♥♥♥♥/♥
TITLE: Sumika Sumire (Japan, 2016) [スミカスミレ]
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 02-05-2016 to 03-25-2016
WIKI: asianwiki.com/Sumika_Sumire
SEASONS/EPISODES: 1/8, abt. 45 minutes each
US AVAILABILITY (as of 2019-04-19): Available to watch FREE on Viki.
ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 02-05-2016 to 03-25-2016
WIKI: asianwiki.com/Sumika_Sumire
SEASONS/EPISODES: 1/8, abt. 45 minutes each
US AVAILABILITY (as of 2019-04-19): Available to watch FREE on Viki.
Sumi (Sumika) is 65 and she's spent her entire life taking care of her aging and ailing relatives. When her last remaining relative, her mother, passes away, Sumi feels the full weight of regret for the things she never got to experience... especially going to college and falling in love. Sumi has lived a noble life, but also sad and lonely. Her virtue and loneliness have won her another chance at youth when she accidentally sets in motion an agreement which will free a trapped spirit cat from a painted screen in exchange for granting her wish: a do-over. Now in order to complete her half of the agreement, Sumi, now called Sumire and physically reverted back to age 20, must attend school for the first time in 4 and a half decades, as well as navigate modern technology and culture, make friends, fall in love, and marry.
This is a sweet romantic melodrama, not very realistic, even beyond the de-aging magic and the spirit cat. It's cute but emotional, and certainly strange, but also quite charming in it's own way.
This is a sweet romantic melodrama, not very realistic, even beyond the de-aging magic and the spirit cat. It's cute but emotional, and certainly strange, but also quite charming in it's own way.
Flow and sequence (Some SPOILERs in ONLY this SECTION! SKIP to Cast/ Characters/ Acting section to skip the spoilers!):
In the first story arc, our heroine Sumika-turned-Sumire is excited and terrified about her reincarnated youth. The spirit cat, Rei, is living with her in human form until their contract is complete. He seems to be portrayed as an unknown regarding his intent and loyalty... he's referred to as a "demon cat," he can mind-control the nosy neighbor lady, and Sumire seems to be somewhat afraid of him. Rei won't allow her to go back on her request and essentially pushes Sumire out of her nest for the first time in her life. At school, Sumire encounters a nice and cute boy named Yusei Mashiro with a heart-stopping smile, and a trio of the quintessential mean girls. She's awkward because she still has certain mannerisms of an elder despite her beautiful 20 year old body. After trying to run away and call it quits, Rei encourages her that she's lived 45 years longer than them but she's cowering from them and running away, so to own her mental-age as an advantage and get back in the game. Thereafter, Sumire has taken Rei's admonition to heart and has begun to be somewhat more confident, though she's still a very meek person by nature. Her fiesty side shows through a little more, she learns more about navigating the modern world, makes friends, and her relationship with Yusei turns into a budding romance. Meanwhile Rei is avoiding the obnoxiously smitten neighbor lady and hilariously (and embarrassingly) constantly pushing Sumire and Yusei together. Sumi's Buddhist priest is trying to get to the bottom of why there's suddenly a 20 year old living in Sumi's house and why he senses a demonic presence there. He comes up with various ideas for exorcism, which cause problems for Sumire and Rei, and less directly for Yusei. By now Sumire has decided Rei is trustworthy, even though nobody can find any record of why he was imprisoned in the screen in the first place- therefore it must have been something unspeakably horrible according to the priest. The second story arc begins with Sumire and Yusei beginning their dating relationship. Everything is hunky-dory for a bit, but Rei interrogates to be sure Yusei isn't going to abandon Sumire the second he finds out she's a 65 year old woman in the body of a 20 year old. Rei doesn't see Sumire as an awkward old lady in a young body (which is how she sees herself), he sees her as a beautiful and innocent young soul who can finally live as who she really is. He feels a kinship with her in that while he was trapped in a painted screen for a very long time, Sumi was trapped in her home and caregiver role her entire life. After understanding that Rei is questioning his loyalty and ability to protect and take care of the naive and innocent Sumire (but still not understanding the real reason for that), Yusei wants to prove himself to Rei but feels like he's coming in second to him all the time, as Sumire gets into trouble here and there and it's always Rei showing up like a guardian angel to save her. Alas, this posturing and proving is cut short by a tragedy that comes to claim the life of a main character, and despite death being narrowly avoided for one, we end this story arc with first Yusei having found out Sumire's secret and then all of our main characters separated and/or presumed dead!
In the third story arc, 5 years have passed. Sumire is working in film, hoping to become a movie director someday. She still has some mannerisms of an elder; sometimes overly polite, typing with one finger, carrying cough drops in her purse. Her status at work is apparently intern-level and her boss lectures her all the time. She nearly loses her job but makes a comeback after using the benefit of her knowledge- being a 70-year-old in-mind. She's not really happy... she's just been living day by day and trying to be thankful for another chance, but not truly happy. Lonely, and not letting herself build or grow any relationships. Sumire has resolved that she is really just an old lady who has no right to fall in love, and she's certain that it would have been wrong for her to wind up with Yusei 5 years ago anyway- selfish even, for someone with the mind of a 65 year old to pair with a 21 year old man in the glory of youth. It's at this point where lost characters come back into play and we find out that Sumire's unfulfilled agreement with Rei has reached the point of quantum instability- if Sumire's wishes don't get wrapped up in a neat little bow within an indeterminate but very short amount of time, not only Sumire's renewed youth will be at stake, but also the lives and futures of other characters.
In the third story arc, 5 years have passed. Sumire is working in film, hoping to become a movie director someday. She still has some mannerisms of an elder; sometimes overly polite, typing with one finger, carrying cough drops in her purse. Her status at work is apparently intern-level and her boss lectures her all the time. She nearly loses her job but makes a comeback after using the benefit of her knowledge- being a 70-year-old in-mind. She's not really happy... she's just been living day by day and trying to be thankful for another chance, but not truly happy. Lonely, and not letting herself build or grow any relationships. Sumire has resolved that she is really just an old lady who has no right to fall in love, and she's certain that it would have been wrong for her to wind up with Yusei 5 years ago anyway- selfish even, for someone with the mind of a 65 year old to pair with a 21 year old man in the glory of youth. It's at this point where lost characters come back into play and we find out that Sumire's unfulfilled agreement with Rei has reached the point of quantum instability- if Sumire's wishes don't get wrapped up in a neat little bow within an indeterminate but very short amount of time, not only Sumire's renewed youth will be at stake, but also the lives and futures of other characters.
Cast/ Characters/ Acting:
Okay folks, the fact is here that "Rei" stole the show. If you're not completely smitten, or at least fascinated with him by a few episodes in, you might not be human! Unintentionally in tune with the theme of the show, Mitsuhiro Oikawa at 46 years old did a splendid job with the character, his natural charisma and youthful good looks powerful enough to be crush-worthy no matter your age. Yes, seeing his character Rei rescue the gentle and naive Sumire from danger repeatedly throughout the drama most definitely made my heart flutter! He has a very pleasant voice as well, and his eyes convey a lot of emotion in his acting.
Mirei Kiritani's role as the young Sumire was well done. She was able to capture the essence of someone who was too young to be old and too old to be young. It would be quite difficult I think, to play the part of this sweet and awkward soul struggling between making peace with her age and wholeheartedly embracing a new youth.
Keita Machida was not bad in his portrayal of Yusei, and his smile could melt a heart of stone, but there were moments when I could read the awkwardness when he needed to act as though the elder Sumika/Sumire was the same person as the younger. 3 reasons why I think you shouldn't hold that against him, nor do I think you'll even notice it: 1) It was very well hidden, 2) I imagine it would be extremely difficult to act opposite two people as if they were one, since every person will "click" with your own soul in a different way and create different chemistry, and 3) I think most folks wouldn't notice it at all because I think I only noticed it because that's my strength. I read micro-expressions and body language very well, naturally, and have had this ability since childhood. I am a socially awkward mess and have many weaknesses, but this is my strength. I try to "turn it off" to a degree when I watch movies and dramas, but sometimes...
Also I felt the writers could have given the character Yusei more development over the course of the series. I would have enjoyed seeing more of Keita Machida's range of acting with a more diversified character.
Keiko Matsuzaka as the elder Sumi was very good in her role. She did a great job of portraying a woman who experientially never had the chance to mature beyond graduating highschool, but yet had lived 65 years and felt the weight of doing the responsible thing her entire life. She also has very expressive eyes, and a kind looking face that makes one want to empathize with her.
There was a character introduced about halfway through the series that I kept waiting for to have a purpose. Her purpose within the drama was never very clear, except possibly to fill the role of someone who makes the right verbal slip-ups to the right people at the right time to further the plot. Possibly also to call into question another character's motives OR transversely to clarify that other character's loyalty.
Mirei Kiritani's role as the young Sumire was well done. She was able to capture the essence of someone who was too young to be old and too old to be young. It would be quite difficult I think, to play the part of this sweet and awkward soul struggling between making peace with her age and wholeheartedly embracing a new youth.
Keita Machida was not bad in his portrayal of Yusei, and his smile could melt a heart of stone, but there were moments when I could read the awkwardness when he needed to act as though the elder Sumika/Sumire was the same person as the younger. 3 reasons why I think you shouldn't hold that against him, nor do I think you'll even notice it: 1) It was very well hidden, 2) I imagine it would be extremely difficult to act opposite two people as if they were one, since every person will "click" with your own soul in a different way and create different chemistry, and 3) I think most folks wouldn't notice it at all because I think I only noticed it because that's my strength. I read micro-expressions and body language very well, naturally, and have had this ability since childhood. I am a socially awkward mess and have many weaknesses, but this is my strength. I try to "turn it off" to a degree when I watch movies and dramas, but sometimes...
Also I felt the writers could have given the character Yusei more development over the course of the series. I would have enjoyed seeing more of Keita Machida's range of acting with a more diversified character.
Keiko Matsuzaka as the elder Sumi was very good in her role. She did a great job of portraying a woman who experientially never had the chance to mature beyond graduating highschool, but yet had lived 65 years and felt the weight of doing the responsible thing her entire life. She also has very expressive eyes, and a kind looking face that makes one want to empathize with her.
There was a character introduced about halfway through the series that I kept waiting for to have a purpose. Her purpose within the drama was never very clear, except possibly to fill the role of someone who makes the right verbal slip-ups to the right people at the right time to further the plot. Possibly also to call into question another character's motives OR transversely to clarify that other character's loyalty.
Writing and directing:
The story is weird, no getting around it. It's got some plot holes. If you go into it knowing it's an unrealistic fantasy melodrama then the holes and strangeness are certainly overlookable! It's a fairly quick binge watch: about 6 hours total. Despite my minimal qualms with character development in the previous section, I was surprised that there was as much plot development and character development as there was, considering there were only 8 episodes!
Other:
This is either the ultimate in what Kdrama (I know this is a Jdrama, don't @ me!) fans would call a "Noona Romance"... OR it's completely crossing the line between eliminating age-ism and just plain creepy. I think that's going to be a matter each viewer will have to hash out for themself. I myself wavered between the two opinions a few dozen times while watching, but in the end I think I can appreciate that despite having lived a good many years longer, Sumi was still mentally young because of her lack of life experience, making this drama work somehow despite the mental age gap.
I found it odd that Sumire was to a degree portrayed as not being as mentally quick or able to learn new skills and technology because of her mental age. To me this is an odd premise because if her entire body was reverted back to age 20, then the brain is part of her body and would be as capable of learning as any other 20 year old brain. Not only that, but my own mother was learning and utilizing new skills her entire life. She died young (cancer), in her early 50's, but one of the last things she did before she passed away was to go to college for the first time (yes, first time attending college was in her 50's) and get her CNA license. Meanwhile one of my grandmothers is in her 80's and she's hiking and biking and doing all sorts of touristy things, and constantly reading and learning when she's not adventuring. People tend to think that learning stops, or that it has an age range where it becomes too challenging, and it's simply not true. Even an old brain can learn new tricks. If Sumire had a 20 year old brain in her 20 year old body, then saying that she couldn't learn certain new things as easily seems silly, even if the intent was merely to say that she had 45 years longer to cement in bad habits like 1-finger typing.
**TRIGGER WARNING: There is an attempted rape in an early episode. We see Sumire follow a potential new friend into a club but she's intercepted by 2 men who forcibly take her to a private lounge and try to convince her to drink alcohol which we obviously interpret to be drugged. She refuses and tries again to leave, so they attempt to force themselves on her anyway. Her new friend tries to save her but almost becomes a second victim. Rei arrives to save them before they are harmed!
I found it odd that Sumire was to a degree portrayed as not being as mentally quick or able to learn new skills and technology because of her mental age. To me this is an odd premise because if her entire body was reverted back to age 20, then the brain is part of her body and would be as capable of learning as any other 20 year old brain. Not only that, but my own mother was learning and utilizing new skills her entire life. She died young (cancer), in her early 50's, but one of the last things she did before she passed away was to go to college for the first time (yes, first time attending college was in her 50's) and get her CNA license. Meanwhile one of my grandmothers is in her 80's and she's hiking and biking and doing all sorts of touristy things, and constantly reading and learning when she's not adventuring. People tend to think that learning stops, or that it has an age range where it becomes too challenging, and it's simply not true. Even an old brain can learn new tricks. If Sumire had a 20 year old brain in her 20 year old body, then saying that she couldn't learn certain new things as easily seems silly, even if the intent was merely to say that she had 45 years longer to cement in bad habits like 1-finger typing.
**TRIGGER WARNING: There is an attempted rape in an early episode. We see Sumire follow a potential new friend into a club but she's intercepted by 2 men who forcibly take her to a private lounge and try to convince her to drink alcohol which we obviously interpret to be drugged. She refuses and tries again to leave, so they attempt to force themselves on her anyway. Her new friend tries to save her but almost becomes a second victim. Rei arrives to save them before they are harmed!
Happy Ending Factor?
Happy ending lovers, you're going to be happy: I give this drama a perfect 5 out of 5 for happy ending factor! While there are some strange happenings and some plot holes, and of course the always-present-in-dramas almost-armageddon where all hope seems lost a few episodes from the end, in the end it's a big fat happily-ever-after!
Final Summary:
In summary, I enjoyed it and I'd watch it again or suggest it to a friend. As I said at the beginning of this review, it's cute but emotional, and strange but charming. A fairly quick watch, with an interesting (if unbelievable) story and lovable characters, and of course the fairy-tale happy ending.
Check out {Sumika Sumire} on Viki!
(Above link based on US availability. Dramas may not be available on certain sites for certain countries. It depends who acquired the license for a specific drama for your country and who did not. Drama may be available on Netflix in your country but not even show up in mine, so check there if you have a Netflix acct. Ditto for Viki- may be available in your country but not mine. Click HERE for a list of legal Kdrama streaming sites and what countries they work in.)
(Above link based on US availability. Dramas may not be available on certain sites for certain countries. It depends who acquired the license for a specific drama for your country and who did not. Drama may be available on Netflix in your country but not even show up in mine, so check there if you have a Netflix acct. Ditto for Viki- may be available in your country but not mine. Click HERE for a list of legal Kdrama streaming sites and what countries they work in.)
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