Drama Digest
They were 17 years old at the time, and they were staring at a 27-year-old adult with ice-cold eyes of teenage judgement. At that time, those 17-year-olds felt that they could overcome anything and conquer the world of their dreams. These same children are now around 27 years old, the same age as the adults were at the time.
Satoshi Ogino struggles to give up on his desire to become an actor. Yuka Maeda, who was on her way to becoming an idol, is now hovering near a possible debut. Akira Kiri, an aspiring author, jumps from one day to the next in quest of inspiration. Masami Shimada struggles to navigate her way through life. Then there’s, Yuto Nakazawa who inherits his family’s ramen store and learns the trade. Finally, there’s their old instructor, Kaori Mochizuki. This 27-year-old predecessor and the recently-turned-27-year-old pupils will meet again after ten years. This show revolves around this group of people, who have abandoned their idealised lives and faced the reality of their present selves.
The Feel-Good Part
The best part of this show is how well it portrays the emotions of its characters. There is an omnipresent sense of loss and melancholy in the show. This sense of loss is not for some sort of physical possession but rather something innate. The loss this group of people face is something a lot of us feel as we grow up. All of our hopes and dreams that seem so exciting when we are younger somehow feel so out of reach as we grow up. It is true that as teenagers there are a lot of things we are confused about. Yet, sometimes amidst that confusion, we find our own passions. These things make everything else come into perspective and we are sure we will never turn out like the adults around us. That is exactly how these kids felt when they were younger. This entire plot makes the show so relatable and attractive. The cinematography, cast, soundtracks and everything else in the show were done well.
The Disappointing Factor
This show has all the right elements and all of them have been balanced beautifully. Yet, even this near-perfect show has a few quirks. Firstly, the portrayal of their youth is a little convoluted and one-sided. The kids come off as a little stoic and the manner in which they single out their teacher can seem a little socio-pathic. As much as the melancholy is necessary for the theme the show pulls off, it made the entire vibe feel really dark at times. Although this is not a minus point for the show, it does come off as a warning of sorts for people not wishing to watch anything too heavy. The plot does not delve into anything too serious but at the same time carries undertones of cynicism.
In-Depth Analysis
Teenagers can sometimes be really cruel and in what appears to be a cycle of Karma they are dealt a cruel hand in life. This is essentially the core of the plot for “Anata Ni Kika Setai Uta Ga Arunda”. It is a well-balanced drama and if you are in the mood for some real retrospection it is the right show to pick up. The characters of the show may not be as relatable when they were teenagers but their adult selves seem like every other person you know or your own self. The teacher is like an ever-present metaphor for all the adults in our lives who we promised ourselves, we’ll never turn out like. Yet, the irony of the show is one way or another we end up meeting these adults either in real lives or in our own reflections in the mirrors.
Star Power
The cast of this show was amazing and they all portrayed their characters so well. We have Narita Ryo as Ogino Satoshi, Ito Sairi as Maeda Yuka, Fujiwara Kisetsu as Katagiri Akira, Uesugi Shuhei as Nakazawa Yuuto and Maeda Atsuko as Shimada Masami. These 5 actors brought so much depth to their characters and even the actors who played their younger selves did a decent job. Then we have Tanaka Rena who played the role of Mochizuki Kaori, their sensei. Rena is a veteran actress who has won several accolades and her performance is a statement of her professional maturity.
Overall Opinion
Even the length and duration of this drama are perfect to watch without getting bored. It is an extremely well-thought-out drama and is a must-watch.
