Buzzer Beat

I had zero expectations for BB because it sounded boring; I thought it would only center around love, basketball, and music. I only watched this because of Yamashita Tomohisa and Kitagawa Keiko and because they are my favorite Japanese actor and actress, I couldn't resist seeing them together as a couple. I'm really glad I watched BB though because it exceeded my expectations to become one of the sweetest romance dramas I have ever seen. The characters are realistic, the plot is believable, and the basketball scenes were kept to a minimal. BB is a really cute and sweet drama about love between two unlikely people with basketball and music on the side.

Yamashita Tomohisa: I really like him in here since he was so sweet. His hair was really ugly though. His character was good but with flaws since he's has insecurities about his career and his love life. A lot of people thought Yamashita Tomohisa was stiff but I thought it fitted his character; his crying scenes were really good. 5*****

Kitagawa Keiko: She's so cute and lovable in here! She hasn't disappointed me when it comes to acting and I don't think I ever will be. I love the clothes she wears in here and she's absolutely gorgeous: with and without makeup. 5*****

Aibu Saki: I was really impressed with her acting in here. Aibu Saki is really convincing as a two-faced woman who is selfish and loose. This is my favorite role of Aibu Saki so far and I don't think she's a horrible actress anymore; she just needs to portray roles that are semi-evil from now on. 4****

Ito Hideaki: I can't believe he's Inoue Mao's older brother in "First Kiss" since he looks so charming in here. I felt bad for his character and I'm glad he didn't become evil when Kitagawa Keiko declined his love. I wished he ended up with somebody though. 5*****

Kanjiya Shihori: She was funny as Kitagawa Keiko's best friend and roommate. 4****

Mizobata Junpei: He's my second favorite male character after Yamashita Tomohisa (of course) in here. He's really cute and I look forward to seeing him in more dramas in the future. 5*****

Nagai Masaru: His character is so unpredictable since I thought he liked Ito Hideaki but he really liked Aibu Saki all along. 4****

Kaneko Nobuaki: He's really unattractive so I'm confused on why Aibu Saki would choose him over Yamashita Tomohisa. 4****

Komatsu Ayaka: A mini-PGSM reunion even though she didn't have any scenes with Kitagawa Keiko! Her role was really small but it was nice to see her in here. 4****

Yamashita Tomohisa+Kitagawa Keiko: After seeing them as a couple, I don't know if I like Yamashita Tomohisa with Kitagawa Keiko or Horikita Maki more. Yamashita Tomohisa and Kitagawa Keiko have a lot of chemistry together (their kissing scenes were really believable!) and they are my new favorite couple. The love they developed in here was really innocent and realistic. I hope they film another drama together soon! 5*****

Yamashita Tomohisa+Aibu Saki: They were not bad as a couple but I questioned if Aibu Saki truly loved Yamashita Tomohisa or not. It seems like Aibu Saki was only with Yamashita Tomohisa because he's a good man (which makes sense when she cheated on him) and then she was selfish and greedy to want him back after it doesn't work out with Kaneko Nobuaki. 3***

Kitagawa Keiko+Ito Hideaki: It always felt like Ito Hideaki was "too old" for Kitagawa Keiko so they were only an okay couple to me. 3***

Kanjiya Shihori+Mizobata Junpei: They are my second favorite couple in here. 4****

Kanjiya Shihori+Nagai Masaru: Not a bad couple but they are not compatible in terms of personalities. 3***

Aibu Saki+Nagai Masaru: Nagai Masaru deserves somebody better! I don't get why he even likes Aibu Saki and Aibu Saki got the easy way out since she still ended up with a nice guy! She should have ended up with nobody. 1*

Aibu Saki+Kaneko Nobuaki: A relationship that formed due to lust and revenge. I would have been okay if they ended up together since they matched in terms of personalities. 2**

Kaneko Nobuaki+Komatsu Ayaka: Poor Komatsu Ayaka since her character was pretty much created so they can have another woman for Kaneko Nobuaki. 1*

Themesong by B'z: I don't the singing too much but the beat is really good. 3***

Rating: 4.5****

Mop Girl

MP is a comedic and fantasy-like take on murder mystery dramas. It has an interesting idea/theme but it can get repetitive since each episode involves a new murder with Kitagawa Keiko traveling back in time to save the victims. The episodes also don’t connect with each other so there are barely any character developments. Some of the cases were interesting while some were predictable since you could guess who the murderer(s) are. The ending was left open-ended so I think there might be a sequel or special but the ratings weren’t that high when MP aired so the chances are pretty slim. The ending reminded me a lot of “Maou’s” ending but it’s not as bad since it wasn’t as cliffhanger-ish as “Maou’s” was. Overall, MP is a cute and funny drama as long as you don’t expect too much from it.

Kitagawa Keiko: This is Kitagawa Keiko’s second drama since she focuses more on filming movies. She’s extremely adorable and her acting is pretty good in here since this role was different from the one in “Pretty Guardian Sailormoon”; her character in here is a lot more silly and clumsy while “Hino Rei (Sailor Mars)" is more serious and smart. I wish her character’s power was more developed/explained though. 5*****

Tanihara Shosuke: He’s hilarious in here since he’s obsessed with foreign women. I would have like to know more about his relationship with his ex-girlfriend though. His acting is great and he is a natural when it comes to comedic roles. 5*****

Themesong by Sawajiri Erika (ERIKA): 4****

Rating: 3.5*** Definitely watch this if you’re a fan of Kitagawa Keiko since the whole drama revolves around her and you won’t be disappointed with her acting.

Pretty Guardian Sailormoon

I have never watched the anime adaptation of this so this was my first time exposed to watching "Sailormoon". I have read some of the volumes of the manga and enjoyed that and although there are differences between this version and the manga, I still love this live version adaptation. When I first heard that "Sailormoon" was going to be a drama, the first thing that came to my mind was: are some of the actresses going to have to dye their hair to fit their roles?! Luckily, they didn't since the only time their hair was different was when they transformed and even then, they're wearing wigs. The graphics and the fighting scenes are extremely cheesy (they reminded me of "Power Rangers"); however, the plot is really well developed and addicting. PGSM has the right touch of friendships and love so I enjoyed it because of its plot and characters development. A lot of people might not like this since it differs from the manga and anime and it's cheesy in the beginning, but I can guarantee that it gets a lot better so don't dismiss it right away because of the first few episodes!

Sawai Miyuu: I find her cuter than pretty, which fits the image of Sailormoon. For the first time acting, she' really good and I can't image anybody else as Sailormoon after seeing her in this role. But sadly, she's not really acting anymore (I think). 5*****

Hama Chisaki: Out of all the Sailor Senshi, I only think Hama Chisaki and Kitagawa Keiko are pretty; the rest are cute or just okay. I also thought she did a good job as Sailor Mercury since she was convincing when she was nice and evil. Too bad she's not acting anymore since I would have like to see her in more dramas. 5*****

Kitagawa Keiko: I absolutely love her (it also helped that Sailor Mars is my favorite)! She's a natural when it comes to acting and she is so beautiful! I like her character development throughout PGSM. Keiko is also the most successful Sailor Senshi since she's practically the only one still acting. 5*****

Azama Myu: A lot of people think she's really pretty/cute but I found her average. She fitted the role of Sailor Jupiter but I felt she was sometimes stiff. I don't think she's acting anymore either. 4****

Komatsu Ayaka: I didn't think she was pretty but her looks grow on you. She was really good as Sailor Venus. She's still acting but I think she's concentrating more on being a gravure idol than an actress. 5*****

Shibue Joji: He's not handsome enough as Tuxedo Mask but his acting made up for it. His looks kind of grow on you...I guess. 5*****

Sawai Miyuu+Shibue Joji: They were believable as Tsukino Usagi and Chiba Mamoru; a cute couple. 5*****

Azama Myu+Kikawada Masaya (as Furuhata Motoki): They are extremely adorable together and I'm glad that they ended up together. 5*****

Hama Chisaki+Matsumoto Hiroyuki (as Nephrite): They were also really cute together since there were so many "sexual" tension every time they met, but sadly, they didn't end up together since he sort of "died". 5*****

Shibue Joji+Matsushita Moeko (as Kusaka Hina): I felt bad for Matsushita Moeko since she wasn't evil and they weren't too bad as a couple but I like Shibue Joji better with Sawai Miyuu. 4****

OST: There are a ton of songs for this drama since most of the actresses sang songs for PGSM. There are too many to list but all of the songs are all really good and catchy! 5*****

Rating: 5***** A classic in its own way and everyone should watch this if you're a Sailormoon fan.