Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 5:35 pm Post subject: [Discussion] Dr Koto - All Seasons Post Rating: 0
Well, it was definitely the highest rated drama of the week, but has no discussion thread, so here goes
Just watched the first ep (never saw the first one, not on any tracker I know of) and it was quite good! However, not seeing the first series, it took me a while to get to know who's who, but exposition was good, so got into the swing of things after about 20 minutes.
The only show I can compare it to in recent memory is Iryu, because it focused on the doctor. But the show is much more about the island, a fictitious Okinawan Island. In this, it's much more like ryuuri no Shima, which I also enjoyed greatly.
Well, it's only the first episode, so not much happened, just character intros and a few plotpoints to follow thru the rest of the season.
Hidden:
Ayaka's cancer
Kunio's(?) schooling and financing
new nurse
An recurring theme in these dramas is urbanization and the impact on small islands like this, but it's too young in the drama to see what it has to say.
Overall, it was quite interesting and deserving of it's high rating. It hooks you with its leisurely pace and refreshing feel with no significant gimmicks. However, one thing that bugged me a little was the use/abuse of the drunk country hick routine. I'm not really sure if it was the only way to drive that conflict. It was adequate, but felt a little forced.
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Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0
Actually, if you had checked the Index thread before posting, you'd know that I had already hijacked this thread to be the discussion thread for Dr. Koto.... o_o;
meh, but since there wasn't any actual discussion started in that thread yet, I guess I'll change the link to this one...
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 4:15 am Post subject: Dr Koto Shinryoujo's appeal Post Rating: 0
groink wrote:
Although the series won many awards, what gets uploaded to D-Addicts is sometimes inversely proportional to the ratings you see in Japan. Dr. Koto, unfortunately (or fortunately for myself ) doesn't scream fanboys or fangirls. Therefore, you don't see much enthusiasm over non-fanboy/fangirl dramas here.
--- groink
Heh, I would have thought Shibasaki Kou's pretty big in Japan because people were crazy over Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu (the movie) and her songs used for dramas (the drama, Byakuyakou etc.) Maybe the first season was just too long ago, 2003.
The first season was about Dr Koto coming to the island to head the clinic to atone for his screwup in a Tokyo hospital (not really his fault though), how everyone was skeptical of him (because they'd had a succession of lousy doctors), and how Dr Koto manages to win them over. The dramatic tension there was almost all about how Dr Koto wins people over one by one, starting from Taketoshi (Tokita Saburo) whose kid Takehiro (not Kunio <g>) got acute appendicitis, was saved by Koto and now wants to be a doctor. Things went on from there as you'd expect - pretty episodic, except for Ayaka's growing affection for Koto.
I watched the first season but not the two drama specials in 2004, so Ayaka's mother's condition caught me off guard. But this perfectly illustrates the problem with medical dramas - all the people close to the doctor start developing serious illnesses! It's hard to believe the islanders were living peaceful lives and just as Koto the high-flyer surgeon comes in they start having all kinds of acute operable problems.
But I still watch Dr Koto. What can I say, I'm a sucker for melodrama. Plus, the cast is first-rate, the island so beautiful, and the music very fitting. I really appreciate them retaining the theme song "Gin no Ryu no Sei ni Notte" by Nakajima Miyuki. The lyrics are inspirational but it has a touch of sadness to it. The title roughly means "riding on the back of the silvery dragon". It seems it's on sale at iTunes as "A Ride On the Gentle Luminous Dragon". Can anyone confirm that?
The obvious big developments in the 2006 season are Ayaka's illness and the new nurse, but personally I'm also interested to see how the actors who were kids 3 years ago have now grown and matured - Tomioka Ryo (Takehiro) and Haruyama Mikisuke (Kunio). I hope they bring back Kamiki Ryunosuke (Ryuichi, Mariko's son). Look hard and you can also see Ohgo Suzuka (the young Sayuri in Memoirs of a Geisha) in the background. Not sure if she'll figure in any big way.
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: Re: Dr Koto Shinryoujo's appeal Post Rating: 0
lzydata wrote:
Heh, I would have thought Shibasaki Kou's pretty big in Japan because people were crazy over Sekai no Chuushin de, Ai wo Sakebu (the movie) and her songs used for dramas (the drama, Byakuyakou etc.) Maybe the first season was just too long ago, 2003.
Groink was refering to the situation here in d-addicts. Dr koto has neither members of ka-tun featured in the cast, nor Yamapi so there's not many chances that it becomes popular around here. That kind of things.
the quote is from another thread? what's that mess?
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject: Re: Dr Koto Shinryoujo's appeal Post Rating: 0
20centuryboy wrote:
the quote is from another thread? what's that mess?
Oh, sorry, that was from the thread Mizune linked to above.
20centuryboy wrote:
Groink was refering to the situation here in d-addicts. Dr koto has neither members of ka-tun featured in the cast, nor Yamapi so there's not many chances that it becomes popular around here. That kind of things.
I see, the situation here. Frankly I don't understand their appeal. Yamapi for one can't really act, and yet he gets all these leading roles.
I would have tried subbing Dr Koto Shinryoujo 2006, except that my Japanese isn't good enough for it , and I'm already doing Boku no Aruku Michi. It's a good show though, if you aren't put off by my description of it.
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Dr Koto Shinryoujo's appeal Post Rating: 0
lzydata wrote:
I see, the situation here. Frankly I don't understand their appeal. Yamapi for one can't really act, and yet he gets all these leading roles.
Well,There's a few of us to think that way but... well, still, he's better than Tackey or Matsumoto Jun! ( but it might be difficult to get worst)
There's a long history of cute boys/girls who can't act in japanese dramas.
Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0
Um I'm not sure which Dr Koto you are referring to, as there was a drama in 2003, two specials in Jan and Dec 2004, and a second drama in 2006. All did very well - astonishingly well - but I'll be surprised if they push for yet another special or drama series. I myself watched the two dramas but not the specials, and my feeling is they've milked the concept for all its worth.
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, and I'm already doing Boku no Aruku Michi. It's a good show though, if you aren't put off by my description of it.
well, still, he's better than Tackey or Matsumoto Jun! ( but it might be difficult to get worst)
