Terrace House: Tokyo 2019-2020

I remembered watching 1st episode of the older season almost 2 years ago & it didn't grab me. This current season pop up on my recommendation & probably due to my age & different settings in my life, different cast etc, this season does grab my attention. Just like any reality show, I think it really helps if the showcased individuals has charms & real personalities instead of fake persona. The producer does a good job so far for this current series. As the camera is not turned on 24/7 & the whole week is edited in 30 minutes, commentator helps bridge the gap on things that are not aired, activities on tweeter etc.

While waiting for the next episode to arrive I actually ending up binging the previous seasons (as I wrote the netflix in the country where I lived aired until eps12 while in factual it's already at eps15) & googling about all the other seasons (there are 4 on Netflix), the good, the bad & the ugly. I managed to just read enough without spoiling it.

Yes, it can be boring, yes it can be cheesy, feel scripted at some points, not intellectually challenging but it's entertaining without overly exaggerating. I'm entertained... so Netflix thank you for sponsoring this show.

It has been a while since I last watched the series, but from what I recall, it was exceptionally well done. The cast featured intriguing individuals, entertaining characters, and plenty of drama. However, the abrupt ending left me shocked. Upon further investigation, I discovered that one of the cast members had tragically committed suicide due to online harassment.

This was deeply disturbing, especially as she was one of my favorite participants. I was heartbroken when I learned what had transpired, and what's more frustrating is that Netflix remained silent, abruptly ending the series without addressing the situation. They should have honored her memory, giving her the recognition and respect she deserved, rather than sweeping this tragedy, a consequence of relentless bullying, under the rug. Rest in peace, dear Hana Kimura. ♥

I had no idea whatsoever when starting to watch this show that it would stop abruptly after watching so many episodes. I had no idea when I got to the last episode shown on Netflix (with no explanation of why there is nothing else) - just stopped. Naturally, I start googling around to see what other's were saying and I find out that there was a star that apparently committed suicide - not in the house, but found in her own home due to cyberbullying. But there was evidently an argument in the house as well before that may have contributed to online bullying. I understand that they felt they had to cancel the show and made that decision however Netflix should either have the hosts make a statement at the end or take the whole thing down - not just halt it completely with no explanation after a viewer invests much time into the series and is left hanging like that. As far as the show before it was halted, it was fun to watch but it is true that the residents were too focused on their careers and not really on love lives and you could tell that most of them were just using the house as a venue to promote themselves - not for love matches. The only thing that was funny at all was the pitiful soft porn scene that the one hard up actor agreed to take where he showed his full nude backside and then the show editor made a funny cut to a new scene with a new couple up on the roof where the first sentence you hear is "I haven't seen a full moon in a long time" while looking up into the night sky. But I took it as a funny show editing moment and was surprised that the hosts didn't catch on and mention that.

Via this show, you can understand Japanese very well. Very polite, clean, organized.... just to name a few. If you expect something crazy or fight happen in this show, pls pass. One point to applaud is the carmera setting just so versatile even outside the house. The sounds captured as well. It's not like other reality show the way it filmed, very natural.

Even omitting the out-of-show events that lead to this series cancellation, Terrace House 2020 was already at reaching it's worst point since the late portion of 'Aloha State'.

Envisioned as a lead up the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (cancelled), the season starts interesting enough, but finds itself sabotaged by poor casting choices that created objections not only in Japan, but with it's worldwide audiences. First, commentary regular Tokui was suddenly removed from broadcast due to tax evasion. Then, a particular member's aggressive advances towards another cast members lead international critics to blame the show of being an enabler of sexual predation.

Finally, the show came to it's abrupt end with the suicide of a member who was cyberbullied following an altercation with another member.

So, while there may be enjoyable moments to this season, as a whole, it is very difficult to recommend watching TH 2020 to anyone but the most diehard TH fans.