Summer 2016 Doramas and Anime Wrap Up!

[aikokanzaki]

This season I watched a total of  doramas and anime from this summer season (see full list here.) and here I am with my reviews of them!

I had 6/7 dramas and 8 anime, which is a total of 15 shows this past season which is like a lot but I honestly I don't think I watched anywhere near as much as I'd planned to watch but we'll see now won't we. First let's get the bad out of the way:

Didn't Finish / Didn't Start

1. GARO
There ended up not being one this season so that's a no brainer.


Now onto the reviews of stuff I did actually watch!

Doramas



1. Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto [7/10]

This was a good summer dorama. It had the hot heat, the romance, the dramatic dorama and some touching storylines. A lot of it was good old cliche romance stuff that we all enjoy. I can't find the correct words to find this but I was happy to finally see Yamazaki do a manly role. Like he legit finally acted like a normal guy and I really felt his manliness in this one (especially in his surfing outfit!). I think I've gotten too used to him playing these high school brat or timid roles that I'm happy to finally see him play an adult role again and proving he can (how do I say this) be a man(?) Y'all understand what I'm trying to say right?

While there were no annoying characters and while I'm happy Nana got an almost decent character for once, some things did let it down. My biggest issue with this dorama isn't the dorama itself but actually the marketing for this dorama. If you all remember the original teaser, it was three men waking her up and going to kiss her so it looked like it was going to be a 'the boys are gunna fight over her' type of dorama, but as soon as marketing really began? It was Mirei and Kento everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE. So it made it SUPER obvious who she was gunna end up with and quite frankly ruined the first 3 or 4 episodes when you don't know who she's going to go for! So yes the marketing ruined the romantic heart pumping before the dorama had even began. The other thing I didn't like was the ending. We all knew why he was letting her go and I'm disappointed he didn't see it through. In a RL and ideal situation, Mirei's character would go to NY and THEN find out he'd been cold on purpose. But no, he gives up this HUGE opportunity to somehow get to Narita Airport (which is actually like 4 hours away from Enoshima where they filmed and where it's set!) in time to tell her he fucked up and wants her by his side. But luckily she did end up going to NY in the end anyway but I just wanted her to realise why he'd been cold AFTER she'd left Japan.

This was decent but I guess my expectations were too high in places. ALSO Nomura didn't get anywhere NEAR enough screen time! He has so much potential! So yes, just a standard 7/10 from me for this. Decent but lacking in originality and the feels.

2. HOPE [5/10]

Unfortuantely I had seen the Korean version before this one and unfortunately I absolutely ADORED the Korean version so my expectations for this were ridiculous to begin with. It didn't help that's they'd hird NAKAJIMA to be the lead role. This boy STILL can't act for shit and yes he did an brilliant job in Pink and Grey but comparing all his other work so far; he just got lucky in that one movie. So seeing him being cast as the main for this? Oh dear oh dear. And just as I expected; he bored me to death. Now onto a lighter note: I really like how Seto Koji played his character, he played it very true to the original (yes I'm calling the K version the original okay!) version and I really like the extra or new parts of the character he added. I was really impressed with Kiriyama Akito's actor (he's always been capable though) and again played the character perfectly (no where near as gay and flamboyant as the korean version but played him as the perfect Japanese version) and was a joy to watch.

I'm really upset that we didn't get more backstory because there's SO much of these side characters that are explained and they each have their own problems going on while Ichinose is being a baby (although I did enjoy he career development going from this guy that can't do anything to helping other in different sections) and the side characters backstories and situations are way more interesting. So much of the manager, vice manager and Ichinose's relationship development was cut out too! Them three have the best relationship in the k version ='[

I'm also upset they changed my favourite scene! Which is from episode 9 when the four main people work all night. In the Korean version, the manager finds all the guys cuddling on one bed; in the Japanese version, the guys are asleep next to each other; how much of a disappointment was that for me! =[

Also Kaji Masaki only had like 10 minutes screentime over 2 episodes! I wanted more! GIVE ME MORE KAJI!!! I LOVE KAJI!!!

Overall I much prefer the Korean version but very happy with the side character's actor's performances.

3. Aogeba Toutoshi [8/10]

This is THE summer high school drama for 2016 guys! This one you guys. Holy moly. I thought this was gunna be some fun Tumbling meets Music dorama but oh no! While it is overall very enjoyable and a lot of fun, this is SO emotional and unfortunately fucking cancer is a theme here in this too -__- which I was REALLY hoping it wouldn't but alas it did. Regardless of that I really, really, REALLY enjoyed the five main characters friendship. It was so amazing and I really enjoy their backstory and I feel their character development over the series was amazing too; especially Aoshima's (Nijiro's) characterisation <3 that boy (as in the character) grew bound upon bounds in this! I was balling my eyes out pretty much the entire last episode and I cried pretty much every episode. For example, there's a part where one of the guys finally accepts the other guy and finally calls him senpai and I was in streams of tears of joy "he said it! He said senpai!" and I loved the teacher and Aoshima's relationship and the teacher as a character is freaking amazing too! So pure hearted. I enjoyed this so much and if you don't mind cancer being a theme in your doramas (tbh I really do but I'd sitll say it's worth the watch regardless) and if you don't mind some tears of joy and some tears of sadness they I definitely recommend you watch this!

4. Kamen Rider Ghost [3/10 - only for Alein <3]

First: to those of you that did enjoy this; good on you cos someone needed to like this show. But now onto my very opposite feelings: Oh my god this train wreck... when the started I was going off a Kamen Rider Drive high but was also being pushed into a slump because of how back Ninninger was so when this started I was a bit on the negative side. But I watched like the first 12 or so episodes before hanging out the towel for the first time. The story and plot is absolutely attrocious. The premesis sounds amazing but the execution? Oh boy it's bad. Not only do we become numb to the threat of Takeru dying multiple times, but they also RESET the first time limit for some bizarre reason. I know it's a kids show but other kid shows have better logic than this one! The story did capture my heart and attention during Alein's 10 or so episode story and story arc but before and after that? I was bored to tears. And it got excessively confusing when we got to Makoto's double act shit. Also, it got so ridiculous I pissed myself with laugher at episode 48 and 49. Adel is supposed to be this 'I am the world' scary guy but just turned out he took 48 episodes to FINALYL realise his daddy issues and that his dad loves him even though every mother fuck told him for like 30 episodes?! This series is the most ridiculous, worst written, uninteresting Kamen Rider stories I have ever watched. And no offense to Nishime but this boy cannot act. He really (maybe it was his character) started to annoy me and he was so fucking boring. And Makoto's actor and character is even worse so we won't go there. I HATE the theme song too and we all know my fiery hate for... what she called? Akari? Ugh... couldn't stand her either. Even Adel's performance (the actor is normally really good) was boring and flat. I'm so glad it's over and cannot wait for the next series - in all honesty I've been waiting like 4 months for Ex-Aid to start, Ghost is THAT bad. But just my opinion.

Anime

1. Show by Rock!! Shorts [3/10]

This was supposed to be a 'this will keep you satisfied until season 2' but omg it so wasn't! The episodes are like 2 minutes each and over 30 seconds of that is dedicated to the ending song!! WTF?!?!? Some episodes were funny, but most were just pointless. Just shut up and give me season two already!



2. Fairy Tail Season One [8/10]

Oh my you guys I finally watched season one! And I understand the rage where the season finishes in the middle of an arc! Some arcs were a bit meh (like everyone's beloved Oracion arc? I didn't like it at all!) but overall I really enjoyed the characters and the action and I definitely laughed a lot and Happy is such a cute character and I really like how we slowly get people's backstories. I intend to watch season two but not for a while; I've heard complaints about the art style so I might just switch to the manga after this instead. Overall this was entertaining and really easy to get through if you have a spare few hours to kill like 4 or 5 episode marathons. Actually I watched this before going to bed and it was easy and quick to get through! So if you just want some fun with some boobs in your face now and again and lots of action and some laughs then try this! ^_^ I can definitely see the similarities between this and One Piece also.



3. Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE! [8/10]

This was somehow more ridiculous than the first season! We were getting Christmas, New Years AND Valentine episodes even though it was the middle of summer xD Unfortuantely the bad guys this season were boring and it was heavily Yumoto centric when all I really wanted was more side character development. BUT we did get some good moments and episodes. We had An-Chan and Kin-chan having their moment at the beginning of the season and then there was the episode where Io and Ryuu showed how much they loved each other and then Yumoto ate some drugged up chocolate on valentines day and got VERY gay with every and wouldn't let go of them and was confessing his feelings so that was great. Luckily I felt the last episode was very satisfactory but I really, really do need more. Either as a manga series or a movie or better yet, give me a season 3 now!



4. Orange [7/10]

I balled my eyes out to the manga, I thoroughly loved the movie and now here I am completnig the anime and for the THIRD time around I'm crying. Unfortunately the anime version of this story hit me the least emotionally and there were some episodes (around episode 6,7,8,9) where it wasn't holding my attention. It's a very faithful adaptation and once again we are shown that Suwa is the real hero in all this and I feel the anime showed the worst version of Naho. I don't remember her being this dumb or inconsiderate or stupid in the manga or the movie but she REAL seemed stupid in this one. The ending is exactly the same as the manga/movie so naturally I'm pissed BUT we are getting an original sequel which shows this new future so that makes up for it ^_^




5. Ace Attorney [4/10]

So Ace Attorney ended up finally finishing so I watched the final 4 episodes today. When I first started this I loved how game-like this was (in terms of the green text in boxes for character introductions etc) and I quite liked the first two stories BUT I just feel it dragged. I started to get bored and I started realising just how easy the cases were to figure out and I'm a type of person who doesn't like law cases and crimes and logics to be easy. If I can figure a tv show out then I get really bored and unfortunately that happened and it ruined my enjoyment of the show. My friend who LOVES the games is/was seriously enjoying this so this anime will work for some people but it just didn't for me. Sorry!




6. Cheer Danshi [8/10]

Now this was on my interested list but not on my Definitely Watching list. I ended up having some extra time and it did really interested me so I started watching it and I'm glad I did because not only was this a good anime (although short lived *cries*) but it also got a Stage announcement after like the 3rd or 4th episode! (Official Site here) Which is awesome!! This show is like any other sports anime; first there's a lot of fails and then members don't get along but then they learn how important friendship and teamwork is but because they're new they lose the nationals. Every sports anime (that I've seen) has this format. So why did I enjoy this one so much? Firstly, I'm a huge gymnastics fan so liking cheerleading is completely natural and this is very similar to one of my fav doramas of all time: TUMBLING <3 Also ALL BOYS? That sounds awesome! Also the main characters Haru and Kazu are so cute!! I also really liked the first 3 or so members that joined the team to but once it's strecthed to 16 members, I can only remember a few. The humour in this was great too and some facial features (like when Haru finds out the girl he likes is taken and who she's with) are hilarious! I really liked the coach too and the member backstories and development we did get was really good ^_^ I'm annoyed we didn't get to see the full routine at the end and I'm more annoyed that we didn't see WHO WON but I assume they lost. God damn there better be a second season! I really like the theme songs too ^_^ and did you know this was inspired and is based of the first All Boys Cheerleading uni team in Japan? I think it's Meiji Uni?

Extras

Most of the summer season I spent watching the doramas and anime from the actually season but then towards the end I found I had a lot of time (I put myself on a stage watching ban) to finally watch some past doramas so I ended up marathoning 5 in a row (I watched all five in about 8 or 9 days!) and hopefully can get some more out of the way and save some space (finally) on this poor, old laptop harddrive xD << if you wanna know what I have and help me decide the next thing I watch then let me know!

Total Watched and Completed list for Summer 2016:

July

Kin'Iro Corda 6/10
Brother's Conflict 7/10
K: Return of Kings 8/10
Hakuouki Otogisoushi 8/10

August

刑事一徹 命懸けで捜査に挑む犯人より心配性な男 6/10
Shin Godzilla 6/10
Corpse Party 2 7/10
Osomatsu-san 6/10
Fairy Tail 8/10
High&Low Season 1 7/10
High&Low Season 2 6/10
Article 9 9/10
Smoking Gun 6/10
Kakusho 5/10

September

Fuben na Benriya 4/10
Kokoro ga Pokitto ne 7/10
Shimeshi 8/10
Show by Rock!! Shorts! 4/10
Aogeba Toutoshi 8/10
HOPE 5/10
Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto 7/10
Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE! 8/10
Orange 7/10
Ace Attorney 4/10
Cheer Danshi 8/10

Anime: 11
Dorama: 10
Movie: 3
SP: 1
Total: 25

Doramas are finally getting up there and balancing out against movies which I've been completely neglecting recently =[ and I don't think I'll have time to continue any cinema going any time soon (damn you October and your fucking busy schedule!).

And that's a wrap up! If you made it this far then thank you for reading all the drivel! xD

What did you watch this season? Any good ones? Anything disappointing? Any recs you got for me? Let me know everything in the comments below!