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Pride - my review
Dec. 2nd, 2015 11:09 amHalu (Kimura Takuya) is the captain and star player of an ice hockey team, who is greatly respected by his teammates. For him, hockey is serious business that fully occupies his mind, while he treats romance as if it were a game.
Aki (Takeuchi Yuko) is a typical OL (office lady), and is waiting for her boyfriend to return from studying architecture abroad. At this point in time however, he shows no sign of coming back. One day, Aki's friends who are determined to find her a new boyfriend, invite her to watch an ice hockey game. There she sees Halu for the first time.
After the game, Aki and her friends join the players for a party celebrating their victory. Aki, however, is not so excited to be there. When she leaves the party, she bumps into Halu, who was slightly injured from a fight. They exchange e-mail addresses and part.
The sparks of mutual attraction are ignited in a second encounter between Aki and Halu, arranged with the help of her friends shortly after a party.
Hyodo (Sato Koichi) has come as a replacement for the team's coach who has been hospitalized. Halu has a lot of respect for the hospitalized coach. Unfortunately, he can't stand Hyodo's way of doing things. Bringing with him a lot of coaching experience from overseas, Hyodo criticizes the former coach's strategies. Whenever Halu and Hyodo see each other, they get into a quarrel; consequently influencing Halu's behavior during games.
Seeing that his game ended in a brawl, Aki visits Halu to comfort him. But he tells her that she is being too friendly with him.
Aki is hurt, Halu is irritated, and his teammate Hotta (Sakaguchi Kenji) can't stand seeing Halu like this...(dramawiki)
Another KimuTaku dorama I can scratch from my list. I think this is the dorama where he was the most handsome. He looks young and carefree, and has a nice haircut, and he doesn't smoke! One of his habits I hate to see the most in his dramas... He was very good as Halu, mostly because Halu is a cool character without a sense of humor, and well, I could see KimuTaku exactly like that in real life. I mean, he is really an IDOL, cool image but even the other SMAP members barely make fun of him.
This is the first time I see Takeuchi Yuko (Aki) acting. The first time I saw her was in a SMAP corner in SMAPxSMAP, where all members that had the chance to act with her talk about her, and Kusanagi said that he really fell in love with her. She seemed like a nice, shy girl, almost like Aki. I also know that Nino is his biggest fan. She is certainly very cute and her looks remind me a bit of Ueno Juri: you wouldn't say she is the prettiest girl at first glance, but then you slowly start to realize that she is, and that in fact, she has a very cute smile.
Anyway, the chemistry between the two of them was good. And the fact that she looks a bit like Matsuko helped a little more.
What makes this dorama almost excellent:
- The soundtrack!: Queen! I may not be their biggest fan, but I love Queen. This is the first time I listened to "I Was Born To Love You", and from the first "I was born..." I loved the song. It suited the opening sequence so good. The excitement of the play, the people, the romance... everything. Since the song has a lot of power, it made the opening sequence more powerful. But it is not only there where we could listen to Queen... in fact, the entire soundtrack was Queen's: from "We will rock you" to "Bohemian Rhapsody". And well, you can't really go wrong with Queen...
- It's Hockey, minna!: not that I am a super Hockey fan, but since I watched the movie "Mighty Ducks" when I was a kid, I love Hockey. And in fact, this Sunday I will go to my very first Hockey on Ice game! so it was very exciting the few times I got to see a game. True, there weren't much, but even when the guys were in their dressing room with their uniforms on, it was exciting.
- Friendship among the players: I think it is always nice to see friendship among the guys. In the dorama, they have their backs for each other all the time. Maybe Haru and Yamato were the best friends, but Tomo was always there for them as well. And I loved what Haru did for Makoto at the end, in the final episode.
- Scenes that could have been corny were moving: like the one with Yamato and the parents of the dead boy. It starts a bit cliche and melodramatic, but the end moved me which surprised me. The other one was with Makoto. To be honest, I was expecting to hate him. One, because it is Sato Ryuta, and he always makes the "nicest" guys to be most pathetic guys. And two, well, Makoto was a joke. Too naive, too nice, too hardworking. In the end, I was surprised to be moved by his tears. Sato Ryuta was really good in this dorama, I am not ashamed to admit it.
- Bromance: awww the bromance between Haru and Yamato. I was thinking that, even if they didn't get their girls at the end, at least they had each other....
- Development of a certain character: and that is the Coach. He begins as someone cold-hearted, an antagonist to Haru. Then, a kind of rival because Coach used to date Anzai's wife, and Anzai was Haru's former coach until he died. Until slowly, they start to become if not friends, comrades. The ending for the Coach was bittersweet (wth with his eyes!) but I am glad he gets the girl at the end, he deserved her.
What ruined a little bit:
- So the first 7 chapters were entertaining, fun to watch, romantic. Then, the last 4 episodes... .MEH. A big MEH. I know Aki's charm was that she was like a girl from the last century, but what with the whole "I am waiting for my boyfriend, who got away two years ago and hadn't contacted me at all, but I am still waiting for him"! In episode 7 he shows up, so bye Haru. Sure there were tears, but neither one of them made a SINGLE MOVE. No, both preferred to suffer, on one hand she crying and getting back to her boyfriend (a boyfriend that disappeared for TWO YEARS, not a single call, not a single email, nothing! and as if in these two years he didn't hook up!); and on the other hand, Haru, with his pride, not trying to get the girl back. It was exasperating! Her side was easier to understand: she is a traditional girl and she believed Haru was just a player who couldn't love. But him! He just stand there, with a poker face, but he doesn't say ANYTHING! His friends are the one who do all the work...
- The boyfriend: Aki was an idiot or what. She did not want to be with him anymore, but she did. He had the nerve to be "jealous" when he finds out Aki had been with a guy, and he turns violent. Seemed like Aki was scared (hello, she was bleeding and all) but then she forgives him and says she thought it was cute? Huh? The domestic violence was cute? And she was still decided to marry that guy? Huh?
- Penelope? Is that you?: Aki had to wait two years for her boyfriend. Then, at the end, Haru goes to Canada to play for the NHL, and stays there for 3 years. So, in total, Aki waited 5 years for love. (!!!!) And I am sure neither one of them "waited" for Aki -and I mean, were loyal to her-.
- Yamato and his love story: can we really say it was a love story? That girl was super shallow, and if it wasn't for his accident, she would have never come back. And how things turned out for him was so out of nowhere, especially that accident. Why make things so dramatic??
- English words: I know that Japan loves all things English, but what the hell with all the "Engrish" words? Maybe, win, etc, etc. And, I am not kidding, they say Pride at least twice every episode, it was insane.
- It is true Kimura can act, he does the "kakkoi" character very well, but he can't smile! His smile is always too fake, too forced. Besides, it lasts like, 0.03 miliseconds.
In summary, episodes 1-6 were excellent. Episode 7, ends bad, with a glimpse of "the boyfriend". Episodes 8-10, bad, melodramatic, and miscommunication (I HATE miscommunication!). Episode 11, starts MEH, what with the "boyfriend" redeeming himself (I hate last minute redeems, they are like a cheap and easy way to end things). The last scene, with all the team and Haru and Aki kissing was good again.
**My rating: 8.5/10**
Aki (Takeuchi Yuko) is a typical OL (office lady), and is waiting for her boyfriend to return from studying architecture abroad. At this point in time however, he shows no sign of coming back. One day, Aki's friends who are determined to find her a new boyfriend, invite her to watch an ice hockey game. There she sees Halu for the first time.
After the game, Aki and her friends join the players for a party celebrating their victory. Aki, however, is not so excited to be there. When she leaves the party, she bumps into Halu, who was slightly injured from a fight. They exchange e-mail addresses and part.
The sparks of mutual attraction are ignited in a second encounter between Aki and Halu, arranged with the help of her friends shortly after a party.
Hyodo (Sato Koichi) has come as a replacement for the team's coach who has been hospitalized. Halu has a lot of respect for the hospitalized coach. Unfortunately, he can't stand Hyodo's way of doing things. Bringing with him a lot of coaching experience from overseas, Hyodo criticizes the former coach's strategies. Whenever Halu and Hyodo see each other, they get into a quarrel; consequently influencing Halu's behavior during games.
Seeing that his game ended in a brawl, Aki visits Halu to comfort him. But he tells her that she is being too friendly with him.
Aki is hurt, Halu is irritated, and his teammate Hotta (Sakaguchi Kenji) can't stand seeing Halu like this...(dramawiki)
Another KimuTaku dorama I can scratch from my list. I think this is the dorama where he was the most handsome. He looks young and carefree, and has a nice haircut, and he doesn't smoke! One of his habits I hate to see the most in his dramas... He was very good as Halu, mostly because Halu is a cool character without a sense of humor, and well, I could see KimuTaku exactly like that in real life. I mean, he is really an IDOL, cool image but even the other SMAP members barely make fun of him.
This is the first time I see Takeuchi Yuko (Aki) acting. The first time I saw her was in a SMAP corner in SMAPxSMAP, where all members that had the chance to act with her talk about her, and Kusanagi said that he really fell in love with her. She seemed like a nice, shy girl, almost like Aki. I also know that Nino is his biggest fan. She is certainly very cute and her looks remind me a bit of Ueno Juri: you wouldn't say she is the prettiest girl at first glance, but then you slowly start to realize that she is, and that in fact, she has a very cute smile.
Anyway, the chemistry between the two of them was good. And the fact that she looks a bit like Matsuko helped a little more.
What makes this dorama almost excellent:
- The soundtrack!: Queen! I may not be their biggest fan, but I love Queen. This is the first time I listened to "I Was Born To Love You", and from the first "I was born..." I loved the song. It suited the opening sequence so good. The excitement of the play, the people, the romance... everything. Since the song has a lot of power, it made the opening sequence more powerful. But it is not only there where we could listen to Queen... in fact, the entire soundtrack was Queen's: from "We will rock you" to "Bohemian Rhapsody". And well, you can't really go wrong with Queen...
- It's Hockey, minna!: not that I am a super Hockey fan, but since I watched the movie "Mighty Ducks" when I was a kid, I love Hockey. And in fact, this Sunday I will go to my very first Hockey on Ice game! so it was very exciting the few times I got to see a game. True, there weren't much, but even when the guys were in their dressing room with their uniforms on, it was exciting.
- Friendship among the players: I think it is always nice to see friendship among the guys. In the dorama, they have their backs for each other all the time. Maybe Haru and Yamato were the best friends, but Tomo was always there for them as well. And I loved what Haru did for Makoto at the end, in the final episode.
- Scenes that could have been corny were moving: like the one with Yamato and the parents of the dead boy. It starts a bit cliche and melodramatic, but the end moved me which surprised me. The other one was with Makoto. To be honest, I was expecting to hate him. One, because it is Sato Ryuta, and he always makes the "nicest" guys to be most pathetic guys. And two, well, Makoto was a joke. Too naive, too nice, too hardworking. In the end, I was surprised to be moved by his tears. Sato Ryuta was really good in this dorama, I am not ashamed to admit it.
- Bromance: awww the bromance between Haru and Yamato. I was thinking that, even if they didn't get their girls at the end, at least they had each other....
- Development of a certain character: and that is the Coach. He begins as someone cold-hearted, an antagonist to Haru. Then, a kind of rival because Coach used to date Anzai's wife, and Anzai was Haru's former coach until he died. Until slowly, they start to become if not friends, comrades. The ending for the Coach was bittersweet (wth with his eyes!) but I am glad he gets the girl at the end, he deserved her.
What ruined a little bit:
- So the first 7 chapters were entertaining, fun to watch, romantic. Then, the last 4 episodes... .MEH. A big MEH. I know Aki's charm was that she was like a girl from the last century, but what with the whole "I am waiting for my boyfriend, who got away two years ago and hadn't contacted me at all, but I am still waiting for him"! In episode 7 he shows up, so bye Haru. Sure there were tears, but neither one of them made a SINGLE MOVE. No, both preferred to suffer, on one hand she crying and getting back to her boyfriend (a boyfriend that disappeared for TWO YEARS, not a single call, not a single email, nothing! and as if in these two years he didn't hook up!); and on the other hand, Haru, with his pride, not trying to get the girl back. It was exasperating! Her side was easier to understand: she is a traditional girl and she believed Haru was just a player who couldn't love. But him! He just stand there, with a poker face, but he doesn't say ANYTHING! His friends are the one who do all the work...
- The boyfriend: Aki was an idiot or what. She did not want to be with him anymore, but she did. He had the nerve to be "jealous" when he finds out Aki had been with a guy, and he turns violent. Seemed like Aki was scared (hello, she was bleeding and all) but then she forgives him and says she thought it was cute? Huh? The domestic violence was cute? And she was still decided to marry that guy? Huh?
- Penelope? Is that you?: Aki had to wait two years for her boyfriend. Then, at the end, Haru goes to Canada to play for the NHL, and stays there for 3 years. So, in total, Aki waited 5 years for love. (!!!!) And I am sure neither one of them "waited" for Aki -and I mean, were loyal to her-.
- Yamato and his love story: can we really say it was a love story? That girl was super shallow, and if it wasn't for his accident, she would have never come back. And how things turned out for him was so out of nowhere, especially that accident. Why make things so dramatic??
- English words: I know that Japan loves all things English, but what the hell with all the "Engrish" words? Maybe, win, etc, etc. And, I am not kidding, they say Pride at least twice every episode, it was insane.
- It is true Kimura can act, he does the "kakkoi" character very well, but he can't smile! His smile is always too fake, too forced. Besides, it lasts like, 0.03 miliseconds.
In summary, episodes 1-6 were excellent. Episode 7, ends bad, with a glimpse of "the boyfriend". Episodes 8-10, bad, melodramatic, and miscommunication (I HATE miscommunication!). Episode 11, starts MEH, what with the "boyfriend" redeeming himself (I hate last minute redeems, they are like a cheap and easy way to end things). The last scene, with all the team and Haru and Aki kissing was good again.
**My rating: 8.5/10**
