Wow, where to begin?
I stumbled across this drama by accident when I wanted to watch more shows with Kudo Ayano. I read the synopsis for this and it looked like it was going to be another decently entertaining but cliché school drama. So I started it. After about three episodes in I realized that what I had thought to be a rock was in fact a sparkling diamond. This show is a masterpiece.
Since seeing my last favorite drama which was awhile ago I've felt that I wouldn't really have an easy time finding another drama I'd love enough to rate it 10/10. Well, I finally did. The thing is the grade for this show is different even. Most of the dramas I rate ten is because I think they are amazing shows and pretty much appeal to my own special taste. This one is different in that I think any fan of asian dramas could love this. It's hard to explain why this is a special case but after I'm done mabye I've made myself clear enough. In my eyes it should belong with one of the classics, but I know why it won't at the moment. Anyways, forgive me for being long-winded but I've got alot to tell you about this drama and it's going to take some time to describe why it's so great.
Many dramas have this episodic layout which I'm not a big fan of. They have an ensemble cast and in episodes they single out one person at a time to work on his/her problem and in the next they pick another one. All this while keeping an overarching storyline that they focus on in the first episode and then abit later towards the end. The problem with this for me is I have a hard time connecting with the characters and getting invested in the bigger storyline because all the small different stories that happen in each episode take away time from a coherent narrative. Suzuki Sensei looks like one of these shows at first, only it isn't. They do indeed take up a few persons problem each episode, but everything is connected pretty much. Everything is relevant to the overarching story and important things happen all the time and not just in the end. The characters doesn't just have their scenario told and then their done, not at all. They continue to develop and their stories are brought up and not just forgotten plus relevant to where the story eventually ends up going.
This show is very radical. In terms of theme and opinions. It is alot about minor sexuality. It's amazing how well written and real it feels and the problems they take up are very important things that doesn't get talked about because people might feel they are taboo. Well, someone has to talk about them and bring them up. This leads into what might be the best thing about this show. The radical opinions and behavior of Suzuki sensei himself. He presents opinions and views on things that surprised me alot, in fact sometimes I didn't agree but that's the beauty of it. Even though you might not agree with him, in fact you might very well dislike him but what he is saying isn't wrong, it just different from what we are normally told to be the right thing while still being very rational and good opinions.
I have to warn you though, this show isn't very flashy or cartoony like Gokusen or GTO and the likes. It focuses alot on discussion but it's done in a very intense way still due to what must be some of the best writing I've seen in any tv-show. I was never bored.
I recommend this show to anyone who claims to love asian drama. To me this is how a show is done right. I actually learned something from watching this, something important. I won't tell you outright what it is, you are just going to have to watch it for yourself. Actually I think what you and me get out of this might even be different depending on your own view on things.
The cast is amazing, especially considering alot of them are very young. The music captures the mood of the show incredibly well.
I do have one complaint against this show and without spoiling anything it has to do with something that kinda sticks out in a drama that is so down-to-earth as this is. It's a minor thing, you might not even notice and in the long run it didn't matter. But I rather wish it wasn't there at all. Anyways, I'm going to wrap up this review, I feel I could go on for ages about small things that makes this show the masterpiece it is but then I'd be here all night.
I recommend it, it's a definite 10/10. It's not very flashy or "over the top", it's pretty radical and you might even get offended by some of it. Frankly, having your opinions and beliefs questioned is something good because at the end of the day you can chose what to think yourself anyways but you'll get a broader view of the subject by hearing other sides. I'm sad to see so few people having actually seen this here, it's got about 8 rating votes.
Also I recommend you to go into this with an open mind and pay attention to the details, some smaller things might not be spelled out for you. I hope you didn't get bored with my wall of text and I hope you like this show alright at least if you decide to watch it.
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