Rikon Shiyou Yo (2023)

Fun and light watch...if you don't take it too seriously

Really, if you start watching this, don't take it seriously or it'll piss you off.
I surprisingly had a nice time watching it. I'm rating it low because from a critical point of view, this wasn't very praise-worthy.

There's a lot of shameless cheating going on in this one. The ml is an idiot (he's literally Denji from Chainsaw Man without the super awesome powers, sad background and intelligence) , the fl is also dumb (but cute), the second ml? Let's just say he's very hot and I understand Yui, I really do. What I do not understand is why she did that to Kyoji. Kyoji , screw Yui, I'll play Pachinko with you any day.

There is absolutely no intimacy or romance between the fl and ml. If you're looking for cute fluffy stuff there is none. nada. nil. zilch. Chemistry? What's that?

So you wonder why I liked it? It was fun to watch. Filled to the brim with dumb humor. Which was honestly hilarious . The acting of the cast played a big part on why I continued to watch it.
I love how the ml wasn't actually a vile guy. He was nice. Just stupid (and horny). The fl respected him for the person that he is even though he wasn't a very good husband.

There were no evil characters either. Just people with their own stories and point of view.

I also loved how supportive the ml and fl were of each other by the end of it. And the support between the ml and 2nd ml was super sweet (My favorite part).

In a way, this drama does hit close to reality. At one point, the Fl trying to convince everyone that she did actually have an affair and that it was very wrong of her, was honestly hilariously sad. The gaslighting going on around her was insane.

And thus, this drama is indeed an average watch. Very infuriating at times. Vey funny at times. It even made me tear up, I won't lie. If you're sensitive about cheating and affairs then this isn't for you.

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Life is too long to love only once

First of all if you're gonna watch this, you need to  know that with Kudo Kankuro as one of the screenwriter this will be a comedy rather than romance. If you're looking for something deep and focuses on romance you might rethink watching this.

This will give you all the cliché but it's charms comes from how the lines are out of the ordinary when they're supposed to be talking serious. They banter about the most hilarious things like what makes an affair an affair. The script openly talks about sensitive matters like it's just talking about the weather. I was laughing every episode.

Politics and show business are the main setting for this drama. The leads are public figures which makes everything messier because of the reputation they both have to keep. It gives you a peek—although of course a bit exaggerated—at what goes behind the scenes of these two worlds.

With all the comedy aside, the character development specially for Taishi is satisfying. Although like reality, when we realize what we've done it's already too late.

Nevertheless, it's a fitting conclusion for me. The concept of give and take was there & how wanting to have everything would always backfire. The moment the leads gave up on something they received good fortune in return.

The plot might not be new or remarkable but the cast definitely delivered like it's a blockbuster movie. Naka Riisa with her different expressions off and on cam. The way she can cry on her right or left eye on cue, crazy, actresses on her level are amazing. Matsuzaka Tori definitely looked the part of a no good man who can't say no to his mother. Surprised to see Nishikido Ryo back in a drama, he played the part of a soothing existence that felt fragile at times. Kamio Fuju had a short part and of course he just had to be there for some intimate scenes. At this point I'm convinced producers read the role "hot young actor good at kissing" and automatically think "Ah that's Kamio Fuju". He's charming as always despite the short appearance.

Personally, I think there's not a single drama that everyone will appreciate or love. Each drama caters to a different audience. If you find it unappealing then it's just because you're not the target audience. Give it a try and see if it's for you.

Kashikomi kashikomi~

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Disappointment: The story has no purpose or point

I was excited because Tori Matsuzaka was starring in it, a versatile actor who have made a point of choosing diverse and compelling scripts. The first couple of episodes I was hoping that there will be some character growth, that the story has a destination in mind but it simply got lost among its thick humour and constant gag reels. The dialogues are weak and except for the decidedly comedic deliveries, none hit me with any significance. Taishi's speeches were tailor made for second hand embarrassment which they could've easily dialed down a little. It felt like it's not just Taishi at a loss for words but also the screen writers.
I had this false expectation that maybe this show is a grounded reflection on marriage, even if not completely sober or mature. I was absolutely wrong. The story just goes on being relentlessly redundant and pointless and finally turns annoying. The ninth episode was completely unnecessary. Except for Matsuzaka's gigantic effort in being a complete airhead with a whiff of sensitivity, there is practically nothing of value in this show. I like Naka Riisa too but her presence is just too loud and the plot doesn't help in establishing the chemistry she could've had (or needed to have) with Matsuzaka at all. The show just never finds a common ground between being a satire, a emotional drama and a plain comedy. It looks down on modern values while simultaneously pushing for them which just doesn't work. Nine hours of my life were just lost.
I wouldn't have minded much if I watched it with my usual sceptical hesitancy but for some reasons I was too hopeful of the show...the trailer looked interesting and the cast seemed promising...but god was I in for a massive disappointment! It's hard to watch someone as talented as Matsuzaka being wasted in a series like this-_-

PS: except for a slightly husky voice, I just couldn't see what it is that people find so charming in Nishikido.

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Creo que mis expectativas eran exageradamente altas...

Es una historia que empieza con fuerza, te engancha sí o sí en el primer capítulo pero luego esta mala relación entre los esposos sin avance alguno más que odio, odio y engaños puede llegar a ser cansina por lo menos hablando de los primeros 4 episodios. Taishi era lo que sigue de descarado y Yui parecía más desesperada por no quedar como estúpida ante la sociedad y demostrar que ella puede ser igual de descarada que él para no quedar como la débil del matrimonio o la chica tonta que da lástima por las acciones de su esposo.

Todo mejora a partir que se toca el tema de las elecciones vs Soda Go, hubo muchos momentos divertidos que vuelven a levantar el drama a la mitad y casi final de la historia aunque también me seguía cuestionando la verdadera aportación de personajes como Kano Kyoji, siento que fue un personaje muy tibio, desdibujado que ninguno de los dos escritores supo bien que hacer con él.

Tiene buenos plot twist, se nota que es una historia que tiene el toque de Kudo Kankuro (escritor) pero así como eran buenos, muchos de ellos son cruelmente realistas, como el hecho que Taishi perdiera las elecciones y eso fuera un efecto dominó para también darle un final al matrimonio que sinceramente, hubiera preferido que la serie terminara en el capítulo 8 y no en el 9, que me pareció totalmente innecesario y muuuuuuuuuuuuy frustrante porque te hacen creer como que pueden darse una oportunidad nuevamente pero al final de cuenta deja al espectador con falsas esperanzas.

Actuaciones buenas en general, aunque Naka Riisa como Kurosawa Yui a veces me parecía que exageraba mucho sus expeciones faciales (como cuando decia 'MI-MA-TA' lo sentía como un odio falso). Matsuzaka Tori como este hombre hecho un lío llamado Shoji Taishi me encantó, muy versátil sacando tanto el lado patán como el lado sensible del personaje. Mención especial a Yamamoto Koji como Soda Go, también me gustó mucho, lástima que su personaje terminó de una forma predecible.

Todavía tengo esta sensación de frustración de ver el episodio final, de veras.

Pero en general, es una serie entretenida, los sentimientos que te cause el final o ciertas situaciones supongo que también depende de lo que cada persona entiende por matrimonio, fidelidad o perdón.

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This series is clichéd to the max .... waste of time for me...

This "Netflix Original" series is not even close to "original anything." It is stuffed full of clichés. To the brim. I watched the first four episodes, and also, the last episode and finally decided not to waste anymore of my time. I will not divulge the ending. Suffice it to say no surprise there. Although I am sure the writers thought it would be a different unique ending, it was not worth it. I know many people will probably like this series - but this is just MY own opinion.

The wife in the series is an actress of some note - and the husband is a rather dim goof who wants to be in politics. So they keep staying together. So tiresome. After the first episode, I was already in doubt, but decided to give it a chance to improve. No. The acting was not very good anyway.

The main characters are getting divorced in order to protect their "out there in the news" lives. You learn this immediately. They are both airheads with very little depth. I didn't see any change or growth in either of them at all - and if it WAS there, it must have been just pale drops of weak tea. So, basically, I quit the series halfway through.

I was hoping for something fresh and new - but I ended up thinking that this is just "romance genre trope". The fabric of the story had old stains all over it - taken from other much better series. Too bad.

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Largely pointless

Is this a political drama dressed as a rom com? A farce about adultery? A romantic drama about pachinko and politics? Maybe I could accept any of those answers but the truth is that this series has no identity or purpose.

I don't know if it went wrong with the casting or with the script first. In the end my problem was that two thirds of the way through the series I still had found not one likable character. Every single character was too self-absorbed and irresponsible to root for or even take interest in. I felt like I was looking at people aimlessly lying, cheating, or bullying their way through life. Was the funny part supposed to be the revelation that people can't keep it in their pants?

Perhaps the show is a great, cynical ode to the lack of self control but as a comedy it leaves me cold. The ending was basically "okay, fine, good for them, why did I watch this?"

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