(Jdrama Review) The Prince of Legend (2018)

I just finished watching this 10-episode-dorama this afternoon. I thought it is not completed yet, and there would be one or two more episodes to finish the whole silly yet hilarious story. But, episode 10 was the last episode. The finishing story would be coming in 2019. Hmmmm…

First time I watched this, ‘how ridiculous the story is’ thing crossed my mind. Yet, I wonder why I kept watching this every week. Lol. Why do I say this is ridiculous? Well, I have some points but before, let me give some short summary of the drama.

There are 14 what-so-called-good-looking-guys who are after to be the Prince of Legend. This title will be given to everyone who is eligible to be one. The one selected should meet some requirements decided by the President of the school holding the competition. The 14 male students are divided into some groups with their leaders. Let me start from the first group

The Kanade team

Kanade Suzaku, a straight A student who is capable in almost all fields, but knows nothing about love. With his 2 courtiers, he experienced his first love with a girl, named Kanon Naruse. His father owns a large company, he used to have a secret lover before he met Kanade’s mom, and Kanon is his ex’ daughter. His father wants Kanade to make Kanon happy. What the…..!!! 

The Kyogoku brothers

Takato Kyogoku, a charismatic bad boy downtown, happened to be Kanade’s half brother. Together with Kanade, Takato has to promise to make Kanon happy. Takato has a brother who takes him a role model. Takato accidentally saw Kanon beat some juvenile the other day. He fell in love with her.

 

The school dancers

Mitsuteru Tendo, one of Kanon’s school friends, has been in love with Kanon since he met her. He even made himself worth enough for Kanon, one day to protect her. He has two loyal friends who support him to attract Kanon.

 

The third and fourth from left

Aoi Ayanokoji, another student where Kanon studies, seems to be annoyed by the presence of Takato and wonders why Kanade visits his school one day. He finds out that it’s for the sake of one ordinary gilr, like Kanon. Ayanokoji has one obvious weakness, he cannot remember people’s name. Only God knows that he suddenly remembers Kanon’s name by heart. For your information, Ayanokoji is always surrounded by his three staff, exactly like Kanade.

 

the narcissistic teacher

Riichi Yuki, a narcissistic teacher, didn’t get the honor to be The Prince of Legend when he studied in that school. His new ambition is to get the title. So, there’s no other choice but join the competition, together with his students.

 

The beautician, the bartender and the rock band player

Haru Sagasawa happened to be Kanon’s neighbor. As a beautician, he met countless of beautiful women who then went after him. Kanon’s past is his exception. He didn’t have any sexual attraction towards Kanon. He sees her as his little sister. Without any explanation, this guy also comes with his other friends to the school, and joins the competition to be The Prince of Legend. How unbelievable! Don’t they have other things to do? Aaaarrrgghhh….

Naruse Kanon, the award for winner of Prince of Legend

As I told you before that this dorama is ridiculous yet hilarious. Now I will list down why I said so

1.       Kanade Suzaku studies in different school from Kanon. Because of his father’s will, he visits Kanon’s school. To get closer to her and to get her attention, he decides to move his school. He doesn’t move by himself, his courtiers loyally accompany him, too. The first day he goes to school, he doesn’t change his uniform. Hmmm… Can’t he afford to buy the uniform? Impossible, right? Or, he might feel he looks gorgeous wearing his old school uniform. Meh!  

2.       Takato Kyogoku is not far different from Kanade. He goes to different school from Kanon. Yet, he decides to move, too, together with his accomplice, his half brother. And the uniform? Hmmmm… he wears the same uniform from his old school. Hahahahaha….

3.       Aoi Ayanokoji, not sure with his position in his school, wears different uniform, together with his accomplice. He might respect Japanese traditional outfit so much, so he wears male kimono in his school. Whereas, his accomplice wears something looks like office staff.

4.       Mitsuteru Tendo, Kanon’s secret admirer, the only obedient student, wears school uniform. He might not have high position in his school, but he has friends escorting him wherever he goes, including support him to get Kanon’s attention. Well, it seems that Hana Yori Dango vide is here. When you want to build a kind of castle for yourself, whether you are wealthy or not, hire people around you to confirm your position!

5.       Riichi Yuki might be a teacher who has no shame. He willingly competes with his students to get the title of Prince of Legend. Why should he? Is it because of his narcissism? Dunno.

6.       It’s like other doramas that have romance genre, like Hana Yori Dango, Hana Yori Dango session 2, and maybe others, this dorama doesn’t have any scenes in class lesson. All the scenes focus only and only to attract Kanon, and to win the tile Prince of Legend. Oh, please, if you make drama or movie setting in school, can you just please put one or two scenes that depict school activities, like ordinary school? I’m afraid that the producers only want to put the doki doki scenes, fantasy on the audience, or other things. 

7.       Ups, sorry, I should correct point number 6 since then I remember that there is one scene in class, when Yuki sensei teaching in class, only to confirm his ambition to be a prince. ROTFL!

8.       When Takato was about to leave his school to go to Kanon’s school, his friends exaggeratingly cried for him. In some drama stories, when there is a bad boy, there must another bad boy who wants to take his place to the best bad boy in town. Hahahaha… but, Takato seems to be the one and only charismatic bad boy who becomes a role model his bad boy gangs. Lol. Just take the chance to take the crown while Takato is away to go after his first love.

9.       Haru Sagasawa, a flamboyant beautician, doesn’t lack of women’s attention, it’s a big question for him to join the competition. I first thought that it might be Yuki sensei. As an adult, he wants a fair rival to compete. Lol. It’s embarrassing if you win against your students.

10.   The competition to be the legendary prince has been conducted for two times. And it’s going to be the third time where Kanade and others join. I wonder what kind of requirements to be the selected one previously. This year, Kanon will be the target or I should say the prize? to whoever wins the title. Is it that shallow? I know that Kanon is a wonderful high school student with a pretty face, but Kanon as the bait of those prospective princes is unbelievable.

11.   I could go babbling more and more, but seems that I should cut it.

Hmmmm… As I told you earlier that even though it’s ridiculous, I kept watching it every week. So, there must some pluses in this drama, right? Of course! Here is the list:

1.       Ikemen!

2.       Ikemen!

3.       Ikemen!

4.       Ikemen!

5.       Well, no matter how ridiculous the story line is I appreciate the producers to introduce more and more ikemen in this drama hahahaha…despite their acting. Some actors are actually good actors who acted in serious dramas, like Keita Machida. He got my attention when I first saw him in Chugakusei Nikki. But, Kenshi Okada got my full attraction!!! Lol. Nobuyuki Suzuki is not an average actor, too. His face sometimes reminds me of Sota Fukushi and Taishi Nakagawa. But, I still prefer watching Taishi in dramas. Gomen for Nobuyuki fans.

6.       Some easy listening songs are here. One of them is Take on me by A-ha popular in the late 80s. what does it mean, by the way? Is it addressed to Kanon to take one of the ikemens to be her prince, and to get the title of Prince of Legend? Pfffttt….

Overall, I’m still waiting for the movie as the continuation of the selection of legendary prince. I’m quite curious of who is going to be the one. I vote for Takato’s half brother since he secretly keeps his feeling towards Kanon. He has a pure heart to help his brother to get closer to Kanon, putting aside his own feeling. Kakkoiiii, Ryu san…

The movie poster in 2019

Here is the list of the casts of Prince of Legend drama (2018)

Ryota Katayose as Suzaku Kanade

Hiroki Iijima as Gen Kaburagi

Akihisa Shiono as Seiichiro Kuon

Nobuyuki Suzuki as Takato Kyogoku

Kazuma Kawamura as Ryu Kyogoku

Reo Sano as Aoi Ayanokoji

Mandy Sakaguchi as Gabriel Sasazuka

Hokuto Yoshino as Mitsuteru Tendo

Keita Machida as Riichi yuki

Sho Kiyohara as Haru Sagasawa

Ryo Kato as Mitsuhiko Jissoji 

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