Beyond Goodbye (Sayonara no Tsuzuki) Review
Beyond Goodbye Review
Drama: Beyond Goodbye
Romaji: Sayonara no Tsuzuki
Japanese: さよならのつづき
Screenwriter: Okada Yoshikazu
Network: Netflix
Actors: Arimura Kasumi, Sakaguchi Kentaro, Ikuta Toma
At times this Japanese Netflix TV series, Beyond Goodbye felt like a giant coffee ad with Wabi Sabi philosophy that is ever present with this type of stories in Japan. The symbolism of trains and coffee is a nice touch so this drama has depth and not just simple romance genre. Finding the beauty in imperfections whether in an inconvenience where trains needs to stop, fixing an old coffee maker or maybe an event when a loved one died, each has different effects, some affected us little, but finding the beauty in it will help us to cope and eventually move on.
Saeko (played by Arimura Kasumi) loses her fiancé, Yusuke (played by Ikuta Toma) due to an accident, one day he met a man named Kazumasa (played by Sakaguchi Kentaro), a man who received a heart transplant from Yusuke but also shares memories from him. It is not the first time this story was told a heart transplant that also can transfer memories. A cliché story with a more cliché execution. Your whole opinion will depend whether you believe the explanation the writers trying to tell but I don't buy it at all, so even though thematically they manage to convey it in the end it still fall short for me. I would be better if it is just soul transfer to another body type of cliché.
The only great thing about this drama is the cinematography they did a very good job showcasing Hawaii and Hokkaido landscape. That is Netflix for you give them budget and Japanese dramas will always deliver. The music is just okay but I am not a fan of English songs they use throughout the movie. It is superficial they don't add anything in the movie. Not the best acting you've ever seen but just works just fine. Arimura Kasumi has more chemistry with Ikuta Toma than Sakaguchi Kentaro but I guess that's the point Kentaro's character acts as just a messenger in this movie.
Overall, a mediocre romance drama with a bizarre execution and decision if you are looking for a high budget romance Japanese drama much better watch First Love which is also on Netflix. But if you are looking for the best Japan can offer then watch 90s classic Japanese dramas.
I would also like to recommend another drama Soshite, Ikiru also starred both Arimura Kasumi and Kentaro Sakaguchi. Full review here
I was sorely disappointed when the synopsis came out. Not sure why they have to resort to melodrama and cliche when there are so many excellent Japanese dramas predecessors without to learn from.
ReplyDeleteI did enjoy First Love but it was hard to stomach the memory loss arc (another lame premise). But Mitsushima Hikari is an excellent actress it's a joy to watch her, and Sato Taker isn't bad. I may just give this drama a watch as I like Sakaguchi Kentaro and Arimura is usually decent, but yeah... Another waste of budget. I wonder if they feel Japanese dramas without cliche and melodrama wouldn't sell on the international market.