Over Time (90s Japanese Drama Review)
Drama: Over Time
Japanese: オーバー・タイム
Screenwriter: Kitagawa Eriko
Network: Fuji TV
Actors: Sorimachi Takashi, Esumi Makiko, Kimura Yoshino, Ishida Yuriko, Shiina Kippei, Nishida Naomi
Let me give you a fair warning most people I see hated the ending but for me they just don't understand the theme the writer is trying to convey. Not all romance dramas should stay the same creativity is what I value the most which ironically I found it with these old dramas, modern dramas don't take as much risks anymore. Written by Kitagawa Eriko which is known for writing some of the best Japanese dramas of the 90s this drama is no different from the vibe of great dramas of that era in fact this maybe controversial take but I like this drama more than Long Vacation, yes I just said it.
I was afraid at first when I saw that cast of 8 because I know huge cast for a romance genre is a formula for a disaster so I am glad they just focus to only 4. I am mostly glad that they drop the infidelity scenario for that one side character right away and that character became integral part of the show. There are triangles but the not the annoying kind of triangle, two relationships here represents the most common struggles real life couples experience. Dialogue is very grounded, romantic with metaphors sprinkled on top and you may not like the ending but thematically it makes sense. The drama tries to answer the question, can a man and a woman truly became friends without falling in love?
This is an old drama but the production quality is high for the time. Very good cinematography the drama really captures the scenic sides of Tokyo. Acting is on point just not the best acting in the world but chemistry wise they torch any modern Japanese dramas in comparison like seriously they don't stand a chance. And what can I say about the music, the song Kaede by Spitz is perhaps my top 3 insert songs in history of Japanese dramas. They don't make something like this anymore, insert songs like they created the song first the scene second pretty much a music video vibe.
No one takes risks more than Japanese writers, thematically and execution wise it is perfect from beginning to end. Love the use of pictures and Tokyo Tower as symbolism. Did I like the ending? I absolutely love it because it makes sense. I do think the ending is a product of its time in a different world or era the ending would be different.
Thank you for posting this in 2025! I was born in 1982 and this is my fav Jap drama. After visiting Japan a couple of times, I am going to visit Tokyo for the first time next month. I got all excited trying to find the OST songs in Spotify and am glad that I found my 2 fav (by Brilliant Green and Spitz). Very happy to chance upon your article.. someone who still remembers Over Time after 26 years. I will make it a point to see Tokyo Tower from afar, as I reminisce the great love story.
ReplyDeleteI’m so grateful to find a post talking about Over Time in 2025 and that line about liking this more than Long Vacation is what I’ve been telling my friends since the show aired on my local TV channel in early 2000. It’s one of those shows that stayed with me for a long time. I loved the side characters and while most people hated the love triangle, I didn’t felt it was a love triangle at all. FL was in a time and place where her insecurities and loneliness dominated her thoughts. 2 very different men came into her life. An ideal doctor type with maturity and provides stability and a young aspirational photographer which brings excitement and adventure. I loved that she made a reasonable decision in the context of the show. I felt that the ML and FL are more like kindred spirits than an actual couple. The end was quietly affecting and moving instead of the usual fireworks and chase scenes we get in most finales of that time.
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