Brand: my newest, shiniest jdrama
OMG. Brand (of which I just uploaded first ep for anyone who wanted it, see my previous entry. It is also available for streaming, see ficcica's comment to the aforementioned entry).
I've forgotten how fast jdramas move. I am dead of the OTP awesomeness in ep 2 and will talk about it more, but I love that this drama is more than just about love: it's about finding yourself, finding what you are 'for', for both the 35 year old Midori and the 25 year old Kanzaki. (And yet both are strongly defined as individuals. They aren't 'wafflers.') And what constitutes acceptable work ethic and compromise. (They are both incredibly uncompromising in their different ways). And OMG, the otp levels are through the roof!
I love that in this drama, unlike in a lot of office dramas, it's not like the younger man needs to be shown the error of his ways re: work ethic (while he might teach the girl to let down her hair or something). No, here it is really about different approaches to work. He is completely right: why should a whole department of people put up with absurd whims of a silly star? Is it worth it? Shouldn't they hire another spokesperson and be done with it? And she is completel right about how, even if you are in the right, you need to apologize because part of your job is doing what is best for the company, however stupid it is. And they both come to see that their position, though right, has no absolutes and can and should be modified.
Kanzaki is more and more appalled by the star's rudeness, and when her last minute whim puts the department to a great deal of crazed bother, he can't resist and asks her why she decided to change the color of her dress at the last minute. When she explains it's because a fortune tellertold her,he laughs in her face. And you know he shouldn't have, but OMG. As a viewer, that felt so good.
So of course, the star breaks off her contract. And Midori tells him to go and apologize to the actress. And he won't because he thinks the woman is a rude, incosiderate moron, and not worth all of this. And not the only actress out there. And he asks Midori a very pertinent question about what is worth putting up with for the sake of a job.
But Midori also has a point: this contract loss is a big blow for the company, and it takes someone with a great degree of self-confidence to apologize.
So he sys he will resign rather than apologize. And she says fine. And then she goes off to ask the star for another chance but the spoiled little bitch is ignoring the pleas.
And you see Kanzaki think at night, about Midori and what she said.
Then next morning, Midori heads over to the star's again. And the firm authorized her to triple the star's fee and this will be a big hit for the company but they need the contract.
But before she has the chance to explain the terms to star's manager, she hears a familiar voice in the other room, begging for a chance to apologize.
It's Kanzaki.
OMG OMG OMG. I made funny kigh-pitched noises at the screen. He's come to apologize (even though he knows he wasn't wrong. And I think he is doing it for Midori who is in a lot of trouble if the contract is lost).
And the pouty little bitch is all 'you want to apologize to me? Fine, I'll let you if you get down on your knees and grovel, with head to the floor'
*stab*
(And Midori, is watching all this unobserved, and horrified, and moved. OMG, her face. She is so falling for him. It was pretty clear earlier when she was worked up about him being in her department. Her ex mentioned this was more hear she showed when she broke their engagement. But her face, during this scene, is a total give away.)
And OMG OMG OMG he does it.
OMG.
He is on his knees, kowtowing.
(The only other scene in jdrama I find as uncomfortable to watch is Kame grovelling to the factory boss in Tattakoi. I just hate to see a good person forced to humiliate himself).
And the star is clearly enjoying it, and then OMG OMG Midori walks in. And she tells Kanzaki (who is shocked to see her there) to get up. And she says can they please she came over here, and they are leaving. And the star is 'you are corageous' and Midori replies that she believes in her company. She would have enjoyed working with the star but oh well. And bows and walks out. With Kanzaki in tow.
OMG OMG OMG.
He threw over his pride for her, but she threw over her career.
OMG.
And then her ex is waiting for her and is all 'wtf are you doing, your career?' and she is still fine with it.
And then the star calls and says she will work with them after all (because I suppose she was impressed by the gift of the magi-ness of it).
But you know what I like? Kanzaki and Midori do what they do for each other, but they also do it out of principle. Midori sees that there are limits to what you should be willing to do for the sake of your job. And Kanzaki sees that there are times when you should sacrifice your pride for the greater good.
OMG OMG.
So good.
And then they are both laughing and it's awesome.
And (some time later) he takes her to lunch at the place he mentioned and there is adorableness and flusteredness on her part and teasing on his. EEEEE.
And then there is an article in a magazine about his family and with pics of him, and the family rift, and the condition on his freedom and all that. And she is totally poed and doesn't know why :D And then they have this convo:
She: you should leave as you are only here for a year, so why not just go take over the business now. Darnit, I can't admit even to myself, how disappointed I am because he is out of my league and argh argh he looks hot all in black.
He: Nope, not leaving. Need to earn my living for a year, after all. I did tell you I am here for you, at the beginning, even though you didn't believe me, and I am not sure I know it myself consciously. Plus, you look so good in black, and who will I tease if I am gone elsewhere?
Adorableness.
And now I bring you some screencaps:
The bitchy starlet:
Midori learning the contract fell through:
She tells him to apologize to the unreasonable starlet:
He says he'd rather resign:
*ummm, aren't most jobs taken for money?*
I think she is beautiful:
This is just here because he is so pretty *swoon*:
Next day, Midori has come with different terms to the starlet's office. (Why are there books? The girl doesn't seem like she can read):
Unobserved, Midori sees that Kanzaki is there:
He's come to apologize OMG OMG. Also, suit!
Girl, just start doodling 'Mrs. Kanzaki' in your notebooks, 'k?
Being told he has to grovel:
And doing it (girl, I think you might want to reconsider having a guy grovel to you when your skirt is this short):
OMG:
Midori has had enough:
Awwwww. The puppy look on his face? Is made of win. Midori is telling starlet there is no contract, and telling Kanzaki to get up and 'let's go'
Mmmmm. Yummy stares:
Star is flabbergasted (but all is well that ends well):
OMG, adorableness. Having lunch together some time later:
He just wants to tell her she has something on her face, but because she is so conscious of him, awkward. And hot:
Heeeee. She finds out he is the heir to a prestigious (and affluent) tea business. Hey, he makes it into magazines :) What they are really saying is 'let's find a private corner'.
LOL. She dropped a bunch of paperwork. Love the look on her face:
I've forgotten how fast jdramas move. I am dead of the OTP awesomeness in ep 2 and will talk about it more, but I love that this drama is more than just about love: it's about finding yourself, finding what you are 'for', for both the 35 year old Midori and the 25 year old Kanzaki. (And yet both are strongly defined as individuals. They aren't 'wafflers.') And what constitutes acceptable work ethic and compromise. (They are both incredibly uncompromising in their different ways). And OMG, the otp levels are through the roof!
I love that in this drama, unlike in a lot of office dramas, it's not like the younger man needs to be shown the error of his ways re: work ethic (while he might teach the girl to let down her hair or something). No, here it is really about different approaches to work. He is completely right: why should a whole department of people put up with absurd whims of a silly star? Is it worth it? Shouldn't they hire another spokesperson and be done with it? And she is completel right about how, even if you are in the right, you need to apologize because part of your job is doing what is best for the company, however stupid it is. And they both come to see that their position, though right, has no absolutes and can and should be modified.
Kanzaki is more and more appalled by the star's rudeness, and when her last minute whim puts the department to a great deal of crazed bother, he can't resist and asks her why she decided to change the color of her dress at the last minute. When she explains it's because a fortune tellertold her,he laughs in her face. And you know he shouldn't have, but OMG. As a viewer, that felt so good.
So of course, the star breaks off her contract. And Midori tells him to go and apologize to the actress. And he won't because he thinks the woman is a rude, incosiderate moron, and not worth all of this. And not the only actress out there. And he asks Midori a very pertinent question about what is worth putting up with for the sake of a job.
But Midori also has a point: this contract loss is a big blow for the company, and it takes someone with a great degree of self-confidence to apologize.
So he sys he will resign rather than apologize. And she says fine. And then she goes off to ask the star for another chance but the spoiled little bitch is ignoring the pleas.
And you see Kanzaki think at night, about Midori and what she said.
Then next morning, Midori heads over to the star's again. And the firm authorized her to triple the star's fee and this will be a big hit for the company but they need the contract.
But before she has the chance to explain the terms to star's manager, she hears a familiar voice in the other room, begging for a chance to apologize.
It's Kanzaki.
OMG OMG OMG. I made funny kigh-pitched noises at the screen. He's come to apologize (even though he knows he wasn't wrong. And I think he is doing it for Midori who is in a lot of trouble if the contract is lost).
And the pouty little bitch is all 'you want to apologize to me? Fine, I'll let you if you get down on your knees and grovel, with head to the floor'
*stab*
(And Midori, is watching all this unobserved, and horrified, and moved. OMG, her face. She is so falling for him. It was pretty clear earlier when she was worked up about him being in her department. Her ex mentioned this was more hear she showed when she broke their engagement. But her face, during this scene, is a total give away.)
And OMG OMG OMG he does it.
OMG.
He is on his knees, kowtowing.
(The only other scene in jdrama I find as uncomfortable to watch is Kame grovelling to the factory boss in Tattakoi. I just hate to see a good person forced to humiliate himself).
And the star is clearly enjoying it, and then OMG OMG Midori walks in. And she tells Kanzaki (who is shocked to see her there) to get up. And she says can they please she came over here, and they are leaving. And the star is 'you are corageous' and Midori replies that she believes in her company. She would have enjoyed working with the star but oh well. And bows and walks out. With Kanzaki in tow.
OMG OMG OMG.
He threw over his pride for her, but she threw over her career.
OMG.
And then her ex is waiting for her and is all 'wtf are you doing, your career?' and she is still fine with it.
And then the star calls and says she will work with them after all (because I suppose she was impressed by the gift of the magi-ness of it).
But you know what I like? Kanzaki and Midori do what they do for each other, but they also do it out of principle. Midori sees that there are limits to what you should be willing to do for the sake of your job. And Kanzaki sees that there are times when you should sacrifice your pride for the greater good.
OMG OMG.
So good.
And then they are both laughing and it's awesome.
And (some time later) he takes her to lunch at the place he mentioned and there is adorableness and flusteredness on her part and teasing on his. EEEEE.
And then there is an article in a magazine about his family and with pics of him, and the family rift, and the condition on his freedom and all that. And she is totally poed and doesn't know why :D And then they have this convo:
She: you should leave as you are only here for a year, so why not just go take over the business now. Darnit, I can't admit even to myself, how disappointed I am because he is out of my league and argh argh he looks hot all in black.
He: Nope, not leaving. Need to earn my living for a year, after all. I did tell you I am here for you, at the beginning, even though you didn't believe me, and I am not sure I know it myself consciously. Plus, you look so good in black, and who will I tease if I am gone elsewhere?
Adorableness.
And now I bring you some screencaps:
The bitchy starlet:
Midori learning the contract fell through:
She tells him to apologize to the unreasonable starlet:
He says he'd rather resign:
*ummm, aren't most jobs taken for money?*
I think she is beautiful:
This is just here because he is so pretty *swoon*:
Next day, Midori has come with different terms to the starlet's office. (Why are there books? The girl doesn't seem like she can read):
Unobserved, Midori sees that Kanzaki is there:
He's come to apologize OMG OMG. Also, suit!
Girl, just start doodling 'Mrs. Kanzaki' in your notebooks, 'k?
Being told he has to grovel:
And doing it (girl, I think you might want to reconsider having a guy grovel to you when your skirt is this short):
OMG:
Midori has had enough:
Awwwww. The puppy look on his face? Is made of win. Midori is telling starlet there is no contract, and telling Kanzaki to get up and 'let's go'
Mmmmm. Yummy stares:
Star is flabbergasted (but all is well that ends well):
OMG, adorableness. Having lunch together some time later:
He just wants to tell her she has something on her face, but because she is so conscious of him, awkward. And hot:
Heeeee. She finds out he is the heir to a prestigious (and affluent) tea business. Hey, he makes it into magazines :) What they are really saying is 'let's find a private corner'.
LOL. She dropped a bunch of paperwork. Love the look on her face: