“Nagi’s Long Vacation” aka “Nagi no Oitoma” is a lovely drama of growth, self-discovery and healing. Feeling suffocated from the demands of everyone and unable to show her true self, Nagi had a breakdown. She packed up and left her work and home in Tokyo, and took a breather in a small town. There’s a strong emphasis on ‘reading the room’ and noticing the atmospheric change in moods, and then acting accordingly in the best possible way (but not necessarily how you truly feel).

At first glance, Nagi is sweet and likable. But we only see the ‘surface’ of who she is in the early episodes. As the drama goes on, she slowly discovers who she really is. She might not be as nice as we thought. I am not saying she's mean but someone who is flawed like all of us, and may not be as sweet, kind and caring to everyone she meets. Slowly getting to know the true Nagi is a joy in this journey.

Nagi will need to credit the neighbors, friends and her love interests in her self-discovery. This drama has a lovely and fun supporting cast (except for a couple bullies at work). She finally has real, true friends who she can share her hopes and dreams, failures and worries with. Not only is she getting a lot from those around her, she also has a strong influence on them as well.

As a romance lover, I was pleasantly surprised at how this love triangle pans out. It’s really not what I expected and it was a fun journey to follow along, and guess who Nagi will or will not end up with. I think this is one of the few dramas where I am happy with either option.
I want Nagi to not end up with any man, but be the independent, mature woman that she can be. I want her to continue to grow as a person, to learn from her past mistakes and be the best person she can and want to be.
I also want her to fall in love with the sexy and dreamy neighbor, who is sweet, kind and gentle. Someone who brings in the delicious air/atmosphere for Nagi to indulge in. We all want a neighbor like that. Hey, he is a good kisser and good in bed. LOL
I also want her to get back with her ex-boyfriend. Someone who loved her past and present self. Someone who is very similar to who she was and can grow and mature with her. I want them to finally see each other without their masks on.

“Nagi’s Long Vacation” is a heartwarming drama with some pretty emotional scenes. It’s a lovely watch and I will recommend this if you are a fan of healing/growth/self-discovery slice-of-life drama.


Other Random Observations:
1. Nagi definitely looks cuter with her bushy hair than the wig.
2. The little girl is so smart and much more mature than most adults.
3. I love a J-drama with good kisses. Too bad we don’t see much in the latter half of the drama.
4. I love the analogy of a pull-apart bun to describe the dreamy and irresistible neighbor, and the funny sexy middle school girl taboo.
5. This is one of the more creative confessions I’ve seen with keys.
6. Ex-boyfriend is really not likable in the beginning, but he grew on me.



Completed: 10/23/2024 - Review #502