And here I thought this one might be kind of short. orz
So, I lost another hour on FE:SD the other day and a;lsdkfjal;skj I cannot be convinced to pick up the DS again. Not so much the loss of grinding in the arena (it does sting that it was Cain of all people who died, who is a level 13 paladin or something, this shit should not happen to him!) but the chapter 16 map was mostly cleared and I'd gotten Shiida up to a dracoknight! Do you know how carefully I had to maneuver everything to get her the XP she needed for that? CRYFACE.
Instead, I've been doing other stuff. Like having a really, really ridiculous crush on Mizushima Hiro. Even when his hair isn't as fluffy as usual, when it's a little straighter than I usually like, I'm still all, "....why so pretty, Hiro? *__*" It is ridiculous how much I like him now. I need comforting, you guys. :<
I blame Mei-chan no Shitsuji. Good lord, Hiro and Nana should not be allowed to be that gorgeous in it. Speaking of which, between that and Decade (which I finally started), it is like Japan is trying to kill me with the awesome.
And then give me a HEART ATTACK while watching Zeni Geba, as;ldkfjaslkj jesus fucking christ. So, the usual spoilers for anything listed. Not that I'm caught up, but, hey, progress again.
Mei-chan no Shitsuji - episode 05: It's kind of ridiculous how much I loved this episode and how much I have to say about it, especially given that it's all about shoujo tropes and the OTP and how much I want them to just make out already.
A surprising amount of stuff happened in this episode and I was actually sort of surprised at how anti-climactic the reveal of Mei's family was. It's hard to be cranky about it, though, the lack of "!!!!" from everyone like I was expecting because it came at a moment when I was completely not expecting it and Zoisite just blurting it out in the middle of the classroom like that came out of left field for me. It tied pretty well into the whole ongoing thing with Rihito and Shiori, though, so the lack of dealing with that particular secret didn't frustrate me too much. Also, I love Zoisite a whole lot for that. Well. I love him as a sort of villain, which surprises me, I thought I'd hate him.
But he's such a great villain! He makes Shiori more interesting! Because I don't think she'd be that interesting without him, she'd just be another crazy, unsympathizable character (at least until they potentially reveal something about her motivations later? idk), but you add in Zoisite, who clearly loves her, and I find it way more interesting. Everything he did in this episode was just. Interesting.
The conversation with Rihito was, of course, the best part of his storyline. Partly for the way he was completely up in Rihito's personal space, practically so closely in his face that they could have almost been kissing, and then, because that wasn't gay enough, he touched Rihito's face. Practically stroked it even. Not that I blame him! It... it kind of made me wish I could ship them, because that would have been hot.
But the more interesting part of it was the actual content of the conversation! I know. Skipping over the gay for the actual content, what has happened to me. XD But Zoisite saying that he admired Kento for being so straightforward about his obvious feelings for Mei, despite that it was against the rules. It... it kind of made me ship Zoisite/Shiori just a little, despite that I'm not sure Zoisite wasn't lying about admiring that part of Kento. I-- I kind of think there might have been some truth in it, though. Because it does seem like Zoisite genuinely loves Shiori. I'm kind of suspecting that that might actually be the intended implication for him? That he loves Shiori?
That's what all the machinations are about--getting Rihito back to Shiori, because Shiori loves him. And I actually kind of love that Shiori loves Rihito, because it's obviously not just as a butler, it's as a person. The conversation between Rihito and Zoisite backed that up, too. Zoisite says that Rihito has noticed it, right? That Mei has feelings for him. Rihito's non-reaction to that was interesting, because I think... at first I thought it was about Rihito having already suspected that Mei had feelings for him, but I don't think that's precisely it. I think it was more that Rihito realized Zoisite was onto him, that he knew.
Because, Zoisite says, you're an S-ranked butler, you could have stopped those feelings from her. So why didn't you? Because you have feelings for her, too? And Kento's conversation with Rihito obviously comes to mind, when he yelled at Rihito for making Mei suffer here. And, honestly, I expected--given that this is the halfway point of the series--for Rihito to realize that he'd let this continue on for too long, that he was going to start pushing Mei away for her own good.
But then the conversation kept going. Zoisite said those feelings for Mei were "as Shibata Rihito" and Rihito doesn't answer. Zoisite keeps pressing. This is boring if you're angry as her butler, but if you're angry as a man... then you're completely... not qualified as a butler. (And this is the part that's said while practically stroking Rihito's face, god bless Japan.)
And, okay. For a short while, it was possible that Rihito wasn't responding to Zoisite's comments, just looked kind of shellshocked (or the Rihito version of it) because Zoisite was hitting a nerve that Rihito suspected. That he had suspicions that he had feelings for Mei, that he was confused about it and Zoisite was preying on that. But the tone of the scene didn't feel that way to me, it felt like he already knew and his lack of reaction was confirming that because there was no way he could plausibly deny his feelings. The hug scene later and the awkwardness around being in Mei's personal space would confirm it, imo.
Then, later, instead of going the route of Rihito pushing Mei away as I expected, they separate the two of them with the Miruku storyline and Rihito can't stand it. I love that the episode made a point of connecting the Miruku storyline at the aquarium, where Mei talks about how she wants Daimon to stay by her side, right? So she has to keep fighting, if you give up, it'll definitely end here! And it's obvious that she's feeling the same way about Rihito, who feels the same way about her. He can't just give up, he has to go to her, even if things are resolved by the time he gets there.
On the way he runs into Shiori again, who says she'll spare Mei if he comes back. And I kind of fully expected him to agree, to try to spare Mei by leaving her and going back to Shiori. I wasn't that thrilled with the prospect, but trying to see the shoujo deliciousness in it. And then HE SAID NO. And went directly to Mei! And couldn't help himself, he HUGGED HER.
HUGGED HER FROM BEHIND AND IT WASN'T A CALCULATED MOVE, HE WAS JUST AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE.
Because it wasn't a hug from a butler serving his lady. It was a hug from a person who was in love with this girl. I pretty much exploded at the scene, despite that I kinda knew it was coming, it was just. So gorgeous and so satisfying and I want them so much and I know they can't have makeouts yet, but this was such a great moment and I love the way it ended.
When I first watched the scene, I was hoping for a fade out on the scene, to end it with Rihito's arms around Mei and we don't see the way it ends. But we do see Rihito pull away and, for a second, I was sort of disappointed, fearing they'd go the pushing her away route, that the hug had been a deliberate move to say goodbye, but then he obviously kind of freaks out about it, bowing at her and trying to put that distance back between them, and it's obvious that he is just as affected as she is. To see that it wasn't some calculated move that was about pushing her away, to see that his restraint crumbles more and more, but he's still trying to hold onto it... I am eating this shoujo deliciousness up with a spoon.
Given the way the episode ends--with the pictures of Rihito hugging Mei in a very obviously romantic way tacked up on the classroom board--there could still be that direction with the storyline. Rihito could still push her away. But they've clearly established his feelings for her as a person instead of a butler and thus I don't think it can really drag on for that long. Plus, the show has been really good about the development of this couple and I love that so much of it is external problems, not internal ones. Once those are dealt with, I expect makeouts and weddings and happily ever afters and eventually babies. THIS IS WHAT I WANT FROM SHOUJO, OKAY.
And I'm pretty sure they're going to give it to us, given the way Rose was looking at the picture of Mei's parents and saying that Rihito and Mei were similar to her parents. I still really want to know what was up with that, btw. Obviously they had some sort of forbidden romance, but Mei's father couldn't have been a butler if he was the son of the Hongo household, right? Personally, I would have thought that they'd make Mei's mother the heir of the household, but if it was the father...? Idk, my only guess right now is that maybe Mei's mom was the maid to her father, the opposite of all the girls with butlers? Yet, that feels kind of creepy, the idea that there's a school for boys with female maids. :/
Yet I sort of want it, because then it would mean that Rihito and Mei can run off together, too, and be disgustingly domestic with each other. Except I'm not sure that I want that for them, I kind of want Mei to take her place as the Hongo heir, but I doubt Rihito could stay with her as anything besides a butler then. And I'm not sure what I want for Shiori--is she really even interested in being the Hongo heir? Or is she only interested in Rihito?
Which is sort of interesting, how involved in everything Rihito is. If it were a fight over the Hongo heiress position, I might give a little more thought to Rihito/Mei not being the endgame, but it's not. It's about Rihito and his connections to other people and his past with everyone as much as it is about Mei coming to this school and shaking things up. They're both the main character--even the title sort of reflects that. Mei-chan's Butler, it's about them both.
And... I guess my point is that I keep looking at Kento's character and thinking, man, I wish I could ship that. I wish I could agree with Kento that it'd be nice if Rihito went back to Shiori and Kento ended up with Mei. (Which, I suspect, sealed Kento's fate more than anything. If you wish for things to be all neatly tied off, it's just never going to happen.)
It'd be nice to know that, whatever the resolution was, I would be happy with it, because I really adore Takeru and I adore his character. Hell, I'm even totally onboard with some brotherslash, because every time they have a scene together, it's pretty awesome and totally hot. The arguing from earlier? As much as it was about Mei (and Kento being angry that she was suffering because of Rihito, that he knows Mei has feelings for him and that's why she's staying here), it's also about the perfect older brother always being so damn perfect and yet he's not, he kind of sucks in some ways, too. I'd ship it.
I wish I could ship an OT3, but it just. What makes Rihito/Kento so intriguing for me--they obviously love each other deep down, yet they're such pissy brothers about it--is what makes the OT3 not work. Kento would always be second best to Rihito, he would always be jealous of Rihito. And I'm not sure Rihito could share. And I just don't think Mei thinks of Kento that way and she should be with the person she loves.
ANYWAY. Aside from the whole shoujo thing, which was delicious and why I love this show so much, I actually really loved the Miruku storyline, too. I love that the series has been giving us more and more on the various other girls and their butlers, I love that they're very careful about showing how dedicated the butlers are and why, it's not just blind devotion. They're careful to show how much the girls care about the butlers as well, making it a surprisingly balanced relationship between them.
While I ship most butlers/ladies, I wouldn't say I precisely do that with Daimon and Miruku, because she's smarter than most adults, but this episode showed why she's still such a KID. It was kind of a ridiculous storyline--the soldiers pointing guns at a LITTLE GIRL and a butler who aren't armed at all? Their precious resource? Who, btw, couldn't she just tell them to fuck off already, that she wasn't going back at all? I guess she was contractually obligated or something. Or I shouldn't think too hard about things because it's a shoujo manga drama adaptation. XDDD
But I loved the ridiculous storyline with all my heart because oh my god Daimon's FACE when they gave "MI7" the pill lunch! The way he just BEAMED whenever she would complete a problem and would run over to scoop her up and hug her! The way he protected her and REFUSED TO LET GO OF HER! Squee, squee, squee at all the SUPER ADORABLE.
Other things I loved about this episode!
→ Oh, god, I really shouldn't laugh, it's terrible. But KatoKei and the LUNCH IS MOSTLY VEGETABLES. LUNCH IS MOSTLY VEGETABLES. And how hard his life clearly was. as;ldkfja;lskj I laughed. I would really like a personality for those two other than the whole food issue, though, okay, Japan?
→ Rihito hovering over Mei's shoulder early on in the episode! Her twitching reaction to his proximity! I love how you can just see her feelings for him every time he's in her personal space. MAKEOUTS SOON, PLZ.
→ THE HELICOPTER RIDE. It was smooth and perfect and Mei and Kento weren't screaming for once! Miruku was a good pilot! And then the reveal that she'd never actually piloted before and COMMENCE SCREAMING. I still LOL every time.
→ Kento wanting to play the superhero game at the amusement park! Mei asking him, why are you so excited about this? LOL LOL LOL. FOREVER LOL. I seriously love how dramas have been playing with the meta aspect lately--though, they still have a long ways to go before they can match up to Uta no Onii-san's meta teasing.
→ All the butlers trying to stop Rihito and Daimon from rushing out of the room to go to their ladies! They couldn't let that happen, yet they clearly ALL understood how difficult it was. That's one thing I love--there's really not that much bullying in this show and even when everyone is harsh to Mei, they still understand the bond between her and her butler.
→ Miruku standing up to Shiori! I love that she clearly sees right through her and totally calls her on her shit, even if they both know nothing will change because of it.
→ Miruku at Ombra! OMFG YES. As much win as that scene was for both Mei and Rihito being awkward around each other (and what that means for both of them), I love that Mei's going to have someone nice in the dorm with her. As much as I want Mei promoted out of there (so Rihito can start wearing the jacket again, as hot as he looks half-dressed like that), this is great, too.
→ Shiori getting Rihito back, even if it destroys him. I kind of loved that, too, because it shows just how obsessive she is, how much she knows exactly what it would do to him, and how much they are very clearly not where things are headed. I plan to revel in the deliciousness of this storyline.
Zeni Geba - episode 03 + 04: Actually, I watched ep03 awhile back, but just didn't have that much to say about it. It was kind of a slow episode and, while it set some interesting things up, it didn't have the same HOLY FUCKING SHIT factor that 01, 02, and now 04 had. Well, except for that bit at the end. Where he... holy fucking shit, he lugged around a suitcase with Shirakawa inside it. HOLY FUCKING SHIT, he lugged that suitcase with a dead body into their house. Jesus Christ.
Not much else in the episode could measure up to that, though, I did find the introduction of the poor family who made Futarou smile interesting. And the confrontations with his father and nearly strangling him while the police watched. Which, btw, kind of makes me unsympathetic to the police. I know you're trying to catch him and I know you're right that Futarou killed your brother. But he was a kid at the time and you just let someone nearly get killed because of your vendetta. Which it totally is. This is not justice, this is revenge, no matter how much he may otherwise be right.
Anyway. I kind of dragged my feet on ep04 for awhile because I was wary that the show wouldn't live up to the first couple of episodes, but BOY HOW WRONG I WAS. Episode 04 was insane for how much they packed into it.
The first one was, after Futarou had his performance about why he and Akane could never marry and left the household, he stood outside and had this whole monologue about why rich people are always nervous around poor people, why they like it when poor people know their place. How they look at poor people and see exactly what their life would be like without money. Holy shit, that was intense.
Same for Futarou waiting around, going to work every day, getting more and more fidgety about no work from the Mikuni family, the way that montage was done was really good. The constant time card stamps and showing his leg healing and the pacing around and Futarou may be a real sociopath, but he's not flawless.
Which you see when Futarou's talking to Shirakawa's body, which was kind of HOLY SHIT, too. The walking around in a circle, the laughing at everyone, the flower. But the real HOLY FUCKING SHIT moment came when Midori tried calling him again and you heard the phone rining, jesus. I fully expected that to be what would undo Futarou at the end of the series, I did not expect it to come up again so quickly.
But what they did with it was kind of genius. I hated the father's inclusion in the storyline, I hate that kind of character and I find that kind of blackmail to be obnoxious and uninteresting. I was hoping that Futarou would just kill him and be done with it. But then Haru-chan (the maid) puts two and two together when she hears the ringing, when she digs up the body, and remembers the dirt and leaves on Futarou's jacket, and calls the police.
I wish Futarou hadn't been quite so wound up in that scene, I would have liked something a little cooler from him, but it makes sense, since he thought the game was going to be up, he thought everything would come crashing down on him. After his nerves being worn raw with the waiting for the Mikuni family to come begging him again and his father being there, it was understandable.
And, of course, you knew that the body wasn't going to be there, it's too soon for things to come crashing down. But what I didn't expect was the brilliant way it played out--the body wasn't there. A sheet of paper with the "you found an idiot!" writing on it that made it look like a prank. And you remembered Futarou's father seeing Haru-chan stumbling back towards the house and you knew, during that scene, that he suspected something was out there, but he was going to take the money and let Futarou get caught.
And then. In the scene where they dig up the ground. You realize, HOLY FUCKING SHIT, he TOOK THE BODY WITH HIM and is going to use it for future blackmail. I-- I kind of had to appreciate the character's role in the storyline after that.
The show really kind of was brilliant about it--the scene in Futarou's room where he talked about how he hated this kind of family, the kind who were born into money. But someone who worked their way up on their own, he didn't have a problem with. And he saw how much Futarou hated that he agreed with his father, that he had a moment of sympathy there. You sort of have to appreciate a character who knows what kind of scum he is and still plays people anyway.
That scene also had a great reveal for Futarou's character--he'll never fall in love with anyone, because the people you love die and the ones you wish were dead are still alive. Futarou's dad realizes that that's directed at him, but he doesn't really seem to take it personally. I-- I think a lot of it is the way the actor pulls it off, both in the sort of charm that he has and the actor is kind of hot.
But what really broke me on his character, into grudgingly appreciating him was his conversation with Midori. When he was the one who confessed that he'd gotten drunk and hit Futarou and that's why he had the scar on his eye. HOLY SHIT, that was-- that was kind of genius. That can't come back to haunt him later, Futarou can't use it against him later, because he already admitted it upfront. I-- I have to appreciate a character who is just that slick and smart.
I also kind of love that I'm torn about where this show is going. Where I want it to go or where I think it's going to go. It's kind of like Maou in that there are happier things, but there's no way that things can end happily, it was doomed from the beginning. But seeing Akane teasing Midori about being the younger sister but getting married first, seeing the family family dinner together, I kind of want it for Futarou.
But the thing is. And the wedding dress scene really highlighted this. Midori is right that Futarou is a little judgemental sometimes, that there's no one born with the name "rich", that everyone is who they are. But it showed a complete lack of awareness or real connection to him or what he's been through, she understands almost nothing of what his life has been like. She understands nothing of that divide between rich people and poor people. So her words will only reinforce Futarou's goal with the Mikuni family.
And you see it when he laughs to himself and says he doesn't care about any of that and you realize, no, he has ZERO attachment to this family, no matter how cute their dinner scenes are. Which is too bad, part of me still wants to ship Futarou/Akane. Dammit.
But will things just end in some horribly tragic ending? Or will the poor family get through to him? When he left the money on their doorstep, trying to set them up to show that money really did matter more than happiness, and they immediately all ran over to the policeman to turn the money in, it got to him. Will he be able to find a place with them? Btw, LOL to the brother mooching money off them who looks just like Futarou and how they wanted to see the two of them side by side.
As much as I want Futarou to be happy--despite that he's kind of, you know, an amoral sociopath--and to get the money he wants and maybe find someone to love, I think he would probably be happier with the poor family. Except, I pretty much expect them only there to make the tragedy even stronger, to give the viewers a little bit of hope so that it hurts extra hard when it doesn't happen. I-- I can't say I don't appreciate that, because I'm going into this one expecting to be crushed.
And, finally, wow, that was one of hell of an ending note. The dad drinking in a bar somewhere, surrounded by paid women, and you realize he KEPT THE FUCKING BODY, HOLY SHIT.
I'm almost sort of glad this one is only 9 episodes, I'm not sure if I could take much more beyond that. .__.
Kamen Rider Decade - episode 01 + 02: Okay, I only watched the first two episodes, but I want to watch more tonight, because OMFG I LOVE IT ALREADY. I pretty much only understood MAYBE half of the opening sequence/Natsumi's dream, but I fully plan to go back and watch it when I've seen more series.
I think... one of the reasons I watched Shinkenger before I watched Decade was because I was wary of a bunch of things, given the premise of Kamen Rider Tsubasa here. Or Kamen Rider Kingdom Hearts, I haven't decided yet. I was worried about not being able to know enough about the worlds, I was worried about being spoiled for the other series (if I'd been spoiled for Kabuto or Faiz, I'd have been pissed XD), I was worried that seeing the cracked out versions first would leave me at odds with the original.
But it was also the sense of... I didn't want to watch Kamen Rider Recap, you know? I wanted a new series that was about new characters, especially since I'm fearing apopletic fits when they get to my beloved series. I didn't want the previous worlds to be the only reason to watch Decade.
So, I'm greatly relieved that I actually like the characters a lot! To the point that I'm more interested in them than I am about this merging worlds amusement. But, hell, it is hard to resist that gorgeous opening.
What first set me at ease was, ironically, Natsumi, because I was expecting to be wary of her. Or be like all the other Kamen Rider series where I liked the main female, but the idea of shipping her with the main guy sort of made me want to claw at the walls. But Natsumi is gorgeous and tiny and cute and adorable and SHE IS A NINJA. HOLY SHIT, when she ducked right under Tsukasa to pop up behind him and slam her thumb into his laughing point? I LOVED HER. I LOVED HER WITH EVERYTHING I HAD.
And, really, that was all it took to convert me to Natsumi/Tsukasa. (And normally I'm not all that fond of the "ha ha the girl totally tops in that relationship lolololol!" convention that fandom has, but I am willing to be a hypocrite for Natsumi. She owns him, holy shit.)
Also, I'm weak to slamming on the divider that separated them and HE HAS A NICKNAME FOR HER, NATSUMIKAN, and he tries to act all tough and she just doesn't buy his bullshit and he has the BEST UNWILLING LAUGH EVER OMG.
Like, I love Tsukasa being a total arrogant bitch to everyone around him, I love the way he totally owns everyone else. I loved the scenes in the police headquarters, I love him just NOT CARING that he was pouring tea all over the table, I love him deliberately waiting for the other police officers to pour HIM tea before he got to the reveal about the murdered policewomen. I love him PUNCHING A WOMAN IN THE FACE to avert her death, I love him just throwing over his shoulder, "I'm not a Grongi!" like that's enough. I love him fucking with pretty much everyone. I love his snarky, bitchy attitude.
And I love that he tries it on Natsumi and she basically just PUTS HIM TO THE FLOOR with her THUMB.
a;sdklfj;alskjalksjslajk I AM SORRY, INTERNETS. I WANTED TO BE ALL UP IN THE GAY, I REALLY DID. It's Kamen Rider! I should always ship the gay! But I WANT THE HET. I WANT IT SO BAD.
I might change my mind later, god knows I didn't ship gay in Den-O until Yuuto was introduced, you know? But they seem to be implying that Natsumi and Tsukasa do have feelings for each other--they both were pretty desperately pounding on the barrier between them (more than once!), there was the whole conversation with Yuusuke and Natsumi where they talked about the similar feelings with her. If they go there, I don't want a repeat of Kiva where I was like, ".....noooo!" and then it happened anyway. I want to LIKE the het this time, dammit.
But aside from shipping stuff, I like both characters on their own. And the show itself is... well, it's only two episodes in, that's not enough time to really judge it. But there was lots of stuff I loved, they had some really fantastic looking stuff. The Rider Kick to the Grongi? AWESOME. SO AWESOME. And I am growing increasingly fond of the pink suit, I love that Tsukasa can still make it look badass. I love that they finally show what the stripes are for, that's kind of cool.
I'm still sort of on the fence about the other worlds, mostly because I'm like LEAVE MY PRECIOUSES ALOOOOONE DON'T RUIN THEM, but so far? Decade's done a pretty awesome job. THE FIRST ONE HE TRANSFORMED INTO WAS KABUTO? AND THEN FAIZ? I-- I would have thought they'd go with Den-O or Kiva first! XD
I'm also on the fence about serious-face Wataru who acts really cool here. Just... Wataru for that role? But, hell, who knows if it's really Wataru or if he's merged with someone else or what. I'm not sure what to think of his explanations, either. He says that everything needs to be destroyed before it can be created? Meaning Tsukasa has to destroy them so that they can be put back together? ....ehhh. We'll see. I'm certainly willing to give it a chance to unfold!
I was actually sort of approving of the reason he knew how to fight, the implication that he's done this before or had them before, just lost them and forgot everything but how to fight. It's certainly an interesting explanation for why the character can immediately fight, which always makes me lol in Kamen Rider.
You know what I loved that I didn't expect to? Creepy oji-san guy bringing out the EMO HOPPERS OF THE DAMNED in the KUUGA WORLD to deal with Decade, because he shouldn't be there. a sd;lfkjas;lkjas;lkj AWESOME.
I'm a little sad about the voices, because I kept thinking, man, wasn't Go-Onger finished by the time they filmed this? Couldn't they have at least gotten Hidenori for the voice? I bet he would have been up for it! But I'm also okay with it because Decade has done well at mixing everything up and then sort of making it its own. I was worried that it would just be a pale comparison/rehash to the originals, but if they're going to continue making Tsukasa his own awesome character, I AM ONBOARD.
[ETA: WAIT, SILVER WIND SAYS IT WAS HIDENORI? AND I TOTALLY COULDN'T HEAR THAT? OMFG I FAIL SO HARD. I AM SORRY, JAPAN. I TAKE IT ALL BACK OMFG! Seriously, I was listening for it! And I didn't think it sounded like him at all! D: D: D:]
Instead, I've been doing other stuff. Like having a really, really ridiculous crush on Mizushima Hiro. Even when his hair isn't as fluffy as usual, when it's a little straighter than I usually like, I'm still all, "....why so pretty, Hiro? *__*" It is ridiculous how much I like him now. I need comforting, you guys. :<
I blame Mei-chan no Shitsuji. Good lord, Hiro and Nana should not be allowed to be that gorgeous in it. Speaking of which, between that and Decade (which I finally started), it is like Japan is trying to kill me with the awesome.
And then give me a HEART ATTACK while watching Zeni Geba, as;ldkfjaslkj jesus fucking christ. So, the usual spoilers for anything listed. Not that I'm caught up, but, hey, progress again.
Mei-chan no Shitsuji - episode 05: It's kind of ridiculous how much I loved this episode and how much I have to say about it, especially given that it's all about shoujo tropes and the OTP and how much I want them to just make out already.
A surprising amount of stuff happened in this episode and I was actually sort of surprised at how anti-climactic the reveal of Mei's family was. It's hard to be cranky about it, though, the lack of "!!!!" from everyone like I was expecting because it came at a moment when I was completely not expecting it and Zoisite just blurting it out in the middle of the classroom like that came out of left field for me. It tied pretty well into the whole ongoing thing with Rihito and Shiori, though, so the lack of dealing with that particular secret didn't frustrate me too much. Also, I love Zoisite a whole lot for that. Well. I love him as a sort of villain, which surprises me, I thought I'd hate him.
But he's such a great villain! He makes Shiori more interesting! Because I don't think she'd be that interesting without him, she'd just be another crazy, unsympathizable character (at least until they potentially reveal something about her motivations later? idk), but you add in Zoisite, who clearly loves her, and I find it way more interesting. Everything he did in this episode was just. Interesting.
The conversation with Rihito was, of course, the best part of his storyline. Partly for the way he was completely up in Rihito's personal space, practically so closely in his face that they could have almost been kissing, and then, because that wasn't gay enough, he touched Rihito's face. Practically stroked it even. Not that I blame him! It... it kind of made me wish I could ship them, because that would have been hot.
But the more interesting part of it was the actual content of the conversation! I know. Skipping over the gay for the actual content, what has happened to me. XD But Zoisite saying that he admired Kento for being so straightforward about his obvious feelings for Mei, despite that it was against the rules. It... it kind of made me ship Zoisite/Shiori just a little, despite that I'm not sure Zoisite wasn't lying about admiring that part of Kento. I-- I kind of think there might have been some truth in it, though. Because it does seem like Zoisite genuinely loves Shiori. I'm kind of suspecting that that might actually be the intended implication for him? That he loves Shiori?
That's what all the machinations are about--getting Rihito back to Shiori, because Shiori loves him. And I actually kind of love that Shiori loves Rihito, because it's obviously not just as a butler, it's as a person. The conversation between Rihito and Zoisite backed that up, too. Zoisite says that Rihito has noticed it, right? That Mei has feelings for him. Rihito's non-reaction to that was interesting, because I think... at first I thought it was about Rihito having already suspected that Mei had feelings for him, but I don't think that's precisely it. I think it was more that Rihito realized Zoisite was onto him, that he knew.
Because, Zoisite says, you're an S-ranked butler, you could have stopped those feelings from her. So why didn't you? Because you have feelings for her, too? And Kento's conversation with Rihito obviously comes to mind, when he yelled at Rihito for making Mei suffer here. And, honestly, I expected--given that this is the halfway point of the series--for Rihito to realize that he'd let this continue on for too long, that he was going to start pushing Mei away for her own good.
But then the conversation kept going. Zoisite said those feelings for Mei were "as Shibata Rihito" and Rihito doesn't answer. Zoisite keeps pressing. This is boring if you're angry as her butler, but if you're angry as a man... then you're completely... not qualified as a butler. (And this is the part that's said while practically stroking Rihito's face, god bless Japan.)
And, okay. For a short while, it was possible that Rihito wasn't responding to Zoisite's comments, just looked kind of shellshocked (or the Rihito version of it) because Zoisite was hitting a nerve that Rihito suspected. That he had suspicions that he had feelings for Mei, that he was confused about it and Zoisite was preying on that. But the tone of the scene didn't feel that way to me, it felt like he already knew and his lack of reaction was confirming that because there was no way he could plausibly deny his feelings. The hug scene later and the awkwardness around being in Mei's personal space would confirm it, imo.
Then, later, instead of going the route of Rihito pushing Mei away as I expected, they separate the two of them with the Miruku storyline and Rihito can't stand it. I love that the episode made a point of connecting the Miruku storyline at the aquarium, where Mei talks about how she wants Daimon to stay by her side, right? So she has to keep fighting, if you give up, it'll definitely end here! And it's obvious that she's feeling the same way about Rihito, who feels the same way about her. He can't just give up, he has to go to her, even if things are resolved by the time he gets there.
On the way he runs into Shiori again, who says she'll spare Mei if he comes back. And I kind of fully expected him to agree, to try to spare Mei by leaving her and going back to Shiori. I wasn't that thrilled with the prospect, but trying to see the shoujo deliciousness in it. And then HE SAID NO. And went directly to Mei! And couldn't help himself, he HUGGED HER.
HUGGED HER FROM BEHIND AND IT WASN'T A CALCULATED MOVE, HE WAS JUST AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE.
Because it wasn't a hug from a butler serving his lady. It was a hug from a person who was in love with this girl. I pretty much exploded at the scene, despite that I kinda knew it was coming, it was just. So gorgeous and so satisfying and I want them so much and I know they can't have makeouts yet, but this was such a great moment and I love the way it ended.
When I first watched the scene, I was hoping for a fade out on the scene, to end it with Rihito's arms around Mei and we don't see the way it ends. But we do see Rihito pull away and, for a second, I was sort of disappointed, fearing they'd go the pushing her away route, that the hug had been a deliberate move to say goodbye, but then he obviously kind of freaks out about it, bowing at her and trying to put that distance back between them, and it's obvious that he is just as affected as she is. To see that it wasn't some calculated move that was about pushing her away, to see that his restraint crumbles more and more, but he's still trying to hold onto it... I am eating this shoujo deliciousness up with a spoon.
Given the way the episode ends--with the pictures of Rihito hugging Mei in a very obviously romantic way tacked up on the classroom board--there could still be that direction with the storyline. Rihito could still push her away. But they've clearly established his feelings for her as a person instead of a butler and thus I don't think it can really drag on for that long. Plus, the show has been really good about the development of this couple and I love that so much of it is external problems, not internal ones. Once those are dealt with, I expect makeouts and weddings and happily ever afters and eventually babies. THIS IS WHAT I WANT FROM SHOUJO, OKAY.
And I'm pretty sure they're going to give it to us, given the way Rose was looking at the picture of Mei's parents and saying that Rihito and Mei were similar to her parents. I still really want to know what was up with that, btw. Obviously they had some sort of forbidden romance, but Mei's father couldn't have been a butler if he was the son of the Hongo household, right? Personally, I would have thought that they'd make Mei's mother the heir of the household, but if it was the father...? Idk, my only guess right now is that maybe Mei's mom was the maid to her father, the opposite of all the girls with butlers? Yet, that feels kind of creepy, the idea that there's a school for boys with female maids. :/
Yet I sort of want it, because then it would mean that Rihito and Mei can run off together, too, and be disgustingly domestic with each other. Except I'm not sure that I want that for them, I kind of want Mei to take her place as the Hongo heir, but I doubt Rihito could stay with her as anything besides a butler then. And I'm not sure what I want for Shiori--is she really even interested in being the Hongo heir? Or is she only interested in Rihito?
Which is sort of interesting, how involved in everything Rihito is. If it were a fight over the Hongo heiress position, I might give a little more thought to Rihito/Mei not being the endgame, but it's not. It's about Rihito and his connections to other people and his past with everyone as much as it is about Mei coming to this school and shaking things up. They're both the main character--even the title sort of reflects that. Mei-chan's Butler, it's about them both.
And... I guess my point is that I keep looking at Kento's character and thinking, man, I wish I could ship that. I wish I could agree with Kento that it'd be nice if Rihito went back to Shiori and Kento ended up with Mei. (Which, I suspect, sealed Kento's fate more than anything. If you wish for things to be all neatly tied off, it's just never going to happen.)
It'd be nice to know that, whatever the resolution was, I would be happy with it, because I really adore Takeru and I adore his character. Hell, I'm even totally onboard with some brotherslash, because every time they have a scene together, it's pretty awesome and totally hot. The arguing from earlier? As much as it was about Mei (and Kento being angry that she was suffering because of Rihito, that he knows Mei has feelings for him and that's why she's staying here), it's also about the perfect older brother always being so damn perfect and yet he's not, he kind of sucks in some ways, too. I'd ship it.
I wish I could ship an OT3, but it just. What makes Rihito/Kento so intriguing for me--they obviously love each other deep down, yet they're such pissy brothers about it--is what makes the OT3 not work. Kento would always be second best to Rihito, he would always be jealous of Rihito. And I'm not sure Rihito could share. And I just don't think Mei thinks of Kento that way and she should be with the person she loves.
ANYWAY. Aside from the whole shoujo thing, which was delicious and why I love this show so much, I actually really loved the Miruku storyline, too. I love that the series has been giving us more and more on the various other girls and their butlers, I love that they're very careful about showing how dedicated the butlers are and why, it's not just blind devotion. They're careful to show how much the girls care about the butlers as well, making it a surprisingly balanced relationship between them.
While I ship most butlers/ladies, I wouldn't say I precisely do that with Daimon and Miruku, because she's smarter than most adults, but this episode showed why she's still such a KID. It was kind of a ridiculous storyline--the soldiers pointing guns at a LITTLE GIRL and a butler who aren't armed at all? Their precious resource? Who, btw, couldn't she just tell them to fuck off already, that she wasn't going back at all? I guess she was contractually obligated or something. Or I shouldn't think too hard about things because it's a shoujo manga drama adaptation. XDDD
But I loved the ridiculous storyline with all my heart because oh my god Daimon's FACE when they gave "MI7" the pill lunch! The way he just BEAMED whenever she would complete a problem and would run over to scoop her up and hug her! The way he protected her and REFUSED TO LET GO OF HER! Squee, squee, squee at all the SUPER ADORABLE.
Other things I loved about this episode!
→ Oh, god, I really shouldn't laugh, it's terrible. But KatoKei and the LUNCH IS MOSTLY VEGETABLES. LUNCH IS MOSTLY VEGETABLES. And how hard his life clearly was. as;ldkfja;lskj I laughed. I would really like a personality for those two other than the whole food issue, though, okay, Japan?
→ Rihito hovering over Mei's shoulder early on in the episode! Her twitching reaction to his proximity! I love how you can just see her feelings for him every time he's in her personal space. MAKEOUTS SOON, PLZ.
→ THE HELICOPTER RIDE. It was smooth and perfect and Mei and Kento weren't screaming for once! Miruku was a good pilot! And then the reveal that she'd never actually piloted before and COMMENCE SCREAMING. I still LOL every time.
→ Kento wanting to play the superhero game at the amusement park! Mei asking him, why are you so excited about this? LOL LOL LOL. FOREVER LOL. I seriously love how dramas have been playing with the meta aspect lately--though, they still have a long ways to go before they can match up to Uta no Onii-san's meta teasing.
→ All the butlers trying to stop Rihito and Daimon from rushing out of the room to go to their ladies! They couldn't let that happen, yet they clearly ALL understood how difficult it was. That's one thing I love--there's really not that much bullying in this show and even when everyone is harsh to Mei, they still understand the bond between her and her butler.
→ Miruku standing up to Shiori! I love that she clearly sees right through her and totally calls her on her shit, even if they both know nothing will change because of it.
→ Miruku at Ombra! OMFG YES. As much win as that scene was for both Mei and Rihito being awkward around each other (and what that means for both of them), I love that Mei's going to have someone nice in the dorm with her. As much as I want Mei promoted out of there (so Rihito can start wearing the jacket again, as hot as he looks half-dressed like that), this is great, too.
→ Shiori getting Rihito back, even if it destroys him. I kind of loved that, too, because it shows just how obsessive she is, how much she knows exactly what it would do to him, and how much they are very clearly not where things are headed. I plan to revel in the deliciousness of this storyline.
Zeni Geba - episode 03 + 04: Actually, I watched ep03 awhile back, but just didn't have that much to say about it. It was kind of a slow episode and, while it set some interesting things up, it didn't have the same HOLY FUCKING SHIT factor that 01, 02, and now 04 had. Well, except for that bit at the end. Where he... holy fucking shit, he lugged around a suitcase with Shirakawa inside it. HOLY FUCKING SHIT, he lugged that suitcase with a dead body into their house. Jesus Christ.
Not much else in the episode could measure up to that, though, I did find the introduction of the poor family who made Futarou smile interesting. And the confrontations with his father and nearly strangling him while the police watched. Which, btw, kind of makes me unsympathetic to the police. I know you're trying to catch him and I know you're right that Futarou killed your brother. But he was a kid at the time and you just let someone nearly get killed because of your vendetta. Which it totally is. This is not justice, this is revenge, no matter how much he may otherwise be right.
Anyway. I kind of dragged my feet on ep04 for awhile because I was wary that the show wouldn't live up to the first couple of episodes, but BOY HOW WRONG I WAS. Episode 04 was insane for how much they packed into it.
The first one was, after Futarou had his performance about why he and Akane could never marry and left the household, he stood outside and had this whole monologue about why rich people are always nervous around poor people, why they like it when poor people know their place. How they look at poor people and see exactly what their life would be like without money. Holy shit, that was intense.
Same for Futarou waiting around, going to work every day, getting more and more fidgety about no work from the Mikuni family, the way that montage was done was really good. The constant time card stamps and showing his leg healing and the pacing around and Futarou may be a real sociopath, but he's not flawless.
Which you see when Futarou's talking to Shirakawa's body, which was kind of HOLY SHIT, too. The walking around in a circle, the laughing at everyone, the flower. But the real HOLY FUCKING SHIT moment came when Midori tried calling him again and you heard the phone rining, jesus. I fully expected that to be what would undo Futarou at the end of the series, I did not expect it to come up again so quickly.
But what they did with it was kind of genius. I hated the father's inclusion in the storyline, I hate that kind of character and I find that kind of blackmail to be obnoxious and uninteresting. I was hoping that Futarou would just kill him and be done with it. But then Haru-chan (the maid) puts two and two together when she hears the ringing, when she digs up the body, and remembers the dirt and leaves on Futarou's jacket, and calls the police.
I wish Futarou hadn't been quite so wound up in that scene, I would have liked something a little cooler from him, but it makes sense, since he thought the game was going to be up, he thought everything would come crashing down on him. After his nerves being worn raw with the waiting for the Mikuni family to come begging him again and his father being there, it was understandable.
And, of course, you knew that the body wasn't going to be there, it's too soon for things to come crashing down. But what I didn't expect was the brilliant way it played out--the body wasn't there. A sheet of paper with the "you found an idiot!" writing on it that made it look like a prank. And you remembered Futarou's father seeing Haru-chan stumbling back towards the house and you knew, during that scene, that he suspected something was out there, but he was going to take the money and let Futarou get caught.
And then. In the scene where they dig up the ground. You realize, HOLY FUCKING SHIT, he TOOK THE BODY WITH HIM and is going to use it for future blackmail. I-- I kind of had to appreciate the character's role in the storyline after that.
The show really kind of was brilliant about it--the scene in Futarou's room where he talked about how he hated this kind of family, the kind who were born into money. But someone who worked their way up on their own, he didn't have a problem with. And he saw how much Futarou hated that he agreed with his father, that he had a moment of sympathy there. You sort of have to appreciate a character who knows what kind of scum he is and still plays people anyway.
That scene also had a great reveal for Futarou's character--he'll never fall in love with anyone, because the people you love die and the ones you wish were dead are still alive. Futarou's dad realizes that that's directed at him, but he doesn't really seem to take it personally. I-- I think a lot of it is the way the actor pulls it off, both in the sort of charm that he has and the actor is kind of hot.
But what really broke me on his character, into grudgingly appreciating him was his conversation with Midori. When he was the one who confessed that he'd gotten drunk and hit Futarou and that's why he had the scar on his eye. HOLY SHIT, that was-- that was kind of genius. That can't come back to haunt him later, Futarou can't use it against him later, because he already admitted it upfront. I-- I have to appreciate a character who is just that slick and smart.
I also kind of love that I'm torn about where this show is going. Where I want it to go or where I think it's going to go. It's kind of like Maou in that there are happier things, but there's no way that things can end happily, it was doomed from the beginning. But seeing Akane teasing Midori about being the younger sister but getting married first, seeing the family family dinner together, I kind of want it for Futarou.
But the thing is. And the wedding dress scene really highlighted this. Midori is right that Futarou is a little judgemental sometimes, that there's no one born with the name "rich", that everyone is who they are. But it showed a complete lack of awareness or real connection to him or what he's been through, she understands almost nothing of what his life has been like. She understands nothing of that divide between rich people and poor people. So her words will only reinforce Futarou's goal with the Mikuni family.
And you see it when he laughs to himself and says he doesn't care about any of that and you realize, no, he has ZERO attachment to this family, no matter how cute their dinner scenes are. Which is too bad, part of me still wants to ship Futarou/Akane. Dammit.
But will things just end in some horribly tragic ending? Or will the poor family get through to him? When he left the money on their doorstep, trying to set them up to show that money really did matter more than happiness, and they immediately all ran over to the policeman to turn the money in, it got to him. Will he be able to find a place with them? Btw, LOL to the brother mooching money off them who looks just like Futarou and how they wanted to see the two of them side by side.
As much as I want Futarou to be happy--despite that he's kind of, you know, an amoral sociopath--and to get the money he wants and maybe find someone to love, I think he would probably be happier with the poor family. Except, I pretty much expect them only there to make the tragedy even stronger, to give the viewers a little bit of hope so that it hurts extra hard when it doesn't happen. I-- I can't say I don't appreciate that, because I'm going into this one expecting to be crushed.
And, finally, wow, that was one of hell of an ending note. The dad drinking in a bar somewhere, surrounded by paid women, and you realize he KEPT THE FUCKING BODY, HOLY SHIT.
I'm almost sort of glad this one is only 9 episodes, I'm not sure if I could take much more beyond that. .__.
Kamen Rider Decade - episode 01 + 02: Okay, I only watched the first two episodes, but I want to watch more tonight, because OMFG I LOVE IT ALREADY. I pretty much only understood MAYBE half of the opening sequence/Natsumi's dream, but I fully plan to go back and watch it when I've seen more series.
I think... one of the reasons I watched Shinkenger before I watched Decade was because I was wary of a bunch of things, given the premise of Kamen Rider Tsubasa here. Or Kamen Rider Kingdom Hearts, I haven't decided yet. I was worried about not being able to know enough about the worlds, I was worried about being spoiled for the other series (if I'd been spoiled for Kabuto or Faiz, I'd have been pissed XD), I was worried that seeing the cracked out versions first would leave me at odds with the original.
But it was also the sense of... I didn't want to watch Kamen Rider Recap, you know? I wanted a new series that was about new characters, especially since I'm fearing apopletic fits when they get to my beloved series. I didn't want the previous worlds to be the only reason to watch Decade.
So, I'm greatly relieved that I actually like the characters a lot! To the point that I'm more interested in them than I am about this merging worlds amusement. But, hell, it is hard to resist that gorgeous opening.
What first set me at ease was, ironically, Natsumi, because I was expecting to be wary of her. Or be like all the other Kamen Rider series where I liked the main female, but the idea of shipping her with the main guy sort of made me want to claw at the walls. But Natsumi is gorgeous and tiny and cute and adorable and SHE IS A NINJA. HOLY SHIT, when she ducked right under Tsukasa to pop up behind him and slam her thumb into his laughing point? I LOVED HER. I LOVED HER WITH EVERYTHING I HAD.
And, really, that was all it took to convert me to Natsumi/Tsukasa. (And normally I'm not all that fond of the "ha ha the girl totally tops in that relationship lolololol!" convention that fandom has, but I am willing to be a hypocrite for Natsumi. She owns him, holy shit.)
Also, I'm weak to slamming on the divider that separated them and HE HAS A NICKNAME FOR HER, NATSUMIKAN, and he tries to act all tough and she just doesn't buy his bullshit and he has the BEST UNWILLING LAUGH EVER OMG.
Like, I love Tsukasa being a total arrogant bitch to everyone around him, I love the way he totally owns everyone else. I loved the scenes in the police headquarters, I love him just NOT CARING that he was pouring tea all over the table, I love him deliberately waiting for the other police officers to pour HIM tea before he got to the reveal about the murdered policewomen. I love him PUNCHING A WOMAN IN THE FACE to avert her death, I love him just throwing over his shoulder, "I'm not a Grongi!" like that's enough. I love him fucking with pretty much everyone. I love his snarky, bitchy attitude.
And I love that he tries it on Natsumi and she basically just PUTS HIM TO THE FLOOR with her THUMB.
a;sdklfj;alskjalksjslajk I AM SORRY, INTERNETS. I WANTED TO BE ALL UP IN THE GAY, I REALLY DID. It's Kamen Rider! I should always ship the gay! But I WANT THE HET. I WANT IT SO BAD.
I might change my mind later, god knows I didn't ship gay in Den-O until Yuuto was introduced, you know? But they seem to be implying that Natsumi and Tsukasa do have feelings for each other--they both were pretty desperately pounding on the barrier between them (more than once!), there was the whole conversation with Yuusuke and Natsumi where they talked about the similar feelings with her. If they go there, I don't want a repeat of Kiva where I was like, ".....noooo!" and then it happened anyway. I want to LIKE the het this time, dammit.
But aside from shipping stuff, I like both characters on their own. And the show itself is... well, it's only two episodes in, that's not enough time to really judge it. But there was lots of stuff I loved, they had some really fantastic looking stuff. The Rider Kick to the Grongi? AWESOME. SO AWESOME. And I am growing increasingly fond of the pink suit, I love that Tsukasa can still make it look badass. I love that they finally show what the stripes are for, that's kind of cool.
I'm still sort of on the fence about the other worlds, mostly because I'm like LEAVE MY PRECIOUSES ALOOOOONE DON'T RUIN THEM, but so far? Decade's done a pretty awesome job. THE FIRST ONE HE TRANSFORMED INTO WAS KABUTO? AND THEN FAIZ? I-- I would have thought they'd go with Den-O or Kiva first! XD
I'm also on the fence about serious-face Wataru who acts really cool here. Just... Wataru for that role? But, hell, who knows if it's really Wataru or if he's merged with someone else or what. I'm not sure what to think of his explanations, either. He says that everything needs to be destroyed before it can be created? Meaning Tsukasa has to destroy them so that they can be put back together? ....ehhh. We'll see. I'm certainly willing to give it a chance to unfold!
I was actually sort of approving of the reason he knew how to fight, the implication that he's done this before or had them before, just lost them and forgot everything but how to fight. It's certainly an interesting explanation for why the character can immediately fight, which always makes me lol in Kamen Rider.
You know what I loved that I didn't expect to? Creepy oji-san guy bringing out the EMO HOPPERS OF THE DAMNED in the KUUGA WORLD to deal with Decade, because he shouldn't be there. a sd;lfkjas;lkjas;lkj AWESOME.
I'm a little sad about the voices, because I kept thinking, man, wasn't Go-Onger finished by the time they filmed this? Couldn't they have at least gotten Hidenori for the voice? I bet he would have been up for it! But I'm also okay with it because Decade has done well at mixing everything up and then sort of making it its own. I was worried that it would just be a pale comparison/rehash to the originals, but if they're going to continue making Tsukasa his own awesome character, I AM ONBOARD.
[ETA: WAIT, SILVER WIND SAYS IT WAS HIDENORI? AND I TOTALLY COULDN'T HEAR THAT? OMFG I FAIL SO HARD. I AM SORRY, JAPAN. I TAKE IT ALL BACK OMFG! Seriously, I was listening for it! And I didn't think it sounded like him at all! D: D: D:]