Spoiler ahead. If you prefer the suspense, click here.
Maybe luck does have something to do with it; together with her flight attendant friend, Mariko, Asaoka offers a prayer in an Italian church whose patron is---who else---St. Valentine!---after which they encounter an old woman who tells them (pointing with her walking stick toward the space between Asaoka and Mariko it seems) that she (Asaoka?) will get married and will ride a white carriage in doing so. Confused, both return to Japan where Asaoka not only is granted flattering attention from the handsome rake that is Suga, but from the bishie-licious younger Yabuki Mamoru as well, who turns out to be the estranged son of the controversial politician Suga is investigating. That indeed is one heck of a coincidence.
As if that triangle isn't enough, Mariko expresses her attraction to Yabuki. But Fukuda Takuya, a chef who is the one to introduce Yabuki to both Asaoka and Mariko, is in love with the flight attendant. As for Suga, his good looks isn't without any admirers; Akiko, the daughter of the controversial politician (and who then is Yabuki's sister), is possessively infatuated with Suga. This sets Yoshida Kiyoshi, the assistant of Akiko's father and who is Fukuda the chef's friend, into a jealous frenzy. Getting vertigo from all the convoluted love triangles already? I certainly did the first few episodes.
But confusion did not last for long. The story, with all the intertwined relationships, managed to center on the nature of these relationships. There is enough character development that we understand just how each characters tick: We get to see that Asaoka possesses an integrity that is becoming rare in the people of her profession. The same goes for Yoshida, despite being immersed in the world of dirty politics. Suga, it is made known that he can be single-minded in his endeavor, and he has no qualms at times in putting his love life in the so-called back burner (wow, this back burner thing is getting to be useful). The same can be said of Yabuki, though he would sacrifice his family over his career but not the woman he loves. Mariko, she would rather sacrifice friendship for her love life at the most trying moment, while Fukuda, regardless of all the layers of adipose, has the heart of a true friend, which Mariko, thank goodness, discovers in time; who would have thought that the old woman's prediction of a wedding in a white carriage would belong to Mariko's and Fukuda's future?
I do have to call attention to the opening sequence of the drama. With Ken Hirai's Kiss of Life as background music, I have never seen an opening more sophisticated in all the Jdoramas I have watched as this one. Watching Asaoka sensei and Mariko ramp around in these gorgeous outfits, their characters look every inch the fulfilled professionals (never mind their lack of love life). Ken Hirai's catchy song also lends an air of lighhearted fun, as if telling the viewers that life has barely begun at 30s.
I definitely recommend Love Revolution to the young and the not so young urban professionals. At a time when Jdoramas about high schoolers and young lovers abound, this is a refreshing change in that we can relate to these characters and realize that it is possible, at this point in time, to have the best of both worlds.
My rating: 9/10. There is no definite happy ending for Yabuki (who I had been cheering on for Asaoka). And Asaoka's ankle high socks worn in high heels made me cringe. Then, there's Asaoka's proposal of marriage to Suga (isn't it supposed to be the other way around?), and Suga breaking their engagement in front of many people (he could have done it in front of the altar on their wedding day and it wouldn't have made a difference). I know, they sound trivial. Humor me.
Related Link:
Opening theme of Love Revolution
Memorable Scenes:
> Suga kisses Asaoka for the first time.
> Asaoka and Yabuki watch his movie on video.
> Suga and Asaoka attempt to do "it" (no success though).
> Asaoka and friends discover Yabuki's true identity.