I am ALWAYS up for another Japanese drama to watch. I saw that this was going to start. As you know, I love romantic dramas when it comes to Japanese dramas SO, OF COURSE, I was going to check this one out. HERE IS MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LOVE IS PHANTOM!
As I have said with every other "FIRST IMPRESSIONS" post, I will be doing a final review once I am done with the drama. This post will cover my first initial thoughts of the drama. If my thoughts and opinions change by the end of the drama, that will be reflected in my final review. I am going to be very curious to see if and how my thoughts and opinions change from now to when I write the final review for Love is Phantom.
A QUICK SYNOPSIS OF LOVE IS PHANTOM - Hirasawa Momoko (played by Sakurako Konishi) works in the café of a hotel. One day she meets a mysterious man on the rooftop of the hotel. They kiss in the moment and she can't forget it the next day. She learns that the man is Hase Kei (played by Kiriyama Renn) the elite hotelier who works at the same hotel. This starts off a very mysterious relationship between the two of them. This is a 10 - episode drama and I have watched 4 episodes so far.
WHAT AM I LOVING
-THE LEADS: When I first saw the cast of this drama, ESPECIALLY the actor and actress who were playing the leads, I GOT EXCITED! I am a fan of both Kiriyama Renn and Konishi Sakurako so I was curious to see them as a couple on this drama. I have got to say after 4 episodes, I think they pull it off well. Kiriyama Renn just oozes sophistication and sexiness so he has a good dynamic with Konishi Sakurako in this drama. They definitely have chemistry and I am excited to see them act out their characters' relationship and where it will go for the rest of the drama.
-THE COUPLE: I always appreciate that Japanese dramas don't shy away from skin-ship and intimacy. THIS COUPLE MOVES FAST AND THERE IS A LOT OF INTERACTION! I mean you get lots of kissing in the first episode and SOME WITH EVERY EPISODE AFTER! I was actually surprised at how fast this couple moved because it seemed fast for even a Japanese drama. I also think that this couple communicates well. There are still secrets to be revealed and talked about BUT THERE IS COMMUNICATION! I do like that Konishi Sakurako's character can read Kiriyama Renn's character really well. She is more observant that she seems to be first off in the drama. I think this aspect of their relationship has been great to watch because she shows him that she knows him better than he thinks or just knows people more than he thinks. She has a lot of empathy and intuition which will be interesting to watch in future episodes. I do find myself thinking I should not be liking this couple and how they are written in this drama AND YET I like them alot. I will be curious to see how and if my opinion of this couple changes by the end.
-THE MYSTERY: There is a lot of mystery having to do with the male lead in this drama. So, I am excited to find out more about his back story. I want to find out more of why he is the way he is. He is a very reserved character who doesn't let a lot of people see what he is thinking or much about his past. I mean, we sort of don't know the reason why he likes the female lead so much. I am curious to see what drew him to Konishi Sakurako's character and watch her allow him to open up to her more and more.
-THE COLD MALE LEAD TROPE: I AM A SUCKER FOR THIS TROPE! Let me tell you, Kiriyama Renn plays it SO WELL! I like that we already see cracks in his facade. I am a sucker for seeing his type of character change and open up. I am a sucker of finding out why he is the way he is SO THIS TROPE WILL ALWAYS BE A PLUS FOR ME IN DRAMAS! 🤣
WHAT I AM CAUTIOUS ABOUT
-THE STORY: There are a lot of unanswered questions I have so far in this drama. I am wondering if the drama will give me all the answers with just 10 episodes in total. I do wish the episodes were longer. It seems like I have just been introduced to all the characters and we are already almost half way through the drama. I am definitely curious so OF COURSE I am going to keep watching, I am just wondering if I will be satisfied with the ending.
-POTENTIAL LOVE TRIANGLE: I can see that there might be a love triangle in the future. I am not mad about it because I am curious about where it might go. I also am not a fan of love triangles so I could also do without this part coming into the story. You can clearly tell that there is another male who likes the female lead. I also am getting vibes that there is another male who likes the male lead (WHICH IS NEW). I will just have to see where this one goes and if it is done well.
RIGHT NOW - MY RATING FOR THIS DRAMA IS 8/10
SO, THESE ARE MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF LOVE IS PHANTOM!!
What do you think? Are you watching this Jdrama? Are you liking it? Will you start it after reading my FIRST IMPRESSIONS?
WE NOW ALSO HAVE A DISCORD SO TALK TO US ON THERE AS WELL!