Juken no Cinderella is basically Dragon Zakura + Medaka + Biri Gal. In other words, its a jdorama about getting into Todai with the main character being a high school student who studies at night school and is poor. Koizumi Kotaro is the tuition teacher who specialises in getting students into Todai with a 90% passing rate.
+ Great cast all around including Tomita Yasuko (Suzuki Sensei) as Kawaguchi Haruna's mom and Yamaguchi Sayaka.
+ I enjoyed watching Koizumi Kotaro play against his usual type as an arrogant teacher with a hot temper.
+ Who doesn't like an underdog story? How can anyone not support a poor girl trying to get into the most famous university in Japan?
+ Its also a tale of redemption.
+ About two characters who need each other at the lowest point in their lives.
+ Its an NHK BS show so the directing is better than average and they do really seem to specialise in making feel good shows.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- Theme songs sucks. Great music would have pushed Juken no Cinderella towards a must watch show. I don't think I would have rated Medaka must watch without Spitz's Masayume.
- I can't believe so many subbers chose to sub crappy shows over Juken no Cinderella.
- Found out that there is an old movie starring Mr Lan Evo Toyohara Kosuke but it's not available from my usual places.
SUMMARY
I really enjoyed the first three episodes. Can't wait for episode 4. My guess is its going to end up like a lot of NHK BS shows like Coffee-ya no Hitobito and Kiseki no Hito being feel good shows that are just below the border of must watch. You can get the first two episodes from nyaa and episode 3 is up at jplovetv.