Drama Digest
Tokoro Madoka works as an editor for Juice, a monthly manga for young women. Even though she is 33, she has never experienced true love. Madoka is head-over-heels in love with Hakkaku Naoya, a prominent sales associate. When she consults with the manga artist she is in charge of, she is encouraged to “stalk” him through his meals. “If you don’t have the guts to eat with him, look at what he’s eaten and you’ll feel him.” Taking this advice to heart, Madoka consumes meals like a beef bowl and mackerel stewed in miso and omurice while fantasizing.
This is the second season of this popular series. Madoka is back with more of her antics, as she still struggles to have a proper conversation with her office crush. In this season we see more eligible suitors for her affection and are introduced to many more delicious dishes. Will Madoka finally confess or will she find new love?
The Feel-Good Part
This series has all the elements that make a good rom-com. Cute characters that make you smile, lots of comedic confusions and misunderstandings along with some mouth-watering food. The original manga and even the first season of this show was well-recieved therefore this installment of the series had a lot of expectations. This season, somewhat managed to reciprocate an adequate amount of these expectations. Madoka’s struggle to catch the attention of her office crush is so relatable. The way she interacts with her peers and gets advice on what to do is so hilarious. Every segment with a new dish has been shot very beautifully making the food appear even more delicious. There are new characters introduced in this season which keeps the plot fresh and engaging. Madoka also has a lot of character development in this season as compared to the first one.
The Disappointing Factor
As endearing as “Katakoi Gourmet Nikki 2” is, it comes with its fair share of issues. Although, the plot does begin from the whole “stalking” her crush through the kind of food he likes, we believe viewers would want to see some deviation from this cliche storyline. This concept works for the manga but for a TV series, people usually want some more variation. Perhaps, this may be a little unorthodox for the die-hard fans of the original manga series, for the wider audience a little change is necessary. Another factor that may seem a little annoying at times is the over-exaggeration of certain expressions. Usually, when Japanese Dramas have a live-action adaptation of the original publication the actors try to deliver the scenes in the same manner. Therefore, what works in 2D is being directly translated to a 3-dimensional setting which can go bothways. In the case of this particular series, it comes as a little childish and cringey at times.
In-Depth Analysis
Overall, the series is a simple and adorable one. It is short and sweet making it easily bingeable over a lazy weekend. “Katakoi Gourmet Nikki 2” is the story of a woman trying to make her way through life balancing love and work. On this journey she ends up encountering some really amazing people and goes through meaningful experiences. This entire journey of hers is what is really attractive and charming about the show. Unlike a lot of western shows, there are no life-altering epiphanies that help Madoka suddenly make a 180 in her life and personality. She is just like you or me, she is the protagonist of a show that reflects a lot of us in various ways. She is learning how to deal with growing up and out of the awkward shells of our past. Albeit there are several fantasy elements in the story, quite literally – it is still leaves you with feeling nice and fuzzy inside.
Star Power
The cast of “Katakoi Gourmet Nikki 2” retains much of the original cast from the first season for obvious reasons. Motokariya Yuika retains her role as Tokoro Madoka and Yuta Hiraoka continues to play her love interest Naoya Hiraoka. Both these actors fit their roles really well and it is no mystery they continue to play the same even in this season.
Overall Opinion
“Katakoi Gourmet Nikki 2” is just the perfect thing to watch when you want to unwind and relax over the weekend. Just remember to grab some tasty snacks because looking at all the delicious food on-screen will make your mouth water!
