[JDorama] Honey and Clover

Title: Honey and Clover (a.k.a. Hachimitsu to Clover)
Genre: Romance
Episodes: 11
Aired: Jan - Mar 2008
Cast:

Narumi Riko - Hanamoto Hagumi is a gifted artist that possesses pure innocence. She's portraying the talented people that was once unknown but became popular all of a sudden. The hardship she faces because of not being used to the attention given to her. I think the role is quite challenging and I guess Riko came a bit short acting out the role. She came out boring and too ignorant that borders on being kinda dumb.

Ikuta Toma - Takemoto Yuta is the lost soul in the story. I bet most of us were in his shoes at least once in our lives. He went to art school without real interest in art. He went to escape a life he doesn't like. This made his life more difficult because he made a decision based on wrong purpose. I think his character is the most I can relate to. Lost and frustrated. Wanting to do something but always ends up with nothing. He's story is the one I like best. If not for Toma, I wouldn't have watched this series to the end.

Narimiya Hikori - Morita Shinobu is the most talented and popular artist of the school. He's naturally gifted that he was offered to go to New York for his art. But as what the most people see artists are, he's 4th dimensional and has his own way of living life. He does what he wants and doesn't care much what others think. I didn't like his character but I'd have to say that Hikori did a good job playing his role.

Harada Natsuki - Yamada Ayumi is another art student that has talent and was recognized for it. Her specialty is pottery. Hopelessly in love with Mayama Takumi, like every girl who's in love, she's unselfish to the point of looking foolish. Sadly, she doesn't recognize other people who cares for her because she's too focused on the one that doesn't notice her. One of the prettiest faces I've seen in doramas, I think it's pretty cliche that they have to have a pretty girl play a part that's get unnoticed.

Mukai Osamu - Mayama Takumi is the guy that is in love with an older woman. Not just any ordinary older woman but one that was widowed and still can't get over her dead husband. It's one thing to compete with another man, but it's more difficult to compete with a dead man. He shows the stubborn person in us that even knowing that we have good things in our reach, we still want something we can't have.

Summary:

Honey and Clover directly shows us the life of 5 college friends and how they face the life ahead of them. But on the hind side, we know that each of the characters represents us one way or another. I like the thought the writer is trying to show us, it's broad and reaches out to the viewers. Sadly, the drama while watching the drama, I was bored to death and the pacing is kinda slow. I'm not sure if it's the directors fault that it turned out badly but the drama had so much promise that it's sad to see it turn out really bad. The story picked up pace near the end but not much room to save the whole drama any more.

Rating: 6/10