Kaseifu no Mita [ep 11 Final ]

 THE MOMENT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR.



before that, just a brief recap of the final episode

Are the kids really desperate for someone like Mita or they're just plain dumb? Obviously, you can't ask her to be their mother, just like that. On a whim, no less just because they couldn't survive without her delicious food and having a luxury life of someone else doing everything for them at home. I knew Mita had another plan in mind when she agreed to the unimaginable task.

As Urara was preparing for her marriage, Mita took the advantage of being a mother and made everyone's life miserable xD Totally love the Evil Mita-san.

WHATCHA LOOKIN AT? CALL ME MOTHER Y'ALL~ FROM NOW ON, I SHALL TERRORIZE YOUR LIFE.

Bad luck seemed to stick by the children when Urara wasn't around. Am I supposed to believe that the wind had flown from her to the family now? Either way, the kids were put in a huge dilemma. They were now facing the trouble they started.

The cycle seemed to repeat itself when it took ages for the kids to realize that they NEED Urara in their life, not as mother but their cheerful caring, and clumsy aunt. I appreciate Mita's efforts to make them see for themselves, having them to choose between her and Urara. But really, this only proved further that the kids need help with their brains. 

How many times Mita slapped Urara, you ask? I had to rewind that and count lolz. SEVEN TIMES. She slapped the hell out of Urara a total of SEVEN times. Way to go? Am I sensing that the final episode is for Urara to shine? Well, I do thank the writers to make a justification of her character, in fact, as clumsy as she was in the entire show, she brought something different to the show, alongside Mita.

The only irony here was everything Mita told Urara. Especially, "never forget to smile". Well, Mita...isn't it time for you to listen to your own advice?

So Urara's problem was solved. Now...how to get Mita to smile?! 

Lame attempt by the family but better than nothing lol. It didn't work of course.



except when the father made a final order for her - smile please...before you go.





Overall thoughts:

My initial reaction when I heard Nanako's coming back to act again was definitely excitement. I like her old dramas and needless to say, she's a good actress, a veteran and probably genius, as compared to the younger generation that are popping out of everywhere. Then, I realized that the show wasn't as enjoyable because of the lousy characters, except for Mita, the rest were just pale in comparison. I couldn't and didn't feel any empathy for them at all, till the end and that was really one of the major problem I had with the show. However, it has always been Mita who kept making me wonder helplessly about the ending. 

I guess this should not come as any surprise anymore. The final episode of Kaseifu made it into history when the rating was over 40%, making it the only drama, in the last 12 years to achieve over 40% viewership ratings, after Beautiful Life. It is definitely the favorite among Japanese this season. While I love to see Nanako back on screen, I still think the ratings were a bit exaggerated. Not to mention, I nearly dropped the show because of the useless characters. But who am I to decide what they love to watch right? Either way, congratulations to the Kaseifu team for making it such a successful drama this season, though I still think it's a bit overrated. But it's no miracle. There is something it offers that most Japanese like, so while other dramas find it hard to even achieve 20% rating over the years, Kaseifu proved that is still possible when it practically cruised over to the top, getting an average of 25.17%.

Well, it really depends on whether you like the theme or not. Or if you're a fan of Nanako. While I do think it's a bit of a waste not to go for a 2nd season/sequel for the show, Mita deserved to be remembered as she was. The writers were adamant that there won't be any sequel, but who knows. Nanako may be able to reprise her role, but after all things considered, I'm glad they made the decision. Kaseifu is good enough to be a stand alone show, as sequels most of the time won't do as well as the first.

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 - slightly overrated but Mita definitely was worth watching

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 10 ]

Things are getting interesting, at least now that it's near the end. Mita began having hallucinations of her husband and son around the house every now and then. She often went absent-minded while doing chores, which is very very rare.

We then find out why she wears the 'unfeminine' clothes. The bag and hat she used was the same as her husband's, the watch was her son's. The revelation were just some of the more captivating moments in the episode. I really like it when Mita begins losing herself. Anything for more facial expression from her lol.

Meanwhile, Urara attended some marriage meetings and I'd say this was really one of those rare moments she didn't make a fool out of herself. Everything went as planned for her. Yes, it did went as what she wanted - letting the other side know her real character. And no stumblings here and there, plates crashing or any carelessness from her during the meeting. In fact, it was rather smooth.

Even the coaster helped her!

Her confession was perfect too lol.

The ending scene was rather heart-breaking as we see her going to the amusement park, ordered family set and sat there, for the first time, we get to see her husband and son too! Then, she asked them to please take her to where they are.

Things got back to reality when the kids found her there. Heard everything and insisted that they will not leave her alone. I think the point where it touched everybody was when they started chomping down the food, that was real sad.

But nothing beats this. Mita CRIED. Not the smile we wanted or wished for but at least, she was beginning to show her true emotion, rather than keeping it all inside, acting tough. This is how the show should be. No draggy scenes. Needless to say, this is the first time I actually felt touched.But i disagree that she becomes the kids' mother! a huge NO NO! She can just stay as their housekeeper, but why must she be their mother? She deserves her own life.

Rating: 9/10

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 9 ]

The only thing I have to complain about this episode is the length. They could've finished whatever they were trying to show in the usual 46-ish mins instead of going for 57 mins. At times, I just felt a bit bored, watching the kids lament on how Mita decided to leave them and work for the neighbour instead. I did push the fast-forward button quite a bit, and if you don't have time to sit down patiently and watch the entire episode, go for the 38th min lol. Peak began there and that was really the only interesting part.

So Mita now worked for the b*tchy neighbour, surprise surprise! Why would she even hire Mita, who once splashed water on her and sprayed paint over her house? It's bizarre because a normal person wouldn't really hire someone like Mita, and she's a b*tch. The only reason I can think of however, is that she finds pride and satisfaction in ordering Mita around the house, shows her who's the boss maybe.

But just like Mita had predicted, the husband was cheating behind her back, and after an investigation by Mita, the woman asked her to assist in the family suicide plan. Mita, as always, had no problem executing the plan as long as she is able to. So this brings us to the peak of the episode - family suicide went haywire and instead, Mita attempted suicide.

The b*tch told Mita that she was crazy and she should just die instead of troubling other people in this world. Mita must have been laughing inside of her, thinking " this is the day I've been waiting for", a reason to kill myself without doubt.

Of course, the kids came to stop her, and I can't help but think the scene was a bit dragged. Like seriously, it really doesn't take even 3 seconds to throw the candle on the floor or light yourself up, but then we saw them going back and forth, Yui trying to grab the candle from her. And I was like "Just blow out the stupid candle!"And yes, I did push the forward button slightly again.

And then the whole melodramatic dialogue from each and everyone of the kids began and I was somewhere daydreaming...

two minutes later...

Seriously? BLOW THE CANDLE OFF....*speechless*



Another minute later...


Are we having some kind of tearful reunion here now? *major facepalm*

As much as I try to love the show, the side story of the other characters really bored me to death. The rating, I don't know...it could be really overrated, imo. But having Nanako back on the screen is great, either way.

And finally, Urara confessed her feelings, not to the person himself, but to Mita.



Maybe Mita's next mission is to bring the *useless* hubby and Urara together lolz.


Urara did say something that hit the bullseye! She said she always fall in love with worthless guy! So TRUE!



I think it's sweet that Mita had a photo of her family in her side pocket all the time.

Two more episodes to go. How will this end? Will Mita finally smile and be like a normal human being again? Despite hating other characters, the ending is really the only part I'm curious of.

Rating: 8/10

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 8]

Got the shock of my life when I saw Urara-san in Mita's uniform! It's a really nice little change the writers come up with for us viewers just to show us what it'd be like if Mita and Urara were to exchange places with each other.

Urara-san with a long hair wig lolz...they both did a pretty good impersonation of each other! Too bad it only lasted for only a minute. How I wish there's one episode where both exchanged roles, that'd be funny! Cliche yes, but entertaining xD

The beginning may be a bright opening but I can't say the same for the rest of it. There's really nothing much going in, drama is over with the family. Daddy comes back to stay with the kids, their relationship goes back to normal. So things now shift towards Mita, the mysterious housekeeper.

The kids tried to lure anything out of her, but to no avail. I do find the little competitions they had with Mita quite fun to watch despite the rather bland episode, except for the last 5 minutes.

Challenging Mita to solve the puzzle. Bad move, kids.

The last 5 minutes are really the only part you should watch. No, make it the first 2 minutes and last 5 minutes. Seriously, because I couldn't care less if the family makes up with the stubborn grandfather, but thanks to Mita, somehow, that is solved now too. What's left is really Mita's past. 

Mita finally told them her past, how she met the manager who's now her employer. Then she went on about her broken family, how her own mother detested her because her father died, while trying to save her from being drowned. Drowned? Again with the drowning? The writers must have some preference over that issue. After that, she told them about meeting her husband, their son...but her stepbrother ruined it all by setting the house on fire. To get the whole gist of her past, just watch the 5 minute revelation (coz I'm too lazy to tell everything here). Her story is tragic. That's all I can say for now. Matsushima Nanako really did her best to stay cool while telling her story BUT it's not hard to notice her watery red eyes while doing. Well, any sane person would be touched, let alone when she's the one narrating it. Aside from the red eyes, I say as Mita, she didn't flinch a bit, while the rest of the family was seen crying like babies, out of shock really. But I am quite touched by her story too.

Overall:

The episode ended with her quitting her job because as promised, IF they insist her telling about her past, she would quit. While the episode lacks action and plot, like I said, the final 5 minutes is really the only gem in the entire episode, except if you're like me, who don't mind some fun in the beginning. xD 

Next episode will have an extra 15 minutes, I wonder why though. It's certainly not the final episode now right? In conclusion, this drama is beating the hell out of every single show for this season for reaching an astounding 31.5% for ep9! It's beating the other expected drama to shine this season, Nankyoku Tairiku led by Kimura which so far, the rating has been disappointing. Well, even I don't follow it much anymore, but I will finish the show because I don't like leaving business unfinished, unless I get really bored. Seems like Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu is doing pretty good alongside with Nazotoki.

Honestly, I don't exactly have a favorite show this season, it's been a bit of a lackluster for me. There's not a single drama that I'd anticipate every single week like Soredemo did to me last season xD Kaseifu is a serious drama and though I usually love serious themes, this one doesn't quite lure me much. But it's doing so good based on the ratings, I guess Japanese viewers must have missed Mitsushima Nanako a lot after her hiatus. It's good to see her on screen again, what more with an unconventional role as a comeback. Didn't do much to me but overall, it's okay. All I cared about is Mita anyway lolz.

Someone please sub 11 Nin mo Iru! Am dying to continue that show. If I am to list the dramas I enjoy this season (not favorite but enjoyed), they'd be Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu, 11 Nin Mo Iru for its hilarious scenes, HUNTER (light hearted show) and Kaseifu (just for Mita).

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 6- 7]

Let me be frank with all of you who are watching this show, I have zero care or feelings left for any of the characters except for Mita. Though she is the coldest, expressionless and most robotic human (that is IF she isn't a robot), you'll ever find in dramas, she's the only person who I actually do care for and curious of the past.

After having watched ep6, which by the way, was a really hard episode to swallow for me, I have come to several conclusions:

1. Yui is a useless selfish bratty oldest sister who thinks of nothing but herself. Seriously, even if she had succeeded in committing suicide or Mita somehow managed to stab her to death, she shall not be missed by anyone. IN FACT, I was nearly cheering for Mita to just stab her there and then be done with the character. Don't even get me started with Yui and her outrageous actions in ep 6.

2. Useless father remains as useless as he could ever be. So that pretty much sums it all up for his character.

3. As useless as Urara can be, I was surprised that the writers actually got her to SAVE Yui from jumping into the river. IF ONLY she remains useless! Then, we shall not be plagued by Yui ever again.

Yes, I use a lot of 'useless' because well, they're all USELESS!

I nearly gave up on this show in the midst of ep 6 because of Yui's arc. Can someone be so dumb as her? Eloping with a senior who sees you as just another sex toy? Seriously?! And to think that she's the eldest and yet, her stupid actions make her look like a 2 year old! The family is no doubt a mess. A hot mess that will need a thousand cleaning hours to even go back the way it was, but she falls apart even before the younger siblings do and take the easiest way out. Running away from home is really one of the last actions I'd actually guessed from the eldest sibling. But the writers seem to have fun making Yui look like a total dumbass and purposeless. It's not even funny.

Things got slightly better in ep 7 but I still don't care for the kids or the father or anybody except for Mita.

Guy should just drown in the shallow river.

I'm not going to lie. I'm finding for a solid reason to continue watching the show, and I am constantly turned off by the kids and the father. Annoyed to the max. In the end, it's still Mita who manages to lure me back every single time. Her past is still in the dark and I'm sure the audience are dying to know what really happened. We get a glimpse of it in these two episodes, she lost both her husband and son, and she feels guilty about it. Hence, the cold appearance and no smile.

I'm going to continue just for her alone and I sure hope there'd be an episode where she actually cracks a genuine smile or cry or whatever, other than the expressionless face. But Matsushima Nanako is definitely the gem in this show.

Rating: 7/10

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 5]

I haven't been paying much attention to the previous episodes of Kaseifu because of all the dramatic events that took place. I'm all for drama, the more depressing, the better, but family fights like these somehow don't interest me. Maybe because they involve mostly kids and a useless adult. 

I still hate the fact that the father portrayed in this drama hasn't developed much, his character is definitely one of the weakest father in recent shows that I've seen. The actor's doing really good job being that lousy dad though. The episode focuses on the oldest son of the household, Kakeru, finding himself getting easily irritated ever since their father leaves the house. Four kids and a housewife. Anymore drama, lads?

Big son is sponsored by Nike ^^

Father can't reply or understand why he can't seem to love the kids, even after all these years. Father-in-law tries to kick him out of the family registry by offering the kids up for adoption. But useless daddy can't bring himself to sign the papers. IF he has signed the papers, which for one second, I really thought he would, then hands down, the award for the WORST father goes to him for the season.

But he didn't and runs away like a coward. But thank god for that. Because really, the show can't go on without him right?

The family's still as dysfunctional as ever even after the father leaves. So at first, the kids don't want their father anymore (except for Kii because she's too little to understand anything), then things get worse after he gets kicked out of his own house. I really don't know what's up with this family. Dumbfounded. It's like nothing's ever going to be resolved.

Eldest of the lot is too busy dating her senpai

The same with the father. He's still trying to get back to his ex-mistress only to find out that she's dating his colleague who takes over his position. Seriously, what is the matter with this family?! Somebody please give them all a WAKE UP CALL! It came quite late but at least, he actually apologized sincerely when the police is about to arrest Kakeru.

Mita is the star of the show, even if all she does is obeying orders, as ridiculous as they sound. I'm impressed by Nanako's performance. I can't help but wonder how many NGs do they need for the scenes whenever she cracks a slight smile or just can't help but show some expression, instead of the usual cold one as required? Must be really funny! 

I seriously think she's trying REAL HARD not to give any kind of impression here HAHA

Smoking by minors hinders growth and makes them dumb,and just produces weak people when they grow up even though they never mature - Mita (as expected in a national family drama sighh)

Mita's real identity still remains a complete mystery but we now know that she goes to the park alone, orders meals for two but never eats them. And she had a son, who died. Could that be why she doesn't smile anymore and lives her life like a robot? Well, whoever she is, I think the writers shall give us a satisfying answer by the end of the show.

 Rating: 8.5/10

Kaseifu no Mita [ep 1]

There are lots of things we get to know in the first episode. That’s good because then it won’t be so draggy in developing the characters. We’re introduced to a family of five consisting of a father and 4 kids. We know the kids lost their mother due to a drowning at the river, which is later revealed or hinted to be a suicide (mother’s message to Yui). Yui is the eldest and being a daughter, she takes over the mother figure by trying to do household chores, but there’s only so much she can do. Then we have the brother who seems to shout more than speak imo, not hygienic and likes his clothes to be fluffy as he complains if they’re too stiff. The younger brother likes to study, maybe a little to much. The youngest sister, the baby of the family, she has her soft toy everywhere she goes, except outside, LIKES to ask questions, and obviously doesn’t understand the meaning of her mother’s sudden disappearance and it doesn’t look like the father or the rest of the family knows how to explain it to her.

Then we have the father himself who has trouble trying to keep the family in good shape, relies a lot on the daughter and finally decides to get a housekeeper. So then we have the main character of the show, played by Matsushima Nanako, as Mita, who never smiles, looks cold, feels cold even, which got me to think she may be a spirit in a dead body lolz…well jokes aside, Mita may act like a robot, who only speaks when needed, her housekeeping work however is excellent. We’re forced to think hard about Mita’s background. Is she born like this? Or was it some kind of trauma she faced in the past? Is this just a façade she puts on underneath her real image? She’s definitely mysterious and sometimes scary enough but that’s what sells in this show. We’re intrigued! So bring it on!

Let’s not forget the happy-go-lucky sister-in-law, Urara (Aibu Saki) who comes every day to cook for the family ever since her sister died but turns out the family wishes she never interrupts their life. Urara is good hearted and we know she’s just trying to help but somehow, everything she does always turn out to be heading for the worse part of the scenario. She’s not good with words either because she doesn’t think twice before blurting wrong things at the wrong time. 

Well Mita is someone who will do anything her master orders her to. That includes doing outrageous stuffs like killing or committing suicide. Yes, that extreme. Take for example, the youngest daughter, Kii is told by her friends at school that she'll be able to meet her mother once she dies. So she asks Mita to accompany her to see her mother. It's pretty shocking as we see Mita holding her hand, stepping deeper in the river, the same place Kii's mother committed suicide. If not for the brother to pass by and stop them, both would've seriously lost their lives. Mita obviously doesn't care what happens to her or other people around.

But there are parts where I cheered so hard for her lol. Especially this scene where she starts throwing the mother's belongings into the garden and burn them - as ordered by Yui. I was like " YESH! BURN THEM ALL!" I really feel that this part is necessary for the family to face the truth. The family's been trying to pretend like nothing's changed with the mother's gone, and nobody truly explained to Kii what it means to die. So way to go, Mita!

After the little melodramatic moments, which honestly, I wasn't really concentrating much on because I'm not really into it, they continue to celebrate Kii's birthday and leave it all to Mita to take care of. I mean, she's got this magical bag where she keeps some of the strangest things ever! When asked whether she has candles and birthday card, she has them all. Hard to swallow, this part, but with how Mita's bizarre characteristics are up until now, I don't think we should be surprised any longer. So never question how that bag of hers just seem to have anything the master asks or how she doesn't feel the scorching heat as she reaches out to a burning metal box. I've come to believe that Mita doesn't feel anything at all.

One thing I find myself not satisfied with is the lack of development on the father's behalf. My problem with him is he doesn't even act like the father! He's so indecisive and doesn't know how to control or do anything worthwhile for the kids. And what's with sending your housekeeper over to question your own sister-in-law instead of asking her yourself? He's such a weak person I don't feel any pity for him. I won't be surprised if the kids can just live on idly without him around. And Urara doesn't have much screentime too despite being one of the mains. Well, the thing is, having watched Rebound, I find myself not as critical about her anymore, so I don't mind watching her in this show. Her character's not annoying yet to turn me off at this point. It'd be a waste though if all she does throughout the drama is to show up every now and then and disappear.

Finally, definitely one of the more interesting shows this season, but let's hope it doesn't get too stale when they run out of ideas in the later episodes. I mean, how much problem there is to have in a family? Of course, it's always a pleasure to have Nanako back in dramas, which she does rarely nowadays.And she nails the character so perfectly that you can't help but root for her, whatever her actions are lol.

Rating: 8.5/10