Double.
Just completed Subaru's K8 Drama SP 'Double'. Not doing a review for it because it wasn't all that good. I mean, unique and interesting concept but it was kinda rushed (okay, maybe this isn't their fault since it was limited to a miserable 45minutes-why!?) and Subaru's acting isn't all that rosy XD Hey, but the guy can sing and dance your heart out okay?
But anyway, when I downloaded it, the uploader labeled it as a suspense drama, so I was expecting it to be more thrilling than scary you know? But into the first quarter of the show, I got THE SHOCK OF MY LIFE. Oh man, you don't know how many times I turned around to make sure... YEAH. Okay but after that it did get more suspenseful and thrilling, but it was still creeping me out, certain props they use.
And I shall now tell you the story because I seriously did like the concept, except the scriptwriter producer sucked cus he gave them only 45 minutes to develop a good story. But other than that, it is a unique plot and is fairly touching, I guess.
*Words in grey are my insert thoughts.
The show starts out with Subaru playing the piano in front of a large audience - he's a world knowned pianist (haha!) who debuted in America and he's back in Japan for a concert. Later, while his manager, Maruyama drives him home, he recalls what happened 3 years ago - right before his debut was announced, he got drunk and knocked down a girl by accident. He rushes out to see if she's alright but turns out that she's unconscious. His debut will be announced the next day and if this accident was made known to the public, Subaru knows he will never get to become a famous pianist, so he dashes into his car and takes off, flying off to America the next day.
Back to the present - Subaru is taking care of the details of his upcoming concert when his manager hands him a few photographs of him with a girl, telling him that a reporter made him buy these and that he has to be careful about scandals since he's a big shot now. However, Subaru looks at the photographs and although it is a picture of him, claims that he is not the guy in the picture. A while later, Subaru bumps into Mizuki, his florist ex-girlfriend in the hallway, who he was supposed to meet 3 years ago on that fateful day but did not manage to keep the promise due to the accident (they have since lost contact). Subaru invites her to his party along with her colleagues.
At the party, Maruyama is talking to Subaru about who the guy in the photo could be when a passer-by, Okura hears and says, "Doppelganger." Okura told them about this opera piece by Chevelt, entitled 'Doppelganger', which is about a man who was unable to get rid of the lingering feelings for his beloved one, and thus on a moonlit night, he will appear at his beloved's house as a split person, which is also known as the doppelganger. A doppelganger is usually formed when one encounters a very strong conflict, or has a huge regret and therefore a split personality is born from himself. However, if the man ever bumps into his doppelganger, one of them will have to disappear.
Mizuki arrives with her assistants and Subaru goes to greet her. She introduces him to Shiraishi and Sawada, when Shiraishi sees Subaru, she tells him that she knows of someone who looks alot like him. Later, Subaru goes to talk to Mizuki and it is revealed that they still have feelings for each other, however Mizuki is unable to forgive him for leaving without a single goodbye and walks away. Subaru chases after her and when he catches up with her, a large prop falls on them. They escape unscathed and Subaru quietly asks Sawada some questions about Shiraishi. He finds out that Shiraishi had just joined Mizuki's shop for about a month and she was in a car accident three years ago. A flashback shows that the girl who Subaru knocked down was Shiraishi, and when the prop fell, he saw her standing behind it. "Revenge." he muttered.
Subaru starts having nightmares and thus he calls Shiraishi out to ask some questions. At this point, Subaru walks pass his doppelganger but both do not notice each other at all. He meets up with Shiraishi and she tells him that the person she knew who looked like him had the same name and eyes as him, and she confirmed that she was in an accident 3 years ago, and the weird thing was that 'Subaru' was the guy who knocked her down, and he is also her ex-boyfriend.
*At this point, I shall type the great pianist as Subaru and the other guy as 'Subaru' so as not to confuse you.
At night, Subaru is trying to play the piece 'Falling stars at night' which he composed for Mizuki but he can't recall it any longer. Just then, he hears it being played and goes around the hotel to see where it is coming from. He reaches the piano but there is no one there, so he sits on the piano bench. Mizuki, who so happened to visit the hotel and hear the song being played, enters the room and realises that she still loves Subaru, thus the both of them make up and Subaru is asked to play the song again, however he is unable to remember it.
The following morning, Subaru decides to call 'Subaru' and tell him that he is his split personality and they talk about what happened 3 years ago. Subaru tells him that after knocking the girl down, he immediately flew off to America, then asks him what his story was. 'Subaru', however had stayed behind with the girl and due to his guilty conscience, followed her through her hospitalisation and rehab. However, he is unable to recall a large part of his life right before the accident and he feels that he has this great regret in his heart, but he doesn't know what it is. Subaru then asks 'Subaru' what made him and the girl break up, and 'Subaru' says that Shiraishi had started meddling into his forgotten memories, and saying things like, "I have found the one living in your heart. And I will erase her with my own hands." It is then shown that 'Subaru' has a picture of himself taken with Mizuki together.
At the same time, in another scene, Shiraishi arrives at Mizuki's place. Awhile after getting in, she takes out a knife and tries to kill Mizuki, saying that if Mizuki was not around, 'Subaru' will return to her, and that it was all Mizuki's fault that she had to break up with 'Subaru'. A fight ensues and finally 'Subaru' enters the house and stops Shiraishi. Shiraishi runs off and 'Subaru' chases after her. Subaru then arrives and tells Mizuki about who the guy who stopped Shiraishi was, however, Mizuki is doubtful. Subaru then tells her that he will leave for America right after the concert the next day and asks her to leave with him.
*Okay, all the while up to the phone call scene, I had this impresson that Shiraishi wanted to help 'Subaru' get rid of Subaru, so that he can continue living without worries. Turns out she did not even notice the whole doppelganger situation D:
It is finally the day of the concert. Subaru plays the piano while Mizuki watches him in the audience. Sawada hands her an envelope that Shiraishi wanted to pass to her, saying that it is something she thought should be returned to Mizuki. Mizuki opens it and realises what it is - the original piano scores to 'Falling stars at night', the song Subaru composed for her 3 years ago. Meanwhile, Subaru spots 'Subaru' in the audience and both of them have their final confrontation, both agreeing that the world only needs one Subaru, and not both.
Subaru then starts to tie his necktie against 'Subaru''s neck, promising to make it an easy death for him and 'Subaru' agrees. As Subaru strangles him, he stops midway and says that he can't bear to kill him afterall, and it is finally revealed that the one who had stayed with Shiraishi 3 years ago was the real Subaru, and Subaru was the doppelganger in actual fact. As the both of them accepts this fact, Subaru slowly fades away, telling 'Subaru' to play that piece for Mizuki for the encore.
He does so, and the next day, 'Subaru' disappears from the music world, letting no one find him. He has gone someplace faraway with Mizuki and the two of them are finally reunited after 3 years.
HAPPY ENDING ~ !
And that's how the story of 'Double' goes. It sounds asolutely boring when you read it yeah? Sorry for my poor *ahem* writing skills. But I just thought of sharing this story cus it was kinda touching and I absolutely loved the part about the Chevult opera piece. If anyone finds it, please send it to me.
Anyway, this is not one of those MUST WATCH dramas or movies but it's worth a try if you have the time I guess. Lots of twists and turns in this drama special that will surprise you because you'll be focused on another point of the story, except now I've ruined it for you by providing you with a 11-paragraphed spoiler. But either way, I found this storyline pretty unique and yes, if they had turned it into a drama instead of a SP so as to develop the plot better, I'd have seriously recommended this and this will be on my review list, but oh well. Subaru's good to look at anyway BD