Drama Thoughts: Kaibutsu-kun (2010) + Yamada Taro Monogatari (2007)
This is late and probably most definitely half-assed, but I didn't have a lot of thoughts on these two. Once I start a project, however, I feel the need to be thorough with it, so I'm going to feel annoyed with myself if I don't write at least something for everything I watch now. To be fair, if I start slacking here and there, I'll break the habit and not even write about the shows I do have thoughts on, and then I'll be weighed down again with all these unexpressed thoughts in the future. So...here I am. *lame ending is lame lmao*
I happened to finish these two shows on the same day (the 21st, which strangely seems like a lifetime ago already), so this post is another double feature.
Kaibutsu-kun (2010)
My Rating*: 7/10
Country: Japan
Type: Drama
Episodes: 9
Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Hamada Tatsuomi
I probably rated this show a little higher than I should have because I'm pretty biased towards Ohno and he was pretty darn adorable as the fiesty Kaibutsu-kun, especially when wrinkling his face in anger. The show wasn't bad or anything but the plots of each episode were never too thrilling. I did like the odd morals that came out in the end and Kaibutsu-kun shouting "SAIKOU!!" after learning a lesson (albeit by repeating someone else's words, but hey, he started figuring things out on his own by the end!). His friendship with Hiroshi-kun and his three servants was nice and entertaining too.
I did quite like the look of the monsters and demons. I haven't really watched many fantasy dramas before that had other creatures like this, and I thought they did a great job with the costumes and such. Demokin especially looked wicked cool and like an elvin Sephiroth (lol).
Overall, this was just a simple and cute show to pass the time with, but nothing life changing. I'll get around to watching the specials and movie eventually, but I'm a bit discouraged because I can't seem to find the more recent special anywhere. I have softsubs for it from somewhere already, but I can't find any video links (raw or otherwise) that haven't expired. I find it a bit strange when one of Arashi's works is missing like this, considering their popularity, but I can only assume some things just aren't worth subbing maybe.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yamada Taro Monogatari (2007)
My Rating*: 7/10
Country: Japan
Type: Drama
Episodes: 10
Cast: Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho, Tabe Mikako, Oshinari Shugo
I got off to a rough start with this show, but that was largely due to my expectations going into it. I didn't know anything about the plot when I started, so I had developed some ideas from the poster alone. I thought Nino would be playing a bratty but charming rich guy, for one. Partially because of that, I really couldn't buy him as this poor but sweet and optimistic character. He's just so much more suited to play someone a little wicked, haha. Due to this, I found myself wishing that the roles had been reversed for him and Sho-kun. I could more easily see Sho as the optimistic poor guy and Nino as the rich boy looking for some amusement.
I also could not really stand Tabe Mikako's character, Ikegami Takako, for the first few episodes and all her internal outbursts about finding a tame no koshi. I mean, it's 100% relatable, but I couldn't get into it for some reason. I started feeling like her character was completely unnecessary and that it would have been better to focus on the friendship between the two boys.
Anyway, this was just my impression for the first three episodes or so. I may have just not been in the mood for it at the time, because after a month or so I resumed watching it and ended up getting hooked. I finished the remaining episodes in probably a week and enjoyed most of them. Where before I had felt something was off with Nino's Yamada Taro, I came to really enjoy seeing him as this cute precious cinnamon roll, to good for this world, too pure. He was just really adorable and the character's dedication to his family above all else was endearing to watch.
Ikegami Takako grew on me after a while too, especially once she found out the truth about Yamada Taro's background and had that internal conflict to deal with. I especially liked the episode where she and Taro were playing in a college student's historical film. Their interactions were cute and they both looked really good in the older school uniforms. And Taro struggling with his romantic lines until subsitituing her for food was hilarious.
So, it was a very cute and fun show that became easier to watch after those first few episodes. I find myself missing it still. I learned belatedly that the whole thing is based off a manga, but unfortunately no one has translated the whole thing. Otherwise, I would definitely be reading it right now!
Oh yeah, and Ohno Satoshi's cameo in the last episode was awesome. xD
And I know it's just wishful thinking, but it'd be nice to see more Arashi dramas with at least two members playing lead characters like this! ♥
*My ratings are based on a combination of "quality" (story, characters, pacing, originality, etc.) and my own personal enjoyment. Dramas lacking in one area of "quality" may therefore be rated higher simply because I had fun watching them. I also tend to change my scores over time, as some dramas leave a lasting impression while others become completely forgettable. (Note that ratings here on Livejournal may not match those on MyDramaList as I don't come back to change them, so the ratings here reflect my original impressions.) Generally, anything with a score of 7 or higher had some "quality" to it and was enjoyable for me. Scores below that were lacking in too many areas and had little to no enjoyment factor to make up for it. Even so, I try not to rate too harshly unless I have been really disappointed. Otherwise, I think I am a fairly easy-to-please viewer.
I happened to finish these two shows on the same day (the 21st, which strangely seems like a lifetime ago already), so this post is another double feature.
Kaibutsu-kun (2010)
My Rating*: 7/10
Country: Japan
Type: Drama
Episodes: 9
Cast: Ohno Satoshi, Hamada Tatsuomi
I probably rated this show a little higher than I should have because I'm pretty biased towards Ohno and he was pretty darn adorable as the fiesty Kaibutsu-kun, especially when wrinkling his face in anger. The show wasn't bad or anything but the plots of each episode were never too thrilling. I did like the odd morals that came out in the end and Kaibutsu-kun shouting "SAIKOU!!" after learning a lesson (albeit by repeating someone else's words, but hey, he started figuring things out on his own by the end!). His friendship with Hiroshi-kun and his three servants was nice and entertaining too.
I did quite like the look of the monsters and demons. I haven't really watched many fantasy dramas before that had other creatures like this, and I thought they did a great job with the costumes and such. Demokin especially looked wicked cool and like an elvin Sephiroth (lol).
Overall, this was just a simple and cute show to pass the time with, but nothing life changing. I'll get around to watching the specials and movie eventually, but I'm a bit discouraged because I can't seem to find the more recent special anywhere. I have softsubs for it from somewhere already, but I can't find any video links (raw or otherwise) that haven't expired. I find it a bit strange when one of Arashi's works is missing like this, considering their popularity, but I can only assume some things just aren't worth subbing maybe.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Yamada Taro Monogatari (2007)
My Rating*: 7/10
Country: Japan
Type: Drama
Episodes: 10
Cast: Ninomiya Kazunari, Sakurai Sho, Tabe Mikako, Oshinari Shugo
I got off to a rough start with this show, but that was largely due to my expectations going into it. I didn't know anything about the plot when I started, so I had developed some ideas from the poster alone. I thought Nino would be playing a bratty but charming rich guy, for one. Partially because of that, I really couldn't buy him as this poor but sweet and optimistic character. He's just so much more suited to play someone a little wicked, haha. Due to this, I found myself wishing that the roles had been reversed for him and Sho-kun. I could more easily see Sho as the optimistic poor guy and Nino as the rich boy looking for some amusement.
I also could not really stand Tabe Mikako's character, Ikegami Takako, for the first few episodes and all her internal outbursts about finding a tame no koshi. I mean, it's 100% relatable, but I couldn't get into it for some reason. I started feeling like her character was completely unnecessary and that it would have been better to focus on the friendship between the two boys.
Anyway, this was just my impression for the first three episodes or so. I may have just not been in the mood for it at the time, because after a month or so I resumed watching it and ended up getting hooked. I finished the remaining episodes in probably a week and enjoyed most of them. Where before I had felt something was off with Nino's Yamada Taro, I came to really enjoy seeing him as this cute precious cinnamon roll, to good for this world, too pure. He was just really adorable and the character's dedication to his family above all else was endearing to watch.
Ikegami Takako grew on me after a while too, especially once she found out the truth about Yamada Taro's background and had that internal conflict to deal with. I especially liked the episode where she and Taro were playing in a college student's historical film. Their interactions were cute and they both looked really good in the older school uniforms. And Taro struggling with his romantic lines until subsitituing her for food was hilarious.
So, it was a very cute and fun show that became easier to watch after those first few episodes. I find myself missing it still. I learned belatedly that the whole thing is based off a manga, but unfortunately no one has translated the whole thing. Otherwise, I would definitely be reading it right now!
Oh yeah, and Ohno Satoshi's cameo in the last episode was awesome. xD
And I know it's just wishful thinking, but it'd be nice to see more Arashi dramas with at least two members playing lead characters like this! ♥
*My ratings are based on a combination of "quality" (story, characters, pacing, originality, etc.) and my own personal enjoyment. Dramas lacking in one area of "quality" may therefore be rated higher simply because I had fun watching them. I also tend to change my scores over time, as some dramas leave a lasting impression while others become completely forgettable. (Note that ratings here on Livejournal may not match those on MyDramaList as I don't come back to change them, so the ratings here reflect my original impressions.) Generally, anything with a score of 7 or higher had some "quality" to it and was enjoyable for me. Scores below that were lacking in too many areas and had little to no enjoyment factor to make up for it. Even so, I try not to rate too harshly unless I have been really disappointed. Otherwise, I think I am a fairly easy-to-please viewer.