Sunadokei Ep 21-30 (Week 5/6)
While I'm waiting for Volume 8 of Hatsu Kare by Tomori Miyoshi to finish downloading (which, by the way, was adopted into a live-action drama in 2006 starring the girl who was in the 7th season of 3-Nen B-Gumi Kinpachi Sensei), this is a quick write up of my thoughts on the latest episodes of Sunadokei.
First: one thing I've noticed lately (well, that's a lie. I started noticing this in the second week) is....there's wayyy too many flashbacks. It makes sense to have flashbacks when the episodes are aired weekly, but when it's DAILY like Sunadokei it becomes irritating. They're wasting 4-5 minutes of a 25 minute episode on flashbacks. Or maybe that's their goal? Since it is a morning drama, maybe they don't have the budget to have 25 FULL minutes of extra material? Well if that was going to be the case I wish they'd just stick in five extra minutes of commercials---at least then it won't be so annoying when I watch it on DVD. It becomes glaringly obvious in this weeks' episodes with the *drum roll* Fuji and Ann's kiss. Okay, okay I got it. They kissed. Now stop showing so many flashbacks of that one scene.
With each passing episode, I'm wishing more and more for Fuji-kun to just...die. Or at least disappear from the drama. Which is weird because I actually liked Fuji in the manga (even more than Daigo). The actor isn't convincing me at all with his portrayal of the character. And is it just me or does he seem to have a lot of scenes where he's yelling (with that nasal/girly voice he gets whenever he raises his voice above a whisper), or where he's running (with that flapping hands side to side, unnatural jog/walk he does)?
I have an uncontrollable urge to start humming Domo Arigatou Mr. Roboto whenever the cameras give a close up of Fuji walking (like for example, in the scene where Fuji walks away from Ann after spending the day with her at the amusement park). He's obviously very conscious of his walk, because he's very...stiff in his arm/leg movements ^^
These episodes are leading up to the breakup. So basically it focuses on the tension between Daigo and Ann (mostly due to Ann. She lies to Daigo about everything basically. She's one of those types who are easily misunderstood). She tells little white lies because she thinks she's keeping Daigo from unnecessary worrying, but instead that just comes back to haunt her later on. Like with the whole "Go back to Tokyo to find Fuji" deal. She found him way before she let Daigo know she found Fuji. But Daigo caught on pretty early, because the letter Ann forced Fuji to write to Shiika used the same stationary paper she wrote a note to Daigo with when she was rushing back to Tokyo because one of her friends had spotted Fuji.
They are seriously downplaying Shiika's role in the drama. They essentially cut out all the little scenes in between that made her fall in love with Daigo. So whereas in the manga, I could understand why she fell for Daigo, in the drama she's made to come off as this bitch who's trying to steal her friend's boyfriend.
To be honest I was hoping Shiika and Fuji would end up together, since although they grew up as a family, they're not really related. And I think personality-wise, they're perfect for each other. But, since the mangaka focuses on reality rather than fantasy, it makes sense that the story wouldn't be wrapped up so easily.
First: one thing I've noticed lately (well, that's a lie. I started noticing this in the second week) is....there's wayyy too many flashbacks. It makes sense to have flashbacks when the episodes are aired weekly, but when it's DAILY like Sunadokei it becomes irritating. They're wasting 4-5 minutes of a 25 minute episode on flashbacks. Or maybe that's their goal? Since it is a morning drama, maybe they don't have the budget to have 25 FULL minutes of extra material? Well if that was going to be the case I wish they'd just stick in five extra minutes of commercials---at least then it won't be so annoying when I watch it on DVD. It becomes glaringly obvious in this weeks' episodes with the *drum roll* Fuji and Ann's kiss. Okay, okay I got it. They kissed. Now stop showing so many flashbacks of that one scene.
With each passing episode, I'm wishing more and more for Fuji-kun to just...die. Or at least disappear from the drama. Which is weird because I actually liked Fuji in the manga (even more than Daigo). The actor isn't convincing me at all with his portrayal of the character. And is it just me or does he seem to have a lot of scenes where he's yelling (with that nasal/girly voice he gets whenever he raises his voice above a whisper), or where he's running (with that flapping hands side to side, unnatural jog/walk he does)?
I have an uncontrollable urge to start humming Domo Arigatou Mr. Roboto whenever the cameras give a close up of Fuji walking (like for example, in the scene where Fuji walks away from Ann after spending the day with her at the amusement park). He's obviously very conscious of his walk, because he's very...stiff in his arm/leg movements ^^
These episodes are leading up to the breakup. So basically it focuses on the tension between Daigo and Ann (mostly due to Ann. She lies to Daigo about everything basically. She's one of those types who are easily misunderstood). She tells little white lies because she thinks she's keeping Daigo from unnecessary worrying, but instead that just comes back to haunt her later on. Like with the whole "Go back to Tokyo to find Fuji" deal. She found him way before she let Daigo know she found Fuji. But Daigo caught on pretty early, because the letter Ann forced Fuji to write to Shiika used the same stationary paper she wrote a note to Daigo with when she was rushing back to Tokyo because one of her friends had spotted Fuji.
They are seriously downplaying Shiika's role in the drama. They essentially cut out all the little scenes in between that made her fall in love with Daigo. So whereas in the manga, I could understand why she fell for Daigo, in the drama she's made to come off as this bitch who's trying to steal her friend's boyfriend.
To be honest I was hoping Shiika and Fuji would end up together, since although they grew up as a family, they're not really related. And I think personality-wise, they're perfect for each other. But, since the mangaka focuses on reality rather than fantasy, it makes sense that the story wouldn't be wrapped up so easily.