Arakawa Under the Bridge, Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps
Arakawa Under the Bridge
Softsubs: Serendipity Fansubs
This season's crazy great-uncle among the dramas, starring ye olde big names Oguri Shun and Shirota Yuu.
Ichinomiya Kou is the rich, successful, Santa Claus-patterned boxer shorts-wearing heir to a giant company.
He also is in a dire situation.
A young woman offers her help, which Ichinomiya respectfully declines before he proceeds to fall off the bridge. The woman ignores his wishes and saves him. Ichinomiya asks her what kind of compensation she wants; she tells him she's from Venus and wants nothing, but he could come live with her and her friends. He thinks she's nuts but agrees, only to learn that her friends have even less marbles left - but weapons instead.
There's so much to love about this drama. Music and cuts, for example, which I can't pimp well, but also the sets.
Also awesome: the mix of logic and crazy, of realistic expectation and wait, what, how? It starts with the story and characters itself, ends meta with the actor for the sane lead being quite unknown whereas the cast for the wacky side characters are popular almost-idols, and pervades everything in between. Filming techniques, for example, include a neat combination of classic trick filming and well-executed CGI and stunt effects.
Disco balls, drapes, Mardi Grass beads and a wind machine for that underwater feeling...
... then he opens his mouth and air bubbles come out.
Body suit with zipper...
... coupled with elaborate mask and make-up. (I didn't recognise Oguri, even though I knew he was in the drama somewhere.)
Yet more reason to watch: crazy in all the best ways characters.
Nino, who doesn't change her "..." face even for soft lights at a riverbend at night. It's a Venusian thing.
Soncho and Sister, a.k.a. Team Fuck You Up Physically and Mentally.
Ichinomiya/Reku, who, despite everyone around being nuts and in parts heavily armed, never aberrates from his well-pronounced polite language. "Would it be okay to call the police?"
They just want to play!
I am SO watching this. Arakawa, like Ouran High School Host Club, is a 25min late night drama so it won't take a lot of your time, but what it takes it will fill with awesome. Try it!
That was the last drama! \o/ It was more work than expected, but fun. Thank you all for your lovely comments and the ensuing discussions. <3 There's just one tiny stupid thing marring my joy: I've always posted two dramas/post and my inner OCD is sulking now because it doesn't work out even. So I'll pimp something else here, something that is not a drama but just as worth following:
Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps
By rheasilvia
Story Index
So if it's not a drama, what is it?
- A fic. A novel. 200,000 words, posted in 27 chapters of about 8000 words. Update is every friday. It's not WiP, so you won't be left hanging somewhere in the middle.
Why should I read it?
- Because it's awesome. It's the best fic I have ever read. The writing is gorgeous, all characterisations are spot-on, the plot is interesting. It's also hosted outside of lj, so even if lj is under DDoS attacks again, you can still read it.
But, bclar, the pairing! Why do you keep the most important thing from me?!
- I think you should read this regardless of whether you ship the pairing or not. You don't even need to know them. I don't know one half of the OTP at all, and I still love it, because he is introduced to thoroughly I don't feel I'm lacking background knowledge. Actually, the topic came up in the last author meme: a lot of people don't read fic outside of their own favourite pairings - which I understand (I was the same for the longest time), but it's still kind of sad. Most of us watch dramas that don't star our favourite Johnnys, too, right? So there. I'm not asking you to read badly written Akame pwp - this is a really great fic. I recommend it as a novel, so to say; the fact that the people featured are based on guys you know is just an added bonus.
...
- ...?
ò__ó
- Oh, right. Sorry. Ryo/Junno.
There have to be flaws! You're hiding something, aren't you?
- No. If you're asking me whether there was anything that wasn't utterly perfect, all I can think of is that it takes a few chapters until a bigger story arc develops - the beginning is rather episodic - but that's about it. Those first chapters are still great and definitely worth reading.
Then what do you like specifically?
- There is the characterisation, for one. The writer got Ryo down. Even if you don't like him (maybe especially if you don't like him), you should try reading - you might understand him a little better afterwards. Everyone else is captured equally as well, often enough in few words. You know how some people can draw a person with a few strokes and you know immediately who it's supposed to be? Like that.
My personal highlights also include seeing the industry for an insider's POV; Ryo regards everything from variety shows over concerts to CD covers with a professional's eye. It's very entertaining.
And what's the story about? Summary, please.
- Well, I don't want to spoil you and as I said, the actual story doesn't start until a few chapters in, so... It's not an AU (but set in the future). It's a love story between grumpy, competitive Ryo and cheerful, effortlessly-better-but-not-caring-about-winning Junno. Uhm. Sorry, can't tell you more.
If you have any further questions, please ask! I will do anything to get you all to at least try it. Anything. *unbuttons blouse*
Softsubs: Serendipity Fansubs
This season's crazy great-uncle among the dramas, starring ye olde big names Oguri Shun and Shirota Yuu.
Ichinomiya Kou is the rich, successful, Santa Claus-patterned boxer shorts-wearing heir to a giant company.
He also is in a dire situation.
A young woman offers her help, which Ichinomiya respectfully declines before he proceeds to fall off the bridge. The woman ignores his wishes and saves him. Ichinomiya asks her what kind of compensation she wants; she tells him she's from Venus and wants nothing, but he could come live with her and her friends. He thinks she's nuts but agrees, only to learn that her friends have even less marbles left - but weapons instead.
There's so much to love about this drama. Music and cuts, for example, which I can't pimp well, but also the sets.
Also awesome: the mix of logic and crazy, of realistic expectation and wait, what, how? It starts with the story and characters itself, ends meta with the actor for the sane lead being quite unknown whereas the cast for the wacky side characters are popular almost-idols, and pervades everything in between. Filming techniques, for example, include a neat combination of classic trick filming and well-executed CGI and stunt effects.
Disco balls, drapes, Mardi Grass beads and a wind machine for that underwater feeling...
... then he opens his mouth and air bubbles come out.
Body suit with zipper...
... coupled with elaborate mask and make-up. (I didn't recognise Oguri, even though I knew he was in the drama somewhere.)
Yet more reason to watch: crazy in all the best ways characters.
Nino, who doesn't change her "..." face even for soft lights at a riverbend at night. It's a Venusian thing.
Soncho and Sister, a.k.a. Team Fuck You Up Physically and Mentally.
Ichinomiya/Reku, who, despite everyone around being nuts and in parts heavily armed, never aberrates from his well-pronounced polite language. "Would it be okay to call the police?"
They just want to play!
I am SO watching this. Arakawa, like Ouran High School Host Club, is a 25min late night drama so it won't take a lot of your time, but what it takes it will fill with awesome. Try it!
That was the last drama! \o/ It was more work than expected, but fun. Thank you all for your lovely comments and the ensuing discussions. <3 There's just one tiny stupid thing marring my joy: I've always posted two dramas/post and my inner OCD is sulking now because it doesn't work out even. So I'll pimp something else here, something that is not a drama but just as worth following:
Learning How to Lose, in Six Easy Steps
By rheasilvia
Story Index
So if it's not a drama, what is it?
- A fic. A novel. 200,000 words, posted in 27 chapters of about 8000 words. Update is every friday. It's not WiP, so you won't be left hanging somewhere in the middle.
Why should I read it?
- Because it's awesome. It's the best fic I have ever read. The writing is gorgeous, all characterisations are spot-on, the plot is interesting. It's also hosted outside of lj, so even if lj is under DDoS attacks again, you can still read it.
But, bclar, the pairing! Why do you keep the most important thing from me?!
- I think you should read this regardless of whether you ship the pairing or not. You don't even need to know them. I don't know one half of the OTP at all, and I still love it, because he is introduced to thoroughly I don't feel I'm lacking background knowledge. Actually, the topic came up in the last author meme: a lot of people don't read fic outside of their own favourite pairings - which I understand (I was the same for the longest time), but it's still kind of sad. Most of us watch dramas that don't star our favourite Johnnys, too, right? So there. I'm not asking you to read badly written Akame pwp - this is a really great fic. I recommend it as a novel, so to say; the fact that the people featured are based on guys you know is just an added bonus.
...
- ...?
ò__ó
- Oh, right. Sorry. Ryo/Junno.
There have to be flaws! You're hiding something, aren't you?
- No. If you're asking me whether there was anything that wasn't utterly perfect, all I can think of is that it takes a few chapters until a bigger story arc develops - the beginning is rather episodic - but that's about it. Those first chapters are still great and definitely worth reading.
Then what do you like specifically?
- There is the characterisation, for one. The writer got Ryo down. Even if you don't like him (maybe especially if you don't like him), you should try reading - you might understand him a little better afterwards. Everyone else is captured equally as well, often enough in few words. You know how some people can draw a person with a few strokes and you know immediately who it's supposed to be? Like that.
My personal highlights also include seeing the industry for an insider's POV; Ryo regards everything from variety shows over concerts to CD covers with a professional's eye. It's very entertaining.
And what's the story about? Summary, please.
- Well, I don't want to spoil you and as I said, the actual story doesn't start until a few chapters in, so... It's not an AU (but set in the future). It's a love story between grumpy, competitive Ryo and cheerful, effortlessly-better-but-not-caring-about-winning Junno. Uhm. Sorry, can't tell you more.
If you have any further questions, please ask! I will do anything to get you all to at least try it. Anything. *unbuttons blouse*