Summer Nude

Japanese title: SUMMER NUDE
(Yeah, I know, it's not very Japanese)

Aired on Fuji TV
From 2013 July to September
11 episodes

Main cast:

Yamashita Tomohisa: Mikuriya Asahi

Toda Erika: Taniyama Hanae

Karina: Chiyohara Natsuki

Katsuji Ryo: Yaino Takashi

Kubota Masataka: Kirihata Hikaru

Yamamoto Mizuki: Horikiri Aoi

Takahashi Katsunori: Shimojima Kenji

Itaya Yuka: Shimojima Setsuko

Nagasawa Masami: Ichikura Kasumi

Note: I watched this drama mostly week to week but sometimes with two weeks in between.

Review: +/-

Title: Drama, you have disappointed me greatly. I thought I would finally be able to make fun of a title and then, you went in the 6th something episode using a voiceover reminiscent of Buzzer beat to say stuff about summer and emotions bared nude. But even with a Miley-Cyrus-like explanation, it's still a ridiculous title.

Boy: He's a photographer who lives a quiet life in a seaside little town. He is confident, very nice and always keeps his promises. Problem: He's obsessed with an ex-girlfriend to the point of stupidity.

Girl: She's a successful cook. She's nice (everyone in this drama is), energetic and strong-willed. She and Boy like to tease each other.

Other girl: She's been in love with Boy for ten years but hasn't made any moves. She is sad and hurt to watch Boy being obssessed with his ex girlfriend's unlikely return. She's a bit of a tomboy and very nice (of course). She and Girl become fast friends.

Other girls and boys: They should get their own mini description given their prominence but I'm too lazy and there is nothing special.

Plot/relationships: A new person gets incorporated into a group of friends who live in a small seaside town and have known each other almost forever. She brings change: new relationships, new endeavours.

Romantic relationships are gradual except for one ridiculous case of insta-love (You know, the dreadful "Wow, with this white shirt on/ without a beer in your hand/ riding an elephant, you're so good looking that I want your babies!")

Funny Factor: Throughout the drama, two teenagers live their own love story, quasi completely disconnected from the main characters, hitting all the hallmarks of "epic" love. It's totally WTH, and funny.

Music: I really like one of the insert piece, full of nostalgic feelings. Overall, it was good.

Bottom line: This is a quiet drama, with decent people who are nice to each other. I like that and I wasn't bored watching it but at the same time, I wasn't dying to watch the next episode. It didn't have glaring faults but I think the pacing was off.

I'm sorry, drama, but I have to come to terms with the fact that I love over-the-top too much and that I can't appreciate quiet anymore. +/-

Love Shuffle

Japanese title: ラブシャッフル

Aired on TBS
From 2009 January to March
10 episodes

Based on a manga

Main cast:

Tamaki Hiroshi: Usami Kei

Karina: Aizawa Airu

Matsuda Shota: Sera Ojiro

Tanihara Shosuke: Kikuta Masato

DAIGO: Oishi Yukichi

Yoshitaka Yuriko: Hayakawa Kairi

Kojima Hijiri: Kamijyo Reiko

Kanjiya Shihori: Kagawa Mei

Hello Karina! I'm watching your last drama Summer nude!
Hey Ceramic boy from Hana yori dango!
Hola Girl's best friend from Buzzer beat, you're quite different here!

 

Review: +

Title: So four strangers meet in an elevator, bond, realise they live on the same floor and decide to “shuffle” their partners every week. As you do.

Boys and girls: Therefore, there are eight main protagonists.
The four floormates:
- Shining loser
- Sassy interpreter
- Sweet dark photographer
- Mysterious psychiatrist
And their respective partners:
- Innocent fiancée
- Desperate billionaire
- Sexy older lady
- Strange painter

As you can see, a lot of these characters are weird and at least complicated with secret motivations for going into the love shuffle. Therefore it’s interesting and different. They are likeable but not really relatable.
 

Plots and relationships: The plot is relationships and learning about the characters, their past, their motivations for the shuffle or for life in general. Problem is: it is weird and therefore, it feels almost surreal at times, like it does not take place in our reality. So, just go with its atmosphere to enjoy. Actually, one of the most enjoyable parts is the friendship between the four floormates: it’s playful but they also really care for each other.

 

Funny factor: Yes. Also, lots of plays on words. YAY PANDA!

Music: Good. Enjoy these familiar songs.

Bottom line: I wasn’t forcing myself to finish this drama and I was not cringing so it’s a +. It’s original and different but also weird. Try the first episodes and see if you get into it!