Since I've watched the anime and read part of the manga, the plot wasn't at all surprising to me. But I did think that they did a nice job of choosing the right things to leave in a take out. While I would love a completely accurate anime-to-drama adaptation, it isn't realistic. They did a really good job of keeping in the most important plot points.
I wasn't familiar with any of the actors in this show so this was my first experience with them. I found that they all fit their roles very well! I especially enjoyed Kyouya! Tamaki was hilarious, of course, and the rest of the cast was great. I loved how Nekozawa got a bigger role as well. His ominous aura and random appearances were hilarious.
The music was kind of quirky. It seemed to be a lot j-rock, but it was catchy and fit the show well. I actually ended up enjoying it.
Overall, I'm really glad I watched this drama adaptation. It helped fill the hole that the nonexistent 2nd anime season left in my heart. I'll definitely be watching the movie soon!
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First of all, it was slow at a couple points. I felt like it was dragging and wasn't always motivated to watch it. Usually I'm dying to watch the next episode of a drama, but this wasn't always that case with Hotaru no Hikari. My other problem was the second male lead. His character was stiff, and even though he was a nice guy, I just never found him very appealing.
Other than that, I really enjoyed Hotaru no Hikari. The main couple had great chemistry and they were very funny together. I really liked their interactions and relationship. Actually, for the most part, I really liked all of the characters' chemistry. Everyone got along really well and it was a refreshing feeling for a drama (usually there's one evil character that you want to murder).
The music didn't stand out too much to me, but it was cute and enjoyable.
Overall Hotaru no Hikari was a cute and relaxing drama that had a very unique feel to it. Despite the problems I had with it, I really enjoyed watching it.
My Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-YKBtH_NEs
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I haven't watched countless J-dramas, but I have watched several. So far Hana Kimi is definitely one of my favorites. The story isn't anything totally new, though it is a refreshing take on the gender-bender cliche. Gender bending is one of my favorite tropes and it was used to it's full potential in Hana Kimi. While the plot was fairly basic, I did like the use of both small and overall story arcs. It kept the show entertaining and crazy.
I thought the acting in Hana Kimi was brilliant. Just like the show, there was nothing serious about it and I felt as if every single cast member poured their heart into this show. Everything was genuine and sincere. It gave the show a wonderful vibe and made me very happy. There wasn't a single character in Hana Kimi that I disliked. I think this is the first time where I've loved every single character in a drama.
As for music, it was simple, and silly at times, but I love the opening theme IKEMEN Boogie, as well as the softer piano version IKEMEN Boogie Nights. I feel as if they embody the whole atmosphere of the show.
Hana Kimi is definitely a show that I'd like to rewatch in the future. It's so absurd and funny that I think it will always be entertaining now matter how much I watch it. Overall I loved Hana Kimi and I felt a range of emotions while watching it. I was surprised while watching the last episode when I found myself shedding a few tears. Hana Kimi was so ridiculous that I never would have expected to cry over it. But I realized that I had grown so attached to each and every character that I couldn't help but cry during a certain scene in the last episode. Hana Kimi is one of those shows that feels timeless.
I would recommend Hana Kimi to anyone in need of a laugh. It's definitely something that will brighten up any dreary day.
Here's my video review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc1kN5TJ3SY
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I liked this final addition to the series. As someone who's already a fan of Hana Yori Dango, this movie is like a fangirl's dream come true. I will say, though, that it doesn't have the same feeling as the drama. It's super cheesy at times (in a totally different way from the drama) and the plot is rather silly. But if you can put that aside, this is a fun movie to just sit down and enjoy without analyzing it too much. I really liked the conclusion and felt as if it truly completed the series.
The music was fun, and of course Arashi was included on the soundtrack. It was a cute and fitting OST.
Basically I really enjoyed watching Hana Yori Dango: Final. While it was silly and rather pointless at times, I just enjoyed seeing the interactions between Domyouji and Makino. It was nice getting to see them interact without any outside interferences (other love interests, evil mom, etc.).The movie had a cute message and was quite enjoyable. While it's not necessary to watch, if you're a fan of the original Hana Yori Dango drama, I would definitely recommend watching the conclusion movie. Like I said, it's like every fangirl's dream come true. Though I'm sad that the series is over, I feel as if I've been given a satisfying conclusion and would love to watch the series again sometime in the future.
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