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Dearest or Saiai (最愛 literally: Deepest Affection) is a 10-episode TBS mystery, drama and romance Jdrama starring Yoshitaka Yuriko, Matsushita Kouhei and Iura Arata.
Summary
In 2006, Asamiya Rio (Yoshitaka Yuriko), a high school student preparing for her university entrance exam, dreams of studying at a Tokyo university and becoming a chemist to develop a cure for her younger brother half-brother Yuu (Hiiragi Hinata), who, after having an accident, losses his memory every time he becomes excited or agitated.
She lives in Shirakawa, a small village in the Gifu prefecture, with Yuu and her father, Tatsuo (Mitsuishi Ken). They live near the male dormitories of Shiroyama's University Track and Field team where her father works as the dorm cook.
Rio is friends with Miyazaki Daiki (Matsushita Kouhei), the star of Shiroyama's track team for whom she has feelings, who is planning to move to Tokyo due to a job offer and has feelings for Rio.
On the day of her exam, Rio wakes up without many memories of the night before and her father acting weird; the last thing she remembers is talking with Watanabe Kosuke (Asai Daichi), a student from another university who was visiting some friends in the dorm.
While Rio is taking the university entrance exam in Tokyo, her father, Tatsuo, suddenly dies from a brain hemorrhage, leaving Rio and Yuu uncertain about their futures. Watanabe Kosuke is reported missing by his father, Watanabe Akira (Sakou Yoshi), who searches for him relentlessly. During Tatsuo's funeral, Kase Kenichiro (Iura Arata), a lawyer, approaches Rio with an invitation from her biological mother, Sanada Azusa (Yakushimaru Hiroko), the president of Sanada Holdings, to go live with her in Tokyo; Rio accepts her mother invitation leaving Yuu at the care of his maternal grandmother. She leaves for Tokyo without saying anything and changes her last name to Sanada.
During the investigation of Kosuke's disappearance, a scandal breaks out in the Track and Field team. Although Daiki has nothing to do with the scandal, his job offer in Tokyo gets rescinded, so he decides to become a policeman instead.
In 2021, Miyazaki Daiki and Sanada Rio meet again in Tokyo after 15 years without seeing each other, Daiki as a detective and Rio as the principal suspect in a murder case...
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Thoughts
Dearest is a fantastic Jdrama. Although the mystery part is good the stronger point of Dearest is its characters and the strong bond between them, or should I say their deep affection 😎.
I like the monologues that some characters have at the beginning of almost every episode; they give an insight into who they are.
The cinematography is good, but I have a small complaint: sometimes the cinematography and editing feel like if I was watching something from the 2000s – 2010s. It might be a stylistic choice on purpose, though, because it mostly happens during the flashbacks, which are in 2006.
I loved the bird's-eye view shots of the village; they were beautiful.
The acting is great. Yoshitaka Yoriko did a great job portraying Rio, even though it took me a bit to get accustomed to her voice, which I found a bit shrilly. I loved Rio; she is truly a great character.
Matsushita Kohei also does a great job with his character, Daiki. I like how caring he is towards Rio, Yuu and his "family". I also like the blink-and-you-miss moment when, in the present, he meets with one of the members of the track and field dorm who is married with children; he makes a joyful face that feels real.
I have loved Iura Arata since I watched Unnatural (Review), and I have to say that I also love Kase; he is such a great character ﹘ he is so kind, and like Daiki, he cares a lot for Rio and Yuu [SPOILER] I suspected he was the "criminal" during Ep.8, but to be sincere I was surprised at the end when the truth is revealed and they show that he was in every case, I only thought that he had something to do with the Watanabe Akira case [SPOILER ENDS]
Takahashi Fumiya portrays an informant/adult Yuu; he does a good job with his character, but sometimes the character mannerisms are quite childish. To be sincere, I also act childish sometimes, so I can't truly complain.
The OST is good. "Whispers of the Past" is my favorite song (the album is on Spotify). The main theme 「君に夢中」(I'm Crazy About You) by Utada Hikaru is also really good.
I recommend this Jdrama if you like mysteries, characters with great bonds, and characters who overcome their past(?
Rating
Acting - 9/10
Plot - 9/10
Romance - 9/10
Soundtrack - 9/10
Cinematography - 9/10
Overall Rating - 9/10
Extended Drama Info.
Quantity of Episodes: 10.
Run Time: 45min/each.
Release Date: October 15, 2021.
Network: TBS.
Directed by: Tsukahara Ayuko, Yamamoto Takeyoshi and Murao Yoshiaki.
Written by: Okudera Satoko and Shimizu Tomoko.
Music by: Yokoyama Masaru.
Starring: Yoshitaka Yuriko, Matsushita Kohei, Iura Arata, Takahashi Fumiya, Tanaka Minami, Sakuma Yui, Okuno Eita, Okayama Amane, Yakushimaru Hiroko, Mitsuishi Ken, Hiiragi Hinata, Tsuda Kenjiro and Oikawa Mitsuhiro.