Beginners! Reviews

80%

The first few minutes of Beginners! makes me realize that your preferred type of clothing can make or break you. I don’t know what Taipi was thinking when his idea of "formal" wear is a hawaiian shirt, topped with blazer, and loose jeans. He looks like an American gigolo than a would-be policeman: thus, his father was right, Taipi should be the one who has to be arrested by the police. (The only upside is seeing Taipi dressed-down to his boxers…)

His "fail" fashion sense was the start of his bad luck. First, he "almost" hit Momoe, leading to his entrance papers being blown-away to a nearby creek, so he has to go down to retrieve it. Second, while he was busy retrieving his papers, his dad’s motorcycle got towed and in an attempt to stop them,he slipped, and got wet. Third, he arrived 5 minutes late; he shouldn’t be allowed but Assistant-Officer Ryuzaki (Ishida Hikari) showed-up and said that he is in "S" class. Fourth, during the introductions, and while Head Instructor Sakuraba Naoki (Sugimotto Tetta )was speaking, he kept glancing at Officer’s Ryuzaki direction like he was flirting or whatever. Fifth, Officer Ryuzaki got irritated with his attitude and told him to close his eyes. Sixth, thinking that Officer Ryuzaki is gonna kiss him (seriously, what made him think that?), she gave him a hard slapped with a lecture:"Don’t look anywhere when your instructor is speaking!". Lastly, since Taipi was late, his entire class must shoulder the punishment as well. In the end, the entire "S" class were made to pull-out weeds and cut the grass in the courtyard.

That’s what class "S" usually did for a week, clean here and there, while other class have started the usual lessons to become a Police. The "S" class have to be like their academy’s janitors.

To add salt to the wound was when the truth was revealed. "You’re only substitutes! What better can you do than clean?" (Ouch! The academy is just avoiding to employ a janitor.)

Knowing that they are the lowest class, Teppei went on rambling that he’s going to quit, Tachibana was irked as well with their situation, but he would rather went on following what their instructors have instructed—and that is to clean. He then rambled that Teppei is free to quit since he was holding back everyone anyway; as two hot heads collide, a fight ensues.

In the end, their Officer Ryuzaki got pissed and showed them what a substitute is all about…She unleashed a punishment that would definitely drive them to their limits, if they don?t make it, then they will all be fired?

Thoughts:

I honestly don’t have any expectation from this drama, so I don’t know where to start. Hmmm…story-wise, Beginners has a good plot. I can’t recall the American movie that I’ve seen where they also training to be police, but it?s as good as that. Though they haven’t really done that much Police-worthy training so I don’t know how the story would progress.

Some characters where also a bit off. It’s no wonder that they got accepted in "S" class, not only that they didn’t meet the criteria of a Police force, but most of them have "ulterior" motives why they joined the force. Some of the characters also don’t possess the right amount of angst and gutsy personality to even attempt to be in the Police force. It even looked like they were still in High School, and not those who enter a Police Academy and maybe that is one of the reasons that they are in class "S"....(",)

Acting-wise, Taipi is indeed a better actor than Hiromitsu. Seriously, Hiro’s too timid, like he wasn’t acting at all. He just looks the part of an arrogant-rich-kid-in-rebellious-stage, but his presence is not enough to aggravate you or make you lean toward him. Furthermore, this is the first time I’ve seen Ayame and I think that she’s better-off with ojou-sama roles than being her country-girl role in a big city. Though, she and Taipi have the right amount of chemistry to make me *swoon*.

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