I watched this show because it's one of my boyfriends favorites and I promised him I would give it a try. I haven't watched all that many Japanese shows. I usually watch school romance movies, short and sweet. I have to say I was quite apprehensive going into this because the characters are more mature and I often think dramas that have things happen because "life is like this and when you experience it you'll get it" are too pretentious for my taste, and that's what I usually feel when I watch more mature shows. But I was surprised this show isn't like that at all. It does take some maturity to understand the dialogue and the complex situations the characters were in, as well as their flawed personalities and ever-changing mind.
The characters and the acting made this show for me. I thought that Haru/Halu was just going to be the typical cold and cocky male lead but there was so much more to him. I know that when I rewatch this drama I will discover more layers to his character! So attractive, charming, flawed and sweet. And Aki is just lovely. She herself said she was a simple ordinary woman and that's what she was, and the most impressive thing is that she didn't need any exaggerate characteristics to be memorable. I could rant for hours about these two and their relationship. I loved the progression of all relationships in this drama (not just the romantic ones!). I cried at a few scenes and some just squeezed my heart so hard I had to pause the episode and turn my attention away for a while. All the dynamics in this show are so heartwarming and... sincere. It was like I was watching a real story on a screen, which I hadn't felt about a Japanese show before.
The soundtrack fit perfectly and got me in the mood every single episode! You can't really go wrong with Queen, can you?
Now, I have a confession to make. No one can fight me on this but... Everything about Kimura Takuya is 10000/10 stars but this man on hockey equipment is something else... out of this world... the most attractive thing in dramaland EVER... If I could only stare at one thing for the rest of my life it would be Kimura Takuya giving that side smile and winking his eye wearing that hockey equipment! I said what I said! Technically this show would be a 9.5 for me, because there were some things I felt were a bit rushed or just not talked about enough or weren't clear but I can't give it less than 10 stars because of Kimura Takuya on that hockey equipment. I can't. And if you decide to give this drama a try (please do yourself a favor and watch it) you'll understand what I mean.
Overall, this drama is insanely modest and straightforward, while being sensitive and emotional at the same time. It describes human feelings really well and it had me exercising my brain and heart to try to feel empathy for some characters whose actions I didn't understand. It throws things at you that you might get upset about and have to make an effort to put yourself in the characters' shoes BUT it will always give you answers, sometimes within the same episode, sometimes many episodes later, which seems pretty realistic to me.
This goes straight to my top 10 favorite dramas of all time list. I got too attached to it for someone who finished all 11 episodes in less than 48 hours.