Japanese title: 鹿男あをによし
Number of episodes: 10
Some info:
1) D-Addicts Wiki
2) Official Site (Japanese)
If not for QY who erm requested for this show from me, I probably wouldn’t have picked up this show, at least not so soon. It didn’t catch my attention when this, along with other titles, were announced as drama titles in 2008. But turns out it’s an entertaining and funny show, even though the viewership ratings in Japan seem a little lousy.
Looking at the roster of the more important characters, they actually have quite a few of veteran actors and popular stars. Ogawa (played by Tamaki Hiroshi of Nodame fame) is a research assistant who’s made to teach at a girls school in Nara after he causes some trouble at his old workplace. Fujiwara (played by Ayase Haruka) plays Ogawa’s colleague and also an important member of the trio trying to solve the mystery later on. There are also other important characters, but I’m kinda getting lazy trying to introduce all the important people. Haha.
Anyway, Ogawa under certain circumstances, becomes the Deer Deliverer who has to deliver a treasure so that a rite can be completed to prevent Mt Fuji from erupting, and possibly destroying Japan. Basically, there are 3 factions, the deer, the fox, and the rat. The rat supposedly will get in the way and indeed its Messenger causes much problems. Some things may appear to be quite crazy cos such a scenario would normally be considered out of this world and unbelievable anyway. Indeed, this poses much hindrance whenever Ogawa needs to seek help yet is afraid by telling the true story people will continue to see him as someone who has a nervous breakdown (as his previous workplace has condemned him so).
I don’t really want to go into too much details, but basically Ogawa is supposed to find the treasure and deliver it yet was only given very vague clues as to who to get it from, what it looks like and is called etc. Expectedly it leads to many problems due to the vagueness of certain information. How else would this drama last 10 episodes anyway? Haha. Precisely I know that this drama is 10 eps, supposed discovery of the treasure sometime near the middle of the series isn’t going to be the real treasure. Haha, but good thing at the end, everything seems rather plausible. There’s also explanations for everything that has happened and how certain things have led to further misinterpretations etc. So, I guess one needs to watch everything in order to appreciate it properly. Haha.
Along the way, there are many funny moments and interesting dialogue. Some parts were really well crafted and executed by the cast and crew. Some things require a little inference and seeing beyond the superficial level to get the joke or perhaps why they’ve said things in certain ways that seem to be “off-topic”. Thumbs up for the team.
Onto something else, for the parts where he faces the mirror, supposedly with a “deer head”, sometimes the actions of his reflection don’t really correspond to his actual movements. Ah well, I guess it’s not that easy since I think most of it (if not all) will be shot separately. Or maybe it’s CG but not so well co-ordinated. Hic. I wonder how long Ayase took to remember those long, long lines of history-related explanations that her character just keeps going on and on about the background and details about certain events/things in history. Some more have to say it with that kind of enthusiasm etc.
While Fujiwara and Ogawa becomes a couple in the end, I find that their chemistry isn’t very much leh. The attraction isn’t really there, as compared to Ogawa and his student, who plays the Deer Messenger. Lol. But lucky him, got to kiss both of them anyway, though the reason for each is vastly different. Hahahaha.
Overall, though it’s quite ridiculous and a bit lame at times, the general feel is that it’s a nice show with fun moments, touching moments and times where you’re trying to figure out what really is going on. Lol. Quite a surprise imo. Haha. Quite hard to fully express some of the fun I got from this show. Go watch if you are able to tolerate (at times) the deer/fox/rat + rite thingie.
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