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feeling: been worse
listening to: some goofy song I just heard on Youtube
Watched another new drama series this past week (actually finished it all within 3 days... it ate my brain...), so here's another review for the review post of doom.
Mei-chan no Shitsuji
Meaning "Mei-chan's butler." Story: the main character, Mei, is a very typical, even dull girl helping her parents run an udon shop in some little town. However, one day her parents are killed in an accident and she's approached by a young guy, named Rihito, who tells her that she is a descendant of the mega-rich and powerful Hongo family, and now that her father's dead, she's the new successor, which will cause certain jealous parties to start attacking her and those she cares about... so he declared himself her personal butler and swears to protect her always. She's also forced to start attending a rich girls' academy to learn how to become a "proper lady" - and as it happens, one mandate of this academy is that each student has her own butler who stays with her at all times. Of course, her welcome to the academy takes the form of constant bullying from the other, richer, more ladylike students... so eventually her childhood friend Kento, who by chance is also Rihito's younger brother, decides to become a butler so he can join the academy too and keep an eye on her.
Weird, yes? Yes. Weird and eccentric and arienai (something in between impossible, unbelievable, and unreasonable). But FAR from what I expected. Sounds like a fluff-fest loaded with cheesy romance and love triangle drama, right? And it does have some of that... but it's also surprisingly dark. This isn't your average high school bullying; we're talking crossbow bolts and kerosene+matches and hired hit men and pointy blades all over the place - people literally trying to kill people. I wouldn't classify it as violence or action or suspense, but lord. Combined with the elements of romance and angst and comedy, the result was definitely one of the most eccentric dramas I've seen.
It was very crowded, though; besides the three leads and a couple other distinctive students and butlers, this drama was PACKED with characters whose names and faces you just can't really learn in one viewing. Of course, the big draw to this series was Mizushima Hiro, who plays Rihito (also played Nanba of Hana Kimi and Soshi of Zettai Kareshi)... but this wasn't exactly the best role I've seen him in. The new face who played his brother Kento was far more interesting. Most of the other characters, besides Mei, were too lost in the sea of prissy girls and butlers to really stand out... except the butler Aoyama, who caught my interest for some reason and I've no idea why since I've never seen him in any other series...
In the end I'd say I liked it though. It was frustrating at times, but horribly addicting - once I got into it, it was hard to tear myself away. Did I mention I watched the whole thing within 3 days? I think that's a record for me (or a tie, at least).
Ok, that's that. Probably won't be long before I finish my next series, The Quiz Show, because I seem to be on another J-drama kick lately. Before Mei-chan no Shitsuji I rewatched Stand Up, and after this next one there are still dozens more I want to see... gah, addictions are evil.
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dragged from Becky's stream of consciousness at 4/14/2009 10:31:00 PM
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