Soredemo Ikite Yuku - The Best Drama You're Still Not Watching
Five episodes in, and Soredemo Ikite Yuku continues to be the best drama you aren't watching. It is by far one of the best Japanese series I've seen in a while; true human drama at its best.
The drama stars Eita as Hiroki, a 29 year old man, whose still haunted by the murder of his sister. His seven year old sister was killed fifteen years ago - by his good friend. One day Hiroki meets Futaba Toyama, the younger sister of the murderer. Despite everything, the two form a bond form between them.
The drama also deals with the two families, and the way they have/have not dealt with the murder for the last fifteen years.
And it is awesome. . .
The thing I absolutely love about this drama is how awkward and uncomfortable and raw these characters are. They are all trapped in 1996; they have never moved on from the death of that seven year old girl. Both families have lost a child. One was torn apart and the other has become outcasts.
What's so great about this drama is that it shows the two families - how the victim family and the defendants family deal with everything. And, how each member of the families deal with everything.
Hiroki's brother tries so pretend everything is fine and that they just have to live on. Hiroki's mother gives this amazing speech at the end of episode five, where she basically tells her sons and daughter-in-law how angry she's been the last fifteen years. Hiroki's father wants to find the boy again, to confront him about the murder.
Meanwhile,Futaba's dad wants to find his son for two reasons: a) he wants to live with his son again and b) he wants his son to apologies to the little girl's family. Futaba's mother just wants to forget the son exists. And Futaba's little sister - who was born after the murder - seems to be viewing everything at a distance. She'll just go along with her parents.
Then you have Hiroki and Futaba. They are awkward and lonely. Their conversations are full of pauses and ums and uhs. Yet, they smile around each other. They laugh. They have quirky conversations about wanting to bend spoons. She teases him about his possible crush on a woman they've recently met. They seek each other out to do all sorts of things: from visiting Futaba's childhood home to going to get the autopsy report on his little sister to going fishing. If it were any other world and any other time, these two would be mere moments from going on an comfortable date and getting married. But, they don't live in that kind of world. Which makes it all the harder. Especially when you see them seeking each other out; when you see them happy when they are together.
And, Futaba's brother. . .he's changed his name to Kenji. He works at a farm and tells his boss he'll never let anyone love him. He spends time with the granddaughter of his boss - she's about seven or eight. He gets mysterious cuts on his hands. He threatens his co-workers who dare use his real name. He spies on Hiroki. He leaves fruits to mark that he's been to certain locations. Basically, he's creepy; but, there is something else there. It's like he knows much more than he's saying, which makes me think there is more to that murder than we know.
To put it mildly, this show is brilliant. The cast is acting their asses off. The writer knows how to write real human relationships; especially when there are real social issues coming up. (The writer has written amazing shows: Mother, Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu, Watashitachi no Kyokasho, and Itoshi Kimi e. The cinematography is gorgeous; it's one of the prettiest shows ever. And, the music - the theme song has this hopeful feeling to it, that stick with you.
Basically: at the start, the show seemed like it would be all about angst. But, there is hope in it. If anything, it has a bittersweet feeling about it. So, if you aren't watching it - why aren't you watching it. Go download or stream it now. You won't regret it.
The drama stars Eita as Hiroki, a 29 year old man, whose still haunted by the murder of his sister. His seven year old sister was killed fifteen years ago - by his good friend. One day Hiroki meets Futaba Toyama, the younger sister of the murderer. Despite everything, the two form a bond form between them.
The drama also deals with the two families, and the way they have/have not dealt with the murder for the last fifteen years.
And it is awesome. . .
The thing I absolutely love about this drama is how awkward and uncomfortable and raw these characters are. They are all trapped in 1996; they have never moved on from the death of that seven year old girl. Both families have lost a child. One was torn apart and the other has become outcasts.
What's so great about this drama is that it shows the two families - how the victim family and the defendants family deal with everything. And, how each member of the families deal with everything.
Hiroki's brother tries so pretend everything is fine and that they just have to live on. Hiroki's mother gives this amazing speech at the end of episode five, where she basically tells her sons and daughter-in-law how angry she's been the last fifteen years. Hiroki's father wants to find the boy again, to confront him about the murder.
Meanwhile,Futaba's dad wants to find his son for two reasons: a) he wants to live with his son again and b) he wants his son to apologies to the little girl's family. Futaba's mother just wants to forget the son exists. And Futaba's little sister - who was born after the murder - seems to be viewing everything at a distance. She'll just go along with her parents.
Then you have Hiroki and Futaba. They are awkward and lonely. Their conversations are full of pauses and ums and uhs. Yet, they smile around each other. They laugh. They have quirky conversations about wanting to bend spoons. She teases him about his possible crush on a woman they've recently met. They seek each other out to do all sorts of things: from visiting Futaba's childhood home to going to get the autopsy report on his little sister to going fishing. If it were any other world and any other time, these two would be mere moments from going on an comfortable date and getting married. But, they don't live in that kind of world. Which makes it all the harder. Especially when you see them seeking each other out; when you see them happy when they are together.
And, Futaba's brother. . .he's changed his name to Kenji. He works at a farm and tells his boss he'll never let anyone love him. He spends time with the granddaughter of his boss - she's about seven or eight. He gets mysterious cuts on his hands. He threatens his co-workers who dare use his real name. He spies on Hiroki. He leaves fruits to mark that he's been to certain locations. Basically, he's creepy; but, there is something else there. It's like he knows much more than he's saying, which makes me think there is more to that murder than we know.
To put it mildly, this show is brilliant. The cast is acting their asses off. The writer knows how to write real human relationships; especially when there are real social issues coming up. (The writer has written amazing shows: Mother, Taiyou to Umi no Kyoushitsu, Watashitachi no Kyokasho, and Itoshi Kimi e. The cinematography is gorgeous; it's one of the prettiest shows ever. And, the music - the theme song has this hopeful feeling to it, that stick with you.
Basically: at the start, the show seemed like it would be all about angst. But, there is hope in it. If anything, it has a bittersweet feeling about it. So, if you aren't watching it - why aren't you watching it. Go download or stream it now. You won't regret it.