My two cents worth on HachiKuro dorama
Before going to blog the rest of the dramas that Fujiki Naohito starred in and I haved watched in the month of March, I want to express my opinion on the just concluded Hachimitsu to Kuroba(Honey and Clover) dorama adaptation. I know that out there in the Internets is a plethora of comments on how this dorama bombed and failed deliver to expectations. I would try as much as I can not to be a copycat and ride the bashing wagon. I would like to make an objective comment first on the logic on why people who saw this drama become disgruntled with how the minds behind the adaptation presented the wonderful material albeit it being a cash cow piece that has been exploited in every way possible.
The writers were not ambititious. Some may argue that they just did not want to go the extra mile. Whatever the case was, they knew that they are going to present something for the 3rd time and are likely anticipating to contend with the prying eyes of a loyal fan base. They also took into consideration the amount of time to exploit/attack the material to draw out their interpretation. The creators were only given 11 45 mins to discuss the lives of 5 youth in the brink of adulthood. And I believe they stuck with that. They made it pretty clear that this drama is not so much a ren-ai dorama as many of us would have liked. This dorama is filed under category of doramas that deal with the joys and pains of being young, 青春 "seishun",if you will, and then the challenging transition into society as responsible persons. Many liked the manga and anime of HachiKuro for it was infused with so many emotions that pulled heartstrings everyway possible. Fans were intoxicated with the very complex yet poignantly bittersweet romantic love relations among the characters of the series. I attest to be also one among many being preoccupied with such notions and hang-ups about the material that expected that the dorama to deliver the same thing. However, the dorama veered away from such a presentation because it was a luxury they cannot accomplish considering the time constraint they had. Compared to the manga or anime, May I say that the 11 45 minute episodes were constricting for the creators to be able to generate the same effect. They therefore decided to not indulge the fans but instead give the story as it is, an anecdote about the growing pains and triumph of five friends and the people they care about. The presentors of this drama wanted to give each character an equal time in the spotlight. Everything was muted down for the sake of equity among the characters. That is to say that ventures into love were treated as only nice surprises along the journey to self discovery. On the other hand, maybe this was a conscious effort on the part of the producers for the anime and manga versions elicited a very emotional response from fans. They wanted to showcase the story in a different manner by letting it stand by itself free from the veneer of the doki-doki feelings. This was the third time already and they figured out that showing something again would be mediocre and insincere. On that regard, I guess the dorama hit that mark quite effectively. It reminds you about the days of being young and carefree. Romantic love was just icing on the cake. What is much more important is the genuine bonds we foster as we go along the same path and eventually as we go on our different ways. Specifically for my case, I just reminds me how boring I was and how I wasted my youth by being so indecisive and self-indulgent. HAHAAHAHA.
I came to the realization that many fans felt frustrated because they did not share the same vision with the minds behind this adaptation. It was like a pointless debate match. The two parties did not clash for they were seeing the issue at hand from very different perspectives. Though all have the same reality at hand, they refuse to concede to the other for they regard what they see as infallible canon. I suggest the other to try to see the drama as the presentors, I guess, would have intended it. This might help you forgive them, a bit for not meeting or exceeding your expectations.
Hachimitsu to Kuroba dorama is not a real big contender among the other doramas in its preferred genre. However, I still insist that it kept its main characteristic that hook me to the franchise in the first place. The image and metaphor of the Sakura blossoms being an evanescent beauty may be still applied to treatment the material got from the dorama even if the object a little bit shifted its attention from evocative 恋 "koi". It instead substituted what most fans wanted with something more profound so that non-fans can relate with the story. I would also like to add that I am not saying that the dorama is excused for not retaining some of the very good plot points and aspects of the original story.
For those new to the franchise, if you want a sampler of what the story is go with the dorama. I really suggest that you start with the dorama first and foremost. It would make you reflective (which is a guilty pleasure of mine) and pique your interest on who these characters are and what they represent. Then if you want more, specially if you want to go take a ride in a very fulfilling emotional roller coaster, go read or watch the anime. The live action movie adaptation can be something you use to reminisce everything. Hehehe.
The writers were not ambititious. Some may argue that they just did not want to go the extra mile. Whatever the case was, they knew that they are going to present something for the 3rd time and are likely anticipating to contend with the prying eyes of a loyal fan base. They also took into consideration the amount of time to exploit/attack the material to draw out their interpretation. The creators were only given 11 45 mins to discuss the lives of 5 youth in the brink of adulthood. And I believe they stuck with that. They made it pretty clear that this drama is not so much a ren-ai dorama as many of us would have liked. This dorama is filed under category of doramas that deal with the joys and pains of being young, 青春 "seishun",if you will, and then the challenging transition into society as responsible persons. Many liked the manga and anime of HachiKuro for it was infused with so many emotions that pulled heartstrings everyway possible. Fans were intoxicated with the very complex yet poignantly bittersweet romantic love relations among the characters of the series. I attest to be also one among many being preoccupied with such notions and hang-ups about the material that expected that the dorama to deliver the same thing. However, the dorama veered away from such a presentation because it was a luxury they cannot accomplish considering the time constraint they had. Compared to the manga or anime, May I say that the 11 45 minute episodes were constricting for the creators to be able to generate the same effect. They therefore decided to not indulge the fans but instead give the story as it is, an anecdote about the growing pains and triumph of five friends and the people they care about. The presentors of this drama wanted to give each character an equal time in the spotlight. Everything was muted down for the sake of equity among the characters. That is to say that ventures into love were treated as only nice surprises along the journey to self discovery. On the other hand, maybe this was a conscious effort on the part of the producers for the anime and manga versions elicited a very emotional response from fans. They wanted to showcase the story in a different manner by letting it stand by itself free from the veneer of the doki-doki feelings. This was the third time already and they figured out that showing something again would be mediocre and insincere. On that regard, I guess the dorama hit that mark quite effectively. It reminds you about the days of being young and carefree. Romantic love was just icing on the cake. What is much more important is the genuine bonds we foster as we go along the same path and eventually as we go on our different ways. Specifically for my case, I just reminds me how boring I was and how I wasted my youth by being so indecisive and self-indulgent. HAHAAHAHA.
I came to the realization that many fans felt frustrated because they did not share the same vision with the minds behind this adaptation. It was like a pointless debate match. The two parties did not clash for they were seeing the issue at hand from very different perspectives. Though all have the same reality at hand, they refuse to concede to the other for they regard what they see as infallible canon. I suggest the other to try to see the drama as the presentors, I guess, would have intended it. This might help you forgive them, a bit for not meeting or exceeding your expectations.
Hachimitsu to Kuroba dorama is not a real big contender among the other doramas in its preferred genre. However, I still insist that it kept its main characteristic that hook me to the franchise in the first place. The image and metaphor of the Sakura blossoms being an evanescent beauty may be still applied to treatment the material got from the dorama even if the object a little bit shifted its attention from evocative 恋 "koi". It instead substituted what most fans wanted with something more profound so that non-fans can relate with the story. I would also like to add that I am not saying that the dorama is excused for not retaining some of the very good plot points and aspects of the original story.
For those new to the franchise, if you want a sampler of what the story is go with the dorama. I really suggest that you start with the dorama first and foremost. It would make you reflective (which is a guilty pleasure of mine) and pique your interest on who these characters are and what they represent. Then if you want more, specially if you want to go take a ride in a very fulfilling emotional roller coaster, go read or watch the anime. The live action movie adaptation can be something you use to reminisce everything. Hehehe.