"Around 40" is such a soothing drama.

It avoids most of the popular tropes and doesn't rely on physical contact to imply intimacy between the leads. Instead, smiles and facial expressions express how much they care about each other so when they do actually touch near the end of the series, it feels like a huge, super important thing has just happened.

The ending is what I was hoping for but not really expecting. While still being a drama with all of the dramatic elements, the story felt more real somehow. The whole age-gap thing aside, Satoko and Keitaro felt like real people making genuinely real choices that had nothing to do with the fantasy world. Their choices were logical in a very real-world way, and I related to that realism.

It was a fun aspect of Keitaro's character having him be dedicated to ecology and preservation. Carrying around his own set of chopsticks, unplugging things from the wall, making sure the lights are out when not in use, and religiously recycling all made him someone I would like to know in real life. There's something awesome about people who have it a part of their daily lives to care about recycling and repurposing and ecology.

I know that I'll be rewatching this series. It expected nothing from me, gave me no angst, and just let me enjoy being a part of the characters' lives. As I said, it was so soothing and calming. I came out of it feeling like I'd watched something truly special.

In other words, I loved it. I also loved the OST and opening credits. It was super creatively done.

On a whole other side note, Fujiki Naohito was gorgeous in 2008. What a stunning smile!