1. Futekistsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru is about Showa vs Reiwa values set against a story about time travel and workplace practices. The first thing I want to point out is this scene Abe Sadawo talking about how much stronger due showa economy was in episode 2.
2. I bloody love the musical bits which take a popular showa tune and imitates it to become the climax of the episode. Some of the showa songs I spotted were 17sai by Moritaka Chisato (ep 6), Sannenmei no uwaki (ep 8) and I know I heard something that sounded like Yazawa Eikichi's Tomaranai. I am sure there must have been a Yamaguchi Momoe song in there somewhere.
3. I think Naka Riisa is one of the best actresses in jdoramas today after this and Rikon Shiyou! The above screencap has become so disgusting lol.
4. I liked how it talked about how Japanese tv has become so safe now. Shimura Ken might not have survived in reiwa tv. I don't really watch variety anymore but I miss more risque shows like Shimokita Glory Days. I feel like Yoshida Yo's son shouting I just want boobs in my jdorama!
5. Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru is a fun show about a showa man learning the lessons of reiwa and a feminist learning that showa isn't all that bad. I like that it shows all the warts from the showa era as well as what happens when reiwa compliance goes overboard.
6. Furuta Arata makes every jdorama better by being in it. Makes me want to rewatch Yami no Bansosha and Galcir.
7. That being said, Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru feels a lot less focused the longer it went on. The laughs become less frequent. The first episode was perfect. The subsequent episodes were good but I never get that musical number that would make me laugh non stop for 5 minutes.
8. Episode 6 was about a writer who had trouble writing his final masterpiece because the writer was too preoccupied with determining the ending first so he can do all the foreshadowing. I totally agree because shows like Anti Hero are good because all the foreshadowing payed off.
9. One payoff that KyonKyon finally showed up near the end but there are things he did like bringing Kiyoshi's parents together earlier without any reason or payoff . We do not know what happens to Junko because she decided to change. Nothing makes sense in the time travel story anyway and since it is a comedy, it does not matter because there is no ending of consequence and we get a song about tolerance but I prefer the message of the first episode which is talk it out instead of just put up with stuff.
10. The quality of Futekisetsu ni mo Hodo ga Aru did not sustain itself after the perfect first episode. I guess it was an impossible task. I just wanted it to make me laugh all the way through except for here and there. That doesn't mean it is a bad show. It is very good. The finish was not as strong as the start. Not must watch but very worth watching.
