04 June 2010

Summer Snow Review

Title: Summer Snow
Genre: Family, Romance
Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: 2000-Jul to 2000-Sep
Theme song: Natsuno Osama by KinKi Kids
Cast: Domoto Tsuyoshi, Hirosue Ryoko, Oguri Shun, Imai Tsubasa and Ikewaki Chizuru.

After the death of his parents, Shinoda Natsuo (Domoto Tsuyoshi) had to take care of his two younger siblings; the half deaf brother Jun (Oguri Shun) and sister Chika (Ikewaki Chizuru), who is secretly dating Juns friend Suetsugu Hiroto (Imai Tsubasa). While running a bicycle shop, he also is the head and busybody of the family. By being simple minded and an easy-going person, he one day meets Katase Yuki, an OL who has never had a job, due to her heart illness.
The two of them are connected by several means; Jun starts to write to an OL lady named "Yuki", who happens to be Yukis fellow co-worker, and uses 'Yuki' as an alias. Hiroto gets busted for robbing, by a detective, who is the father of Yuki. So some way or another they are bound by destiny. After the meeting, they start having a common interest: diving. Then the story starts, of the snow that falls during the summer under the water, summer snow...

This drama is heart warming, and heartbreaking at the same time. I enjoyed watching this family, even wanted to be part of it. Domoto Tsuyoshis character was pretty amazing; a big brother willing to take tons of responsibility on his shoulders and not say a pip about it. I like that he starts to act like a dad, but then, probably realises it himself that, he becomes the protective brother. The characters individually are superb; I mean they all have something memorable, and interesting about them; being deaf and wating to achive a dream, teenage pregnancy, having a deadly illness and lacking responsibility.
The humour was great, but the romance was a bit geeky, which is typical for the 2000-2002 series in Japan, but then again it had its charme :P
Though the ending was a bit messed up, meaning confusing, I did kind of expect the ending, so I actually did not like it. But it's the type of endings that I love, unique and tough to deal with. Final words, watch it if you like good scripts and unique stories.

☆☆☆☆ / 4 out of 5 stars

♥♥♥ / 3 out of 5 hearts

(This drama probably deserves more, but it did not equal my expectations)

No comments:

Post a Comment