Umareru : Mid Season Thoughts

Wow, I really like this drama.

I can’t believe it. I thought I wouldn’t but I really like this drama. I’m seven episodes in and I really enjoy this story. The story is really intriguing and for some reason everyone manages to bring something to it that keeps you watching. There isn’t needless drama just to have drama, everything is simply taking its course … as if you’re watching a family naturally overcome a problem. This is a key thing here with this story, that everything simply takes its course. For every action there’s a consequence. I like that.

Their chemistry as mother and daughter is wonderful

The story has shown the gradual acceptance of Aiko’s children to her current condition. With some more accepting than others. But the hate is not there without reason, as Miko is being tormented in school, Manami is worried about her future in case anything happens to her mother, and Taichi is struggling with the discovering of his own lineage. Koji is the only one from the jump that is totally accepting of the new life, but it is not without reason either.

I have to say that I am really impressed with Horikita’s performance in this drama. She isn’t so stiff or stale as I’ve seen her in the past. As the drama gets deeper, I can see Horikita become more comfortable in her role. She still delivers a lot of her lines with this “acting” cadence, like when she’s explaining various risks with high risk pregnancies (she sounds like she’s trying to sell me life insurance or something) or when she’s talking with Ohkura, but overall she’s done pretty well with her role as Manami. You can see the stress of being the “older sister” as well as her apprehension when forced with a lot of situations she’s uncomfortable in. Generally, I’m pleased with her in this drama.

Ohkura has eased up in his role of Taichi but he tends to be stiff but he’s pretty much secured himself as Taichi. Out of all the characters in the drama, his character so far has shown the most character growth as his story, in one way or another, is separate from the rest of those in the Hayashida household. From a happy, go lucky, eldest son to an angry, violent, and frustrated “stranger”, Ohkura has had a lot put on his plate for someone who’s not a strong actor. But, for some reason, brooding seems to be one thing that Ohkura is good at. Majority of the characters I’ve seen him perform has had, in some way or another, involved some form of brooding (Student from Utahime, Genta from Hissatsu, Jun from Yasuko to Kenji, and most notably Nurse Motoki from GM Odore Doctor). So, for him, brooding isn’t anything new but it is nice to see something done with that brooding. His outburst really shocked me in episode 5.

The cinematography in this drama is absolutely gorgeous

Another highlight in this drama is the cinematography. It is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know who was in charge of it in this drama, but whoever it was likes to put a lot of focus on lighting and wide shots from a distance. When they’re shooting on location, they get the entire location. You get a feel for the entire mood of the scene, taking advantage of the colors, the time of day, and the people around them. Some scenes are absolutely breath taking. I absolutely love watching this drama.

As for everything else, it seems as if this drama is definitely trying to be a PSA to encourage women past their 30s to finally settle down and have children. While 14sai no Haha pushed for abortions and focused on the negativity behind becoming a teenage mother, Umareru embraces pregnancy and tries to downplay abortion as much as possible, emphasizing that the child within is a life that you simply can’t kill. The social commentary, which is abundant in this drama, is really interesting to watch. Especially from a Japanese standpoint. While in America, late pregnancies are a norm, in Japan its still practically unheard of and if Miko is any example, a highly embarrassing thing.

I’m already wrapped in Umareru’s web and I am really anticipating finishing this drama. If this drama keeps up this pace, I’m sure the ending will be absolutely splendid. So many things have happened between episodes five and six that it can only go up. I’m satisfied that they have not went entirely campy with the conflicts that this family has to endure. Again, it’s natural… it’s… realistic.

I wonder how this is going to end....