Garasu no Ie (2013)

Since I have finished it, I figure I may as well write a review.

As you can see from the synopsis, the basis of this story revolves around a forbidden love aspect, in this case, a woman falling in love with her husband's son. Don't worry, there's no pedophilia here, all are adults. Interspersed throughout the drama is a secondary storyline about politics that I didn't really pay attention to, and I doubt anyone else watching this will, as it had no real bearing on the story in general. In fact, with the inclusion of the political story line I felt that the focus of the drama was a bit confused. Was I watching a political drama or a romance dram?

That serves to be one of the drama's biggest flaws; the lack of focus and the lack of raw emotion on the character's part. Rei and Hitoshi are supposed to be involved in a passionate, torrid love affair. I saw nothing of that. In fact, it seems that Hitoshi's main attraction to Rei is mere a physical one; the earlier in the drama we are treated to stereotypical scenes of him oggling her while doing household chores, and the obligatory scene of Rei getting a food item stuck on her lips and Hitoshi staring lustfully at the article of food. There are scenes in which an emotional connection is sparked between the two, but those are sparse. I think the political themed side story lined could have been done away with and we could have seen more of the relationship developed between to two characters.

I can describe this drama in one word: lukewarm. Given the heavy subject matter, I expected much more from the characters. Rei's husband and Hitoshi's father does very little to make Rei remain with him and to keep the couple apart Given his controlling nature at the beginning, it is all too plausible that he would go to great lengths to keep his wife; he did not. The character who we get the most out of is Hitoshi's former girlfriend Nanami. She is the character who gives the most emotion. Otherwise, for the supposedly controversial subject matter the drama doesn't really give much to keep you hanging on to your seat.

It isn't necessarily a bad drama, though it may be dull and slow moving for some. At the beginning you will be intrigued, but by the end you may just lose interest. The end was standard drama fare, so don't expect any surprises. Ultimately this drama can be use as a time passer and an opportunity to indulge in Saito Takumi eye candy.

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