Drama Review: Saikou no Rikon

After konwing Saikou no Rikon (translated as Best Divorce/The Great Divorce) reunited scripwriter Yuji Sakamoto, directors Rieko Miyamoto and Michiko Namiki and Eita from Soredemo, Ikite Yuku - that is one of the best dramas I've seen -, I had to check it out! Saikou no Rikon was a breath of fresh air, with its sharp dialogue, comedic situations and character development.

Hamasaki complaining about his marriage at the dentist.

Saikou no Rikon is about a couple who don't get along anymore and the relationship is in a phase where both are unsatisfied with it yet they don't really communicate with each other besides from fighting all the time. Instead, they complain to strangers about their wife/husband. Mitsuo (Eita) sees his marriage as a torture while Yuka (Machiko Ono) tries to make it work, having no success whatsoever.

Mitsuo and Yuka fighting, as usual.

Meanwhile Mitsuo re-encounters with Akari (Yoko Maki), an ex girlfriend from his university days, bringing back pleasant memories, however he finds out she is already married to Ryo Uehara (Gou Ayano). Tired of this marriage, Yuka files the divorce papers (that by the way Mitsuo was the one who printed and signed it first), however they decide to still live under the same roof for some reasons.

Akari and Ryo.

The acting in this drama was really good. We get to know both sides of the characters, they are all flawed somehow but have their good points too.

Ryo and Mitsuo bonding.

The Mitsuo-Yuka couple are totally polo opposites. Mitsuo HamaSaki (Eita) and not Hamazaki, as he likes point out, is orderly (in an OCD level), selfish (especially at the beginning) and well, annoying (in a comedic way). At first, I was irritated by him and felt bad for Yuka (Machiko Ono), but as the story progresses you realize that even though he's undoubtedly annoying (he even admits he finds himself annoying) and blatantly honest he is kind at heart (by the way he is the character who develops the most in the course of the series). Yuka is a kind, bubbly woman who tries to make people around her happy, a bit messy and clueless at times though. A likable character that many woman will relate to.

Akari and Yuka's first time meeting each other by chance.

The Akari-Ryo couple are tough, they're also different from each other, but don't fight all the time like our main couple. Akari is a complicated character. She's serious, private and has trouble expressing herself, she suppresses her emotions only to have it come out all at once in a stormy way. Ryo is relaxed, absent-minded and immature, he is the type that will only value things when they're already gone. This couple changes the most throughout the series.

Saikou no Rikon is a well-done drama with good writing, directing and acting. All characters, dialogues and situations feel very realistic. If you're looking for something fun/entertaining (without being superficial), off beat, then you should watch Saikou no Rikon.

The scenes from the ending theme "Ying Yang" sang by Keisuke Kuwata, change a little every episode so you won't get bored by watching the exact same ending for 11 times!

MY RATING:

Episodes: 11 | Director: Rieko Miyamoto, Michiko Namiki, Yusuke Kato | Writer: Yuji Sakamoto | Network: Fuji TV | Broadcast period: January 10 - March 21, 2013 | Genre: comedy, romance | Country: Japan