Nice Blend of Comedy and Drama

I just picked up the first 6 episodes of Densha Otoko at a DVD store in Shanghai a few weeks ago. It is easily one of the funniest Japanese comedies I've seen in a while.

Hermes, of course, is way out of his league, and that dynamic is illustrated quite well and the comedic aspect of the show is instantly apparent. But drama is also there; in the first episode, our hero "Densha Otoko" is a lot more than just your typical "otaku". He's got very bad luck, and apart from his friends, is very much an outcast. Even after a failed attempt at getting a balloon out of a tree for a little girl, he is rewarded with "Baka!" (Stupid), rather than "thanks for trying anyway."

The depth/drama of the series doesn't end with him, and in the brief time we get to see his internet chat buddies, you can see the lives they lead. One woman is clearly a victim of domestic abuse, and I find myself hoping that they resolve her situation somehow even though she is not a primary focus of the show.

Prior to this my favorite Japanese show was "Suago No Mama De" with Akina Nakamori, but "Densha Otoko" has taken over that spot.

- Frank
"We are one big happy fleet!" - KN Singh