Trust Kore-eda to make a J-drama that surpasses practically all its competition without seeming to try too hard. Going My Home has all the characteristics (light music, slow pace, naturalistic acting, careful attention to detail) of Kore-eda's films, as well as the well-polished themes he often deals with; family relations, parental influence, how death affects the living. He also throws in an interesting and relevant notion of how pragmatism and creativity must be balanced in today's society, along with the question of whether adults have the responsibility of fostering the imagination of children or grounding them in reality.
But having adapted to a serial television format, Kore-eda also includes banter, humor, and running gags typical of J-dramas- as well as the ear-worm of the peron choco commercial. Moreover, the significant combined length allows more time to be spent with the characters, and for more themes and storylines to be explored. If I had a complaint with this series, its that some of the storylines, especially concerning Eisuke and Osamu's past relation and the decline of the rural population, are lost somewhat amongst the broader themes and plot points.
But the question still persists; do Kuna exist or not?
But the question still persists; do Kuna exist or not?
