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Yokoso, Wagaha Ie e
When Gasu the cat is a better actor than one of Japan's National idol.
Who is in it?
Continuying my tradition of trying to watch everything Aiba Masaki is in as an actor, even though he is not a very good actor, with Yokoso, Wagaha e. This is his first Getsu 9 and most likely his last as it is clear to me, and I am sure quite a few others, that acting is not Aiba's strongest suit. And I say this with the greatest love. Aiba is my absolute favourite in Arashi and the one I really root for. I am not always a fan of his acting projects but mostly because to be good, he needs a lot of watching over. And it feels like he doesn't get it from directors or he's not well cast in his roles. You can rely on Nino to carry his scenes and often steal the spotlight, Jun can also keep a scene afloat, Ohno often come out of nowhere because he can transform into different characters but you really forget about it because he keeps complaining about learning/forgetting his lines, Sho will overact the hell of a scene by shouting or simply forgetting to act (the Embassy Chef mini-drama...) but he had some good/okay moments in Nazodi and Kazoku Games.
In this one, it seemed good on paper. Aiba shares a few traits with his character; easy going, protective of his family and hard working. But, it's like some aspects of his role are forgotten and we're just reminded when the plot calls for it (but not as bad as Mikeneko where Aiba forgets 9 times out of 10 that he is supposed to be scared of women and blood, but I will review that drama at another time).
Terao Akira plays his father, Minami Kaho has the role of his mother and Arimura Kasumi plays his youngest sister (and more than halfway completed her Arashi Bingo card since she already played with Nino and Jun on top of a 1 episode role in Mikeneko with Aiba). Sawajiri Erika plays a reporter who helps investigate and Takenaka Naoto plays a coworker at the father's company (Takenaka already filled his Arashi Bingo card since he played with every member of Arashi in a TV show or movie and he's most likely already on his second or third card).
What is it about?
Kurata Kenta (Aiba Masaki) is a 29 year old graphic designer who hates confrontations and will apologize even when he's not the one at fault. Most people just push him around and walk all over him, a trait that he got/learned from his own father who keeps reminding his family that it's better to avoid doing unecessary things. Except, Kenta, frustrated at having lost a job contract, intervenes when a man pushes people around on a subway platform. The man falls accidently due to Kenta's umbrella but instead of apologizing when prodded by Erika's character who was also on the platform, the man runs first then follows Kenta home. Kenta thinks that he managed to run away from the man who decided to stalk him but it's just the start of a series of incidents that befall the normally happy-go-lucky family.
What's good about it?
There are several plots actually to this drama and while the father's storyline had me itching to fast forward, it quickly became my favourite at one point despite some frustrating points. The family interactions were often nice and felt natural (minus Aiba who often just starred at nothing). Some of the events that happenned in the drama were really realistic. Without going too much into spoilers, it's not hard to believe that most people will act when they have an opportunity, most of what happened would have never actually happenned if not for that one event that triggered the rest. Also, some of the events were pretty tame. After watching some other dramas, I was half expecting more traumatic things. The episodes' cliffhangers made a few twists way more dramatic than what it actually was and I was really glad for that when the next episode began that the resolution was more down to Earth.
Erika's and Aiba's character did make a nice combination, she carried most of it but I enjoyed whenever both of them were in a scene. She also had a nice chemistry with the other actors who played the family members.
As much as it was a suspense drama with a stalker, halfway through, it wasn't as dark as I thought it would be when watching episode 1. Most of the message was that, sometimes you have to stand up for yourself and for others. And you also have to apologize. A lot. And the world can be a very scary place, so cherish your relatively sane family. Also, if you hate loose ends, you are going to be happy with this drama, because it explains every single one.
Yamaguchi Sayaka who played the father's department assistant/underling made me root for her really quickly. You felt her frustrations at her "nemesis" and her gratitude towards the father for backing her up. They had amazing chemistry without falling into romance/affair, which I am forever thankful.
Moments that I liked; the last scene with the dad and his employee, the mom at the mountain after she received the call, the sister at her last interview realising just how much of an awesome family she has, the texting between Kenta and his sister was a really sweet moment, Kenta confronting the stalker, the family moments and the family moments with Erika's characters, Erika's character being aware of police procedure and knowing policemen/contacts made sense and was used well.
What's bad about it?
The evil laugh of "I am a psychopath" that Japanese Dramas just love to have when they have a criminal. Also, everything got explained nicely with a bow after one police interogation. You would think that criminals would lie a bit more? Or hide stuff? Or try to run away more? Though, the police wasn't as helpful as some others dramas make them to be, which made me glad to see their limitations.
Also, I had quite a few frustrations with the dad's storyline... how many time can you fall in the same trap?! How about taking images and reccording when investigating? Why do you keep trusting someone who you know is committing fraud and be shocked when they spin their story when they can?
The mom's storyline was okay, not overly a fan especially the last twist concerning her was really big but it made Aiba wake up and actually act in the last episode or so. Because, it often felt that Aiba was just starring at nothing as if the director had forgotten to tell him that they were filming and Aiba couldn't quite remember his lines.
The gravity of what was happenning to the family. Everyone would act incredibly shocked for 30 seconds then banter and shrug it off like nothing happened. It was fine for most of it (it sucked for the flowers but since most of it was low vandalism, I could see why it wasn't the end of the world), but sometimes in front of the cops, it felt like they were trying too hard for comedy. The final confrontation had a moment where Aiba says "the fear we had to live through from all of this!" but they brushed it off so often, you didn't always feel it.
I could have done without the editor in chief. Who pretty much always play the same character whenever I see him.
Also, the numerous cut away in a dramatic scene to the cat. Like, really? It was like the director decided to film to cat for a reaction shot every single time. It's a really cute cat but it felt cheesy. It's a kitten, it doesn't really care if you tell it to "guard" the house because it won't.
Would I watch this again? Or in 5 years? Maybe. Probably the edited version with a lot of fastforward for the few scences that I liked. It was okay. Not the best drama but also, far from being the worst that I have seen.
To learn more about it
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Yokoso,_Wagaya_e
Are there any fics?
Yes, believe it or not. Two, in fact by the same author but they are absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them. They are a sequel to the series and it was a perfect way to have just a litte more time with the characters.
And the Winner Is... by astrangerenters
Introducing Mr & Mrs Aisawa by astrangerenters (sequel)
When Gasu the cat is a better actor than one of Japan's National idol.
Who is in it?
Continuying my tradition of trying to watch everything Aiba Masaki is in as an actor, even though he is not a very good actor, with Yokoso, Wagaha e. This is his first Getsu 9 and most likely his last as it is clear to me, and I am sure quite a few others, that acting is not Aiba's strongest suit. And I say this with the greatest love. Aiba is my absolute favourite in Arashi and the one I really root for. I am not always a fan of his acting projects but mostly because to be good, he needs a lot of watching over. And it feels like he doesn't get it from directors or he's not well cast in his roles. You can rely on Nino to carry his scenes and often steal the spotlight, Jun can also keep a scene afloat, Ohno often come out of nowhere because he can transform into different characters but you really forget about it because he keeps complaining about learning/forgetting his lines, Sho will overact the hell of a scene by shouting or simply forgetting to act (the Embassy Chef mini-drama...) but he had some good/okay moments in Nazodi and Kazoku Games.
In this one, it seemed good on paper. Aiba shares a few traits with his character; easy going, protective of his family and hard working. But, it's like some aspects of his role are forgotten and we're just reminded when the plot calls for it (but not as bad as Mikeneko where Aiba forgets 9 times out of 10 that he is supposed to be scared of women and blood, but I will review that drama at another time).
Terao Akira plays his father, Minami Kaho has the role of his mother and Arimura Kasumi plays his youngest sister (and more than halfway completed her Arashi Bingo card since she already played with Nino and Jun on top of a 1 episode role in Mikeneko with Aiba). Sawajiri Erika plays a reporter who helps investigate and Takenaka Naoto plays a coworker at the father's company (Takenaka already filled his Arashi Bingo card since he played with every member of Arashi in a TV show or movie and he's most likely already on his second or third card).
What is it about?
Kurata Kenta (Aiba Masaki) is a 29 year old graphic designer who hates confrontations and will apologize even when he's not the one at fault. Most people just push him around and walk all over him, a trait that he got/learned from his own father who keeps reminding his family that it's better to avoid doing unecessary things. Except, Kenta, frustrated at having lost a job contract, intervenes when a man pushes people around on a subway platform. The man falls accidently due to Kenta's umbrella but instead of apologizing when prodded by Erika's character who was also on the platform, the man runs first then follows Kenta home. Kenta thinks that he managed to run away from the man who decided to stalk him but it's just the start of a series of incidents that befall the normally happy-go-lucky family.
What's good about it?
There are several plots actually to this drama and while the father's storyline had me itching to fast forward, it quickly became my favourite at one point despite some frustrating points. The family interactions were often nice and felt natural (minus Aiba who often just starred at nothing). Some of the events that happenned in the drama were really realistic. Without going too much into spoilers, it's not hard to believe that most people will act when they have an opportunity, most of what happened would have never actually happenned if not for that one event that triggered the rest. Also, some of the events were pretty tame. After watching some other dramas, I was half expecting more traumatic things. The episodes' cliffhangers made a few twists way more dramatic than what it actually was and I was really glad for that when the next episode began that the resolution was more down to Earth.
Erika's and Aiba's character did make a nice combination, she carried most of it but I enjoyed whenever both of them were in a scene. She also had a nice chemistry with the other actors who played the family members.
As much as it was a suspense drama with a stalker, halfway through, it wasn't as dark as I thought it would be when watching episode 1. Most of the message was that, sometimes you have to stand up for yourself and for others. And you also have to apologize. A lot. And the world can be a very scary place, so cherish your relatively sane family. Also, if you hate loose ends, you are going to be happy with this drama, because it explains every single one.
Yamaguchi Sayaka who played the father's department assistant/underling made me root for her really quickly. You felt her frustrations at her "nemesis" and her gratitude towards the father for backing her up. They had amazing chemistry without falling into romance/affair, which I am forever thankful.
Moments that I liked; the last scene with the dad and his employee, the mom at the mountain after she received the call, the sister at her last interview realising just how much of an awesome family she has, the texting between Kenta and his sister was a really sweet moment, Kenta confronting the stalker, the family moments and the family moments with Erika's characters, Erika's character being aware of police procedure and knowing policemen/contacts made sense and was used well.
What's bad about it?
The evil laugh of "I am a psychopath" that Japanese Dramas just love to have when they have a criminal. Also, everything got explained nicely with a bow after one police interogation. You would think that criminals would lie a bit more? Or hide stuff? Or try to run away more? Though, the police wasn't as helpful as some others dramas make them to be, which made me glad to see their limitations.
Also, I had quite a few frustrations with the dad's storyline... how many time can you fall in the same trap?! How about taking images and reccording when investigating? Why do you keep trusting someone who you know is committing fraud and be shocked when they spin their story when they can?
The mom's storyline was okay, not overly a fan especially the last twist concerning her was really big but it made Aiba wake up and actually act in the last episode or so. Because, it often felt that Aiba was just starring at nothing as if the director had forgotten to tell him that they were filming and Aiba couldn't quite remember his lines.
The gravity of what was happenning to the family. Everyone would act incredibly shocked for 30 seconds then banter and shrug it off like nothing happened. It was fine for most of it (it sucked for the flowers but since most of it was low vandalism, I could see why it wasn't the end of the world), but sometimes in front of the cops, it felt like they were trying too hard for comedy. The final confrontation had a moment where Aiba says "the fear we had to live through from all of this!" but they brushed it off so often, you didn't always feel it.
I could have done without the editor in chief. Who pretty much always play the same character whenever I see him.
Also, the numerous cut away in a dramatic scene to the cat. Like, really? It was like the director decided to film to cat for a reaction shot every single time. It's a really cute cat but it felt cheesy. It's a kitten, it doesn't really care if you tell it to "guard" the house because it won't.
Would I watch this again? Or in 5 years? Maybe. Probably the edited version with a lot of fastforward for the few scences that I liked. It was okay. Not the best drama but also, far from being the worst that I have seen.
To learn more about it
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Yokoso,_Wagaya_e
Are there any fics?
Yes, believe it or not. Two, in fact by the same author but they are absolutely amazing and I highly recommend them. They are a sequel to the series and it was a perfect way to have just a litte more time with the characters.
And the Winner Is... by astrangerenters
Introducing Mr & Mrs Aisawa by astrangerenters (sequel)