Beginners! Reviews

90%

It may be your average Japanese "succeeding despite being branded as nothing" story line, but there is something deeper afoot that I can’t even begin to dig into. So, yes, it might be the usual school drama, but there’s something much deeper. So story-wise, I think this should be more and more interesting along the way.

Acting-wise, I’m mixed.

Taisuke has always been a good actor. And he’s become better in this drama, probably because he’s been through Shinikare? Anyway, the point is, his character is so multi-faceted since the beginning and it hooks you. He portrays the cheeky-delinquent-leader-type well and, thankfully, he rarely looks like he’s acting at all. Though I will have to say he needs a little more experience to have his actions and reaction perfect to a T.

Ayame…well I can say that she can act. Problem is, the role of the country, slightly clueless, bumpkin doesn’t suit her. I keep on forgetting that she’s a cowboy-type girl…Shimura has to keep on reminding me she’s "like a man". Despite the boyish clothes, I’m really not convinced. Maybe because of the way she looks? I don’t know…but in any case, she can pull off the friendly-type well enough.

Emoto has always suited the role of the "ignored, but well-informed" person and I think he’s doing a good job with it. I though that was going to be the extent of his acting here, which is, for me, quite boring once I see it over and over again. But near the end of the second episode, I began to see more of Yamane as a real person, although the character is not fully developed yet as a person.

Kitayama hasn’t been acting much. I mean, the role of snotty higher-than-thou roles have been portrayed countless times and he doesn’t make himself stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, he develops more than this.

I gave this a 9 because character development is slow. That’s the only negative side. Hopefully, I will see more development in the future. Yes, I’m still a sucker for "rising above expectations" stories and I like the fact that I cannot guess what’s going on in that police academy. So, yes. 9.

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