The final episode of the drama series "Light of My Lion" (TBS, Friday 10pm) starring actor Yuya Yagira will be broadcast on December 20th. We spoke to producer Yuka Matsumoto about the highlights and behind the scenes of the filming.
The drama is a human suspense story about Hiroto (Yagira) and his younger brother Michito (Ryota Bando), who has autism spectrum disorder, meeting a mysterious boy (Tasuku Sato) who calls himself "Lion" and becoming embroiled in an incident. The script is a completely original one, co-written by Tokuo Koji, who worked on "My Housekeeper Nagisa-san" (TBS) and the "Ossan's Love" series (TV Asahi), and Ichinohe Yoshino, who will be making her drama debut.
◇Highlights of the final episode
I can't decide what the highlights of the final episode are! All of them! The staff was inspired by the way the cast members played their roles with joy and love until the very end of every single shot, and we were more motivated than usual during the days of filming to make a wonderful final episode until the very end. With that feeling, the weather was on our side, and the scene where Hiroto, Michito and the lion were filmed on the bank was enveloped in a beautiful sunset that symbolizes this drama.
Also, one day with only a few days left of filming, during the final location shoot in Kamisu in front of the Komori house, Tasuku-kun, who is usually so energetic that he finds it difficult to cry even when he is performing a tearful scene unless he is really into the character, suddenly became sad that filming was about to end and burst into tears.
The staff, Yagira, and Bando were all so moved by Tasuku's unusual appearance that they almost cried, causing filming to be temporarily halted. Yagira stroked his head and said, "You can still see him for a few more days!", and Bando picked him up and said, "It's okay, Takkun!" It was a moment when the bond between the three was clearly visible even when the cameras weren't rolling.
◇ Behind the scenes of episode 10
Thank you for the great response to episode 10. It seems that many people thought the series would end with episode 10, so the surprised reactions to the ending were refreshing. But more than that, in terms of the meaning behind this drama having 11 episodes, I was really moved by the reactions of everyone who was speculating on how the story would develop, wishing happiness for the characters, and showing how much they had sympathized with Hiroto and the others.
I personally have a lot of favorite scenes in episode 10. The confrontation between Shogo (Osamu Mukai) and Hiroto, the hug between Aoi and Yurugi, the reunion between Mikkun and Lion, the tea time between Funaki (Hirai Masaaki) and Michito, etc. I have a strong attachment to each of them.
In the scene where the lion eats the crab brought by Tora-jii (Den-den-san), the delicious smell of crab filled the studio, and every time the lion ate a crab, he trembled in agony at how delicious it was. It may have been the first luxurious taste for a 5-year-old (laughs).
The lion also had a lot of fun peeling the crab, and was acting freely and talking about whatever he wanted while the cameras were rolling.No matter how freely the lion moved, or how his voice overlapped with their lines, the other four adult actors remained completely unfazed and continued to act, which was entertaining and made the performance seem like a lively, real family gathering.
