Review on Japanese Drama: Great Teacher Onizuka (2007)

Title: Great Teacher  Onizuka /GTO

Type: Japanese Drama

Duration: 12 episodes
Theme Song: Poison

Cast:

Sorimachi Takeshi as Eikichi Onuzuka
Mutsushima Nanako as  Fuyutsuki Azusa

Kubozura Yosuke as Kikuchi Yoshito

Kirari  as Mizuki Nanako

Ikeuchi Hiroyuki as Murai Kunio

Nakamura Aimi as Aizawa Miyabi

Synopsis: Eikichi Onizuka (Sorimachi Takeshi)is a previously delinquent student, ex-leader of a biker gang, foul-mouthed, crude, pervert but still a virgin wanted to become a teacher and to affect changes to his students. Teachers have always called him “trash”, and they always assume he’s good for nothing and not serious about anything. He wanted to be a teacher so that students like him could have a chance and to believe in themselves.  The director of the academy decided to give him a chance when he defended some students who were expelled from the school by the head teacher because he believed they were just trash.
Fuyutsuki Azusa(Matsushima Nanako) is a mild-mannered teacher, people-pleaser who dreams of becoming a stewardess and treats her profession as a teacher as nothing but an interim because she failed the entrance examination for stewardess.  She believes that Onizuka is just a crude person who does not deserve to become a teacher since he does things in the most unconventional way.
Onizuka was given the most delinquent class which scared away a few teachers but he decided to meet the challenge head on since he was a problem student before.  At first, his class hates him because they believe that he is just the same with the other teachers and would not last long.  They device a series of pranks to get rid of him including involving the PTA President in the matter.  He refuses to give-up and deals with every situation with his own method which to others may seem extreme but eventually earns the respect of his class and forces them to end their class boycott and even unites the class to protect him when everyone else called for him to resign.
Review: 

I have watched many shows like this before but somehow, I really like the casting of this drama. Initially, Fuyutsuki kind of irritated me because her acting at first wasn't that good and she seemed forced in liking Onizuka.  Eventually though, she softened up and I could even say I watched her develop true feelings for Onizuka on screen which led the two to get married in real life and have kids. 

What I like most about this drama is that unlike the others, Onizuka never pretended to be anything he’s not.  He does not compromise his principles and does not believe in backing down no matter what situation he is facing.  He says what he means and means what he says although it gets him to a lot of trouble later on.  He refuses to conform to what everyone is saying a teacher should be but rather, he follows his heart.  This in turn leads him to be in hot water in more than one occasion which leads his co-teachers even more frustrated that they couldn't get rid of him.
I guess the only aspect I didn't like in this show is the character of Miyabi. Every time she's on screen, I find myself cringing because of poor acting.  She lacks the emotions and the charisma to make me sympathize with her character...I felt her acting was totally lacking in conviction which is a pity because her part could have been really good.

What made the show a success is that Takeshi was able to fit the bill of Onizuka perfectly.
I give this show a 9 out of 10 stars...a must see :)