Okay I did the overall average based off the Story, Acting/Cast, Music, & Rewatch Value.
Genre (s): Family, Human, Slice of Life, & Romance
** As a note there is a lot of physical fighting between the brothers. That's the whole point. I can honestly see brothers going at each other that way.
I'll start of with the Rewatch Value---I know that would be the most important for me if I were to read a review. I'm a person who loves family shows. It's what I would define as a human drama and family drama. What I mean by human drama is that it relates to aspects of our own life. Our relationships with our parents and siblings and our work place. Most human dramas are definitely more tragic, but this is far more upbeat with a bit of bittersweetness. As far as family drama. It is one of the best. Originally this was my favorite family drama that has now been beat out by Tokyo Bandwagon, which I will review later.
I find myself rewatching this drama normally when I'm sad and depressed or I need something else. The two older brothers are ridiculously handsome. The mother seems to have become more so the little sister or child in the house than a mother. While the younger brother has taken the lead. This leads to hilarious moments between the immediate family. It gets far more ridiculous as the boys develop relationships. My favorite is the Older brother's relationship---absolutely adorable. It makes me come back, time and again.
The story really portrays the inner struggles of all of the characters after the passing of their father. The three brothers end becoming the men of the house (in different ways). They are the supportive mechanism not only to each other but to their mother which has caused a level of resentment between all parties invovled but also a high level of codependency.
Sakurai Tatsuya (Tamayama Tetsuji) is the older brother. He's the way classically expected older brothers should be. The most conservative, the most reliable, the most defensive and protective. This brother hell yes is all of the above. But he's also very stubborn and bullheaded. When he has his mind set on something that's it. It takes basically the pushing of his family members to help him in love and living.
Love Interest: Tamura Chisato (Kuninaka Ryoko), as a note this girl became one of my favorite actresses after watching this drama. She's adorable, but she's also someone who feels obliged to follow her parents but also feels pressured by this burden. That being said, she falls in love with a man who is actually very similar to her father in many respects. You'll see her struggle with that, but her push back on her love interest and how that changes him and her.
Sakurai Riku (Hayami Mokomichi): The second brother is irresponsible, undependable, seems to feel insecure, doesn't have a full time job, very flirtatious. I mean he has the classic middle child syndrome. He can't be the little one to have some attention and focus, and he can't be the oldest because in his eyes...he's the hero. So he's not the hero or the baby. What is?! This complex travels with him until the end of the series. You'll see his behaviour and semi-growth.
Sakurai Junpei (Nakao Akiyoshi): The third child, most innocent of them and quite honestly the most "normal" of the bunch. He has aspirations, he is highly dependable in the household. Very caring and very sweet. He's protective of all his brothers but wants love as he has a whole lot to give. He impresses me the most I guess you could say.
**The two younger brothers have love interests but their story is not really built on it as it is with the older brother. Where his significant other plays a massive role to the story as it grows.
Sakurai Harue (Tanaka Misako): The mother is intersting. I think in the initial scene you see aspects of the personality she has with her adult sons later on. At first I found the change to be ridiculously 180, but the more and more I watch the show. I realize that even if her husband was around she would have behaved in a very similar manner. It's just who she is.
I think that's why the story gets me actually. I'm the oldest that really acts like the middle child in my family while my sister the youngest (two child household) is much more like the oldest and my mother (after the death of my father) is not much different from Harue. So I see aspects of my life in some of these people and I like how they work through their obstacles and shame to find healing through love and family. It's a beautiful drama for me. But you have to be into that sort ofo drama.
The acting is on point and I will be honest, I have seen very little Jdoramas with poor acting.
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