Arashi Drama Recommendations

[iheartaiba]

[...] I wanted to find out which dramas with Arashi member casts, you would recommend? It doesn't have to be limited to just one, but what are your favourites out of the ones you've watched and why? Was it something you would have chosen to watch even without the Arashi influence, or would you have let it slide otherwise?



For me, because I am still catching up with recent dramas, my list is quite short:

Yoiko no Mikata:
Because I am a total sucker for cute little kids. I actually watched this as the first drama I actively looked for in the Arashi fandom. as in, I'd seen Gokusen and Bambino without knowing about Arashi, but while learning about them, saw the synopsis for Yoiko no Mikata, and thought Oh, that sounds like my sort of thing!.

My Girl:
Again, my weakness for small children made this a no brainer. I was going to love this drama even if they hadn't cast Aiba in the lead role.

Minami-kun no Koibito:
This one surprised me. By the time I watched this, I'd gotten used to the tropes often used by j-dramas (especially romances), and expected more of the same. But this is so cute, without being... frustrating. Technically also involves a cute, miniature human....

I recommend all Nino's drama SPs. I love how he takes challenging roles and delivers perfectness. I can't even pick my favourite drama SP of his 'cause they are all great.

[kantanaamaya]

I second My Girl! I wasn't really a big Aiba fan at the time so I was watching it a bit more objectively, and it was so good. <3 My view on Aiba has also drastically changed since then lol.

Maou was really good for me. I love detective/crime dramas so it was the type of show I would have watched regardless!

Freeter, Ie wo Kau I enjoyed a lot as well. I was only gonna watch it because of Nino, but it was much better than I thought. More emotional than I expected it to be.

[ShoKitten]

^ Maou was definitely one of the more ambitious dramas with an Arashi member in them and I absolutely loved it. It was dark, tense and gorgeous.

Hana Yori Dango is an obvious one but worthy of mention - just a quality drama overall and tugs at the heartstrings without being too heavy; The Quiz Show 2 was very well-done and captivating; and Yamada Tarou Monogatari was so warm and lovely.

I need to catch up on the more recent ones the boys have done, but those four really left an impression.

[Draco_Rattus]

In my opinion the best dramas I have watched so far for each member are:

Kazoku Game (Sho): Kazoku Game is full of so many twists and turns, and Sho gives such a good performance as a scheming, manipulative tutor! I also loved Ryunosuke Kamiki in this drama as the eldest son of the family. They played off against each other really well, the chemistry between them was so good as they tried to outwit each other.

99.9% (Jun): Jun's character is deceptively cute and light-hearted but he's capable of untangling the mysteries of each case. And his puns are great!

Yamada Taro Monogatari (Nino and Sho): It's a really lovely story and funny too. I love the friendship between Nino's character and Sho's character and the overall plot was very touching and sweet.

Kizoku Tantei (Aiba): Aiba's character solves a different case each episode, and I love how his household staff assist him in presenting the evidence! This drama has some twists and surprises too. I also really like Takei Emi and she is very good in this.

Kagi no Kakatta Heya (Ohno): Lots of people like Maou, but I actually preferred Ohno in this drama. His character is quiet and reserved but has his own secrets, calmly solving the locked room mystery of each episode whilst infuriating the detectives he is working with.

[mikachan]

My favourite dramas for each members are
Ohno: Kagi no kakatta Heya, Uta no Onii-san
Sho: Tokujou Kabachi!!, Kazoku Game, Nazotoki ha Dinner no ato de
Aiba: My Girl, Miracle
Nino: Ryuusei no Kizuna, Freeter Ie wo kau
Jun: Hana yori Dango, 99.9% Keiji Senmon Bengoshi
All members: Saigo no Yakusoku

It's hard to say which I love the most. I mostly watch the ones above once a year, mixed with some others I love... I guess I have too much free time?

[inutrasha94]

Uta no onii-san revolutionized my life and so did Ryuusei no Kizuna.

Honestly after all these years I still haven't watched Maou because I'm scared haha. Truth is probably one of my fav songs but seeing Riidaa be brutal like that would wreck me

[roses12]

There were so many good dramas that the Arashi members were a part of. Here a few good ones that I've seen, yet still more to watch....
Ohno - Kagi no Kakatta Heya...enjoyed the cast chemistry and fun to watch. Plus I really like Face Down. Shinigami-kun... wasn't sure what to expect on this one and maybe that's why it turned out better than expected.... very touching in every episode
Sho - Kazoku Game.... oh my goodness.....probably Sho's best acting in my opinion, although at times hard to watch him being so cruel. Nazotoki wa Dinner no ato de... loved his chemistry with Kitagawa Keiko and loved the different mysteries every week.
Aiba - My Girl.... cute girl and Aiba.... binged watched this with my mom.... we both enjoyed it. Mikeneko no Holmes Suiri....wasn't expecting much, but it turned out to be a really good series. Enjoyed the familial relationship in show with Aiba, Fujiki Naohito, and Oomasa Aya. Yokoso, Wagaya e.... probably my fave Aiba drama.... mystery that kept me interested all the way through...
Nino - Ryuusei no Kizuna....based on Higashino novel... soooo good.... mystery and humor. Freeter, ie wo Kau....good story.... enjoyed the touching moments with Nino and his "mom", great theme songs, although Nino and Karina didn't match too much in my opinion.
Jun - Hana Yori Dango... no explanation necessary....every j-drama fan needs to watch this. Lucky Seven.... Jun and Eita... enough said.... such a fun drama to watch.
Yamada Taro Monogatari Sho and Nino together with Tabe Mikako.... so fun to watch

[Stulti]

My favourites :

Maou: well that is kind of a given. I never thought Oh-chan could pull such a role of but damn that drama was so intense and had me at the edge of my seat
The Quiz Show 2009: I cried so much while watching that. and I really liked the suspense
Kazoku Game: Sho really scared me in some scenes....
My Girl: just because it was the first drama I ever watched while it was still airing, which meant one new episode each week.
Hanadan for obvious reasons
Ryuusei no Kizuna: so funny while so interesting
Kimi wa petto (tried watching the remake but nope) it has to be Koyuki and Matsujun.

I'd like to have Nino in some darker roles in the future, but recently I didn't like his dramas that much... (haven't finished black pean, so I'm not judging that yet, but the first 3 episodes are kind of repetitive...)

[Mura_Kaze]

So far the best for me is :

Aiba :
Mikeneko Holmes. Aiba and animal are adorable. I like the idea about cat shape-shifting into human.

Mukodono!. At first I saw it because Nagase and didn't realize Aiba and Kamiki are cast too It's funny how Nagase character and Aiba character as brother-in-law interacted.

Ohno :
Maou. I never imagine before, Riida can acted someone that really cruel but fragile inside. This drama very intense. But the ending somehow disappointed for me.

Shinigami-kun. I don't know why lot people doesn't like this. I think this drama is heartwarming. And Riida in that suit is so good

Sho :
Kazoku Game. Sho really creeping me out lol He can show to audience how 'crazy' this tutor teacher can be.

Kisarazu Cats Eye. I love Bambi Try to looks rebellious but pure inside lol

For Nino, it will be long lol :
Stand Up!!. A light and heartwarming drama. I laughed in all episode Even I don't like Yamapi (sorry), I can enjoy this.

Akamedaka SP. I like rakugo. I like Nino. So I watched this lol Interaction between Nino and others cast really good. When you watch this, you must concentration when they do rakugo (especially Nino. He talked reaaaally fast lol). If not, you can't get the humor

Door to Door SP. Nino's acting are superb! A touching drama special based on true story. So yes, you'll cry. A lot.

Ryuusei no Kizuna. At first I thought this drama will be dark and intense like Maou. But I'm wrong lol Even it have dark theme, you still can see humorous side. Like, Nakashima Mika out of nowhere suddenly singing in front of Nino

And for Jun, I'm really sorry I never watch any of his drama lol I don't know why I never interested about him

[ShirleyWade]

I have seen several Arashi´s drama, especially the old ones.
The ones that have left a strong impressions are:

Kagi no Kakatta Heya of Ohno I love mysteries and different murder cases and this one was perfect for me. Specially since they´re locked room murders. Although the main character was too flat for me, I really enjoyed watching him resolving the mysteries. They were so surprising and smart!
The Quiz Show 2 of Sho It was my first Arashi´s drama and... Inmediately fell in love with Sho. It loved the progression of the backstory of the main character and how each person´s "sin" was realeaved and slowly fitted with the main story. Even if it was kinda previsible, I loved it.
Kazoku Game of Sho Another drama I really enjoyed. It was quite uncomfortable at first because of the harsh content, but I liked the story and the acting. It´s also a different drama from the rest.
Ryuusei no Kizuna of Nino It was a really beautiful story between siblings and it had its own mystery floating around. The chemistry is real and liked the ending.
Maou of Ohno Loved it! The play with the cards and the amazing acting of Ohno and his gradual darkening.

[iheartaiba]

Kazoku Game seems to be quite popular. But I agree, it was a very good drama. The topic is serious and Sho's acting is A+.

[pknumba1]

I think Kazoku Game would be good for those just starting out on dramas, aside from the light-hearted dramas like Hana Kimi. It addresses a lot of issues that people in general are familiar with, and the dark parts will have them intrigued and wanting more.

[kantanaamaya]

So I just finished Yokoso, Wagaya e (starring Aiba) and that one was really good. I never got around to watching it because I thought it might be too scary for me, lol, but it was really good! The mystery and intrigue was well done, I often ended episodes wants to immediately watch the next one. For folks who like suspense and mystery, I'd say it's a must-see.

[Nightshadow]

Well, my recommendation is not easy to get, but if you have the opportunity, I'd say you should watch Bokura no Yuuki with mini Aiba and mini Jun. It's a mystery, thriller and drama, with a bit of sci-fi and excellent performances from everybody. The Kinki Kids are the main characters, but you get to see something that has never happened ever since: Aiba being evil and bullying Jun. This dorama tells the story of a city where only kids are left after an earthquake. The SP is not as good, but it's also something to see adult Jun being really shy, melancholic and trying to not be in the spotlight, it's like the opposite of him.

I second the Kazoku Game and Quiz Show 2 recommendation for Sho's drama. I loved both. I really like dark topics. Sho is really creepy in Kazoku Game. Also, I think Nazotoki wa Diner no ato de is really fun.

From Jun I love Lucky Seven for the action, the bromance and the lack of romance. Natsuniji because it's really cute, fun and easy to watch. Gokusen for the laughs and the cool Shin. And Smile because of the good acting. This one is not an easy dorama to watch, but it's worth it. Everybody is crazy about HanaDan, but imo, Jun has better doramas than that one.

I'm kind of scared of watching Maou and My Girl, because everybody seems to love them, and what if I don't? There are some doramas that everyone loves and I just couldn't get hooked on them, like Mineneko Holmes.

[pknumba1]

I'm kind of scared of watching Maou and My Girl, because everybody seems to love them, and what if I don't? There are some doramas that everyone loves and I just couldn't get hooked on them, like Mineneko Holmes.

Maou was one of my early dramas, just as I was getting into them. I only watched it for Toma Ikuta. I finally downloaded it after not seeing it in nearly 3 years. There were times I felt like bawling my eyes out with how vulnerable and broken Ohno was in the show. I don't think he's played such a dark and tormented character like the one in Maou. I would say give it a try and keep an open mind. Toma and Ohno together have great acting chemistry. Plus, there's some Nino in the first episode.

My Girl was my first Aiba drama. That's all I have to defend for about that one.

[aochan167]

So far I love Kagi no kakatta heya and 99.9 since I love investigation/crime genre. But still I liked all Arashi drama.