dark but compelling drama about caste and bullying in school setting
First a general point. it is unfortunate that the traditional emphasis on community, family, groups in Japanese society, which has tended to stamp on anyone out of synch with social norms and hierarchy (though now improving in more liberal cities) is truly reflected in the type of bullying in schools typical of Japanese school drama and especially in this drama looked at from the angle of caste。 Like others I thought this drama would be more comic but it is actually quite depressing with the bullying tropes and unremittingly dark 〜actions of some students in this drama are extreme to point of sociopathic but this I suppose is part of the fictional exaggeration for dramatic effect。 however despite the darkness it hooks you as a very good school mystery genre for the first 10,5 episodes and the the evil is counterbalanced in that it is effectively being challenged by Baba (and later her friends)。especially moving is the genuine feeling and character of Baba's passion in the last episode which unravels the mystery and the darkness。it is also a good satire at times on uncaring or just ineffective teachers and teacher to teacher bullying (in one episode at least)。the final episode is nicely finished and neatly resolved、 though the festive side departs from any sense of realism and is rather out of character with most of the story 〜I also find it interesting how the argument comes full circle with the students ultimately demanding the very class system which through the abusive caste system shown in the drama produced thee bullying problem: it seems what they want is not to retain the good part of Japanese communal spirit while getting rid of the negative effects〜 an ideal solution indeed if it is only possible in reality!still this is a drama where fictional dramatisation is used very well to examine real social problems and lifts it above pure entertainment〜 though I am happy to say bullying is becoming less of a problem in my experience〜finally I really liked the music of Exile。
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