Garota Sonhadora de Tóquio (2017)

Tokyo Tarareba Musume was the most entertaining drama I've watched in the last few months. I really enjoyed watching this drama. It was bright, funny, lighthearted, relatable and had a good ending (for the most part!). I could see myself and my two best friends in Rinko, Kaori and Koyuki. I believe that everyone makes goals for themselves in the back of their mind, especially for relationships. You may find yourself saying "this year for sure I'll meet someone nice and get a boyfriend!" but 3 years pass without any hope for the next one. It's during those times you rely on your friends to not only boost your mood but remind you that as long as you have them around, you'll be okay no matter what happens.

This drama shows us the power of friendship even when things get rough. At times, watching the characters got frustrating but this reminded me that each of us are different, and we come to different decisions based on our own experiences. I would never defend some of the questionable things the characters did, but hey that's drama for you. I couldn't stop watching to see what would happen next. Also, I love the fact that each of the main girls had careers they were proud to be in. Japan has seen an increase in young women working instead of quickly getting married and staying at home, so this is a positive example of such.

The cinematography is modern and fitting for the times (they mention the 2020 Olympics so it felt 'in the now' haha). The characters are usually in the Harajuku/Omotensando area for those who have been to Tokyo and love to see characters in places they have visited. The acting is good too, Rinko's character is the main protagonist and I liked how driven she was. Can't especially say the same for almost all male characters though. The chemistry between the 3 friends was A+. The music is also fun; the theme song is "Tokyo Girl" by Perfume. The CG effects are also pretty funny!

Finally, the title of the show is a fun play on words. 'Tara' and 'reba' are the grammatical endings used for conditional statements in Japanese, basically "what if". So, if you are looking for an enjoyable drama, don't ask 'what if', and just go for it! :)

Leia Mais

I generally avoid romcoms of the J-drama variety because they so often follow the same formula. That being said, I wanted to give it a chance because there *are* romcoms out there in existence that can strike the perfect balance of light and feel-good yet clever and critical (a la 'Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu', or hell, even 'Otona Joshi' which follows a similar concept).

Unfortunately, after giving Tokyo Tarareba Musume a go, I can't bring myself to be generous. The point that it's making is there, and the conclusion they came to had a good message. I get what they're going for, but the execution was off. It was a little bit *too* on-the-nose when it came to the main characters and justifying their poor life choices. There's a fine line between writing flawed, complex heroines and writing characters who keep making the same exact mistake until the very end where they would finally "fix" things after having the same realisation for the fifth time.

The men in their lives (aside from Hayasaka) were all selfish and straight-up awful, including KEY. He redeemed himself a little bit in the last few episodes but I didn't find that his reason (a traumatic past, of course) was enough to justify being such a colossal dick for most of the series. The progress of his relationship with Rinko and their interactions felt inorganic and I know they live in the same neighbourhood or something, but there is no way they would bump into each other by coincidence *that* often. Most of all, the insights that they make and the social commentary was shallow, which wouldn't bother me if it weren't for the fact that the point of this drama was to "tackle" the issues haunting women around thirty.

Look, the end result was clear in what the writer's intentions were - the women did grow as did their outlooks, but the process in getting there was neither complex nor nuanced. The drama, with its premise and characters and situations, could've been good with better writing but unfortunately it missed the mark and landed smack into the realm of Infuriating Formulaic Romcom.

I also haaaate the bubblegum electropop soundtrack by Perfume. It cheapened the show imo.

Leia Mais

I don't know that I like this drama. I like the main characters and relate to their struggles with finding love and purpose and meaning in their lives. I like their friendship with each other and how loyal they are to one another and always there to lend a shoulder or an ear. And I inherently love stories that explore what it means to love and be in a relationship and all that juicy romantic stuff. It's just the story built around these characters and their friendship and their pursuit of love that could have been fleshed out better.

Rinko's story has the most substance to it and the most development. She's a rather immature character who spends most of the drama seeking the most shallow idea of love possible. Throughout the story, you find yourself feeling more and more frustrated with her childish, immature way of thinking and how many times she makes a decision only to change her mind at the last minute, because the truth is, she really doesn't know what she wants or what she's doing. But she does have a genuine story arch and experiences some real character growth, and by the end of the drama, you can tell that she's finally, genuinely trying to get it right. She really wants it this time, and she's doing everything the right way...and yet she still gets it wrong. Ooof, did I feel for her in that moment.

The other female leads stories were not nearly as engaging.

We have Kaori whose story arch starts off strong. She runs into her ex after having not seen him for years and swiftly finds herself engaging in an affair with him despite her better judgement. I will never approve of affairs as a matter of principle, but the storyline Makes Sense. There's history there, unresolved feelings, the question of what-if, and you can understand how Kaori would find herself in such a situation, even if you don't agree with her choices. But the storyline starts to fizzle out toward the end, and by the time the situation is resolved (and it's resolved in a mostly satisfactory way), you've kind of lost interest.

Then's there Koyuki. I feel like the writers got to Koyuki and were like 'Uhhh, we don't know what to do with this character, sooooooooo let's make her have an affair too!' Not only is her relationship with 'random guy' probably the most BORing relationship ever, but it feels so incredibly out of character for Koyuki to engage in an affair in the first place. She's the most headstrong, conscientious one of the three leads, and I was hoping for something more meaty and interesting for her character. Like maybe she meets a man who is disabled, and the people around her are all telling her not to be with him because of how difficult the relationship would be, but she defies them all and loves him anyway. Or maybe she decides to eschew love and marriage altogether and live out the rest of her life a single lady, because she's happy with things just the way they are. Either way, both of these options would have been better than what we ended up with. I honestly feel bad for her character, because she really does get the short end of the stick in terms of storyline.

But what really frustrates me with this drama is that none of the leads, with the exception of the main lead towards the end, take any real responsibility for their part in the situations they find themselves in. It takes two to tango (or to have an affair in the case of this drama), but neither of the girls involved in the affairs really take much accountability for their actions, and that's just about the most annoying thing ever.

You're probably wondering at this point in the review why I kept watching this drama if I found the female leads separate storylines so frustrating. Well, first and foremost, their friendship with each other is one of the best parts of the drama, and one of the things that kept me coming back. As annoying as it is to watch them make such silly decisions on repeat, it's equally delightful watching them together, chatting over food and drinks about the daily goings on of their lives. They're such a tight-knit group, so loyal to each other, and they just look like a lot of fun to be around.

I also really liked Rinko's two biggest potential romantic interests, KEY and Tetsuro. I was sad for Tetsuro at the end, because he came so close to getting the girl (and honestly is every bit deserving of her as any other guy, and might even be more suited to her, if we're being honest), but he ultimately found himself in second male lead land through no fault of his own, and I hope he's able to find his own happiness in the sequel drama coming out later this year.

As for KEY, a lot of people think he's mean or abusive or what-have you, but I have to disagree. Yeah, he could be kind of a jerk at times, poking his nose into the leads business and offering his unwanted opinions and being rather judgmental of them (although I can't totally fault him for that one considering how consistent these girls are in making stupid choices and then whining about it later), but he's certainly not this awful, abusive monster that a lot of people have made him out to be. His bark is definitely worse than his bite, and I personally was not opposed to him ending up with our female lead at the end.

My only complaint with KEY is that his tragic backstory...is that he married his high school teacher because she was dying to fulfill her last wish????? I'm not surprised to see this in a Japanese drama, because it's the sort of thing I would expect at this point in my drama viewing history, but I will never stop finding these sorts of plot lines ridiculous. I don't know much about marriage laws in Japan, and it may very well be legal for a teacher to marry their student, but I certainly don't find that particularly...copasetic. I also just find it pretty stupid, because how does marrying your student whom you are not in love with fulfill your dying wish of falling in love and getting married? Um, it doesn't. But it's a fortunately small part of the drama and was no more than an innocent friendship rather than romantic relationship, so I can overlook it.

Now, if you've read all of that above ^ and are thinking 'this girl didn't like this drama and probably won't watch the sequel'........I will most DEFinitely be watching the sequel, because as frustrating as this drama was, I also strangely enjoyed it. I know. I started this review saying I don't think I like this drama and then I ended the review saying I enjoyed it. I guess I'm as illogical and all over the place as the Tokyo Tarareba Girls, lol. But it's true. I've given this drama an 8 overall, because in spite of it's flaws and the frustration with characters decisions and there not being enough character and story development for two of the leads, I'm invested in these girls and want to see where they end up.

That and I had planned a trip to Japan this year during the Olympics myself that all fell apart (before the Covid stuff ever happened), and I guess I want to live vicariously through these characters a little bit.

So sue me, lol.

Leia Mais

The drama is watchable. The acting is decent and the setting is pretty good. Basically, good production quality. Despite this, all 3 main girl characters are very stupid. They keep doing stupid things, even if they know it is stupid. For instance, Kaori leaving the matchmaking event after a text from Ryo was really infuriating. Even at the end, their mindsets are still the same, which is that they "want to find happiness" by getting married. They never think of changing themselves, by and from themselves. The 3 girls rely on other people's actions too much, kind of like going with the flow and being passive. Even though Rinko made the big step of confessing to Hayasaka, it was only a one time thing that she did after KEY criticized her for being passive. Honestly, I keep thinking that it is no wonder that these girls cannot get married. More about Rinko, the personal dialogs with the Tara and Reba were actually pretty good, it is just she doesn't do them (or like I said before, apply it once and then forget about it for the rest of the series).

The characters of the drama suck because the writing sucks.  One thing that everyone can agree with is that the girls, especially Rinko, meets KEY "coincidentally" too often. This coincidental meetings are basically the plot turning point of the drama. A rule with any kind of writing is that if you want your main character to encounter a coincidence, it must be an unfortunate coincidence (ex. an unexpected rival, something does not go as planned) and not a fortunate coincidence (ex. accidentally meeting someone who helps you solve your problems without charge or anything).  Rinko's short term boyfriend was also too coincidental and from the start it was obvious that he was just a subplot thing.

One thing I liked about this drama is Rinko realizing and saying to KEY that the girl nights are great and that she enjoys them, when KEY criticized them having girl nights too often. Girl nights do not prevent them from getting married or being happy, it is the character's personality themselves. That point in episode 3 or 4 was when I thought that Rinko would start to change, but unfortunately, she remained stupid. I still think that they drink beer too much despite Rinko being almost broke. To conclude, this drama is very watchable. You may even enjoy it. For me, I enjoyed it but was pissed of at the end. The aftertaste of this drama was not that good as well. Why is it watchable is basically because the production quality is good, and it has all the makings of a successful drama. Too bad the writing sucks.

Leia Mais

Honestly, the main reason I’ve watched this drama was because of Kentaro Sakaguchi. I’ve been his fan ever since I saw him on Heroine Disqualified and Ore Monogatari. Not only he is pleasing to the eyes but he could really act. And also, I love the way he stares! :) The second reason was I’m already familiar with the two main actresses and their acting so I’ve decided to give it a try.

The story was not really new but you will not get bored with it because it’s not dragging. Every episode has surprises along the way and somehow it was not that predictable. The actors & actresses played the characters well, all of them have chemistry. The stares, the dialogues and the actions all add up to the building chemistry between them that at the end, it leaves you wanting more. Especially Yuriko & Kentaro’s scenes! ^_-

For the music, it was okay and well matched for every scene. For the ending song, I like the first part where it’s the instrumental that was only playing. It was well matched for scenes at the end part of every episode.

Overall, it was a nice and cute drama. Definitely gonna watch this again (because of the great chemistry between Yuriko & Kentaro)! A drama worth watching! :)

Leia Mais

Manga version is better

I knew this drama is based on a manga. I watched the drama before read the manga. At first I think this drama was great despite the ending was so frustrating a bit.
Since I saw a review saying that manga is much more better, yessss, I think manga version is way....much better. The manga storyline was much more clear why Key likes Rinko at first bump, and Key's character was more better,while Key in the drama was suffocating me, why the hell he restrained his feeling towards Rinko?
I know it's because Rinko kept changing partner to find her true soulmate because she didn't think Key likes her, but why manga can have better ending than the drama? whyyyyy
The other two Rinko's best friends, their stories were much more like the manga, but why not Rinko's?
I like Kentaro Sakaguchi playing Key, I like him, but I like it more if his character and story just like the manga.
Please remaaaake the dramaaa!

Leia Mais

Все началось очень даже мило, история трех подруг, рассказанная ими, через них и с помощью мультяшных вкусняшек (я так и не определила, что же это было белое такое) сначала казалась забавной и веселой. Но потом мой менталитет резко сказал ""да ну н*&*(й" всем этим метаниям по поводу главное, чтобы был мужик рядом, и резко выключил дораму. Потом я правда отвлеклась на более приятные вещи, подостыла и все ж решила досмотреть. Дала себе установку - смотри между строк и к чести создателям, они все ж сумели между строк втиснуть идею, главное - любовь. Именно без нее плохо и грустно и жизнь кажется уже кончилась, а с ней - все нам по плечу. Вот такой вот финт.
С другой стороны, я начала смотреть это сериал из-за любимой актрисы Ёситака Юрико, да и подруги ей достались тоже отличные.Поэтому в целом и в частности - осталась сим продуктом довольна.

Leia Mais

Frustrating show that promised more than it could deliver.

The synopsis for this show seemed fairly generic when I first read it. But I have been enjoying female perspective/lead TV shows lately and wanted to give this one a go. Unfortunately, this one becomes a little bit of a slog and by the end of the 6th or 7th episode I wasn't very motivated to finish it.

The three main characters in this show can be so frustrating with their decision making and their reasoning for making said decisions. I know love and feelings are very complex and it can hard, sometimes, to discern any logical thread that holds these decisions together. But the main character specifically seems to constantly go out of her way to create misery for herself and, most frustratingly, make decisions that are completed opposed to her goals that she constantly re-affirms with her friends (imaginary and real).

I know it's a common trope that I should expect to see often in J Dramas, but the MC dropping the caring, respectful, and kind love interest (who wants all the things she claims to want: A family, home etc) for the blond haired young guy who treats her like shit the entire show (because she reminds him of the school teacher he married as a favour because she was dying).

The left it open for a Season 2, but I am so glad they didn't make it.

Painfully average.

Leia Mais

I wanted to drop this dorama several times. But I persisted. Besides the cast, the other reason was because I like "Kuragehime" which is a manga written by the same author from this drama. Alas, this one is sooo frustrating.

I realize that many rom-com dramas have kinda the same plot, which is: marriage. Dramas that I loved, like Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu (Married as a Job) or Kazoku no Katachi, or the classic Kekkon Dekinai Otoko. But this one was so exhausting! The girls think and talk about men only, and they have the worst taste in them. Not only one of them, Kaori (Eikura Nana) is the Other Woman of her ex-boyfriend (who proclaims he loves both of them) but also Koyuki (Oshima Yuko) is the mistress of a married man. I thought Koyuki would have been the most sensible one in the trio, but this tells you that you can judge by the cover.

The most bearable one of the trio was Rinko, played by Yoshitaka Yuriko. At least she has different boyfriends to find out what she really wants. But the final episode made me hate her, grrrr. What a stupid girl, but I guess this kind of decision is expected in a tv show. Good, goofy guys never win in cinema/tv :((

I liked Sakaguchi Kento (KEY-san or Kinpatsu), but unfortunately, in this drama, his character was insufferable. Why did he have to be so meddlesome? Why did he have to be patronizing the girls, who just wanted to have fun? Why was he always judging the girls? He was also a "what-if" guy, and I didn't care about his past and his wife, he was the worst and I hated him. And his stupid hair.

I can't believe that with such a colorful cast, the drama was so mediocre. The girls were likable as friends (as women, they were the worst, and the most childish. Make up your mind, girls! And stop acting so immaturely!). There was a good chemistry between them. I liked Oshima Yuko, first time I see her acting. Eikura Nana was ok, I guess, always dull, poor girl. She is so pretty though, and after reading she was pregnant in real life, I couldn't help noticing her bump (and in the final episodes, she has the habit to touch her belly). Yoshitaka... i never liked her, to be honest. As an actress, she is ok, but in real life she is insufferable, thinking she is sooo open-minded and fun. BLEH.

The guys, though... Why in the world Suzuki Ryohei and Sakaguchi Kento were in this messy drama! Although it was cute to see them reunited, after "Ore Monogatari" (My Love Story!)... but that's another story... How in the world Tanaka Kei agreed to played the role of a married man who has an affair!

The final episode... omg, so bad. Awful. Kaori didn't learn her lesson, and Rinko makes the stupidest decision ever. I think the first part was a bit good, since any 30-year-old single woman can relate to the girls (being invited to weddings and still being single, etc). Oh, and another con: at first it was cute, but then it got on my nerves: the stupids talking-vegetable. So lame!

What redeems this crappy show? The setting: beautiful, gorgeous Tokyo. The clothes: very Japanese-like. The fashion: I paid extra attention to the nails (and currently, I am painting my own nails more or less like Kaori and Rinko did). The ending song: a catchy song by Perfume. The opening song: cute and fun.

All the other: terrible. I don't have any doubt to remove this file from my computer, for good!

Leia Mais