Rich Man, Poor Woman (ep 8) and Iki Mo Dekinai Natsu (ep 8)
Everything was more or less closed today because of Issac. It didn't really hit my area all that hard, but most places took it as an excuse to close. Which meant it could have been a boring day. But, it wasn't! Why? Because I took the day to catch up with the two Japanese dramas I'm watching: Rich Man, Poor Woman and Iki Mo Dekinai Natsu. Each has their eighth (out of eleven) episodes this week. And both felt like the start of the end - but in a really great way.
As always, there are spoilers!
Rich Man, Poor Woman:
Episode Plots:
The first four episodes of this drama were simply amazing. The chemistry between our two leads sizzled, the writing was snappy, and the plot was fun. Than episode five came and it wasn't so good. Episode six was just a waste of time, but episode seven was way better. Now episode eight has come into my life. And, you guys? It was just as amazing as the first four episodes! If the next three are this amazing, the whole journey will have been worth it.
In this episode, Hyuga leaves Next Intervention, but not before confronting Asahina. Asahina confesses that he's had this plan from the start: find a genius with no social skills, help start a company, become huge in whatever field, kick the genius out and take over. It's an unbelievably cruel plan, and the fact that Asahina had this thought out before he even met Hyuga speaks volumes about who he really is.
Hyuga decides to start a new company and invites Yasuoka, Satoshi, and another employee to come with him. Satoshi and the other employee helped him make the Personal File Program with him. He even tells the guys (and a shocked Makoto) that Makoto is coming with them. (So, he tells her to go to the another company last week, but this week he needs her to be apart of this new thing. Aw.) The guys agree and also say that they'll give Hyuga a huge growing away party.
At the party, they show a slide show that details the rise of Next Intervention. It's actually a bunch of really sweet pictures, that make me believe that Asahina - despite his increasing creepiness - does care about Hyuga and what the company is meant to be about. As the slide show ends, the guys get up to tell their co-workers that they are going with Hyuga, but are stopped by a press con on tv. It's Asahina, who basically states that NI will be doing the Personal Profile job with another IT company. And Hyuga has no rights to it - or any real money. To add insult to injury, Asahina shows up at that moment (the press con was filmed hours earlier) and gives a speech that basically backhand insults Hyuga. Whatever. Hyuga tells the two guys to come on, but they can't. They need jobs with money, as they are all grown men with families. He even asks Yasuoka, who tearfully says he can't. :( Oh, Yosuke Asari, you break my heart.
Hyuga heads out on the elevator, but Makoto stops him. She'll go with him. He tells her that she's the one person he doesn't want to see; because he doesn't want her to see him like this. (OTP!) and closes the elevator doors on her. Asahina comes out of the office and tries to get Makoto to forget Hyuga. She gets into an elevator,tells him she likes Hyuga, and will go with him.
Makoto sees Hyuga leaving on his motorcycle and jumps in front of it to tell him that she's coming with him. She's turned down all other job offers. Together they take a picture in front of the building - Makoto telling him that this is the first day of their new lives. They drive off into the sunset.
Characters:
Hyuga: This is the episode where he loses everything. He's lost his company, the man he thought of as his best friend, and the loyalty of his employees. The money and fancy house are secondary to all of that. This is the episode that turns Hyuga around, because not he has to be social and grow up. Asahina even told Hyuga that he cannot do anything without him. This is the time to prove Asahina wrong. I loved that Hyuga had a breakdown at the goodbye party and started yelling about all the things he's done for NI and her employees. He made the first games. He designed the office space. He chose the most comfortable desks and chairs. It was all him. Yes, Asahina may be able to be a 'voice', but Hyuga is the mind and the soul of the company. Without him, I can't see it lasting.
Makoto: While I feel that she's been underused lately and has been reduced to a cheerleader and motivator for Hyuga, I still really loved her in this episode. She's coming into her own in the way she told Asahina that she likes Hyuga. And, she's shown that she has a great deal of compassion: the fact that she held onto the hope that Hyuga and Asahina were fine and still friends (because they need one another) until the last moment - until the party was lovely. Makoto has a good soul, because she wants the people around her to be happy. I do wish the writer would remember that she has talents, but I also know that story-wise, she's playing the role she needs to play at the moment.
Asahina: I firmly believe that Asahina needs counseling. I think he has a complex. I've spent the last few episodes wanting to slap him (so glad Yoko did!) and tell him to grow up. He's someone whose all about the numbers and not about creativity, so I can see the office becoming a very dark place. His quickly offering Makoto a job left me wondering if it was all apart of some plan to make Hyuga truly be alone. Than, when he leaned against the elevator and lamented that he had "lost them both" made me raise an eyebrow. He's the reason both Hyuga and Makoto are gone. If they want me to feel sorry for him, because he isn't seen as 'brilliant' or 'the number one' or the 'star', well. . .that isn't happening.
Yoko: Girl, thank you for slapping your stupid brother. Yoko is a mixed character for me: I think she and Makoto would be great friends and I believe she truly cares about both Makoto and Hyuga, but I also feel like she's just. . .there. There to tell Hyuga about Asahina's betrayals, there to be a third party in the OTP romance. Just there. I like her and hope she gets with her co-worker, but that's it.
Romance:
The interactions between Hyuga and Makoto were amazing this week. The elevator scene! The office scenes! The picture and bike ride! And she finally voiced her feelings, just not to Hyuga. For a rom-com, this dramas been a bit lacking, but I'm really hoping the last three episodes pick it up. Kiss!
Overall and Upcoming Thoughts:
This drama is really a refreshing change of pace. At least in some ways. In other ways it's more of the same. I think a lot of the refreshing feeling comes from the interactions of the characters and their chemistry. Looking at the preview for episode nine, it seems like things are going to get more intense. Can't wait.
Iki Mo Dekinai Natsu:
Episode Plots:
An article is published in a magazine. It's about 'Girl A' and her irresponsible, violent, mother. Her mother is responsible for the fact she doesn't legally exist in Japan. The article is written by Kiyama's newspaper friend. He got some of the information from Kusano (who thought the article would be written about him). Needlessly to say, Kusano is heartbroken, especially when he reads unkind comments about Rei online. Newspaper guy has his own guilt, when the newspaper website gets filled up with comments bullying him for writing about the "poor girl".
Meanwhile, Rei and her family have a hard time, too. Little Mao is bullied at school, with her tennis club mates calling her a 'murder-girl devil' and the 'daughter of a murderer'. Yoko's job is in danger, as her elderly residents don't feel comfortable with her anymore. Also, the neighbors aren't happening that the stabbing happened, as it's disturbed their lives. Rei's workplace is also disturbed, as people keep coming in for interviews with her. Plus, a woman from a child abuse agency comes in and tries to give Rei information about what she can do as a victim of parental abuse and neglect. (And while I do think Yoko should have gotten the family registry thing taken care of years ago - her husband even started getting the needed stuff together - and I think she's kept way too many secrets from her daughter, she's a good mother. I really felt annoyed that everyone was blaming Yoko for everything that had happened.)
Over in other story lines: Ayukawa has cancer and is going to die. I think the writer wants us to feel sorry for him. Sure, he beat (and possibly raped) Yoko, but he feels really bad about it and he never got to be a father to his daughter! Yeah, okay. I'm happy that he feels terribly for all he did (though that could be an effect of knowing he's going to die), and I'm sorry he didn't get to know he had a daughter and that no one cares about him. But, he's still someone who abused someone else. I'm sure the drama will end with him being redeemed and forgiven and dying in peace. Fine. But, unless Yoko's got some more secrets - she had a right to try and hide Rei from him.
Oh, and Kiyama's creepy lady roommate? Getting more and more creepy. I don't get anything that's going on there. He's a grown man with a life - get over it, lady.
Characters:
Rei: You need a vacation. All the terrible things that are happening to and around this girl are unbelievable. Especially when you consider that, time wise, it's probably been about a month. It's no wonder that she feels that she just can't go on anymore. I think she's been rather strong up until now, so I'm fine with her having a bit of a breakdown at the end of the episode. Totally fine. I can also understand why she'd want to take up her Grandpa's offer and move (with her family) to his factory and home all those miles away. I'd want to leave, too.
Kiyama: I have to image that either Yosuke Eguchi thought he'd have a juicier story or he's being paid a lot. I say that, because aside from being there to cheer Rei up, he never really has a whole lot to do. If Eguchi wasn't a good actor, this would be the flattest role in the whole damn drama. I really hope the explore more of his back story before the series ends, because I'm sure its good.
Kusano: I want to hug him. He thinks he's betrayed Rei in the worse way. He didn't, but still. Boy has had it tough. My perfect ending for him would be for him to go work for Grandpa, live in the dorm, make some friends, get a family registry, and met some nice girl.
Yoko: Like I said above, I do believe that Yoko should have started the whole family registry thing when Rei was a child. People even started somethings for her. But, I understand she was scared. And I hate that everyone (from the online people, to the neighbors, to her co-workers, etc)are blaming her for everything. As if there weren't other parties and issues at play during these last nineteen years.
Mao: I'm happy they are showing how siblings are affected by these sorts of things, if only briefly.
Natsume: Yay to Grandpa for offering Rei (and the rest) the choice of going to live with him. I hope he and Yoko make up.
Oh, and special yay to Igawa (aka Rei's bakery friendly riveral)standing up for Rei and her family. Actually, it was awesome that all her co-workers were behind her and worried about her.
Romance:
I believe that while this was marketed as a romantic human drama, it's more of a social drama. Because this romance is as slow as an ice berg. I have no doubt that Rei and Kiyama have romantic feelings for one another, I'm just not sure if they know it. Or if they are willing to admit it to themselves. Rei has said several times that Kiyama is important to her and she smiles so much around him. And Kiyama is clearly worried for Rei and he smiles with her. Plus, their "non date" last week was adorable. I was so hoping they would have gone on another one; too bad Rei got that phone call.
But -
Can we talk about him running through the rain to look for her? Can we talk about the way he looked at her while she explained that they were moving, that she wanted to say goodbye and thank him, and that she was so tired. Or the way she leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her? Aw, these two.
I really sort of hope these two go off to France together. She can take her classes and he can start his own blog or something.
Overall and Upcoming Thoughts:
So, the preview sort of makes me think Rei and Kiyama go on another date. But than, he ruins it by bringing her for a meal at Lady's house. She was jealous (overly so) when she thought Rei was just a client. If she senses deeper feelings. . .what will she say/do? Will Kiyama let go of his own happiness because of the guilt he feels? I hope not!
I wonder what will happen with the DNA test. Or with the family and that article. Or the cancer. I'm looking forward to more. Though, in truth, I'm mostly hoping for more Rei/Kiyama stuff. We've got three episodes left. Do not disappoint me, drama.
Now that each episode is nearly over, I feel like I can safely rec both. They are very different in tone and overall feel, but they are both good. I've enjoyed both and don't regret starting them. Rich Man, Poor Woman is for those that like romantic comedies, Korean dramas (it has that feel), or office dramas. Iki mo Dekinai Natsu is less romantic, but is a great human/social/family drama.
As always, there are spoilers!
Rich Man, Poor Woman:
Episode Plots:
The first four episodes of this drama were simply amazing. The chemistry between our two leads sizzled, the writing was snappy, and the plot was fun. Than episode five came and it wasn't so good. Episode six was just a waste of time, but episode seven was way better. Now episode eight has come into my life. And, you guys? It was just as amazing as the first four episodes! If the next three are this amazing, the whole journey will have been worth it.
In this episode, Hyuga leaves Next Intervention, but not before confronting Asahina. Asahina confesses that he's had this plan from the start: find a genius with no social skills, help start a company, become huge in whatever field, kick the genius out and take over. It's an unbelievably cruel plan, and the fact that Asahina had this thought out before he even met Hyuga speaks volumes about who he really is.
Hyuga decides to start a new company and invites Yasuoka, Satoshi, and another employee to come with him. Satoshi and the other employee helped him make the Personal File Program with him. He even tells the guys (and a shocked Makoto) that Makoto is coming with them. (So, he tells her to go to the another company last week, but this week he needs her to be apart of this new thing. Aw.) The guys agree and also say that they'll give Hyuga a huge growing away party.
At the party, they show a slide show that details the rise of Next Intervention. It's actually a bunch of really sweet pictures, that make me believe that Asahina - despite his increasing creepiness - does care about Hyuga and what the company is meant to be about. As the slide show ends, the guys get up to tell their co-workers that they are going with Hyuga, but are stopped by a press con on tv. It's Asahina, who basically states that NI will be doing the Personal Profile job with another IT company. And Hyuga has no rights to it - or any real money. To add insult to injury, Asahina shows up at that moment (the press con was filmed hours earlier) and gives a speech that basically backhand insults Hyuga. Whatever. Hyuga tells the two guys to come on, but they can't. They need jobs with money, as they are all grown men with families. He even asks Yasuoka, who tearfully says he can't. :( Oh, Yosuke Asari, you break my heart.
Hyuga heads out on the elevator, but Makoto stops him. She'll go with him. He tells her that she's the one person he doesn't want to see; because he doesn't want her to see him like this. (OTP!) and closes the elevator doors on her. Asahina comes out of the office and tries to get Makoto to forget Hyuga. She gets into an elevator,tells him she likes Hyuga, and will go with him.
Makoto sees Hyuga leaving on his motorcycle and jumps in front of it to tell him that she's coming with him. She's turned down all other job offers. Together they take a picture in front of the building - Makoto telling him that this is the first day of their new lives. They drive off into the sunset.
Characters:
Hyuga: This is the episode where he loses everything. He's lost his company, the man he thought of as his best friend, and the loyalty of his employees. The money and fancy house are secondary to all of that. This is the episode that turns Hyuga around, because not he has to be social and grow up. Asahina even told Hyuga that he cannot do anything without him. This is the time to prove Asahina wrong. I loved that Hyuga had a breakdown at the goodbye party and started yelling about all the things he's done for NI and her employees. He made the first games. He designed the office space. He chose the most comfortable desks and chairs. It was all him. Yes, Asahina may be able to be a 'voice', but Hyuga is the mind and the soul of the company. Without him, I can't see it lasting.
Makoto: While I feel that she's been underused lately and has been reduced to a cheerleader and motivator for Hyuga, I still really loved her in this episode. She's coming into her own in the way she told Asahina that she likes Hyuga. And, she's shown that she has a great deal of compassion: the fact that she held onto the hope that Hyuga and Asahina were fine and still friends (because they need one another) until the last moment - until the party was lovely. Makoto has a good soul, because she wants the people around her to be happy. I do wish the writer would remember that she has talents, but I also know that story-wise, she's playing the role she needs to play at the moment.
Asahina: I firmly believe that Asahina needs counseling. I think he has a complex. I've spent the last few episodes wanting to slap him (so glad Yoko did!) and tell him to grow up. He's someone whose all about the numbers and not about creativity, so I can see the office becoming a very dark place. His quickly offering Makoto a job left me wondering if it was all apart of some plan to make Hyuga truly be alone. Than, when he leaned against the elevator and lamented that he had "lost them both" made me raise an eyebrow. He's the reason both Hyuga and Makoto are gone. If they want me to feel sorry for him, because he isn't seen as 'brilliant' or 'the number one' or the 'star', well. . .that isn't happening.
Yoko: Girl, thank you for slapping your stupid brother. Yoko is a mixed character for me: I think she and Makoto would be great friends and I believe she truly cares about both Makoto and Hyuga, but I also feel like she's just. . .there. There to tell Hyuga about Asahina's betrayals, there to be a third party in the OTP romance. Just there. I like her and hope she gets with her co-worker, but that's it.
Romance:
The interactions between Hyuga and Makoto were amazing this week. The elevator scene! The office scenes! The picture and bike ride! And she finally voiced her feelings, just not to Hyuga. For a rom-com, this dramas been a bit lacking, but I'm really hoping the last three episodes pick it up. Kiss!
Overall and Upcoming Thoughts:
This drama is really a refreshing change of pace. At least in some ways. In other ways it's more of the same. I think a lot of the refreshing feeling comes from the interactions of the characters and their chemistry. Looking at the preview for episode nine, it seems like things are going to get more intense. Can't wait.
Iki Mo Dekinai Natsu:
Episode Plots:
An article is published in a magazine. It's about 'Girl A' and her irresponsible, violent, mother. Her mother is responsible for the fact she doesn't legally exist in Japan. The article is written by Kiyama's newspaper friend. He got some of the information from Kusano (who thought the article would be written about him). Needlessly to say, Kusano is heartbroken, especially when he reads unkind comments about Rei online. Newspaper guy has his own guilt, when the newspaper website gets filled up with comments bullying him for writing about the "poor girl".
Meanwhile, Rei and her family have a hard time, too. Little Mao is bullied at school, with her tennis club mates calling her a 'murder-girl devil' and the 'daughter of a murderer'. Yoko's job is in danger, as her elderly residents don't feel comfortable with her anymore. Also, the neighbors aren't happening that the stabbing happened, as it's disturbed their lives. Rei's workplace is also disturbed, as people keep coming in for interviews with her. Plus, a woman from a child abuse agency comes in and tries to give Rei information about what she can do as a victim of parental abuse and neglect. (And while I do think Yoko should have gotten the family registry thing taken care of years ago - her husband even started getting the needed stuff together - and I think she's kept way too many secrets from her daughter, she's a good mother. I really felt annoyed that everyone was blaming Yoko for everything that had happened.)
Over in other story lines: Ayukawa has cancer and is going to die. I think the writer wants us to feel sorry for him. Sure, he beat (and possibly raped) Yoko, but he feels really bad about it and he never got to be a father to his daughter! Yeah, okay. I'm happy that he feels terribly for all he did (though that could be an effect of knowing he's going to die), and I'm sorry he didn't get to know he had a daughter and that no one cares about him. But, he's still someone who abused someone else. I'm sure the drama will end with him being redeemed and forgiven and dying in peace. Fine. But, unless Yoko's got some more secrets - she had a right to try and hide Rei from him.
Oh, and Kiyama's creepy lady roommate? Getting more and more creepy. I don't get anything that's going on there. He's a grown man with a life - get over it, lady.
Characters:
Rei: You need a vacation. All the terrible things that are happening to and around this girl are unbelievable. Especially when you consider that, time wise, it's probably been about a month. It's no wonder that she feels that she just can't go on anymore. I think she's been rather strong up until now, so I'm fine with her having a bit of a breakdown at the end of the episode. Totally fine. I can also understand why she'd want to take up her Grandpa's offer and move (with her family) to his factory and home all those miles away. I'd want to leave, too.
Kiyama: I have to image that either Yosuke Eguchi thought he'd have a juicier story or he's being paid a lot. I say that, because aside from being there to cheer Rei up, he never really has a whole lot to do. If Eguchi wasn't a good actor, this would be the flattest role in the whole damn drama. I really hope the explore more of his back story before the series ends, because I'm sure its good.
Kusano: I want to hug him. He thinks he's betrayed Rei in the worse way. He didn't, but still. Boy has had it tough. My perfect ending for him would be for him to go work for Grandpa, live in the dorm, make some friends, get a family registry, and met some nice girl.
Yoko: Like I said above, I do believe that Yoko should have started the whole family registry thing when Rei was a child. People even started somethings for her. But, I understand she was scared. And I hate that everyone (from the online people, to the neighbors, to her co-workers, etc)are blaming her for everything. As if there weren't other parties and issues at play during these last nineteen years.
Mao: I'm happy they are showing how siblings are affected by these sorts of things, if only briefly.
Natsume: Yay to Grandpa for offering Rei (and the rest) the choice of going to live with him. I hope he and Yoko make up.
Oh, and special yay to Igawa (aka Rei's bakery friendly riveral)standing up for Rei and her family. Actually, it was awesome that all her co-workers were behind her and worried about her.
Romance:
I believe that while this was marketed as a romantic human drama, it's more of a social drama. Because this romance is as slow as an ice berg. I have no doubt that Rei and Kiyama have romantic feelings for one another, I'm just not sure if they know it. Or if they are willing to admit it to themselves. Rei has said several times that Kiyama is important to her and she smiles so much around him. And Kiyama is clearly worried for Rei and he smiles with her. Plus, their "non date" last week was adorable. I was so hoping they would have gone on another one; too bad Rei got that phone call.
But -
Can we talk about him running through the rain to look for her? Can we talk about the way he looked at her while she explained that they were moving, that she wanted to say goodbye and thank him, and that she was so tired. Or the way she leaned against him and he wrapped his arms around her? Aw, these two.
I really sort of hope these two go off to France together. She can take her classes and he can start his own blog or something.
Overall and Upcoming Thoughts:
So, the preview sort of makes me think Rei and Kiyama go on another date. But than, he ruins it by bringing her for a meal at Lady's house. She was jealous (overly so) when she thought Rei was just a client. If she senses deeper feelings. . .what will she say/do? Will Kiyama let go of his own happiness because of the guilt he feels? I hope not!
I wonder what will happen with the DNA test. Or with the family and that article. Or the cancer. I'm looking forward to more. Though, in truth, I'm mostly hoping for more Rei/Kiyama stuff. We've got three episodes left. Do not disappoint me, drama.
Now that each episode is nearly over, I feel like I can safely rec both. They are very different in tone and overall feel, but they are both good. I've enjoyed both and don't regret starting them. Rich Man, Poor Woman is for those that like romantic comedies, Korean dramas (it has that feel), or office dramas. Iki mo Dekinai Natsu is less romantic, but is a great human/social/family drama.