Gokusen

This is a delightful series, made even better for this American viewer by the quality subtitling and background explanations provided by the dedicated SARS fan-sub team.

The writing is clever & heart-warming, without plunging into the maudlin. The cast developed their characterizations over the course of the series in ways that are understandable, if sometimes unpredictable (as one would expect from both teenagers and adults on the learning curve.)

The whole package will be especially rewarding if the viewer is familiar with "ninkyo Yakuza" movies, such as the vintage ones starring Koji Tsuruta and Ken Takakura, because, at the core, "Gokusen" is about finding your own family and becoming a faithful and supportive friend to all the members.