Hachimitsu to Clover – Ep.1, Verdict: So Far So Good
January 13, 2008
Okay, so I just finished the first episode of the new Honey and Clover dorama. So far so good, but I think this one has the potential to go south real quick if they aren’t careful.
I don’t think I’m going to do full recaps with this blog. By the time someone reads this they probably have already seen what I’m writing about. I think I’ll stick more to the editorial. So…
I mentioned earlier that I’m okay with the writers changing things up a little bit in order to avoid regurgitating the same material from the anime, but I’m a little concerned that they could end up trying to do too much new stuff while still trying to get everything from the anime and end up with what seems like a rushed retelling. In the first episode, we are already introduced to the Fujiwara Design staff (minus Leader, unfortunately), and the preview for the next episode already shows the scene where Mayama is carrying Yamada home while she professes her love for him over and over. I don’t remember exactly where that happened in the anime, but I don’t think it wasn’t in the first few episodes.
As far as the cast goes, I think they did a good job all around. While I was a bit apprehensive about Narimiya Hiroki as Morita, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’m not fully convinced, but I haven’t counted him out yet. I am really not a big fan of most of the ultra-effeminate pop starlets that Johnny’s Entertainment splatters all over the Japanese entertainment world (with a few exceptions), but the casting of Ikuta Toma as Takemoto is spot on. I don’t think they could’ve done a better job. Narumi Riko as Hagu-chan is fine considering the aren’t many little blonde cherub girls floating around Japan. I read somewhere about the casting for Yamada being poor, but I thought Harada Natsuki is a good choice – she is pretty much how I would have pictured an Asian version of her.
Overall the first episode was good and, like any good series does, makes me want to see more. I think it has the potential to be a great series, but like I said earlier, it can go south if they get too cute with the story. I’m trying think outside of the realm of the anime, but it can be hard when the standard has been set so high.
The ending theme, Canvas, is well suited to this series but noticeably absent was a well timed insert from the likes of Suga Shikao, SPITZ, or Suneohair. One of the key things that really set the series apart in my eyes originally was the use of the insert music – not just background music – but carefully chosen songs that helped really set the mood. I hope that can incorporate some in the upcoming episodes.
Thanks to the groups that are subbing and distributing this series. I look forward to more of your fine wares.
hello. I just finished watching episode 3. And really. The series was not bad. It actually made me laugh, like the anime. And although the story line was not exactly the same as the anime but I like it. The series makes me wanna re-watch the anime all over again. And the “Canvas” song by Ken Hirai was nice. I also wished that they would put insert songs into the series. I dunno whether you watched the movie or not. But I was not happy with the movie. It’s not even according to the anime. But without comparing to the anime, the movie itself was good. The arts in the movie was very nice. But between the series and the movie, the series was much much more better.
I just finished the series. I’ll put up a more detailed review, but I think overall the dorama was only ok. They put elements of the movie in the earlier episodes then stuck pretty close to the anime in the latter parts. I think some of the changes to the story were appropriate for the live action version, but in the end, what really kept the series from being better than just “ok” was Morita.