Jdramas: 'Around 40' & 'Zettai Kareshi'
Quickly, while I'm still thinking about them -
Around 40 [episode 2] - I am totally loving this drama. I love Satoko so much!
It's really annoying that the older a woman gets, the harder it is to find a guy through a dating service - I've heard this before, that no matter how old a man is, he still wants a really young woman, and that it's much harder for women (as they grow older) to find partners near their own age - so I can definitely see how Satoko's prospects with the marriage service would be less than what she hopes for. I'm so glad that even after she meets the seemingly-wonderful guy with whom Nao sets her up, that she sticks to her guns when he makes the comment about a woman not being satisfied/fulfilled by work, that a woman needs something else to be happy. While I think that Oshima is probably someone who can be educated out of his preconceptions about women, I don't blame Satoko for not wanting to compromise her beliefs. As she says to him, "if someone denies my current life, then asks about my future one, what should I think?" It's insulting of him to imagine that she, a professional woman, has been waiting around for marital fulfillment all this time, and that she's incomplete with out it. Brava, Satoko!
There was so much I enjoyed in the second episode - I thought it was hilarious how no one showed up for dinner/drinks when they found out that Satoko would invite Okamura to join them, because he had been such a spoilsport the first time. I do like that he gave her a gift of chopsticks, although I wonder if she'll use them.
I find that I really like the secondary characters as well, particularly Satoko's two close friends. First there is Nao, who after having repeatedly stated that she had no interest in marriage...and then does marry rather abruptly - it's interesting to see a glimpse of her married life, and to discover that she and her husband have what looks like an arrangement of convenience - they have a bargain that her weekends are her own, but I like that he still brings her tea in the evenings. I like that. I hope that the marriage works out for her, despite the obvious drawbacks (not a passionate romance, or a true love affair, etc.). But I also am curious to see how her work progresses - she's working on a magazine special issue project addressing marriage, work, and women who work even after having children - and she's going to use herself as the model, so I can only imagine this means she plans to get pregnant?
I also really like Mizue who is married with a child, and while so far her situation is fairly stereotypical (unappreciative & somewhat distant husband and son who don't clean up after themselves), she's such a warm and kindly character who really seems to yearn for something broader than what she does in her home, so I'm interested in seeing how her character develops.
Finally, I love Satoko's stepmother who married her father only recently and never had children - she presents another perspective on the marriage/family/work issues that the drama takes on, and I find her character to be refreshing.
I realize that I haven't talked much about Okamura, but that's mostly because he's just not as interesting to me yet. I do love how he's very passionate - about his patients, his work, as well as his ecological ideologies. I don't like how he proselytizes, though - personally, I believe in the power of example, so if I wanted to try to convince anyone, or even to change their mind a little, I certainly wouldn't militantly get in their face about something, but I would just quietly do my own thing. For example, he didn't need to make a big deal about the chopsticks, or the food containers (for leftovers), but he could have just quietly done his own thing, and perhaps he would have started a trend without being so off-putting.
So far, this drama is definitely making me happy. :)
Zettai Kareshi - Episode 2 was so cute! I really, really like Mizushima Hiro, and I like how his character is drifting a bit, and the way that he's magnetically drawn to Riiko. My favorite part of the episode? It was the whole scene where she is showing him how she makes her cream-filled pastries. I love the way he hovers over her while she's preparing everything, and the way he's so nostalgic about the taste. That whole scene made me quite gleeful! :)
So far the drama is total fluff, and I am quite enjoying putting my brain on hold and just enjoying the fun. :)
Around 40 [episode 2] - I am totally loving this drama. I love Satoko so much!
It's really annoying that the older a woman gets, the harder it is to find a guy through a dating service - I've heard this before, that no matter how old a man is, he still wants a really young woman, and that it's much harder for women (as they grow older) to find partners near their own age - so I can definitely see how Satoko's prospects with the marriage service would be less than what she hopes for. I'm so glad that even after she meets the seemingly-wonderful guy with whom Nao sets her up, that she sticks to her guns when he makes the comment about a woman not being satisfied/fulfilled by work, that a woman needs something else to be happy. While I think that Oshima is probably someone who can be educated out of his preconceptions about women, I don't blame Satoko for not wanting to compromise her beliefs. As she says to him, "if someone denies my current life, then asks about my future one, what should I think?" It's insulting of him to imagine that she, a professional woman, has been waiting around for marital fulfillment all this time, and that she's incomplete with out it. Brava, Satoko!
There was so much I enjoyed in the second episode - I thought it was hilarious how no one showed up for dinner/drinks when they found out that Satoko would invite Okamura to join them, because he had been such a spoilsport the first time. I do like that he gave her a gift of chopsticks, although I wonder if she'll use them.
I find that I really like the secondary characters as well, particularly Satoko's two close friends. First there is Nao, who after having repeatedly stated that she had no interest in marriage...and then does marry rather abruptly - it's interesting to see a glimpse of her married life, and to discover that she and her husband have what looks like an arrangement of convenience - they have a bargain that her weekends are her own, but I like that he still brings her tea in the evenings. I like that. I hope that the marriage works out for her, despite the obvious drawbacks (not a passionate romance, or a true love affair, etc.). But I also am curious to see how her work progresses - she's working on a magazine special issue project addressing marriage, work, and women who work even after having children - and she's going to use herself as the model, so I can only imagine this means she plans to get pregnant?
I also really like Mizue who is married with a child, and while so far her situation is fairly stereotypical (unappreciative & somewhat distant husband and son who don't clean up after themselves), she's such a warm and kindly character who really seems to yearn for something broader than what she does in her home, so I'm interested in seeing how her character develops.
Finally, I love Satoko's stepmother who married her father only recently and never had children - she presents another perspective on the marriage/family/work issues that the drama takes on, and I find her character to be refreshing.
I realize that I haven't talked much about Okamura, but that's mostly because he's just not as interesting to me yet. I do love how he's very passionate - about his patients, his work, as well as his ecological ideologies. I don't like how he proselytizes, though - personally, I believe in the power of example, so if I wanted to try to convince anyone, or even to change their mind a little, I certainly wouldn't militantly get in their face about something, but I would just quietly do my own thing. For example, he didn't need to make a big deal about the chopsticks, or the food containers (for leftovers), but he could have just quietly done his own thing, and perhaps he would have started a trend without being so off-putting.
So far, this drama is definitely making me happy. :)
Zettai Kareshi - Episode 2 was so cute! I really, really like Mizushima Hiro, and I like how his character is drifting a bit, and the way that he's magnetically drawn to Riiko. My favorite part of the episode? It was the whole scene where she is showing him how she makes her cream-filled pastries. I love the way he hovers over her while she's preparing everything, and the way he's so nostalgic about the taste. That whole scene made me quite gleeful! :)
So far the drama is total fluff, and I am quite enjoying putting my brain on hold and just enjoying the fun. :)