Ripe for the Picking

This nicely directed and well scripted Japanese short-form drama series makes a lot of well-tuned observations about modern relationships between men and women.

But it has one serious flaw. The central story - one of four involving women who work in a publishing company - just stretches credibility. And the love interest for the central character is a dreadful actor.

On the credibility side, we are expected to believe that 32-year-old publishing assistant - Maiko Kosaka - a beautiful and sophisticated woman is a reluctant virgin.

Secondly, we are expected to believe that she would chose as her first lover a vaguely autistic and stitched-up photo-copier repairman, Senri Kagiya.

We might have swallowed the premise if Taiki Sato - the actor who plays Kagiya - had been remotely attractive. But he spends half the series hiding behind a ridiculous pudding bowl haircut, a pair of overalls and a stiff posture.

I really can't see Kagiya, however naive she might be sexually, falling for someone like that. The scriptwriters have the pair of them bonding over a mutual love of 80s arcade game Pac-Man, but this just feels clunky.

It's a shame because the other relationships featured feel much more grounded in reality - one female staffer who resents that her pre-marriage dreams of being a manga artist have been dashed by motherhood, another in her late 30s whose humble upbringing has made her destructively ambitious and estranging those around her who love her, and a third whose unrealistic expectations of a partner have led her tp repeatedly fall for shallow, 'handsome' men.

Anyone one of those secondary stories would have made a better central narrative than the one featuring Kagiya, who is too beautiful for the part and her on-screen boyfriend too wooden.

But consolation points for the script.

Beautifully crafted series about human relationships, the corrosion of loneliness and the critical role of open communication.

FL is a 32 year old office worker who is also a virgin. As life flows by she realises that if she doesn't create a circumstance to try and experience closeness she might miss her chance. Enter the ML, a shy copier service worker who hides behind his hair and mask. She takes a chance, they chat and bond over retro video games. Unknown to her, he has regrets and sadness in his life that diminish his ability to be open but both parties keep trying and the series is well resolved.

The show tackles other secondary stories of insecurity, burn out and regret but the main themes persist. Surround yourself with good people and never stop talking with kindness.

Try to get past the terrible title that implies someone will get screwed over - that neither happens or is implied. Great show, loved it 👏

Here we have the lead actress who is already 30 and is still single and hasn't had any sexual experience while her co-workers have. She seeks out someone to engage with to fulfill her wish of this desire. The first person tries but she then pushes him off. Later on she meets the copy machine technician and after getting to know each other through dates they finally try to have intercourse but it was too painful for her. They both confess to each other that it was their first time and finally were able to finish the deed. They seemed to love each other as the male lead wants to better himself for her and he explains this to her. Also the side stories with her co-workers were good as well. The best part of this was that it was short and to the point and the ending was good. A definite must watch. For those others that like to make 16 episodes or more dramas they need to see how this stuff is done. Not too long and they get their story across very well.