So I just finished watching Soredemo, Ikite Yuku (Even so, we'll be living on), and let me just say that it's easily one of the best things I've ever seen. The uniqueness of the plot, the characters, and the acting are all top-notch. Basically, I urge you to either learn Japanese and go watch this, or to download the subs and watch it over a few days. (I think it'd be much better if you don't go through all of it in one-sitting).
The drama follows the lives of two families -- one of the victim, one of the perpetrator. The crime? Murder. Two families that were once close are torn apart as the eldest child of one murders the youngest daughter of the other. The show examines the characters of both families, and blurs the lines between the victim family and the perpetrator family. Does only one side suffer? Is only one sides suffering justifiable? Who's fault is it?
Without spoiling too much, I'll just use a synopsis online.
"A man (Eita) whose younger sister was killed by a friend, who meets the friend's sister (Mitsushima) 15 years after the incident. Both of their families have been burdened with grief, but through their meeting they struggle to find a brighter tomorrow. " [1]
So why do I like it?
The plot is unique and fresh. I don't think I've ever read and/or seen something with a plot like this. I'm sure things have been produced with a similar plot (and I may have even seen some of them), but even if that is the case, it doesn't take away from the feeling of freshness that the viewer (hopefully) gets when watching this.
The characters. No character in this entire series is perfect. Rather, each have their own flaws that are brought to light through the series. The flaws make these characters feel real. The characters are developed in a manner that makes sense according to the ordeals they've gone through. With that said though, the evolution of the character's is amazing too. How they change, for the better, and sometimes how they fall back regress for the worse is worthy of watching.
The acting is amazing. Some of the acting felt to stiff (Hiroki's mother) while others felt too passive (Futaba's mother); however, as the series progresses, you realize their is a method to the madness. The perceived stiffness is there for a reason. The entire cast does an amazing job with a plot that demands emotion and superb acting.
The characters drive the story. The story drives home points about suffering and revenge (and unjust/just bias/perception). Hopefully, that's enough to drive you to watch this amazing series.
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