Freeter, Ie wo Kau Episode 1 – Nino shows us in many ways how to be a douche

My life has always been average. My father, who works for a second rate trading company, my mother, who is a stay at home wife, and my one sister, are whom I consider an average family. I went to high school, got into a university on the first try, and I got into a firm like everyone else.

My life isn’t good nor is it bad. It’s just average.

… and I don’t want to do it anymore.

Freeter, Buy a Home opens up with that monologue from the titular character, Seij, who isn’t pleased with his normalcy in life. So he quits his perfect job to become a Freeter, somone who floats between part time jobs because he couldn’t stand the lack of control in his life. He doesn’t like people telling him what to do and how to do it and he can’t stand not having control of his life or situation.

Everyone has this crazy euphoric glow going on.

He jumps from one job to the next, quitting because he doesn’t like the companies’ policies, ways of greeting customers, or taking orders all the while fighting with his father over his lack of motivation and discipline in life. While his friends maintain active, busy, and productive lives, Seiji spends his time alone either playing video games all day or going to karaoke bars by himself. Soon, one day, his mother falls ill and he’s soon forced to finally get a job to provide some stability for his ailing mother and to satisfy his family… and possibly.. himself.

Apparently this drama was the most anticipated one of the season, probably due to Nino being the lead. Personally, I’m only watching it because Maru from K8’s in it and I only got a blink of his cute little self in that annoying purple jumpsuit. Sigh. Anyway, review.

workin da system, like a boss

This drama opens up with Seiji being a piss face and ends with Seiji being a piss face. Actually, the way the episode ends is so off beat that you think there’s more to happen but it cuts straight to an annoying theme song credit roll. Seiji complains, complains, complains, and does more complaining. Nothing is good enough for him; his job, his family, his life… Nothing. His father annoys him, his mother is too kind to him, his sister is his sister… its like watching a 20 something year old man with a university degree act like a 16 year old. Its annoying and immature.

He walks off from jobs, begs on unemployment lines, and seems to have no shame in blaming the world for his own self inflicted misfortune, because, in his mind its the world’s fault for being inconvenient towards him and not the other way around. So he’ll be a dick and get chewed out for not saying Irasshaimase correctly or quit a job because he didn’t want to be nice to the customers. To him, being an adult is too much for him and the world must cater to his childish attitude.

i'm an asshole. deal with it.

And, of course, since this is a family/human drama we’re going to watch Seiji transform from childish asshole to mature adult and maybe get a girlfriend in the mix. While the story is predictable, the only thing that will honestly keep me watching his how Seiji’s mother deals with the stress in her life that’s causing her mind to deterrioate. Between her oblivious, stern, husband, her childish bratty son, and the next door neighbor — There seems to be a lot on her plate and I wanna see if she makes it out of this okay or not.

There’s really nothing else engaging in the storyline, which is sad to say. There’s only two things: Seiji the brat and Sick Mama.

The acting is average and doesn’t capture you like 14sai no Haha, but it’s average for your standard family drama. Nino manages to showcase every little thing the fangirls love him for – being a dick and a crybaby and all the other actors got to shine as well. It looks like while Nino’s family maybe the serious dramatic side of the story, the construction works at his job will probably be the more cheerful side, with all of them looking like they’re unique in some way. If it ends like I think it will, Nino’s character will probably end up working there for a long time and adopt them as his “new family” and get the girl.

Its standard. Its your standard drama. Hopefully the drama won’t loose whatever frill it did have in the first ep.

cool story bro