I don't watch a lot of Jdramas because if I am honest they almost never score higher than a 7.5 as a rating for me. I can't even completely pinpoint why I always feel that way, maybe because they always feel like something is missing? This one is no exception. I liked this in a lot of ways. It is an easy mini series and I liked the characters and music. I enjoy the delve into the entertainment industry and the brotherhood portrayed not just within the band but with the support from their 'rival' band as well.

If you go into this story thinking it will be a romance then you won't find that here. Romance it just kind of grazed and only with one of the band members. The romance also did not work for me in two ways. First the only chemistry I saw between the two was the teacher student relationship amd the second is in the age gap which is very unclear and never really said in the series but I assume she is between 6-10 years older than him. Asuka was portrayed very well as the housemother that gave advice and helped to support all the boys and to me I saw the same energy from her with all the members and never got a romantic vibe from her for Dan. On Dan's end I could easily see his crush but it did not feel reciprocated to me.

I did think this had a somewhat realistic portrayal of the pressure and hardships put on pop bands in the industry with these hard to live up to expectations put on them. But I also think that it was glossed over as well. You are exposed to the 'downfall' of the band due to a scandal but then barely given any context or follow through about it. Same with the rise in their success. Maybe it was because it was a miniseries but it felt incomplete.

I did enjoy watching this; loved the acting and performances given by the cast, and enjoyed the music.