“Fishbowl Wives” Netflix series review: A Japanese romance drama

"I Was Jealous Of Them, Of The Goldfish. I Wanted... Wanted To Be Cared For By Someone Who Really Loves Me."

Rating: 6.2/10 IMDb

Season 1

Number of Episodes: 8

Release Date: 14 February 2022

Cast: Ryoko Shinohara, Takanori Iwata, Masanobu Ando, Kyoko Hasegawa, Wakana Matsumoto, Shizuka Nakamura, Saori Seto, Anna Ishii, Hidekazu Mashima, Shingo Fujimori, Atsuhiro Inukai, Yuki Kubota

Director: Michiko Namiki

Writer: Kurosawa R, Fumi Tsubota

Genres: Dramas, Romantic TV Dramas, Japanese

Maturity Rating: A

nudity, sex, domestic abuse, tobacco use

Languages Available: Hindi, English, Brazilian Portuguese, Indonesian, Japanese (Original), Polish, Spanish, Thai

Available On: Netflix

I Main Cast

I Plot Line

"Fishbowl Wives" is a Japanese drama series based on the manga "Kingyo Tsuma" by Kurosawa R. The primary premise of the show centers on the extramarital affairs and miserable lives of the women who dwell in the affluent apartment complexes known as "the fishbowl."

After Sakura's opulent birthday bash, her husband declared the opening of a brand-new salon in Sakura's honor. But it was when Sakura, a modest woman far removed from this world of ostentation, went to buy a goldfish from Haruto, the owner of the fish store, that she fell in love.

Apart from the unseen strain, Sakura struggles with her middle-class lover and deals with her arrogant husband. Yuka, another inhabitant, is also unhappy with her life. She begins an affair with a younger man out of a need for excitement, which strains her marriage even more. 

In several episodes, the show also portrays the struggles and sacrifices made by other women as they balance the demands of society, their ambitions, and the complications of their marriages.

I Positive points

Fishbowl Wives portrays relationships, marital issues, and adultery genuinely and honestly. Strong performances are given by the entire ensemble, especially by Sakura, one of the principal actresses, who gives her character complexity and delicacy. The visual experience is improved by elegant surroundings and stunning cinematography. Serious social concerns, including gender roles, domestic violence, and societal expectations, are the main topics of the series.

 

I Negative Points

The erratic tempo of several episodes—some feel slow and dragging—may bother some viewers. Some viewers may find the explicit content, which includes scenes of infidelity and domestic violence, uncomfortable or unpleasant. The series' recurrent topic of infidelity can come across as monotonous, and some viewers may feel that the plotlines aren't very distinct.

I would like to know if having an adulterous affair is acceptable even in worse situations.