Hana Yori Dango 2
Jul. 28th, 2007 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meganbmooreI watched the first 3 eps back when HYD2 was airing, but I lack the patience to only watch 1 episode a week, so I decided to wait until I could watch the entire thing(preferably on DVD so I could watch on my lovely TV screen) I also was only just learningh ow to take screencaps at the time, and posted enormous(with commentary) picspams of the first 2 episodes here, here, here, here, and here. As a warning, they *hem* reflect my Hanizawa Rui obsession.
Just a quick reminder: Haven't read the manga, just watched the dorama versions. It actually looks less and less like I ever will, really...I know how the manga ends and it the same as HYD1, and I hated that until HYD2 was announced(and then it was ok). I've been told what happens with Yuki and Soujiro and, IMO, it royally sucks and ruins one of the most appealing things about them in both HYD and Meteor Garden, and I'm told that manga-Makino is more like Shan Cai than she is the jdrama version, and Shan Cai drove me batty as often as I liked her...dunno that I could handle 30+ volumes of that.
More random thoughts than anything else, as I literally rolled out of bed and came to work and I'm still tired.
Ok, seriously, what planet did Umi live on? Normally, OTP interferers don't bother me that much. Usually, I can see where they're coming from and understand their motivations. Besides, they provide a bit of reassurance that no one will go running off the next time they see a pretty face.
Rui and Shigeru never aroused more than mild irritation to me. There was absolutely NO malice to Shigeru's pursuing Domyiji(if I use their personal names, I'll start mixing them up.) Makino told her there was nothing between her and Domyoji and Domyoji ASKED her to go out with him and said he'd try to fall for her. Even though they never wanted to hurt her, they did betray her. If she'd known about them from the start, she never would have been an OTP-interferer in the first place. When she DID deliberately try to hurt and come between them, it was because she was hurting because her friend and boyfriend had betrayed her, and even while she was still hurting, she tried to help them. So nope, no ill will towards her from me.
Rui? It was made pretty clear that he never would have gone after Makino if Domyoji hadn't ignored her for a year and then gotten engaged 5 minutes after returning to Japan, and the only explanation he'd really offer was "people grow up." As far as he was concerned, Domyoji had proven himself unworthy of Makino, and Rui wasn't going to let her be unappreciated. Besides, it always came across to me as adoration as opposed to romantic love..."I love to take care of you" vs "I'm in love with you." He seemed to go at it like "If I can't be with Shizuka, and Domyoji is being to stupid to take care or and appreciate you, then I'd love to just take care of you for the rest of my life." Besides, once he knew Domyoji had gotten his act together and was serious about making it work again, he backed off(which is very similar to S1, where he only went after Makino to make both realize how they felt.) So nope, no problems with Rui whatsoever.
But Umi? Ech. Worst kind of OTP interferer...the kind who only cares about their own wants, not the wants or needs of anyone else, including the person they claim to love. She lied to Domyoji when she knew the truth and him and Makino and tried to act like Makino was trying to come between her and the guy she'd been with for well over a year. I'm not sure she even lived in anything resisting reality. Normally I see all the hatred directed towards OTP interferers and, if I've seen it, I think it's an overreaction(not always) and if I haven't, I wonder why all the hatred when I do watch it. Here, I completely get it-there's no logic, prior relationship or misunderstanding/misconception on her part-just selfish greed. She's kinda like Sakurako...except without the psycho element that makes Sakurako fun. Still, I can't completely hate her...I can't hate an actor because I hate a character they've played, and it's hard for me to completely hate a character whn I like the actor. Erica Toda did do as good job, though, especially given how different it is from her usual "dim but lovable" role.
And Umi/Rui? Seriously...NO ONE got Rui's death glares the way she did(though I did think it was a bit much to have him hate her on sight like that.) I would NOT want to really be on Rui "bad" list, and if I were Umi, I'd NEVER go into an empty room or dark alley unless I made sure Rui was miles away. Seriously. Kidnappers and blackmailers didn't get those looks...of course, before Rui knew he and/or Domyoji(with Akira and Soujiro as backups, if needed) could just pounc the snot out of them, but still...
calixa has a good point though...it's inevitable that Ogur Shun and Erica Toda will eventually be paired up...wehn it happens, it wil be extremely cute.
I wish they'd better explained what happened with Rui and Shizuka, though. He seemed to think he'd failed her in some way, but it's not really explained how. Oh well, they obviously still care a lot, so as far as I'm concerned, they eventually get back together and make tall, beautiful, brilliant babies with a knack for helping messed up OTPs get their acts together.
I ADORED how much of a shipper Akira was...Domyoji/Makino, Soujiro/Yuki, Rui/Shizuka...he ships them all.
But...as much of a shipper as I am...I realize Yuki and Soujiro will probably never get together. At least, not for a long time. Still, it's clear he absolutely adores her the way Rui adores Makino(the other are all extremely fond of her too, but in a different way) and she and Makino are the ONLY ones he'd never do his normal act with(which is why I hated learning about them in the manga...the "just friends" sex is far, far too close to making Yuki nothing but yet another in his steady stream of women. Still, he only really smiles for her(even Sara didn't get a real smile, though that was because of their past) and he DID hesitate before saying she couldn't ride his bike(and implied he might sometime) so it could happen yet...) she's a persistent girl...just give her another year or rwo...
I LIVE for Tsubaki appearances...I mean, how do you not love a woman who flies halfway across the world to spend 10 minutes fixing everything, and then flies back? And, seriously...living, breathing Makino-in-a-box? Best present in the world for Domyoji...it'll NEVER be topped.
Really...I spent the entire thing thinking of Domyoji as this overgrown, lovable puppy who always barks at everyone but secretly wants cuddling, and Makino as this adorable little kitty who's always getting into trouble.
And the proposal? ROFL...he's lucky she was too busy being embarassed to punch him...though...who let the Twitty Trio down there? Hmm...maybe their dressed "accidentally" fell off and they got past while the guards were recovering from their nosebleeds...
and that was MUCH longer than planned...
ETA: Ok, seriously, the Umi/amnesia storyline was ALL of MG2? It was enough to last an hour with good actors...an entire series with the MG cast(though the ones I've seen in more recent shows have improved vastly) would FAR exceed my tolerance level.
Rui and Shigeru never aroused more than mild irritation to me. There was absolutely NO malice to Shigeru's pursuing Domyiji(if I use their personal names, I'll start mixing them up.) Makino told her there was nothing between her and Domyoji and Domyoji ASKED her to go out with him and said he'd try to fall for her. Even though they never wanted to hurt her, they did betray her. If she'd known about them from the start, she never would have been an OTP-interferer in the first place. When she DID deliberately try to hurt and come between them, it was because she was hurting because her friend and boyfriend had betrayed her, and even while she was still hurting, she tried to help them. So nope, no ill will towards her from me.
Rui? It was made pretty clear that he never would have gone after Makino if Domyoji hadn't ignored her for a year and then gotten engaged 5 minutes after returning to Japan, and the only explanation he'd really offer was "people grow up." As far as he was concerned, Domyoji had proven himself unworthy of Makino, and Rui wasn't going to let her be unappreciated. Besides, it always came across to me as adoration as opposed to romantic love..."I love to take care of you" vs "I'm in love with you." He seemed to go at it like "If I can't be with Shizuka, and Domyoji is being to stupid to take care or and appreciate you, then I'd love to just take care of you for the rest of my life." Besides, once he knew Domyoji had gotten his act together and was serious about making it work again, he backed off(which is very similar to S1, where he only went after Makino to make both realize how they felt.) So nope, no problems with Rui whatsoever.
But Umi? Ech. Worst kind of OTP interferer...the kind who only cares about their own wants, not the wants or needs of anyone else, including the person they claim to love. She lied to Domyoji when she knew the truth and him and Makino and tried to act like Makino was trying to come between her and the guy she'd been with for well over a year. I'm not sure she even lived in anything resisting reality. Normally I see all the hatred directed towards OTP interferers and, if I've seen it, I think it's an overreaction(not always) and if I haven't, I wonder why all the hatred when I do watch it. Here, I completely get it-there's no logic, prior relationship or misunderstanding/misconception on her part-just selfish greed. She's kinda like Sakurako...except without the psycho element that makes Sakurako fun. Still, I can't completely hate her...I can't hate an actor because I hate a character they've played, and it's hard for me to completely hate a character whn I like the actor. Erica Toda did do as good job, though, especially given how different it is from her usual "dim but lovable" role.
And Umi/Rui? Seriously...NO ONE got Rui's death glares the way she did(though I did think it was a bit much to have him hate her on sight like that.) I would NOT want to really be on Rui "bad" list, and if I were Umi, I'd NEVER go into an empty room or dark alley unless I made sure Rui was miles away. Seriously. Kidnappers and blackmailers didn't get those looks...of course, before Rui knew he and/or Domyoji(with Akira and Soujiro as backups, if needed) could just pounc the snot out of them, but still...
calixa has a good point though...it's inevitable that Ogur Shun and Erica Toda will eventually be paired up...wehn it happens, it wil be extremely cute.I wish they'd better explained what happened with Rui and Shizuka, though. He seemed to think he'd failed her in some way, but it's not really explained how. Oh well, they obviously still care a lot, so as far as I'm concerned, they eventually get back together and make tall, beautiful, brilliant babies with a knack for helping messed up OTPs get their acts together.
I ADORED how much of a shipper Akira was...Domyoji/Makino, Soujiro/Yuki, Rui/Shizuka...he ships them all.
But...as much of a shipper as I am...I realize Yuki and Soujiro will probably never get together. At least, not for a long time. Still, it's clear he absolutely adores her the way Rui adores Makino(the other are all extremely fond of her too, but in a different way) and she and Makino are the ONLY ones he'd never do his normal act with(which is why I hated learning about them in the manga...the "just friends" sex is far, far too close to making Yuki nothing but yet another in his steady stream of women. Still, he only really smiles for her(even Sara didn't get a real smile, though that was because of their past) and he DID hesitate before saying she couldn't ride his bike(and implied he might sometime) so it could happen yet...) she's a persistent girl...just give her another year or rwo...
I LIVE for Tsubaki appearances...I mean, how do you not love a woman who flies halfway across the world to spend 10 minutes fixing everything, and then flies back? And, seriously...living, breathing Makino-in-a-box? Best present in the world for Domyoji...it'll NEVER be topped.
Really...I spent the entire thing thinking of Domyoji as this overgrown, lovable puppy who always barks at everyone but secretly wants cuddling, and Makino as this adorable little kitty who's always getting into trouble.
And the proposal? ROFL...he's lucky she was too busy being embarassed to punch him...though...who let the Twitty Trio down there? Hmm...maybe their dressed "accidentally" fell off and they got past while the guards were recovering from their nosebleeds...
and that was MUCH longer than planned...
ETA: Ok, seriously, the Umi/amnesia storyline was ALL of MG2? It was enough to last an hour with good actors...an entire series with the MG cast(though the ones I've seen in more recent shows have improved vastly) would FAR exceed my tolerance level.