TUMB-U-LIN-GU
Just finished watching the drama. Ah~~~feels exactly like how I did when I first watched Nobuta last time. Come to think of it, I may rewatch Nobuta again XD
Such a feel-good drama isn't it. About friends, about life, about youth. However cheesy and some may call it corny - it's true isn't it? That all of us are finding our place all along. Something that we like to do; something that we have passion about; something that can make us realise the good points of ourselves. The pace was great in the first 5 episodes. The later ones got just a little draggy and preachy, but just have a little patience, and it is worth it.
To be honest, I didn't want to watch it initially. Because it felt like it would a Gokusen XXXXX. But then I keep seeing the drama title popping up and I gave it a go (since I am done with whatever Joker episodes that are on Tudou.)
I am glad I did. It was an entirely enjoyable drama journey.
Let's see, I shall start with the red head.- Yamamoto Yusuke:D So, this guy is great in his role as Azuma Wataru. He makes a good and convincing Yankee. Firstly because of his build - tall, muscular, square jaw;; and secondly because of his voice - strong, loud, manly. The character was adorable wasn't it? And miles away from the first role I saw him in - As the 'Ghost guy' in Hana Kimi (I don't even know his name in the drama....!) His look and that HAIR, seriously those are enough to make him look scary. Not to mention that the way the uniform was altered hahahahhaha.
But even as a Yankee, he was more like a good Yankee who is simply both short and hot tempered and loves to fight. It's a role that is entirely lovable, with how he protects and fights for friends and the most adorable relationship he has with his Mum.Even though it was such a typical good guy role, I do love him in it. Besides, he is pretty good at comedic timings, when it comes to melting in front of his crush Mari-chan. Just that you know, the parts where he smiles when he feels touched (a little cheesy and too many scenes of that - well but then again, it is a high school drama so it can't be avoided right hahahah).
Then there is the guy who is the extreme of Wataru - Takenaka Yuta played by Seto Koji. You know, before I watched Tumbling, I refused to pay attention to him as an actor and actually disliked him quite a bit. Not because of anything but he just looked.........I hated that long hair on him. I thought it was really ugly. Plus, it felt like he was always pouting and working those lips when I stumbled upon pictures of him. That is something I absolutely cannot stand><
But after watching this drama, and with this dark short hair, I officially don't dislike him anymore. Because this guy really knows how to cry, and he played the role of captain not too badly! My favourite Yuta moment was the first episode when he lost his temper at Wataru mocking the sport he loved most. I thought that was the best moment for the character - because following that the captain role became kinda.....bland. A passionate student who has to overcome a lot to bring the team together ....you know. Quite typical ><
And then there's the BFF, Tsukimori Ryosuke played by Miura Shohei. I have never seen him before and my first impression of him was: OH MY LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE MOKOMICHI. Hahahah I am serious, just that Miura is is a younger and chubbier person (because Mokomichi is so lean-.-and a lot darker)
To be honest, he is very cute. Freaking cute, when he flashes that grin. But then sadly, this role doesn't get much depth. In one of the episodes, we see him getting into trouble, but that was a rather poor storyline for his character wasn't it? That the fact that he got into trouble just because he thought that his best friend had forsaken him for gymnastics. I think that made us realise that Ryosuke is in fact very soft, and has a very fragile and malleable character. Puppy-like in fact - very loyal, but gets misled very easily. We first see him being moody when Wataru was too busy with gymnastics, and in another we see him throwing a little fit, saying that he doesn't want to do gymnastics anymore. Those little moments made me rather annoyed, coupled with his tears during the Kanto championships; it makes you realise how soft the character is. And together with Wataru and Nippori - it's like a perfect package that makes you smile and feel all warm and fuzzy.
YES YES, SEE THE SIMILARITY?
I officially declare that Daito Shunsuke can stare very well. HAHAHA. Anyway, the role of Kiyama suits him - looking all cool and scary on the outside, yet is a gentle person on the inside. How to not love such character! I loved his storyline a lot. How his friend protected him and got killed. The best moment for the character was when he apologised to the friend's mother. The anguish and the guilt will make your heart go all soft. Not to mention that little moment when he gave the suggestion of 'Enka' for the music and was embarrassed by the lack of reaction. It was subtle yet super hilarious. But the later episodes involving gymnastics did not exactly focus on him so he became quite........nonexistent ><.
I do realise Daito Shunsuke has been a part of many dramas that I watched, yet I have absolutely no memory of him being inside. Those like Nobuta, Love Shuffle, Hana Kimi - like seriously, he appeared in them?! I wonder when he will break the typecast that he obviously has (the vibes he give off are similar to Narimiya Hiroki! And they are forever in those kind of.............roles><). The shows he starred in are almost ALL high school dramas as well, and movies include those like Crows Zero I and II.
Nishijima Takahiro as Hino Tetsuya. When the character first appeared, acting all cool and aloof (like really, that;s what the role required till up to episode 5 I think-.-), I was wondering why the guy looked familiar. And tada, he is part of AAA - which made me drop my jaw and go 'Oh he is one of the guys?!' And can you believe that he is already 24?!?! Because when standing with the rest of the cast, he looked young and tiny that he is difficult to believe. I like how the character behaved in the end, when he became part of the group. You could see him still act cool and such, but in a friendly manner XD (Random, but Nissy's hair sticks out like a tail at the ends. That for some reason left a super big impression on me hahahahhha)
Say hello to my favourite character! Kaku Kento as Nippori. I cannot emphasise how great his comedic timings were:D Hahhaha, I think he is a pretty new actor since there is not much on wiki about him. And surprise...! He is another person on Taiyo to Umi no Kyoshitsu (which I watched and honestly, I don't remember much about the drama at all-.-). Like Ryosuke, he loves Wataru. He is obviously a fanboy of his Aniki too. The way Nippori acts as a cheerleader to his Aniki and Kaneko was endearing. Not to mention, somehow he is a Yankee who works part time to support his family. What a likeable role isn't it :D (Not to mention that Elvis Presley hair HAHAHA)
Ah yes, another lookalike. HE LOOKS LIKE HK ACTOR SAMMUL CHAN (I know I said that Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Sammul Chan look alike....but now there's another to join the pair...!) Yanagishita Tomo as Mizusawa Taku. His storyline was super obvious (well, keeping a picture of Kiyama in his wallet could just mean two things: Either he sees Kiyama as enemy and want to kill him, or that he has a crush on him. Most likely the latter, right?)
It's like Tomo will grow up to look like him hahha,
Tamoto Soran as Kaneko. By the way, he is one of the youngest too, at 19 years old. I liked the story about him and Ko-chan. It was a sweet one, and a sad one because we know that ultimately, Ko-chan would transfer school again and probably find it hard to make friends as real as Atchi who had trust in him no matter what happened. Kaneko is secretly fierce too. I love it when he began to bicker with the Yankees, because the first few times we saw him, he was obviously the timid kind. So it was lovely to see him quarreling and showing the delinquent side of him.
Tomiura Satoshi as....Satoshi. HAHA. Same name. Anyway, I remembered him as the one with the super-high-pitched voice whom I was unsure of being a boy or a girl in Taiyo to Umi no Kyoshitsu. And here, once again, we hear the high pitched voice. Granted, he is nineteen, but isn't it about time that the voice broke? O.O I vaguely remember his role in Taiyo to Umi - which is quite different from the role he has here. Perhaps because he is acting as the kouhai inside - his role is very one dimensional. He acts as the motivator; is very cheerful and even when his heart condition was preventing him from performing gymnastics, he hid this from the rest. One dimensional character isn't it? Cheerful boy who loves gymnastics but is prevented from doing it because of his health.
The drama, to be honest, is formulaic. As usual, we have delinquents who are not what they seem. A passionate teacher who truly cares for the students. A high school where things like smoking, fighting seem to happen all the time (and seriously, joining a club can help to provide credits for school subjects....? O.O) I was half expecting myself to be bored by it, yet I was surprisingly entertained by it. It is the kind of drama that makes you reflect upon your life and your friends (if you are a student), or reflect upon you high school life (if you are no longer one).
It makes you warm and fuzzy, because we know that not all friendships can be like those portrayed in the show. But it is true that passion for something can make people relate to one another. Like what Wataru said, I don't think I have ever been so passionate about something as Yuta did, regarding rhythmic gymnastics. It makes you want to find a place as well, one where you honestly love something and dive into it without thinking.
The part when Wataru's father mentioned about youth letting time pass by - isn't it very apt? You had your place, but as you grow older, somehow those would become memories. But at least, you have had it, once.
Another thing that makes this show tick is the comedy and the chemistry of the cast. I think it is what grabs at you. Not to mention the choreography of rhythmic gymnastics which was absolutely brilliant. The cast must have trained hard for it.
Why do Japanese school uniforms always look so good....?!
And the bath scenes are always hilarious XD
How smart. HAHHAHA.
No doubt one of my favourites too hahhaha. Mindless comedy. Shigeo-chan was freaking funny in it hahahha.
And the chemistry, because they obviously get along well.(Besides, most of them have collaborated at some point or another)! I think that is the crux of the show afterall :D