User reviews

With the first 2 episodes I really think that this series started strong. Like the premise of a love story that is kind of confusing at the same time frustrating, mix it up with a storyline like this. But, towards the end, what happened? It is like there is no clear point as to where the story is leading. There could have been a better story for the characters. The supposed lead here is the female lead but why is it the male lead the one that experienced all the pain? It is unfair to his character unless the story is in his POV which is clearly no. Also, there is no clear justification on the action of the male lead.. if he is acting on his will or still controlled by the 'transplanted heart' cos seriously if he acts in his own volition then clearly he is cheating on with his wife.. that just makes no sense. There isn't actual committing of feelings. And in the last episode with the call of the wife reminding the female lead of not hot having sex with her husband is too ridiculous! Like a cringe moment.

Im sorry but this is a little messed up. But this really started strong. Give this to a Korean production I think they'd give better storytelling and a proper ending.

Beyond Goodbye is a heartfelt series that beautifully captures the essence of love, loss, and healing. Its poignant storytelling gently tugs at your emotions, while its characters' journeys are relatable and uplifting. The show shines with its tender moments, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the bonds that endure. The stunning cinematography enhances the narrative, showcasing breathtaking landscapes that feel almost like characters themselves. Each scene is a visual delight, pairing emotional depth with serene beauty. A truly sweet and moving series, perfect for the soul.

Overall, Highly recommended.

BEYOND GOODBYE (2024) was a good Jdrama, especially initially, and started out strong but really lagged in the middle as far as the story went.

The story started out with tragedy but slowly twists into somewhat of a confusing romantic plot. The cinematography, settings, acting, music, and parts of the story were all very excellent.

"Saeko falls into deep despair after her boyfriend Yusuke dies in a car accident. A few months later, she meets Naruse who received heart transplant from Yusuke and now he feels something for Saeko in his heart."

This series was very compelling drama but I was never truly invested in the love story, or at least the romance in second half of the show, partially due to lack of chemistry between actors.

Overall, this was a pretty good watch, but the earlier episodes were definitely better. This series was definitely worth a watch.

As a viewer from Greece, I was so excited to come across this series and appreciated each and every episode of this series. The cinematography was sublime, the acting incredible. I will never forget this series and the stories/lessons it told... it will remain with me forever. However I have also noticed that others have rated this not too kindly, and from my honest opinion, I think its a cultural thing. Ive notcied that certain well crafted J dramas or K dramas have a lower rating when there isnt a happy ending. Some feel invested in a series and just expect a happy ever after ending. This drama depicted real humane issues and dealt with them with sensitivity and realism. Orange Days was always my fave J Drama, but this probably tops it.

I actually read a study about how memories are stored in the heart and it's documented that there are people who remember what the previous owner felt, so I was really interested to watch this show. I think the writers did a decent job with the plot but personally, I felt like something was missing from the show. It was definitely quite emotional and the cast did an amazing job, however towards the end, the pacing was a little off and some scenes felt rushed.

Regarding the relationship between the characters, I think it was written well because it showed the many grey areas experienced by the human heart, and it was hard for me to blame any of the characters for their actions as they were simply human beings with complex emotions. I could easily understand and empathise with the characters. Also, the sceneries shown are breathtaking and it made me want to go to Otaru just to experience it. The cinematography is my favourite part of this show honestly.

A coffee loving piano player who is deeply in love with his gf, dies in an unfortunate bus accident on the day he was going to propose to her. After his death some random man with a heart problem receives the piano player's heart. This man has a wife, does not play the piano and never drinks coffee. Surprise, surprise, you won't see this coming but after he's recovered this man now all of a sudden is at the exact same spot as the dead piano player was years before, playing the exact same Jackson 5 song on said piano and of course the widow fiancee happens to be there at the exact same day and time as well and hears him playing from afar and obviously starts running to him. LOOOL. She just fails to encounter him but soon after she meets him anyway and he develops confusing feelings for her (duh) but remember he has a wife and then finally there is no clear resolution. What a waste of time, story is full of absurd coincidences and plot holes. Not worth it. 3/10.

Kentaro Sakaguchi's best act. He carefully portrays herself as someone who changes due to a heart transplant.

His wife Miki and her heart donor fiancée Saeko's feelings are shaken by his change.

He perfectly portrays how he firmly accepts the feelings of others inside him and the loved ones around him and moves forward.

Uncommonly seen in Japanese love stories, she responds kindly to the love of forward-looking and outgoing women, but is unable to resist her urges. Kentaro Sakaguchi's kindness saves them both.

The beautiful scenery of Japan's Hokkaido and Hawaii is also a highlight.

This is a wonderful love story that you should watch this winter.

The direction and acting of this movie is absolutely phenomenal. I don't think they could have pulled it off without the actors, especially since the plot was a little ridiculous. Either ways, loved watching these actors on the screen and I truly felt the emotions they were trying to convey. I didn't expect to love Mrs. Naruse as much as I did, but she was such a greatly written side character. The colors were a little too saturated but the settings and mood were beautiful. And of course, it's always a treat to see the beautiful Kentato and Kasumi's chemistry...that in itself should be a reason to watch this.

Japanese Drama '' Sayonara no Tsuzuki '' is a romantic melodrama with a tragic story and tragic characters.

The drama incorporates the idea that the body has memory, but it is not that well presented, as the story is more focused on the romance and builds its story up from there.

As for the romance, it was odd, as the one person was wracked with grief and was trying to hold on to any spec of hope, and the other had an identity crisis at best. Most tragic of them all was the wife who was trying to figure things out.

The performances, on the other hand, were all great by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, five out of ten.

Although you could classify this story as a romance, it is pretty one note for an Asian drama. I am going to be revealing a lot here so you might want to stop now.... There is very little suspense and it is rife with coincidental meetings that one could call fate but seem more manufactured. When you add some of the observations, particularly by Naruse's wife who suggests that maybe the heart is looking for the lost love he had when alive...it seems even more contrived.

So Naruse may be driven to behavior caused by Yasuke's heart inside of him... but you cannot let go of the fact that he is cheating on his rather nice wife. So therefore, the ending becomes predictable that he will wind up staying with his wife at the conclusion of all of this and perhaps Saeko will learn to move on (or maybe not).

This type of thinking where the spirit of the person can be relayed through a transplant seems to be more about superstition, which is still a big part of Asian culture. They try to make it seem as though it has scientific validity... However, this would have been a much more interesting story if it went the supernatural path and had more suspense...maybe a bit of horror (the guy becomes a pianist from this force inside him, even though prior to the transplant, he can't play a note!) or at least having Naruse fight off the feelings of being taken over by someone else inside his body, rather than succumbing to it seeming not to care hard enough if he blows his marriage.

There is a point during a picnic where Naruse's wife appears to enjoy her husband more when he wasn't so active, healthy and more independent (pre-transplant)...but it is never explored again.

Saeko seems to be disturbed and yet joyful by Naruse's reincarnation of Yoseke but never seems to care that she is with a married man. She also seems to be a bit bratty, again, the viewer has to root for Naruse to stay with his wife. Miki tells Saeko that she is breaking up a marriage but Saeko could care less.

Besides the pseudo-science part of playing the piano, when you watch them take a day trip to experience Youseke's childhood and encounter his mother in the cafe...what is the point of this scene? The viewer feels uncomfortable, which is a good thing....but the scene ends quickly and goes nowhere. The writer could have done more with this. You aren't really learning very much except Saeko can't move on and Naruse seems to be allowing himself to run away from his marriage.

After a while, watching Naruse and Saeko becomes just a tiresome bore. They are not particularly interesting people and don't seem to be very smart. The story just kind of lays there. It is not clever enough. You just feel bad for Miki.

In the last episode when he shows up in Hawaii, he seems more like a stalking psycho. The idea of giving her some last moments with Youseke seems more selfish than sincere. She was already starting to move on. By showing up on the island he was just making it harder for her, especially since he is dying. It seems all rather selfish.

Miki's phone call to Saeko in Hawaii was rather pathetic. It was sadder to me that she felt she had to make the call, than the fact that Naruse was actually dying. Miki is the real hero in this story.

It is difficult to buy the reconciliation with the two women in the end. I don't believe this is how real people would respond.

The writer of the film is supposed to be great but there's no greatness here.

This story was truly touching and showed what a person feels after losing a loved one and what happens when life really does give us a second chance. The story stretched slightly but slowly showed more layers. In addition, the theme was really original. You can connect with the characters and feel what they feel - a lot of sadness, dilemmas, longing, joy. Well told and illustrated and above all, worth recommending. Also beautiful soundtrack, really touching and fits perfectly with what we see on the screen

Not everything seemed clear, as example of male lead actions but but it is so in real life sometimes we do not need a reason to do something and although many things happen to us not all end happily.

Good show for a good cry and load of emotions. 10/10.

This 8-episode melodrama was all about true love that never dies. It is also heart-wrenching. The plot about star-crossed love was simple. Saeko (very sweet Kasumi Arimura) works for a coffee company and is in a romantic relationship with an outgoing and loveable Yusuke (Toma Ikuta), also owner of a Café. He proposes to her, but, on that same day, they are in a bus accident and he dies. Saeko falls into deep despair after his death. A few months later, she meets a man named Kazu Naruse (Handsome actor Kentaro Sakaguchi). Although unaware at the time, Naruse received a heart transplant from Yusuke and he slowly develops confused feelings for Saeko. Naruse follows his heart. His wife is not happy about this, but as fate would put it, their lives intertwine only because of Yusuke's heart.

The acting of the two leads was quite believable, esp Mr. Sakaguchi. I also liked the best friend, Kengo, who was so sincere in his empathy. Beautiful story told VERY slowly with beautiful locations in Japan and Hawaii. I loved it!

Reading some reviews with absurd complaints and problems that are more personal and cultural clashes than the narrative itself, this series manages to expand the grieving process through visual poetry. I like the initial melancholy twist to a story with characters that move forward and move on. The second half improves. We leave what seemed like a predictable love plot to tell us a tragedy in a happy way. The landscape is beautiful and works as a catalyst for the emotional composition that makes up the characters. The pain is there, we see it in the looks diverted towards some time or place to remember, in the silence and in those trivial moments in which they cannot express themselves, but they move forward with courage, slowly shedding the past in mourning with very human, convincing and consequent internal conflicts and confusions. The protagonist works as a propeller for the grieving process and learning to let go, without stagnating and moving forward. It does not romanticize the idea. Living in the shadow of a tragedy, life goes on, in the end our protagonist understands it, even before knowing what would happen to the one who possesses the heart of his love. For him, the protagonist also works as a catalyst for his process of acceptance with his condition and we are generated a rather interesting drama between them in how things are woven in a great way, we really have two protagonists with nuances and complex reactions. It is valid to get excited as it happens at the beginning, but the Japanese tend to be realistic. There is a philosophical concept behind all the drama, is it destiny or are our decisions and coincidences? Without going into much detail about this preaching to us, this premise is used and a story is told to us.

It is not a masterpiece, but it is quite good.

The first episode started with a bang, but the show buries itself in an avalanche of ambivalence and a soapy cross between blah and meh. Major casting issues with this one. Kentaro Sakuguchi as the romantic male lead is a dud from the get-go. Zero star quality. And the "Mr. Nice Guy" piano player was a clueless yawn. Maybe to a lot of people, this love story has depth and heart (quite literally), but I had to stop watching midstream because of its total lack of chemistry between Kasumi Arimura and her rizz deficient love interests. It's not like Arimura is normally an ice-queen either. Her astonishing work with Takeru Satoh in Rorouni Kenshin: The Beginning was scorching, and in her more recent work in shows like Meet me after School, Call Me Chihiro and Ishiko and Haneo her hidden sizzling desires had me like "d*mn, that woman is hot.". Bottomline is that Beyond Goodbye's arty editing and top tier cinematography just wasn't enough for me. Chemistry is just one of those things where you know it when you feel it. And I just wasn't feeling it here.