Drama Season: Winter 2024
Help. This season is completely uninspiring AND the usual site that makes a list of all the seasonal dramas (so, my main source for these posts) has closed down.
Listed a few titles but ugh, this time was hard tbh.
Living no Matsunaga-san
Preview
Start: January 9th 2024
Station: Fuji TV
Screenwriter: Tanabe Shigenori (Oh! My Boss! Koi wa Bessatsu de, Konin Todoke ni Han wo Oshita dake desu ga, Ore no Kawaii wa Mousugu Shohikigen!?)
Cast: Nakajima Kento, Takahashi Hikaru, Mukai Koji, Fujiwara Taiyu, Fujiwara Taiyu
Synopsis: Due to family circumstances, high school student Miko Sonoda is forced to live at her uncle's boarding house. However, before she can arrive there, Miko is already met with a bad omen: while trying to find the place, she suspects that someone is following her! When her uncle comes to her rescue, the assumed stalker happens to be one of his tenants, leaving Miko embarrassed on her first day.
Miko learns that she will be living with five unique adults, including the accused man. Additionally, it turns out that he is Jun Matsunaga, a 29-year-old designer who seems to lose his temper easily. Having made such a humiliating first impression, Miko believes that only a miserable life awaits her. But in the presence of Jun, she comes to realize that living with adults is not so difficult after all-and there may even be enough room for romance.
(Source: MyAnimeList)
I'm honestly tired of seeing love stories between high schoolers and adults, but the manga is very popular so I suppose (hope) the story is good.
Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kuretakara
Preview
Start: January 8th, 2024
Station: Fuji TV
Screenwriter: Uyama Keisuke (Switch Girl!!, Nobunaga Concerto, Zettai Reido Season 3)
Cast: Nagano Mei, Yamada Yuki, Saitoh Takumi, Matsumoto Wakana, Shirasu Jin, Degushi Natsuki
Synopsis: When Aihara Ame was a high school student in Nagasaki, she wasn’t confident in herself due to her past. Asano Taiyo was a student attending the same school as Aihara Ame. He was the only person who talked to her brightly. With him, she was able to see her life positively for the first time in her life. She had feelings for him. After her graduation, she went to Tokyo to fulfill her dream of becoming a patissier without telling Asano Taiyo about her feelings for him.
After 8 years, she returns to Nagasaki. One day, she meets Asano Taiyo, whom she has never forgotten, and is elated to see him again. An accident soon occurs, and Aihara Ame falls into deep despair. A man appears in front of her and introduces himself as a guide from the afterlife. He tells her that if she gives her heart to him, he will make a miracle for her.
Meanwhile, Asano Taiyo is a bright person. His family has operated a fireworks shop for generations in Nagasaki. His dream is to become a fireworks expert and succeed his father in their family business. Even though he is a bright and honest person, he didn't tell Aihara Ame about his feelings for her when they were together. He meets Aihara Ame, whom he has never forgotten, again for the first time in 8 years.
(Source: AsianWiki)
This could either make me cry or bore me to death, but I read the 1st episode got positive reactions so I'm hoping I'll be able to enjoy it!
Kesenai "Watashi": Fukushu no Rensa
Preview
Start: January 6th, 2024
Station: NTV
Screenwriter: Shinobu Kuroda (manga), Natsume Karasuma
Cast: Shida Sara, Hongo Kanata, Yoshimoto Miyu, Katayama Yuki, Kohinata Yuka, Yoshimura Sojiro
Synopsis: An entertaining revenge drama follows Haibara Shoko, an ordinary high school girl who vows revenge after all of her family and friends are taken from her. Shoko, an ordinary high school girl, became an internet celebrity after she appeared in beauty streamer Tokumichi Hitoshi's video. However, her classmates, who are jealous of her success, lure her into a trap and film her being assaulted. As a result, the video goes viral and is spread across the internet - making her a target of hate.
To make matters worse, after her home address is revealed and her house is set on fire, she loses her parents as a result. And yet still, the digital tattoo remains on the internet. Suffering emotional scars, she ended up being taken in by her grandmother, where she lived a rough life. 10 years on, just as Shoko is deciding to end her life, she happens to see her former happy classmates on TV. At that moment, she vows instead to take revenge on them, and Tokumichi, regretful that he could not help in the past, lends her his support as her partner in revenge.
(Source: Drama-Otaku)
Okay this deals with some pretty heavy stuff (in a decent way, hopefully) and sounds like an okay revenge drama. I don't think I'm in the mood to watch it immediately, but it could be something I'll enjoy binge-watching once it's completed.
Koisuru Keigo 24 Ji
Preview
Start: January 13, 2024
Station: TV Asahi
Screenwriter: Kaneko Arisa (Stand Up!!, Arigatou, Okan, Helter Skelter, Watashi Kekkon Dekinainjanakute, Shinain Desu, Chugakusei Nikki, Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo, Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte, Tang, Mitaraike, Enjou Suru)
Cast: Iwamoto Hikaru, Shiraishi Mai, Fujiwara Joichiro, Yoshitani Ayako, Konno Hiroki, Ono Takehiko, Matsushita Yuki, Mizobata Junpei, Oriyama Nao
Synopsis: Kitazawa Tatsunosuke works as an elite bodyguard for a small bodyguard protection company. He is the ace of the company, with excellent athletic abilities, and is always able to see two or three steps ahead of a situation. When he takes action, he usually manages to stay calm and collected with his judgment. His father, who was a police officer, was stabbed to death.
Tatsunosuke, who is currently trying to pursue the killer, receives a request from the law firm to protect a new client. The client happens to be Kishimura Rika, a lawyer who is potentially being targeted due to a grudge against her in regard to a case she was in charge of. Because of this, she has to be under strict security 24 hours a day. Tatsunosuke, who is serious and stoic in nature, is largely inflexible and, naturally, not a good match for Rika, who hates being restricted. However, as they start to live together, their feelings toward each other begin to change.
(Source: Drama-Otaku)
Honestly, I was going to put this one on the list mostly because it sounded a light thing to watch, even if a little cringey maybe. But then I saw who the scriptwriter was and my hopes actually got up a little because she wrote many dramas I truly enjoyed and many others I'm interested in watching sooner or later.
And that's it. I MIGHT try Mars if I read good things about it, but I'm not really interested actually.
Listed a few titles but ugh, this time was hard tbh.
Living no Matsunaga-san
Preview
Start: January 9th 2024
Station: Fuji TV
Screenwriter: Tanabe Shigenori (Oh! My Boss! Koi wa Bessatsu de, Konin Todoke ni Han wo Oshita dake desu ga, Ore no Kawaii wa Mousugu Shohikigen!?)
Cast: Nakajima Kento, Takahashi Hikaru, Mukai Koji, Fujiwara Taiyu, Fujiwara Taiyu
Synopsis: Due to family circumstances, high school student Miko Sonoda is forced to live at her uncle's boarding house. However, before she can arrive there, Miko is already met with a bad omen: while trying to find the place, she suspects that someone is following her! When her uncle comes to her rescue, the assumed stalker happens to be one of his tenants, leaving Miko embarrassed on her first day.
Miko learns that she will be living with five unique adults, including the accused man. Additionally, it turns out that he is Jun Matsunaga, a 29-year-old designer who seems to lose his temper easily. Having made such a humiliating first impression, Miko believes that only a miserable life awaits her. But in the presence of Jun, she comes to realize that living with adults is not so difficult after all-and there may even be enough room for romance.
(Source: MyAnimeList)
I'm honestly tired of seeing love stories between high schoolers and adults, but the manga is very popular so I suppose (hope) the story is good.
Kimi ga Kokoro wo Kuretakara
Preview
Start: January 8th, 2024
Station: Fuji TV
Screenwriter: Uyama Keisuke (Switch Girl!!, Nobunaga Concerto, Zettai Reido Season 3)
Cast: Nagano Mei, Yamada Yuki, Saitoh Takumi, Matsumoto Wakana, Shirasu Jin, Degushi Natsuki
Synopsis: When Aihara Ame was a high school student in Nagasaki, she wasn’t confident in herself due to her past. Asano Taiyo was a student attending the same school as Aihara Ame. He was the only person who talked to her brightly. With him, she was able to see her life positively for the first time in her life. She had feelings for him. After her graduation, she went to Tokyo to fulfill her dream of becoming a patissier without telling Asano Taiyo about her feelings for him.
After 8 years, she returns to Nagasaki. One day, she meets Asano Taiyo, whom she has never forgotten, and is elated to see him again. An accident soon occurs, and Aihara Ame falls into deep despair. A man appears in front of her and introduces himself as a guide from the afterlife. He tells her that if she gives her heart to him, he will make a miracle for her.
Meanwhile, Asano Taiyo is a bright person. His family has operated a fireworks shop for generations in Nagasaki. His dream is to become a fireworks expert and succeed his father in their family business. Even though he is a bright and honest person, he didn't tell Aihara Ame about his feelings for her when they were together. He meets Aihara Ame, whom he has never forgotten, again for the first time in 8 years.
(Source: AsianWiki)
This could either make me cry or bore me to death, but I read the 1st episode got positive reactions so I'm hoping I'll be able to enjoy it!
Kesenai "Watashi": Fukushu no Rensa
Preview
Start: January 6th, 2024
Station: NTV
Screenwriter: Shinobu Kuroda (manga), Natsume Karasuma
Cast: Shida Sara, Hongo Kanata, Yoshimoto Miyu, Katayama Yuki, Kohinata Yuka, Yoshimura Sojiro
Synopsis: An entertaining revenge drama follows Haibara Shoko, an ordinary high school girl who vows revenge after all of her family and friends are taken from her. Shoko, an ordinary high school girl, became an internet celebrity after she appeared in beauty streamer Tokumichi Hitoshi's video. However, her classmates, who are jealous of her success, lure her into a trap and film her being assaulted. As a result, the video goes viral and is spread across the internet - making her a target of hate.
To make matters worse, after her home address is revealed and her house is set on fire, she loses her parents as a result. And yet still, the digital tattoo remains on the internet. Suffering emotional scars, she ended up being taken in by her grandmother, where she lived a rough life. 10 years on, just as Shoko is deciding to end her life, she happens to see her former happy classmates on TV. At that moment, she vows instead to take revenge on them, and Tokumichi, regretful that he could not help in the past, lends her his support as her partner in revenge.
(Source: Drama-Otaku)
Okay this deals with some pretty heavy stuff (in a decent way, hopefully) and sounds like an okay revenge drama. I don't think I'm in the mood to watch it immediately, but it could be something I'll enjoy binge-watching once it's completed.
Koisuru Keigo 24 Ji
Preview
Start: January 13, 2024
Station: TV Asahi
Screenwriter: Kaneko Arisa (Stand Up!!, Arigatou, Okan, Helter Skelter, Watashi Kekkon Dekinainjanakute, Shinain Desu, Chugakusei Nikki, Koi wa Tsuzuku yo Doko Made mo, Kikazaru Koi ni wa Riyuu ga Atte, Tang, Mitaraike, Enjou Suru)
Cast: Iwamoto Hikaru, Shiraishi Mai, Fujiwara Joichiro, Yoshitani Ayako, Konno Hiroki, Ono Takehiko, Matsushita Yuki, Mizobata Junpei, Oriyama Nao
Synopsis: Kitazawa Tatsunosuke works as an elite bodyguard for a small bodyguard protection company. He is the ace of the company, with excellent athletic abilities, and is always able to see two or three steps ahead of a situation. When he takes action, he usually manages to stay calm and collected with his judgment. His father, who was a police officer, was stabbed to death.
Tatsunosuke, who is currently trying to pursue the killer, receives a request from the law firm to protect a new client. The client happens to be Kishimura Rika, a lawyer who is potentially being targeted due to a grudge against her in regard to a case she was in charge of. Because of this, she has to be under strict security 24 hours a day. Tatsunosuke, who is serious and stoic in nature, is largely inflexible and, naturally, not a good match for Rika, who hates being restricted. However, as they start to live together, their feelings toward each other begin to change.
(Source: Drama-Otaku)
Honestly, I was going to put this one on the list mostly because it sounded a light thing to watch, even if a little cringey maybe. But then I saw who the scriptwriter was and my hopes actually got up a little because she wrote many dramas I truly enjoyed and many others I'm interested in watching sooner or later.
And that's it. I MIGHT try Mars if I read good things about it, but I'm not really interested actually.