Dramas 2018

Meet Me after School ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Japan | Year: 2018 | Episode: 11 | Channel: TBS

Cast: Kasumi Arimura & Kenshi Okada
Plot: Hijiri is a middle school teacher who’s engaged to Shotaro. Currently in a long-distance relationship, matters get complicated when Hijiri starts falling in love with one of her students named Akira.

Review: Where to begin with this drama. When I first started it, I knew the plot was going to be complex, as it focuses on the love story between a teacher and her student. I was a bit reluctant in the beginning, and couldn’t really root for the main leads’ love. The male character was only 15 and even for me, it was too young. Naturally, it also made sense to the screenwriter. That’s why, there’s a time jump 3 years later. And that’s when my point of view started to change. Even after all this time, both lovers have remained the same. Despite their parents’, colleagues’ and society’s disapproval, their feelings are the same. The drama also focuses on the development of that love parallel to the growing up of the male lead, and the female lead’s attachment to her life-long dream of being a teacher. All of that combined makes for a warm, melodramatic, romantic and intense plot on first love, on the impact someone has on your personal growth, and how sometimes you simply meet the right person, just not at the right time. Moreover, I think the drama did a great job at making the public understand characters’ intentions and behaviors (like Akira’s mother’s). It puts you in their shoes and forces you to see through their eyes. Finally, I would add that Haraguchi was an awesome second lead, and my favorite character of all. I would’ve watched the drama just for her. All in all, I recommend you watch that drama. It’s full of good feelings and nice reflections on society, love, morality,…