Itazura na Kiss - Love in Tokyo
Jun. 19th, 2017 11:32 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunako_yueAt a high school entrance ceremony, high school student Kotoko Aihara (Honoka Miki), who isn't that smart, notices pretty boy Naoki Irie (Yuki Furukawa). She falls in love with him immediately. Kotoko initially doesn't express her feelings to him, but finally has a chance to tell him how she feels. Unfortunately, Naoki turns Kotoko down, saying "I don't like dumb women."
One day, Kotoko Aihara's house is severely damaged by an earthquake. Until the house is rebuilt, Kotoko Aihara and her father decide to live with her father's friend. When Kotoko Aihara moves to her new temporary house, she is surprised to learn that Naoki Irie lives there as well. (asiawiki-2013)
If I had to choose one color to describe this dorama, it would be PINK.
If I had to choose a drink, it would be HOT CHOCOLATE (warm and sweet).
If I had to choose something edible, it would be COTTON CANDY (fluffy).
Story: (9/10) I had a smile during all the first 12 episodes, it is that cute. The first 12 episodes were the cutest thing I've ever watched. I don't understand some reviews that say Naoki was a jerk. He was, but in an unharmed way. Yes, he tells Kotoko he only likes smart girls (alleging that she was dumb). Yes, he humiliates her in the promo night. But she always has a comeback, she doesn't stay there, defeated, while he belittles her, like Hyuuga from RMPW does. Naoki is cold, but he smiles now and then, amused by Kotoko's tactics and how much she loves him. He is never rude, he never tries to harm her, like Domyoji did. And thank God Kotoko is not a stupid girl. Just because she isn't the top student in her class doesn't make her dumb, or not-smart. Once she commits to be in the top 100, she succeeds. Isn't that smart?
Also, I don't understand why people are mad and saying she is a stalker. She is just a teenage in love. When I was in high school, I used to "spy" on my crush too. If she didn't do all the things she did, like taking Tennis class, she wouldn't have made any progress in her relationship with Naoki. Given Naoki's personality, her "stalkerish" behavior made him fall in love eventually. That is not "not have pride", like some reviewers say.
The love triangles that happen throughout the story were well done and not annoying at all, since nothing happens. Kin-chan is the sweetest second lead character I've seen so far, and it was hard not to root for him. But since Kotoko was my favorite character, and everything that made her happy was Naoki, I just had to root for Irie-kun, even if it was hard to do. Like in the final 4 episodes.
While Ep. 1 to 12 were PERFECTION, Ep. 13 was so-so, Ep. 14 and 15 were the hardest since it was all about the arranged marriage, Kotoko suffering because of that and Naoki making a huge backward step in their relationship. Like, in 12 episodes now and then he shows something that seems he likes her, a small smile, an intense look, a longing look, etc, and that Ep 10, which was... *swoon*. The cutest kiss in the entire doramaworld. But no, he has to go and be an ass in Ep. 13, 14, 15 and half of 16. It was like he didn't have any feelings for poor Kotoko.
The last 30 minutes of S. 1 was MEH. Yes, we have some romantic scenes. Yes, finally Naoki realizes his feelings and makes Kotoko the happiest girl on Earth. But we could enjoy 30 minutes ONLY of that, after suffering for 3 episodes and a half. It felt too rushed. It WAS too rushed.
All side characters were good. Kotoko's father, worrying for his daughter... Finally a present parent! Naoki's mother was funny and I loved that she was Kotoko's fan, but there were times were it was too much. She is the one that was a stalker, not Kotoko! She pushed his son too many times into marrying Kotoko. If I were him, I would have dated another girl just to piss my mother :( I also like when Kotoko's rival allied with her to spy on Naoki. There isn't a single villain in the entire story, so that's another positive thing about this dorama.
Acting/Cast: (10/10) Not all actors were superb, but the girl who played Kotoko deserves all merits. She is the one that carried the show. I think a bad actress would make a stupid, dependent Kotoko. But Miki Honoka made Kotoko a sweet, honest, super funny girl. And she is so pretty! Her smile, her different hairstyles... this is the first time I see a MC in a J-dorama wearing short skirts. Everything suited her. Her duck lips were the funniest I've ever seen. All her expressions, actually. All her mannerisms. From Ep. 1 to 16 I kept thinking Naoki was the luckiest guy ever, to be with such a bubbly girl. What a wonderful actress, she was born to be a comic star. No, I am lying. To be A STAR, because when she cried, I was sad as well. When I empathize with the character is when I realize I am watching a star. If she was happy, I was happy. And since she was happy 95% of the show, this dorama made me the happiest XD And she was only 16! She didn't even pluck her eyebrows yet, so young.
Furukawa was good as well, since he didn't have to show much in his expressions, but my, he showed so much in his eyes. I only wished he wasn't that skinny, because he had the perfect height, and of course, a perfect English accent.
The only actor who wasn't so good was Sudo-sempai. He overacted too much, like an anime character. Like Oscar from Hana Kimi, only that in this dorama it looked ridiculous. Naoki's mother overacted a lot as well, but it suited the moment.
Music: (10/10) I loved the OP song (I didn't paid much attention to the EP song). All 16 episodes I enjoyed watching and listening to the OP sequence. And the guitar version was so goo too. I am currently listening to the main song, "UPDATE". It has an anime feeling. I love Kotoko in the OP sequence, searching for Naoki, walking through the streets of Tokyo. And while she is searching for him, Kin-chan is after her. Very cute.
Rewatch Value: 10/10 As soon as I finished it, I wanted to watch it all over again. I am missing them so much, and it has only been 2 days!
OBS: I've never read the manga, watched the anime nor any of the other versions. And I am still not sure if I'll watch S. 2 ... but of course I will eventually :P
**My rating: 9.5/10**
One day, Kotoko Aihara's house is severely damaged by an earthquake. Until the house is rebuilt, Kotoko Aihara and her father decide to live with her father's friend. When Kotoko Aihara moves to her new temporary house, she is surprised to learn that Naoki Irie lives there as well. (asiawiki-2013)
If I had to choose one color to describe this dorama, it would be PINK.
If I had to choose a drink, it would be HOT CHOCOLATE (warm and sweet).
If I had to choose something edible, it would be COTTON CANDY (fluffy).
Story: (9/10) I had a smile during all the first 12 episodes, it is that cute. The first 12 episodes were the cutest thing I've ever watched. I don't understand some reviews that say Naoki was a jerk. He was, but in an unharmed way. Yes, he tells Kotoko he only likes smart girls (alleging that she was dumb). Yes, he humiliates her in the promo night. But she always has a comeback, she doesn't stay there, defeated, while he belittles her, like Hyuuga from RMPW does. Naoki is cold, but he smiles now and then, amused by Kotoko's tactics and how much she loves him. He is never rude, he never tries to harm her, like Domyoji did. And thank God Kotoko is not a stupid girl. Just because she isn't the top student in her class doesn't make her dumb, or not-smart. Once she commits to be in the top 100, she succeeds. Isn't that smart?
Also, I don't understand why people are mad and saying she is a stalker. She is just a teenage in love. When I was in high school, I used to "spy" on my crush too. If she didn't do all the things she did, like taking Tennis class, she wouldn't have made any progress in her relationship with Naoki. Given Naoki's personality, her "stalkerish" behavior made him fall in love eventually. That is not "not have pride", like some reviewers say.
The love triangles that happen throughout the story were well done and not annoying at all, since nothing happens. Kin-chan is the sweetest second lead character I've seen so far, and it was hard not to root for him. But since Kotoko was my favorite character, and everything that made her happy was Naoki, I just had to root for Irie-kun, even if it was hard to do. Like in the final 4 episodes.
While Ep. 1 to 12 were PERFECTION, Ep. 13 was so-so, Ep. 14 and 15 were the hardest since it was all about the arranged marriage, Kotoko suffering because of that and Naoki making a huge backward step in their relationship. Like, in 12 episodes now and then he shows something that seems he likes her, a small smile, an intense look, a longing look, etc, and that Ep 10, which was... *swoon*. The cutest kiss in the entire doramaworld. But no, he has to go and be an ass in Ep. 13, 14, 15 and half of 16. It was like he didn't have any feelings for poor Kotoko.
The last 30 minutes of S. 1 was MEH. Yes, we have some romantic scenes. Yes, finally Naoki realizes his feelings and makes Kotoko the happiest girl on Earth. But we could enjoy 30 minutes ONLY of that, after suffering for 3 episodes and a half. It felt too rushed. It WAS too rushed.
All side characters were good. Kotoko's father, worrying for his daughter... Finally a present parent! Naoki's mother was funny and I loved that she was Kotoko's fan, but there were times were it was too much. She is the one that was a stalker, not Kotoko! She pushed his son too many times into marrying Kotoko. If I were him, I would have dated another girl just to piss my mother :( I also like when Kotoko's rival allied with her to spy on Naoki. There isn't a single villain in the entire story, so that's another positive thing about this dorama.
Acting/Cast: (10/10) Not all actors were superb, but the girl who played Kotoko deserves all merits. She is the one that carried the show. I think a bad actress would make a stupid, dependent Kotoko. But Miki Honoka made Kotoko a sweet, honest, super funny girl. And she is so pretty! Her smile, her different hairstyles... this is the first time I see a MC in a J-dorama wearing short skirts. Everything suited her. Her duck lips were the funniest I've ever seen. All her expressions, actually. All her mannerisms. From Ep. 1 to 16 I kept thinking Naoki was the luckiest guy ever, to be with such a bubbly girl. What a wonderful actress, she was born to be a comic star. No, I am lying. To be A STAR, because when she cried, I was sad as well. When I empathize with the character is when I realize I am watching a star. If she was happy, I was happy. And since she was happy 95% of the show, this dorama made me the happiest XD And she was only 16! She didn't even pluck her eyebrows yet, so young.
Furukawa was good as well, since he didn't have to show much in his expressions, but my, he showed so much in his eyes. I only wished he wasn't that skinny, because he had the perfect height, and of course, a perfect English accent.
The only actor who wasn't so good was Sudo-sempai. He overacted too much, like an anime character. Like Oscar from Hana Kimi, only that in this dorama it looked ridiculous. Naoki's mother overacted a lot as well, but it suited the moment.
Music: (10/10) I loved the OP song (I didn't paid much attention to the EP song). All 16 episodes I enjoyed watching and listening to the OP sequence. And the guitar version was so goo too. I am currently listening to the main song, "UPDATE". It has an anime feeling. I love Kotoko in the OP sequence, searching for Naoki, walking through the streets of Tokyo. And while she is searching for him, Kin-chan is after her. Very cute.
Rewatch Value: 10/10 As soon as I finished it, I wanted to watch it all over again. I am missing them so much, and it has only been 2 days!
OBS: I've never read the manga, watched the anime nor any of the other versions. And I am still not sure if I'll watch S. 2 ... but of course I will eventually :P
**My rating: 9.5/10**
