(Photo credits goes to its rightful owners)
"Summer holidays... Amano Aki follows her mother, Haruko, to her hometown in Kitasanriku. There, she meets her maternal grandmother, Natsu, for the first time. Natsu is a woman diver, and Aki thinks that is just so cool. Aki is a second year high-school student, and she struggles to keep up with the fast-paced life in Tokyo. Having been confined indoors most of the time, everything she sees in the rural town is exciting to her. But most of all, seeing her grandmother diving under the fierce surf along the coastline, leaves a huge impact on her. "I think I would like to be a diver too..." (from dramawiki)
Rating: 10 is the highest, 0 is the lowest. Please view my criteria here.
(This may contain spoilers, I tried to limit them, but please read at your own discretion.)
Interesting synopsis: 0
I didn't really know what was coming with the very plain synopsis. I thought it was just a teenager working hard for her dream to be a diver and that's it. I have probably heard/read about the idol thing on this before but I forgot about it already when I started watching this drama last June.
Story development: +1
Yes. Oh yes. It's amazing. I'm sorry I don't know how to explain how amusing and engaging the development of the story is, but I got really hooked that I finished Amachan's Week 11 to Week 26 in just 3 days! Imagine, that's 96 15-minute episodes, all in all, that's around 24 hours! I started really enjoying the story around Week 5 or 6 I guess. But really, I don't know what made me enjoy it so much. There were many things I can't relate with (I've never been to Japan, what more I don't have any idea about its north nor south countryside), or maybe that's one of the charms of the drama for me. I can't say this can inspire anyone if they want to be an idol, but I guess it makes people feel good that's why it garnered a lot of viewers and high ratings.
Conclusion: +1
Yes, though I would have wanted Aki (Nounen Rena) to go back to Tokyo after helping Kitasanrinku, with Yui (Hashimoto Ai) this time, and they'll strive again and actually make it! But I'm already contented with the ending. But, I wanted Aki to end up with Hiroshi (Koike Teppei)! Hahaha. C'mon, I don't hate Fukushi Sota but Teppei is more adorable than him! If it was Hiroshi who was dull and undetermined, I wouldn't cheer for him to be with Aki, but he changed and moved forward so... Hahaha. But anyway, that's not a big issue in the story so it's fine, no minus point. XD :) But yes I'm happy Masamune (Omi Toshinori) and Haruko (Koizumi Kyoko), got back together! Masamune deserves a happy life, what a very admirable and warm character!
Members of the cast: +1
Not really interested in Nounen Rena, but Koike Teppei, Arimura Kasumi, Hashimoto Ai, Fukushi Sota and Higashide Masahiro (whom I first watched in Mondai no Aru Restaurant recently) are part of the cast, so it made me look forward to it.
Portrayal of roles: +1
This is the first drama of Nounen Rena I've watched, well not really, but this is the first I've watched wherein she's the lead. I've seen Nounen Rena in varieties and know she is weird. When I watched Amachan, sometimes it doesn't even feel that she's acting, because it's just like the usual airhead that she is when she's on variety shows! I hope it's not just because this was her true nature that she did a good job, I'm going to watch her more and more from now on, and see how her acting is. Hashimoto Ai feels a little awkward sometimes, usually when she's trying to portray anger but it was okay, it was so like the character she's portraying anyway. I still can't shake off the ojiichan (old man) image I got of Fukushi Sota when I saw his gestures at the Seventeen Natsu Matsuri 2014. Hahaha! It was the usual him anyway, nothing much, he is your usual shoujo prince. I guess the other actors studied a lot for their characters which is very laudable. Another man who got me with his portrayal on this one is Omi Toshinori as Kurokawa Masamune. He's a supporting character alright, but he was very effective as Aki's father and Haruko's husband. I found myself really admiring him! Hahaha. Nevermind that he's old!
Character development: +1
Yes. This drama reminded me how time has passed for me as well. Maybe some were thinking "What does Aki really want to do? She's just someone who always doesn't finish what she started!", that came to my mind to. But somehow I realized, maybe the story is trying to say "It's alright to try different things, more so when you're young. Find your passion." It might only be me who thinks that way but it's the message I got from the drama. Like the popular quote we all know right now "You only live once." Meanwhile, siblings Yui and Hiroshi were both lost but have found themselves too. They went through a lot but they became really admirable. Haruko and Natsu-bappa were both irritating at times to be honest. But oh well, Haruko had finally freed herself from the burden and regret she was carrying all this time. Idk about Natsu-bappa (Aki's grandmother), but it's good she learned to listen and face her own daughter (Haruko).
OST/Theme song/Insert song used: +1
Oh yes everything! The opening will stick to you even if it's instrumental. Currently, I have all Shiosai no Memory versions (Aki and Yui's, Haruko's, and Suzuka Hiromi's versions) on my phone. I have LSS with Shiosai no Memory right now! I also have the other songs from the drama which are Koyomi no Ue dewa December and Jimoto ni Kaerou.
Every episode was a fun watch: +1
Yes, at first, it was just okay, but at around Week 5 or 6, I was like "Omg. I want to watch it all." I don't even know what's so great about it but I was laughing and crying so much with this drama.
Made me anticipate for the next episodes: +1
Yes! That's why I finished it in just a short span of time! I've finally overcome my messed up body clock a few weeks ago, but then I watched Amachan and my body clock is messed up yet again! Sorry not sorry though! Hahaha! I started this in June, and I think I was going slow with the first 4 week-episodes, it was just so-so and I'm not yet hooked, but from Week 5 I finished it in less than a week until its Week 26!
It became a favorite: +1
YES!
(plus .5)
Though the synopsis didn't interest me much, I was really interested in knowing what the hype about Amachan was about 2 years ago. Why did many people watched and enjoyed it, I got really curious. Actually, the real synopsis/plot was very interesting! I guess it's never judge a drama with its plot. Lol!
Final Rating: 9.5/10
Other comments/thoughts:
I probably won't be able to put into words everything which made this drama so admirable. It's calm and refreshing in its own unique way which I can't actually explain. Maybe, this is even a 10/10 because the real synopsis/plot was a thumbs up! It's surprising that it really got me hooked and I found myself literally applauding after the last episode!
