Title: GTO aka Great Teacher Onizuka
Genre: Drama
Director:
Format: 12 episodes
Dates: 7 Jul 1998 - 22 Sep 1998

Synopsis: Onizuka Eikichi’s greatest desire is to be a teacher. Unfortunately, he graduated from a third-rate college and was a member of a bike gang, none of which looks really impressive on an application for a position to guide today’s youth. Against the odds, though, he is accepted as a teacher at a private academy and given Class 2-4, a class full of misfits and potential delinquents who are just waiting for another new teacher to terrorize.

The Highlights
Characters: Easy to relate to.
Plot: Predictable student-of-the-week, but it all ties together well.
Message: Uplifting and inspiring.
Acting: Sorimachi Takashi makes the series.

GTO is a franchise that has been popular in all of its forms: manga, anime, and J-drama. Each form is slightly different from the others. The live action TV series focuses more on the drama and on the moving inspirational moments than on the comedy of Onizuka’s character. It does not have as much of the wacky hilarity as the manga and the anime, but it benefits from the added realism.

The plot revolves around Onizuka’s attempts to win over his class, which is full of bitter students who distrust adults and fight back against those adults through acts of delinquency. As such, the series is predictable in the sense that when a new student is introduced, you know that Onizuka will be doing something to help that student out over the course of the episode. However, the fact that this predictability never really gets old says much about the directing, script, and acting. The heart-warming way in which Onizuka helps his students and fellow teachers is truly inspiring in all the right ways. You’ll be able to relate to at least one of the students and be excited by the changes wrought by Onizuka’s unique outlook. His comedic antics are off-the-wall and hilarious, and his sincere caring for students at the risk of angering snooty colleagues and oblivious parents is very moving.

Onizuka Eikichi is the heart of the show, an admirable character with an unique perspective on life and the courage to stand up for what he believes in. The live action version of GTO would not have worked without a stellar performance by the actor in charge of portraying Onizuka. Thankfully that is exactly what we have. Sorimachi Takashi is brilliant as Onizuka Eikichi, and does a fantastic job of making Onizuka believable and someone whom you really want to cheer on. Matsushima Nanako supports Sorimachi with a very touching turn as Fuyutsuki Azusa, a disillusioned fellow teacher who gradually becomes more inspired in her job and a stronger woman due to Onizuka’s influence.

There are some flaws to this gem, though. Aside from the predictability of the series that I’ve already mentioned, there are some unexplained lapses in the storyline. Onizuka has an unparalleled ability to always be in the right place at the right time, which is just a tad bit unbelievable. However, this is only really apparent in the last episode or two, so it is not hard to overlook or ignore.

I have to be honest. GTO is a sentimental favorite of mine, not only because it is the first Japanese drama I watched and is the series that really got me into the genre, but because Onizuka is such an inspiring and memorable character. Watching this series never fails to cheer me up, no matter how many times I’ve seen it. But beyond any personal ties I have to it, GTO is an excellent dramatic series that will make you laugh and will bring a tear to your eye. It is one of the classics of Japanese live action, and it is a must-see.

The Rating: 8

Reviewed by: dheu