“First Love” is a show that consists of nine simultaneously heart-warming and aggravating episodes. The highly anticipated Japanese television drama series recently hit Netflix worldwide on Nov. 24, 2022.
A love story told throughout the years
The plot follows the back-and-forth romance of Namiki Harumichi, played by Takeru Satoh and Yae Nogushi, played by Hikari Mitsushima. The couple met in the 1990s as teenagers from a small town in Japan. The series follows their journeys through life into present day. Each episode gives viewers glimpses of their budding romance through flashback sequences, while also showing that 15 years later in modern Tokyo, they are no longer together. The drama follows their path to rekindle a lost relationship, as well as a handful of other people in their lives that audiences can’t help but grow attached to and root for in their own endeavors. This show gives its watchers a wonderful nostalgic feeling both from the glimpses through time and its homage-like classic melodrama set up.
The difference between this show and other drama series from the past is that it has a very polished and well thought out episodic design. Every episode will be having viewers begging for more with each cliffhanger. The series is full of scenes that makes the audience ask “What if?”, “How?” and “Why would you ever do that?”. It’s clear that the writers for this show took the time to thoughtfully execute, devise and polish each scene. They give proper amounts of restraint so that every close encounter leaves the audience gasping. The show truly gives the feeling that they took a traditional melodrama and gave it the treatment it needs to have a modern makeover, while retaining everything fans of the genre love.
A perfect study vibe soundtrack
The show’s soundtrack never seemed out of place. Perhaps the most important bit of information is the series’ namesake, “First Love”. The title comes from a popular song performed by well-known Japanese pop artist, Utada Hikaru. This song, as well as another song by the same artist called “Automatic”, often make appearances throughout the show and play a heavy role in the overall plot. Viewers should prepare to have these two songs pleasantly lodged into their minds.
Besides those, wonderful instrumentals by Taisei Iwasaki are placed into scenes that accent them perfectly. From sweet tunes that make the audience feel like they are laying eyes on their first love to melodies that spark melancholy, this soundtrack has it all. Honestly, it’s the perfect study vibe soundtrack, and I find myself going back to it for background noise. The instrumental album can be easily found on Spotify.
Overall, “First Love” has gotten largely positive reviews. IMDB gave it a respectable 8.4/10. While Phil Harrison from “The Guardian” said “It’s tasteful, idealized and at times, a little antiseptic: romance as designed by Marie Kondo.”
On my viewing of this series, I was hooked from episode one. Everyone else that caught an episode with me was soon binge-watching it as well. Personally, I already know that this will be a series I revisit. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. Viewers looking for a series to watch should definitely give this one a try.
