First Love: A plethora of emotions
A sensible, heartfelt, and well-delivered story about star-crossed lovers which is genuine and keeps the viewers entertained till the end
What is fate? Do frequent natural encounters and coincidences count as fate? Is it still destiny and luck if you try hard to make it seem like a coincidence? Are all romances a part of destined futures? A recent Japanese drama on Netflix sheds light on the slow Melo-romance and the simplicity of life powdered by its hardships. First Love is a one-in-a-kind romance drama wherein dreamy promises of living together are met with the harsh realities of life. Inspired by a Japanese Pop song titled the same as the series, this J-drama is a sentimental watch. It could be more realistic in figuring out romance, but it is rather convincing and exciting.
The slow-burn romance is set in the small city of Sapporo, Japan. The city plays an essential role in setting the tone of the story. The show traces the romantic relationship between high school sweethearts and extends till their troublesome adulthood when they grow fond of each other. There are scenes and instances in the drama that make the viewers feel helpless with the characters’ struggles and hardships, but this is what grapples one till the end of the show.
What makes this romantic J-drama so unique is that there is no point during the nine sweet episodes when the viewer feels that the scene, dialogue or story is cliched. The music of the show very correctly fits the dynamics of the drama and is quite exceptional and meaningful. Not only that, the cinematography, the colour scheme which reflects the characters’ feelings, the screenplay and the acting are all above par for an average romantic melodrama. Juggling two timelines in a storyline and mesmerising the viewers through it makes this drama more refined.
This longwinded nostalgic romance has a niched audience. Only some people will appreciate the poignant story progression or the constructive emotional power and reconciliations. It is a work of art for cinephiles and J-drama fans. It keeps one hooked and can be binge-watched in one sitting. Once you cross the few centimetres barriers of subtitles, you can truly understand the beautiful art that is yet to be discovered in this world. Hoping the trademark elements of the show are conveyed to the right audiences. Here are some dialogues from the show that are quote-tweet-worthy.
People are made of memories and encounters.
Life is like a puzzle, the sparkling memories, the terrible expereinces which make you curse at the sky are all the pieces that can’t be replaced.
Every moment in your life is like a jigsaw puzzle but what if you lose the most important piece?
I belive that all gatherings and partings are drawn by fate
Gold always shines and is destined to be discovered even if the world ignores you.
