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spsn
For Yamapi/AKB48/HSJ fans, this drama is very anticipated, but I'm quite indifferent on this drama. Why?
First, the story. It's about Ihara household whose main income was from running funeral service business. The household had 5 children. First son, Kento, initially was taking the family business, but one fine day he suddenly disappeared. Next, is the 2nd son, Masato, unlike Kento, he hates what his family did because that's the reason he got bullied during his childhood time and now he's a manager of a restaurant chain. 3rd daughter, Haruka, had an accident years ago and become cripple, overcoming her disability, she's helping to run the family business. 4th son, Hayato, was a college student... with lots of unknown issues, apparently (judging from 3rd episode preview). And lastly, the youngest daughter, Momoko, a high school brat who got emo easily, quarelling with her sister about almost everything and having affair with her teacher (hmm, what a busy highschooler...). One fine day, daddy dearest suddenly passed away (heart attack *sob sob*) and family business was on the threat of being closed down aka need a successor. So, as the current eldest in the family, Masato had no choice but to take over the business. Masato then encountered series of the dead bodies from unnatural causes and tried to bring closure to the people who cared for those who had passed. Hmm, from the story, this drama looks like a hybrid of Voice minus the scientific part and Under the Same Roof. Not original, but still OK, quite interesting in terms of what cases they'll come up with. I only feel the lack of logic on the part that a mortician running around with a female cop investigating cases. The cop investigates to close the case/catch the bad guy, the mortician investigates to bring closure to the loved ones. Me: doesn't make sense because it looks awkward when the police interviewing witnesses/suspects, why a mortician is also present? If it's a CSI, like in Voice, it makes a total sense, but not here.
Next, we see who's in this drama. You definitely won't watch this drama for the acting. This is one of those drama where supporting people acts much better than the main cast. But I do like Maeda Atsuko's acting as Haruka in here (never thought I'd like her, blame it on the Hana Kimi remake). Her cripple walk is quite believable and she put on some different expression on Haruka, so I'm OK with it. When we talk about acting, who'd forget Yamapi's crying scene on episode 1? It's so forced that I cringed. I have a quite high tolerance rate when it comes to Yamapi's acting, but for this scene, I just can't take it. I even wished Nino to take over that scene. To be honest, throughout the first episode I've been thinking, if Nino's the one doing the role, it'll be a different drama, but then again, the script plays a part as well, but still, will definitely be better than dear Yamapi. My mindset only change on the 2nd episode because I can see the type cast of Masato for Yamapi (the fail flirty scene is good, I mean... the pout is good).
OK lastly, the OST... why it's Ai Texas? I just don't get it. After you see the heartwarming and touching scene towards the end then all those atmosphere broken down by the flat voice of Yamapi... Me: *quickly mute the TV*. The song by itself is OK, but I don't think it's suitable for an OST. But, think about it again, which one better to be doing the OST, Yamapi or HSJ? Don't have much choices here, so... yeah...
One last note, I think JE tried too hard in pushing its boys into dramaland. I see too many Johnny's everywhere in Winter 2012 season and it's not just 1 boy per drama, it must be 2. For goodness sake, even Strawberry Night can't escape from Johnny's claw, it only has one, but still... So basically they're pushing the kouhais to tag along their senpais. I can imagine the deal is like this, you want to cast A in your drama, you have to take B/C/D, take your pick. Do this occasionally, it's a treat and I totally happy with it, but do it all together in 1 season and most probably more seasons to come, it's overkill!
Back to the drama, so, to close it off, yeah, if you're not Yamapi/AKB48/HSJ fan, I don't think you'll glue yourself to this drama. Even I put it on the low priority on my watch list, but I'll still watch it because I'm curious on what's the reason of Yuki standing at the train platform on episode 1.
