To be honest, I caught a little of this in the past, but dismissed it pretty quickly. I thought it was shallow, but now that I've watched it start to finish I can confirm Shitsuren Chocolatier is dark, sexy exploration of love and idolization. It's not a drama for everyone, but I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for some delicious looking chocolate and even more delicious heartbreak.
Koyurugi Souta is in love with Takahashi Saeko. From the day they met, his world revolved around her. Thus, after a rejection, he goes to Paris to spark her interest, knowing that if he becomes a famous chocolatier, chocolate-loving Saeko will have a reason to come find him.
The drama immediately struck a unique rhythm. At first, I thought it was just tonally all over the place, but I later realised it was very much on purpose. Shitsuren Chocolatier knows exactly what it is, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Souta's fall into obsession and despair is evident in the abrupt cuts to black, a cheap trick that I always find effective and chilling. The black comedy at his expense with his over-the-top fantasies is a little sadistic, but it works. Moreover, the soundtrack is used very effectively. The drama is perfected by the production team managed to make tension out of nothing.
It's a little difficult to understand the nature of the love lines in the earlier episodes, which is definitely part of the show's charm. Despite funny moments, Shitsuren Chocolatier is a harsh melodrama at the core. It's very much a character drama, and like people, the romantic development is difficult to predict, especially with a wild card like Saeko in the mix.
It's no secret that Ishihara Satomi is my unparalleled favourite actress, and she was so perfectly cast here as Saeko. Her range is commendable, for she could balance Saeko's facades perfectly. She is a complicated character who needs to be analysed separately, a mysterious girl who carefully guards her feelings with a curtain that doesn't truly fall until the final episode. As the subject of Souta's obsession, it's no wonder that she's the most memorable part of Shitsuren Chocolatier.
From the beginning, it's difficult to root for Souta. Living for nothing another than love, he's a pathetic protagonist - but there is some genius in that. As he spirals, he develops in the sense that he begins to understand slowly that something is wrong with his love. (I'm a little confused as to how on Earth three woman could all fall for him, but without spoiling much I can say that they aren't simple characters themselves.)
No-one should go into this drama with the misconception that everything will turn out perfectly well. This isn't a story with the moral the "love heals all wounds", it isn't about love that helps a person to be their best self. Shitsuren Chocolatier is about bad love, and true to that not one of the romantic relationships in this show are healthy. I can guarantee that the ending is appropriate to the story, and there's something oddly satisfying and striking about it all.
Ugh, it was difficult not to give everything away with this one. The appeal is all in the mystery.
I was in Japan when this was shown. I could say, the story is very interesting. Not your ordinary kind of love. :)
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