My Girl ~ マイガール

 

Don't mistake this drama with the other drama, Oh! My Girl (which theme is very similar too). I always thought that this one is the same drama and I happily overlooked this last year. Even when Arashi released the single My Girl, I thought that it's just another typical Arashi song, only to wonder why such a rush in releasing new single after another... until I watched the subbed M-station of My Girl that I found out that it's OST of Aiba's drama. Yeah, by now it should be noted that every time Arashi released a single, you should expect that it's either for CM or their own drama/movie (talk about productivity and cash cow). Now, Aiba is Arashi member with the least drama under his belt, after all, this is his first lead drama, compare to Nino and Matsujun who got tons under their resume. But fear not, his performance here is totally not to be underestimated, even I was surprised with this and wonder he should get more chances on drama instead of being baka-tensai of variety shows which he's too good at it, which means taking more challanges.

Back to My Girl, the drama is about Kazama Masamune-kun who mopped around for 6 years for being dumped (I can't really find the right word for this because things just left hanging between them) by his girlfriend only to find out that he has a daughter (a cute one in deed) after the girlfriend passed away. And the journey of presto fatherhood starts and you'll be definitely rooting on the young father who works so hard to be a father while making ends meet and searching his own path, after all he's only 24 years old.

By now, there're tons of drama about single parenthood in both K-drama and J-drama land. But to me, My Girl holds a different feeling when you watch it. It touches on so many aspects of parenthood, regardless whether you're a single parent or not. In some way, My Girl brings out a far heavier atmosphere than regular commedy drama (I'm talking about Oh! My Lady father & daughter relationship). Masamune and Koharu relationship here is more real and it's not always about cuteness that you'll say 'awwww', they don't affraid to show each other their ugly side and unhappiness because from there, they learn from each other to build what's called a family. And in here, we also see how the support from the people around us helps a lot when it comes to parenthood, especially being a single parent. It also helps that Koharu here is depicted as a child with surprisingly very mature way of thinking for her age. She also has the care and sensitivity towards the people around her at such a young age. And Masamune's character in here is the opposite of Koharu. In the beginning of the drama, Masamune is described to be in denial that he has a daughter and then learns to accept the reality and starts to build up his character from a wuss to a kakkoii dad (oh well, I have to also tag kawaii dad in here too). With this, by the end of every episode, I always feel like I'm a crybaby because I end up either bawling or tearing over the father and daughter.

Now the fun part. Though this drama is quite heavy in emotional part (or it's only me being emo over human drama), this drama also has cute moments though definitely can be counted by finger. BUT, when there's one, it's literally cute and you'll be really 'awwww' and follow by 'kyaaaaa' because you cannot tell which one is cuter, the dad or the daughter. Yes, Aiba is good at being cute, but surprisingly he's also good at crying scene. His crying is not as beautiful as Nino's (watch Yasashii Jikan and you'll know what I mean), but it'll pierce your heart and I cry with him. Another fun fact, other JE boys appearance. We have a Kanjani8 boy is also here as Tomoya sensei (always thought that he looks familiar) and at the final episode, Sho-chan appears as guest. My Girl also starts a new tradition for Arashi. For fans to know whose going to have a drama next, watch the final episode and the Arashi member making appearance will have his drama next season. So, as I said, My Girl has Sho-chan, then Tokujo Kabachi has Ohno, then Kaibutsu-kun has Matsujun, then Natsu Niji has Nino, so it'll be interesting to anticipate who will show up at Freeter's last episode. Many guess it'll be Sho-chan, but we'll see. Isn't it great that we have 1 year round of Arashi drama?

This drama also shows us some lessons to learn and appreciate, at least for me. It makes us appreciate what our parents has done for us year by year without fail and we often take it for granted and without realizing it, expecting it to happen just naturally. All the efforts that our parents have put through to raise us is learnt when we ourselves starts the journey of parenthood and come to appreciate our parents more. Also, in this drama, I can really feel how Masamune and Koharu grieves over Youko-san's passing because it reminds me of how I myself grieves over my mom's passing, so maybe that's why I bawl more on this drama compare to other father-daughter-themed dramas.