Nobuta wo Produce Episode One overview & picspam
I made a silly promise to myself that I wouldn't start a new dorama until I'd properly reviewed Nobuta wo Produce, because I fell in love with it so hard. Needless to say, once Sapuri came along, obviously that promise flew out the window, but it's not the same as me bingeing on the completed doramas in my queue like 1 Litre of Tears and Orange
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I agree with you that, more than remaking Nobuta, NwP was about the journey and transformation of those three characters in the process of 'producing' Nobuta. I also have to agree that it is Shuji's transformation that is the center of the show and not actually Nobuta's (and by the end she really did not change all that much). Nobuta was the catalyst but from the beginning the drama indicated that it is Shuji that the story would be following. We begin with him and we end with him (plus Akira). The story depended heavily on what Shuji decided as a character. It was his actions and words that induced Nobuta to accept the 'makeover.' But, of course, through all of his manipulations, Shuji ended up being the one most transformed by the events that took place.
My favorite scene is from Episode 7. Actually it would be 'scenes.' Starting from that point when he confessed the truth to Mariko and until that time Nobuko embraced him in comfort.
It was a breakthrough for his character and we come to fully realize that Shuji's manipulations are not out of ill-intent or some screwed up idea of being above the rest. He managed to evoke the picture of a lost boy who knew no other way to see the world. But Nobuta and Akira had already begun to open his eyes to a better view. I doubt he understood their influence but I'd like to think that as Shuji listened to Akira essentially 'give up' on his feelings for Nobuta (so as not to hurt her), he also made the decision to stop hurting Mariko by giving up the pretense. The walls begin to crumble...and he almost cries. You can see him tearing up but he doesn't cry because Shuji is not the type of character to cry.
I love that about Kame. He adds so much detail to his acting. I agree he has so much depth as an actor. I have to say that I adore Yamapi but was never fond of him as an actor. Before I ever saw Kame acting, I had seen Yamapi in Lunch no Joou and Stand Up. I kind of made fun of him. *is embarrassed* But I was very impressed with him in NwP. He was such an endearing character and is probably a fan favorite but Kame made the show, I think. Meh. That's likely biased...I no longer know if I can be objective but he really did impress me so much as Shuji.
I saw Gokusen 2 after NwP and once again I saw how Kame manages to make the character seem so natural. Usually when watching Jdrama I always get a sense of actors playing the role but--with Kame--he almost seems to embrace his characters...convincingly be that person. There's so much detail into his acting. The way his eyes work in a scene, even down to the movement of his hands. I still remember ep 9 of Gokusen when, after Ryu got beat up, they took him to their favorite cafe and told him that they had gotten suspended (I forgot the exact punishment). Kame's expression and the way he moved his eyes to glance guiltily at all of them...I thought that was wonderfully done and created further dimension to his acting/the moment than what I would have usually expected from other actors.
I am highly convinced that Kame can still grow so much as an actor. He has that potential. He has that range. If only Jimusho would allow their idols to take on unusual roles. The likelihood of that however....
Excuse me for ranting. ^_^;;
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Like I told emeree, I really need to make my welcome post required reading! No apologies or excuses are necessary for the wonderful, thoughtful comment that you left above.
And I need to thank you, btw, for pimping these NwP posts! I was wondering why, out of the blue, I was getting hits and comments on stuff I'd written a while ago - and when I saw this comment from you, I went back to your LJ. You are really too, too kind.
Eventually I'd like to finish my write-up of the dorama, although I won't go into this much detail for each subsequent episode. It's just that once I got started with this one, I realized how much depth I needed to explain in order for the rest of the dorama to make sense from a written perspective. I couldn't talk about the supernatural in episode 3 without mentioning here that the supernatural is a recurring theme that kicks off in the first episode.
I agree with you in virtually everything that you wrote. I am really enjoying Kame's current role in Sapuri - it demonstrates his ability to switch gears once again and show us something new and different and still subtle, endearing, and deep, and I'm even more looking forward to the Yuuki role, although I really hope that it doesn't suffer from him being so overbooked with work right now. Yet he is so dedicated and focused on doing a good job that I think it and he will be fine.
Thanks again for your lovely, long comments, and if/when I finish out my NwP dorama review, I'll will strive to let you know. :)
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