Oi oi oi oi oi... I can understand how some people will dislike the differences, but reading these comments are making me sad.
I am originally a fan of the anime and didn't care as much for the movie, but the drama series itself is quite well a piece of its own. I am thoroughly enjoying this drama after looking past the differences. At first, I found Hagumi's uncle not what I had expected and the story quite different, but why should the live action be required to follow so closely. It may be because it is impossible to recreate the loved settings the manga and anime create that they have taken this angle. They want to create a drama full of laughter and life, and I have found that by opening my mind to a new look at this unique story. Look at this drama as its own with a history related by a source of inspiration from the manga or anime, not as an replica meant to satisfy the real life replacement of manga or anime.
I can say the story will not be found as expected, having watched through 6th episode already, but please do not be so biased as to believe that the characters must be as represented by their drawn predecessors. Tossing aside a decent drama just because it doesn't match is not an open mind to new ideas. I believe everyone should attempt to look with an open mind to anything newly developed and not base off of historic relations.
Simply put, all I am saying is don't judge by defined history, remember it and compare it if you must, but also note that each story is its own.
The newer one seems to be created through inspiration and creates its own story, taking itself out of "new version" and into "inspired story", which is how I accept it.
And if you are wondering how I'm watching the 6th already, its because I can understand spoken japanese well enough (watching raws), but unfortunately cannot translate anything written in kanji unless it is in one of the kana's or happens to be in furigana and in my dictionary. (Or else I'd try to offer my services to the scanslation team)
Anyways, I was thinking about attempting to soft sub this since the first subber went MIA for all I know, but things have gone really busy and I am lacking time to even play a game for half an hour a week. Luckily, it seems another group is at least doing a belated hard sub. I may get around to start soft subbing the series myself around April as practice for learning more Japanese.
I may be getting some income in a few months so I'll definitely be looking for the manga, thanks for the news Accipiter.
BTW, no threat meant, just another voice of opinion like everyone else has made about it.
(did the smiles lighten it up any?
)
EDIT: Now that I think about it, the movie might have been a light attempt at the real life replacement and the series just as a new angle enitrely.
Also, as for negatives, I really did look down upon how they made Rika's past. That may be among my least favorite of parts, as I also would have preferred the car accident and the injured body instead of the 'life long' burn. A damaged skin area is easier to make than the entire accident's effects on the body throughout the show though.