I think I'm having a spasm. The muscles in my face keep pulling at my mouth. Oh! I think I'm happy!
Well, that was fun exercise in sobbing my eyes out and wishing for the dark comfort of death.
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN THEY'D KILL TWO OUT OF THREE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THOUGHTFULLY SLAUGHTER THE HALF-DOZEN THEY'D FORGOTTEN IN PREVIOUS EPISODES. This was based on a kdrama. I'm surprised anyone was left standing at all. I'm surprised THE PLAGUE didn't appear and sweep through any survivors.
Does anyone know when we'll get better quality raws?
PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Looking back, it seems obvious Noriyoshi was toast. The ultimate parallel to Manaka Mama -- take away a son, commence heart attack.
I find it interesting Naruse didn't plan this one. Noriyoshi killed himself and his father in one move, but it wasn't Naruse's intention (there's a brilliant theory here that he never wanted Serizawa dead at all). Naruse took everything from Naoto except his family. Did that pain hit too close to home? Was that the one thing he couldn't do, no matter how angry he was? Because he knew what it felt like? He only destroys his darkroom after he sees the agony of losing a brother reflected in Naoto.
"Can't you hear the voice of the forests? The beautiful flowers blooming in spring. The red leaves that cover the trees in autumn, and carpets of blue on the ground during winter... and then, the huge rainbow that appears after the rain. Do you have such fortunate scenery as these on the road that you're trying to walk, Mr. Naruse?"
I started crying about here and didn't stop for the rest of the episode.
HE LOOKED
INTO
THE LIGHT
HE LOOKED INTO THE LIGHT. HE RAISED HIS FACE TO THE LIGHT AND SAW IT DEAD ON. AND NOT ONLY THAT! BUT SHIORI! SHIORI DID IT TO HIM!! SHE MADE HIM STARE STRAIGHT AT THE SUNLIGHT, FULL-ON, FACE FIRST, HER ARMS AROUND HIM!!! OMG!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! *GIBBERS*
This here was the emotional climax for me. I actually had to stop and go back -- twice -- because I wasn't paying attention to the scenes that came after.
I knew they were doing the lighting on purpose. I KNEW IT. IT WAS ALL LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT. A++++ DRAMA I LOVE YOU FOREVER.
And of course Naruse has to ruin it by taking Shiori's hand away and walking back into the dark tunnel. "There are still twenty minutes left, sorry."
Poor dead daddy. Poor Naoto. He truly had nothing left to lose anymore.
I wonder what would've happened if Noriyoshi hadn't set off this chain of events. Naoto offered to die; would he have let Naruse kill him? Would Naruse even have wanted to? He went back in the dark tunnel, but if his goal wasn't murder, but suicide by cop... if Naoto hadn't lost his family, would he still have picked up a gun?
Totally called this one. The biggest devil of all wasn't the serial killer mastermind, it was the man who couldn't give up revenge, never learned to forgive, consistently ran away from the truth, and loved no one. So take your pick depending on your favorite theme.
(Personally, love is my sticking point. The focus of Maou was truth, but I believe the central theme and driving force was love -- love of family, love of others, redemption through love, self-sacrifice for it. And Yamano was the only character who had absolutely none. Not even Hideo. "Who is your revenge actually for?")
SCREAM. And also SOB. Brought down by the monster he made.
BEGGING YAMANO TO STOP. ASKING CEASEFIRE FROM HIS OWN CREEPY LACKEY.
*wibbles* Just a week ago I wanted him to die. B-but the ring! Mari at his apartment, cheerfully making dinner with no idea!
FINGERS TWITCHING TOWARDS TO THE BOX LIKE HIDEO'S WITH THE HARMONICA. There are a lot of symbols in this drama.
OMG did he give her the music box?? A love letter and Over The Rainbow?
"YOUR FEELINGS MELTED MY COLD HEART." OMG. OMG CRIED SO HARD.
"I wanted to throw away all my sins and create a brand new future... If only I could be together with you... " YOU COULD HAVE!!! PSYCHIC MIDGET BABIES!! "I don't know how many times I dreamed of such things... every time you were by my side." GODDAMNIT! LOVE HOTEL! IT'S NOT THAT HARD!
"One more person who must die no matter what." Himself. AUGHHHHH.
"Shiori-san. I am very sorry. And... thank you for everything."
brb, cannot see through my tears, heart is shattered in a million pieces on the floor
Goodbye, you fucking prick. I find it completely fitting you were gunned down like a dog. (Sorry, I consider you almost wholly responsible for Naruse's death, and I don't mean the stab.)
"I can't die yet... " Oh Naruse. Oh you fucking hardcore badass, I just, I don't even know how to express my love for you. BLOODY FINGERS BUTTONING UP YOUR JACKET TO HIDE A STAB WOUND. Painful steps to the final confrontation that must happen. SOB.
THE WAREHOUSE OMG OMG
"The revenge started because of me. Only I can stop it." It's great how he only picks up the gun when there's no one left to die. I'm sure Souda and Yousuke and Kasai appreciate it.
Oh god, I love (and by love I mean "heart carved out of my chest") how Naruse's expectant smile slipped right off his face when Naoto's hands started shaking.
"What are you hesitating for? Do you not hate me?"
a;fl;sdjlsdajfskldfjsdf Naruse losing every ounce of composure as his world comes crashing down. "I killed everyone! You lost your family! You lost your friends! You'll never stop hating me even after I'm dead!! ...right? Right?" He's just astounded that Naoto can't take his revenge.
I'm not buying this "your objective all along was to die" bullshit. The Naruse of the finale was ready to go; he tore down the darkroom; he told Shiori goodbye. But Naruse in the beginning? Who had no cracks in his armor, who wanted nothing more than cold-blooded revenge? I can believe he never intended to walk away from his plan, but he sure as hell didn't want Naoto to kill him. It just doesn't make sense. Why would he have any reason to trust the law after what happened with Hideo? What makes him think his own death wouldn't be innocence through legitimate self-defense? I can't believe he would formulate, plot, and spend years cultivating a plan with such a gaping hole in it.
Though I love, love that law=god held to the very last. The worst fate Naruse could inflict on his most hated enemy? Justice.
"Finally, the time to go back to myself has come. Please shoot me." Oh my god.
"Shoot me! This is your duty! KILL ME!"
"But fuck me again before I go!"
He couldn't do it. Oh Naoto. Oh woobie. I've come a long way from bitching about you in the premiere. "The one who made you suffer that much was me." Self-awareness, owning up to his sins, taking responsibility for the hurt he caused. Brilliant.
"I can't forgive myself if I live on like this." YES. That's pure Manaka Tomoo.
The biggest lesson we can take from Maou: don't fucking panic with a weapon in your hands. That's what? Three down due to carelessness? GUN SAFETY IS COOL, KIDS.
"But I didn't get my blowjob yet..."
"I can still try!"
"Don't be stupid, you'll get blood on my nice suit."
I'm a terrible person, I know.
BAWLING. THE SHAKING HANDS. THE BLOODY PHONE. "Get a hold of yourself! Get a hold of yourself!" WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THIS?
"Please live on... with everything you have... "
"Tomoo-san... please forgive me... and yourself."
I am so completely broken.
God, this broke my heart so much I don't know if I'll ever be able to rewatch it. It was a good ending, a fitting one, that they both paid for their sins and through atonement found peace. But all I can think about is Naruse's wretched sobbing as he sits with Naoto's body and waits to die.
Last week flange5 put the idea in my head that the final confrontation would be a re-creation of the incident 11 years ago, this time with switched roles to reflect character growth, and while it didn't quite work the way we thought (we thought Yamano would be there, prompting a self-sacrifice from either Naoto or Naruse) it still shared enough similarities for me to make thrilled high-pitched noises.
Naoto into Hideo = tragic victim, warehouse scene, harmonica
Yamano into Naoto = deranged bully, accidental stabbing, ran away from his crime
Tomoo into Naruse into Tomoo = full circle.
Comparison caps:
Accident:
Death:
But where Hideo died alone, reaching for something he couldn't grasp, Naoto died with forgiveness in his heart and his hand in Naruse's. SUBTLETY.
Can I talk about the love theme some more? Because I really honestly adore it. It wasn't preachy or high-handed at all, just ever-present. It was truth (Naoto), redemption (Kasai), forgiveness (Makiko), humanity (Shiori). It was also twisted, manipulated, and used to justify wrongful things, but you were never beyond amends (Naoto, Naruse) or sympathy (Serizawa Sr.) if you could find it again. Not loving yourself was a tragedy (Naruse). Loving yourself more than others was the worst thing you could do (Yamano, Ikehata).
flange5, I thought of us. "Naruse is doomed!" "Naoto is toast!' "Naruse!" "Naoto!" "Naruse!"
Drama: *SPITES EVERYONE ps gay*
How absolutely fucking amazing was this? "Forgive me, and forgive yourself." Serenity.
SHIORI. OH GOD. I THOUGHT I'D NEVER STOP CRYING.
"Could you be a bit more obvious, please? The love interest is here. We need to make it clear who was fucking."
OUT OF THE DARK TUNNEL.
This was so fitting it made my heart hurt. Tomoo and Naoto both represented through the people who cared about them. If they had to die, I'm glad they're remembered.
THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES. THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES FROM THE FUCKING OPENING, PEACEFUL AND FLYING FREE AT LAST. I remember someone asking way back what they could symbolize, but I figured they were just a cool decoration. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. EVERYTHING HAS MEANING. The devil, the light, the tunnel, the butterflies, the tarot cards. Amazing.
Last shot of the show: Shiori getting a flash, but we don't know what. I shrieked, then I laughed. Perfect. I don't know what was left for her to see, but she deserved the truth too.
That was one amazing drama. And I'm never, ever watching it again. Ow.
Final death toll: Hideo, Manaka-san, Ryou, Kumada, Ikehata, Yousuke, Souda, Kasai, Yamano, Noriyoshi, Daddy Serizawa, Naoto, Tomoo
Survivors: Shiori. Um. And Mari. (New OTP?)
I SHOULD'VE KNOWN. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN THEY'D KILL TWO OUT OF THREE MAIN CHARACTERS AND THOUGHTFULLY SLAUGHTER THE HALF-DOZEN THEY'D FORGOTTEN IN PREVIOUS EPISODES. This was based on a kdrama. I'm surprised anyone was left standing at all. I'm surprised THE PLAGUE didn't appear and sweep through any survivors.
Does anyone know when we'll get better quality raws?
PERFECT. ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Looking back, it seems obvious Noriyoshi was toast. The ultimate parallel to Manaka Mama -- take away a son, commence heart attack.
I find it interesting Naruse didn't plan this one. Noriyoshi killed himself and his father in one move, but it wasn't Naruse's intention (there's a brilliant theory here that he never wanted Serizawa dead at all). Naruse took everything from Naoto except his family. Did that pain hit too close to home? Was that the one thing he couldn't do, no matter how angry he was? Because he knew what it felt like? He only destroys his darkroom after he sees the agony of losing a brother reflected in Naoto.
"Can't you hear the voice of the forests? The beautiful flowers blooming in spring. The red leaves that cover the trees in autumn, and carpets of blue on the ground during winter... and then, the huge rainbow that appears after the rain. Do you have such fortunate scenery as these on the road that you're trying to walk, Mr. Naruse?"
I started crying about here and didn't stop for the rest of the episode.
HE LOOKED
INTO
THE LIGHT
HE LOOKED INTO THE LIGHT. HE RAISED HIS FACE TO THE LIGHT AND SAW IT DEAD ON. AND NOT ONLY THAT! BUT SHIORI! SHIORI DID IT TO HIM!! SHE MADE HIM STARE STRAIGHT AT THE SUNLIGHT, FULL-ON, FACE FIRST, HER ARMS AROUND HIM!!! OMG!! OMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!! *GIBBERS*
This here was the emotional climax for me. I actually had to stop and go back -- twice -- because I wasn't paying attention to the scenes that came after.
I knew they were doing the lighting on purpose. I KNEW IT. IT WAS ALL LEADING UP TO THIS MOMENT. A++++ DRAMA I LOVE YOU FOREVER.
And of course Naruse has to ruin it by taking Shiori's hand away and walking back into the dark tunnel. "There are still twenty minutes left, sorry."
Poor dead daddy. Poor Naoto. He truly had nothing left to lose anymore.
I wonder what would've happened if Noriyoshi hadn't set off this chain of events. Naoto offered to die; would he have let Naruse kill him? Would Naruse even have wanted to? He went back in the dark tunnel, but if his goal wasn't murder, but suicide by cop... if Naoto hadn't lost his family, would he still have picked up a gun?
Totally called this one. The biggest devil of all wasn't the serial killer mastermind, it was the man who couldn't give up revenge, never learned to forgive, consistently ran away from the truth, and loved no one. So take your pick depending on your favorite theme.
(Personally, love is my sticking point. The focus of Maou was truth, but I believe the central theme and driving force was love -- love of family, love of others, redemption through love, self-sacrifice for it. And Yamano was the only character who had absolutely none. Not even Hideo. "Who is your revenge actually for?")
SCREAM. And also SOB. Brought down by the monster he made.
BEGGING YAMANO TO STOP. ASKING CEASEFIRE FROM HIS OWN CREEPY LACKEY.
*wibbles* Just a week ago I wanted him to die. B-but the ring! Mari at his apartment, cheerfully making dinner with no idea!
FINGERS TWITCHING TOWARDS TO THE BOX LIKE HIDEO'S WITH THE HARMONICA. There are a lot of symbols in this drama.
OMG did he give her the music box?? A love letter and Over The Rainbow?
"YOUR FEELINGS MELTED MY COLD HEART." OMG. OMG CRIED SO HARD.
"I wanted to throw away all my sins and create a brand new future... If only I could be together with you... " YOU COULD HAVE!!! PSYCHIC MIDGET BABIES!! "I don't know how many times I dreamed of such things... every time you were by my side." GODDAMNIT! LOVE HOTEL! IT'S NOT THAT HARD!
"One more person who must die no matter what." Himself. AUGHHHHH.
"Shiori-san. I am very sorry. And... thank you for everything."
brb, cannot see through my tears, heart is shattered in a million pieces on the floor
Goodbye, you fucking prick. I find it completely fitting you were gunned down like a dog. (Sorry, I consider you almost wholly responsible for Naruse's death, and I don't mean the stab.)
"I can't die yet... " Oh Naruse. Oh you fucking hardcore badass, I just, I don't even know how to express my love for you. BLOODY FINGERS BUTTONING UP YOUR JACKET TO HIDE A STAB WOUND. Painful steps to the final confrontation that must happen. SOB.
THE WAREHOUSE OMG OMG
"The revenge started because of me. Only I can stop it." It's great how he only picks up the gun when there's no one left to die. I'm sure Souda and Yousuke and Kasai appreciate it.
Oh god, I love (and by love I mean "heart carved out of my chest") how Naruse's expectant smile slipped right off his face when Naoto's hands started shaking.
"What are you hesitating for? Do you not hate me?"
a;fl;sdjlsdajfskldfjsdf Naruse losing every ounce of composure as his world comes crashing down. "I killed everyone! You lost your family! You lost your friends! You'll never stop hating me even after I'm dead!! ...right? Right?" He's just astounded that Naoto can't take his revenge.
I'm not buying this "your objective all along was to die" bullshit. The Naruse of the finale was ready to go; he tore down the darkroom; he told Shiori goodbye. But Naruse in the beginning? Who had no cracks in his armor, who wanted nothing more than cold-blooded revenge? I can believe he never intended to walk away from his plan, but he sure as hell didn't want Naoto to kill him. It just doesn't make sense. Why would he have any reason to trust the law after what happened with Hideo? What makes him think his own death wouldn't be innocence through legitimate self-defense? I can't believe he would formulate, plot, and spend years cultivating a plan with such a gaping hole in it.
Though I love, love that law=god held to the very last. The worst fate Naruse could inflict on his most hated enemy? Justice.
"Finally, the time to go back to myself has come. Please shoot me." Oh my god.
"Shoot me! This is your duty! KILL ME!"
"But fuck me again before I go!"
He couldn't do it. Oh Naoto. Oh woobie. I've come a long way from bitching about you in the premiere. "The one who made you suffer that much was me." Self-awareness, owning up to his sins, taking responsibility for the hurt he caused. Brilliant.
"I can't forgive myself if I live on like this." YES. That's pure Manaka Tomoo.
The biggest lesson we can take from Maou: don't fucking panic with a weapon in your hands. That's what? Three down due to carelessness? GUN SAFETY IS COOL, KIDS.
"But I didn't get my blowjob yet..."
"I can still try!"
"Don't be stupid, you'll get blood on my nice suit."
I'm a terrible person, I know.
BAWLING. THE SHAKING HANDS. THE BLOODY PHONE. "Get a hold of yourself! Get a hold of yourself!" WHY DID IT HAVE TO END LIKE THIS?
"Please live on... with everything you have... "
"Tomoo-san... please forgive me... and yourself."
I am so completely broken.
God, this broke my heart so much I don't know if I'll ever be able to rewatch it. It was a good ending, a fitting one, that they both paid for their sins and through atonement found peace. But all I can think about is Naruse's wretched sobbing as he sits with Naoto's body and waits to die.
Last week flange5 put the idea in my head that the final confrontation would be a re-creation of the incident 11 years ago, this time with switched roles to reflect character growth, and while it didn't quite work the way we thought (we thought Yamano would be there, prompting a self-sacrifice from either Naoto or Naruse) it still shared enough similarities for me to make thrilled high-pitched noises.
Naoto into Hideo = tragic victim, warehouse scene, harmonica
Yamano into Naoto = deranged bully, accidental stabbing, ran away from his crime
Tomoo into Naruse into Tomoo = full circle.
Comparison caps:
Accident:
Death:
But where Hideo died alone, reaching for something he couldn't grasp, Naoto died with forgiveness in his heart and his hand in Naruse's. SUBTLETY.
Can I talk about the love theme some more? Because I really honestly adore it. It wasn't preachy or high-handed at all, just ever-present. It was truth (Naoto), redemption (Kasai), forgiveness (Makiko), humanity (Shiori). It was also twisted, manipulated, and used to justify wrongful things, but you were never beyond amends (Naoto, Naruse) or sympathy (Serizawa Sr.) if you could find it again. Not loving yourself was a tragedy (Naruse). Loving yourself more than others was the worst thing you could do (Yamano, Ikehata).
flange5, I thought of us. "Naruse is doomed!" "Naoto is toast!' "Naruse!" "Naoto!" "Naruse!"
Drama: *SPITES EVERYONE ps gay*
How absolutely fucking amazing was this? "Forgive me, and forgive yourself." Serenity.
SHIORI. OH GOD. I THOUGHT I'D NEVER STOP CRYING.
"Could you be a bit more obvious, please? The love interest is here. We need to make it clear who was fucking."
OUT OF THE DARK TUNNEL.
This was so fitting it made my heart hurt. Tomoo and Naoto both represented through the people who cared about them. If they had to die, I'm glad they're remembered.
THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES. THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES FROM THE FUCKING OPENING, PEACEFUL AND FLYING FREE AT LAST. I remember someone asking way back what they could symbolize, but I figured they were just a cool decoration. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. EVERYTHING HAS MEANING. The devil, the light, the tunnel, the butterflies, the tarot cards. Amazing.
Last shot of the show: Shiori getting a flash, but we don't know what. I shrieked, then I laughed. Perfect. I don't know what was left for her to see, but she deserved the truth too.
That was one amazing drama. And I'm never, ever watching it again. Ow.
Final death toll: Hideo, Manaka-san, Ryou, Kumada, Ikehata, Yousuke, Souda, Kasai, Yamano, Noriyoshi, Daddy Serizawa, Naoto, Tomoo
Survivors: Shiori. Um. And Mari. (New OTP?)