Never Let Me Go (Watashi wo Hanasanaide)

When I first heard the title of the new Ayase Haruka/Mizukawa Asami/Miura Haruma drama “Never Let Me Go”, my first thought was, “Hey, that’s the title of that Kazuo Ishiguro Sci-Fi movie starring Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield!” Then when I read the synopsis, I was stunned to realize that it was in fact the SAME story!

 I own the Carey Mulligan movie and have watched it a few times over the years (the film came out in 2010) but luckily for the sake of this Japanese drama, it had been a while since I’d last seen it, so the details were vague enough that I could enjoy the drama with a clear mind. 

As a proper chaptered episode series, I knew that there were going to be a few if not many differences anyway, but one thing I always remembered was how sad and melancholy the film was…and watching just the first episode of the j-drama, it’s already one thing that they’ve captured perfectly.

Ayase Haruka as Kyoko

Miura Haruma as Tomohiko

Mizukawa Asami as Miwa

 Never Let me Go (Watashi Wo Hanasanaide) tells the story of a strange orphanage where the children are kept in an enclosed environment and taught only to paint pretty pictures and keep their health up. What they don’t know is that they are “Special” beings created in labs to one day supplement “real” humans with their organs and bodies, and this story follows the paths of three of the children who seek to get out and make real lives for themselves.

The Mysterious School

Blissfully Unaware Children: Tamayo, Miwa, Hana, Kyoko

Tomohiko and Kyoko

Anyone who’s seen the Scarlett Johansson/Ewan McGregor movie “The Island” is already acquainted with the “Clones as Creatures for Organ Transplants”, heck, even the recent “Ouroboros” dealt with a similar theme, but Never Let Me Go seemed to be much more heartbreaking . Naturally, such bleak destinies don’t give much room for optimism, (as I recall, the Mulligan movie ended on a somber tone indeed) but Japanese dramas, even the ones based on already established films, tend to give their endings a more happy conclusion, so perhaps this drama will go in a brighter direction. 

Friendly New Teacher Horie Tatsuko (Ito Ayumi)

Icy Headmistress Kamikawa Emiko (Aso Yumi)

Slowly Learning how Sinister the School Is.

Given a Stern Lecture by the Faculty

Teacher Cannot Help but Help the Kids

 Already the drama’s story is slightly veering off of the movie version (things like the use of paintings as their key to humanity is changed), nonetheless, so far, this drama is really doing it right, oh my god, the FEEL of the show is so overwhelming with sadness and desperation, and the atmosphere, the scenery and direction are magnificent, for most of the show I felt like I was watching a cinematic movie, it is done so well. 

 I am loving this drama so far, and am so glad I’m able to enjoy it- for a few weeks, no one had picked up the show to translate, and I was afraid I was going to have to watch it without any subtitles! But suddenly the clouds parted as Subbers Menimienaimono picked it up (These guys are great for Asami Mizukawa dramas as they're the ones who subbed Ghost Writer, Kamoshirenai Jyotachi AND Tokyo Scarlet, all GREAT Asami shows). But even if I hadn't found anyone to sub it, a drama starring both Ayase Haruka AND Asami Mizukawa? I would definitely have watched it anyway, I love those two actresses TOO much!
Posted by zdorama @ zdoramaagain.blogspot.com