[Drama Review] Smile

Because this drama is so awesome, I'm going to write actual reviews. Basically I'm just gonna have the episode summaries and than my small comment of the actual episode at the bottom in the large font. Seriously this drama is just too good to not write a review about it.

characters:
Matsumoto Jun : Hayakawa Vito (but I like Bito so I'm going to write Bito =D)
Aragaki Yui : Mishima Hana
Nakai Kiichi - Ito Kazuma
Oguri Shun : Hayashi Seiji

Episode 1

The beginning opens in 2015 with Bito being in jail for an unreason unknown. Then it goes back to 2009. Basically this first episode introduces the characters and of course, starts the storyline off. Hayakawa Bito a half filipino young man works at Machimura Foods with two of his friends, Bull and Kinta and the very warm and loving Machimura family. On part time he works at a bar. Bito meets Hana in a bookstore and than she follows him and applies for a job at Machimura foods, Hana cannot talk. The lawyer Kazuma is also introduced early in the story and is the boss to Shiori, daughter of the owner of Machimura foods. Things seem to be fine until Bito is accused of being a drug dealer of crystal meth. At the end there is a very touching (and a bit tedious...) scene where Bito is unjustly accused and captured to bring into court. You also learn in this episode that Bito used to be part of a gang and the leader was a guy named Hayashi Seiji (played by Oguri Shun) this is really important later it. ^^
A very good opening in my opinion. It introduces all the characters nicely and it's actually a lot more deep and touching. I thought this drama would be very cliche but from the first episode onwards I find I am loving this drama a lot.

Episode 2

What happens in episode 1 continues onto episode 2 where Bito is in court. Because Bito had such a bad name when he was younger (in his teens) police unjustly make up stories and try to frame him. Hana (Aragaki Yui) knowing that Bito is innocent follows the real drug dealer Kondo and hopes to dig out evidence. She manages to find evidence to prove that Kondo is guilty and that Bito is not. Kazuma then enters more into the story now. At the end a news report appears that a school has suffered a bad case of food poisoning. Hana and Bito's relationship started to develop a bit in this episode but than something happens at the end (always the end..) that makes Bito a bit hesitant and distance with Hana. >_<
The second part of this episode was so good. Hana was like a stalker but she's a brave stalker and I commend her for her awesomness. The HanaBito scenes are just so cute and I seriously love these scenes so much. Ah.. can't wait for episode 3.

Episode 3

In the beginning no one knows how the food poisoning happened and the beginning mostly details into a bit about Kazuma and Bito and sort of develops their relationship a bit more. There is more descrimination against Bito (that seriously make smy blood boil) and we get to see a hint of something that may have happened in Kazuma's past. He seems to have this complex about things being "pure Japanese". There is also some developement with Hana and Bito and Hana tries to win Bito's heart (and she does such a good job, I want to hug Hana so bad, she's so cute). Then near the end we realize that it's apparently Machimura foods that is the source of the food poisoning and this problem will continue onto the later episodes. Also in this episode we get to see a bit more of Hayashi Seiji and how much of a bad-ass he is. At the very end, Hana faints for some unknown reason, seemingly in pain. As well, in 2015 we get a small scene where Bito asks "Hana would've been much more happy if she hadn't met me" which makes me think something very bad happened to her. Did she die? o_o Did BITO kill her?
I'm loving this series more and more. The scenes between Hana and Bito are so much love and they're so cute together and than the more serious issues about Bito being a half filipino really makes me hurt inside for some reason. Also at the end when things start becoming serious, this drama is really like an emotional rollar coaster ride. It's a drama with such a misleading name "Smile" Hah. Underneath the "happy" is a very dark and depressing undertone.

Episode 4

Bito and Hana's relationship is a bit strained in the beginning due to that guy... who I forgot the name off. Hana's guy-friend and so Machimura mama+papa tell Hana to be more assertive. They also attempt to get the two together on a "shopping trip". Hana faints though when a bunch of reporters come swarming towards her and she is sent to the hospital. Hayashi Seiji (who was released from prison a earlier) spots Bito on TV and decides to give his little friend a surprise visit at the end of the episode. Meanwhile when Bito is at the hospital with Hana he reads a letter which Hana had previously given to him. We see some more hints of Kazuma's own personal problems and Machimura continues getting into more and more trouble. Also we learn about Hana's past and why she lost her voice in this episode. As much as I'd like to continue summarizing, all I can say is, we really hit some deep points in this episode about one of the many themes in this story.
Okay first of all. Shun is crazy hot *laughs* Hana and Bito continue to make me squeal and aww at their cuteness (okay, it's mostly just Hana but whatever) and when Bito was talking with Kazuma when they were drinking I could feel myself tearing because it was just so sad what happened to Hana. Next episode will again follow the trend of "happy and sad" but... I SHUN!! YAY!! ^^

Episode 5

Hayashi asks Bito to join him again to "kill Kai" and Kazuma tells Bito off from it (of course). Meanwhile the Machimura food problem keeps getting worse and it is revealed that it was something in the glutinous rice that caused the problem. Bito and gang try to prove that Teishoku food company is the cause of the problem. Suddenly things just keep getting worse. Minako-chan (girl that quite in episode 1) makes up a fake story (presumably because she was threatened by Hayashi) about how the owner of Machimura was terrible and she was absued and gradually all of Machimura's friends turn their heads away and no one helps them. The bank pulls away and forces the family to pay back their loans. Hayashi continues causing problems and the end is a shock when Machimura Father commits suicide. Oh. Bito's birthday was celebrated in this episode as well, that's where he got his cookbooks from jail.
Things just keep getting worse and worse don't they? Shun as always is just.. my god, I love Shun. He is just so bad-ass and the JunxShun moments are so much love. The ending was a shock and I teared up because .. oh god and reporters are total asses. And with that, episode 6 =D

Episode 6

The beginning opens with Father Machimuras funeral in which lots of yelling happens. The search for Machimura's innocence which leads to finding Minako, not before a heated showdown between Hayashi and Bito! We learnt hat Minako was scammed and thus needed money desperately. After a while, Minako and the boss of another food store confesses that 1. Machimura was a great guy and 2. Teishoku is the company that should be suspected. With these verbal confessions Machimura is proved innocent and the real culprit is apprehended, Hayashi is not happy. Even with all this happening, there is still room for some HanaxBito developement and some Future!Bito. For some reason Bito doesn't want to see Hana in the future.. but in the present Hana is so much love! She asks Bito to take her out on a date! Some cute scenes ensue and a date is made but..! Seiji is a creeper, stalks Hana and kidnaps her! And that is the end of episode 6. >_<
Okay first off. Jun, wet hair, HOT! Seiji is a creeper who stalks girls (o_o) but holy crap Shuni s a great actor. Jun... he cries a lot and... it's a bit of a turn off. I hate watching Jun cry because.. not that he's bad persay but he's not that great either. Lots of begging ensues in this episode as well. BitoxKintaxBull moments are HELLA cute, especially when Hana asks Bito out (YOU GO GIRL!!). Overall, not a bad episode, but it's obviously the beginning of a new and final arc of this drama. (by ze vay... WHAT DID BITO DO TO LAND IN JAIL AND NOT WANT TO SEE HANA?!)