Lunch no Akko-chan (2015)

This is a cute little drama. If you've been around jdramaland for a while, you know what to expect from a drama which aired on the 23:15-23:45 slot on Tuesdays, and that isn't much. Still, this one was a nice surprise for me.

The plot is basically centered on Misako Renbutsu's character, Michiko, who is in her 20s, works in a business company as a part-timer and doesn't really know where her life is going. Her boyfriend treats her poorly, her job is on the verge of disappearing and in comes Naho Toda's character, Akko-san, to change her life. Through food. Lots and lots of food (seriously, don't watch this when you're hungry). The story goes from that starting point to a lot of different places and Michiko meets a lot of different people whose realities and lives inspire her to change her own. It's a story about finding your worth and growing through empathy. With food and children lit, which for me is a plus.

The problem for me was that the story has quite a few fast forwards and tries to cover more time spans than they actually have to develop them. For a drama with 8 episodes and 30 minutes per episode, it doesn't manage the time the best it could. On the one hand, you could say Akko-san's inconsistent contexts have a lot to do with her personality, but on the other, it can get a bit confusing.

There's consistent development throughout (mostly of Michiko) but there isn't a clear start to finish path, which may turn some people off if they're expecting a grand finale with fanfares and passionate kisses. If you're expecting chills and thrills and a lot of tension, this is not your drama, but if you're tired from a day of work and want to watch something cute, interesting, which still tells a story (and shows good food), maybe give this one a go.

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