It took me a while to get used to this type of Japanese drama where it's showing comical actions similar to manga/anime style. I like it though after a few episodes, the music is top-notch, it's something I look forward to when I watch an episode. Acting is ok, wouldn't say it's the best I've seen but they have charm, the actor playing Mine is really good though, I like his acting. I haven't read the manga or watched the anime yet, so I don't know how true the live-action is to the original work, but I was expecting it to be focused more on Nodame's story, which in the drama, specials and movies it didn't really, it's more like Chiaki is the main character. While there should be really no complains about it being Chiaki's story but still I was hoping for more of Nodame's growth, but it was so slow and I really wish they focused on her more cos I really want to know more, she isn't a simple character after all, she has more depth but I don't think it was fully utilized. Also there's some really good supporting cast on this with their own background and story to share, just wished the director focused on that as well. Anyways, I'm recommending this drama, it's fun, lively and the musical scores are great.

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I was expecting more

I like the drama but it left me wanting.

In terms of acting, the believable one for me is Oh Jung Se as Sang Tae. I expected more from Soo Hyun acting. Ye Ji is a good actor, might look up more of her dramas. The supporting characters are good too, I enjoy the side stories. There's good comedic timing too. The actors just did not make me feel invested on their characters, I really did not feel the sincerity of it, I don't know how to explain it, that's just how I feel when I watched it.

The story is okay, I don't think the script really delve in the mental side of what I thought this drama is all about. The plot holes, the mother plot. It did not grab my attention as I hoped, the last episode is really nice though. What I did not like too much about it is like I feel there's confusion on what they want to show, if they want to show the realism or the fantasy of it, so I guess it's better to view this as a fairy tale story.

The OST is okay, there's one song that they play that really reminded me of the Jonas Brothers song.

Overall, the drama is good to watch, beautiful production and transitions. The drama is ok and many will like this kind of show, I guess it's not my taste.

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It's the first Japanese drama that I've watched without taking a break from it, it's really fun and enjoyable. The actors that played the leads are really good and they have chemistry.

The premise is simple, something that has been done several times over, but what made this enjoyable for me is that it didn't try too hard to be too serious or too comedic, I think it's well directed and produced, there's character development not only for the main leads but by the other supporting casts too. There are many memorable characters. Conflicts are ended in a satisfactory manner and didn't make me too frustrated with the plot or characters.

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I was actually hesitating to watch this drama since this is the first time I think that I've watched a series where a subject is a teacher-student romance. And I want to watch it cos I'm liking the actress Nanako. I'm actually trying not to expect much from the drama itself cos so far from I've watched in Japanese dramas , they usually started so slow, but actually this one moved fast and focused more on the conflicts of having a teacher-student relationship. Also this is a drama that should be watched with open mind, while it's still not acceptable to have this kind of relationship to protect the students, certain circumstances may lead this to happen.

I actually liked the fact that they casted actors that are the same age as their supposed characters since we can see the stark difference, the main actor looks like a young guy and the teacher looks like an adult. I'm actually happy that they didn't get an actress that looked young to make this more acceptable. Though I have to admit having two quite attractive leads doesn't hurt the drama.

I've thought Michi's character was weak especially at the beginning, she doesn't have control of her life, somehow she ended up accepting or more like forced to do things that were asked of her and the fact that she want to be accepted so much that she's handling things in a way that makes you just want to shake her. As one of her student said, she ran away when she encounters difficulties. She's quite impulsive too, she doesn't think of the consequences of her actions, there are so many times while watching this that I was like try to think of your actions more thoroughly since it's not only your life that gets affected. She redeemed herself in the latter part of the show, the experiences she and Hikaru went through made her stronger and more mature, she knows she makes mistakes on her decisions and yet I don't think she ever regrets any of them. She has taken control of her life and one might say she can be rather reckless and irresponsible, but I believe that the's biggest turn in the story for me. She learned and accepted that there are consequences with her actions, she grew up.

Hikaru is a troubled student, while he may seem more mature than Michi since he comes off as serious and quiet, but for some reason I've never thought he was mature throughout the series, he's a young guy, he still needs a lot of guidance which he is not getting from her mother who seems to spoil him and had planned his life for him. He makes rash decisions too, I've thought he and Michi are like two adolescents trying to find their way in life except that Michi is supposedly the older one.

Now that I'm writing this review that I realized that aside from the love story between Hikari and Michi, the story has focus more in the development of Michi's character, could it be I'm bias on Nanako but nonetheless that's how I feel. Now to discuss their love story, it's sweet, poignant and makes you want to root for them.

I rated this drama originally 9 but changed it to 8 because when I thought back on the story, while it tackled the difficulties that one may encounter if they pursue a teacher-student relationship, there are many parts of the story that I believed are used to detract from the taboo relationship to make it more acceptable.

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These are my thoughts and others can interpret the show differently. Main point is give this drama a chance and watch it, it's a beautiful story. It's about humanity and hope.

I’m reading reviews and symbolism regarding the drama and I’ve missed a lot when they explained what those symbolism mean and while I agree on some there are parts where I disagree too. But then this drama does leave a lot of the interpretation to the viewers.

First time, I’ve watched this drama and I was bored with the first 3 episodes but after episode 4, the story starts to step up on the pacing and keeps me interested in watching it. First 3 episodes cannot be skipped though, that’s where the plot and stuff are laid out for the use of the whole series. These are important episodes, groundwork so to speak.

The first time I’ve watched the whole series, it’s very difficult for me to see Dong Hoon and Ji An as a romantic couple even at the end, it’s an open ending where viewers may choose to interpret on where they’ll go from there, it’s just not easy for me to think them as such because of how Dong Hoon behaved with Ji An, he drew a line when it comes to what he allows their relationship to become considering as well that he is married and has a kid and she is really young for him, someone who is just starting her life. He got to know her and understands that she already went through a lot and they have things in common. Dong Hoon is very clear on his life though, on the boundaries, that’s why I did not think they’ll become a couple at all.

The second time I’ve watched it though, I’ve noticed more things in their interactions with each other and suddenly the thought before that they cannot become a couple has been diminished with my realization that it can actually happen. It will not be sudden but there's a possibility.

While I think Dong Hoon and Ji An’s love for each other is hard to define because I really think it’s the purest form of love; a love that accepts and just strengthens over time. It does not matter if they become romantically linked, all that matters is that they are with each other. That they are together as friends, companion and just be in that person’s life, that’s enough for them. As long as the person is happy, they are happy.

I may just watch this again to focus on the symbolism mentioned by other people and how they interpret the interactions with Dong Hoon and Ji An is very interesting. To have different POV and interpretation from other people makes me think, have I missed something? The show is brilliantly produced, directed and I’m sure the script will be even better if one understands Korean as the full impact will be more felt. I do think there are cases when translation just does not get the full impact of scripts written in their original language.

In terms of the cast, they are all brilliant; this drama does not make me think of the actors, they were the characters which are amazing. They made root for them even if their characters are not the easiest to digest; they all have flaws after all. The realism of the scenes and interactions is so relatable too which makes this the best drama I’ve ever watched. This drama may not have made me cry but the impact of this drama to me is big, the fact I’m still thinking about it after I’ve watched it twice in a matter of 2 months is an amazing feat. It makes me think and it’s been a while since a movie/drama made me keep on thinking about it after I’ve finished watching.

I’ve watched this drama because of IU and I’m curious what kind of drama it is, I was hesitant because I really do not like melodrama that much and the synopsis seems to be that. It was not actually melodrama, there is drama but it’s a depiction of an everyday life. Slice of life story, while I enjoy them, I do not actively search for it since sometimes it just makes me sad. And I tend to watch films/dramas that will relax me. IU was a revelation on this drama, I mean I’ve watched Hotel Del Luna first and while I think she improved a lot since the last drama I’ve watched of her which is Dream High, she did steal the show as Jang Man Wol which made me interested in trying another drama of hers. I was not expecting much when I started My Ajusshi but she became Lee Ji An and I really think she succeeded in her acting because I really cannot think of any actress that can portray the role of Lee Ji An. She was Lee Ji An. It showed me the potential of her as an actress and I cannot wait for her next movie Dream and how she’ll take on the role, I hope it’s something I’ll love.

Lee Sung Kyun, I’ve first watched him in Coffee Prince and I’ve liked him since then and watched a movie of him. He was really good on this role, the nuances, his voice and his acting is brilliant and like with IU, he is Dong Hoon. I was also curious on how IU and LSK will have chemistry in the drama since he’s older than her by 20 years. It’s an interesting combination and I wanted to try another drama and I’m so happy that I did because this drama is a blessing.

The drama is just beautiful, the acting is amazing, not just from the main leads but all cast have significant contributions in the drama and I enjoyed how everything just meshes so well together. If you look at it and read about the casts’ characters and the story, you’ll think what’s so good about this drama like why do you like it so much.

I agree with a lot of people who watched this that you just need to watch it to understand how good everything was and how everything flows well together. Everyone who contributed to this drama, the director, producer, script writers, everyone behind the scene and the actors, they delivered a masterpiece and I’m so glad I took a chance and watched this drama.

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Beautiful story of group of people that becomes a family

This is my first Kore-eda film and it was beautiful.

I actually did not expect the story to move really well considering this is what most considered an art film but I enjoyed watching it.

The story of giving up your baby or abortion, that's what has been tackled here as well. Controversial as we have all different beliefs. I think the director has managed to execute the story that will make you think of different povs regarding the topic.

The cast have good chemistry and a joy to watch. The way they have eventually become a make-shift family and wanted the best for Woosung. They all have their own agenda but at the end, there's goodness in everyone.

This movie has lots of gray areas and I think that's the intention of the director. People do things and it's easy to judge but a person is not only bad or only good.

Some of the concerns I have are the sub-plots which I think are not really explored properly but these are negligible and did not take away from the story the director wanted to tell.

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I enjoyed the drama, the set is beautiful and Jang Man Wol is the primary character in this drama.

The drama itself has beautiful production, the scenes, Jang Man Wol fashion lol

Jang Man Wol has many layers and IU had showcased her character beautifully. The cute, happy, sad, tormented, mad scenes were acted in a way that I do think she is Jang Man Wol and she does it in a way that's believable and consistent with her character. She's the star of this drama and others are just there to support her character which is unusual since most of the time it's the male lead.

I do think that Jang Man Wol has more chemistry with Chung Myung romantically than Chan Sung. I'm actually more interested in the back story than her scenes with Chan Sung. I think of Jang Man Wol and Chan Sung relationship would have been better as platonic than a romantic one.

I wished the ghost stories were not so prominent per episode though, it'll have been better if those scenes were shorten and give the time to show the developing relationships with the Hotel Del Luna staff and, Jang Man Wol and Chan Sung.

The casts were really good too, they portrayed their roles really well, it's just that everything seems so rushed in the latter episodes in terms of resolution for the Hotel Man Wol staff and I prefer to have seen more of their stories than the other ghosts.

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