Episodes: 10 + 1 specialYr of telecast/TV Stn: 2005/FujiTV
Main Cast:
Uchiyama Rina - Yasuko
Tanihara Shosuke - Tokugawa Tsunayoshi
Koike Eiko - Oden no kata
Takaoka Saki - Emonnosuke
Kitamura Kazuki - Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu
Kanjiya Shihori - Someko
Fujiwara Norika - Nobuko
Summary: (edited from jdorama.com)
During the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi's era, Ooku was completely controlled by the Shogun's mother, Keishoin. Oden-no-kate who was Keishoin's favourite concubine gave birth to Shogun's two children, Tokumatsu & Tsuruhime. However, her family background was poor and was looked down by Shogun's first lady Nobuko.
Tsunayoshi's official wife, Nobuko - who came from the famous Takatsukasa Family in Kyoto - has no children yet. Coming from a very noble family, Nobuko always stands against Keishoin and Oden-no-kata, both who come from average households. Tsunayoshi had two close advisors that he trusted very much: Narisada Makino and Yoshiyasu Yanagisawa. The story begins when Tsunayoshi visited Narisada's house one day and wanted his married daughter Yasuko to become his concubine. Yasuko was forced to divorce with her husband and later she became the shogun's favourite concubine, replacing Oden. Oden saw her as a enemy while Nobuko tried to get Yasuko into her camp against Oden. Unfortunate things happened one after another after Yasuko was pregnant with Shogun's child Chomaru.
Comments: 3rd and final instalment of the "Ooku" series. This time round the main focus was on the concubines la, the rivalry was more intense than the previous 2 series. However, the best part was the starter of this whole range of rivalry was actually Yanagisawa, who was trying to gain power. Plot wise was quite interesting, slightly better than "Ooku" but the romance factor lost to "Ooku Chap 1". The first 2 epis were quite "shocking" or rather, unacceptable. Refering to what the Shogun did to his past servant Aguri, who was Yasuko's mum.
Acting wise, u get great performances from most of the actors, even the "viewership rating poison" Fujiwara Norika did a gd job as the "insane Nobuko" coz' u cld feel her hatred and agony of being the only lady who cant bear children la. The only fella I didnt like was Koike who acted as Oden. Firstly, her face looked super weird and she always stared at other ppl. Only when she was fighting and crying then i cld enjoyed her "loosen up" expression. She's famous for her "excellent figure" butta her acting didnt quite convince me. Tanihara was ok too, but then the shogun's character development wasnt that much compared to Uchiyama's Yasuko. Uchiyama..after "Good Luck", didnt have much chance to see her acting la. Like her performance lo, though sometimes her expression was kinda "stagnant". Wanna mention Takaoka, super graceful and elegant lady sia. Like to listen to her conversation with other cast, dunno why her voice was so nice la. Lolz!
There's one part i was a little confused was on whether Keishoin was Gyoku who appeared in "Ooku Chap 1"-Lady Oman's maid..she was such a kind person there la, but a horrible mother in this series. Really cant accept her change lo...later i checked and quite cfm that she's Gyoku la. Haiz...in the end she also became the typical mothers who were only concern about the successor of the Shogun's line.
Ost was still as nice as ever, and gotta mention Tokyo Jihen's "Shuraba"-themesong la. The title is just perfect for the drama lo. If u have been an Ooku fan, cannot miss this drama k? Also, u will find many support cast who had acted in the other 2 series la...haha!
Havent watch the special leh...it's about the concubines' past, Tsuyonashi and Yanagisawa's past(which led to why Yanagisawa wanna take revenge on the Shogun).
Ratings: 8.5/10 (Gou Xin Dou Jiao...nobody wld be the final winner..And Ooku is still the prison of women)
