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feeling: irritated
listening to: Fushigi Yuugi - Kaze no Uta (Song of the Wind)
Arg. People on Subeta are ticking me off right now. My favoritest favorite pet species on that site, the Demi, is about to get a revamp that makes it look like a blob of melting plastic that's been rolling in mud, and it looks terrible and if my Thaeus turns into that thing I have no idea what to do with him because I created his look and name and personality all together for specific reasons and the people who do like the revamp are being all snotty about it and GAH. Don't want to think about that right now. There'll be time to dig a grave for my pretty fluffy emo baby later.
So, wow. People actually read my last post? Nanka kandou shichatta... Anyway, yeah. I figured I'd write up a couple more reviews, if I can get my mind out of this aggravated mindset long enough. *turns on music to drown it out* Oh, I also thought I'd add a little note in response to Adion's comment comparing J-dramas and soap operas. Very common impression, believe me, but quite untrue. J-dramas are almost always 10-12 episodes long, and sometimes they aren't even "drama"; there are comedies, typical sappy love stories, tragedies, cop series, even school dramas like the live action GTO. Really, the only way to describe them is just... stories. Just like the stories in anime or manga or movies, only in yet another format.
Anyway, so... review, review...
Long-winded J-drama babble ahead... read on if you dare
I guess I'll start with Summer Snow this time. Ah, Summer Snow. Widely regarded as one of the top few saddest dramas ever created, and surely one of the most engaging, in no small part due to the EXCELLENT acting. Honestly, all of the main characters are no less than stellar in this series. Especially Dohmoto Tsuyoshi, who plays the lead male Natsuo, and Oguri Shun, who plays his partially deaf younger brother Jun. It's hard not to get into a drama with such engaging and perfectly played characters. The story keeps you involved too, always changing and adding new elements to each character's individual story as well as the overall story they all play a part in.
So what is the story? It centers around Natsuo, a young man who has been taking care of his younger brother and sister since their parents died in an accident. The younger two are still in high school, and he runs the family business left behind by their father, a bicycle shop. Though they're all constantly busy trying to make ends meet, Natsuo and his deaf brother Jun make it a point to go diving together every Sunday, and Natsuo's dream is to see the "summer snow," a rain of snow-like white particles that occasionally falls deep in the sea. Anyway, one day while he's out running business errands, Natsuo bumps into Yuki, a young woman suffering from a heart condition but, at the moment, still able to live a relatively normal (yet cautious) life. They become friends and later a couple, and eventually she picks up on Natsuo's interest in diving, so they promise to one day view the "summer snow" in the deep sea together. But over time, her heart condition grows worse, and Natsuo learns of its gravity when she collapses in front of him in a diving specialty store. Meanwhile, the young doctor who has been overseeing Yuki's care for years is trying to worm his way closer to her, believing that he's the only one with the ability to give her the care she needs (love or lack thereof notwithstanding), and soon he starts pushing her to go to America for heart transplant surgery.
And that is where the one part of this drama that I could not agree with sets in. For some reason, apparently, having a transplant means marrying your doctor. And nobody seems to question this. >.> And yeah, I won't go into that any further because it would spoil the ending... but let's just say that if not for that strange little condition, this drama would not have ended the way it did.
So, yes. I highly recommend this drama, but only for people who have already seen a few other, less heavy series before it. This one tends to run pretty deep, and it can either be overwhelming or just leave inexperienced drama viewers with unrealistic expectations about the rest of the J-drama universe. And I just sounded really elitist there, didn't I? >.> Seriously though. This one wraps you up and doesn't let go.
And next... hmmm... all right, since I could use the mood perker-upper tonight, I shall now launch into what may become my gushiest review ever, because I'm more biased toward this series than any other and have watched it, like, a dozen times. Yes, it's time for Kimi wa Petto. Sort of a guilty pleasure. It's cute and it's fluffy and darnit, the male lead is played by a Japanese boyband idol. And the story is... I dunno, it's just charming. As I've said about it before, I was personally able to relate very well to both of the lead characters. And as I've also said before, it put me in something resembling a good mood in the weeks after my grandma passed away. So it'll always be a fond memory for me, I suppose... but really, it's quite a cute story for those who can handle that sort of thing. Twisted, yes, but in a cute way.
The basic storyline is simple. The very serious and somewhat cold-hearted working lady, Sumire, has just been through a messy breakup and is ready to give up on her own heart forever and dedicate herself to her career. Then one night, after a particularly headache-inducing day, she returns home to find a cardboard box outside her apartment building. Inside the box is a young man, covered with blood and unconscious. On top of all that, he's getting rained on. Seeing no other options, Sumire drags him into her apartment, where she becomes fascinated by the way he shivers and sneezes in his sleep just like a stray dog. So she tends to his wounds, and in the morning leaves him asleep on her couch while she goes to work. When she returns, he's up and about, healed and happy... but not ready to leave yet. Of course, Sumire does not like where that idea is heading, but he really has nowhere else to go, and tells her he'll do ANYthing if she'll let him stay a while. So she allows him to stay - under the condition that he must be her pet. No personal rights, must obey everything she says and live by her standards. His response? "Woof."
Soooo Sumire now has a 20 year old boy as a pet. She even names him Momo after her beloved childhood dog. Soon we learn that Momo's real name is Takeshi, and that Momo and Takeshi are two very different personalities with two very different lives. Momo is the always smiling, somewhat childlike, happy-go-lucky puppy boy, and Takeshi is the moody homeless guy who's aiming to be a professional dancer and always finding new ways to be on the outs with his friends and family. Gradually Sumire begins to experience both of those personalities... and she also enters into a relationship with her senpai, Hasumi. Which, of course, inspires jealousy in Momo - and in Takeshi as well. Sumire never seems quite content either; she's admired Hasumi for years, but she's also intimidated by him (LOL, sorry, the theme song for this drama just popped up on my 1532-song playlist... awesome... ahem, anyway), and Momo becomes the only one in the world that she can really be herself with. He's the only one who sees her at her best and her worst, the only one who sees her cry, the only one she feels truly comfortable with. And eventually she is forced to rethink whether she really still sees him as just a pet dog.
See? I knew this would turn out gushy. Need to stop there before I spoil things.
Anyway... yeah. For obvious reasons there's a lot of controversy around this drama. Some people find it light and cute and charming, others think the central relationship in it is too far-fetched to be enjoyable, and others think it's just repulsive. I suppose that's one similarity Kimi wa Petto bears to Majo no Jouken - both are best enjoyed when viewed with an open mind. Maybe I'm weird, but I can totally see the idea of someone being treated with the affection of a pet by another and then eventually developing feelings for them. Yes, the concept is a bit exaggerated in this drama, but that's what dramas are for, right? They're stories, not reality. Besides, Matsumoto Jun was perfect for the role of Momo, and he got to portray some of his finest acting skills as Momo/Takeshi, with the dual personalities and the dancing hobby and etc. Sumire's actress, Koyuki, also did a good job as the hard-hearted career woman with a surprising weak side. And for some reason I really liked the lady who played Sumire's friend Yuri too. She has this sort of rough yet sophisticated air about her. Great casting always adds some extra strength to a drama, especially when the story itself is rather simple compared to things like Majo no Jouken and Summer Snow. Sometimes simple and lighthearted is just a nice change of pace, you know?
Ok... I think that's enough reviewing for tonight. Back to brooding over the loss of my precious Demi and whatever else I can think of to brood over.
comment! (3)
dragged from Becky's stream of consciousness at 2/23/2007 08:48:00 PM
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