Sold my soul to a demon
Youkai Ningem Bem (Ep. 1): A Review
Together with the rest of the world who weren't in Japan, I watched Youkai Ningen Bem last night via keyhole. You cannot imagine the trouble I went to just to be home in time for it but it was worth it despite me not understanding a single word said and annoying pixelized screen. Thanks to estherzaxthough I was able to watch a better version. In any case, this review is more on the visual appreciation of the drama and what I figured was going on.
The episode started with a scene of TV news reporting of a hostage crisis then it cut to a tunnel vision POV of the hostage scene itself. It was the kind of opening scene like in horror movies that makes one sit up straighter and hold one's breath. The scene ended with the hostages being saved by three demons and the obligatory cute kid with a toy.
At the onset, one gets the feeling it's not going to be one of those completely dorky demon dramas.
Anyway, Bem, Bela and Belo (yes, those are their names and no, I will not go into that even if I'm tempted to) are some kind of demon trinity created from a single cell. They weren't always anti-social. Some time ago, in some rustic village in Japan they interacted with people. For some reason, their true nature as demons was found out and they were condemned.
There's a sheep. Nativity scene much?
Presently, they try to live inconspicuously in modern-day Japan which would have been easier if they dressed a little less strangely and Bem doesn't have superhero complex. Also, Bem writes on a diary and is looking for an old man. Meanwhile, Belo befriends a young girl who happens to be the policeman's (Kitamura) daughter. They have dinner blahblah, Bem sees a picture of an old guy holding a scepter like his own only it turned out to be a towel holder.
And more Bem pic just because.
Bem's got green blood *clears throat and grins*
They also live in an old abandoned ship and it is here where, while Bemu goes emo a lot, that the musical scoring is most pronounced. I'm loving it. It's eerie and hauntingly sad at the same time which makes me dread this drama's ending (yes, I've read that spoiler). I'm thinking it will be forever embedded in my heart the way the scoring in Tatta Hitotsu no Koi did me in. Hearing Distant Thoughts will always make me feel like I'm in the throes of falling in love and and Cool Whispers makes me want to run the streets looking for my one true love. Sigh.
Where was I? Oh. Right.
That's about the most I got about the drama's plot aside from some weird penchant for dropping people off the roof. So on to more important aspects of YNB.
The first ep didn't waste time in hooking female viewers because in took only a few minutes and soon enough, there's Kame as Bemu - silver-hair, smoky eyes, scaly shoulders and bare-chested. Then and there I sold my soul to a demon.
Yes. This deserves to be bigger.
Kame makes Bemu appear like the brooding hero in some romantic novel. I LOVE YOU! *coughs* Sorry about that involuntary burst of KameLove.
Then there's sleek, beautiful and classy Anne and this drama only reinforces my view that swinging both ways is the way to go. While Bem's all troubled and shit like that, Bela is cool. While Bem's stiff-backed and squared shoulders, she slumps, crosses her arms and sits with her legs apart. I half expect her to hit Bem upside on the head. Still, she's Bela Beautiful.
Note: If you notice a cursor on Bela's boobs, it wasn't intentional. It's just me being stupid with this screepcap thing.
There's this "moment" between Bem and Bela but I sense no tension between them. Bela comes across as tough sister looking over angsty older brother and guileless younger brother. I wish Kame and Anne can develop more chemistry between them. Looking forward to more sexual tension because I feel more "tension" between Bem and the police guy.
Police guy gave Bem chocolate and he ate it
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I'm such a BL fan
Belo is cute as a button and his hair reminds me of Astroboy. His and Bela's interactions are adorable.
Bem, Bela and Bello on the see-saw. Saddest scene ever.
Fallen angels
With these three as Bem, Bela and Belo, I want to go straight to central Tokyo district and amidst the crowd fall on my knees and cry, “WHY, HUMANS! WHY!”
Apparently, there were lots of positive reviews coming from cross generations on the official website of YNB. And based on keyhole last night (from my side of the world, at least), it reached more than 1,200 viewers, that is if that indicates anything.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I just hope there'll be more action in the next episodes. Aside from Bem leaping buildings, I want kickass!Bem and Bela. Because darn it, this is demon drama. It needs more action.
So there. My thoughts. Yours?
P.S. Lest, you missed it, Jin made a cameo appearance ;)
Akanishi Jin as Aquaneesha :)