Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light

Marketing messages never went down so sweetly as they do in this genuine oddity, a Japanese-language mashup of family-love drama and role-playing game quest. The central fantasy of Dad of Light (that name! almost as weird as the original Japanese name, Daddy of Light) is made clear in the show's credits, with an image of Dad kneeling at his son's feet to teach him how to throw a baseball dissolving into an animated scene that shows the dad's Final Fantasy character kneeling before his son's avatar. Instantly, we get it: Through identifying with fictional characters, humans can break down the barriers that keep them from connecting. It seems like an obvious idea, yet it's handled with such delicacy here. Akio genuinely yearns for his father's love, feeling the gulf between them as they sit at the breakfast table, silent in identical white shirts and ties. When he presents his father with the gaming system he hopes will bring them together, his eager face waits for his father's reaction: Will he be pleased? Or will Akio's hopes be dashed?

Indeed, though it's hard to relate to a game company's desire to push more product, it's easy to relate to a son who just wants more time and attention from his dad. And that's why this highly unusual import is worth a look, particularly for viewers with a soft spot for family dramas. You may just be surprised by how moving you find Akio's efforts. At one point, Akio's dad seeks reassurance -- he's scared to explore the woods near the game's imaginary town. "You'll be fine," says Akio kindly. "There will be monsters, but they aren't strong ones, so you can easily defeat them." It's as good a motto for life as any.