Gokusen [ごくせん] More violence perhaps? [Rating: 6/10] I guess the high ratings are understandable. The story really was entertaining.
However, personally I thought it was a bit lacking. Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed it enough that I finished all 12 episodes in a week. But I found it too idealistic maybe? Sometimes Yankumi really pissed me off. We all know that in real life, problems cannot be settled with just a fight and good long lectures. If it was so, it'd be a breeze, ne?
So in that respect, I found some of the more intense episodes tiresome to watch. Also, I was expecting much more violence; such as that of the manga! I'm a big fan of mob movies, so when I found out she was of yakuza descent, I was hoping that the family business would at least be more pronounced even if it's just a side dish. Instead, we have yakuza members selling takoyaki, and we don't find out anything else. That disappointed me severely.
The actors were brilliant in their stead though, especially Yukie, so the show carries a charisma that is hard to ignore. It's passable in my books.
Kimi wa Petto [きみはペット] In Defense of Kimi wa Pet.. [Rating: 9/10] I give KwP a 9 for the same reason some people gave it a 3.
I agree that the plotline is really hard to swallow and fairly unreasonable and far-fetched. I understand how unbearable it must be to watch someone be degraded so willingly; and for the other party to do it with such nonchalance and even eagerness at times. In its entirety, the story goes against society's social and moral standards, and what's worse, it uses 'love' as its excuse.
For that reason, some of you despise it. For me, that is what gives this story a distinction among other shoujo stories.
Both in drama and manga, I thought the characters were very well-developed. Sumire-chan and Momo are lonely people who enter this absurd relationship of master-pet. But when you look at it closely, it goes so much deeper than that. The mutual need that exists between the two is what makes this story alive.
In Sumire-chan, Takeshi can drop all and still be needed, still be useful. In Takeshi, Sumire-chan can be dominant, rude, weak, spiteful and be in tears without the consequence and pressure of being "perfect" as is the case in her life at the outside world. In her he found a home; in him, she found herself.
If you look at it as that, and not look so much into the dog/master thing, I think you would appreciate this story more. I've always looked at it as that metaphor, so for me it's easier to stomach. And really, it almost makes me wistful too. When giggly Jun-fangirls keep saying, "I wish I had a dog like Junjun," I completely empathize. Not because Jun is good-looking and accomplished as an actor, but because deep inside we are all rooting for that person that will need us as much as we need them; or if I may be so bold, even love us as equally as we love them. Despite all ironies and nonconformities.
It really is an eye-opening drama, so give it a go, and look at it this way for a change.
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Kimi wa Petto [きみはペット]
