Café & Baunilha (2019)

No. Not For Me.

This show got on my last nerves and I'm here to explain why.

First, the entirety of the show was too quick for me. Yeah, I read the tags but it was just too much. Like the leads just met each other and now they're established? Two, every guy kept chasing after her. The stalker in the first episode, the guy who was cornering her in that room, her best friend, that other dude who smokes. Too many guys wanted her, which was creepy to me. Three, Risa not knowing what to do in situations where she's being chased. The shit really pissed me off. Plus her childish tendencies were annoying and weird to watch. She acted like a full-on child, fresh from birth. Fourth, his show is just a fucking mess for me. The only reason why I even decided to watch this is because of Dori Sakurada. If he wasn't even in it, I wouldn't have touched it. I'll cut it some slack for being a recreation of a manga but if you're going to include them kissing on the first fucking episode, cut up the episodes at least. But my overall description is that this was a waste of time for me.

Leia Mais

It's a lovely drama that had a lot of effort put into it.

But I can't really say it was really a mature relationship, they just kept on sleeping with each other and kissing. But it was an entertaining drama and i totally recommend it.
And it also gives some examples of bad decisions like Risa sleeping with Fukamisan when she had just met him. The acting was amazing and the story line too. Coffee and Vanilla, the Japan's answer to fifty shades of grey, is perhaps the cheesiest Japanese drama I've seen, but it doesn't mean it sucks because there are people who enjoy this type of show, hence this is the hottest Japanese drama right now. In Coffee and Vanilla, the characters are captivating, and the story kept me needing more as each episode ended, but it was also a short drama. And also ,There was no character development, no love story build up and no surprises. Plus, the leading lady was, as you can guess, the vanilla of the story, and rightly so. She had no personality, claimed to be immature, but she never actually changed, even though there were some scenes that had potential. Her love interest was a more complicated that was never explored.

Leia Mais

Me: "I'm just going to watch a episode and see what the hype is."
Also me: *clicking the non existing "next episode" button*

I had zero intentions on binge watching this WHOLE thing the way that I did. As I watched this, I realized through updates... a lot of people hated this show. Lol Which is sad. I thought it was REALLY good! But then again, it might just be because I'm Dori Sakurada biased. Don't hate me. Lol
But I think it also helps that I watched Good Morning Call first. I know this has nothing to do with this show but because I seen Haruka Fukuhara in GMC, I know her acting is a bit... bland. But when it came to this show, it was her advantage. Coming from a shy person, I know damn well this is how I act around a guy I like too. Lol. Not saying I'm proud of it, but saying I can relate.

Now here is where I'm sure people will come for me. This really gave me 50 Shades of Grey vibes. Like a lesser/non bondage version. Which make me think those that hated 50 Shades, will probably hate this show, and those that liked it, will probably like this show. I could be completely wrong though. Lol I just get those vibes from it.

I loved the story. I know it had it's issues and for the most part could be labeled a mess. Mostly because it focused more on their relationship rather than a actual story... but I still enjoyed it. But I get it. I just hope if they ever redo this show, they keep the original cast. I would love to know more about each character's back story. Especially Hiroto. You are told throughout the show that he has a dark past and people want to tell Risa but she always says she would rather hear it from him. Which again, I understand... but I wish she had brought it up and fully asked him about it. Especially since she was put in so much danger throughout the time of them being together. It leaves it like a open ending which is a bit annoying.

I must say for the first time, I like the FL this way. Usually when a FL is loved by all but ditzy and timid all the time, it gets extremely annoying -- so I get the frustration people have. But to me, something about it just seemed to fit perfectly. But I also loved that even though Risa was hella shy, Hiroto was very patient with her and attempted to bring her out of her shell a lot which I find extremely respectable. Lol sometimes shy people need a dom to help do that. (don't come at me for this, I'm saying what I know and feel).
This says a lot though because I really didn't like her in GMC so for her to play this so well and make me feel like no one else could play this part as well as she did says a lot, imo.

Can I talk about Yuki for a second though? The man had all my respect up until he pulled that "I'm moving in and about to fuck all your shit up" mess. I know he had his reason but it literally made me hate him by the end -- even though he explained why and stuff. It's just a hard no for me. To many people got away with assault in this show for my taste. While I know Hiroto showed up most of the time, I wish more could have been done. Now mind you, even her friend was a bitch. Like I get it. You see this hot guy and instantly simp. It's Dori Sakurada, I don't blame you. Lolol but to sit there and be like "you know what, let me date him one time, he might not even like you" is some absolute bullshit. How are you going to call someone your best friend and pull that shit? Then not only that, date one of the guys that assaulted her at one point? Excuse me while I vomit.

This show is a hit or miss for a lot of people and I can see why. But it was a hit for me. I loved it. And it also showed a new side to a few actors that I haven't seen before.

Leia Mais

Absolute waste of time. I can't really understand how anyone can honestly like this drama. The story is full of clichés and just awful.
The female lead has absolutely no personality while the male lead is so obsessive that it hurts. The second lead is awful as well and her best friend as well. I honestly liked none of the characters. There was zero chemistry between the leads and their romance was so toxic. The mature scenes weren't even that mature - they were just laying on the bed usually in full clothing and making out.
The only plus is that it's so short and I liked the OST.
Seriously don't watch it.

Leia Mais

Take it seriously when people say it's fast

This is just "meh".

I'm not even gonna talk about the problematic scenes, I'm just- No.
It's a cliché, but everything is just too... cringe? Romance really happens too fast, you can't even see HOW they fall in love because 10 minutes into the episode they're in love, and that takes the magic away.

She's always in danger, she's so insecure that she ends up being egocentric. Dude sick and she's like "But What About Me?", I can't relate to her at all. Way too inocent, I'll risk saying she's dumb, and she really needs a friend to tell her that being submissive is NOT a good personality trait. Male lead world's revolves around her and he still manages to be RICH I-. He basically spends his days saving her and teaching her how to have sex....

Anyways, there's no emotions, just a grown up woman that acts like a 5 years old and a grown up man in a suit. The story is kinda bad, wouldn't watch it again, I probably won't remember I watched. Trust me, I really tried to like it.

Leia Mais

Believe me, I love manga as much as the next person, especially romance. I also LOVE when they create "live-action" dramas from manga as I have loved all the other adaptions I've watched. But this one. Not my cup of tea. I never read the manga and went into this blind, but knew it was one of the top anticipated adaptations this fall. My roommate and I binged all 10 episodes in one go and it was a funny watch as everything Fukami said to Risa could have come off romantic (the way she took it) or...something one would say before he killed you. We found ourselves asking questions back and forth, "if you dated a guy and he said that to you, what would you do?" which were mostly answered with "run." 5 stars was being generous, but because it entertained us and because I do like the actor who plays Fukami, I will be generous. Maybe it is just the lead actress - I have not liked her in any of the dramas she has been in, that I have watched. Not sure if it is her, or the rolls she picks. But every roll she has played, I have no enjoyed her character. I wasn't sure if we were supposed to connect or feel for her character because I did not. Maybe if she had some character development, she would have been bearable, but literally...she started off as an insecure college student with no love, to an insecure college student who found love, but not for herself. Fukami was borderline creepy and possessive, but I guess it is very much a Christian Grey character who went through SOME development.

Leia Mais

Don't watch this drama if you want a plot or anything other than eye candy

In my quest to watch more japanese dramas, Coffee and Vanilla is mentioned pretty often. Also, Dori's international popularity has shot up high since his appearance in Alice in Borderland so I was pretty interested to see him in this drama. Also I didn't read the original material, so this review is coming from someone who has absolutely no knowledge about this story.

However, this drama has like... no plot.. I mean it does, but it's like a fanfiction come to life. Dori plays this just perfect CEO character that is just obsessed with the FL (who is gorgeous) but her character is so damn shy I wonder how she even is able to date him in the drama. Some scenes make me genuinely cringe, but I do like how it's just straight up taken from the manga.

The color grading on this drama is also really interesting. It does look beautiful and much more of a high production than some other japanese dramas I have watched.

Why would you watch this drama?
Probably because you watch something that involved no thinking and maybe you're a simp for Dori or maybe you're a simp for perfect CEOs who are obsessed with you and do everything for you.

However, there's this one scene in this drama that makes it ---relatively--- worth it -it involves a smirk. My god, that was a hell of a scene.

Leia Mais

Ridiculous show

Starting with Episode 1, I found this show weird. A naive virginal college girl meets a supposedly 30 year old guy (who looks 23 yrs old) who tells her he loves her and proceeds to bed her on their first meeting. That alone made me think this guy is an obsessive psychopath and rapist. She is flattered by his words and actions and believes she is in love. WTF?

Then in Episode 2, he shows up at one of her classes as a guest lecturer and later pulls her into a private nook to make out. There is something totally strange about this dude!

FL is supposed to be 20 yrs old but she acts like a 15 yr old with a huge inferiority complex. I know 15 yr olds with more common sense and maturity. I can't understand why a worldly 30+ yr old businessman would be obsessed with a cloistered 20 year old college student. Pedophile?

What is the point of this movie? When I thought this show couldn't get any worse, Episode 5 has FL's best friend asking FL to share her boyfriend for one date. Who the hell would agree to that? FL does exactly that in Episode 6! ?

In Episode 7, ML is supposed to be on a business trip but when FL is cornered at work by a psychotic stalker with a blade, ML is Johnny-on-the-Spot!

Oh, then there is the familiar estranged parent story arc that gets resolved by the FL who brings the ML and his mother back together in Episode 8. There's nothing special in the storyline of this entire show that hasn't been played out in other shows.

Episode 9 has the kidnapping of the Damsel-in-Distress in which the ML gets injured when trying to save her. This of course results in the obligatory hospital or sick bed scene. Did the writers have a checklist of every possible scenario in a drama? Every episode is so ridiculous and unoriginal.

This is not one of Dori Sakurada's finest works. He is not a strong actor overall but his acting was better in Perfect Crime. He should be embarrassed to be in this series. Also, I want to take a pair of shears and cut his unruly unkempt hair! His hairstyle annoyed me!

I really didn't like any of the characters in this show, and it especially angered me whenever the ML forced himself physically and sexually on the FL. Do the writers believe these acts are desired by women?

There is so much overacting in this show. Also, when the ML kept saying to the FL that she can never leave him because he loves her so much, I felt no empathy or emotions towards the couple. However, when the same words were said by Lee Joon-gi to IU in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, I totally felt the emotions and passion then.

I felt I wasted 5 hours of my life that I will never get back. Needless to say, I will not rewatch this series.

Leia Mais

mindless bore and waste of time

The entire drama is an unbearable mess, and the only reason I finished it was because I was basically hate watching it halfway through to see how long they could keep up being so ridiculous. The "relationship" starts off too suddenly, and there's no depth or chemistry to it. The female lead is absolutely brainless, spineless, and painfully cringey with the personality of a pillowcase. There are no interesting plot points or any relationship progression or conflicts, and there's absolutely no point to watching this unless you're into watching sexy, perverted Dori Sakurada next to whining child montages.

Leia Mais

A big waste of time

Originally I wanted to watch this bc Omggg finally Nao and Daisuke are together.. kinda ?? ( wink good morning call watchers) but its honestly just awful I think that Dori is a good actor but his acting stands on the chemistry with his castmate I think the writing is at fault here and also who they chose as female-lead
This whole thing was a cringe-fest from the rapey situations that shes put into with other male castmates and how she is BLAMED for it??
Forced kisses
THE SO uncomfortable intimate scenes which could be so sexy but its just ruined by...sigh HER.
Originally I gave this a 5 but now I bump it down to a 4 bc its genuinely awful

Leia Mais