S. Yue Michaelis

Shin Karino (Yu Yokoyama) is an unpopular manga writer and he is single. He lives in an apartment complex that has a rule forbidding children from living there. One day, Shin Karino's doorbell rings. When he opens his apartment door, he sees a small boy. The boy is 5-year-old Kotaro Sato (Eito Kawahara). Kotaro Sato tells Shin Karino that he moved into the neighborhood. Shin Karino makes a weird face, because of the rule of his apartment complex. Kotaro Sato says that he lives by himself. At first, Shin Karino is annoyed by Kotaro Sato, but residents of the apartment building, including Shin Karino, become attached to Kotaro Sato. (asianwiki-2021)


Jdramas this year have been a bit underwhelming for me, so this was a really nice surprise since I wasn't expecting much. But it is exactly the kind of jdrama I love to watch and recommend, a slice of life with heartfelt scenes and kindred spirits characters. I absolutely adored little Kotaro (Eito Kawahara), the boy was so cute and spoke so well! I just wanted to adopt him, and I am glad all people at the apartment, + the lawyers and detective were kind to him and wanted to protect him.

The ending may be a bit inconclusive, he doesn't know about his mother and his father... well, although it was played by the amazing Takito Kenichi, I am glad he wasn't easily forgiven since at least I couldn't forgive him.

All characters are nice and cute but the sensei was the cutest <3 Several Johnnys, I watched this without even knowing the plot and the cameos so everything was a nice surprise for me. The script was well done, nothing was cheesy, and in spite of being short, I also liked the length (24min each ep). Easy to watch and rewatch.

My second highest score of this year.

Xiao Yan is a genius child who suddenly loses all his powers.
In a world governed by strength and power, Xiao Yan’s lack of talent is an embarrassment to his family. At the age of 15, Xiao Yan accidentally summons Yao Lao (Baron Chen) from his mother’s ring. With the elder’s help, Xiao Yan’s skills improve by leaps and bounds.
After his entire family is assassinated, Xiao Yan embarks on a journey to find his family’s killer and return peace to the Jianghu (martial world). ~~ Adapted from the xianxia novel Battle Through the Heavens written by Tian Can Tu Dou (MDL-2018)


BOORIIING.

I watched for real 15 episodes or so, which is the 1st part and the part where Xiao Zhan has the "most" scenes". I say "most" because his role is super tiny... his X-NINE members, which are 3, have a lot more of scenes than him, and his character was a lot cooler, but sadly, very misused.

There were 2 reasons I watched this: one is of course, Xiao Zhan; and the other, some reviews/comments were saying this was the Chinese Harry Potter. Well, let me tell you that is bulls**t. Nothing far from the truth. The Academy... what was the reason for that? They barely had classes, the "teachers" didn't teach anything and didn't even care for the students; and there wasn't any scholar interaction or anything.

The MC, Xiao Yan, was one of the most unlikable MC I've ever watched in such a long show... there wasn't any character development, and in spite of my complaining of weak shounen characters at the beginning of their stories, at least there was something to look forward, unlike this Xiao Yan who was the best from almost the very beginning. He had everything served to him, from his Master to some powers. He was the Best of the Best, could fight, could heal, could fly, etc, etc. BORING.

Also, this is a harem... there are 3 girls who are more or less romantically linked with him. The possible wife, the almost wife, and the should-be-the-wife. Eye-rolling. Can't believe Li Qing was one of the most annoying characters in this drama... I couldn't stand her loud character.

There are many characters, but the bad thing is that, many characters seem they would have a stronger role, only to disappear like nothing. Like the Snake Queen. The guy in the blond, stiff wig. Like Lin Xiu Ya. Speaking of wigs, there were the worst I've ever seen in my life... the cheapest and most lifeless wigs. There were many awful hairdos, and don't let me start with the make-up. Low budget for sure.

Of course I finished it using cheating ways, like fast-forwarding many scenes and using the +10-secs-forward like crazy. I calmed down once Xiao Zhan appeared again which was for like, 2 episodes, for 3 minutes each **facepalm**. Was it worth it? For him? Maybe... he was very good and super good-looking.... Yes, I would watch any crappy show for him, again **sighs**

Saki Mizuguchi (Keiko Kitagawa) is a competent fashion magazine editor. Her parents raised her in a free environment. Meanwhile, Koichi Obara (Eita) is an ace member of the Air Rescue Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. His parents raised him in a stern environment.

Although Saki Mizuguchi and Koichi Obara have totally different personalities and come from different backgrounds, they meet and fall in love with each other. They decide to marry right away without having a dating period. They then have a fancy wedding. The newlyweds expected that they would have a happy life together, but reality is different for them. They begin to have arguments over differences in their lifestyle, values and others issues. Saki Mizuguchi and Koichi Obara decide to divorce, but they can't tell their parents, friends or their co-workers about their divorce. Without telling anyone, Saki Mizuguchi and Koichi Obara begin to take action on getting a divorce. (asianwiki-2021)


I was so happy at the beginning of this Season since we had 2 Rom-Com starring my favorite actors Eita on one side and Ayano Go on the other side. Alas, both dramas were MEH. This one started good... not great but it had potential. I like when a couple is being more honest due to some circumstances, in this case, once they decided to get a divorce, they were more honest and show their true side to the other.

But I think both leads saw marriage as something frivolous, not serious. One fight, one disagreement, and "let's divorce". They didn't even try to save it. I thought the impeding divorce would be a motive to make them know each other better, but once they finally got divorced (ep07?) it was the downhill. I didn't have any interest on a couple who was so wishy-washy about something as serious as a marriage.

Saki's ex was a good guy and I wish she had chosen him, they were a better match. I don't understand the whole Saki-Kouchi after the divorce...

Kouchi's co-worker who was in love with him... what a meddlesome girl. I hate when other interfere in a marriage, who the hell was she?

Saki's boss, the writer. Wasn't that sexual harassment?? I didn't like him at all and his stupid hair. His "falling in love" was ridiculous.

Saki's parents and Kouchi's parents... I didn't have any interest in them but I am glad the mothers decided to stay divorced. Their husbands were idiots who only appreciate them once they lost them... at least, the mothers in this case DID try to make things work, even when their husbands didn't deserve it all. But it made things more realistic since this is what Showa parents did.

Eita did portray good and some times I was watching his face and missing him so much as a comedy actor. I didn't like how he deepen his voice, it was ridiculous, but it is Eita and I love him. How much I want a good, funny role for him! What a disappointment.

After the massacre of his village, Zhang Xiao Fan is taken in by the Qing Yun Sect where he begins his journey of cultivation. When he finds out the truth behind the deaths of his parents, he succumbs to his rage and demonic tendencies and becomes the enemy of the Qing Yun Sect. Source: ChineseDrama.info (2019)


What a pleasantly visual movie. The costumes, the background, the actors... Xiao Zhan looked as handsome as ever, cute as a button when he was being naive and silly, and hot when he was evil. I really wish he had a villain role, he will do amazing. It may be his eyes, or just the contrast between his beautiful face against the evilness he radiates when he wants.

Anyway, it took me 3 days to finish the movie :( and it is a short movie, and not precisely boring, but the plot was a bit messy. And generally speaking, I hate dumb, useless MC as the Hero. Here, Xiaofan is below average, maybe the worst pupil in the Sect, but he is the hero thanks to the circumstances, not because of his skills. The 3 girls were badasses, had the most amazing clothes/dresses and were all pretty so I wish they were the MC instead of Xiaofan (sorry Xiao Zhan!). There are too many characters, but I guess that is part of the Xianxia genre.

And the 3 girls were sort of part of a harem... he had chemistry with all 3 of them, was in love with one, ended with another and had the best fight with the 3rd. Harem, no thanks for me.

Ayako Mochizuki (Haruka Ayase) is a 35-year-old detective. She is a hard worker and seeks out justice, but she lacks flexibility. Ayako Mochizuki investigates a murder case. From the evidence she collects, she targets Haruto Hidaka (Issey Takahashi) as the murder suspect.

Haruto Hidaka is a chemistry researcher and he runs his own company. He is smart and proficient with his work, but he is also a psychopath murderer. Right before Ayako Mochizuki arrests him, their bodies are switched. (asiawiki-2021)


I wonder what was the need to add Ayako is 35-years-old... it is not important at all :/

I didn't love this drama as I expected. It was good but it disappointed me in several occasions.

I think Ayase Haruka was better than Takahashi Issei O_O I think she did, not excellent, but very good in her psycho form. She may have exaggerated a little bit since Hidaka wasn't such a psycho in his manners. Takahashi, on the other hand, made Ayako look too feminine, too girly, while she wasn't like that in her natural shelf.

I also thought several times that maybe Hidaka was a trans because he loved to dress up and put on make up while being Ayako, and even slept/kissed Riku, but nothing :S I don't know why they added that if it didn't mean anything.

Kitamura Kazuki was great as their counterpart, ruthless and smart. How can you not like a police who does his job? Generally in Jdrama cops are so stupid (a bit like Yamaki, which I hate) so of course he was one of the best characters. And I usually like him more in this kind of roles than the "nice" guy. Emoto Tokio, on the other hand, wasn't as good as I was hoping :( I expected more of him.

The worst actor was that Nitta, ugg. Terrible acting, every one of his facial expressions made me cringe.

While I did like the switching of bodies and the "is he/isn't he", I didn't like how easy was for Riku and Yamaki to notice Ayako wasn't the same and how quickly they accepted the switch of bodies. On the other hand, they were good allies, so I can't complain much.

Mystery-wise, it was engaging, and the ending was realistic. BGM (the Beethoven one) didn't fit the drama since it didn't seem serious.

Kureno Masora is a young doctor who was working happily at a large hospital in Tokyo. However, she found out that she has an illness and decided to continue working as a doctor, while hiding her illness at a clinic located in a small village called "Niji no Mura". Therefore, Masora gets to meet the interesting villagers and gradually learns about facing life enthusiastically. (Source: DramaWiki-2021)


This one was a lovely drama where unfortunately not all episodes were great, but it has many moving scenes. Generally speaking, I love when a city person moves to a small town and makes friend with the local people, who are noisy and kind-hearted and maybe meddlesome, but they all mean well. Like in an Asadora. The problem with this drama is that since it is so short (9 episodes only), I could not really fall for the town people and I couldn't feel all the love they had for each other and for Masora-sensei.

The whole story with the old lady Sawako-chan didn't move me (it may work on an Asadora that has more episodes, but it didn't work here). In spite of thinking she was a lonely lady, I also think that receiving her call several times a day was a bit too much and I wouldn't have stand it, sorry.

I loved the trio, I do like the actors, specially Kitamura Takumi, and Takahata Mitsuki is generally very good as well (she is very good in crying scenes). However, again because of the length, I didn't feel the love they had for each other. I found Masora's words very moving and sincere, but because of my view of them being just good colleagues, it wasn't much impactful as I would have liked.

I did like Yukino's story because I love this kind of premise where the person loses her/his memory, whether it be because of Alzheimer or the illness she has (like the one in "50 First Dates"). It is the kind of story that never fails to make me cry but I still love them so much, it is very moving ^_^

The ending episode was a bit lacking, I don't know what I was hoping, and I knew her illness would have played a bigger role in the final episode, but it still felt lacking.

Nevertheless, it is a good drama, one I liked the best this season (that had several disappointing dramas). It is a bright drama with a touch of melancholy, which is the type of drama I love to watch.

A 20-episode cut of The Untamed made for better integration and comprehension of the series. This special edition focuses more on Lan Wangji/Lan Zhan and Wei Wuxian/Wei Ying. (MDL-2019)


My first C-Drama. I've wanted to watch a wuxia for the longest time ever, but the 50 episodes were so intimidating and my Jdrama always came first so I kept postponing it. I decided to try at least 1 episode and when I saw that The Untamed had a 20 episode edition only, the choice was made.

For better or for worst, The Untamed is my first Cdrama. I say this because it is truly a beautiful, beautiful drama. As if I could watch one episode only, ha! Impossible to start and not continue. I didn't even know what it was about, I came into this completely blind, except that it was a very popular, censored adaptation drama, and that was it.

I am completely mesmerized by everything: the songs, the characters, the setting, the bond between siblings, the battles, the wigs! (except for the villagers/puppets'), the waist of the leads (OMG!), everything. I love Wei Wuxian and his personality: arrogant, impulsive, childish, caring, intelligent, quick. I love his relationship with his sister (just writing this makes me cry). I love Lan Zhan (Lan-chan) and his majestic port, his loyalty, how stoic he is. Loved the relationship between the Wen siblings, Qing and Ning :(((

Visually everything is stunning. But what I love the most so far are 2 things: 1) the ED song, I am obsessed about it, and just yesterday (?) I found it it was sung by both lead actors! Amazing, makes me love the song even more. And 2) the loyalty Lan Zhan has for Wei Wuxian. It is so strong, he will die for him, will believe everything Wei Wuxian tells him. Makes me cry all the hardships both of them went thru, but still, Lan Zhan, with his stoic face, makes me sadder.

Both leads are amazing, I wish them the best. The chemistry inside and outside the drama... ahhh love them. I absolutely adore how serious Wang Yibo looks, but how happy he was working with Xiao Zhan; the admiration this boy (because he is a boy! he was just 21 when he portrayed Lan Zhan!) feels/felt for Xiao Zhan, who seems a sunshine and who is 6 YEARS OLDER than Wang Yibo, wtf. But not only them, the actor who portrays Zewu Jun (100 points), Wen Ning (his face makes me weep), Senior Sister (aww), even Yao (his dimples!)

If I had to be objective, this edition does not deserve a 10. The drama? It deserves every praise. But this edition is choppy and disjointed; since I am a new watcher and do not know anything about the story, I am lost in several parts of the story. In one episode you have Lan Zhan walking like the model he is and in the next he is hurt and limping and I am, whut? how? when? it never showed...

Even if the edition is messy, I don't care... I still have not finished it (currently on ep14 of 20) but it is already one of my favorite drama/shows and I am already missing Wei Ying and Lan Zhan (I wonder why they have so many variations of their names?)

The ED is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard. Truly an epic show.

EDIT: I finished it, I miss them already, calming my thirst with BTS clips. I didn't understand many things, which is also a blessing because it gives me another reason (as if I needed it) to watch the longer version.

Set in Langkawi, Malaysia, the con artists: Dako (Masami Nagasawa), Boku-chan (Masahiro Higashide), and Richard (Fumiyo Kohinata) target the Fuu Family when their head of the family passed away and he left behind 10 trillion yen. (IMDB-2020)


Visually speaking, this movie was better than the previous one, but as for twists, there weren't too many. Less twists and less surprises. However, it was very fun to watch Dako and her "daughter" (wtf, Dako with a 18 (?) year old daughter? Get the hell out of here!) Dako seemed to like "Michelle" and care for her and tbh I was expecting a twist regarding that, but she truly cared for her so there wasn't any twist :(

There are many small roles (RIP Miura Haruma, RIP Takeuchi Yuko, Takito Kenichi, Maeda Atsuko), some cameos (Gackt, Namase Katsuhisa) and good secondary characters (Furukawa Yuta, Eguchi Yosuke). Most of them talk tons of English, I was impressed! Some of them with very cute accents :D

Easy to watch, even for people who didn't watch the previous SP/Drama/Movie. I just wish I didn't had to watch the ugly face of Higashide, how can an ugly man ruin everything! He is disgusting and I wish to see only the marvelous Kohinata Fumiyo and Nagasawa Masami, who were great as always.

Set in Kabukicho, which is an entertainment and red-light district in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

Tatsuhiko Shiratori (Gou Ayano) doesn't have money or a job. One day, he meets a scout named Matora (Yusuke Iseya) who recruits girls on the streets to work in the adult entertainment business. Matora likes Tatsuhiko and introduces Tatsuhiko to the world where he works. Tatsuhiko soon works as a scout too. (asianwiki-2015)


This movie is definetely out of my comfort zone; I don't like to watch movies full of testosterone where guys think punching everyone is fun and pimping any cute girl is their right. This kind of story gives me so much anger... if only it was punching and screaming like little boys it is ok (kinda like CROWS) but you throw prostitution and drugs in the mix and I am out.

Not a bad movie, I loved all the images of Shinjuku and Kabukicho, the Red Zone in Tokyo. And seeing Ayano Go and Iseya Yusuke is always a pleasure. Ayano Go looks even handsome with that hairdo... I used to avoid this movie for the plot and his hair but he looks surprisingly good! He is the only decent guy in the entire movie, but I hate that he is so forgiving with that asshole criminal played by an overacted Yamada Takayuki.

TBH, the best actor was Iseya Yusuke, he is always good and never overacts. Sometimes Ayano Go played too "shounen"-ish which surprised me, he was like a rookie actor sometimes. But he has his moments where he shines. Not just like Iseya who is always good and deserves a main role.. too bad his scandal with the drugs :(((

Regular yakuza/ganster-type role for these actors: Kaneko Nobuaki (he was also in CROWS with Ayano Go and Yamada Takayuki) and Yoshida Kotaro.

Poor Sawajiri Erica has a role as a prostitute... girl changed her innocent roles for femme fatale ones :(

Will I watch the sequel? Oh Gawd, maybe... I like the cast and I adore Ayano Go... in spite of not being my type of movie, I kinda like it and I may give the sequel a try in a far future.

Mare is an elementary school student. She lives with her family in the city, but, right before her father goes bankrupt, they run away and settle down at a fishing village in Noto.

The family rents a couple's home who run a salt pond. Mare's father starts a new business, but it also fails. Her mother supports the family by working at the salt pond.

8 years later, Mare, about to graduate from high school, decides to work for the Wajima local government. She wants to have a steady job, unlike her father. Her job is to support people who move to Noto. (asianwiki-2015)


I loved Mare in the first 90 episodes. I was sure it was going to be my 2nd favorite Asadora, but alas, it isn't. I think one of the strongest point of watching an Asadora is to love the main character till the end. Unfortunately this didn't happen to me with Mare, contrary to Amachan and Manpuku where I loved Aki and Fukuko.

Mare's story can be divided in 3 parts: Noto, younger years; Yokohama, apprentice days and Noto, older years.

Noto, younger years: we see Mare and Tsumura family coming to Noto, running away from the father's debts in Tokyo. I watched the first 3 episodes and then left it pending. I guess since the beginning I just wasn't attracted to Toru and his "dame-otoko" ways. I resumed watching it months later and I just fell in love with Noto and the heartwarming life of this tiny, seaside village. I love hometowns where the villagers are all gossipy and close to each other and where there are no secrets at all (I wouldn't be able to live like that, but watching it is a pleasure). I loved the homely aspect, the everyday lives, the little romances (loved when the entire village was betting on Mare and Keita), loved the Wajima laquer and making of salt.

Yokohama, apprentice days: I cried a bit when Mare decided to leave Noto and go to Yokohama to be an apprentice of patisserie. She didn't want to leave her mother and her beloved hometown, but her dream was to be the world's best patissier so she had to. After many begging, she manages to work under Ikehata Daigo's guidance. I truly think that Daigo was more of a father figure to her than Toru ever was. First of all, Daigo's cake was the trigger for Mare to become a patissier. Second, he pushed her to be better. He was the one who guided her and made her what she becomes later. In spite of being grumpy and difficult, he respected her, and she respected him. She would have been a great and successful patissier if only she didn't get marry at the young age of 22 :S

Noto, older days: and the downhill of the drama. Mare leaves Yokohama and leaves her dream aside to be a bride and proprietress of the Wajima's household. When she finally opens her own cake store, she gets pregnant... by twins :S And just like that, for almost 10 years, she is happy being a mediocre patissier.. but she has a family of her own :S Then, she wakes up, realizes that she still wants to be the World's Best and gets ready to participate in competition (except she doesn't participate in one because "her children had a sumo tournament and she had to be there" **eyerolling**, but of course she has allies who help her so she "almost" wins *eyerolling**).

So, the things I liked:

- the OP song: so catchy! Loved it since the very beginning.
- Noto Island: I love this kind of environment, how people becomes family just for being there. I specially loved Fumi-san and Ganji-san; to me, the best characters. They welcomed the Tsumura family not with open arms, but slowly they become their family (more than Toru ever was). Ganji was the father Ittetsu never had, and I loved that Ittetsu was the one following Ganji-san's steps and that the salt-making had a successor. I also liked Ittetsu, the mature younger brother of Mare. At least he gets to punch Toru once.
- Daigo: his unexpected character when he meets his ex-chef after many years :D He is stubborn and grumpy, and I am so happy he won the contest at the end, but he still had faith in Mare till the end.
- All the cakes!

Things I didn't like:

- that Mare gets married and has children so young: and that she gives up on her dream.
- the character I hated the most was Toru. A nuisance of a father. First he leaves them for 6 years, when Mare and Ittetsu were around 10 yo. Then he leaves again for 3 years to pursue his dreams in Tokyo, divorcing his wife because she "didn't deserve to wait for him". And again he leaves after Mare gets married, this time for around 8 years(?). No idea why they loved him so much -in Noto I mean. Toru lived there for a couple of years only. He was always running away, having big dreams (he was a nobody) and never going anywhere, always failing. And then he was all mopey and crying, saying he loved his family... how?? He was NEVER with his family, and NEVER thought of them when he was dreaming big.
- Mare's voice and the narrator's voice were like nails on a blackboard. I didn't mind so much in the first half, but for the 2nd half... why would 2 grown-up women talk like that?? The narrator was almost SIXTY when she did her voice-in-off. Maybe Tao speaks like that, but not THAT much. Kadowaki Mugi (Minori) too.. she doesn't speak like that at all in Todome no Kiss :S
- I understand Ichiko's envy towards Mare, I get that love-hate friendship. I liked the growth in her and that precisely because of her strong feelings towards Mare, they are closer afterwards. What I don't understand is how everybody was so understanding and forgiving when she sabotaged Mare's career. And trying to compete in making a cake since Ichiko didn't even know how to cook?? I hate when all people are so forgiving; she is an ass and badmouths Mare, but nope, everyone forgives her and don't even scold her, wtf.
- there is a scene where Mare is tired and grumpy and her kid Ayumi is being annoying and Mare screams at her to not bother her. Like any parent tired of work would. But Keita sees this like it is the biggest crime, Mare feels super guilty and that kid is all offended. WTF. And Mare has to apologize **eye-rolling** and make promises to be a good mother.. only because she wants to be a good patissier and make good cakes. Speaking of her children, the little girl that played her daughter screamed too much! Shut up little girl! Totally the opposite of the little boy who played Ittetsu's son.. that little boy NEVER screams in any of his works.
- I hated that I had to watch the face of that rapist (the one that played Yoichiro). Not that it is this drama's fault, it is just something I was bothered.
- I don't think there is a sizzling chemistry between Tsuchiya Tao and Yamazaki Kento tbh. And their love story was so MEH. It was cute when they were in school at first... Mare rejects him more or less, and when she finally gets the courage to confess her feelings (a couple of weeks later?) he is already dating Ichiko. And he and Ichiko date for a couple of years, they break-up (she was never in love with him, it was just out of spite.. but he did love her it seems) and days later, he starts dating Mare. And weeks later, they are getting married.. what??

The lesson of Mare is that you either give up on being a parent to become the world best patissier or be a mother and a mediocre cook. Like Mare.