The Summer J-Drama Season is over, and I finished up a whole slew of dramas!
Posted here listed by order of how much I enjoyed them along with my personal rankings!
Starting from the absolute best:
Roppongi Class
10*/10
* this goes to 11!!!!!!
Back in July, I did not think much about the first episode of Roppongi Class, likening it to a one-dimensional melodrama about the rich persecuting the poor… WELL, fast forward to three months later, and Roppongi Class has become one of the most amazing dramas I’ve seen and my vote for BEST of the SEASON! I’ve long said that what makes a good movie to me (or drama series), is the amount of scenes and passages that I just have to watch again. If there’s a drama that has lots of scenes that I like and want to rewatch, you can bet it will become a fave, and Roppongi Class has it in SPADES! This drama is simply OVERFLOWING with incredible dialog, gripping scenes and emotional moments!
I loved how DENSELY packed this drama was, so much themes, motifs and mini-arcs going on within its borders… I had no idea how many ideas they had ‘bookended” until, one by one, they all wonderfully resolved by the show’s last episode.
Not just story arcs, but the characters themselves- absolutely NO ONE was wasted in this show. Every character who is introduced in this show, from the Cops, Criminals, Businessmen and Con Artists, all of them “go” somewhere within the story, and I was impressed how they managed to tie it ALL up for a HIGHLY and WONDERFULLY satisfying conclusion!
Though in my first watch I noted how Actor Teruyuki Kagawa always played these powerful bad guys as to be almost typecast, I MUST say that as the show went on and I saw how much of the show's "stakes" hinged on believing the power and EVIL of the antagonist, I realized there were few actors who could carry such a HEAVY role with such command, and in it, he was BRILLIANT!!!
And I can’t finish this praising of Roppongi Class without gushing about incredible Yurina Hirate, the sole person whom, to me, was the absolute “heart’ of the show, and it was so sweet to watch her go from a flighty and arrogant waif to someone who becomes the rock of the group!!! She became one of the most vibrant and DAZZLING characters EVER! I simply can’t imagine ANY other person playing Aoi!!
This is a wonderful, wonderful show, one that I will be rewatching for years to come!
Ishiko to Haneo
10/10
As most of you have figured out by my constant posts about the show, the courtroom drama Ishiko To Haneo was pretty much my favorite show of the past season, and tonight the final episode wrapped in the same way it has been throughout its run- intriguing and FUN and with a whole lot of HEART!
I had mentioned in my initial take on the show that I wasn’t overly invested in the actual legal cases that the firm took on, and for the most part, that stayed true throughout the show. But it was the charisma and chemistry of the CAST that had me tuning in each week, and in that, it EXCELLED!
Everyone in this show was great, from the spazzy Oideyasu Oda, to the “puppy-dog nice guy” Eiji Akaso, and the doddering but kind and thoughtful Masashi Sada, but the duo of Tomoya Nakamura as Haneoka and Kasumi Arimura as Shoko might be the best pairing ever!
From the beginning it was hilarious watching the two butt heads and bicker about their very different sensibilities, but it was even better as the two grew to respect and look up to each other, as as the show progressed, they became a true “ii combi” who, when partnered up, became a team no one could stop!
A drama that really made me feel good, and I’m sure you will too!
Koi Nante, Honki de Yatte Dousuru no
9/10
Ensemble Rom-Com featuring three young women (Alice Hirose,Marie Iitoyo, Nanase Nishino) looking for love in all the wrong places. Starring Hokuto Matsumura, Naohito Fujiki and Amane Okayama as the would-be available suitors, this drama follows all the usual beats of your basic Ensemble romance cast, but somehow really radiated due to its real sincerity, especially Alice Hirose, in yet another heart-stealing turn as the innocent Jun Sakurazawa!
A drama from last season which i only got around to watching now. Why in the world did I wait? this drama is great!
Radiation House II
9/10
When we last saw the Radiology team they had all broken up and scattered, but thanks to wild coincidence (called sequel-itis), the whole gang is back and doing what they do best!
More adventures of the seemingly scatterbrained Iori Igarashi (Masataka Kubota) , the sharp-eyed surgeon masquerading as a simple radiologist by day who gets all goofy when it comes to the love of his life, Doctor Amakasa (Tsubasa Honda).
A solid second season, and we even got some nice closure to whole story of Igarashi and his childhood promise to Amakasa!
Mahou No Rinobe
8/10
Gen Fukuyama(Shotaro Mamiya) is the eldest son working for a family Home renovation company named Marufuku Komuten. He hasn’t had a lot of luck getting any of his proposals accepted, and gets his sale taken over by a rival company’s ace, Koume Shinyoji (Haru).
But he is in for a further surprise when she shows up at his firm as their newest employee!
A fun and lighthearted drama in the vein of Ie Uru Onna or Shoujiki Fudousan!
Fukushuu No Miboujin
8/10
Mitsu Suzuki (Wakana Matsumoto) is a kind and mild mannered wife whose life gets turned upside down when her husband Yugo (Yuta Hiraoka) supposedly commits suicide at his workplace. Suspecting foul play, she infiltrates the company under the guise of a computer tech in order to investigate the suspects.
Loved seeing Matsumoto as this cold and ruthless character, very satisfying to watch her take down each mark one by one, however I felt like it was building up to a bigger conclusion than the mild one we got. Still was a thrill to see!
Unicorn Ni Notte
7/10
Mei Magano and Hidetoshi Nishijima in a story of a young woman with dreams of making a succesful app so that everyone of all backgrounds can have an education- can she make it?
An entirely "by the books" drama which offered no surprises, developments, or twists... went EXACTLY like you'd expect it to go! Was a good enough drama to watch each week, but not sure it has much re-watch value.
Isekai Izakaya Nobu 2
7/10
Our Second season begins much the same way Season One began: with Nikolaus and Berltholt having a duel of swords. But this time, thanks to the advent of the wonderful Nobu Izakaya, instead of honor, the two are fighting over which is the best dish, Salted Chicken of Soy Sauce Chicken, showing how much good food has changed them all for the better!
Yes, for now, it's ALL about the meals, and all the regulars are back as well, serving up up some standard izakaya fare- which is simply out-of-this-world for the old world tavern!
Junai Dissonance
7/10
The melodrama about an unorthodox teacher named Msaki Nitta (Yuta Nakajima) and a troubled student named Sae Izumi (Ai Yoshikawa) who meet under unusual circumstances and whose relationship affects their future as well as everyone around them.
There were a lot of highs and lows watching this drama, and for the most part, i was extremely entertained! Sadly, by the halfway mark it seemed the writers weren't sure what to do about this couple and began giving it the constant Breakup/Make-up scenarios over and over during the course of tshow, til by its conclusion I didn't even care anymore. They did give a solid ending, makes me think they should have shortened this drama by three episodes and made it tighter rather than drawing out the inevitable for so long...
7/10
Airport-based Romcom featuring a young pilot named Sui Kurata (Yuta Tamamori) who finds a connection to the voice of an air-traffic tower controller when she guides he and his co-pilot Nanami Kitami (Michiko Kichise) out of a tense landing situation.
A fairly basic Airport drama of which we’ve seen many times, I suspect the bulk of this show will be the usual: irate or incapacitated passenger problems, prideful or put-out personnel, etc, however it features a nice cast and I’ve been looking forward to seeing Anne Nakamura branch off into bigger roles like this!
Isu
7/10
New drama "Isu" features a collection of short stories centered around chairs of various kinds, starring a wide assortment of guest stars (such as Riho Yoshioka, Haru Kuroki, Mayu Hotta, et al) for each episode.
Additionally, the stories are bookended by facts, history, and showcasing of chairs....
Wasn't really sure what to expect from this drama, but I found myself simply enchanted by a lot of the stories; some touching, some dark and even wildly humorous, each story had its own charm, and by the show's end, I was completely in love with it!
Riso No Kareshii
7/10
Out Story begins with a woman named Yumeko Onodera (Aya Oomasa) who is smart, beautiful, working a high profile job and has a boyfriend with promises of marriage on the way!
One day when she is about to catch a flight at an airport, she comes upon a man (Taiki Sato) who When Yumeko offers to pay, the flabbergasted man promises profusely to repay her, but Yumeko waves it off. When you're doing well, why not help someone in need?
But little does Yumeko know that her success is about to hit a hitch, and when it all comes crashing down, the one who is there to pick her up is that same young man from before. He tells her how she saved him at that time and wants to help her in any way he can- And it's here that a heartbroken Yumeko makes the very outrageous request...by asking this man if he would be her "Ideal" boyfriend...and love her!
A very generic romcom full of all the usual tropes, but somehow earnest and really sweet!
Kyosou No Musume
7/10
The story of a high school whose foundation gets shaken when a mysterious transfer student arrives and begins doling out her own brand of psychotic justice upon those she deems corrupt had me on the EDGE of my SEAT from its first MINUTES and never let go!!!
Mizuki Kayashima is absolutely MESMERIZING as the dark and brooding Sara Kiritani, and I cannot help but CHEER her on, even as her "good deeds" get blacker and blacker. Yes, this drama is painting Sara in a negative light as she extracts revenge on the baddies, but in this day and age, to see someone ready to DO something about the problems while others merely look on or pretend to not see, is something to applaud!!
Yanagatonaki Ichizoku
7/10
Ever since the Kyoko Fukada drama "Oni No Sumika", I've had a huge distaste for these "persecution" type dramas, where the lead is thrust into a hostile environment of people who mistreat them to their fullest extent in order to break them, and it looks like Yangotonaki Ichizoku is another one....
Starring tao Tsuchiya as the new bride to a rich heir of a powerful family who is tormented by his family as they see her as peasant trash. Very predictable and irritating, however the show has some admittedly entertaining camp value, especially with Wakana Matsumoto as deranged Sister-in-law from hell, LOL!
Kateikyoushi no Torako
6/10
Man, I was REALLY looking forward to this one, but somehow Kateikyoushi no Torako was ALL OVER the place and I had no idea what the writers were aiming for half the time...
Story of a mysterious tutor in top demand, but whose methods seems SO scatterbrained and counterproductive it's hardly a surprise when it's revealed that this teacher's true objectives lay elsewhere.
A show that for the most part had me frustrated and/or bored, and yet I somehow tuned in each week just to see where it was all gonna go! Ended up being such a messy story, but will give props to Ai Hashimoto as the titular Torako...
Ryosangata Riko
6/10
Extremely cute drama about a cheerful and earnest girl named Riko Komukai (Yuki Yoda) working for an Event Planning company who, though bright and full of ideas, is told by her peers that she is a “mass production” consumer, meaning someone who is “average” and goes for all the “basic” things in life without fanfare or flair.
Though the hobby of model building, she learns to rediscover herself and find new strength at her job!
Anata ni Kika Setai Uta ga Arunda
6/10
A introspective drama focusing on the dreams and aspirations one has while growing up and what becomes of them as you become an adult. Anata ni Kika Setai Uta ga Arunda begins in a classroom full of flippant and joking teenage students who seem to not have a care in the world as they misbehave and tease their harried new teacher.
We then fast forward 10 years to the current year where we are checking in on all those students and where their lives have led them. Some are depressed, some despondent, some gamely trying to make it, but if there’s one thing clear, it’s that life never goes the way you expect it to.
Featuring Ryo Narita, Sairi Ito, Kisetsu Fujiwara, Shuhei Uesugi and Atsuko Maeda (among others) as the students, each episode focuses on a different student and what has happened in their now adult life.
Kanojo Okarishimasu
5/10
The plot if Kanojo reminded me of the Nana Seino/Kentaro Sakaguchi drama “ Konin Todoke ni Han wo Oshita dake desu ga” with its similar set-up of pay-for-pretend relationship, but in the end it was more like those ubiquitous high school romcoms like Cinderella is online and the like- felt very much like watching a "Disney TV" show like Lizzie Mcguire or That's So Raven...
In other words, a drama aimed totally out of my demographic....
Choi Tsuri Dandy
5/10
Had high hopes for Choi Tsuri Dandy as my replacement for my beloved Tetsu Ota Train drama, however, unlike Tetsu Ota which took you on farway journeys to the outskirts of regular life, Choi Tsuri Dandy, focused on a woman obsessed with fishing, seemed to never leave the block they were shooting on. I mean, sure, they went places, but it all seemed so humdrum and I never even got the feel like the show really cared about fishing that much, TBH.
Still, had some nice serene moments and Asami Usuda was charming as the titular Fishing Dandy.
Hoshi Shinichi no Fushigina Fushigina Tanpen Dorama
5/10
Sci-Fi Short Stories featuring some popular names. A show kind of like a mini-drama as each episode is only a few minutes long. An interesting idea however I must admit a lot of the time the dramas ended with me thinking ,"Eh? That's it..?" LOL!
Still, some fun and sometimes intriguing ideas presented here, a few of them really stuck with me after watching!
5/10
Animals tells the story of a harried, overworked, and unappreciated AD for a popular Television Morning Program, named Umi Shikamori who takes a leap into a new field- the world of make-up and fashionable style!
A pretty basic love triangle romcom drama buoyed by an energetic performance by Airi Suzuki with some cute moments but ultimately fairly mundane of a show (especially the end!)
Unmei No Keisatsu
5/10
Taking a page from the Matt Damon/Emily Blunt Sci-Fi movie "the Adjustment Bureau", we follow two members of the after-worldly "Fate Police" whose job it is is to ensure that every living persons' fates follow their predetermined outcomes.
Thought it was a great idea, however the show ended up being about the main character trying to help one girl attain her dreams of becoming an actress rather than dealing with the consequences of changing time and fates. Another show with a great premise but unimaginative execution.
Me No Kabe
5/10
Story about an earnest salaryman named Tatsuro Hagizaki (Kotaro Koizumi) who gets caught in the middle of an intricate crime web when his colleague gets taken by a loan scam and disappears, leaving Hagizaki to pick up the clues and find out what happened to him.
An interesting enough idea but the show progressed at such a meandering pace that it left me quite bored most of the time...Would probably have worked better as a lean 2 and a half hour special than the sloggy 5 parts it had.
1/10
Taking a page out of the zany "Funky Forest and the "found footage" style of horror, we have a team of paranormal investigators (Mayu Hotta and Koji Shiraishi) checking on a woman who appears to have had an altercation with beings from another world...
This promised to be a wacky supernatural spoof like the terrific Yuusha Yoshiko series, but it was so sloppy and haphazardly done, it felt more like an amateur High School production written and directed by kids...very cray for the sake of craziness...
But more than that, The shaky-cam was the most obnoxious and headache-inducing that I’ve EVER experienced- made it absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to watch directly. in the end, I had to have it in the corner of my screen and just “listen” to the show more than look at it. VERY irritating to deal with!
OKAY, now it's time to move on to the NEW SEASON!!!
