Karei-naru Ichizoku Ep01
Review by Yanie
The episode opens with an old lady narration about Japan's financial situation in the 1970s. Actually, the narration does not only appear in the opening scene, but it comes out until the middle of the episode, explaining details about the Manpyo family business. The drama almost looks like a documentary. This narration-style was also applied for the 1974 movie version.
Then, it's the scene of Manpyo Teppei [Kimura Takuya] walks in the midst of snow storm on top of the mountain. With a grandeur-feel of background music. And with the breath-taking snow-stormy mountain scenery and cinematography. It is a bit unbelievable that this is a TV drama, and not a wide-screen movie. This scene is definitely will fit in to be shown on a big wide screen at the cinema theatre.
The timeline goes back to 2 years before. Another amazing view is shown...a whole set of Tokyo in the 1970s era. The cable trains, the cars, the old buildings, the thousands of people on the street (of course with 1970s style clothes). Then, its Teppei's scene talking to the factory's head, Ichinose.
The next scene is the scene where the iron machine in the factory exploded while Teppei was there. With rain of fire pouring down, the workers were in panic. One man is trying to save something important, and he accidentally got burned. No one's there bold enough to help the burning man. But Teppei can't stay still and so he takes the risk, and help the man to put off the fire with a towel in the midst of the pouring fire rain. Seeing their big boss going to the front line like that, the other workers finally join in to help too. The fire has finally put off, and as the protect-mask lifted up, its revealed the almost-burned man is Ichinose Yoshihiko [Narimiya Hiroki], Ichinose-factory head's son. He is fine, because the burned outfit protected him from fire. This is a very tensed scene and was filmed very, very well. You'll believe that Kimura Takuya and Narimiya Hiroki were really struggling in the middle of the pouring fire, though those were only computer graphics.
The scene continues on to the Manpyo family dinner and New Year event in a hotel. The classic opening scene in the book and the movie. Some details are changed here and there. But the important scenes are there. Also, the scene where Teppei and his wife, Sanae(Hasegawa Kyoko), sees Yasuko(Teppei's mother) and Aiko(the father's lover) walks together, but then separate their ways, Aiko going in to the father's room, while Yasuko going into her own room. Teppei and Sanae glares at Aiko with hatred in their eyes. And the scene where Sanae tells Teppei she doesn't like the fact that Aiko controls around the Manpyo family in their room while their child is sleeping. Also the scene where Aiko talks to Daisuke(Teppei's father) about Ginpei(Teppei's brother)'s engagement in the room. These are all the same as the original. But as for the scene where Aiko talks to Daisuke in the room, it was too short and didn't really show Aiko's strong characteristic...too bad.... This scene was suppose to be an introduction of what kind of woman Takasu Aiko really is.
The ending scene of this episode is superb and wonderful. Teppei and his father, Daisuke's dialogue scene, in the beautiful, beautiful garden of the Manpyo house on the bridge above the big fish pond...
Teppei: Father! Good morning!
Daisuke: Morning.
Teppei: I'm very sorry to held you till midnight yesterday...
Daisuke: Ah...
Teppei: But, I feel very happy that you allowed me to handle those business deals. I'm very happy... Thank you very much.
Daisuke: Teppei...
Teppei: Yes?
Daisuke: It has been a long time since we saw Shobun...
Teppei: *ponders a bit* Aaa...that big gold-coloured carp fish?
Daisuke: If Jii-san(*grandfather, actually Daisuke's own father) didn't clap his hands, that fish won't appear on the surface of this pond. Since Jii-san died, I've never seen that fish ever again....
Teppei: That fish must have died, already...
Daisuke: No... If you clap your hands, that fish will definitely appear.
Teppei: I don't think so.
Daisuke: Try it, clap your hands now.
Teppei: There's no way it will appear...
Daisuke: Doesn't matter, just try and clap your hands.
Teppei hesitates but then he claps his hands twice. Daisuke and Teppei observes both sides of the pond, but nothing comes out.
Teppei: See? It's dead already. *bows* I'm leaving now...
Suddenly a splash of water is heard. Teppei pauses to see what it is. And just like a miracle, the big gold-coloured carp fish comes out. And...another mysterious thing happens...the fish swims closer to Teppei's direction. Teppei is a bit surprised with this. Daisuke is in awe...
Daisuke: ...so you are Jii-san's son, afterall.......
With that last line, Daisuke leaves the place. Teppei doesn't really hear what he just said.
Teppei: (voice over) I will never forget father's face expression when he see the Shobun fish appears again after 10 years... Just because of that one fish...my struggle with the Manpyo patriarch has probably begin...
This scene somehow is the turning point of everything. And it is filmed so well. Throughout the episode people kept mentioning how Teppei resembles his grandfather, Keisuke. And they also compares how Keisuke and Daisuke handles business differently, and so Teppei was mentioned the way he handles business is similar to his grandfather. Daisuke hates his father very much. So to hear people kept mentioning that Teppei resembles his grandfather, he slowly hold a grudge towards his own son. Then, seem like something also happened in the past too...
So in the ending scene, where the fish appear and even swims to Teppei's direction, makes him looks like the incarnation of his grandfather... It'll give you goosebumps. And so I think this scene is filmed very well.
The ending credits rolls after this. I feel disappointed there is no themesong for this drama, the ending credits rolls only with the background music that has appeared in this episode over and over. Right after that ending scene, I was expecting something like Hitoto Yo's voice, Dreams Come True's voice, Shibasaki Kou's voice or Sun Min's voice(Nihon Chinbotsu themesong singer) to sing the themesong...but none at all. I feel quite disappointed...
In overall, this episode is still only an introduction episode to the characters and the prologue of the story. None of the conflicts has really begin yet. The middle part drags...perhaps there were just too many characters involved in the Manpyo family business, and they were all introduced as well, in those draggy scenes...including Teppei's father-in-law...but good thing, the father-in-law is a likeable character, and he has good chemistry with Teppei.
The episode still focuses too much on Teppei's character alone, and none of the other characters had the chance to be prominent. While, in my opinion, what makes this Karei-naru Ichizoku masterpiece interesting, are the conflicts between the various unique and interesting(neither black nor white) characters other than the total-white Teppei, the good son. It's quite amusing to see so many big stars got so little roles in this drama. All of the supporting characters were actually those actors and actresses who usually got the main roles in other dramas, be it nowadays or 10-20 years ago. I really hope the other characters will have more focus in the next episodes, as I'm really satisfied with the casting and they all fit in very well with their respective roles.
Pantesan lu gak ngerti, Gur! 
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IMG]http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r229/kucici/chrismastpoem.jpg[/IMG]
credit yoogals@yoohouse
