Having delved into both the manga and anime, I feel justified in expressing my viewpoints. Despite my earnest efforts to appreciate this drama, regrettably, my hopes were dashed due to excessively lofty expectations. Primarily, the substandard quality of production came as a surprising letdown. It's truly baffling that the anime/manga production entity would endorse such a meagerly funded project. Whether this stems from financial limitations or sheer negligence on the part of the scriptwriters and producers remains uncertain. Given the existing manga and anime as a blueprint, the alterations in the narrative and the evident lack of meticulousness seem outright disrespectful to the original creations.

The ensemble cast could have been more judiciously selected. I don't intend to be overly critical, but although the cast's performances are passable, not all of them seem apt for their respective roles. The character of Izumi, meant to embody a blend of beauty, clumsiness, innocence, and grace, falls short in the portrayal by the actor. His demeanor leans too heavily towards masculinity, with lackluster facial expressions that occasionally veer into inappropriateness. And the depiction of Ryoma is a whole other debacle. The actor's appearance is less than appealing, and his interpretation is cringeworthy, completely distorting Ryoma's essence. There's much more I could articulate, but the frustration almost renders it inexpressible. The sole character that evoked reminiscences of the anime/manga was Shogo, solely due to the actor's adept capture of his speech patterns and demeanor. I relinquished viewing midway through, compelled to persevere till the end. Such is the profound disappointment this production embodies.