I prefer this to the recent version. Maybe it's because the 1990s version is so different from the current trends in schools where you wonder if there's any limits on students at all in many cases. I agree with the other reviewer that Onizuka's character is based on an amazing bond with his students, admittedly larger than real life. My usual lament: if only teachers were like that in the real world! Mine certainly weren't. Yes. it's sometimes over-the-top (on one occasion definitely surreal), but mostly during the course of the story the background is believable and GTO's remedies may be bizarre but not absolutely impossible. I personally prefer my school dramas to have realistic backgrounds, not twenty-somethings dressed in school uniforms. Their problems are different from school students'.

This is fun but also not avoiding some serious issues. Despite the fantasy, there is no quick fix to solving the problems during the course of the series. So this GTO pushes and leads but it's the students who make the decisions in the end. But there's plenty of comic relief in the continuing battle between the stuffy professionals and Onizuka. It's great when he gets the better of them despite their constant plotting. You almost feel sorry for Uchiyamada and his co-conspirators trapped in their small worlds. Can't say much about the ending for fear of spoilers. Let's say it goes back to its manga roots in terms of fiction departing from real life. The particular twist which is what really brings things out right is frankly unbelievable. But that's manga. The ride is probably better than the arrival.

I agree it can lift the spirits, yes it's corny as someone else said, but there's no harm in that sometimes. the tendency these days is for these dramas to get way too heavy. GTO is a positive force, I like the passion of his character. Sorimachi Takashi is also not only an attractive character but a charismatic person to my mind.

Story not that original but with plenty of twists and turns so you don't lose interest - I watched it right through, with no "on holds", so it must be good. Acting very good, with larger than life Onizuka and the others performing good character acting, not to mention the kids. Music OK for the background. Re-watch definitely. There's enough in most of it to attract without the ending being important.