Good Morning Call (2016–2017) User Reviews

A true gem of a show!

[bethanhunter · 8/10 · 10 May 2016]

Based on the Japanese Manga of the same name,'Good Morning Call' revolves around the slow bubbling romance between protagonists, Nao and Uehara, who, through a series of hilarious predicaments, are forced to become flatmates. What is truly remarkable about this little drama series is it's ability to balance lighthearted, rather animated humour with poignant teenage angst. The two leading characters are simply great together and although they clash at times, their gentle love story is captivating in both it's charm and innocence. Each episode manages feel fresh and equally compelling as the last as new plot lines are constantly introduced, masterfully weaving in character growth too, as the series progresses. If you are looking for a cheerful romantic comedy with a boatload of heart, 'Good Morning Call' is surely a must!

Do girls really like jerks?

[Pseudo_avatar · 7/10 · 15 July 2016]

This show is both endearing and entertaining. However, I had to stop watching it around ep 10. because I just couldn't bring myself to watch the so called "love story" anymore. I kept hoping it would be a growth story where the girl eventually realises she's worth more than this cold, uncaring and controlling jerk. I experienced much the same feeling when I was reading Twilight. Alas, I was disappointed on both counts. I believe that for most Western viewers this show is quite shocking in terms of how far the main character goes to please the guy who shows her no interest and repays her kindness by consistently treating her poorly, instead of realising that she's being taken advantage of. The unequal power balance between Uehara and Nao probably ties in with Japanese values and women's traditional role, but personally I found it quite unbearable to watch. In fact, I think their relationship even borders on emotional and physical abuse. Watching him emotionally neglect her while gobbling down her cookings and making her carry all the grocery bags is one thing but by ep 10 when he pushes her away when she's trying to hold his hand is just terrible. If this was a Western show it would take feminist issues back decades, however as a Japanese show I suppose I can't judge it quite as harshly. Still, I can't help but wonder why anyone would find the relationship between Nao and Uehara ideal; I was hopelessly rooting for Daichi until the very end as I utterly dislike Uehara's character. He may say he loves her but he sure doesn't treat her like it. Nevertheless the premise was fun and to my surprise I really like Nao's character despite disagreeing with her choices. The actress does a pretty good job there.

Delightful (but flawed)

[vosovicd · 6/10 · 13 August 2016]

Delightful series with an excellent cast and high production values. The supporting characters in particular are a joy to watch. Unfortunately, the focus of the show is on Nao and Uehara. The latter character is very unlikable and his treatment of Nao is frankly quite misogynistic. And even Nao, in the second half of the series, seems like a woman on the verge of a breakdown. But there is much enjoyment in all the supporting characters who are the real entertainment in this show. And the series is quite unique and refreshing (at least based on the TV content in Western countries). And I hope Netflix continues this collaboration in producing Japanese content.

A Heart-String pulling thrill ride

[jmations · 10/10 · 8 April 2016]

Honestly a genius endeavor into the romantic minds of the modern Japanese teenager, struck with such worries as boys, girls, boob size and ramen. Never has such a gripping story-line been written and the fact that it comes from the far east just leaves me baffled, Hollywood has been truly put to shame. With interconnecting plots tackling many issues which leaves the audience witness to the members of the cast being pushed to their absolute limits in some enthralling scenes of true romantic dilemma, while at other times showing the true pros of friendship, which move the plot forward, whilst simultaneously teaching us all a little something about ourselves. 10/10 loved every second which I spent watching this amazing journey into the next generation of cinema.

Hugely enjoyable, heartfelt Japanese romance

[CrazyHayley · 10/10 · 10 May 2016]

'Good Morning Call' is a hugely enjoyable, heartfelt Japanese romance. After watching the first episode I was immediately hooked. I have never watched a Japanese series before so I was on edge at first, but after the first episode I wanted to binge watch the whole series to the current episode, so that's what I did in the space of 3 days. The actors play the parts of traditional Japanese students perfectly whilst adding an edgy twist to their personalities, well Uehara does anyway. 'Good Morning Call' shows us two people who come together after being scammed in a way which is humorous yet serious. They portray the diversity between the two main characters, Nao and Uehara, perfectly. If you want an easy to watch, heartfelt romance watch this Netflix series. They are still coming out with episodes so watch it now or wait till they finish the season so you can binge watch it all!

A Cute (But Not Accurate) Depiction of Japanese High School Romance

[Artemis1980 · 7/10 · 5 September 2016]

Nao is an adorable, hopelessly romantic high schooler smitten with Uehara, an emotionally detached classmate who couldn't care less about her but is forced to live with her due to unforeseeable circumstances. It's an adorable (yet totally misogynistic) relationship that I'm afraid Americans will see as representative of male- female dynamics in Japan, wherein the woman does all the pining and the man stoically ignores her affections. In reality, Nao is an old-fashioned anomaly: modern Japanese relationships are much more like those of the other characters, so any viewer not familiar with the culture would probably do better to get their intel from them (or not a teen romance based off a girls' manga), not the love between the two main characters.

Fantastic and Absorbing series!

[xxxcharishunterxxx · 10/10 · 9 May 2016]

A hugely enjoyable series depicting the trails and tribulations of a slow burning romance between two Japanese high school students. I started watching it on a whim and was not disappointed. This series is addicting. The two main leads have sparkling chemistry, I found myself immediately drawn to them. Their characters are opposites in every sense of the word, but boy, do they work well together. There's also a perfect blend of witty, upbeat humor mixed with tear inducing emotional turmoil (had me reaching for tissues on a number of occasions!) Although not a 'grand' drama in its scale, it does extremely well with immersing the viewer with interconnecting plot lines, engaging characters and strong dialogue. 10/10 it's a definitely a must-see!

Good story, but too much drama

[bibigixie · 7/10 · 19 March 2022]

It is a good and sweet story, but the actors is a bit overdramatic. It does the series a kind of weird and unnatural, which is too bad, because it is a really cute love story.

Excellent Excellent Great Great !

[avarghese-01517 · 10/10 · 26 October 2016]

Wow o wow. After "Descendants of the Sun" I was looking for another romance. And I was not disappointed. I have watched it twice already.

First of all Nao (the actress) is an incredible actress, and she is only 18, she plays all emotions really well and does comedy body humor really well too.

The writing is surprisingly deep and complex. It is taken from a Manga series so maybe thats why.

I just want to comment on some who said that it is misogynist. I don't think it is. Let me tell you how I see it: He: He comes from that background so has closed himself off from the world. To his credit even if all fawn over him, he just ignores them and just does his own thing and doesn't want people bothering him She: she is such an extrovert, loved by many, and it took somoeone like her to draw him out. He is so closed emotionally and through the series she brings him out.

So I don't see it as misogynst.

I cant recommend it high enough

good concept

[litzygrant24753 · 7/10 · 4 April 2023]

The idea is amazing! The schools most popular boy put together in one apartment with an ordinary girl who just criticised him on the schools rooftop while she was wondering how she got such an amazing central apartment for so cheap? How will their relationship develop? Plot seems so perfect to me.

However the acting and implementation is horrible in my opinion. I love kitschy manga but a real life action this corny? Debatable. Its just the girls reaction to the boys and how they get excited but instead of acting good they make it so weird and awkward.

Im not gonna complain about it that much since its just the japanese romcom style.

Its definitely worth a watch if you're into corny manga real life actions or just searching for something to watch to increase your mood. It's somewhat addicting too in a way:)

Wow. Just... wow.

[doomguy-13324 · 10/10 · 15 September 2016]

I think I enjoyed this show way more than I probably should have. Timid Yoshikawa Nao gets caught in a housing scam and has to share an apartment with Uehara Hisashi, the most popular boy in school. Japanese shenanigans ensue. This show was so well written, so funny, and so adorable, it made me nostalgic of the time I lived in Japan and Korea. The plots are somewhat typical of what you would find in a teenage girl drama, but somehow, I found myself sucked in. Highly entertaining. The on-screen chemistry between the two leads and that among the supporting cast is phenomenal! Each and every character made me care about them, whether I liked or disliked them, I actually cared about their presence. None of them felt like throw-away characters, adding to the story in some way. I would recommend this show to my friends, and would not be the least bit embarrassed in doing so.

I really wanted to love this...

[alexandra-42857 · 7/10 · 19 April 2020]

I love K- and C-dramas and this was my first Japanese series. If I had never watched any other K/C-dramas I would probably have thought this was brilliant but although it was still very addictive and enjoyable to watch, it fell short of the usual brilliant standard of Korean and Chinese dramas. In the first series, I found the lead actress character to be waaaaayyy too silly to the point of annoying at times and the lead male character was just too dull. I actually enjoyed the second series much more, as the girl became far less ridiculous and more gown up and the guy warmed up and was a much nicer character. All the side characters were absolutely lovely though and there were lots of great moments and acting throughout. If you want this storyline done perfectly, watch Put your Head on my Shoulder.

The story of a hyper-active passive aggressive and a mean misogynist.

[genericjanetrash · 2/10 · 26 July 2018]

I've really enjoyed a lot of Japanese, Korean and Chinese romantic dramas via Netflix and other sites, most of the series are intelligent, funny, thoughtful and even moving. You develop a real fondness for the main characters and are always routing for them to have a happy ending. Sadly Good Morning Call is the exception.

The female lead, Yoshikawa Nao, is silly, childish, dizzy and frankly exhausting - to the point that I honestly think she is below average IQ or suffering from ADHD. She has a voice like mini mouse, and her behaviour veers from running around in circles screaming like a wind-up toy, bowing in apology or curling up in a ball with wobbling lips and eyes brimming with tears.

Apparently nearly every male character in this repetitive storyline ends up falling in love with her and each one she pushes away to pursue her love of Uehara Hisashi, a cold, arrogant, selfish, misogynist who treats her with contempt most of the time and whose idea of love is to grab her roughly by the arm and pull into a rib busting squeeze every third or fourth episode, whilst they both stand in this position for several minutes as stiffly and awkwardly as possible.

She cooks huge, elaborate meals for him in the evening, and makes food for his packed lunches at school. He stands her up for dates, shouts at her and calls her stupid both in private and in public, ignores her and pushes her away at every opportunity. Most of her school days are spent running to catch up with him. They never have a physical relationship, even once in college and they barely even touch lips (kissing would be a very optimistic and misleading term here) more than three or four times throughout both series. His behaviour is brought up as bad by their friends, and even though he even says "sorry" a couple of times in the second series, he carries on with his emotional abuse, well aware he is upsetting her, but doing it anyway. In fact, the worse he treats her, the more she crushes on him.

European and American audiences viewing an asian drama for the first time are going to believe that all women are passive to the point of masochism, whilst those men who are women-hating sadists are revered as ideal role models.

I really wanted to like this drama, but with each passing episode I get madder at the two main characters. In a strange way their twisted relationship suits them - both seem to be happiest when they are making the other one miserable. Honestly I think they should end the series with the two of them going their own separate ways, and put us all out of our misery.

my favorite Netflix original of all

[Moviebuff2019 · 10/10 · 31 December 2017]

Stumbled across this show and just finished season 2. I was quickly hooked even though I had never watched a Japanese show, let alone a Japanese high school romance.The actress that plays Nao is simply incredible, she can portray every emotion possible in a believable way. The chemistry between Nao and Uehara is obvious, and their slow developing romance is at just the right pace. I loved seeing the nuances of Japanese culture ( the bowing, the apologies, the conservative treatment of sex, the obsession with Food !)

few shows go from hysterical LOL scenes to making me tear up really hoping for a season 3

The Performance of Haruka Fukuhara Makes This One of the Sweetest Shows I've Ever Seen!

[spasek · 10/10 · 28 September 2017]

This is my first foray into the world of Japanese television, and frankly, after over 40 years of watching shows, this is already one of the best that I have ever seen.

I've enjoyed a number of memorable TV characters and icons over the years, and Nao, who is expertly portrayed by Haruka Fukuhara is right up there. She captivates you with a her sweetness, her naivety, her pureness and innocence. I don't recall seeing this type of role being done so well. Perhaps that it is why it is so memorable, touching, and altogether poignant.

Fukuhara has a gift for acting. I've always said that when an actor/actress can act without words but by using simple facial expressions to convey exactly what they're feeling, then that is the sign of a master at their craft. It isn't something that can be taught either.

Good Morning Call is based upon a manga series about a high school boy and a high school girl, due to a scam, end up sharing the same apartment together. You can easily predict some of the situations that this will create.

Nao is a young girl whose parents have moved to the countryside and have left her in the city so that she can continue to attend her high school. Her best friend is Marina. Nao is a girl who is about as pure-hearted as anyone can be. But, it's not over-the-top. She is quite naive, and she has a talent for getting into trouble. She's a bit clumsy, and she's not the best at thinking things through. She can also be as skittish as a mouse, jumping at the smallest noise or when someone unexpectedly "pops up" in front of her. This is all done for comedic effect. Most of the time, Nao will make you laugh as often as she touches your heart.

Uehara, Nao's roommate, is the most popular boy in school. Girls gush and swoon over him, wishing and hoping that he might show one of them some interest. However, Uehara is someone who isn't interested in the silliness of those girls. He's a character with a tragic past who is extremely independent. He works at least two jobs to make ends meet as well as being one of the school's top students. Uehara, however, can come across as a brooding person who is unfeeling and unsympathetic. Many viewers have characterized him as being rude and mean. On the other hand, Uehara speaks his mind, and he's not given over to flattery. You know that a compliment from him actually means something because he's sincere, and Nao knows this. Shun'ya Shiraishi does a very good job of playing the complex character of Uehara. Uehara may not be there when Nao wants him, but he's always there when she NEEDS him.

These two characters bounce from one problem to another which keeps the story lines fresh and interesting as well as the friends and other characters who come and go throughout the course of the season. At any rate, you'll find yourself cheering for both of these characters.

Good Morning Call is one of the best and most fun shows I've seen. It may not be for all tastes. You have to be open to the cultural differences to fully appreciate the beauty of the characters and the story. At any rate, Haruka Fukuhara's Nao is a character you won't be forgetting any time soon, as she burrows her way into your heart to weave her sweet magic.

Charming, but a bit like Groundhog Day and "24"

[Jonas2021 · 7/10 · 15 August 2018]

I enjoyed Good Morning Call. I love Japanese culture and the uniqueness of its displays, and this was but another vehicle for some of that exposure. As anyone who is reading reviews likely knows, this is about a romance that develops between two high school students who accidentally live together, sharing an apartment, during their second-to-last year of high school. That part of the premise requires a suspension of disbelief, as if the cultural norms in Japan as expressed in this show are truly so puritanically opposed to an unmarried, underage boy and girl living together, there is no justification that would actually allow this to happen under any circumstances.

I watched both Seasons 1 and 2. Season 1 is better, cuter, and more well-written. Second 2 starts off rocky, as the characters move to their college years, and most regular characters from Season 1 (most of whom I really liked) were so much more depthful and interesting than the limited development provided to the three or four new characters added to Season 2 (Uehara's research supervisor, for instance, is entirely unbelievable and acts simply as a caricature of a character with limited exploration). That said, the fundamental failing of this show is that the characters grow so little and repeat the same cycles of insecurity and confusion that the show gets old and ultimately tired, particularly in the 17-episode Season 1. In every episode, Nao (the female love interest) questions whether Uehara really loves her. She works so hard to get his approval. She obsesses over every detail, fearing that one tiny misstep will bring the wellspring of this supposedly "true love" to drought. This is not a feminist-themed, modern-day love story. This is an old-fashioned tale where a woman is nothing without her man, and however idiotic and emotionally stunted he may be, if he is good-looking, tall, strong and silent, the girl should do whatever she possibly can to hold onto him. Snore. I will give this show some leeway given that it was adapted from Japanese Manga (which I've never read or seen), and I do not know how much of this what faithfully adapted from its source material or re-envisioned for the life-action show. Still, the repetitive themes of "am I good enough?" and "will he still love me if . . .?" repeated ad nauseum in every god-forsaken episode got old. What's more, despite the events apparently taking place in the modern age, Rated G material was treated like Mike and Carol Brady when the Brady Bunch first aired: separate beds. Would it be possible for two madly in love teenagers to keep their hands off each other if they were living under the same roof? Along these lines, the idea of sex was barely suggested (fewer than six or seven times in 17 hour-long episodes), and we are supposed to believe that nothing more than kissing ever took place between them for the duration of their unassailable connection. i would have liked to have seen more mature themes, but as I said above, essentially the main characters did not grow, did not learn from their experience, and did not evolve into deeper and more thoughtful people. This is a failing of the show.

That said, Haruka Fukuhara, the lead who plays Nao, is a gem. She is truly the reason to watch this show. She is like peanut butter is to chocolate - delicious to watch. Her expressions, many times without words, were impressible and her range of playing such a naive and almost impossible to beat down character, who at times (particularly in Season 1) is whiny, immature, and girly was a pleasure to enjoy. Who couldn't love her? I couldn't tell whether the male lead who plays Uehara was a limited range actor or his character was simply a dud. I would have liked to have learned that he was a deeper, more pensive, and truly wise character, but in the end, he was simply clueless. And that got booooooring too. At the end of one episode, all would be reconciled and he would give a token of affection, but in subsequent episodes, that same wheel had to be reinvented every time. He acted most of the time as if he didn't love her, didn't care, and couldn't be bothered. It was ridiculous. When he'd go to hug her, he literally grabbed her arms and thrusted her close. No romance. No tenderness. There was some tenderness, but most of it was inferred. The physical interactions between the two leads were awkward every single episode and every single time, including up to the end of Season 2. How on Earth are we to believe that these two are soulmates? If they are going to be together for years, one would think that they would have worked that out, but whether it was poor acting choices, poor writing, or poor direction (or a combination of all three), it was downer for the show.

Great costumes, great sets, good music, lovely Japanese charm. Haruka Fukuhara is worth watching. She's a toasted sesame bagel. You could eat her up, she's so cute. Don't get me wrong: I enjoyed it, but at the same time, I'm okay that the show ended. It's the same rehashed story with themes that never changed. Enough is enough. Will there be a Season 3? I somehow doubt it, but if there is, I won't last more than an episode or two if these same themes of insecurity and worthiness never become integrated by the characters.

good morning call - season 1 & 2

[archergem-64545 · 10/10 · 1 December 2017]

Have watched Season 1 & 2, and am completely, unashamedly, hooked!It is one of the most enjoyable rom coms that I've watched. I know it's adapted from a Manga story but it is well written and going on my teenage experiences, even though I never went to uni, the depiction of teenage angst and insecurities is very close to what was mine. The actress casting for Nao was well judged, she plays it very well as I identified myself with her when I was eighteen, and the fact that I met my husband at that age. Enjoyed it so much that I've watched season 1 4-5 times so I've got to know and understand the characters better, all played very well. As season 2 was only 10 episodes, am hoping there will be a season 3. Season 2 was a bit more of a emotional roller-coaster as the characters evolve from teenagers into adults, well that is if there is a season 3. Am still laughing at the comic situations, better than some of the other south east Asian romcoms. I'm sure I've read on another site, the author did a trilogy, so keeping fingers crossed. Nice to see some Japanese culture, although I identify there is a lot of American influences. My husband has visited Japan several times and found their sense of humour very close to the British.

Kinda of annoying

[maabby · 7/10 · 10 September 2016]

Overall it was a good show but the girl is way too stupid & always ended up getting hurt , the male main character have no type of feelings( on my point of view) in the middle of the show I began to start be boring but I watched it all just to see how stupid can a girl be 😝 😝 I really liked the supporting character way more than the main ones they were funny but didn't like how they were always doing stuffs trying to get the couple together and doing it for the girl's sake. I wanted her to choose her friend from middle school he would've been a better choice he was kind, cute and always helped her unlike this asshole 🙄

A love about 2 very opposite beautiful individuals

[casatillo · 10/10 · 3 January 2018]

I've just started season 2. Very awesome great looking cast. Popular boy unpopular girl end up by fraud as roommate's. These 2 lead actors r very impressive people. She's like what we American's call a "blond girl". She's very funny but sometimes u want to strangle her. Yet there's something about her that causes u to fall in love with her. He on the other hand i just want to use a frying pan over his head. But knowing his difficulties growing up u gotta love him & overlook his unemotional self. Guys fall for her but there's only 1 she loves. She wants a lovey dovey relationship he wants the opposite. Because expressing emotions is something he grew up without. Yet slowly u begin to see him change. All her friends see that try to push situations where possibly be more expressing toward his feelings for his girlfriend. She goes through her trials she knows he's very popular with the girls. They are slowly coming together where meeting in the middle feeling as equals is going to happen. I watch with enthusiasm in hopes he'll soon stop hurting her or making her cry. This netflex original has no others i can compare to. The up & downs of love yes i can compare but this one is all on its own. U'll see that when u watch it. Ultra addicting...waiting to see what she gets herself into next

Everything in the series is nice except the female lead

[roy-priyashree · 7/10 · 22 May 2018]

The series was interesting in the beginning but as it moved ahead, I started to dislike the female lead. She is too dumb and too emotional in this tv series. Everyone time I saw her, it made me think that I would never want to be in a relationship with a person like her. Especially towards the end of season 1, she cried almost every time the male lead expressed his feelings towards her and she fainted or fell ill every time she thought that he did not like her anymore. What was even more frustrating was that her friends did not find any of this annoying and treated her like a cute delicate woman. I even wonder when did she find the time to study amidst her sea of worries about her 'boyfriend'. If she is a role model for young girls in Japan, then good luck to all japanese men.

Having said that, I think the actress who portrays the female lead has done justice to the role. The flaw is in the character, not in her acting.

Soooo charming! Can't help but love it.

[serdarevictarik · 9/10 · 26 July 2016]

I've seen this show on Netflix and at first I really thought it to be some tacky crap but I was proved wrong after giving it a closer look. At first it may seem completely clichéd but that's just a travesty that will probably fool lots of Western audiences. The reason why I'm saying Western is because we deem clichés and things that are over the top generally as bad or vacuous. Admittedly, Good Morning Call is full of clichés but they're used so well that everything just seems so charming and endearing. A lot of the acting and the plots is really exaggerated but I can't help but laugh at it ... and I mean in a good way, enjoying the show. However, it may not appeal to everyone which is, in my opinion, mainly because lots of people won't get what this show is trying to do.

So so.

[REXNE · 7/10 · 1 August 2020]

I watched the first season only. Is it something to watch? I do not know. But the story flows well. Players are considered successful. One of the biggest reasons for me to keep watching is that I liked the exaggerated and ridiculous movements and reactions of the lead actor "haruka fukuhara".

The wrong idea of love

[pinky_scotty · 3/10 · 16 August 2020]

"But it's just a show, it's just fun. Why read too much into it".

That's what most will probably get told when they make a reasonable critique of a not so serious entertainment. I liked this show, atleast first few episodes. Then it became an annoyance.

Most of us today view relationships based on what we've seen. Let's face it. So when shows like this show such a troublesome dynamics in a relationship it's concerning, since we buy it. Don't say you are above it! Our years of conditioning watching romance on screen has affected us. This show is no different. Here's what ticks me off about this show.

The premise started strong. The supporting characters are awesome, heck, even better than the leads and have more brains too.

Nao is intellectually dense, codependent, fully lost in her romance with no concern for her own identity or even her future. She is insecure AF (somewhat relatable) but pushes it with her neediness and clinginess. She has no other preoccupations than the guy. 😤 she is essentially bella swan from Twilight minus the lack of expressions and dramatics.

Uehara is emotionally dense. He lacks tact , doesn't communicate well, lacks empathy to some extent. Expects the girl to read his mind. Is distant and constantly creates doubt which feeds Naos insecurity.

Precisely why these two make for a toxic couple!

The more saner versions are the supporting characters who have a balanced view of life, relationships. But it's frustrating that their only purpose in the show is to listen to this couple vent constantly and come to their aid constantly .

My problem is that there are young girls watching this thinking this is relationship goals. These two can't express how they feel and constantly make each other miserable, highly dysfunctional relationship.

10 episode in and i just am thinking of giving up on this coz the pattern doesn't seem to be getting better.

Popular boy meets average girl, what could go wrong?

[rj-dore · 10/10 · 2 January 2019]

In a sum up, this story is popular high school boy meeting average high school girl. However, it is so much more than that. With lots of love trials and comedy, what could possibly go wrong?

Favorite show

[misswritercreates · 10/10 · 5 February 2019]

After watching mischievous kiss love in Tokyo 1 & 2 I was looking for something just as good and I found one! Good morning call was such a great show. I loved the actors and they portrayed their characters excellent! The plot was interesting and pulled me right into the show. I was pleased with how they came together and yes he's not very nice but I can understand why he is the way he is. And you can tell when he started falling for her. I believe he needed someone like her to bring him out of his shell and he became who he is now because of her. A excellent show, you will not be disappointed.