Freeter
OH. So I was supposed to be working on my report but I gave in and watched Freeter, ie wo kau. I never intended to watch it initially, even with Nino inside because I am more of a crime buff and the plot did not interest me as much, even when Depression was part of it. (I mean, I know Nino can act - say Yasashii Jikan and Sukoshi wa, Ongaeshi ga Dekitakana. But the plot sounded a little.....boring, even though there was Karina, Maru, and Takenaka Naoto)
But I saw that the ratings were not too bad so I wondered and I watched it, thinking that I would probably just watch the first dew episodes and stop. But I did not. It was not too bad, actually. I mean, it cannot beat say, the Maou standing in my mind, but it is really rather enjoyable. The pace was a little slow at times but when one gets used to it, it really isn't that bad.
My favourite character in it has to be the sister, Ayako. I like that the sister is clear headed, has her flaws, but is willing to admit her faults and change when she makes a mistake. The sibling bond is so adorable and real - it reminds me of a tough wire that no matter how one tugs, twists and pulls at it; there may be friction but it will never break. Plus, I am glad they did not make the sister a know-it-all. Her flaws made her real - not just Ayako, in fact, but all the characters in this drama are flawed, in someway or another, and to me that makes it really endearing. Because in them I see some of myself - the ability to make decisions, to screw up, blaming people and circumstances after screwing up and so on. It is so telling of human nature, isn't it? (Well, no wonder it is a human drama).
And I think it is very much of an Asian perspective? The portrayal of the family resounds with me, a lot, for some reason, even though I don't have any siblings and such. The so-called pride that we go by, the image that we are oh-so-concerned with, the complaints that we have about many things; for some reason I could understand, and I think that is what made me continue watching it. Because I think if you don't understand or have not experience such a living environment, I don't think you would be able to watch this drama. Especially if you cannot understand the Mother, Father and the children. The father is oh-so-typical Asian, and it reminds me of my own, with the pride and respect issues and so on. I think this is an issue that is bound to come up, somehow - mine came up a year ago I think. I used to not be able to see this perspective, but what I am studying now made me able to, and I am thankful for it. The mother - a typical housewife, is so reminiscent of aunties you see around who were in the era of the baby boomers. Like, what you would see in some of my friends' mothers, or some of the working adults' mothers. That day we were talking about population groups in class, about who and how we can intervene, and housewives came up.
I may be wrong, but I personally think that some parents undergo a period of mourning, when their children no longer cling to them, or turn to them for advice. It;s like, a part of them no longer rely on them, and I think this is why I could somehow, empathise with Take-san, that even though he was not the best father (especially in the beginning), he tried hard (and scolding, nagging and bragging about what he has done was his way of gaining respect that he realised he has lost from his children).
I have to say that this drama is very Asian, and suited to a particular age range. You know how, sometimes at a certain age there will be a drama that resounds with you? In high school, it would be those high school dramas, and for mine it would be Nobuta, about friendships and memories. Then there would be a time when you look for passion and wonder what it could have been for you, and there came Tumbling. For a time when you wonder what humans really are all about and the way they behave, there came Maou. And I guess because I am coming to my third year in studies and ultimately I will be out working, Freeter resounds with me in this manner, now that I am still studying, trying but slacking at times, and knowing that when it comes to worklife next time there would hardly be any slacking and any free time to behave like a Freeter.
And I think there will always be a time in your life when you wonder if what you are doing is exactly what you envision it to be? 'Why am I doing this?' I think is a question that will arise sometime or another.
Some parts of this drama was actually very Japanese-setyle. You know, the High School drama style ? I don't know how to put it in words, but it involves a lot about 1) Friendships 2) Goals and dreams 3) A fuzzy feeling (somehow stemming from an intrinsic need to work towards something, and a whole load of good friends and people who are so supportive, so willing to teach and love). The last point - is something that I do think is unrealistic (it repeats itself so often in dramas), but I think it is in there because people need and want to see that. I mean, not that I am cynical or anything, but life is not always so hopeful.Even with the utmost optimistic would come a time when dark clouds hover around.
Oh, and I have something to add. The combination of Karina and Nino..............the first four episodes made me giggle. The not-so-compatible was obvious physically, which was a little odd initially (especially the scene where leggy Karina was wearing a short skirt and looking taller than Nino sitting on a scooter. But later on, the pair together was quite adorable (though they drag their feet around a lot-.-)
But alas, the ending of Freeter is so, happy. I mean, I find no faults with it, but this is the thing with such dramas isn't it. Always rainbows and clouds and birds - no sudden earthquakes or storms. Storms will always subside in the last episode. If life were like this, wouldn't it be good?
Haha, well, now I sound depressed. Just my thoughts on the drama:) Seiji was no hero, he was just someone (kinda a douche) struggling to make good out of his life, and somehow, even as he fell, made U-turns, wasted time; he did his best with it. I might also be someone like that. Oh, and I would say Nino is really good with crying (REALLY), and his acting was not too bad. Just that I have seen better in other shows :D That said, I like seeing him as an actor, out of all the 5 of them in Arashi. Ohno too, but he lies at second place because Nino somehow just tops my list with his older dramas.
Okay, time to sleep. Hospital appointment tomorrow. Bye!