Cenizas del pasado

This show feels very soap opera with a hefty dose of melodrama and sentimentality. Is it cliché? Very much so. Is it filled with unimaginable plot holes? Definitely. Does it come with a plot twist out of nowhere? Check. Is it entertaining? Hell, yeah! I was really taken by surprised by the antagonist. Amazing actress! The leading actress was also very compelling. The rest of the cast is... mediocre and unintentionally hilarious at times! Anyway, if you love a revenge tale and just want something simple to relax at the end of the day give this a go! But be aware this may give you a 13 year old stress amnesia.

BURN DOWN THE HOUSE (Mitaraike, Enjou Suru) (2023) was an interesting Thriller / Mystery Revenge J-Drama series, but ultimately felt lacking to me. It started out with thrilling promises and a darkly intriguing premise, a mysterious house fire that tore a family a part and a girl seeking revenge and redemption for the life that was stolen from her, by a conniving future stepmother. This series seemed so fascinating but ultimately didn't really live up to the promises it made. It moved slowly and the "thrills" just weren't really there for me.

"Follows Anzu Murata, who- thirteen years after the home of the wealthy Mitarai family was burned in an mysterious and devastating fire- infiltrates the house of the Mitarais as a housekeeper in order to reclaim the house and family that was taken from her."

Overall, it was a cool series, but not quite as interesting as it had initially seemed it would be. I frequently felt distracted and uninterested as the series went on and its slower pacing came unexpected for being advertised as a thriller. The acting, settings and visuals were really good and the main character Anzu Murata was likeable and relatable as well. It was still worth a watch, but just expect something a bit more mild for the thriller genre.

Japanese Drama " Mitaraike Enjou Suru " is a revenge family drama.

The story is pretty basic and, in theory, it is enjoyable, but it goes astray in the second half. Plus, things get out of hand and the result is so-so, kind of unsatisfying and anticlimactic, but okay overall.

The performances, on the other hand, were pretty enjoyable and everyone handled their characters masterfully. The characters, in addition, were interesting, especially the side characters that really did great and supported the main ones that often were too stereotypical melodrama characters.

So, overall, five out of ten.

I typically enjoy these types of dramas. I liked the storyline, but it felt like the creators for this specific series, didn't quite know how to really make this genre. I felt it was mediocre compared to really good revenge dramas, like The Glory for example. Still watchable and I had no regrets for spending my time on it. It was worth the time and I enjoyed it. But lower your hopes and expectations. Will this be a favorite, no. Will this be a perfectly watchable good Netflix drama, yes. I felt like the actors were alright to good. But their expressions and reactions didn't really meet with what the scene demanded.

The plot is easy to understand and easy to get into. The acting is a bit over the top for western audiences but one has to understand Japanese culture which most of us don't! We are made feeling sympathetic for the characters and it it's satisfying to see the villains get their up comings.

Yes the show drags on a bit but since I have connected with the characters I don't mind. I want to see where it's going and what mysteries are going to be unraveled!

The music score is typical Japanese soft piano music throughout.

One of the sisters reminds me of the Japanese series " midnight diner Tokyo" because every time she eats something she shouts out " oh delicious" lol!

All in all I can recommend this series simply because it's non violent, non profane, easy on the eye and easy to follow and understand! I prefer Japanese with subtitles!