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Algernon ni Hanataba wo (2015)
http://i1370.photobucket.com/albums/ag254/jashiman/JDorama/Algernon_ni_Hanataba_wo2015/th_Algernon_ni_Hanataba_wo07-006_zpskyfp14mq.png
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" /> Sakuto’s presentation; best friends Hiyama Kosuke and Yanagawa Ryuichi shocked over Sakuto’s experience
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" /> Algernon; Algernon’s mother
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" /> Kawaguchi Rio and Koide Mai; Sakuto’s young sister Karen, who used to despise him
Type: human drama
Genre: society, science tragedy
Year: 2015-Apr-10 to 2015-Jun-12
Introduction:
This show is based on the novel
Flowers for Algernonby Daniel Keyes and not the short story. This show is different from Algernon ni Hanataba wo (2002). Synopsis:
Shiratori Sakuto, 28, mentally disabled, has been abandoned and put into a home for kids on probations run by Dream Flower Service. One day, he delivers flowers to Mochizuki Haruka who works at a brain physiology research centre.
She’s part of Professor Hachisuka Daigo’s team studying the improvement of mental performance. They succeed in creating ALG which showed promising result in a lab mouse, henceforth named Algernon. Algernon can spell Japanese as opposed to Sakuto.
Meanwhile, Kawaguchi Rio becomes attached to Sakuto for he would not suffer when she’s gone. While looking for a human test object they decided on Sakuto, who’s willing to do anything to get smarter. Sakuto is transformed into a genius through surgery and ALG. As Sakuto realizes reality he comes to dislike human nature while becoming more elitist thanks to Daigo’s brainwashing suggestiveness. Rio becomes distress with Sakuto’s developement and realizes her mistaken approach. When Haruka turns down Sakuto’s courting he makes it out with Rio.
However, due to an unforseseen fault or side effect in ALG Algernon’s intelligence begins to fade, and he dies. Sakuto realizes his situation, too, and works to solve the problem. Due to his relationships been gone bad he is left in the dark about Rio’s fate. It’s a race against time.
Critique:
The show is true to the novel except for some alterations. As with the novel it’s all about mental and emotional development, including or rather using human relationships as an example. It’s in part from a modern point of view including technological and scientific understanding.
However, it’s inherently missing all other new discoveries and understandings of later times. Using ALG the story neatly overcomes early development requirements e.g. wild children. Using Daigo’s brainwashing, the story narrows down on the stereotypical image of the elitist superintelligent. However, the story’s point is shown with Sakuto realizing his mistake of ignoring the human heart.
Yamashita Tomohisa as Shiratori Sakuto is good at imitating disabled people. Although sometimes it seems he’s over doing it. As Sakuto becomes intelligent he’s missing all the things children learn about relationships, and etiquette. While he accused others of looking down on him before without realizing he’s doing the same now. Well, it’s typical human nature to be oblivious to ones own doing. To have this part in the novel/show is a plus. Well, for the sake of development Sakuto’s type of human he already has developed has been ignored.
Kuriyama Chiaki as Mochizuki Haruka is for some reason not surprising (see Ataru). Since, Kill Bill she’s kind of on track to be Japan’s Angelina Jolie. She’s slightly better at acting, though, especially subtle emotions. Here, she portrays a man’s dream of a woman. Like Sakuto you are meant to be drawn to those lips of hers. Seriously, she is meant to be more attractive than Rio.
The major difference to the novel are some relationships and Kawaguchi Rio’s fate. While in the novel Sakuto’s supposed to have a purely sexual relationship with Rio in the show he cuts ties with her right away. Unlike the novel Sakuto does not lead a sad life afterwards but continues his life with his friends.
As expected it’s a good show thanks to the original novel. It’s supposedly better than the previous show. For another fun version see Dirty Pair TV episode 12.
Miscellaneous stuff:
The brain logo can be drawn in a single line.
Verdict: 8.3
Cast: 8
Cast performance: 9
Script/Directing: 8
