Finished 'Woman'.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

The director or the writer played a mean trick again. They had done it earlier in episode 3 or 4. From everybody's reaction we think Shiori isn't a match but then later it turns out she is. At least that's how I understood it. I didn't like how they did that.

But still this is a real good drama. Mitsushima excellent again and Rio Suzuki great as Nozomi.

I am trying to finish a bunch of dramas that I have started: Woman ^not reading the spoilers :-), Take five, Hanzawa Naoki, Kazoku Game etc

And I am starting with Mahoro Ekimae Bangaichi - it's a brilliant show and I did follow the series but I missed three or four episodes since it aired on Friday or Saturday night. And even I do have sometimes better things to do than watch TV on weekend nights. Great soundtrack, great opening and closing sequences, great pop references and quirky yet lovable characters so I am rewatching it all :-)

EstherM wrote:

And I am starting with Mahoro Ekimae Bangaichi - it's a brilliant show and I did follow the series but I missed three or four episodes since it aired on Friday or Saturday night.

Started watching this one as well. It's very interesting. Episode two was bittersweet and sometimes hilarious (especially in the yakuza's office) and episode four was one of the STRANGEST episodes I've ever seen anywhere. Ryuhei Matsuda has the slacker/stoner character down to a T.

Also episode 9 of 'Hanzawa Naoki'. They'd showed remarkable restraint. It wasn't until at least 6 minutes in before somebody pounded on a table and started frothing at the mouth. This director REALLY loves close-ups!

Up thru episode 8 of 'Maharo Ekimae'. Haru Kiroki was a hoot as the jilted fiancee. It looks like she's only done a couple dramas, I hope she gets more work she's definitely got a flair for comedy.

The downside of watching several episodes back to back is now I'm singing the opening them 'Happy ja nai, Lucky ja nai' and can't get it out of my head.

^ yes that happened to me too, I'm humming it constantely.
I wonder if I like it because it's by the same director who did Akihabara@deep and Moteki. But the original movie wasn't ...
And yep Masuda is the only A-lister who is at his best as the sidekick, see also Phone Call to the bar.

I am moving to Hanzawa Naoki now ... episode 2

Finished Hanzawa Naoki. Going to let it "sink in" before I rate it on my page.

Now to finish Woman...
_________________

Just watched Family Complex. A SP about a company offering rental of family members. There is a lot of potential in this original concept, but they played it safe overall and didn't delve very deeply into the morality, repercussions, and other unforseen effects for those who are offering and receiving this service. Don't think it will become a full-length series now, but the SP was involving and worth watching.[/url]

WhiteHawk wrote:

Finished Hanzawa Naoki. Going to let it "sink in" before I rate it on my page.

I finished it as well. It went from being really great to let's hurry up and get it over with!!

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

And they really telegraphed the ending. The way everyone was talking about how big a promotion Hanzawa was going to get you just knew it wasn't going to happen. Although I liked the expression the chairman had on his face when he told Hanzawa, almost saying, "Yes, I'm a son-of-a-bitch too!!"

I am still at episode 2 of Hanazawa Naoki but I finally finished Haitatsu Saretai Watashitachi, a WOWOW drama. It's not a 10/10 classic but it's a noble attempt to depict depression. And it's a million time better take on depression than Freeter Ie wo Kau.

gaijinmark wrote:

I finished it as well. It went from being really great to let's hurry up and get it over with!! Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: And they really telegraphed the ending. The way everyone was talking about how big a promotion Hanzawa was going to get you just knew it wasn't going to happen. Although I liked the expression the chairman had on his face when he told Hanzawa, almost saying, "Yes, I'm a son-of-a-bitch too!!"

Yes, they should have planned 11 episodes.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

Fleshed out Kondo's storyline a bit. Considering the ending and the ratings, it looks like there will be a second season.

_________________

www.YouShouldVisitJapan.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouShouldVisitJapan

They're showing 'Aibou 11' locally. Having a hard time getting used to Hiroki Narimiya as the new partner. Apparently the writers are as well. Up to episode 9 and Narimiya got the crap beat out of him and is in a hospital with amnesia. What was driving me crazy was trying to figure out who the actress was that's one of the suspects. Finally when the credits rolled up I realized it was Yuki Shibamoto. She had cut her hair short.

Funny how some women can change their hairstyle and become a completely different person.

Or maybe it's just a guy thing and we're too stupid to recognize what's going on.

gaijinmark wrote:

Or maybe it's just a guy thing and we're too stupid to recognize what's going on.

I was about to answer your question, but I see you beat me to it.
_________________

www.YouShouldVisitJapan.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouShouldVisitJapan

Gurasu no Ie - Glass no Ie episode 1, an NHK production.
Not sure were this is heading but the story is about a woman who lost her parents in a plane crash getting married to a man who lost his wife in the same crash. One of his sons has the hotties for her ... the music suggests it's going to be tragic.

Yorozu Uranaidokoro Onmyoya e Yokoso My goodness is he suave and utterly shameless. Nobody can hold up against his megawatt charm.

gaijinmark wrote:

Finished 'Woman'. Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler: The director or the writer played a mean trick again. They had done it earlier in episode 3 or 4. From everybody's reaction we think Shiori isn't a match but then later it turns out she is. At least that's how I understood it. I didn't like how they did that. But still this is a real good drama. Mitsushima excellent again and Rio Suzuki great as Nozomi.

Just finished it as well.

Click on button to reveal/hide spoiler:

Yes, I was caught out by that too. Except their mother nodded, and the doctor seemed to be smiling. So it was a bit confusing.

I'll be recommending it to friends.
_________________

www.YouShouldVisitJapan.com
https://www.facebook.com/YouShouldVisitJapan

Started Doctor X. First episode was pretty decent, although I wish they'd given Yonekura Ryoko a better hairstyle. Will probably keep watching since Fujiki Naohito is up for the sequel.
_________________

Watched the first episode of 'Naruyouni Narusa': http://www.jdorama.com/drama.1878.htm

One of the looooonnnnggesst first episodes I've ever had to struggle through. It was bad enough they made it an hour and a half long to begin with, but the first 60 minutes can be summed up in, "Asano and Tachi are married. Their 3 sons have all gotten married and moved out so Asano decides to open a restaurant." It took them an hour to accomplish that!

It picked up a little when Konno and Shida showed up but if they don't pick up the pace quickly it's going to be hard to finish this one.

Ando Lloyd episode 1 - this year's Kimutaku.
It seems to be a SF pastiche, taking inspiration from Terminator 2, Matrix and Cyborg She. Throw a bit of Keizoku Spec in the mix and you have Ando Lloyd. I like stories like that and will give episode 2 a chance.

Fun fact (which I made up but believe to be true): Kimura Takuya based the character on himself playing Mr Brain.

EstherM wrote:

Ando Lloyd episode 1 - this year's Kimutaku. It seems to be a SF pastiche, taking inspiration from Terminator 2, Matrix and Cyborg She. Throw a bit of Keizoku Spec in the mix and you have Ando Lloyd. I like stories like that and will give episode 2 a chance. Fun fact (which I made up but believe to be true): Kimura Takuya based the character on himself playing Mr Brain.

And it looks like he brought along his glasses from "Change", although they seem to have been upgraded.

But yeah, I liked the first episode as well.

^missed the second episode but will catch up.
Accidentally watched Miss Pilot episode 2, and it's one of this airline-sponsored shows that they push out every few years - see Good Luck, Attention Please. Not terrible but terribly unoriginal.

Glass no Ie - episode 5 - it's a bit boring and none of the characters are engaging. I'll finish it probably just to see how it ends.