Review of Netflix's "First Love"

Netflix has recently dropped the Japanese drama (J-drama) series "First Love", loosely based on the songs "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" of Utada Hikaru. It is a journey about love and how it evolves and remains in individuals' hearts. It is 9 episode TV series with a run time of 50 minutes to 1 hour for each episode.

Utada Hikaru's songs "First Love" and "Hatsukoi" were released with almost 20 years between them, the first released on 1999 and the latter on 2018. "Hatsukoi" actually directly translates to "First Love". However, that is where the two songs would be similar. The first song feels more like love that one experiences during your younger years; the lyrics and melody blends to create an atmosphere of nostalgia about young love when first experienced and when it is suddenly lost as well. The second song, on the other hand, feels more mature; the tone and meaning of the song are more relatable for adults who are more grown, mellowed by time and experience. Both songs can be heard throughout the episodes of the series.

The drama itself boasts of a good story and exceptional acting. This is probably one of the best J-drama's that I have watched of recent years. The acting is not overly exaggerated, which is often the case especially if the series was adapted from an anime, manga (Japanese comic books), or video game. It is from the "Slice-of-Life" genre and it is portrayed well that the interactions of the cast felt very organic. Having watched plenty of Korean dramas (K-drama), it was refreshing to see episode openings that are not necessarily a continuation of the last scene of the previous episode. The way each episode is made will eventually clarify the gap between the two. Also, having the story jump back and forth from past to present makes each moment that the viewers see more meaningful as the characters go through their journey. The writers have also incorporated important events that happened in Japan in the last two decades that makes the characters seem more real as most of us would be able to recall these events and how they could have affected our own lives.

This J-drama will make you recall your own experience of first love and how it has shaped the person you are now. It also reminds us that love can be strong enough to weather through any obstacle and succeed against all odds. I hope that Netflix will start investing in more of this type of J-drama in the future.

~ I am reminded by Sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare or the reading from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 T^T  

Review of Netflix's "Wednesday"

Wednesday is Netflix's newest series on offer. It follows the story of a 16-year old Wednesday Addams (Addams Family) while she is studying in Nevermore Academy, a school for outcasts (e.g. otherworldly beings). Think Xavier School (X-Men) but filled with vampires, werewolves, and the like. It was directed by Tim Burton, whose works include Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride to name a few. The series is 8 episodes long, with each episode having a running time of at least 45 minutes. 

I was drawn to the series due the the fact that Wednesday Addams was one of my favorite characters growing up. The series itself was very enjoyable. In fact, I, who rarely binge-watches any series, found myself watching all the episodes without getting bored. The series has captured the essence of Wednesday Addams that it felt natural to see a more grown-up version of the Addams family daughter. Her interaction with her peers was very natural in a Wednesday-like sense. The lines given to her character, even her thoughts when narrated, were very on-point, delivered with the sarcasm and condescending fashion that is associated with Wednesday. 

The cast ensemble was also a delight. The awkwardness of being in high-school in addition to the raging hormones of being a teenager and also being outcasts certainly made each of Wednesday's peers enjoyable to watch as they navigate that stage of their lives. I personally applaud the idea of outcasts who revel in their uniqueness rather than bending to the society that would not accept them. 

If there was one thing that I would complain about the series, it would be the depiction of Wednesday's parents, Gomez and Morticia Addams. I could not connect the personalities of both the younger and older versions to how I remember them in previous iterations. A younger Gomez having trouble in sword-fighting and Morticia trying to stop a fight-to-the-death while shouting is certainly not how they have been portrayed. Even their older versions getting teary-eyed, even having tears down one-side of the face, cannot be associated to how Gomez or Morticia was interpreted. They have little screen-time which makes me thankful as they were so far from the debonair Gomez and aloof Morticia in my memories.

In all, the series was a rollicking-good roller coaster ride. There was enough mysteries, twists and turns in the story that keeps you entertained and hooked up to the last episode. I just hope that Netflix has plans to do another season of Wednesday as I am eager to continue to watch more of her story.