Nankyoku Tairiku
Apr. 30th, 2018 11:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Set in the 1950's, a Japanese Antarctic research exploration team and 19 dogs that accompanied the team are stationed at the Showa Base in Antarctica. After a year, the exploration team is ordered to withdraw from the Antarctic station due to severe weather conditions. The dogs have to be left behind. The following year, the next team arrives at the Showa Base station and a miraculous reunion occurs between a dog handler accompanying the new tean and two dogs, Taro and Shiro, that are brothers. (asiawiki-2011)

A very well done drama, there is no doubt there was a big budget on this production. The setting, the cast... all top notch. In that sense, it reminded me of JIN; the OST was also kinda similar, and besides, there were Ayase Haruka and others who also worked on JIN.
To be honest, first episode was MEH; so MEH that I didn't continue it. I picked this up months later and episode 2 was better but still not WOW. Episode 3 is where it picked my attention and I was hooked and rooting for all members in the Antartica.
While it was a good story, inspiring and interesting, I didn't like the script nor how certain things were filmed. I don't like when a story is embellished to make the audience cry... in fact, I am against "tears-inducing" dramas. Almost never work on me, and just makes me roll my eyes. Kimura Takuya's part was so much like a hero who loves the dogs and fights for justice. There are numerous tears, which was exhausting. The dogs were filmed so much for that motive; the children (the children in rags who give their only coin to help the expedition... the little kids who are the masters of one of the dogs... Ashida Mana was there just to pout and cry...)
The last 2 episodes or so drag because the director loved to show again and again how the dogs suffer alone, tied to a post under heavy snow. Yes it was sad, but since it was the intention of the director to make the audience go "waaaa, poor dogs", it was exhausting after a little time.
**My rating: 7/10**

A very well done drama, there is no doubt there was a big budget on this production. The setting, the cast... all top notch. In that sense, it reminded me of JIN; the OST was also kinda similar, and besides, there were Ayase Haruka and others who also worked on JIN.
To be honest, first episode was MEH; so MEH that I didn't continue it. I picked this up months later and episode 2 was better but still not WOW. Episode 3 is where it picked my attention and I was hooked and rooting for all members in the Antartica.
While it was a good story, inspiring and interesting, I didn't like the script nor how certain things were filmed. I don't like when a story is embellished to make the audience cry... in fact, I am against "tears-inducing" dramas. Almost never work on me, and just makes me roll my eyes. Kimura Takuya's part was so much like a hero who loves the dogs and fights for justice. There are numerous tears, which was exhausting. The dogs were filmed so much for that motive; the children (the children in rags who give their only coin to help the expedition... the little kids who are the masters of one of the dogs... Ashida Mana was there just to pout and cry...)
The last 2 episodes or so drag because the director loved to show again and again how the dogs suffer alone, tied to a post under heavy snow. Yes it was sad, but since it was the intention of the director to make the audience go "waaaa, poor dogs", it was exhausting after a little time.
**My rating: 7/10**