Orange Days

My college days are far behind me. Yet, Orange Days took me back like no other show had done before. The storyline is centered around Sae, a deaf college student remarkably interpreted by Ko Shibasaki. Sae's vivacious, feisty, and very endearing personality earns her the love interest of Kai, a gentler, more reserved student. Along with three friends with bubbling personalities, the fledging couple forms the Orange Days group. Its members will share their college challenges and romantic entanglements until graduation. It is worth noting that in order to include Sae, her friends all learn sign language. The five actors did a great job learning and expressing sign language in a very natural way. The story moves along very smoothly and keeps its youthful atmosphere from end to end. A very endearing trip back to your twenties. The only aspect that might prevent you from enjoying thoroughly it is the need to read subtitles during sign language exchanges, which won't be a problem for anyone used to watching foreign language movies.

I enjoy a good romantic drama, so I am easily disposed to favour shows like this.

My wife, however, gave up on it after a few episodes, complaining that it was too adolescent. But for me, that missed the point. These characters are learning how to live and love and make mistakes along the way. As did I when I was their age.

In any case, this drama found additional resonance in the character of Sae, who is powerfully portrayed by Kou Shibasaki. Her deafness, plus her musical genius, create a very sympathetic, yet highly challenging character. Watching Kai (Satoshi Tsumabuki) confront and overcome her demons is a joy.

If romantic dramas are your thing, give this a go.

My listing is for clarity and does not in any way reflect a ranking of best to mediocre. All aspects of this series are top-notch.

First of all, kudos to Japanese filmmakers for producing a series of this caliber. It brings deafness into the mainstream and makes it ordinary, another way of being and living in the world.

Second, the actors are fantastic. They all learned sign language as well as their spoken dialogue and they made it look so natural; they were so fluent. They all deserved awards for that feat alone. The work they must have put in is extraordinary.

Third is the beautiful cinematography and lighting, enhancing the theme of orange days.

Fourth is the script, which is excellent. The writing brings out distinct personalities and shows their growth as they prepare to move past college, good times, conflict, problem-solving and all. The pacing is just right and moves fluidly between the storylines.

Hollywood could learn a thing or two from Asian film-making. Unfortunately, they are too focused on blockbusters and raking in the $$$$.

I have watched the series twice and I can guarantee that you will like it even if you are glued to western culture. This is not my first J-drama, I loved "The Full Time Wife Escapist", if you are interested in the psychology of characters. Ko Shibasaki, which I simply adore after this series, interprets astonishingly the frustration of a violinist genius who lost hearing. The truth is that I am less into a great scenario (this series has a great scenario, story, everything by the way), and more for real emotions shown truly and deeply on screen, and Orange Days excels on them! By the way, first time I watched it continuously, from one end to the other; couldn't stop ... I strongly recommend it!

I am a Greek Australian dude, living in Greece. I came across this series by accident. Im not asian, nor even japanese.... but omffffggg..... i binged all 11 episodes in 3 days! I am shocked. This is a series from 2004, twenty years ago!!! And from Japan!! ANother continent from me!!! But i just have to say, this series is probably the best tv series i have come across in the last ten years!!! Thank youuuuuu Netflix for broadcasting an asian tv series to europe.... this show was BRILLIANT! Being from Greece, it is rare for us to be exposed or given the opportunity to watch dramas from Japan, or Asia for that matter. But this series had me obsessed from episode one!!! Eveery character in this series was loveable and altruistic in their own way.... and unlike american tv series, this show did not need to include sex scenes, nudity etc..... it was PURE perfection!