Johnny's not-rock
SHARK (Seasons 1 and 2)
★ ★ ★ ☆
Overview
Finally got around to watching both seasons of SHARK in a row so I’ll review them together.
Season 1 follows Shark, a band that was close to debuting on a major label when their lead singer and driving force, Kazuki (Fujii Ryusei), is killed in a traffic accident. The drama follows them as they try to rebuild their fan base with a new lead, Mizuki (Hirano Sho). Of course at first they all hate each other and each member gets an episode dedicated to getting them back, in that very cliché drama way.
Season 2, although still titled SHARK, is actually about a new band called Cloud5. Although they already have a major record deal, they are struggling with the realities of the music industry and the necessity to accept the limitations of their abilities as individuals. And for some reason, they steal Shark’s guitarist Kai (Hamada Takahiro)…
Between the two seasons you get a really interesting look into the music industry and the trials and tribulations faced by bands trying to make it big. It seems very relevant to the young Johnny’s that are cast in this drama as they work towards a debut. It’s nice to see some Kanju (at least one…) get the spotlight as well.
Tech Check
I think it’s really interesting that they picked Hirano as the lead, but his garagara voice works with the style of music they play. Which, despite being a drama about a rock band, is not really quite rock. It’s still very Johnny’s. My favorite song is probably BTS’s “Phantom of Rose.” It’s so cute to see Iwahashi Genki trying to be punk.
Bottom Line
Johnny’s WEST is quickly working their way up my list of favorite Johnny’s, and some of my favorite juniors are also in this drama (Hokuto, Gan-chan, Genki, Jinguji), so I’m pretty biased, but it’s really not bad. It’s always fun to see a little bit behind the scenes of the music industry. In any case, if you’re a junior fan, this is a must see.
★ ★ ★ ☆
Overview
Finally got around to watching both seasons of SHARK in a row so I’ll review them together.
Season 1 follows Shark, a band that was close to debuting on a major label when their lead singer and driving force, Kazuki (Fujii Ryusei), is killed in a traffic accident. The drama follows them as they try to rebuild their fan base with a new lead, Mizuki (Hirano Sho). Of course at first they all hate each other and each member gets an episode dedicated to getting them back, in that very cliché drama way.
Season 2, although still titled SHARK, is actually about a new band called Cloud5. Although they already have a major record deal, they are struggling with the realities of the music industry and the necessity to accept the limitations of their abilities as individuals. And for some reason, they steal Shark’s guitarist Kai (Hamada Takahiro)…
Between the two seasons you get a really interesting look into the music industry and the trials and tribulations faced by bands trying to make it big. It seems very relevant to the young Johnny’s that are cast in this drama as they work towards a debut. It’s nice to see some Kanju (at least one…) get the spotlight as well.
Tech Check
I think it’s really interesting that they picked Hirano as the lead, but his garagara voice works with the style of music they play. Which, despite being a drama about a rock band, is not really quite rock. It’s still very Johnny’s. My favorite song is probably BTS’s “Phantom of Rose.” It’s so cute to see Iwahashi Genki trying to be punk.
Bottom Line
Johnny’s WEST is quickly working their way up my list of favorite Johnny’s, and some of my favorite juniors are also in this drama (Hokuto, Gan-chan, Genki, Jinguji), so I’m pretty biased, but it’s really not bad. It’s always fun to see a little bit behind the scenes of the music industry. In any case, if you’re a junior fan, this is a must see.