So Long
You know what makes me almost as happy as seeing JExAKB collaborations? Grown-up-child-actorsxAKB! To promote their latest single "So Long", AKB48 has released 3 one hour dramas for each of it's teams. I have to say, I had quite high expectations for Team K's episode but I ended up being the most impressed by Team A's episode. Mariko and Mayuyu did a great job in my opinion, but the one who stole the show for me was Suga Kenta.
The first episode was team A's drama for So Long, but the feat. Team A really should be crossed out to be just feat. Shinoda Mariko and Watanabe Mayu because I sure as hell didn't notice the other girls who were supposedly in this drama. As a whole though, I didn't really mind. It had a great story, great acting, me getting emotional twice and the magic of time travel which I love. But with any time travelling storyline, there were some plot holes but this for me is as good as any idol drama is going to get.
The biggest surprised of the night for me was seeing Suga Kenta in the mix. I didn't recognised him at first (how could I right? there's not actually that many male actors that look like him) but I just wasn't expecting an AKB drama to have such a prominent male lead. He played such a huge role, and probably had the second most screen time as well, and he was fantastic! This kid can really act. I love his voice as well, I can definitely see him doing seiyuu work in the future if he wanted to and he even sings during the episode! His not your traditional type of ikemen, but as far as acting goes, I hope we see a lot of him from here onwards.
I've always considered Mayuyu as one of the better actresses from the 48 family (from what little I've actually seen) so it was no surprise for me that I enjoyed her performance here as well. I didn't really like her at first, beacause like with JE, I tend to cheer for the underdogs or unappreciated talents who have been left to backdance for eternity, but for me her popularity makes sense.
This scene when she was freaking out when the cassette player wasn't working and later running back to school, really pulled me in and wanted to cheer for her.
And this is as much screentime as the rest of the girls got. 3 second wideshot with no dialogue. Yuuka needs to tame those sideburn of hers. Ricchan and Annin are adorable though <3
Mariko with beautiful long hair in the semi confession scene with Kenta.
I think the reason why I liked this episode the most (despite Team K being my favorite team) is probably because it reminded me of my favorite japanese movie "Crying out love in the center of the world". If you've watched this episode and liked it, I strongly reccomend you to watch Cry out love. It's a little bit darker and has one of those tragic romance storylines but it makes you appreciate life more. At least for me it did.
My lovely Team K. Oh how I wished they wrote a better story for you. The other team's dramas fitted with the theme of 'So Long' better. The plot was so flatlined for me that I didn't even care to pay attention to the acting. It was probably just average anyway. The only bit of highlight for me was that the episode was related to a music university, and Yuko being an aspring pianolist which reminded me of Nodame Cantabile. Which for me is funny because Jurina has always resembled Ueno Juri to me. Which is a complete compliment since one of the reasons why I started this journal was so I could join the Ueno Juri community during the peak of her career. I guess that's why I'm the most drawn to Jurina and really wanted her to do well. She really wants to pursure being an actress, but none of her roles thus far has convinced me she has what it takes to become more than an idol who just happens to get acting roles. I know how hard she works, I just hope it's because she hasn't been given the right role yet.
Kanata Hongo! Bravo to whoever casted the male roles for these dramas. But since I watched these in order, Hongo had big shoes to fill from Kenta's performance the night before and he just fell short for me. He was still adorable though. Didn't really add anything to the story, but then again he didn't have much to work off of, and he didn't quite steal the show but I like seeing him every once in a while to see how his progressing with his acting.
Jurina <3
This is what the majority of Yuko's facial expressions for the whole 45 minute drama looked like so she's only getting one screenshot. Her acting was good though. I can see why she's always getting praised for it, but still a little overrated in my opinion.
Onto Team B now. I wasn't really surprised that this episode got the most fan votes. It was the only one that didn't have a male cast (unreasonable sensitive wotas will be unresonable sensitive) and, wait for it, more than 2 girls got significant screen time!!
Paruru, the girl that got the most viewers votes for being the best actress. Wait, what?
I know, I was shocked too be she was really good here. Her acting was okay in Bakaleya, at least interesting enough for me to become curious with AKB48, her acting in Majisuka was bad, but to be fair so was everyone elses which kind of brings hers up to good. It was very convincing here. She's still bland and ponkotsu-ish but you can tell she's improved (in the span of less than a year since Bakaleya) and she converyed the right emotion in every scene. I think that's the thing with Paruru, she's kind of like Sato Shori in a way. Their not naturally gifted (idol wise), but they follow instructions and absorb things extremely well. After I got into AKB, I've noticed a handful of girls whose more talented, attractive and intelligent than Paruru. But if it weren't for her, none of the other girls in Bakaleya would've got me interested in AKB. So from an once non-fan point of view, I can see how she has the ability to draw in new fans. I don't care about her much anymore, she's not my oshi, but she's how I got into this fandom. In that sense, she makes the perfect center whether I like it or not.
I didn't even know who Kojiharu was in Ikemen Desu Ne. What a change these past couple of months have made.
I can't believe changing the direction of your fringe can make such a big difference. Renacchi looks so pretty lately.
Milky. Overall, all the girls in Team B's drama looked great.
Team B's episode ranks 2nd for me. After watching Sakura kara no Tegami and Erai Sensei, the storyline of students changing their opinion of their teacher because they're suddenly dying has been done before. Repeatedly. But the relationship with Paruru and Minegishi was kind of interesting. Probably the only subplot in all 3 dramas that I wanted to know more about.
The drama was a great idea, and in my opinion a success. I really wish JE did more things like this: like actually promoting their talents (besides Kisumai, who are slowly taking over the world 129449014 releases at a time). But I guess I also decided to review this, if you can call this a review, because it flows nicly onto something else. I'm catching a plane in 10 hours time (not to Japan unfortunately) but overseas for a bit of a holiday and will be attempting to sever all ties with the world wide web while I'm gone. I don't think there's been a day or 3 at the most where I haven't downloaded or watched something idol related. It's a great chance for me to enjoy my other passions in life without any interferrances. I will be missing out on a lot during these 3 weeks, Kabuki DVD, So Long release and I'm really hoping no one annouces their graduation while I'm gone. That'll be quite shattering news to come back to.