As some of you know, I rarely watch any anime shows but I really loved the 2022 series MY DRESS-UP DARLING (Sono Bisque Doll wa o Koisuru), and when I heard they were planning a live-action remake of it, I was excited...if apprehensively concerned that they would do the source material justice!
Kota Nomura is Gojo Wakana, a shy and reserved guy who keeps to himself and shows no interest or knowledge in the popular things that others are into., whether they be games, movies, etc.
In contrast, Marin Kitagawa (played by Riko Nagase) is a bright, outspoken and extremely popular girl who everyone looks up to. Out of everyone in class, she is the only one who seems to notice Gojo or even remember his name!
But there is only one passion in Gojo’s life, and that’s becoming a master crafter of Hina Dolls. His every moment is spent honing his craft, creating outfits for the figures as he works towards creating his own heads and faces in the future. But teasing and cruel comments by his peers as a child about being into something ‘girly” has made him embarrassed by his hobby, and he tells no one.
By chance one day his sewing machine breaks down, and he is forced to use the machines at the school. Happily finishing up one of his kimono creations, he hears a gasp from behind and finds he has been caught by Marin herself!
He expects Marin to react with disgust at the sight of him holding the hina doll and making clothes for it, but she only has admiration for what he's doing. This is a real shock for Gojo!
Striking up a conversation with Gojo, Marin is stunned and thrilled to find out this guy can actually sew- and not just any sewing, complete outfits! Taking a gamble, she shows him something she has been working on herself- a costume to cosplay as her favorite game character!
And so it is that the two make a deal of sorts- For Marin’s promise not to tell anyone about his Hina doll infatuation, Gojo will agree to help her make her cosplay costume. And from there, a new and exciting friendship is born!
He expects Marin to react with disgust at the sight of him holding the hina doll and making clothes for it, but she only has admiration for what he's doing. This is a real shock for Gojo!
Gojo knows nothing about the game of character, but cannot help but nitpick Marin’s crude efforts at making a real representation of the cartoon girl’s intricate outfit. She admits that her outfit is rough, but with her lack of skill, it's the best she can do. “If only I knew someone who could sew!” she sighs with a twinkle in her eye!
Like I said, the drama did adhere pretty fairly to the actual story and I was excited to see scenes “come alive”, however it will take some time for me to get used to the actors, who really don’t give me the “vibe” of the characters I know and love. Sigh, as a fan of Marvel and DC Comics, you'd think I'd get used to watching film adaptations' artistic liberties and the actors they choose to play them...but it's always a struggle! 
We'll see where this one goes!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com
