Some reccs, a list of new music & a bit on jdramas

[winterspel]

I read two wonderful fanfics recently:

• Juunengo no Shiawase (Happiness Ten Years Later), is a really lovely Sapuri fic by nihongofrancais who is the biggest Sapuri fan I know. If you loved Sapuri, don't miss this fic.
  
  
• Untitled Kurosagi fic by ilanabean42. She says it's unfinished, but it reads like it is and it's wonderful.

A music recc: icajoleu introduced me to Scottish band

Comments

[darkeyedwolf]

Why is Liar Game so short? It feels like there's never enough time to get into the game -- and considering that they spend twenty minutes on dramatic music and reaction shots of all the players in the room, that's sayin' something. XD

[winterspel]

I have no idea. The only thing I know about this drama is that it's based on a manga, and I agree with you - they do spend soooo much time on the dramatic music/editing/reaction shots (endlessly with the larger group now)...I don't understand. The beginning of episode 2 seemed like a complete waste of time with Akiyama explaining his ruse - the episode picked up later and gave us some nice character moments. There needs to be more of that, and episode 3 was sorely lacking in character moments.

I really enjoy the drama but I hope that the next episode improves on what #3 fell down on.

[darkeyedwolf]

God, YES. Akiyama is so long-winded for someone so hot. (Thank god some of those dramatic camera angles linger on his hot hot face.) But I guess the endless reaction shots make sense if they're following a manga....

[ginzarhapsody]

Maybe if Akiyama took off his shirt.

I haven't watched episode four yet, but doesn't he already do that? ;)

[dj_miyihee]

I can't understand how he has so much pride to do stupid things (like changing his seat) when the whole reason he's going back in time is to let Rei know he cares about her.

Seriously. I just can't get over this particular plothole. It would be one thing if when he went back in time, there was a subtle effect where he starts to merge back into the mindset and personality he had the first time around and has to fight to remember enough to change things, or even if when he's in the past, he doesn't remember that he's from the future. But otherwise...

I feel like the storyline is too predictable right now; probably the last time he "flashes" back, he'll open his eyes to find he's at the altar with Rei, marrying her because he finally made the right moves, and eh. That's not a big enough payoff for me.

[ina]

Unfortunately I agree with you about the end of ProDai, and I have a real problem with that.

[dj_miyihee]

And the thing is the promos gave it away, too, with all those shots of him in a tuxedo with Rei staring up worshipfully at him! >.<

I'm almost hoping Ken pulls a Shuji/Akira and decides he's not mature enough for Rei at this point and bows out of the running at the end.

[winterspel]

I feel like the storyline is too predictable right now; probably the last time he "flashes" back, he'll open his eyes to find he's at the altar with Rei, marrying her because he finally made the right moves, and eh. That's not a big enough payoff for me.

I agree - I always try to figure out where the drama is going, and so far the predictability is killing my brain cells.

The voiceovers are strange because they are a combination of Ken trying to change things and a combination of him analying his teenaged self and examining his flaws. But he doesn't behave much differently! *gnashes teeth* If I had the marvelous opportunity to go back in time and change things and/or tell my crush/true love/whatever that I'm in love with them - that's what I would do! Ken is so stunted and I'm supposed to care about him, but...good gods, I hope I get an A for effort with this one...

[ina]

I agree so much on ProDai. He really doesn't deserve all these chances, since he doesn't use them. I think he was already better in episode two when he noticed the thing about the birthday present.

[winterspel]

He seems to be dwelling too much (at least as of the end of episode 3) on the fact that Tada and Rei have formed a connection, as though that is something he should be working to stop. Instead, I'd think he should be focusing on trying to improve his own connection with Rei. Argh! Ken! Why so dopey?!

[aiharu]

I stopped watching Propose Daisakusen 2 weeks ago. But I'm still getting the hardsubbed versions for some friends. So, I'll probably watch those later when I have time (fastforwarding:) . Seriously, it's just boring. In a love story, empathy with the characters is so important, but in Ken and Rei's case I don't care 2 cents what will happen to them. Blah!

With Hanapapa, it really helps a lot that Junno and Satomi have chemistry. The entire drama is just cute and fluffy:) I've also continued watching Tokkyuu Tanaka 3 Go, mainly because I discovered that I'm more of a die-hard KAT-TUN fan these days...so I'll watch anything with KAT-TUN in it, even if it's Koki who's my least fav these days. I also like learning more about trains and train stations in Japan. In episode 4, the romance part also gets interesting. Koki and Chiaki definitely have more chemistry than Pi and Masami.

[winterspel]

With Hanapapa, it really helps a lot that Junno and Satomi have chemistry.

Yes! Even though I don't think much of Junno as an actor yet, he's perfect for this role and for this drama: cute, sweet, fluffy adorableness. He and Satomi are wonderful together (and he's great with Tokito Saburo, too).

I'm still only on episode 1 of Tokkyu Tanaka 3 Go, so I'm glad to hear that it's enjoyable and that you like Koki & Chiaki. This drama has gotten shoved to the bottom of the pile, and I really need to get caught up.

[aiharu]

It's a pity that Yamapi's first real romantic drama

Although Yamapi wasn't really the focus of "Sore wa totsuzen arashi no youni", as romantic dramas go, that one has more heart-tugging moments than "Propose Daisakusen". The first time I saw it on tv, I didn't like it that much. But when I watched it again last year, it sort of grew on me. And it's the kind of drama that gets better everytime. As a sort of bonus, Pi has scenes with Ayase Haruka that kinda made me think of Pin fanfic:) Oh yeah, theme song by Oda san too.Ah, but I think there are only subs up to ep 3.

[ginzarhapsody]

The first time I saw it on tv, I didn't like it that much. But when I watched it again last year, it sort of grew on me. And it's the kind of drama that gets better everytime.

I would like to say that I totally agree with this comment when it comes to Sore wa Toutsuzen Arashi no you ni... I watched it a bit over a year ago for the first time, and I've given it a few casual rewatches a few times, liking it a little more each time. However, now that SARS is subbing it, I'm chanto rewatching it a second time and I love it so much more than before. :) YamaPi and Esumi Makiko aren't exactly electric onscreen, but they decently work what chemistry they had.

And Takuma wasn't as stupid or annoying as Ken is, which makes it better. *giggle*

[kameringo]

I just watched ep 3 of ProDai and I am of the same mind as you, if it wasn't for Yamapi I wouldn't be watching it. I find the jumping in and out of pictures and inevitable wedding scenes both at the start and end of EVERY episode extremely tedious. And I was just mulling over why Ken would find it such a big deal to say that he wants to sit next to her and why he doesn't just bust out with his love confession. What's he waiting for?? After all he's got a dream come true; an opportunity to right whatever wrongs he perceived himself to have committed in his youth. Garrgh

[winterspel]

And I was just mulling over why Ken would find it such a big deal to say that he wants to sit next to her and why he doesn't just bust out with his love confession. What's he waiting for?? After all he's got a dream come true; an opportunity to right whatever wrongs he perceived himself to have committed in his youth. Garrgh.

Exactly. It doesn't entirely make sense that he would be so stunted that he can't fix things.

I'm going to watch episode 4 of Liar Game tonight, as I saw that the subs came out today, yay! :) I really enjoy the episodes, but I blink and they're over! ;__;

If you click on my handle, there's a sticky post under the welcome post in which I've linked to the two sources of Bambino! subs of which I am aware. I think it's arashi_vox that has ep 2 subs

[kameringo]

Exactly. It doesn't entirely make sense that he would be so stunted that he can't fix things.Or maybe we're meant to twig that this is exactly his character; someone who is such a wimp he just cannot carry out any of his intended actions. In which case, why are we watching him? ^^; This sort of thing infuriates me

[ina]

I think he is afraid to loose her. He doesn't want to see that their relatiosnship has to change, needs to change and will change. He wants to keep her as a child. He kind of knows that things have to change, but he doesn't want to face that.