Yume wo Ataeru (2015)

Enjoyable watch throughout with a strong cast. I guess wouldn't expect less when you have Kikuchi Rinko, Odagiri Joe, and Kaho among the cast. Even the foreign cast did pretty well.

About the topic, it really made me feel that Yuuko was being treated no more than a product. By everyone one even her mother. Specially her mother. Maybe the only one that always had Yuuko's well being in mind was hee father, but he didn't have enough strong of a resolve to go through with it. A part of me cannot blame him since being a foreigner there already puts him at a disadvantage.

The story mostly revolves around Mikiko who had big dreams but somehow settled for less in life when things didn't go well. However she couldn't find peace with it, and the moment a chance appeared, she decided to live her dream through her daughter. The drama shows effectively Yuuko's growth throughout the years. She started a pretty much happy-go-lucky girl but then the small problems that were growing deeper, the loneliness was burying her deeper, and the loss of innocence that made her darker. She was desperate for someone to confind into, but no one gave her the chance. "Act professional" is what they say. It's what her mother would say.

The direction here was great. I love the switch between showing the set vs showing what TV viewers were seeing. And the ending had a great effect as well.

Short watch, great performances, definitely worth to check out.

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"The Psychological Evaluation of Abe Yuuko

The story-line itself is not unique however the drama managed to execute the series as it should be; this drama have the feel of an indie one, from the characters to the symbolism that is heavy on the show. This series is definitely for psychological junkies that are looking for good-ass Japanese drama. The actors managed to portray themselves, the ending is lowkey weird as it will make you question yourself whether it is a superficial happiness or a genuine one. Despite the small number of episode, this series managed to straight-forwardly advanced the plot hitting the viewers right in the guts. This theme is the complex family dynamic of a unconventional Japanese family and that it managed to execute.

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