Without much expectation nor anticipation for the drama , I decided to check out the said drama as it was available on one of the App I was using for viewing. Truth to be told, episode 1 gave me a hesitant feeling whether or not to proceed with the drama. it was fun and an enjoyable ride however it made me question its 'purpose'. BUT wait, don't ever think of dropping this one. J-drama fan or not, it is the type of drama anyone can sit back and enjoy. No lies there. Don't question at all, Confidence Man JP is not the type of drama where you need to do much thinking but instead it is the type of drama you should pick up when you're totally exhausted, stressed, or depressed.

The cinematography is something you'd see in Fuji TV Dramas? Nothing exceptional however the lighting helps with the 'feel' or 'atmosphere' of the show, giving it a warm and lighthearted feel. Music-wise, it is a drama where nostalgic songs such as GreeeN's Kiseki would play..why? You'd have to find out for yourself.

That's right, this drama isn't just about the entertainment and thrill the three characters may give you on screen but it also displays a lot of morals for the viewers. What's true happiness? Does Money really matter? and so on.

Actors? The likes of Konihata Fumiyo is someone you will typically see in all sorts of drama but his portrayal of Richard leaves an impression! Truly, I do not think Richard will appear as a seemingly 'gentleman' if it weren't for the tone of his voice and his image. This is followed by Higashide Masahiro who has been gaining much popularity in the Japanese Acting Industry as of late, well.. what do you expect, Higashide will make a character as charming as he is! The gullible Boku-chan is one of the highlights of the show so do look out for him. Last but not the least ( as you'd have to consider the wonderful guests each episode offers), Nagasawa Masami. She has never been in my list of favorite actresses as her previous acting skills did not 'wow' me at all despite her long stay in the industry but if you have seen her acting or state back then, then you could pretty much see how much she's grown over the years. With that said, I can finally say Dako won't be as fun as Dako without her cheeky and bright portrayal. She truly shined in this role and she fits it 100%. No overacting from the three at all. so rest assured.

Overall, it was fun.. it was fun to the point that once the drama hit its final episode, I was too sad to bid goodbye to the three characters. The ending was well-played too.

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The film was a roller coaster ride, truly. It was interesting and while it is not something I would define as 'exciting' at first, it was done in a pace where the viewers won't be able to pull away from their seats. The pacing was done similar as to when you're reading a book - chapter by chapter, flipping through each page and absorbing all the details that were being provided to you by the characters themselves. Its plot depicted some, if not most, of the problems the Japanese society is facing up to this day - inequality and hierarchy, just to pick the most significant.

For me, something remarkable in this film is its deliverance wherein lies which molded the beings of two characters that were said to be or known to be the 'perfect' couple on the surface were slowly peeled off of their facade ( when re-investigation came about for the homicide case ). And slowly, we as the viewers get the chance to see the perspective people had of them, their 'real' characteristics or who they are while trying to uncover who killed the family. BUT at the same time, hearing more perspective gets you confused. It is the same with reality, we hear various sides and ideas to a story and it just keeps piling up until the truth is even more covered. It is a film that will make you think until the very end.

I wouldn't say this as something I completely dislike because I decided to pick the film knowing the circumstances, but the theme was dark or heavy for me and can be triggering. So, that's a heads up for those who wishes to try.

Overall though, the acting of Mitsushima Hikari and Tsumabuki Satoshi is always on point and will pull you along the tides of emotion. No doubt about that. The lighting, music, and cinematography were also a great choice for adding to the 'suspense' atmosphere of the film. Also, this is a the type of film you would need to re-watch a couple of times to understand and perhaps get to the answer you're looking for.

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I haven't watched any Kdramas since years and this is the first I've watched for 2019, great start I must say.

If you've seen Goblin 2 years ago and loved the pairing Grim Reaper x Sunny / Wang Yeo x Kim Sun, portrayed by Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na, respectively ーthen, this drama is for you. I think this is one of the sole reason one would watch this drama anyway.

The plot revolves around an Attorney and an Actress who have to worked in their firm for 3 months. If you look at the plot, it is indeed nothing special. Clichéd plot and typical romance, but what makes it stand out among the rest (though I have not seen that much due to my lack of interest to very 'cheesy' or 'fluffy' romance), for me, is the very chemistry of the two leads. Both Dong Wook and In Na did well, I think the characters are distinct from their previous roles and that says a lot.

The very highlight of the film I would say, is the fact that it is very lighthearted, has good soundtrack, Dong Wook's acting, the main pairing, and the side characters!

Binge-watching the drama for a week has left me empty after it ended.. it's the type of drama that does 'touch your heart' at some point and before you know it, you're more invested in all the characters, from lead to supporting towards the end.

I hope you will give it a try. It is a fact that you won't lose anything from missing out from this especially if you're not into the pair, but.. you won't lose anything from giving it a try as well. It helps when you're feeling down!

Enjoy!

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Slow-paced but heartwarming drama

I started watching the drama two days ago but even back then, I had wanted to watch this for Gakky and Matsuda Ryuhei. Two of my favorite actors. But given that the drama has aired for quite some time, I was bound to see reviews from people back then when it aired on real time. Sadly, the ones I have seen were far from positive review. They were mostly saying how the drama was plain boring.

Well? I do agree that there were such moments. The drama started out in a slow-paced manner and was consistent with that throughout the drama. We were introduced to the characters through their conversations at the bar and it actually isn`t a bad way of storytelling or fleshing out of character. Although the fact that the setting of the drama is mostly at the bar, I don't think it is something that works well with most audience as it may feel like 'nothing is happening'.

But the charm of the drama lies in its 'slowness' with the ability to build up an attachment to the characters and their relationships as we paced through the episodes.

The drama made many attempts to call out on the Japanese work culture as well as what it truly means to form a relationship. I think that watching this drama will give you the essense of Japanese slice of life dramas that amidst its exaggeration at times, it never forgets to insert meaningful dialogues along the way to remind you what it means to be a human and how life should be lived.

What I dislike on the drama may be the way the supporting characters are writtenー they were very annoying to me despite their comical presence or whether their main purpose was just that; to entertain or provide comedy to the audiences. Both Matsutoya and Ueno, who were our protagonist's colleague, felt like they were not necessary to the drama at all. Though slightly relatable for the dialogues, they didn't really shine on me despite the sudden development later on.

On the other hand, I like the lightheartedness that the drama offered as well as the pacing that I mentioned above. In terms of romance, it was built up slowly that it makes you wonder whether the supposed main couple of the drama would get together in the end or stayput in their current relationship. But along the way, the drama allows you to view a wider scope of what it truly means to be in a relationship: to be there for one another in your lowest and happiest moment in life and to offer comfort in your own ways, not just physically. The main characters, to me, were written realistically in a way that they were both flawed, even in their thinking and while they may not complete one another as cliched as that sounds, they slowly form a friendship that allows them to slowly change for the better unconsciously because of their comfort level with one another.

I think that this drama may not be as worth the watch as compared to most of what I have seen in the past (thus the ratings from me) but if you're curious and want to check it out for Aragaki Yui, I think it is still fine to go on. There will still be some beautiful points to pick up from the drama still.

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A universal message

The story starts off with Mio and Motoharu as a married couple but instead of a happy picture of a family, we were presented with relationship that's about to fall apart. That was the sole reason why our protagonist, Motoharu, decided to take a chance with the coin given to him by an unknown old man who talked of time travelling. Of course, he had found it unbelievable at first, too. After a series of events where we can see his choices reflect changes on his life upon his time travel... the question hangs in the air, is it really enough to change his life by avoiding some things knowing the outcome? Or in the end, are we played upon by fate?

Shitteru Wife is a drama that could get really cheesy to a typical melodrama with a touch of fantasy. But what will keep you watching is probably the thought of wanting to see how our protagonist try to change his fate, for better or for worse? I think there were frustrating moments in the drama but overall, I do think It was a good and enjoyable watch. The drama has the essense and soul of a typical Japanese human drama, it will get you attached to its character and their relationship, and get a universal message when it comes to "relationship" once you reach the very end.

Acting-wise, I think Hirose Alice did a great job and I mainly watched for her but stayed anyway. The background theme or OST is very fitting.

Overall , a good watch. I found the ending satisfying despite the cheesy touch and I am not familiar with the original but I am sure it is worth trying to see the charm of this version as well.

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One of the best drama deserving of its award

The moment I have finished the series felt like a weigh has been lifted off me but at the same time, I craved more. I thought I must write a review at all cost. So here we are!

The drama gave off a premise of what one would think of a typical crime drama where our protagonist gets wronged by the police so he seeks justice. Nope, it isn't all that.

In the drama, we have our protagonist, Lee Dong Sik, whose sister went missing 20 years ago, became the police officer he is today. He meets another officer whose views and perspective of things differ with him. Han Ju Won. From their clash of perspective to their suspicions, the two work it out to find the meaning of justice for the both of them.

There were a lot of GOOD things about the show that in fact just stating it in words alone isn't enough unless you experience its goodness yourself.

From the plot to character development, this drama nailed it all. I have to even say, everyone of the character feels like a main than a supporting and the casts? Everyone's superb. The drama will really leave you at the edge of your seat everytime you finish one, thinking what's going to happen next? Who's the real culprit? how will they catch him? Typical questions one would raise over a crime-mystery drama but Beyond Evil answers it all and will give you a satisfying end.

I must warn you of the stares between our actors Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo as their roles Lee Dong Sik and Han Ju Won, it gets to the point of addicting! The chemistry is too wonderful as partners, as brothers, or however way you want to see it.

Acting-wise, I think Shin Ka Hyun is truly the god of acting, the whirlpool of emotion he'll bring you and the eye-acting he offers is enough to pull you even more into the show. That doesn't mean Yeo Jin Goo falls behind, he manages to match against the other senior actor and offers his best, I think this is his best role just yet after Hotel Del Luna (for me). Choi Seung Eun whose known as a rookie, on the other hand, will catch your attention just as it caught mine.

The OST? Man, The Night will be on repeat once you finish the drama like a curse. I love it so much and it is so on point for the drama. Truly a masterpiece.

Anyway, I think it is a drama packed of human drama, thrill, emotions, and a whole lot more. But more importantly, I think it is important to find the message it was trying to convey.

I hope that this drama will be given a chance because it deserves the attention. I hope you enjoy it as much as we (the fans) do.

This is a first, but I think it has a rewatch value of 10/10. I would rewatch just to feel it all again.

Happy watching!

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Family of Strangers

The movie is set in a psychiatric ward with each of the character living with a complicated past, that goes without saying, for our main characters: Hide (Shofukutei Tsurube), Chu (Ayano Gou), and Yuki (Komatsu Nana).

I watched without any expectations having only seen the trailer before when it first came out. I just thought that given the whole atmosphere, the show was bound to be emotional and heartbreaking.

After watching the whole thing (in case you still haven't, it is available on HBO GO), the movie has A LOT of trigger warning (Murder, Sexual assault, and so on). I can't say whether I liked the film or not, but it's human touch in the film will draw you in just like most Japanese films or dramas. Rather than a sympathetic view, it is a film about moving forward and living ahead despite everything in the past, as Chu said: "Things happen to everyone."

The film does live up to its heartwarming English title of "Family of Strangers". Each of the characters were depicted as a nobody in their society and this very ward itself has become a "home" to them. They can continue to live and has found friendship among one another despite who they were; the very depiction of that is very heartwarming.

Overall, it is a movie that has a soul. I can say that Ayano Gou has provided us another outstanding performance as his character this time.

I do recommend to watch this but be warned of the trigger warning.

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Heartwarming.

I re-watched this after years yesterday (with English subtitles) thus I gave it a higher rewatch value.

Personally, I don't think this film is the type where people could give much expectations. The first thing that might come to mind would be : boring and plain.

Yes, I had the same exact thought, too ー despite casting my favorite actress.

Birthday Card starts off in an interview where Noriko (Hashimoto Ai) narrates her life from her childhood, and the story goes from there. We see Noriko growing up until her 20s, with her encounters, her struggles, and her relationship as she gets to know both herself and her mom through the letters she receives every year on her birthday.

The film doesn't have a glamorous cinematography, in my opinion, but instead it gives a little bit of a plain imagery and colors that really lives up to its genre of "Slice-of-life", like any Japanese Human drama.

Honestly, there isn't much to say except to give it a try! (Currently available on HBO GO app)

Watching the film gives a sense of comfortー like a warm hot chocolate or soup in a cold weather, or a sense of nostalgiaーsimilar to when you open up an old album or a box from your childhood. At the same time, it gives you a sense of growing up with our main character, Noriko, that you would want to pat yourself at the back and say, "You've done well"
by the end of the film. Truly heartwarming, so I recommend it on days you're unsure what to watch !

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