ABSOLUTELY SPLENDID!

Seldom do I give a perfect score to a drama or rewatch it, but this was an incredible watch from start to end, and it deserves to be recognized as such. Like a Flowing River by its excellence single-handedly raises the bar of the quality of small-screen productions coming out of China. I highly recommend it.

Every single character from this drama has remained with me, and I felt as though I were part of the story, as though I were from Xiaoleijia. You get to live through that post cultural revolution period in Chinese history, and see, feel the impact of the progressive and socialist reforms implemented, the angst of a people at the end of a terrible era, and their excitement at the dawn of China's current economic revolution. Absolutely fascinating!

There has not been a day since the completion of this drama (about a month ago) that I have not thought about Xiaolejia or one of its characters in some way, shape or form.

Yang Shuo, Wang Kai, Tong Yao, and Dong Zijian delivered extraordinary performances; so did the rest of the cast, and they are commendable for it. The cinematography and directing were of sheer brilliance. Don't even get me started with the writing! Tang Yao penned the script (based on Ah Nai's novel River of Time) impeccably.

I cannot wait for Season 2, which is slated to air in December 2019 (11 long months away). I will rewatch the entire Season 1 then, prior to seeing Season 2.
What a kicker it would be if they can air it even earlier than the previously scheduled date!

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A LITTLE GEM.

Iari: Mienai Kao is a slow mystery thriller, which simultaneously engages and unsettles you. The sublime background music is in perfect symbiosis with the emotionality conveyed, superbly heightening the audience's feeling of uneasiness and angst throughout the drama. The eeriness surrounding the town of Ioki, its ghastly occurrences and dubious characters is palpable through the screen, and never leaves the viewer who is on pins and needles until the last scene, shot open-ended, with a possibility for a continuation of the series.
Overall, one of the best JDramas of 2018, and a definite must-see.

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AN AVANT-GARDISTE DRAMA SERIES.

A "Should-See" drama whether you are a fan of ménage-à-trois or not.

If one comes to Concerto with the notion that the one and only valid type of consummate (passion + intimacy + commitment) love relationship is heterosexual and between 1 man and 1 woman, then you'll judge the storyline quite harshly. Please approach this series with a certain open-mindedness about alternative relationships in order to understand the intricacies of the story, and the dynamics within the love triangle.

The Bad: The emphasis should have been on all three leads being passionately in love from the get-go: both men with Hana, and Hana (equally) with both men. Because this emphasis was missed (in the writing/directing/acting):
- Hana Sakaki's character, up until the last couple of episodes, came across as indecisive and selfish; a gold-digging floozy who wanted to be availed with two men she could be intimate with when she chooses.
- Kosuke Ebisawa seemed like a jealous self-centered has-been celebrity architect who used, abused, and deprived a younger, more capable Kakeru Takakura of his love and talent.
- And Kakeru Takakura, my favourite character, appeared as though he lacked the confidence to stand on his own as a genius architect, and was in an emotionally unhealthy love triangle he could not move away from.

But things are not as simple as they appear...

The Good:
1) Chapeau! Though polygyny (relationships involving 1 male & 2 or more females) is common fare, polyandry (1 female & 2 or more males) is not, and is rather frowned upon or even taboo in many places of the world (at the exception of the Himalayan cultures (fraternal polyandry)). I thought it extremely commendable and avant-gardiste that the writer, the director and a cast of talented actors took a chance on such an off-limits and borderline risqué script 23 years ago. And the delivery? Well done, in my humble opinion!
2) The maturing of the characters: The understanding and acceptance by the 2 concerned men of their situation is remarkable. The character growth of both main and secondary leads is progressive and consistent. The viewer ultimately comes to the understanding and conclusion that there is no other way for the three involved individuals to be happy than by being together.

This is a blood-pressure-raising and thought-provoking drama. The reasons why most commentators below hated it are the reasons why I liked it.

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