RouteVenus
STORY 7.5/10
I'll be honest: I didn't enjoy this drama as much as I hoped I would. Make no mistake: I believe that the drama's high rating is well-deserved, but ultimately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I think there were two main reasons for that: first, the pace was relatively slow and not much happened in terms of plot, and second, it had a bit too much realistic feel to it for me to love it, I prefer dramas that provide escapism from grey reality of life and this drama just wasn't it - but this is just my personal bias and I won't hesitate to recommend this drama to anyone who prefers a more realistic take on a romantic comedy.
I do admire how this drama cleverly subverts trope expectations and over-used cliches and focuses on real issues of a diverse group of relatable characters. Other highlights include:
+ believable character development
+ no love triangle
+ the characters listen to and help each other, there are no misunderstandings that would lead to some extreme unnecessary hate/angst, the characters communicate, they are honest about their feelings
+ I appreciated that women in this show are diverse in terms of age and family situation (there is a 49-year-old carrier driven woman, a freshly divorced single mother, a middle-aged housewife...) and they are nothing but supportive of each other. They even discuss traditional gender roles and how social expectations influence their lives. How often do you see that addressed in dramas?
+ there was no antagonist
+ LGBT+ characters who are (from my point of view) portrayed in a realistic, non-offensive way and not just as a source of cheap jokes
+ funny dream sequences in which the main heroine pretends to be a part of some well-known reality show or imagines to be questioned on camera about things she's going through at the moment - hilarious concept!
ACTING/CAST 8
Great performances from everyone! No complaints in this department - but I also cannot say that I became an instant obsessive fan of any of them. I will be happy to see them in other shows when the time comes though.
MUSIC 7.5/10
I admit I remember next to nothing about the background music itself, but I've got to give points to the catchy opening and ending songs. Actually, I believe that the series' ending ("Koi" by Hoshino Gen) with its hilarious dance sequence might be the most entertaining ending theme since Hana Kimi's "Peach".
REWATCH VALUE 6/10
Fairly low for me, as I found the drama's pace too slow. But I will likely rewatch my favourite parts!
OVERALL 7.5/10
I'll be honest: I didn't enjoy this drama as much as I hoped I would. Make no mistake: I believe that the drama's high rating is well-deserved, but ultimately, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
I think there were two main reasons for that: first, the pace was relatively slow and not much happened in terms of plot, and second, it had a bit too much realistic feel to it for me to love it, I prefer dramas that provide escapism from grey reality of life and this drama just wasn't it - but this is just my personal bias and I won't hesitate to recommend this drama to anyone who prefers a more realistic take on a romantic comedy.
I do admire how this drama cleverly subverts trope expectations and over-used cliches and focuses on real issues of a diverse group of relatable characters. Other highlights include:
+ believable character development
+ no love triangle
+ the characters listen to and help each other, there are no misunderstandings that would lead to some extreme unnecessary hate/angst, the characters communicate, they are honest about their feelings
+ I appreciated that women in this show are diverse in terms of age and family situation (there is a 49-year-old carrier driven woman, a freshly divorced single mother, a middle-aged housewife...) and they are nothing but supportive of each other. They even discuss traditional gender roles and how social expectations influence their lives. How often do you see that addressed in dramas?
+ there was no antagonist
+ LGBT+ characters who are (from my point of view) portrayed in a realistic, non-offensive way and not just as a source of cheap jokes
+ funny dream sequences in which the main heroine pretends to be a part of some well-known reality show or imagines to be questioned on camera about things she's going through at the moment - hilarious concept!
ACTING/CAST 8
Great performances from everyone! No complaints in this department - but I also cannot say that I became an instant obsessive fan of any of them. I will be happy to see them in other shows when the time comes though.
MUSIC 7.5/10
I admit I remember next to nothing about the background music itself, but I've got to give points to the catchy opening and ending songs. Actually, I believe that the series' ending ("Koi" by Hoshino Gen) with its hilarious dance sequence might be the most entertaining ending theme since Hana Kimi's "Peach".
REWATCH VALUE 6/10
Fairly low for me, as I found the drama's pace too slow. But I will likely rewatch my favourite parts!
OVERALL 7.5/10
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