Woman

Woman (2013) (Japanese Drama Television Series).

After her husband dies in an accident, a young woman must raise her two children while attempting to reconcile with the mother that abandoned her as a child. This series (11 episodes, 45-60 minutes each) has the same scriptwriter as "Still, Life Goes On" (2011) and displays the same excellent level of craftsmanship in terms of dialogue, which is both intelligent and intense. The viewer will feel that the characters are ironing out their differences, but getting there is thrilling because the resentment from prior decisions runs deep. There is much complexity here, both in terms of the characters themselves and the mysteries that are gradually revealed. The acting is great all-around, but Hikari Mitsushima is utterly spectacular here and gives one of the best performances I've ever seen. That is no exaggeration. Lots of time is spent with the children as well, which is great. This series yields a number of powerful dramatic moments.