Autumn dramas have been starting one after another since October. MANTAN editorial staff will pick out their favorite works based on their own opinions and prejudices. We will explain the highlights and points of interest. (Part 2 of 2)
◇ "My Diary" (ABC TV/TV Asahi, Sundays at 10:15pm)
Although it is not a well-known time slot, many people recommend the serial drama "My Diary" (starting October 20th), which airs on ABC TV/TV Asahi at 10:15pm on Sundays, as it is known for its many good dramas.
Kiyohara Kaya plays the lead role of the protagonist, Onomura Yuki, who is in her first year of working life. This is a human drama with a completely original script that depicts the connections between five male and female university students. Each episode is structured so that the protagonist, who is in her first year of working life, looks back on important memories from the past due to small events, and nostalgically weaves together the casual daily life and connections with the friends she spent her time with during her university days.
The script is written by Hyodo Ruri, who made her debut as a screenwriter in 2020. Her most famous work to date, "My Worst Friend" (NHK General TV), won the Galaxy Award for October 2023. In addition to Kiyohara, Sano Hayato, Yoshikawa Ai, Mikami Ai, and Mochizuki Ayumu will also appear.
Among the points of interest were comments such as, "The cast includes young, talented actors such as Kaya Kiyohara, Ai Mikami, and Ai Yoshikawa. As it is an original script, it is a promising work with great potential to be a hit" (male in his 20s, Z), "Kiyohara Kaya, who rose to become the heroine of a morning drama in her teens, is starring in a commercial drama for the first time in two years. What kind of performance will she show in a human drama, which is her specialty genre (?)? The focus is on the scriptwriter Ruri Hyodo. Although it is her fourth year since her debut, she was very good in the NHK "night drama" about job hunting, "My Worst Friend," so I am looking forward to the "chemistry" with the cast" (male in his 50s, Y).
◇"The Travel Nurse" (TV Asahi, Thursdays 9:00 p.m.)
Several people are also recommending the sequel to the TV Asahi drama "The Travel Nurse," starring Masaki Okada, which aired in October 2022 (Thursdays 9:00 p.m., starting October 17th, extended first episode).
"The Travel Nurse" is an original work by Nakazono Miho, who is known for "Doctor-X: Surgeon Daimon Michiko" (same network). It depicts the story of Nasuda Ayumu (Okada), a freelance "travel nurse" with a nursing qualification "nurse practitioner" that allows him to perform certain medical procedures, and Kuki Shizuka (Nakai Kiichi), a skilled "super nurse," who despite their differences, join hands and reform the medical field with a patient-first approach.
In the sequel series, the two take on a new battle in an increasingly chaotic field where lives are at stake, with a chronic shortage of doctors and severe restrictions on overtime hours due to work style reforms. The setting is Nishitokyo General Hospital, a core hospital that has been the core of regional medical care for many years. Following the discovery of corruption by the previous director, the young, charismatic new director (Yamazaki Ikusaburo), who advocates "correct medical care and correct work style," becomes the two's new "enemy."
As for points of interest, some people commented, "I'm looking forward to the sequel because it's stable. How has the duo of Ayumu and Shizuka been strengthened? I'm also looking forward to seeing how the character of the new director played by Yamazaki Ikusaburo and the conflict between them will be portrayed" (40s female, H), "A series on the theme of nurses brought to you by the staff of "Doctor-X" including screenwriter Nakazono Miho. The final episode two years ago had a 12.9% audience rating, so it's a series that TV Asahi is probably looking forward to making into a series. Nakai Kiichi's sharp-tongued nurse is refreshing. I'm looking forward to seeing how Okada Masaki has grown since appearing in the morning drama" (20s male, Z).
◇"Watashi no Takaramono" (Fuji TV, Thursday 10pm) and "Houkago Karute" (Nippon TV, Saturday 9pm) are also included.
In addition, we will introduce some of the other dramas that were recommended.
"My Treasure" (Fuji TV, Thursdays at 10pm, first episode extended by 15 minutes), which starts on the 17th, is the third drama dealing with the taboo of marriage, produced by Misao Reiko, who also produced "Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon" (2014) and "Even if You Don't Do It" (2023). Matsumoto Wakana plays the main character Kanzaki Miu, who gives birth to and raises a child with a man other than her husband, falsely pretending it is her husband's child, Tanaka Kei plays her husband Hiroki, and Snow Man's Fukazawa Tatsuya plays Miu's childhood friend Fuyutsuki. A point of interest is that "Producer Misao, who has depicted adult love stories colored by 'forbidden' relationships, has chosen the theme of 'brood parasitism' this time. As it is a theme with a strong impression, it may not be to everyone's taste, but I feel that there is a strong message embedded in it. I would also like to see what kind of presence Fukazawa Tatsuya will display opposite the undisputed and talented duo of Matsumoto Wakana and Tanaka Kei" (man in his 50s, T).
"After School Chart" (Nippon TV, Saturday 9pm), which starts on the 12th, is based on a popular manga and stars Matsushita Kohei as a school doctor with messy hair, a grumpy face and an extremely stubborn personality.
Among the points to look out for were, "Matsushita Kohei will play the gruff and scary school nurse, so I'm looking forward to seeing a performance that we've never seen before. I'd also like to pay attention to the performances of the child actors who will play the students, who were selected from an audition of 500 people. Maybe the next Ashida Mana will be born from among them?" (Woman in her 30s, S).
Although it is a late-night drama, some people are paying attention to "Love Live! School Idol Musical the DRAMA" (MBS and others, starting November 22nd).
This is the first live-action drama adaptation of the popular anime and other "Love Live!" series. "School Idol Musical (Sukumyū)," a musical with a completely original story that has been performed since 2022, is being made into a live-action drama. Former member of idol group Hinatazaka46 Watanabe Miho and idol group ≠ME's Tomita Nanaka will appear.
One point of interest was, "The Love Live! series began in 2010 and has been developed into an anime and other media, but how will they portray the live performances in a live-action version? With active idols also appearing, expectations are high." (K, man in his 40s).
There seems to be a lot of ambitious dramas in the fall dramas. Which ones will you watch?
