hauntingly beautiful.
This drama has made me ugly-cry so many times. I'd consider this a healing drama. Sometimes healing takes a decade or more...healing from complex grief isn't a straightforward journey. It can take many different twists and turns. This drama also reminds me to cherish the time I have left with my loved ones and that family aren't only made up of blood relations.
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Unbelievable in all the worst ways
Unbelievable crap. The start of it is bad enough. The usual Japanese penchant for men forcing themselves on women and then backing off so that they can be portrayed as caring and considerate. This is the very first scene, so no spoilers here. But then later it's so clear that the writer has zero experience of how a clinic would operate in the circumstances of the plot. Not reporting to the police? Work procedures and regulations anyone? If you have even an ounce of professional work experience this will be so ridiculous as to be unwatchable. Let alone the childish and annoying ML and the token weird characters. I struggled through to Episode 7, before finally drowning in incredulity.Was this review helpful to you?
Also prominent in this drama is the topic of found family, how blood may not be always thicker than water, and there is no prerequisite when it comes to loving someone.
There's a few things that irked me about this drama, manely (pun intended) the bad hairstyles sported by many characters.
If they were meant to be endearing, they were not. Also, everybody seems to be up in each other's business and coincidentally run or know someone who knows someone. I guess this is typically true of small seaside towns. There are loopholes in how people show up suddenly without any logical reason, because "they just happen to be there."
The saving grace for me is Kitamura Takumi's portrayal of a deaf/mute man who doesn't let his lack of hearing/speaking deter him from enjoying life to the fullest. Hiragi Issei is the anchor that holds everyone together; his big heart injects everybody else with warmth. Issei believes that even broken people are only mean, because they are hurting and deserve love too.
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Learning sign language because of love
I started this drama sometime last year but only watched one episode and then kind of forgot about it. Shame on me. But this year I thought about it again and watched it on two evenings. It was worth it!The drama is about the 35-year-old gynecologist Suzu. On a starry night she meets Issei, who is ten years younger and works for a packing company that clears out houses of deceased people. Issei is deaf. So the two communicate through gestures and text messages.
The love story is very heartwarming and positive. Issei is such a cheerful young man. His smile is contagious, his charm is enchanting. However, the drama doesn't focus on the couple all the time, but rather on the working lives of the two and their friends.
I wanted to see so many more interactions between Suzu and Issei. They really captivated me. Especially their kiss scenes. I want more. I was happy that Suzu was motivated to learn sign language so quickly. She did great!
What I didn't like was the fact that they didn't call the police during some scenes. I think the villain should have been held more accountable.
Nonetheless I enjoyed this series. It's a wholesome age gap romance about deafness, work life, friendship and healing.
[finished watching on 13 January 2024]
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Just perfectly adorable
This might be my new comfort watch. The leads are likeable and there is no unnecessary drama. It's a love story. Simple. Doesn't need bells and whistles. It's got a charming cast who you end up caring about in a short 9 episode arc. I will be looking for more with Takumi Kitamura who is a hug personafied.As the main FL is a gynecologist there are some pregnancy problem storylines which may trigger some though it is very well done.
It's currently free to watch on viki but with ads. So, unfortunately if I want a quick Takumi fix to a certain kiss scene it is hard to jump to it. Lol, only complaint
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The show gracefully explores life, healing, and love.
"On A Starry Night" is a lovely Japanese show about life, love, and finding happiness. Imagine a quiet seaside town where two characters, Suzu and Issei, lead us through their stories.Meet Issei, a lively guy who happens to be Deaf. But guess what? The show doesn't make a big deal about it. Issei's zest for life steals the spotlight, and actor Kitamura Takumi makes his character shine with enthusiasm and authenticity.
Then there's Suzu, an older doctor who's feeling a bit worn out. Yoshitaka Yuriko brings her to life, showing us Suzu's strength and how she learns to heal. The seaside setting adds a calm touch, making it almost like a character in the story.
The best part? Issei and Suzu's connection. They make an unlikely pair, with an age gap and different experiences, but their relationship is genuine. The show avoids the usual drama clichés and instead focuses on their support for each other.
While some might find the story a bit simple, it's perfect for those who love slow, peaceful tales. It's like a break from the rush of the real world, giving us a chance to appreciate the little moments.
Issei's Deafness is just a part of who he is, not the whole story. The drama teaches us to look past our differences and see people for who they really are. It's a call for everyone to be included and appreciated.
In the end, "On A Starry Night" is a heartwarming journey through life's ups and downs. The actors, especially Kitamura Takumi and Yoshitaka Yuriko, make us feel all the emotions. If you're up for a gentle, thoughtful show that feels like a warm hug, this one's for you.
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Sweet, but I wasn't feeling the chemistry
Liked:Kitamura Takumi as Issei. His soulful eyes and his expressions were a joy to watch. He conveyed so much without saying a word. I also liked the silence when we were seeing things from his point of view. He couldn't hear, but in no way did he feel sorry for himself. I found him to be very endearing and believable.
I enjoyed most of the friendships, and the fact that they didn't skate around Issei's deafness, but he had a stalwart friend that could translate for him, and others were willing to learn sign language in order to communicate with him.
The main couple was cute, but chemistry was lacking.
Unfortunately, there were a few characters that were completely over-the-top. I notice this in a lot of Japanese shows. I feel like they want to turn things into a farce, and then move back to being serious. It spoils the mood for me.
It's an easy watch, and I'd recommend it for Kitamura Takumi.
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Right Time
First time writing review after so many dramas. I almost never give 9 and 10 for shows unless I love them, they stick with me, and I want to rewatch.I must have just watched this at the right time for me because I found it the perfect blend of silly and endearing with a dash of thrill and romance. No it is not a big budget production but just a simple story that I thought was told well.
Nice music and warm relationships all over make it feel like hot cocoa on a rainy day. The shorter length that jdramas tend to have was a nice change up for me too. Other dramas and particularly cdramas can become their own worst enemy with too many episodes on stories that don't need it. This one hit the sweet spot where you get to know a little bit about almost everyone. I began to be attached to everyone and could easily see more stories about this little troupe of folks that made a found family.
I would recommend it to everyone who needs a brain break. It's not a huge time investment and you will prolly smile at least once :-)
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It's a Heart warming tale
The cute and innocent love between fl and ml will melt our hearts. The story about Fl who is a gyn doctor give birth and Ml relic organiser who work after the death people. As I love the tagline of older woman and younger man enjoyed every moment of this drama.the supporting characters also have a enduring story which makes the drama even more melodramatic. Overall a short and little slow paced but once you complete the drama you will surely love it..❤️Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Heartwarming Couple and Community
It's so lovely that Suzu and Issei's friends/coworkers learned sign to communicate with him and I really love how the main couple match each other in both maturity, kindness, and sense of fun regardless of one being in their mid twenties and the other in their mid thirties. It's so beautiful they both become close friends with the other guy who was also interested in her. He's also really nice, as is their whole community. They are going through their respective hardships, but they all help each other out. They showcase some different aspects and attitudes regarding pregnancy with the setting being a gynecologist office. It might not be the message the show is sending directly, but it really is always potentially life threatening for women to give birth even up to today. The stalker storyline felt very abruptly finished. It was missing that transition point where Ban realized he was projecting all his grief and anger onto Suzu. I understand the show wants to portray compassion for someone who is in continual mental distress from grief, but he was clearly a danger to himself or others. It would have been good to see a better way to handle the situation other than let him physically assault the entire clinic staff. The ending of him finally letting go and properly paying attention to raising his daughter is nice though. There are random little moments of sudden humor throughout the show that is fun. The balance of the couple being with each other and their respective jobs, friendships, and family and themselves and some of the other characters getting their own storylines are pretty good. The ending of Suzu and Issei living together at a beautiful seaside home is so sweet.Was this review helpful to you?
Like drinking a warm cup of tea
This drama is as comforting as warm cup of tea while stargazing. I felt emotionally connected to not just the leads, but the entire colorful cast of characters. Every character had its own story, motivation, and depth, while not congesting the plot.Issei was the real star of the show for me, with his emotional maturity and desire to care for others. The actor did a fantastic job signing with emotion and tone, something a lot of hearing actors lack when signing on camera. The drama didn't shy away from his disability, but also didn't make that his only defining characteristic. I enjoyed the fact that he was still a cocky, jealous, slightly pervy young man, and not just pitiful or meek like many dramas depict characters with disabilities.
I can see myself rewatching this show in the future when I need a little pick me up!
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