Mary's Recommendations for Sitcoms On Right Now!

I'm a fan of sitcoms. I grew up on sitcoms. I grew up on the shows that were featured on TGIF. That 8 o'clock block most nights were filled with them. I'm not really sure why I loved sitcoms so much. It may be because as I admitted before, I kind of like stupid humor sometimes. Maybe because usually sitcom featured typical nuclear families which I -- the child of divorced parents -- was not a member of. Maybe I was just a product of my times. The late 80s and early 90s were really the peak of sitcoms in their quality though and they started to sort of go down hill in the late 90s (matter of opinion since I never got into/liked Friends or Seinfeld).

Still though, I do like a good comedy but there were a few sitcoms I got into as I headed into college and after. I liked early seasons of Big Bang Theory. Scrubs is also one of my all time favorite shows. I also really enjoyed Parks and Recreation (which I started watching because a co-worker said I reminded him of Leslie Knope, which I can kinda see if I squinted my eyes a little) -- which recently just ended.

However, recently, I've noticed a resurgence of sitcoms -- some actually really good ones -- that seem to pay tribute to old ones but have very unique spins that make them feel fresh and new. So if you are like me and miss sitcoms of yore or you still have not recovered from Parks and Recreation's end, I recommend the 4 following shows.

4. Fresh Off the Boat

Fresh Off the Boat is about the Huang family in the 1990s as they move from Washington DC to Orlando, Florida when the father, Louis, opens up a steak house. It is narrated by the oldest son, Eddie, who is big into hip-hop and rap and is just at the edge of his teenage rebellion.

Success Perm!

I love the parents most. I would say it is flighty but well-meaning Louis and pragmatic tough-love giving Jessica are really the show's core. Yeah, it is Eddie's story but his parents are at the heart of everything. It is their scenes I enjoy watching the most. Whether it is Louis trying to figure out how to fire a showboat host who is just too charming or Jessica trying to navigate the tough and unforgiving world of adult mean girls, only to bond with the neighborhood "slut" over Stephen King, their struggles are just fun to watch.

Who doesn't love a good Stephen King joke?

While I have high hopes for this show, I still feel it is trying to get its footing. Jessica and Louis and Eddie are solid characters. Eddie is just everyman enough to serve as the show's narrator but he has a personality outside the everyman stock character. He is impetuous, scheming-- almost a little bit of Alex Keaton in him in that regard-- but also is just a preteen who desperately wants to just fit in and find where he fits both at home and at school.

The other characters in Fresh Off the Boat? Well, I kinda feel eh about them. Don't get me wrong, I get chuckles out of Evan, the youngest out of the Huang brood. But Evan is just really the precocious little kid that characters like Beaver Cleaver from Leave it to Beaver, Michelle Tanner from Full House, and Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle popularized before. The actor is pretty funny. The kid is adorable and has good comedic timing. But what concerns me is how will Evan grow? You can already see the directions Louis, Eddie, and Jessica will probably take but Evan is not going to be a little kid forever.

I'm right, kid, and you know it!

The same problem applies to the middle of the Huang children, Emory. I see what they're trying to do with him. Emory is supposed to be the antithesis of Eddie. With Eddie, everything seems difficult and hard and he's never happy. With Emory, everything just works out for him, which is an interesting concept on its own. Just the problem is the writers do very little with it and Emory falls as the second adorable kid making cute quips every so often and also the sibling Eddie occasionally shoots shade at when things don't work out for him.

I still recommend Fresh Off the Boat, though. I feel it has a lot of promise despite my complaints above.

OMG I forgot Grandma Huang

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3. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

My friend wrote a review of this show that I pretty much agree with. This show, which recently premiered on Netflix, follows the adventures of Kimmy Schmidt, a young woman who just escaped a cult leader who kidnapped her as a young teenager and kept her underground. Now, she is trying to pick up the pieces of her life and living it to the fullest. Sounds pretty dark for a comedy I know, but with the magic of Tina Fey, it just works.

I'm admittedly a fan of Tina Fey. Mean Girls is one of my top favorite movies and I did enjoy 30 Rock even though I didn't consider myself a huge fan. I never related to a character more than I did to Liz Lemon though (very weird that a co-worker pinned me as a Leslie Knope but I see myself as more Liz Lemon. Huh). Regardless, I saw the premise and I was immediately intrigued.

When Kimmy finally danced across my screen for the first time in a That Girl like montage, I was in love with this show. It was just so different than what is out right now -- and this is even with the show dripping with Tina Feyisms. Right now, on TV in particular, everything is just overly cynical. The worlds our favorite TV shows inhabit are just dark, depressing, and dangerous. That is not a bad thing necessarily. I need my inner cynic to be appeased every now and again. But I like to call myself cautiously optimistic as my default setting. Yeah, when my depression comes calling, I spiral into pessimism like no one's business. But generally, I try to see the best in things and this is why I love Kimmy.

Kimmy is a cheery optimist navigating a harsh, curmudgeon world. Unlike pollyannas of the past, she doesn't necessarily change a whole lot of the nature of the world around her but it is about her still maintaining her view of the world despite this fact. And despite other pollyannas, Kimmy is not one-dimensionally sunny. She gets frustrated, she gets angry but she still tries to look on the brighter side of things even in the eyes of the cynics that dress her world. It is a breath of fresh air. And it's inspiring.

I barely scratched the surface of why I like Kimmy Schmidt but my friend (in the link above), pretty much tackled a lot of what I have to say too. I do agree that there are a couple annoying characters (Kimmy's stepfather for one) and a few characters are painfully underused (like Xan, the stepdaughter of the woman Kimmy works for) but in general, I just love Kimmy as a character and adore the supporting cast of colorful New Yorkers.

Go and watch this show and you may consider optimism for once.

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2. Blackish

I stumbled on Blackish on Hulu one day. I think I saw a headline somewhere saying it was surprisingly good which is why I pressed play. Otherwise, I may have skipped over it. Blackish sounded like it could be offensive. I was pleasantly surprised.

Unlike Fresh Off the Boat, Blackish doesn't rely on stock characters. The cast may fit into tropes from sitcoms of yore but they are all fully realized, 3-dimentional characters. They feel tangible and relatable. And not just do we have such well written characters but the script has me howling with laughter every week. It is extremely witty and jokes about race come down to two types -- making fun of the ignorant about race and making fun of how over the top Dre, the patriarch of the Johnson family, goes to make his spoiled kids understand the struggle. The Johnson family being black is not the joke. It is just a detail into the characters of the family. It is who they are. And race is not ignored in the show in a colorblind way. It is acknowledged and discussed. The humor relies more on the clash of interesting characters and how they interact with one another when their goals conflict.

Although jokes like this happen

Blackish focuses on the Johnson family, who are black. The father, Andre, who came from nothing, is a successful advertising executive who is able to give his family the life he never had. At the same time, he wants to teach his kids about their heritage. His wife, Rainbow, called Bow, is mixed race and a doctor. While she frames herself as the pragmatic half of the couple, she has her moments when her pride gets in the way and she makes poor choices. This differentiates Bow from typical mothers from sitcoms. She tries her best but she is not the all knowing mother figure. She makes mistakes and Dre is not always the bumbling father who is always in the wrong. Bow and Dre take their turn in the wrong and right seat. Their marriage is one of complete equality.

The two have four children. The oldest is Zoe, a mini-female Dre basically who is sharp as a tack but chooses to use those smarts to gossip, coordinate her make-up and hair, and flirt with guys.

 The second is a son named Andre Junior, called Junior, who is nerdy, awkward, and tries really hard -- usually failing -- to impress his father. Dre loves Junior but just doesn't understand his nerdy obsessions and why Junior doesn't like things like basketball.

Also, he's having an identity crisis

The last two children are a set of twins named Jack and Diane. Diane is a HBIC, just no one else has picked up on that fact. Unlike Evan in Fresh Off the Boat, while Diane is precocious, I can see her growing up. I can see her growing up to be a schemer like Zoe but instead of using her smarts for make-up, Diane uses it to probably not exactly wholesome pursuits. Diane is bossy and kind of mean and snarky as hell (probably one of my faves). She bosses around the much more submissive Jack who can do all the things Dre wishes Junior would do but is usually ignored and criticized by Diane.

Dre's father also lives with the family and his job has been to provide commentary on the going ons in the house.

I just really love the characters and I look forward every week to a new episode. Not many shows can claim that fact. While the Johnson family has been doing typical sitcom plotlines in most episodes (bully episode, vacation episode, daughter gets a boyfriend episode), it is the well-developed characters that make me come back. I want to see how they tackle the troperiffic sitcom plots. And I didn't even touch the supporting cast like Junior's white friend who knows more about black history than Junior does, for instance.

 My favorite side character has to be Dre's only other black co-worker, Charlie. Charlie is so weird that it irritates Dre but Dre feels it is his duty to friend him despite the fact he cannot stand Charlie.

We all have that one friend

Another side character I enjoy is Dre's mother who sees Bow as a threat on her territory. I could go on.

Also her on again off again relationship with Dre's father is hilarious

The bottom line is, you really need to check out Blackish. It is the best new sitcom this year... hell probably one of the best of the New Teens. You'll want to watch the Johnsons every week too.

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1. Brooklyn-99

In its second season and written by alum from Parks and Recreation, we have Brooklyn-99, probably my favorite sitcom on right now if not tied with Blackish. When this show first premiered last year, I watched it more than once on Hulu. My tumblr became overcrowded with gifs from it. And I dropped references in everyday conversation. There is so much I love about this show, I don't know where to begin.

Brooklyn-99 follows the titular police precinct as they solve crimes and get into crazy shenanigans. Like Blackish, it is the fully realized cast of characters that make this show work. And the acting helps too. Interestingly enough, Brooklyn-99 did blind casting. It is an Andy Samberg vehicle but the rest of the cast were picked blindly meaning they did not designate race to the characters during the casting call. Anyone could try out. The end result is a widely diverse cast -- 2 black actors, 2 Latinas, 3 whites make up the main characters we follow. The two Latina actresses are relatively unknowns too and knock it out of the park. Melissa Fumero, who plays the uptight apple polisher Detective Santiago, said in an interview how glad she didn't have to do a spicy Latina accent. I think that is super awesome.

She can't even handle food spices

Brooklyn-99 at its core is really a character comedy. Where they work is just the setting. Yeah, there are usually mysteries they have to solve in the episode but you don't finish it saying, "Wow, I didn't expect the pizza delivery boy!" like you would with criminal procedures. No. You end the episode thinking, "Haha, the Captain sure told Peralta" or "Oh man, Boyle, will you ever catch a break?" or "Santiago! What crazy shenanigans did you get yourself into to protect your pride!" Like Blackish, the premise is such a tiny part of what make the comedy work. It is really the writing, the character development, and the acting which put it over the top.

insert NRA joke here

Andy Samberg plays Detective Jake Peralta who is a manchild who also happens to be a brilliant detective when he gets his act together. He doesn't really take his job that seriously and is usually goofing off. What impresses me about Samberg is up until now, he's been pigeonholed to playing one note comedy roles. I know he irritates some people, but his character of Detective Peralta cracks me up so much. Additionally, Samberg can do serious, I gave him too little credit. Jake has some serious moments which Samberg actually pulls off. Jake is not just the class clown. Perhaps like most class clowns, Jake hints at a childhood of neglect (which is illustrated on how he literally cannot feed himself anything healthy) and an absent father. He makes jokes about it but so do most clowns. And his desperation to be the mentor to the Captain makes a lot of sense -- even when he slips up and calls him dad once.

The rest of the precinct is also filled with colorful, thoughtful characters who have their own ambitions and goals and personalities. I already mentioned Melissa Fumero as Detective Amy Santiago who Jake crushes on her like a six year old boy pulling the pigtails of the girl he wants the attention of. Santiago is hypercompetitive, a people pleaser, super smart, and a tiny bit high strung. Her competitiveness is due to growing up in a house full of brothers. She's a bit of a brown noser who tries so hard to reach the top, only to be beaten by Jake who makes it look easy. Santiago and Peralta have a bit of Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better thing going.

She's this universe's Hermione Granger really

The other female detective is Rosa Diaz played by Stephanie Beatriz. Rosa is probably my favorite. She's scary, doesn't put up with people's crap, horrible with emotion but shown to be highly capable at her job. But on the flip side, Rosa is not a horrible person. She just fills the whole Good is Not Nice trope and I love it. If this were any other show, Amy and Rosa would be competitors and hate each other. But they don't. Yes, Amy gets competitive to Rosa to which Rosa responds with a meh or mild annoyance. At the end of the day, they are still there for each other.

This has to be my favorite feminist quote of all time. In fact a female officer I worked with in the military said something similar. And it is true. I'm tired of women being told they have to compete with each other.

Peralta's biggest fan is fellow detective Charles Boyle, played by Joe Lo Truglio who is the precinct's sad sack. Nothing goes well for Boyle usually because he's super clumsy and kind of neurotic. But he's hard-working. He crushes on Rosa which was a tiresome subplot I am glad they did away with.

The Sergeant Terry Jeffords, played hilariously by Terry Crews, is a bit of a gentle giant type. He used to be fat and got to lifting weights. As a result, he eats all the time. He also used to be badass but since the birth of his daughters, Cagney and Lacy, he grows terrified in life or death situations. He also likes farmers markets. He comes off as terrifying but is really a Teddy Bear and a good mentor to the crew.

Line-up Terry says what Real Terry is thinking!

The administrative assistant, Gina Linetti, played by Chelsea Peretti, is narcissistic and kind of the mean girl of the group. She always looks out for number one and delights in gossip. She also has an array of strange hobbies, dances, and believes in psychics. She provides commentary for the events that surround her and is great at witticisms.

Yeah, trufax

Last but not least is the captain of the precinct, Captain Ray Holt played by Andre Braugher. The captain is the straight man of the show which is funny because he's gay (and I can't get over that pun). Holt is a no-nonsense kind of guy with an extremely dry sense of humor and a hard to read aura. He looks after his crew and provides them guidance and the voice of reason. He had worked hard to get captain despite being black and gay and now that he has his own precinct, he will not screw it up. Much of the humor of the show revolves around Jake trying to get Holt to mentor him or trying to undermine him to varying degrees of success.

My reaction if you don't watch this tbh

I've poured too much love into Brooklyn-99. You should just see it for yourself. I love it.

Let's Write Some Interesting Female Characters!

I'm tired of the Strong Female Character. She is emotionless. Badass. Can toe the line with the hero but not too much you see. She never does anything wrong. She knows exactly what to say. She knows how to respond to moral questions.

In our effort to create stories drifting from the male lead narrative, to have stronger female representation, we've created a constrictive list of "acceptable female leads" and it is so boring. It's like haircut restrictions in North Korea.

Okay, this female character can kick ass but she cried in this one scene, we can't have that

I know people mean well but instead it creates a bigger problem. You're creating another set of restrictions. I had a friend once who said, "Let's stop making strong female characters and focus on making interesting female characters." And I couldn't agree with her more.

George R.R. Martin was once asked how he got to write a varied and interesting set of female characters. And he said that he saw women as people. I think that is something more people should consider when writing interesting female characters. Sansa Stark can be just as interesting in her struggle to survive in King's Landing even though she likes needlepoint and boys as Arya Stark is as she learns sword fighting with her sword Needle and journeys on her way home. I find both their character arcs interesting even though Arya checks off more items on the "Strong Female Checklist" than Sansa. They are people first and foremost and they grow.

I'm rooting for you, Sansa, bb

I want female characters that grow and change. I want to see a character like Korra in Legend of Korra who starts her journey as an immature hothead and ends as a thoughtful leader. I want to see someone like Carol from the Walking Dead who starts off as a victim who is a bit soft but at this point in her journey is a survivor, a little harder, but still possessing gentleness she had in the beginning.

The Grove -- the best episode of the Walking Dead -- I'm rooting for you Carol bb

I bring this up because this is a constant struggle for me as a writer and also as a roleplayer. I've been programmed to follow the list and it is so tough to break through the wall. I'm afraid what people will say if I miss an item on the checklist. And I know how much of a problem it is and how I need to correct myself.

It is part of how I created my Dungeon World Campaign Character Shara, the Elven Bard. Originally, when I had Shara in my head, I thought of playing a guy. This as mainly because I wanted to play a roguish, trickster character. I wanted to play a somewhat narcissistic, lucky, so sure of themselves, swashbuckler. All those characteristics are generally attributed to male characters. In fact, I drew inspiration from a group of male characters: Ferris Bueller (always lucky, always taking risks but for a good cause although a bit naive), Ling Yao from Fullmetal Alchemist (very sure of himself), Varrick from Legend of Korra (a swindler, crazy hairbrained schemes), Miguel and Tulio from Road to El Dorado but mostly Miguel (charming, extremely charming, not above lies and deceptions but a good heart).

Pictured -- Male Shara

However, I got thinking, I know these are typically "male" characteristics but what would stop me from making Shara female? Generally, females with those characteristics are the Mean Girls or villains. But with guy characters it can be charming or villainous. Still, what is stopping me from making Shara female with those qualities as charming as opposed to villainous? So I made Shara female. And I must say, she is one of my most successful characters. She has all the characteristics mentioned above.

I don't know why I am so surprised, I know I shouldn't be. It must be all that programming. But Shara is interesting as a character. She is so full of herself it has made her naive, when it comes to herself anyway, although she is aware of the world around her. She thinks her good name will save her in any situation. She is full of herself but she loves her underdog friends (they always make the best stories) and will defend them to her last breath -- if necessary.

Even though Shara is fluffy with many personal flaws, I still would not want to mess with her. She is generally forgiving but you don't want to be on the wrong side of her Lute... except in a performance. Then you will be having the Hayashi'kami experience witnessing the Golden Voice of Twin Herald.

What my experience with Shara taught me and should teach anyone who is trying to write female characters is to stop thinking of characters -- especially female and minorities -- of what are acceptable characteristics. Obviously, one should avoid making stereotypes but that is entirely different from making full realized characters. I would even say the Strong Female Character descends into stereotype territory now.

Sorry, I didn't mean to toot my own horn here, but Shara wanted to strum her own lute as it were ~_^.

Bonus: Shara Playlist

Mary's Top Ten Favorite Japanese Dramas

Since I've gotten more into jdramas again, I decided to list my Top Ten Favorite Dramas (in 1 being the best). I haven't seen all dramas out there (man, who has the time!?) but I have seen many -- enough to make an arbitrary list. Yeah, I have my own quantifiers. Some includes how well the story flows, how much I enjoyed it, and how much of an impression it made on me (yes, the last two, can be mutually exclusive. You'll see below). Since I wrote a long tribute to Hana Kimi, consider that drama to be above ratings in its awesomeness.

So here we go.

10. Papa Wa Idol (パパドル!) "My Daddy is an Idol!"

I have a confession to make. I have a soft spot for silly, self-referential comedies. I am sad to say I have seen most Seth Rogan Movies because of it. Papa Wa Idol falls into that category. It is a very silly premise but the writing and the acting just work.

The story follows Nishikado Ryo (played by Nishikado Ryo), an idol in the Osaka-based boy band Kanjani8 , who is feeling like he is missing out on the small things in life. One day, he meets and falls in love with a single mother. Despite the fact that his contract forbids marriage or out in the open romances, he secretly marries her and tries to balance his busy career as an idol and his duties as a husband and step-father. Hilarity ensues.

It is especially difficult when the youngest child is a fan of  Arashi's Sakurai Sho and compares Ryo often

For those not familiar with the idol scene in Japan, Nishikado Ryo is a real person and so is his group, Kanjani8. Everyone played themselves, or at least exaggerated versions of themselves. Maybe the Seth Rogan reference wasn't too far off from the truth because in many ways, Papa Wa Idol feels like This Is The End. Kanjani8, Nishikado, and even the cameos from the boy band Arashi feels like a parody of themselves.

But even if this vehicle was an excuse to make fun of the idol world, it didn't lack heart. Between the fish out of water shenanigans and the hilarious Dad!Fail moments, the drama has some serious scenes. It feels like something John Hughes would have written -- zany but not afraid to talk about something sad. It is comedy but the serious moments keep it grounded. It discusses the stress idols are often under, what it means to be a part of a unit (Ryo is forced to choose between his band -- who he sees as his brothers, and his new family for instance), and even the troubles of single, working moms. A premise as off the wall as Papa Wa Idol, the drama needed these moments or it would have fallen apart.

I have only watched this drama once, but I intend to watch it again in the future. Besides, I don't care if the paparazzi reported Ryo bit a hostess while drunk or something, he is just so charismatic and endearing, especially here.

That smile, I just can't.

 I would recommend the drama for those who follow Japanese pop culture. Otherwise, much of the references would be lost.

 9. Kisarazu Cat's Eye (木更津キャッツアイ)

This drama I have only watched once but it made such an impression on me, it has earned a spot on this list. There is so much about the choices made in this drama that I found intriguing. And once again, it is a comedy with a heavy, heavy message. I felt raw when I finished watching it because ... well, let me back up. 

This drama is based on a manga (I don't know if it was turned into an anime or not) that follows 21-year old Kohei, nicknamed Bussan. Bussan lives in this small, sleepy sea-side town of Kisarazu in which most people just kind of do what their parents did and so forth. Bussan's dad is the barber and that is what Bussan is training to be for instance.  Anyways, Bussan gets diagnosed with lymphoma and is told he only had six months to live. Concerned about his legacy, he concocts this idea with his friends who he played baseball with in high school (and they still play at times) in which they steal from the corrupt in town and give what they stole to the less fortunate. 

The show is downright bizarre. And the funny part was it didn't necessarily start off like that. It starts off normal enough. Bussan is our narrator and he introduces us to the colorful characters of Kisarazu. And then as the drama continues, it gets more and more surreal. And it took me a few days after I finished watching to realize -- it was because Bussan was dying. 

I am not even sure if the last episode wasn't just the final firings of Bussan's synapses. The very last scene in the show in which there is no Bussan narration I think really did happen (and oh man, I was crying).

Despite how bizarre the drama could be, I couldn't help but relate to the setting. I, too, grew up in a lazy, sea-side town in which most people were obsessed with baseball. Bussan's posse kind of reminded me of my brothers' friends. The characters are extremely relatable, well-rounded, and fun. Even Bussan's character exists past "That guy with cancer." 

For instance, one of them is married with kids -- there is one caper in which he had to bring the kid along

 The setting really makes the story, I think. It just wouldn't have felt the same if it took place in Tokyo, for instance (or even in the closest city of Chiba). There is a scene in which Bussan is getting sicker and sicker, and it is showing. He just kind of collapses on the beach and looks up at the sky, "Kisarazu is the best place in the world!" He says that even with all its problems they were trying to rectify, even if in the scheme of things, Kisarazu is but a drop of water in the vast ocean. The drama has many of those simple moments that hit you like that.
Oh, this drama is classified as a comedy. It is funny, but it hit me in the gut like a drama. I also still sometimes think about it. I think it is rather strong as far as cancer stories go.

I would recommend it for people who like the somewhat surreal. Or buddy stories. It is more than just a cancer story but it will break your heart like one. One day, perhaps I will rewatch it and ponder my choice but I have to mentally prepare myself for it first.

8. My Boss My Hero (マイ★ボス マイ★ヒーロー)

Now, we're going back to the more silly comedies. This one I have watched way too many times and I am still trying to pinpoint what it is about this show that I like so much. Sure, Nagase Tomoya certainly helps. 

Unf

 Also, the comedy is pretty funny. The Pudding Chase Scene never fails to crack me up so much (seriously, I didn't know you could use a jacket like a weapon like that!). And yes, there is a sense of nostalgia because it reminds me of Billy Madison. Yeah, I made many confessions on this blog entry but I like Billy Madison for nostalgia reasons, okay? It was the 1990s. I was a teenager. SHUT UP! I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN MYSELF TO YOU!

My Boss, My Hero is about 27 year old Sakaki Makio, son of the boss of a Yakuza gang. Makio is not very bright, although he is a tough fighter. This is the opposite of his little brother, Mikio, who is sickly but college educated. Things change when Mikio expresses he wants to take over the gang when their father passes on citing his older brother's lack of intelligence as a reason to gain the birthright. The father proposes Makio finish high school (which he never did) and then he would think about it. Makio goes back to high school and much laughing is had. 

I wasn't kidding when I said this is basically the Japanese Billy Madison. What is Makio's favorite food? Pudding. Yep. He even yells for pudding much like Billy yells for snack packs. It is different, though. Makio is your stereotypical yakuza thug and he has to hold his temper and *GASP* let himself be pushed around by bullies. Sure, Makio is not very bright and lot of the humor is focused around on how much Makio just doesn't get basic academic subjects but Makio does take his life as a thug pretty seriously. And there is a bit of "honor among thieves" part of his personality as well.

As I said, I am not sure why I like this drama as much as I do. It is a typical fish out of water storyline that you can totally see being proposed in a board room. "Hey guys, I have an idea. See, he is in the YAKUZA. And he has to go back to high school!" But it really is Nagase who carries the whole drama. Yes, his supporting cast play up to the rather large personality that is Nagase Tomoya, but I could not see anyone else play that role that HAD to be over the top in order for it to work. And it is almost cartoonish in some parts with its ridiculousness.

But I like it. It is consistently entertaining every time I watch it. I can watch Nagase Tomoya's rubbery face until the end of time. 

My response if you say you'll skip this drama tbh

   

7. Samurai High School 

This is another drama I've seen an embarrassing number of times but unlike My Boss My Hero, I can really word why I like it so much. Simply, it is the characters and the chemistry the main trio has with each other, the witty script, and *sigh* I hate to keep on bringing up this topic but it is a comedy with a message and a lot of heart. And parallels, man, I love parallels. 

Samurai High School is an original script and not based after anything. There is a manga called Samurai High School but it shares no similarities with the drama. The drama focuses around Mochizuki Kotaro (played by the dynamic Miura Haruma), a high school student who is... somewhat of a slacker with a deep fear of confrontation. When his teacher encourages him to further study Feudal Japanese History, he finds himself at a mysterious library and while there, he gets possessed by the ghost of a samurai who has his exact name. 

The show continues with Kotaro wrestling control of his body with the gung-ho, principled samurai who usually takes control whenever Kotaro hits his head or witnesses some grave injustice (one in which Kotaro seemed willing to look the other way or run away from). Then Kotaro wrestles control whenever the samurai hits his head or whenever the samurai tries to mack on Kotaro's childhood friend and love interest, Nagasawa Ai (played by Ken Watanabe's daughter Anne, who brings different layers to the childhood friend/love interest archetype).  

As the drama continues, Kotaro is forced to face some harsh realities that he can no longer run away from. 

There is so much I like about this drama. As I mentioned above, the characters together with a witty script really makes this show just plain enjoyable to watch. Kotaro's friend, Nakamura Tsuyoshi (played by Shirota Yu, who is going against type) is just plain endearing as the stammering gentle giant type. Kotaro's spacy father is one of my favorite characters because of his awkward attempts to dad but his heart is in the right place. And man, as soon as he enters Kotaro's room with popsicles, I know it is going to be both a funny and warm father son moment. Then there is the cocky police officer who keeps on running into Kotaro at the most inconvenient times. 

The police officer has a picture of himself in front of a motorcycle on his desk

The theme of Samurai High School is that of growing up and facing the fact that life is not fair. But even if life is not fair, that doesn't mean you should stop fighting.  Kotaro the Samurai fought for what he thought was right, even if the reality of the situation meant he would lose. The unjust way of life whether it was through the favoritism at his school or how his father's boss treated him doesn't necessarily mean you should go along with it -- float like lumps of crap through life. The samurai believes it is better to die with a sword in your hand then run away.  That is the lesson Kotaro is to learn.

That is what I mean by brilliant parallels and just a lot of thoughtfulness. Yes, the drama is about Kotaro's coming of age, but it also continues further telling him life is tough, life is unfair, but that doesn't mean you should accept it for what it is. 

Samurai High School does have a silly and been done before premise. Also, the special effects are kind of silly. But it is just a good time to watch with a solid script with interesting characters. And Miura Haruma does a fantastic job. I mean, just look at how his face transforms from derpy high school student to badass samurai. 

Derpy

Badass

6. Galileo (ガリレオ)

I have another less embarrassing confession to make -- I love detective shows. I've always been big into mysteries and some of my favorite TV shows tend to focus around detectives. You really can't go wrong with it. Well, you can. You can have crappy writing, poorly written characters, and just boring mysteries for them to solve. But every season has a detective show and that includes both Japan and the United States. 

Normally, I get excited when I see a new detective drama but very few stick with me or that I couldn't wait until next week like I did with Galileo. I haven't revisited this drama in a few years but I have watched it more than once (I feel I need to rewatch soon). The characters are engaging and the mysteries are pretty interesting and leave you guessing. I also like the science bent the mysteries tended to take. 

Galileo is based on an absurdly popular novel series in Japan. I have not read the novels so I can't say if it on par with the novels or better or complete crap. I just know they are popular. I can see why. It is an interesting way to look at the detective storylines. If I had to think of an American equivalent, it is House MD meets Bones with a pinch of X-Files. But it really stands on its own. 

Galileo is about a university professor named Yukawa Manabu (played by Fukuyama Masaharu), nicknamed Galileo for his eccentricity. Galileo is a physicist primarily intrigued by things science cannot explain which draws him to focus on finding-and often debunking paranormal phenomena. This brings in rookie cop Utsumi Kaoru (played by Shibasaki Kou) who for some reason keeps on getting assigned all these crimes involving some sort of paranormal phenomena. She enlists the help of Galileo to figure out the science involved so she can solve the cases. The two balance each other out; Galileo the logical, coldly honest scientist and Utsumi, the hot-tempered, justice seeking cop. And of course there is tons and tons of UST, even early on in the series when they clearly Do Not Get Along. 

I don't want to give too much away but Shibasaki and Fukuyama play off each other with ease. I fell into the will they or won't they plotline but also the science, mystery, and paranormal themes of the crimes they are trying to solve. Also, I feel so bad for Galileo's interns. He ran them through the mill. 

I highly recommend this series for anyone -- jdrama aficionados or not. And you can bet if they ever translate the novels or I sit down and learn Japanese, I would read the hell out of them as much as I do Harry Potter.


5. Nodame Cantabile (のだめカンタービレ)

 I grew up in a musical family. My grandfather was a professor of music. My brothers both longed to be musicians -- one of them becoming a bassist in a popular local band. As for myself, I played trumpet/baritone in band but I really enjoyed taking voice class. My grandfather though, was this classy gentleman who was obsessed with perfection. He was known for throwing his baton at people who were flat while he was conducting. Don't get me wrong, people remembered good things he did. But I'm making a point here. 

What drew me to Nodame Cantabile was how the main character reminded me of stories about my grandfather when he was younger -- formal, took his craft really seriously, and clashed with people who didn't. That is probably part of the reason why Nodame is so high on the list. I watch it and it reminds me of my grandfather. Sure, there are other aspects I like too, but I will get to that later. 

Nodame Cantabile is based on a manga and was adapted both for jdrama and anime. It follows Chiaki Shinichi (played brutally by Tamaki Hiroshi) a musical genius who dreams of becoming a famous conductor one day. He goes to a Japanese University, Momogaoka College of Music even though he would rather go to a European university which would be "better" for launching his career. The only problem is he has a crippling fear of flying. So Chiaki is an uptight, bitter, perfectionist who is a big fish in a small pond. 

In walks Noda Megumi (played by the adorable Ueno Juri), nicknamed Nodame, who is everything that makes Chiaki cringe. She's childish, loud, messy but she is basically a piano prodigy. Chiaki is told to mentor Nodame and the drama is about their blossoming relationship from enemies (well on Chiaki's side), friends, then romantic partners. There is a lot of belligerent sexual tension. Chiaki gets Nodame to look at her talent more seriously and Nodame gets Chiaki to lighten up and really appreciate what music is all about. 

Their differences captured in one picture

Not only do I like to see how Nodame slowly begins to melt the ice prince's heart (as well as the audience's) but Nodame has a rich ensemble cast. This is due to a subplot in which Chiaki is given the opportunity to conduct but it is an orchestra made up of the worst students at the uni. You have the rock enthusiast violinist Miine Ryutaro (played by a fun Eita) who doesn't look much like a classical violinist which irritates Chiaki to no end. If only Miine knew about Lindsey Stirling...

I love Eita's hair in this drama

You also have the flamboyant timpani player Okuyama Masumi who has a mancrush on Chiaki. Then Saku Sakura who loves the contrabass despite it being bigger than her. I could go on and on about the charming supporting cast because it is very much that.

Another aspect I really like about the drama is the choice in music. They tap into all the classic composers and even assign variations of those themes on each of the characters. Nodame for instance is Mozart -- a child genius with a sense of bounce and "pinkness" as Nodame says. Miine is Gershwin -- someone who looks to meld the old with the new. Chiaki is Beethoven -- a genius who is limited by some sort of problem (Beetovan deafness and Chiaki his fear of flying)

Nodame Cantabile borrows heavily from its source material. It feels very mangaish in many ways even employing floating hearts above people nursing crushes and the like. Also, when Chiaki whacks Nodame with either scores or whatever he has his hands on, Nodame flies very far away, further than someone normally would. It is a shame because I think the story holds its own without the manga references.

Despite that, I really enjoy this romantic comedy and if you don't mind what I mentioned above, you may like it too.

Hurry! puppets await

4. Kimi Wa Petto (きみはペット) You Are My Pet

The following drama has an incredibly strange premise but it is really good. Trust me on this. 

Kimi Wa Petto, based on a josei manga, is about a journalist named Iwaya Sumire (played by the extremely talented Koyuki) who just got dumped by her fiance. He told her that she was taller than him, better educated (graduating from the extremely prestigious Tokyo University), and had a higher paying job than him. She made him feel inadequate as a man. Then, later that day, her boss sexually harasses her to which she responded by punching him in the face. As a result, she got demoted. Things can't possibly get any worse. 

In a storm, she comes home and finds a young man in a box (played but the adorable Matsumoto Jun) who was badly hurt. Since it was storming, she brings him inside and nurses him back to health. He desperately wants to stay with her to which Sumire jokingly responds that he could only stay with her as her pet. To her shock, he agrees and even takes on the name Momo. 

I'll take ten

Sumire grows fond of Momo, who she comes to find has a complicated past that would make anyone want to agree to this arrangement. Despite this, it is clear he loves her for her. While this is going on, Sumire's University Crush comes into town and the two begin to date -- however, he wants her to take on a more traditional role. She is torn because with Momo, she can truly be herself. 

 What I find most interesting about this drama is that you can really view it as a feminist narrative. Sumire is a very intelligent, driven woman but that scares most men away causing her to not only feel lonely at home but also at work. She is threatening to others because of her abilities and she's a woman no less. She is able to bag the man she thinks she wants, the one society tells her she should have but she is no more happy because she can't be herself. Then there is Momo who likes her Just The Way She Is but that is a relationship (which is non-sexual at first) that others would frown on. 

There is a growing conflict between Sumire and Momo's status with each other throughout the drama. And in the end, the theme really is about romance as equality -- a romance between equals. 

As I said above, it seems like it would be a very weird premise but in the end, I loved the story and I loved the message. 

3. Nobuta Wo Produce (野ブタ。をプロデュース) Producing Nobuta

Make-Over Storylines. Man, they've been done to death. It is rather shocking that I placed one at Number 3 on this list. But there is a reason. This drama took the storyline for the ages and added in a few variations. For one, this is not a story about romance -- although feelings from one almost destroys this perfect trio -- it is about friendship first and foremost. 

Nobuta Wo Produce is narrated by its main character Kiritani Shuji (played by Kamenashi Kazuya) who is without a doubt the most popular kid in school. Even though he has many friends, he still feels kind of lonely and distant and is probably a step away from an existential crisis. He is always looking out for everyone whether it is little brother, absent-minded father, or his classmates but at the same time is big on developing his reputation as the golden boy. He is nice to everyone, except for Kusano Akira (played by Yamashita Tomohisa who knocks the role out of the park) who is obnoxious and odd and doesn't shower regularly and "can't read the atmosphere". 

Enter Kotani Nobuko (played by an endearing Horikita Maki) who is a bigger mess than Akira is. She's shy and uncouth which immediately makes her a target of bullies. Shuji feels bad for her as does Akira. The two hatch a plan to "Produce Nobuko" to make her the most popular girl in school.

Boys know nothing about make-overs!

As I said, there is nothing too special about the premise. It is My Fair Lady but there is no bet, Shuji offers to fix up Nobuta (the nickname they give her) because he feels sorry for her. And in the end, despite Shuji having many people around him who want to interact with him, he finds two true friends in Akira and Nobuta. And he learns to be more honest with himself too and to not care so much about what others think. See, Nobuta doesn't change who she is to be popular, she changes her outlook and she begins to like herself. And qualities her classmates initially found disgusting, they begin to find endearing.

The drama is so good because each of the main three characters have their outside appearances and their inner turmoil. Much like how this type of storyline goes down the path of don't judge a book by its cover, that is a theme constantly explored. It makes for very intriguing, layered characters. Even the goof ball Akira has some secrets he keeps hidden and why he chooses to march to the beat of a different drummer makes a whole lot of sense. 

Akira instructing Nobuta on confidence

I have mentioned before about how much people just like to focus on romance and not friendship. Friendship means so much to me and yet I feel it is so underappreciated. Nobuta Wo Produce wants us to remember how precious real friendship is. It is about mutual respect and it is about support and yes, about platonic love. 

  

2. Kazoku Game (家族ゲーム) Family Game

I adore a well done trickster. I just love what they contribute to a story. They not only bring the chaos and often teach the protagonist (or villain) a lesson in an unconventional way but they often have delicious ambiguous morality and dubious end goals. It is partially my love of this archetype that Kazoku Game made it to the prestigious number 2 spot. 

Kazoku Game, which is a remake of a 1980s drama and movie which was based off a novel, focuses around the Numata family. On the surface they seem to be the perfect family in every way. The father (played by an incredible Itao Itsuji) maintains a high paying job which managed to help him secure a rather nice residence. The mother (played by the equally amazing Suzuki Honami) is a demure housewife who never complains and is sweet and apparently loving. The older son, Shinichi (played by Kamiki Ryuunosuke who has acting chops like I never seen) is the golden boy, straight-A's, heavily involved in activities. The Numatas seem perfect. 

Any family should want to like them except they have a problem with their youngest son, middle schooler, Shigeyuki (played by a woobie Uragami Seishuu) who threatens to shatter their reputation. Shigeyuki refuses to go to school, to leave his room even. The neighbors are starting to talk! The father hires a tutor named Yoshimoto Koya (played expertly by Sakurai Sho) whose ad guarantees to help anyone to the point they could get into Tokyo University. 

The kid with the monitor on his head has to be different.

Yoshimoto is a bit of an odd duck whose methods vary from strange to morally questionable. And Shigeyuki is not his only student and it is clear Yoshimoto wants to teach the entire Numata Family a thing or two. Apparently the perfect family mask is really just that. But will Yoshimoto help them or break them? 

Well, he already invited himself over for dinner -- that is never a good sign

When I finished watching Kazoku Game, I went right back to the first episode and watched the entire thing again. It is that good. There are so many layers to the story. You could watch the whole thing as a comedy or a drama or a psychological thriller and you'd get a different experience from watching it. There are parts of the drama in which you feel uncomfortable but you're supposed to be. The key theme of Kazoku Game is empathy and the way it moves, the writers/director wants you to empathize as if daring you to turn away just like everyone else is doing when things get real. 

Yoshimoto drags a sobbing Shigeyuki to school until the kid just kind of collapses in a heartbreaking scene

But probably most amazing about this drama alludes to what I wrote in my first paragraph. Yoshimoto is an excellent example of a trickster character. When he arrives in the Numata Family's life, he turns everything upside down. He teases, he mocks, he calls out the members of the family on various issues. In reality, he is holding up a mirror for them to see their ugliness and urges them to change it -- although admittedly in a not too nice way. When I noticed these similarities to the trickster, as I was reading more about it, I found that the author of the novel meant for Yoshimoto to have shades of Susanoo, the Shinto God of Storms -- a well-known trickster figure.

Sakurai Sho created a great character too. Yoshimoto has a specific walk, one with a purpose and almost robotic in someways. He also has a catch phrase, "Ii ne" which means "Good". He switches from manically cheerful to darkly sinister at a drop of a hat which causes the viewer to question his motives. 

This is Yoshimoto blackmailing Shinichi, who steals when he thinks no one is looking. Yoshimoto looks, he always looks.

I had originally written up a long analysis of Kazoku Game but just never published it. There is a lot going on and I seriously recommend it. There is a lot of thoughtfulness in it and by the end, you will be questioning your own levels of empathy. 

  

1. Nobunaga Concerto (信長協奏曲)

Come on you knew this one was coming. It may be because it is fresh in my mind that I place this at number one, and there may be some truth in that. But honestly, the more I thought about it and the more I read about the actual Nobunaga and the people in his life, I just like it that much more. It is a solid story (although iffy timeline) with outstanding performances. And really, a historical setting usually wins me over 9 times out of ten. 

I'm not going to spend a great deal of time on this one because I wrote an entire entry about it. So go read that one! Shoo Shoo!