A low budget drama with a soul (and death and brotherhood and symbolic meaning)

This series was surprisingly good.

It can be said the production had a very limited budget. This is particularly evident in the sets, which often seem empty, or in the lack of actors to play minor roles. Yet they manage to tell a meaningful story.

The drama was dark, sad and more serious than I expected. Although I'm not easily moved, I admit that I almost cried at the end of some episodes (and it's not easy to do that in 20 minutes). There are a lot of deaths and each one is heavy for the characters and the audience to bear.

But the most interesting thing is not the story itself, but the message it conveys. Many people are bothered by some strange aspects of the story, but you have to accept that this story is written to tell you something else. You can see from the quotes in each episode that the writer and producer had something to say, and even the charaters' names aren't random. (If you don't want to be spoiled, skip the next paragraph.)

The series talks about two types of death: The death of society and the death of the individual. Which is the worst? The story pits Kuma-chan and Tsubasa against each other. Kuma-chan wants to “sacrifice himself” to “save his country”, like kamikazes (“fallen angels” are these sacrificed souls). Tsubasa chooses to live to find happiness with his family in a crumbling society that he cannot change on his own. There are many parallels with World War II, but also an overall reflection on Japanese society itself, and how Japan continues to sacrifice its own people for its interests (the father and son's story says a lot about how society pressure people to be performant.)

Indeed, there is too much to say in too few episodes, so it's a bit rushed. For example, the burden Tsubasa bears due to his intelligence is not mentioned enough. The identity disorder experienced by Umi would also need to be further developed. There are a few plot holes, but they did the best they could with what they had and this series was lovingly made. It could have been ridiculous, but even the candy manages to pose a real threat and cause tragic events. The music is really moving and always used at the right time. It really helps to feel invested.

Let's also say that the actors did a remarkable job. Although I love Japanese films and dramas, I have to admit that many actors overdo their roles. In Fallen Angel, each character is very well represented. Their feelings and reactions seem coherent, logical, never too much or too little. This helps us easily believe the unbelievable.

Most importantly, this is the cutest, most sincere brotherly love I've seen in a long time. The way Tsubasa strokes Umi's hair with tenderness or carries him on his back, the little secret he whispers in her ear... you can also tell that Tsubasa and Riku know each other very well by very few words and gestures . This helps the viewer feel invested and will make the final message more powerful.

It's not a perfect serie, but it's a very enjoyable and unique serie with cute bromance and tragic situations. The actors are extraordinary, the story is meaningful and it help to forget the cheap budget. Definitely worth watching.

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