Gokusen but cheesier

More than the cheesy teacher-student relationship, I like how the story focused more on showing how Japanese education looked like. How people prepare and value it which impacts their moral compass. I find it very interesting and inspiring. As for the romantic side, the characters were dynamic and the love among the main leads slowly developed. It came out naturally and not forced. The actors just have that top tier chemistry despite the age gap in real life. I have watched a few Japanese dramas of the same theme and this is the most refreshing of all. Scenese were not depressing while situations were logically relatable. I like how it was able to balance the romance and the educational content. It’s like Gokusen but more cheesy and has lots of exams ❤️

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cute but cliched

I only watched this because of Miles Wei and the current 8.4 rating here on MDL. The story was entertaining and cute but very predictable. The twists and turns were a bit forced, side couples took too much screentime which is totally unnecessary. They’re not even moving any butterflies anywhere so I think giving them too much spotlight was a waste of time. The ending is not exciting as well, I actually finished the whole thing waiting for something magical to happen in the end. But much to my disappointment, the last episode is “forgettable” as its title. Funny how the title is very generic, too! Overall, it’s still recommendable for wholesome viewing having a cute kid as part of the lead cast. Main themes explored building a family, pursuing one’s dreams, with psychological shenanigans on the side. Watchable but not rewatchable.

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Makes your heart fluff

I love how this Cdrama is all sunshine with a bit of rain on the sides. If you’re tired of a typical romcom with a load of stress and conflicts, this one is a breather. It’s refreshing to watch, the cheesy romance is seraphic. Although Mr. Green flag and Ms. Bubbly with an age gap are too good to be true, this drama takes a turn away from tropy cold male lead with a trauma and an overthinker clumsy girl. The sweet conversations and the relationships of characters among friends, workmates, and family members are all relatable and were portrayed very well. Plus, the chemistry between the main leads is over the top! They just look good together, you don’t even have to read the captions lol and the close up shots really worked its magic!

The development of both the plot and the main characters is a slow-burn but magnetic enough to keep the viewers invested on every episode.

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A drama breather, my favorite Chinese drama so far

I was randomly searching for Jdramas with age gap trope and this suddenly appeared on my screen. Upon seeing episode 1, I got automatically hooked on the storyline. Everything about it is almost cliche-- teacher-student relationship, living together, contract marriage, and the age gap. However, there's something in it that made me so curious to know how the story will unfold. I was hoping to see how the story would be different from the rest of the same tropes in the drama galaxy. And voila! I wasn't disappointed at all, it's worth to binge watch. Also, the chemistry of the characters is super legit. I have read the web novel as well, and I really can't imagine other actors to be playing them. This drama was like my oasis in the midst of so many good but stressful dramas. I was just on cloud nine all throughout the 24 episodes. No need to imbibe the toxicity and stress of the storyline just to find a show engaging. Super wholesome, you won't be bothered posting about it and recommending it to all ages. The only heartache I had was when I finished watching it and knowing that it doesn't have season 2.

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Slow paced but nice

College life. Dorm life. Friendship. First love, heartbreaks and family relationships. Choosing a career path. Age gap…

If you’re looking for these themes then give this drama a watch. The story is a slow burn but gives enough feels to resonate with each character. The side stories took up a lot of exposure but I guess this is common in Chinese dramas. The ending is surprising but not at all disappointing. Plus, there’s the three special episodes to satisfy you if you want to see second chances and the end of a love triangle.

I love how Chinese university life has been highlighted in this drama and I find it very interesting. The actors acted out quite well too given that the characters they portrayed were very diverse and scenese required them to show dynamic emotions.

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NAKATSU FOREVER

I suddenly felt like I need to have a good laugh and so I rewatched Hana Kimi (Japanese) after 16 looong years. And guess what? I was still surprised with the over-the-top humor. The comical level is so malala, it’s still incomparable to any romcoms. Oh no, I feel nostalgic rn ? This piece actually ignited my love for Japanese dramas. Having been heavily influenced by its absurdity, I have also penned a few scripts in college inserting the said kind of comedic tone but at the same time balancing it with local wits and kabaliwan of Bob Ong (Whom I’m also a fan of). Well, that’s a fun throwback for me! Hmmm I’m just starting to question my maturity and sense of humor now that I’m 30. Oh crap! ? Hey, no judgments to any manga reading and anime loving adults here! ?

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I rewatched after 14 years

I was a fan of the anime first and then I tried to read some parts of the manga before I discovered that there’s also this live action adaptation. After more than a decade, I felt stressed watching dramas rife with tropes so I tried rewatching comedic dramas I loved in high school. I started with Hana Kimi (Japan) and then I finally had time to rewatch Yamato. And I wasn’t disappointed. The laughs I had were very refreshing!

I was surprised to still find it very entertaining (anime’s more hilarious because of more nonsensical elements) and funny how I think I understand the themes explored this time compared to how I viewed it before. Loving oneself, being honest with self and friends, expressing feelings, treasuring friendship, embracing indifferences, discovering love, and others were some of the themes shed light on. More than the hilarious acts, I also liked how the show balanced it with the drama and the serious dialogues.

The opening song was so absorbing that I never skipped it, not even once. For years, I kept it in my playlist. Same goes for the anime’s OST. As for the cast, they were perfectly chosen for the role. I love how Kazuya brought grumpy Kyohei into life. Just perfect! While the actress who played Sunako acted it out well too. For the setting, the entire setup is cozy- from the mansion to the cafe. I don’t know but Japanese dramas always have this effect on me. I always feel at home in their locations. Setups were always emphasized in episodes and the camera would always focus on the whole environment. The places shown in the show just gave me another dose of nostlagia.

Watching Yamato Nadeshiko once again, made me feel super nostalgic. It holds a special place in my heart and knowing that it has the same impact to me just means that it’s such an amazing drama. Plus, it’s a wholesome watch! ?

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