Ando Lloyd - A.I. Knows Love ? (2013)

Story: One word:- ACTION! I like the premise of this story. Depending on how you feel about issues such as intelligent AIs, human overpopulation, world pollution, the power of humanity etc; you'll either love this drama or give it a "so-so" rating. For me, I love it. There is only one blemish in the plot of the drama (hence the 9/10 rating) and this is for you to find out and for me to know. The love story is told in the right dose and I dare say, this is one of those rare gems where the action, background story and romance balance out each other. If you are expecting a lovey dovey story with romance and love triangles as the main theme (you know like Zettai Kareshi), you will not find it in Ando Lloyd. Instead, a more mature telling on what is love was offered. The action and special effects are commendable and you get action and special effects in every episode (oh, yes! feed the action freak in me!). There is enough English in this drama to appeal to the International audience. Having Hindi and Indian actors casted lends credibility to the drama. Yes, it is quite logical to assume that India will one day be the technological hub of the world (we can already see India's potential in this area now!).

Acting/Cast: No complains in this department. They are all wonderful and experienced cast. Kimura Takuya is brilliant in his double role as an android and a super-nerdy human scientist. These two roles are almost opposite of each other:- one a cool looking, killing machine with minimal expressions and conflicted in many ways (an adroid struggling with his identity and later his developing human emotions); another a shy, passionate nerd with numerous comical expressions who knew exactly what to do and what he wants. Kimura shone in this drama. Shibasaki Kou (the female lead), however - I cannot comment much on. Her role is adequate to pull through the story but limited due to the many premises the story aims to address. So, yeah - she's the female lead but her role is not over-powering that the main story did not come through. In short, she was... there. The rest of the cast - two thumbs up for them (Reiji style!) *grins*

Music: Love the theme OST. And btw, it's in English! :)

Rewatch value: In my opinion, a gem for rewatch. There are not many action, futuristic, romances out there and those who are available are either overrated, a manga live-action or lacked in the storytelling and action parts. In Ando Lloyd, you find a balance.

Overall: A solid 9/10. Highly recommended if you are like me who values storyline (NOT the typical love triangles type storyline that appeals to the young female audience!) and get your kicks out of seeing handsome men kick butts admist tonnes of special effects! Yes, I am referring to all you closet "Matrix-ees" out there! :)

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It's been a while since I hesitate to watch this drama because the plot is kinda not that attractive. The first thing that makes me look at this drama was the presence of Kimura Takuya of course. He's one of my favorites Japanese actor and I'd like to watch all of his dramas. Then I read the plot. Then I was mixed. Is it really gonna be a love story between a human girl and a robot who look like her fiancé ? I had a little issue with this moderately ethic approach. Luckily for me I have the best watching partner (in crime) who happen to love Kimu almost as much as I am and so we started it together.

In fact I was not prepared for this. It pleasantly surprised me. I'm so glad I watched this and now that it finished I'm lost and want to see more of it. So I'm listening to the music on repeat to impregnate myself in it again, not forget and bring back the feels.
The music is a beautiful sound to my ears and is well adapted to the drama. I'm not really found of the loud stressing TADAM sound that comes each time there were powerful actions but the peace calm musical parts that come with it definitively give me goosebumps and make me want to fly in the beautiful sky of this drama. For me the best song is the one we hear on the very last episode. Best discovery ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGPSWyyUMCQ

As I said, the first episode was a real surprise for me. I didn't expect it to be this complete, complex and simple in the mean time, fast and punchy. Ok the story might be a bit far fetched, it deals with lots of nonsense but don't forget that it's totally sci-fi. And surprisingly it's not completely unrealistic. In fact I might believe it ! The writers did a good job. I wasn't bored a single time, I wasn't too much stressed neither, I loved most of it. Ok I guess that once I decided to stop understand every parts and just enjoy it, I was able to fully enjoy it. No need to think, just watch and enjoy !
I think I should say a little more about myself to understand why I loved it that much.. I like science, I love computer stuff, I'm a mix between art and science, drawing and 3D-ing, I come from a family full of engineers and computer scientists. This drama compile all of it. I loved the way they managed to explain the robots as living computers dealing with programs, viruses, back up, flash memory, system restoration... that's my thing. XD. My other thing is totally completely fantasy. And with this drama I was served !

About the relationship itself... I was afraid it might be too romantic and a little bit creepy. Imagine a girl falling in love with a machine that exactly looks like her dead fiancé ! Yeks. But that wasn't like that. Of course they grow some feelings but it was so beautifully, simply done I never feel unease about it. I couldn't not talk about the relationship between Reiji and Asahi. Oh my ! They're so freaking cute adorably sweet together. I smiled and aww EACH TIME we saw them together !! I'm craving for this kind of relationship !

About the actors and their characters. First I was so amazed by Kimura Takuya's acting here ! Playing both Reiji and Lloyd, he was so great at it !! I mean, it was like two different actors ! He was unbelievably credible as a robot and totally him as a shy over clever quirkyscientist. I loved both of them. Loved so much how he moved me as Reiji, how touched I was by his actions, his reaction and his love for Asahi. Loved so much how reassured I felt seeing his robot side, he was so serious, so straight forward but so reassuring, so stable. I never stressed for Asahi's safety knowing he was here for protecting her.

I was pleasantly surprised by Shibasaki Kou. I hated her in Orange days, didn't like her in Nobunaga Concerto, but here... Here she shined ! I loved following her trying to survive in this new world without her beloved one and with someone who want her dead. Was sad with her when remembering her lost love, smiled at her silliness when dealing with a robot, was impressed by her bravery facing danger.

I could say a word for each second character because as always in Japanese production each character was well developed and I always feel like they are real important person and not just someone used only to make the first leads shine. I will never be tired of jdrama and I'll miss them all because it's like I know them personally and it's something I don't find in other countries productions.

The special effects were so well done that it's almost unnoticeable and it becomes more easy to buy it and believe in this fantastic story. I have to say I particularly loved how Lloyd disappear and travel through space.

I know I'm completely biased regarding this drama, I know there are a lot of flaws but I think I definitely find the drama that suit me the most. And believe me or not, just writing this review makes me rethink the final rating and improve it.

The end is kind of questionable but I won't talk about it, I like to remember my loved dramas without an end, it's like it never ended and can continue forever and ever. And it's more enjoyable the day I'll decide to re-watch it ^^

I'll re-watch it for sure !

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