Amazing musical performances - a Light and Feel-Good drama
Disclaimer: I enjoy music but won’t say I am a big fan of classical music. I also don’t play any instruments. The rating is purely based on my enjoyment while watching and after watching.+0.5 because of the beautiful full-length musical performances.
Usually, I would rate a drama like “Reversal Orchestra” an 8.0 rating. The plot is simple and light-hearted. It’s a typical drama about a group of people (musicians here) who work hard to achieve the ultimate goal together. Along the way, you have side stories of different members with a tiny little romance subplot. These side stories are simple enough to give each character a little background, but not long enough to give it depth. There aren't any annoying characters. All the musicians are supportive of each other. There’s no in-group rivalry and they are just TOO nice. This is definitely a feel-good drama. This is not a drama that will spark deep conversations or amaze you in many ways.
But to me, what stands out in this drama compared to other dramas with a music focus, is the amazing performances. If you enjoy classical music, this is the drama for you. Much of the screen time is dedicated to music playing. There are several full-length performances that are amazing to watch and listen to. Oftentimes, I get disappointed when I watch a drama about music, and you get chopped up performances, especially when the characters are supposed to be preparing for this big showdown. The showdown becomes a letdown. But not here! “Reversal Orchestra” not only has a believable orchestra playing the music and we have satisfying performances. It’s quite amazing to see the actors so in sync when playing their instruments. They do make me believe they are true musicians. Each movement is synchronized within the section. It’s beautiful to see. However, what I just described could also be what you dislike most about the drama. You might find it boring because the focus is on music playing and performances. The background music is classical music. There are not songs with lyrics, like a traditional OST.
The actors and actresses deliver good performances as well. It’s a typical J-drama with moments of overdramatic acting. I have been on a Tanaka Kei (ML) binge recently, and am happy to see another side of him. I cannot sing enough praises of his choice of projects. They are so diverse! Kawowaki Mugi plays a likable female lead. So glad she’s not another innocent, naive pushover. She’s kind but could be crazy and feisty.
If you are a classical music lover and want a light and easy watch, “Reversal Orchestra” is definitely the right drama for you. However, if you are looking for something deeper with a stronger message or moral, you might want to look elsewhere.
Completed: 5/1/2024 - Review #436
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Heartwarming musical drama that depicts self acceptance, friendship and love
It is the story of a former violinist who is still madly in love with music but is afraid of starting again. It is also the story of a great conductor and his way of communicating through music. But then again, it is also the story of some of the members of an orchestra which has been taken for granted for a long time.Pros
Great cast
Funny and full of feelings
Enjoyable music scenes
Characters portrait
Cons
It should be longer!!
Some silly villains :)
A bit predictable sometimes, but it does not affect the overall atmosphere
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overrated
This drama got a lot of attention and top ranking positions from various comparing sites, so I expected a lot more form it as it actually has.The acting is very good, the chosen pieces for the soundtrack are excellent and refreshing (almost only parts of classical music).
The team had for sure classical music counseling, because many scenes concerning the actual play in orchestra are very carefully conceived and filmed. However, the leaders of the team for sure ignored these counsels several times. For the sake of some (arguably) unnecessarily tension creation they made such terrible decisions! Several situations and scenes in the first half of the drama are such ridiculously wrong! Even a person having nothing in common with a classical orchestra can easily realize that that situations/decisions are strangely far of any conceivable reality. There were so bad moments that I was several time on the point of stopping watching the next episode. However, during the second part, these moments became sparser.
Again, only due to the great acting and good human qualities this drama is an enjoyable one.
However, there is no depth and practically no difference in value to an easy going summer drama.
So, if you do not expect much, this might be about 99% worth the time watching it.
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