An outstanding drama, that only better as the series progresses.

Before I begin my review, let me briefly summarize the plot. The story revolves around a girl named Nozomi, who was in an accident at the age of 10 and has been in a coma ever since. However, 25 years later, on her 35th birthday, she miraculously regains consciousness—only to realize that she is no longer 10, and the world is neither the same as it used to be nor how she had hoped it would be. She then embarks on a long journey toward adulthood with the help of her family and a childhood friend.

Although the time-travel trope itself is not unique, what truly makes this show stand out is how it handles the theme of "growing up." Unlike other similar dramas, this one isn’t cute or fluffy; instead, it is quite realistic. The main character first starts as a child trapped in the body of a 35-year-old, then progresses through the stages of adolescence—from middle school to high school—and finally transforms into a beautiful woman.

I also loved the portrayal of the family, the individual family members, and their relationships with one another. Unlike the typical families we’re used to seeing in dramas, this family is a bit different—they are imperfect, yet somehow perfect.

Lastly, can we take a moment to appreciate Shibasaki Ko’s incredible acting as Imamura Nozomi? What I admired most was how she nailed even the smallest hidden details, such as the way kids cry or the way they talk and refer to themselves in the third person. Honestly, I can’t imagine anyone else playing this role as well as she did. She was simply phenomenal.

Now, as we all know, nothing in this world is without its flaws. While there aren’t any major drawbacks in this drama, there are certainly a few scenes that could have been handled better. For example, I wasn’t a fan of how the mother’s character died. While her death wasn’t surprising, it did feel a bit abrupt. Additionally, I’m still not sure how I feel about Nozomi's job, Mana’s award, and Tatsuya’s job. Everything happened so quickly that the final 10 minutes felt somewhat unconvincing. It made it seem as if the directors rushed to give everyone a happy ending, which, in my view, wasn’t entirely necessary.

Aside from that, everything else was perfect—from the rest of the cast’s acting to the cinematography and even the OST. The OST of this series was probably the best I’ve ever heard in a J-drama. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting it anytime soon.

Finally, I would recommend this drama to anyone looking for something simple yet gripping, without any unnecessary cringe or exaggeration. Seriously, check it out—you won’t regret it.

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This is one of those dramas that is truly flawless.

Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru (aka Cursed in Love) is a drama based on the manga of the same name. It tells the story of a girl named Nao, who enters Kogetsuan, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop, under a false identity in order to investigate her mother’s death and prove her innocence.

Honestly, I was initially reluctant to give this drama a chance, as I’m generally not a big fan of J-dramas. Plus, I wasn’t sure how the story would unfold or if it would be worth my time. But I finally gave in, and once I started watching, I just couldn’t stop. This drama was so addictive that I watched seven episodes in one sitting, which was a first for me.

What I especially liked about this drama is that it offers a little bit of everything—romance, murder mystery, a strong female lead, interesting side characters, and an evil matron. On some levels, it feels like a typical soap opera, but what makes it truly stand out is the way it was executed. The plot, the cast, their chemistry, and the overall pacing were all just perfect. Plus, if you're into kimonos and Japanese cuisine, you’ll enjoy this show even more. Kudos to the entire cast, crew, and writers of Cursed in Love for creating such an amazing drama.

Finally, this drama is probably one of the BEST Japanese dramas out there, and I can definitely see myself rewatching it in the future. To anyone contemplating whether to watch or not—definitely check it out. I'm sure you won't regret it.

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This is one of those series where every word & every action carries weight

Beyond Evil is a 2021 psychological thriller drama starring Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo in the lead roles. In summary, the story revolves around two fearless detectives in the police force who (somewhat) work together to track down and identify a serial killer from 20 years ago. However, as they dig deeper, new evidence emerges, suggesting that there might be more than one killer and that the killer could be among them. Hence, no one can be trusted, not even themselves.

The show started off a bit slow and slightly boring (for me), but it became my absolute favorite after episode 5. What truly makes this show stand out, compared to other thrillers and psychological dramas, is its uniqueness. It is neither cliché nor lacking in originality. Instead, it is captivating and addictive to the point where viewers are constantly curious about what will happen next and who the ‘actual killer’ is. Throughout the series, I found myself deeply immersed in trying to identify the killer, looking for hidden clues, and focusing on facial expressions. Just when I thought I had figured it out, the show introduced new suspects, leading me in an entirely different direction. So, I guess Beyond Evil really does surprise its viewers with unexpected twists and turns, without relying on recycled plot devices.

Aside from the storyline, another aspect the show excels in is its casting. Whoever decided on the cast deserves a bonus. Both Yeo Jin Goo and Shin Ha Kyun are brilliant actors who clearly knew what they were doing, so there wasn’t a single weak performance throughout the drama. Lastly, the soundtrack, including the background music, is one of the best I’ve heard in a long time. If the creators ever decide to release a CD featuring all the songs, I’ll definitely buy it.

Finally, to those wondering whether to check this show out or not, definitely give it a try. I’m absolutely certain you’ll love it. And if you find the beginning a little slow like I did, make sure to stick around until episode 5.

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More than just a romance drama

Before we get started, let me warn you that this review contains a lot of spoilers regarding the drama and its overall plot. Proceed at your own risk.

As always, let me begin this review with a brief summary of the plot. In short, the drama tells the story of 36-year-old Hidaka Izumi, CEO of a start-up game production company, who vows to transform 23-year-old Wataru Igarashi, an uncultured man, into someone just like ‘Kento-sama’ — a fictional game character and her ideal man.

At first glance, one might assume this is just another romance drama featuring an older woman and a younger man. However, there’s more to it than just that. In some ways, the drama is the complete opposite of what one might expect based on the synopsis. The drama doesn’t solely focus on romance; it also explores themes like ‘Friendship,’ ‘Sense of Belonging,’ and ‘Fandoms.’ Therefore, the romance feels more like a subplot than the main focus, which I personally didn’t mind. Additionally, I really appreciated the fact that there are no villains in this series, which is rare in dramaland (if you ask me).

Another aspect I absolutely loved was the acting, which was both convincing and cringe-free. All the actors did a brilliant job, making the drama much more engaging. The budget for the drama also seemed to be on the higher end, as the cinematography and props used were of really good quality. Lastly, I really empathized with certain aspects of the plot (emphasis on certain), particularly the scenes where Wataru struggles to learn new skills and the moment when Izumi loses interest in something she once truly enjoyed. As a viewer, these moments were understandable.

Now, regarding my dislikes: Although I don’t have any major complaints, I was slightly dissatisfied with one particular aspect of the plot—the leads dating other people despite having feelings for one another. I really felt bad for their significant others, especially in Izumi’s case. Her decision to date her colleague just to keep him by her side felt off. Honestly, I wasn’t a fan of this part.

All in all, this was a good drama with a solid start that, unfortunately, declined slightly in the second half but picked up again in the finale. That said, I would still wholeheartedly recommend this series to anyone looking for a drama with a mature yet realistic romance.

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"If you screw me, I screw you back. Its double payback!"

Honestly, this drama took me by surprise. Despite adding it to my "Currently Watching" list, it still took me about a month to actually give it a chance, and when I did, I was blown away. Before I talk about my rating and what I liked, let me first give you a quick spoiler-free recap of the overall drama. In short, the drama follows the story of a banker named Hanzawa Naoki, who faces numerous obstacles in his quest for justice while working for the largest bank in Japan.

Now, regarding my opinions—at the beginning, I was absolutely certain that I was going to drop this drama even before it hit the halfway mark. But nope, once I started, I just couldn’t stop. Not only is it well-written and well-executed, but it's also a fast-paced, no-nonsense drama, which is rare, if you ask me. What made the drama truly stand out, though, was the battle of wits between both the protagonists and the antagonists, as well as the theme of "friendship." In this sense, our main character is not a lone hero; instead, he has some amazing friends and an even more amazing wife. I know that a lot of viewers had mixed opinions about Ueto Aya’s character, Hanzawa Hani, believing that she was there simply to add a "kawaii" factor, but I personally felt the opposite. There's no doubt that she doesn't really add much to the overall storyline; however, through her character, we get an insight into what it's like being a banker's wife (to a certain extent), and we also get to see a strong female lead who can stand up for herself. Therefore, her character is absolutely necessary to the overall drama. Additionally, another reason behind the drama's success is the great lineup of talented actors, who did a brilliant job portraying their respective characters. Kudos to them.

However, despite all these plus points, part of the reason I rated the drama a 9.5 instead of a 10 is because of the last episode. First, I stand by what the chairman said about Hanzawa crossing the line, which, in my view, was unlike his character, who is generally always calm and restrained no matter what comes his way. Secondly, that ending was unexpected. It was by no means disappointing; rather, it was just surprising. I know I'm being vague, but those who have seen the drama will know exactly what I mean.

All in all, this was a brilliant drama. No wonder it's considered the most-viewed show of the Heisei era. I can definitely see myself revisiting it in the future.

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