Next Up: Zenkai Girl!

Yui Aragaki in Zenkai Girl

I’m NOT a fan of those Japanese dramas involving children, especially those where the main character is a carefree, single person who’s single life is shaken up when they’re suddenly saddled with a bunch of rambunctious rugrats ( think Enka No Joou), so when I read the synopsis of Yui Aragaki’s new drama “Zenkai Girl” which read exactly as that aforementioned scenario, though I love Gakki dearly, I made sure I stayed FAR away from it!

So just the other week,  my friend Car is talking to me about the new shows she’s watching, and knowing how much I love Yui Aragaki, she mentions Zenkai Girl and asks if I’ve watched it.

“Nope, I hate those shows where they have a single person taking care of a bunch of bratty kids.”, I reminded her.

“You know, though, the story isn’t really about her taking care of the kids. I mean, she DOES have to take care of kids, but it’s not the MAIN point of the show,” Car said.

“Yeah, but I know how it’s gonna be, they’re going to have the kids misbehaving and tearing up her formerly single life apartment, whining and yelling at her and then they’re going to show how the kids are really good hearted, etc…bah, I‘ll pass.” I mumbled.

Ryo Nishikido and Yui Aragaki

“I admit, it does have some “eye rolling” moments”, Car agreed, “But… you know, I really like the characters, especially Gakki and Nishikido's... Somehow, the drama made me really…happy!” “Oh, and there’s another girl in this show, who I guess is like Gakki’s “foil” against Nishikido and I think you might know who she is, too...” Searching  online for a bit, she came back with, “Yeah…her name is... um, Renbutsu Misako?”

Renbutsu Misako in Zenkai Girl

“Whoah, Renbutsu Misako’s in this drama TOO?” I exclaimed, "Crap, ONE crush in the show was hard enough to ignore…I don’t know if I can pass up TWO of 'em…I might have to check out this drama after all!”
  Later I went online and found someone who had the first episode of Zenkai Girl up for download along with the subtitles, and after watching it, I can happily say that Car was right about the show- this is one AWESOME little show!! The story is pretty engaging, the characters are all well developed and interesting and even the little girl Gakki has to look after is pretty cute! 

Gakky and Tani Kanon

Funny, back when the show was airing and I was hard-headedly trying to ignore it, there were so many forums sharing it, now that I’m finally trying to get them, I am struggling, (struggling, I tell you!) to acquire the episodes. Seems like every site that once offered it has dead links (this drama came out before the dreaded sharing site implosion) and the files that I DO find aren’t timed to the subs I have. Going to torrents, I’ve wasted three nights already with only about 9% of the dramas completed. At this writing I’ve only gotten about half the show, but it serves me right for not getting it at the time, this will make me appreciate it even more! Back to the searching…
Edit: Yatta! Finally Got 'em all! Gakky, Here I Come...!

Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com