Finally finished the drama. The last episode also has us going back & forth. But the happy end was what we were looking forward to. Burying a bundle of memories at the foot of a tree was just like the one in ‘My Sassy girl’ one of the landmark shows on the Korean hit shows. It is a 2001 film that broke all the charts, then. A blockbuster of all times.
She goes & reads the letter under the blooming ‘Sakura’ is beautiful. The airplane the mainstay of their relationship, dreams is in the background when she calls out to him.
I am fascinated by the young artists who put in their best performance. Young Yae was enacted by Rikako Yagi. She has flawless skin & is sweet. She is a natural. She is never acting. Born in 2001, she is so young!
Also the young Hirumachi assayed by Taisei Kido. Just 26 years old he shows excellent acting chops. “First Love: Hatsukoi’ is his breakthrough role. Right from his entry he is interesting. Later the back story shows him in a different light. His perseverance is out of this world.
Looking from his perspective, losing her must have been a shock. But he lives with her memory buried deep within. His honest portrayal was stunning.
Towa Araki as her son Tsuzuru, shows his talent. His longing for the the dancer Aoi Yamada is natural. His shyness when approaching her & when he decides to delete all his songs but again takes up the keys to write a new one…
His disappointment at looking at her with her boyfriend. His haste at reaching the airport to see her off. Most thrilling is that his mother drives him to the airport, what a journey! She knows about inertia & that motion can move boulders!!
Kaho as Tsunemi never had a chance to come between the two. But she does her best. She is thrilled when he asks her out for dinner. So are we, thinking he may be getting over his first love.
Minami & Akiyoshi Nakao as his sister & best friend/ brother-in-law have small roles. But important for the story to move on. The best example of supportive roles.
Till the 7th or 8th episode I never imagined this good a closure, but it was. The old song playing on the tape, listening with her son on ear phones shared, tears rolling down. The flow of memories is gradual. Nothing dramatic.
A good show.
Asian Entertainment 