Zettai Kareshi – R

Broadcast in 2008
Based on the manga series by Yuu Watase
11 Episodes
Overall Rating: A+

Main Cast:

Hayami Mokomichi – Tenjo Night
Mizushima Hiro – Asamoto Soshi
Aibu Saki – Izawa Riiko
Ueno Natsuhi – Ito Mika
Sasaki Kuranosuke – Namikiri Gaku
Maya Miki – Wakabayashi Fujiko

Zettai Kareshi (literally Absolute Boyfriend) is about a devoted robot name Tenjo Night who falls in love with his master Izawa Riiko. However, that isn’t suppose to happen. Night was originally just another electronic appliance to be use by his master however she chooses. The thought of this “appliance” actually falling in love and chooses to follow his master’s orders wasn’t part of the original concept at all. The show is a mix of hilarity and quiet thoughtfulness that bring small incites to the viewers a little at a time. In a world where many people lust after others mainly for their looks, getting a good-looking robot to fill the void sounds almost normal (note the almost). Society nowadays wants everything to be fast, even the attainment of love. The idea of doing your best to willingly win your lover’s heart seems almost ancient. Zettai Kareshi shows this kind of love story: a story about winning the heart of a girl to be your girlfriend by being an ideal boyfriend.

Izawa Riiko is a cheerful person with a secret talent. She has a knack for making dessert that taste just right, but she has no training and thus no backing for her talent. She works for a dessert company call Asamoto as a temp worker. She has many crushes but after being rejected has given up on herself. At a local bar where she usually frequent, Riiko meets a man by the name of Namikiri Gaku who works for Kronos Heaven. He invites her to participate in his newest project, one that could provide her with an ideal boyfriend. Being a trusting and somewhat gullible person that she is, Riiko agrees. The project simply consists of her answering questions about her likes and the qualities she look for in an ideal boyfriend. A few days later, a package arrives at her doorstep. Inside is her ideal boyfriend – naked and ready for business. The first few episodes are immensly funny with the robot, later named Night by Riiko, trying his best to please Riiko according to everything he knows within his program. This alone would’ve won many girl’s heart through his many gallant act, but Riiko can’t get over the fact that he’s not a real person and thus his love is programmed and not real either. This slowly changes over time.

I find this drama very interesting because the idea behind it sounds a bit ridiculous but not really. People have often wish for the unattainable and a perfect boyfriend or girlfriend is one of them. Therefore, why not create your own perfect significant other? The original concept behind Night is a robot that can provide the basics of an ideal lover: do everything the girl tells him to do and be good in bed. One of the very first phrase that Night says to Riiko is, “I love you. Wanna have sex?” Gradually, the phrase becomes a simple “I love you” and Night goes on to prove his words aren’t just programmed but has actual merit. Through a simple gestures like listening to Riiko when she’s happy, sad, or angry Night slowly learns what an ideal boyfriend should actually do: simply being there to comfort and encourage your lover to be the best she can be. This is love in its purest form in my opinion.

A great storyline with great actors, this is a must-see drama definitely. It’s also a great fun to watch because of its subtle humor and thoughts on love. Fans of the manga series might be a bit disappointed because the drama version is quite different in some ways. While the original story takes place at a high school and is filled with teenage angst, the drama might be like a grown-up version of the manga. However, it is still a great show and inherits the spirit of the manga quite nicely.

An extra image for anyone who’s finished the show already.