18 posts tagged “jdrama”
Title: Maison Ikkoku
Broadcast date: 5/12/07
Genre: Romance
Cast: Itoh Misaki, Nakabayashi Taiki, Kishimoto Kayoko, Kishibe Ittoku, Takahashi Yumiko
Plot: Godai (Nakabayashi Taiki) is a rounin, a student who has failed his college entrance exams, with obnoxious neighbors distracting him from studying. When Otonashi Kyoko (Itoh Misaki) becomes the new apartment building manager and moves in, Godai falls in love with her at first sight. He hopes to pass his college entrance exam so he can win her heart.
What is good: It stays true to the anime.
What is bad: It is boring.
Letter rating: D
Overall: I did not like the Maison Ikkoku anime. While I generally like romance stories, this seemed to be about people who were either complete losers or completely oblivious to the world around them. This drama sticks close to that synopsis. Very little got accomplished in this two hour drama. We were introduced to some characters and one plotline was completed. Everything else is left hanging. It felt like this was a prologue to a new series or possibly the beginning of a series of specials.
I wish there would have been a bit more external conflict in the series. As it is, almost all of the conflict in the story takes place within Godai. Even the annoying neighbors don't present any real conflict since Godai just lets them walk all over him. If you are a fan of Maison Ikkoku, you might enjoy this but don't expect to get any resolution out of it.
Broadcast date: 5/12/07
Genre: Romance
Cast: Itoh Misaki, Nakabayashi Taiki, Kishimoto Kayoko, Kishibe Ittoku, Takahashi Yumiko
Plot: Godai (Nakabayashi Taiki) is a rounin, a student who has failed his college entrance exams, with obnoxious neighbors distracting him from studying. When Otonashi Kyoko (Itoh Misaki) becomes the new apartment building manager and moves in, Godai falls in love with her at first sight. He hopes to pass his college entrance exam so he can win her heart.
What is good: It stays true to the anime.
What is bad: It is boring.
Letter rating: D
Overall: I did not like the Maison Ikkoku anime. While I generally like romance stories, this seemed to be about people who were either complete losers or completely oblivious to the world around them. This drama sticks close to that synopsis. Very little got accomplished in this two hour drama. We were introduced to some characters and one plotline was completed. Everything else is left hanging. It felt like this was a prologue to a new series or possibly the beginning of a series of specials.
I wish there would have been a bit more external conflict in the series. As it is, almost all of the conflict in the story takes place within Godai. Even the annoying neighbors don't present any real conflict since Godai just lets them walk all over him. If you are a fan of Maison Ikkoku, you might enjoy this but don't expect to get any resolution out of it.
Title: akihabara@DEEP
Broadcast date: 6/19/06
Genre: Action and Adventure
Cast: Kazama Shunsuke, Ikuta Toma, Himura Yuuki, Hoshino Gen, Matsushima Hatsune, Kosaka Yuka, Honjou Manami, Kitamura Kazuki
Plot: A group of otaku come together to form a troubleshooting company. They try their best to solve the problems of the people in Akihabara.
What is good: Kitamura Kazuki is an awesome villian
What is bad: Maybe it's because the concept of Japanese otaku is so foreign but they seemed to overreact to just about everything.
Letter rating: A+
Overall: I went into this series expecting something along the lines of Densha Otoko. However, I think this is so much better because it doesn't revolve around the life of one person. You have six people, each with some sort of oddity. Each of them turned to a website, Yui's Lifeguard, in order to help them live their daily lives. It's through this website that they come together and become friends. It was really awesome to watch these people grow into something more than just otaku. They really become close friends.
On the other side, you have Nakagomi Takashi (Kitamura Kazuki) as the bad guy. Kitamura played the bad guy in the latest Densha Otoko special. I think he may be getting a little too close to his otaku side! While Nakagomi is a creepy character, Kitamura plays him perfectly. He really was my favorite character here.
I would recommend this series to anyone interested in the otaku culture. You may not understand a lot of things if you don't have at least a tiny grasp of what otaku means to the Japanese people. Otaku in America is very different from otaku in Japan. If you can make that distinction, I think you would really enjoy the series.
Broadcast date: 6/19/06
Genre: Action and Adventure
Cast: Kazama Shunsuke, Ikuta Toma, Himura Yuuki, Hoshino Gen, Matsushima Hatsune, Kosaka Yuka, Honjou Manami, Kitamura Kazuki
Plot: A group of otaku come together to form a troubleshooting company. They try their best to solve the problems of the people in Akihabara.
What is good: Kitamura Kazuki is an awesome villian
What is bad: Maybe it's because the concept of Japanese otaku is so foreign but they seemed to overreact to just about everything.
Letter rating: A+
Overall: I went into this series expecting something along the lines of Densha Otoko. However, I think this is so much better because it doesn't revolve around the life of one person. You have six people, each with some sort of oddity. Each of them turned to a website, Yui's Lifeguard, in order to help them live their daily lives. It's through this website that they come together and become friends. It was really awesome to watch these people grow into something more than just otaku. They really become close friends.
On the other side, you have Nakagomi Takashi (Kitamura Kazuki) as the bad guy. Kitamura played the bad guy in the latest Densha Otoko special. I think he may be getting a little too close to his otaku side! While Nakagomi is a creepy character, Kitamura plays him perfectly. He really was my favorite character here.
I would recommend this series to anyone interested in the otaku culture. You may not understand a lot of things if you don't have at least a tiny grasp of what otaku means to the Japanese people. Otaku in America is very different from otaku in Japan. If you can make that distinction, I think you would really enjoy the series.
Title: GTO the movie
Release date: 12/18/99
Genre: School comedy
Cast: Sorimachi Takashi, Tanaka Rena, Kasahara Hideyuki, Fujiwara Norika
Plot: Onizuka-sensei goes to a small village in Hokkaido to teach. As usual, he ends up with a troubled class, thanks mostly to the rich girl, Katsuragi Ayano. He takes it upon himself to fix Ayano and make everyone happy again.
What is good: The acting isn't terrible
What is bad: It is pretty dull.
Letter rating: D+
Overall: Sadly, this franchise has gone downhill. The series was awesome, the special was OK but the movie is on the edge of terrible. Onizuka rescues two students from suicide and, despite being fairly mean to him, ends up as the depressed boy's best friend.
As he works his magic to make the lives of these two students better, he's being chased down by a reporter who mistakes him as a serial criminal. While he isn't guilty of the crimes she accuses him of, he does steal, kidnap and get involved in a police chase. (I'm hoping he borrowed the truck he was driving at the time since it isn't stated how he obtained it.) This doesn't feel nearly as light-hearted as the series or the special. Maybe it was the lack of Fuyutsuki-sensei's 'straight man' to Onizuka's comedian. Throughout the entire movie, I was hoping she would pop in at some point to tell Onizuka he's an idiot but she never appears. I suppose if you really love the GTO series it might be worth sitting through the 2 hour movi but I'm sure you could find a better way to spend your time.
Release date: 12/18/99
Genre: School comedy
Cast: Sorimachi Takashi, Tanaka Rena, Kasahara Hideyuki, Fujiwara Norika
Plot: Onizuka-sensei goes to a small village in Hokkaido to teach. As usual, he ends up with a troubled class, thanks mostly to the rich girl, Katsuragi Ayano. He takes it upon himself to fix Ayano and make everyone happy again.
What is good: The acting isn't terrible
What is bad: It is pretty dull.
Letter rating: D+
Overall: Sadly, this franchise has gone downhill. The series was awesome, the special was OK but the movie is on the edge of terrible. Onizuka rescues two students from suicide and, despite being fairly mean to him, ends up as the depressed boy's best friend.
As he works his magic to make the lives of these two students better, he's being chased down by a reporter who mistakes him as a serial criminal. While he isn't guilty of the crimes she accuses him of, he does steal, kidnap and get involved in a police chase. (I'm hoping he borrowed the truck he was driving at the time since it isn't stated how he obtained it.) This doesn't feel nearly as light-hearted as the series or the special. Maybe it was the lack of Fuyutsuki-sensei's 'straight man' to Onizuka's comedian. Throughout the entire movie, I was hoping she would pop in at some point to tell Onizuka he's an idiot but she never appears. I suppose if you really love the GTO series it might be worth sitting through the 2 hour movi but I'm sure you could find a better way to spend your time.
Title: Great Teacher Onizuka Drama Special
Broadcast date: 12/98
Genre: School-related drama
Cast: Sorimachi Takashi, Matsushima Nanako, Kitamura Soichiro, Katase Nana, Shimizo Chika, Asami Reina, Hosokawa Shigeki
Plot: Onizuka is substituting at an all-girls school. Just when he's thinking this could be the perfect job for him, three of the girls in his class blackmail him into becoming their "Genie of the Lamp." That is when he finds out one of the girls is deeply troubled. While he is helping her, he also has to make a good impression for Fuyutsuki-sensei's father so he can marry her properly.
What is good: Sorimachi-san is still awesome as Onizuka
What is bad: This probably would have been a lot better as a second season instead of just a special.
Letter rating: B-
Overall: From what I hear, a lot of people didn't like this special. I thought it was pretty good, albeit a bit rushed. The subplot with Onizuka trying to get Fuyutsuki's father to like him was cute but this was a really good example of how things were cut short to fit into a two hour special. It definitely would have been a lot better if this was expanded into a full-fledged plot of its own. As for the class Onizuka is teaching, we don't get to see a lot of them as a whole class. The special focuses on three girls and, again, this is rushed as Onizuka is able to "transform" them into good girls within a half hour. GTO is a better show when Onizuka is able to work with the students one-on-one in order to help them get past their problems. Oh and for those fans of the series, no worries, the group of students from the old school do show up and hang out with Onichi for awhile. It was nice to see them still interacting with their teacher, even if he isn't their teacher right now. While this isn't a great show, it isn't terrible either. I'd recommend it to someone who enjoyed the GTO series.
Broadcast date: 12/98
Genre: School-related drama
Cast: Sorimachi Takashi, Matsushima Nanako, Kitamura Soichiro, Katase Nana, Shimizo Chika, Asami Reina, Hosokawa Shigeki
Plot: Onizuka is substituting at an all-girls school. Just when he's thinking this could be the perfect job for him, three of the girls in his class blackmail him into becoming their "Genie of the Lamp." That is when he finds out one of the girls is deeply troubled. While he is helping her, he also has to make a good impression for Fuyutsuki-sensei's father so he can marry her properly.
What is good: Sorimachi-san is still awesome as Onizuka
What is bad: This probably would have been a lot better as a second season instead of just a special.
Letter rating: B-
Overall: From what I hear, a lot of people didn't like this special. I thought it was pretty good, albeit a bit rushed. The subplot with Onizuka trying to get Fuyutsuki's father to like him was cute but this was a really good example of how things were cut short to fit into a two hour special. It definitely would have been a lot better if this was expanded into a full-fledged plot of its own. As for the class Onizuka is teaching, we don't get to see a lot of them as a whole class. The special focuses on three girls and, again, this is rushed as Onizuka is able to "transform" them into good girls within a half hour. GTO is a better show when Onizuka is able to work with the students one-on-one in order to help them get past their problems. Oh and for those fans of the series, no worries, the group of students from the old school do show up and hang out with Onichi for awhile. It was nice to see them still interacting with their teacher, even if he isn't their teacher right now. While this isn't a great show, it isn't terrible either. I'd recommend it to someone who enjoyed the GTO series.
Title: Kimi wa Petto
Also known as: I'm Your Pet
Broadcast date: 4/9/03 - 6/18/03
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Koyuki, Matsumoto Jun, Tanabe Seiichi
Plot: Journalist Iwaya Sumire (Koyuki) has had a terrible day - her longtime boyfriend broke up with her and she got a demotion at work. On the way home, she finds an injured boy (Matsumoto Jun) in a cardboard box. After nursing him back to health, the boy claims that he will do anything in order to stay with her. So Iwaya takes him in as a pet and names him Momo, after the dog she owned when she was a child.
What is good: MatsuJun is pretty cute as Momo.
What is bad: The "ideal" man that all the girls want (Tanabe Seiichi) is a huge dork, whereas everyone calls him "cool."
Letter rating: B
Overall: Kimi wa Petto is a very cute show. However, there isn't a whole lot of depth to it. While you like the characters, there isn't anything to make you really feel for them. Iwaya seems to be stuck in this sadness, even when she's supposed to be happy. Takeshi shines when he takes on the Momo personality but is fairly dull as himself. This is something that you'd watch when you have nothing else to watch and you don't want to turn on your brain.
Buy it here!
Also known as: I'm Your Pet
Broadcast date: 4/9/03 - 6/18/03
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Cast: Koyuki, Matsumoto Jun, Tanabe Seiichi
Plot: Journalist Iwaya Sumire (Koyuki) has had a terrible day - her longtime boyfriend broke up with her and she got a demotion at work. On the way home, she finds an injured boy (Matsumoto Jun) in a cardboard box. After nursing him back to health, the boy claims that he will do anything in order to stay with her. So Iwaya takes him in as a pet and names him Momo, after the dog she owned when she was a child.
What is good: MatsuJun is pretty cute as Momo.
What is bad: The "ideal" man that all the girls want (Tanabe Seiichi) is a huge dork, whereas everyone calls him "cool."
Letter rating: B
Overall: Kimi wa Petto is a very cute show. However, there isn't a whole lot of depth to it. While you like the characters, there isn't anything to make you really feel for them. Iwaya seems to be stuck in this sadness, even when she's supposed to be happy. Takeshi shines when he takes on the Momo personality but is fairly dull as himself. This is something that you'd watch when you have nothing else to watch and you don't want to turn on your brain.
Buy it here!
Title: Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Also known as: IWGP
Broadcast date: 4/14/00 - 6/23/00
Genre: drama
Cast: Nagase Tomoya, Kato Ai, Kubozuka Yosuke, Sato Ryuta, Yamashita Tomohisa, Watanabe Ken
Plot: Majima Makoto (Nagase Tomoya) tries to live a quiet live in Ikebukuro West Gate Park, a place infamous for gangs. One of his best friends from high school, Takashi (Kubozuka Yosuke), is the leader of one gang - the G-Boys. When he tries to solve the murder of a friend, Makoto finds himself solving everyone else's problems. Gang tensions begin running high in IWGP putting Makoto, who refuses to join any gang, directly in the middle of it all.
What is good: Kubozuka Yosuke is very entertaining as the king of the G-Boys.
What is bad: The show loses direction almost immediately.
Letter rating: D+
Overall: I spent the entire first episode trying to figure out what was going on. There were these murders but no one seemed to really care about them. Sure, the cops said they were looking for the killer. It just didn't seem to go anywhere beyond talking about it. From the second episode on, the series goes in an entirely different direction. Makoto, who is supposed to be trying to find who murdered his friend, spends all his time helping just about everyone in Ikebukuro. The yakuza, the prostitute from the sex shop across the street, his own mother....the list goes on. About two-thirds of the way through the series, another gang is introduced - the Black Angels. The end of the series brings us back to solving the original murder and adds in the tension between the G-Boys and the Black Angels. I think that the final episode was the only thing, besides Kubozuka's antics, that saved the show from a lower rating. As a whole, the series is very violent. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who couldn't handle gang violence and the blood that goes along with it.
Buy it here!
Also known as: IWGP
Broadcast date: 4/14/00 - 6/23/00
Genre: drama
Cast: Nagase Tomoya, Kato Ai, Kubozuka Yosuke, Sato Ryuta, Yamashita Tomohisa, Watanabe Ken
Plot: Majima Makoto (Nagase Tomoya) tries to live a quiet live in Ikebukuro West Gate Park, a place infamous for gangs. One of his best friends from high school, Takashi (Kubozuka Yosuke), is the leader of one gang - the G-Boys. When he tries to solve the murder of a friend, Makoto finds himself solving everyone else's problems. Gang tensions begin running high in IWGP putting Makoto, who refuses to join any gang, directly in the middle of it all.
What is good: Kubozuka Yosuke is very entertaining as the king of the G-Boys.
What is bad: The show loses direction almost immediately.
Letter rating: D+
Overall: I spent the entire first episode trying to figure out what was going on. There were these murders but no one seemed to really care about them. Sure, the cops said they were looking for the killer. It just didn't seem to go anywhere beyond talking about it. From the second episode on, the series goes in an entirely different direction. Makoto, who is supposed to be trying to find who murdered his friend, spends all his time helping just about everyone in Ikebukuro. The yakuza, the prostitute from the sex shop across the street, his own mother....the list goes on. About two-thirds of the way through the series, another gang is introduced - the Black Angels. The end of the series brings us back to solving the original murder and adds in the tension between the G-Boys and the Black Angels. I think that the final episode was the only thing, besides Kubozuka's antics, that saved the show from a lower rating. As a whole, the series is very violent. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who couldn't handle gang violence and the blood that goes along with it.
Buy it here!
Title: Strawberry on the Shortcake
Also known as: SOS
Broadcast date: 1/12/01 - 3/16/01
Genre: drama
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Fukada Kyoko, Uchiyama Rina, Kubozuka Yosuke, Ishida Yuriko
Plot: Irie Manato (Takizawa Hideaki) has withdrawn into himself, creating a 'false self' that he displays to everyone around him. One day, he meets Misawa Yui (Fukada Kyoko) and his life is forever changed. Manato finds himself falling in love with Yui but she has fallen in love with Saeki Tetsuya (Kubozuka Yosuke), who is in love with his teacher Asami Mariko (Ishida Yuriko). Meanwhile, Manato is the target of the affections of Sawamura Haruka (Uchiyama Rina). Is it possible to find happiness with the person you love or should you settle for the second best?
What is good: Once you are drawn into the series, it is easy to stay emotionally wrapped up in it.
What is bad: It's pretty depressing through a majority of the episodes.
Letter rating: B
Overall: I recently re-watched SOS with my friend, Cori. At the end of most of the episodes, she's say how sad or depressing something was. I had to keep promising her that it would get better. This really is a good series. All of the actors do a wonderful job of pulling at your heartstrings and the writing makes this love pentagon easy to understand yet still complicated enough that it's difficult to predict exactly how the series will end. It would be nice if there were a few more happy moments, though I understand why that wasn't done. The writers intended to show a somewhat darker side of teenagers in love instead of the stereotypical love-at-first-sight-and-everything-is-wonderful side that a lot of shows highlight. It's very difficult to say who I would recommend this show to. It would have to be someone who can handle watching absolute heartbreak while still believing that everything will be OK in the end. Or at least someone who can just watch the show for what it is - a really good drama.
Buy it here!
Also known as: SOS
Broadcast date: 1/12/01 - 3/16/01
Genre: drama
Cast: Takizawa Hideaki, Fukada Kyoko, Uchiyama Rina, Kubozuka Yosuke, Ishida Yuriko
Plot: Irie Manato (Takizawa Hideaki) has withdrawn into himself, creating a 'false self' that he displays to everyone around him. One day, he meets Misawa Yui (Fukada Kyoko) and his life is forever changed. Manato finds himself falling in love with Yui but she has fallen in love with Saeki Tetsuya (Kubozuka Yosuke), who is in love with his teacher Asami Mariko (Ishida Yuriko). Meanwhile, Manato is the target of the affections of Sawamura Haruka (Uchiyama Rina). Is it possible to find happiness with the person you love or should you settle for the second best?
What is good: Once you are drawn into the series, it is easy to stay emotionally wrapped up in it.
What is bad: It's pretty depressing through a majority of the episodes.
Letter rating: B
Overall: I recently re-watched SOS with my friend, Cori. At the end of most of the episodes, she's say how sad or depressing something was. I had to keep promising her that it would get better. This really is a good series. All of the actors do a wonderful job of pulling at your heartstrings and the writing makes this love pentagon easy to understand yet still complicated enough that it's difficult to predict exactly how the series will end. It would be nice if there were a few more happy moments, though I understand why that wasn't done. The writers intended to show a somewhat darker side of teenagers in love instead of the stereotypical love-at-first-sight-and-everything-is-wonderful side that a lot of shows highlight. It's very difficult to say who I would recommend this show to. It would have to be someone who can handle watching absolute heartbreak while still believing that everything will be OK in the end. Or at least someone who can just watch the show for what it is - a really good drama.
Buy it here!
I know that it's been a very long time since I posted my last review. I'm working on re-watching some of the shows I have in my backlog so I can kick out more reviews. There will be two new reviews coming this week:
Strawberry on the Shortcake
Ikebukuro West Gate Park (IWGP)
I expect the SoS review to be posted Wednesday or Thursday and the IWGP review to be posted Friday afternoon or sometime Saturday.
Since it will probably take awhile for the next batch of reviews after these two, I've been wondering what I can post here to keep the blog fairly active without overdoing it. Should I post mini-bios on some popular jdorama actors? Should I review jpop concerts? I leave this up to you, my dear readers. What would you like to read about? I will do my best to write about whatever topic you choose for me.
Title (romanji): Hana Yori Dango 2 Returns
Title (english): Boys Over Flowers 2 Returns
Broadcast date: 1/5/07 - 3/16/07
Genre: romantic comedy
Cast: Inoue Mao, Matsumoto Jun, Oguri Shun, Matsuda Shota, Abe Tsuyoshi, Kato Natsuki
Plot: One year has passed since we last saw Makino Tsukushi (Inoue Mao). She still keeps in contact with most of F4, even though they have graduated.However, Domyouji Tsukasa (Matsumoto Jun), now going to business school in New York, has been distancing himself from F4 as well as Makino. When he returns to Japan, his mother announces his engagement to Okawahara Shigeru (Kato Natsuki). Then Hanazawa Rui (Oguri Shun) finds himself falling in love with Makino! Love shouldn't be this complicated!
What is good: Domyouji maturing as a man
What is bad: Mimasaka Akira gets the shaft this season.
Letter rating: A+
Overall: Another good season from everyone involved with the Hana Yori Dango drama. Matsumoto Jun does an amazing job bringing Domyouji's personal growth to the screen. The character has has such a drastic change from the beginning of the first season to the end of the second that I really believe a lesser actor would have screwed it up. Let's not forget Inoue Mao either! While Makino doesn't have the huge change that Domyouji does, she gets tossed around emotionally through the entire show. My heart broke every time Makino shed tears. Unfortunately, there isn't too much going on with the other characters. Hanazawa Rui is the same as ever. There is one episode dedicated to a past relationship of Nishikado Shojirou's (Matsuda Shota) and you get a tiny glimpse into the homelife of Mimasaka Akira (Abe Tsuyoshi) but that is it. Again, Nishikado and Mamasaka aren't the main characters in the series but it would be nice to know why they stick around Domyouji, especially with his major attitude problem. This is still my very favorite show. I'm sad that this will most likely be the end for it. At least it had a perfect ending.
Pre-order the box set!
Title (english): Boys Over Flowers 2 Returns
Broadcast date: 1/5/07 - 3/16/07
Genre: romantic comedy
Cast: Inoue Mao, Matsumoto Jun, Oguri Shun, Matsuda Shota, Abe Tsuyoshi, Kato Natsuki
Plot: One year has passed since we last saw Makino Tsukushi (Inoue Mao). She still keeps in contact with most of F4, even though they have graduated.However, Domyouji Tsukasa (Matsumoto Jun), now going to business school in New York, has been distancing himself from F4 as well as Makino. When he returns to Japan, his mother announces his engagement to Okawahara Shigeru (Kato Natsuki). Then Hanazawa Rui (Oguri Shun) finds himself falling in love with Makino! Love shouldn't be this complicated!
What is good: Domyouji maturing as a man
What is bad: Mimasaka Akira gets the shaft this season.
Letter rating: A+
Overall: Another good season from everyone involved with the Hana Yori Dango drama. Matsumoto Jun does an amazing job bringing Domyouji's personal growth to the screen. The character has has such a drastic change from the beginning of the first season to the end of the second that I really believe a lesser actor would have screwed it up. Let's not forget Inoue Mao either! While Makino doesn't have the huge change that Domyouji does, she gets tossed around emotionally through the entire show. My heart broke every time Makino shed tears. Unfortunately, there isn't too much going on with the other characters. Hanazawa Rui is the same as ever. There is one episode dedicated to a past relationship of Nishikado Shojirou's (Matsuda Shota) and you get a tiny glimpse into the homelife of Mimasaka Akira (Abe Tsuyoshi) but that is it. Again, Nishikado and Mamasaka aren't the main characters in the series but it would be nice to know why they stick around Domyouji, especially with his major attitude problem. This is still my very favorite show. I'm sad that this will most likely be the end for it. At least it had a perfect ending.
Pre-order the box set!
Title: Gokusen 2
Broadcast date: 1/15/05 - 1/19/05
Genre: comedy
Cast: Nakama Yukie, Kamenashi Kazuya, Akanishi Jin, Hayami Mokomichi, Koike Teppei, Koide Keisuke, Namase Katsuhisa
Plot: Shirokin Gakuen has closed its doors. Six months later, Yamaguchi Kumiko (Nakama Yukie) is teaching a group of young children, though she'd much rather be teaching high school again. Due to a twist of fate, Yankumi gets a job teaching at Kurogin Gakuen. Once again, she is left to deal with the school's delinquents. This year her students are the worst she's ever encountered!
What is good: Nakama Yukie comes through once again.
What is bad: This is almost an exact duplicate of the first season but with new students.
Letter rating: D
Overall: The first season of Gokusen did everything right. The studio tried to recreate that magic with the second season but came up short. I easily predicted what would happen next because I saw the same exact thing happen in the first season! Nakama Yukie was still hysterically funny but she was put up against a group of actors, who are mostly in boy bands. (Kamenashi and Akanishi are in KAT-TUN and Koike Teppei is in WaT.) This season should prove to producers that you can't just toss a bunch of cute, recognizable boys into a show and come out with something awesome. I'd only recommend this show to someone who is a big fan of one of the actors. There isn't any other reason to watch it.
