I didn't really have any expectations when I went into watching "Cherry Magic"—I've sadly been disappointed by manga-to-live-action adaptations before and I didn't want to get my hopes up that this was going to be a good one, either. But I'm so glad that it was way better than I could've ever expected. This series is almost nothing but feel good. When I say "almost", I'm referring to a few moments that made my heart ache a little, but in the end it's overshadowed by the immense amount of good, positive vibes. Exactly what we need in these times, honestly.

The acting is absolutely stellar in "Cherry Magic", for the most part. I must admit that I think Masato Tsuge's acting was a bit over the top for my taste, but otherwise I have no complaints. My favourite moment that really showcased the good acting in this series, where I went "okay, that was NOT acting- this is him straight up just talking from the heart", is in the last episode where Adachi tells Kurosawa that he'll try again and again if he screws up after losing his magic. The way Adachi/Akaso's voice breaks in that moment broke my heart in half and I FELT the emotion there. Wow.

"Cherry Magic" not only changed how I now view live-action adaptations and also dramas in general, but it's also a series I can say, without a shred of shame, that I will continue re-watching every now and then just because of how feel-good it is. I'm very glad I stumbled upon this series.