Nankyoku Tairiku (南極大陸) ep2
"It's nice to have someone waiting for your return"
This second episode was a rollercoaster ride!! Emotions overflowing every minute... gosh... I'm loving it more and more... haha!
This episode starts with some canine action. Shiro and Riki are under Kuramochi's care while our beloved Taro is giving trouble to Inuzuka... xDD. They just making me fall in love with them with each passing moment. Look at Taro in the picture above. Isn't he adorable? *_*
(I didn't know this picture ended up being so big... :P)
This episode was focused on their relationships and the reality of a bunch of men living and working in the same place. Yeah, I think it was very realistic. Let's face it, if the crew were all women, they probably wouldn't fight so much as Kuramochi and company. They didn't have previous experience of living in the same environment and no one is willing to accept the other. So the slow development of their friendship touched me, especially during the harsh storms. In the first typhoon, Anko got hurt. I was so worried about him... xD (well... he got the opportunity to be hugged by Kimura) :P
The doctor actually asks Kuramochi about his family and delivers this wonderful line: "It's nice to have someone waiting for your return". It's not much but Kuramochi thinks about Miyuki too ^^
On the other hand, those who stayed in Japan, i.e. wifes, girlfriends, family, all gathered together for news about their men. Miyuki-sensei, Samejima and Yokomine's wife became good friends. Yokomine's wife, Naomi, is pregnant and her baby will probably be born on Christmas' Eve (quite symbolic). Sakura, the actress who plays Naomi is so pretty ^^
In the meantime, Soya is passing through the Indian ocean and everyone is suffering from the terrible heat. The only AC available is for the dogs and this fact only serves to create more "misunderstanding" from them. Kuramochi gives us a heartily speech about their attitude, saying that "Antarctica is not a place to be taken lightly". If they continue to ignore each other's differences their plan to continue the expedition will be a merely dream. Samejima is particularly hot blooded. It understandable. He's part of the poor society defeated by war struggling to support his family, both financially and emotionally so he just want to succeed in this journey. The problem is that he's not very good at expressing it... xD (Kimura looks nice in that first shot... the angle of the camera is perfect... gosh I'm so twisted :P)
Hoshino-sensei has an inner feeling that they will end up in good terms (so as us)... :P. I love his character and his serious meaningful talks in a funny tone.
Christmas finally came and who's better than Hoshino to play Santa Claus. Yokomine's wife also send him a telegram informing him that she entered labour. Just as everyone is ready for a toast, Soya is trapped by a powerful storm. (They surely fell a lot in this episode... haha!).
Water invades the ship, people are hurt, a small fire threatens them, poor Taro and Jiro are trapped and Inozuka has a hard time. My heart was beating so fast during those whole 10+ minutes. And despite the cold looking posture, Himuro also helps. I loved a particular line from his talk with Samejima:
Himuro: "So you're saying that's why you guys can winter over?"
Samejima: "No. I'm saying we're the only ones who can do it."
*Clap hands*
In the end, Samejima encounters Taro in his room and protects him from a falling metal I-don't-know-what-to-call-it (and you were saying you didn't care about the dogs, huh?), injuring himself in the process. Fortunately it's just some scratches and we finally hear him say some nice words about his motive to join the expedition - to give a better future for his son - even recognizing Kuramochi's effort ^^
Yokomine also receives good news from his wife: they had twins!! It was such a nice scene! And it kinda works as a mirror of their future. After the storm, there comes the Sun. Japan may bea defeated country now, but it will raise again from the ashes ^^
And finally, our favourite crew reached the Antarctica circle and the promised land is just a few miles away. Shirasaki-sensei screams whole heartily like he's making a promise to all the people in Japan. (I would do the same). I'm wondering if Himuro is not cold with that coat... haha!
The Japanese Government also gave permission for them to winter in Antarctica. The scene with Kuramochi and Himuro together is exceptionally good. Kuramo-chan is making a subtle request that he knows Himuro won't reject. Sometimes I think Kuramochi is looking for forgiveness but not from Himuro, it's from himself. I hope they give us more details about their past together and that accident at the mountains.
The 12 people wintering is selected! I thought Shirasaki would stay too but I was proven wrong. The episode finishes with Soya getting trapped between the ice and "This is INACCESSIBLE".