Tatakau! Shoten Girl Drama Review

(Photo credits goes to its rightful owners)

"Pegasus Bookstore is going through hard times due to competition from internet bookstores. Kitamura Aki and Nishioka Riko are employees at Pegasus Bookstore. Aki is 23 years old. She has a strong will and freewheeling personality. She places her job and dreams above marriage. Riko is a 40-year-old single woman. She is the vice-manager at the bookstore. She has pride in her work. The two women have completely different personalities." (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: +1
Yes. I don't have any idea how bookstores actually work, and this is not a very common setting, thought not very unique either, it still piqued my interest. 

Story development: +1
Every episode turns out favorable.

Conclusion: +1
Thumbs up for this. I'm still doubting that Nishioka and Mita can actually be together (these characters are portrayed by Inamori Izumi and Chiba Yudai), I really like it that Kitamura Aki (portrayed by Watanabe Mayu) ended up with the character who's really suited for her. I wanted Inamori Izumi's character to have ended up with Tanabe Seichii's character though. She let him get back with his ex-wife? That ex-wife was a cheater, right? I know it'll be hard for the child, but that was wrong I think, just staying for the sake of the child. I think the child will feel bad about it too.

Members of the cast: +1
Inoo Kei!!! He's the primary reason that this drama got my interest! He's my 2nd favorite member of idol group Hey! Say! JUMP. I like Watanabe Mayu (or Mayuyu) too, she's pretty cute. I'm loving Chiba Yudai lately, and I can't deny I've been falling and falling more. And Daito Shunsuke, oh yes ♥ 

Portrayal of roles: +1
I haven't watched a lot of Inamori Izumi's dramas, but basing from this drama, I actually don't like her acting style that much. She's good but I think she's a little stiff? I hope she can revive my opinion about her when I watch more of her dramas in the future, she's really pretty for her age though! I honestly felt awkward watching Mayuyu act, her amateur being is really obvious, but I think that's forgivable since she doesn't have much acting experience yet. Her facial expressions are still very limited. The awkwardness kind of lessen during the latter episodes though, I guess she already learned and improved a little. Chiba Yudai is good as usual. I just hope Yudai and Mayuyu worked on their chemistry a little so I could've cheered for them a little too, but oh well. But, did anyone cheer for this pair? They don't have chemistry, not at all, in my opinion. For Daito Shunsuke, he really suited the character well and I guess this is my most favorite portrayal of him by far. I just appreciated the character so much because of his expressions. I'll comment on Inoo Kei too even though his only a supporting character. He did pretty fine. I hope he can have more heavy roles though.

Character development: +1
Yes, I just hope Aki realized it's not just all about her. The nerve! She was really annoying in the first half of the series! Obata was really great, I thought he was this humorous random guy and that he'll remain like that, but he became this guy I admire most in this drama! I guess Nishioka learned from Aki, but I hope she would stop acting like a timid-type teenager or something. Lol. Nothing much on Chiba Yudai's character. I just hope he stopped being this guy who is seemingly trying hard to be mature, that's what his character is like.

OST/Theme song/Insert song used: +1
Mayuyu's song is pretty good.

Every episode was a fun watch: +1

Yes, well I really like Chiba Yudai, Inoo Kei and Daito Shunsuke so... XD But really, it's not that bad. :)

Made me anticipate for the next episodes: +1

Yes, because of Obata! It was such a delight to watch him!

It became a favorite: +1
Yes, I guess so, because I really like the members of the cast and the story is good and fun too! 

(minus .5)
Because of this (quoting myself lol) "I wanted Inamori Izumi's character to have ended up with Tanabe Seichii's character though. She let him get back with his ex-wife? That ex-wife was a cheater, right? I know it'll be hard for the child, but that was wrong I think, just staying for the sake of the child. I think the child will feel bad about it too."

(minus .5)
Because while the guys are really good actors, Inamori Izumi was a little stiff and Mayuyu was awkward to watch.

(minus .5)
Because of this (quoting myself again lol) "Nothing much on Chiba Yudai's character. I just hope he stopped being this guy who is seemingly trying hard to be mature, that's what his character is like."

Final Rating: 8.5/10  

Other comments/thoughts:
The story is not bad, it's actually entertaining. I just hope Mayuyu wasn't that awkward to watch, and Inamori Izumi doesn't give off a stiff vibe!

SMOKING GUN Drama Review

(Photo credits goes to its rightful owners)

Private forensic researcher Nagareda Enishi (Katori Shingo) is usually very sluggish as well as sloppy, and always aloof. However, his entire demeanour changes once he is at a scene and his skills as a forensic researcher are topnotch. He stands up for the disadvantaged by using science and technology to uncover conclusive evidence and solve trivial civil cases which the police will not handle such as adultery, molest and stalking. Enishi used to be a member of the Research Institute of Forensic Science and was called an ace, but he now belongs to Chiyoda Forensic Science Institute due to some incident. (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: +1
Yes, forensic research is always interesting! But, it still depends on how they will execute the story, of course.

Story development: +1
Yes, there was an interesting underlying problem and every episode is relevant.

Conclusion: +1
Yes, favorable. 

Members of the cast: +1
I really like Shingo Katori. Before this, Kasuka na Kanojo was the last drama I watched starring him so I was really excited to watch this one. I like Nishiuchi Mariya too. I didn't look at the complete list of cast and I was surprised when Nakayama Yuma is there! If you don't know, I like everyone in Johnnys! XD :)

Portrayal of roles: +1
I don't want to compare, but while Shingo Katori's portrayal in this drama is decent, I like his portrayal in Kasuka no Kanojo more. I know it's not right to compare since it's two different characters (a forensic investigator and a school teacher), but maybe, one may be better for a certain role than another? Nishiuchi Mariya is okay, though I'm not sure if she can take on heavy drama roles. Well, the character she's portraying here is not a dramatic role so it was fine.

Character development: +1
Enishi (Shingo Katori's role) is an interesting person, and he does interesting things all the time. Sakurako (Nishiuchi Mariya's character) is trying hard to learn and be of used which is admirable. 

OST/Theme song/Insert song used: 0
I can't remember anything on this. I'm quite surprised though, they didn't use an SMAP song for a drama starring an SMAP member this time?

Every episode was a fun watch: +1
The story development is good and the character portrayals are okay.

Made me anticipate for the next episodes: 0

While I think that everything that happened were relevant, I found myself a little uninterested.

It became a favorite: 0
No. I don't hate it though.

(plus .5)
Here's a .5 because, while it didn't really make me anticipate for the next episodes, it didn't make me want to discontinue watching the series either. This might be quite hard to understand but I can't actually explain it either. XD :)

(minus .5)
I also mentioned above that the story development was good and the portrayals were fine. It's like I'm interested in what's happening every episode but I couldn't be hooked enough. 

Final Rating: 7/10  

Other comments/thoughts:
I'm sorry my thought on this was are kinda vague! Hahaha. I don't know why! SMOKING GUN is a so-so drama, I guess not too bad, but not too good either. 

Update Post #5

Hi! Here's my 5th update post.

I know I couldn't post this month, I'm not really busy or anything but I have a messed up body clock, and not until I can get it fixed, then I guess I won't be able to write more. Nonetheless, I'll try to fill in some dates (this is cheating somehow lol), just because I don't want an empty month in this blog. XD

But anyway, I've finished 3 Japanese dramas yesterday and I feel so fulfilled. XD :) They are SMOKING GUN, Tatakau! Shoten Girl, and Youkoso, Wagaya e. I started watching SMOKING GUN about 3-4 days ago, while I've been following Tatakau! Shoten Girl and Youkoso, Wagaya e since they are both dramas from the current season. I'll post reviews of all three. :)

I don't have anything much to say this time. I've been thinking about some serious things but I'll keep it for myself first. Who knows I might be able to share it here in the future, though no one actually reads this. XD :)

That's all for now. If anyone have read this until here, I wish you well! XD Thank you. :)