Idol Shikkaku (2024)

A drama that captivates from the very first episode to the tear-jerking finale. The story is masterfully crafted, conveying the deep, often dark emotions that real-life idols experience.

The FL journey is one that many idols can relate to, shedding light on the harsh realities of the idol industry. The portrayal of how the demanding nature of being an idol impacts their private lives is heart wrenching yet compelling. The drama doesn’t shy away from showing the control the idol world exerts over their lives, making their struggles feel deeply personal and real.

Everything about this drama is perfect. the cast 💯, the storyline 💯, the soundtrack is beautiful 💯, and the portrayal of the idol perspective is both enlightening and moving. This drama is a must watch, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and emotional viewing experience.🙌🏻✨

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Surprisingly thoughtful

Spoilers are marked.

What was good:
I agree with another review which gave an overall rating of 8.0. This is a good show for those who have a soft spot for the angst within Japanese idol culture. The show explored and portrayed human nature sometimes surprisingly well, and the most tense scenes often had clear and strong dialogue. I tended to skip a little through some very slow moving scenes, but the overall plot progression was good, especially in the later half of the drama.

Rationale for ratings:
Story: 9/10 - the dialogue between characters were realistic, not over exaggerated as some shows tend to be. The actual story was pretty good, but the dialogue made it even better.
Acting/Cast: 8/10 - The actors fit their roles. The idols were properly acting like idols, the other actors were convincing too. The acting/camerawork was decently immersive. Not incredibly masterful, but solid.
Music: 8/10 - soundtracks were fine!
Rewatch Value: 7.5/10 - I don't actually know, I haven't tried rewatching it.
Overall: 8.5/10 - it was surprisingly thoughtful. I was most impressed by the dialogue when a character would state what they idealized/wanted, and that implicitly revealed that they understood their own selfish desires. Not a bad adaptation from a novel. (Thank you to the subbers.)

SPOILERS AHEAD:
I actually thought the ending was good. I would have been disappointed if Mimika or Keita went back on their promise to each other. However, the ending did leave a lot unexplored in that anyone who watched to the end was probably invested in the future of both Mimika and Keita after they graduate... and we got nothing.

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