Jdrama review: Wakakusa Monogatari : Koisuru Shimai to Koisenu Watashi (2024)

Also known as Colors of Sisterhood

Adapted from Little Women novel by Louisa May Alcott

Synopsis

Work, love, marriage, dreams...Four sisters face the inevitable challenges of life and go through trial and error while searching for their own happiness. What will be the four different happy endings they each reach...

 I've been eyeing this family drama for a long time. But until the last episode, I couldn't find it on any streaming platform. Finally, I found it on the Bstation platform.

The story revolves around the Machida sisters, four siblings: Machida Ryo, Machida Megumi, Machida Mei, and Machida Eri. Ryo works as an assistant director, although her dream is to become a drama scriptwriter; Megumi (Megu) works as a temporary employee at Hellowork, a government agency that helps job seekers; Mei is still studying fashion at an art university. As for Eri, up until episode 4, I haven't found her character except in flashbacks from Ryo’s point of view. Another character is Ritsu, Ryo's childhood friend and the Machida family's close friend.

These Machida girls have different perspectives on marriage. Ryo is firm in not wanting romance or marriage in her life. Meanwhile, Megu and Emi each have a boyfriend (though none of them are decent). Ryo views her mother, who has had 4-5 partners, and feels that her mother's life is incomplete without a man by her side. Ryo believes that happiness in life is not defined by romantic relationships, let alone marriage.

In addition to showing the daily struggles of the Machida girls, this drama also touches on real-world issues such as bosses who are abusive and underestimate their subordinates. Sexual harassment is also depicted in a government agency. The fear of becoming unemployed because one does not tolerate mistreatment from a superior is the reason why the harassment continues. The traditional views of men towards women are still considered a topic that could be popular in society if presented in a drama script.

Since this drama is listed on MyDramaList as an adaptation of the classic novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, I inevitably looked for references to the characters in the drama. To be honest, I haven’t read the original classic novel except for a simplified version, and of course, I’ve seen its film adaptation. So, I searched for similarities between the characters in the novel and the drama. Ryo is Jo or Josephine, the emotional writer; Mei is Amy, who is pursuing art in the field of fashion; Megumi is Beth, the peace-loving one when there’s chaos at home; while Eri is Meg, the beautiful one. I haven’t been able to find a similarity between Eri and Meg because Eri hasn't appeared until episode 4. If Eri is portrayed the same as Meg, then I will probably see her among the elite with all her fancy parties and events. Could this be the reason why Eri left Ryo, who always considered Eri to be her loyal script reader? Because they began to have different views, leading to Eri's departure? I don't know."

All in all, I already fall in love with the story and the characters. I wish the Machida girls would have happy endings, with or without romance

NB: after finishing the series: RITSUUUUUUUUUU.... GANBATTEEEE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WAITING FOR A CHANGE OF HEART OF RYOO 🙏😁

Casts: 

Hotta Mayu as Machida Ryo

Nimura Sawa as Machida Megumi

Hata Mei as Machida Mei

Nagahama Neru as Machida Eri

Ichinose Hayate as Yukishiro Ritsu

My rating:

Story: 9/10

Casts: 9/10

Music: 7/10

Re-watch value: 7/10

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