Switched is a 2018 Netflix Japanese science fiction drama. Its themes are centered around suicide and self-love.
Genre: Drama, science fiction, thriller
Episodes: 6 (33-44 minutes)
Synopsis
Zenko Umine commits suicide in from of the person she envies, Ayumi Kohinata. Ayumi passes out and when she wakes up, she realizes that she now is in the body of Umine. She now has to deal with her new life and figure out how to return to her own body.
Review
This drama doesn’t fall under my usual drama style, but I still enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s nice to indulge in a different genre. The transparency of the story’s moral allows for viewers to engage in a sense of empathy toward Umine.
Characters
Ayumi Kohinata (Kaya Kiyohara) is a positive and happy person. People enjoy being around her and want to be her friend. She has been close friends with Shunpei Kaga (Daki Shigeoka) and Koshiro Mizumoto (Tomohiro Kamiyama) since childhood. Kaga is a popular, goofy guy that everyone loves. He sticks by Ayumi’s side while she struggles through the switch. Koshiro is reserved and has a kind-heart and becames a support for Umine after the switch. Zenko Umime (Miu Tomita) is the girl who switches bodies with Ayumi. She lives in darkness and it seems like no one cares for her. Whenever she did get attention, it was usually negative. During the switch she was able to see what life was like among the popular kids, but her darkness was still reigning. One day Koshiro confesses his feelings to Ayumi. Umime overhears and instantly becomes comes jealous, which set the switch into motion.
Story
The story is based on the manga named Sora Wo Kakeru Yodaka. The drama is almost exactly like the drama. In the manga, Kaga and Koshiro hair were switched and it concerted me the most. It took an effort to not get confused. The story is interesting and unique. It takes you into the life of someone living in darkness. It is somewhat a guide to empathy for the viewers and for Ayumi, as well. It is a literal sense of take a walk in someone else’s shoes. While in Umine’s body, Ayumi started to be consumed by the darkness. But she decided against it–when her attitude changed, her circumstance changed (in school at least).
I like the themes of suicide, self-love, and empathy. The story allows for viewers to understand the reasoning behind Umine’s choices. It also allows for the other students to see and understand it too. The drama also shows that no one is completely innocent when someone results to suicide or in this case a body change.
Production
The production of the drama was interesting. There was a large use of color filters and I wasn’t entirely sure of the purpose. I like the overall set up the drama with it being 6 short episodes (because I sometimes don’t have a lot of time, but I love stories).
Quotes
- “Even if it’s one person, the world shifts when they see you.”-Ayumi
- “Looking different on the outside, won’t change the inside.” –Koshiro
- “I understand it now. Back then, when I was inside darkness, I thought it would last forever. I felt a fear so deep that I couldn’t bear it. Umine, too, might have been suffering in that darkness this whole time.” –Ayumi
- “I learned that if there is just one person who sees you; you can be pulled out of the darkness.” –Ayumi
- ” I am not like you. I will make you suffer by being as happy as possible.”-Ayumi to Umine (also a good scene).
Scenes
After thoughts:
- The red moon from this drama reminds me of the book 1Q84.
Recommendations
- Japanese film from Netflix: Good Morning Call (season 1 and 2), Erased, Bleach
- Body Switching Dramas: Secret Garden, Big, Oh My Ghost
Drama-to-Life
Within each drama I watch, there is always something that I would like to learn more about or would like to try. The following is a list of things that I discovered from Switched.
- Culture
- Red Bean Bun Recipe
- Crepe with Whipped Cream Recipe
- Sora Wo Kakeru Yodaka Manga Review