Stargate: Atlantis S1 eps 17-20

 Is...is it wrong that I'm bitter that SG-1 didn't show up in the last ep?  I think it's because they listed Amanda Tapping as a guest star in that one episode, and then only gave me about 10 seconds of Sam(and really, given the context, shouldn't that have been a "special guest stars" thing that they do at the end of an episode for a surprise last second appearance?)

( moving on... )

Meanwhile, I have found a website that will let me DL doramas as whole eps(instead of having to join them) without torrents, so this may be jdramaland for a few weeks.  (I should give the Stargates a r est for a bit, anyway.)

Stargate: Atlantis S1 eps 17-20

 Is...is it wrong that I'm bitter that SG-1 didn't show up in the last ep?  I think it's because they listed Amanda Tapping as a guest star in that one episode, and then only gave me about 10 seconds of Sam(and really, given the context, shouldn't that have been a "special guest stars" thing that they do at the end of an episode for a surprise last second appearance?)

( moving on... )

Meanwhile, I have found a website that will let me DL doramas as whole eps(instead of having to join them) without torrents, so this may be jdramaland for a few weeks.  (I should give the Stargates a r est for a bit, anyway.)

jdrama: Hotaru no Hikari eps 1-3

Aaah, jdramas...it's been too long.

Hotaru is a cool, efficient, elegant, collected office lady in a prestigious firm.  At work, she's calm, perfectly groomed, and always prepared.  At home, she's a total and complete slob.  She wears ratty clothes, has manga piled everywhere, leaves her clothes all over the apartment, and talks to stray cats.  No one in the world outside her home will ever see the real Hotaru.  Except that one day, her landlord's son, Takano, not knowing his father is allowing someone else to live in his childhood home, decides to move in.  

Problem A:  Hotaru doesn't actually rent the house, she's just allowed to live there as long as she wants.

Problem B: Takano is her manager at work.

Needless to say, Takano, who is extremely neat, serious and organized, has some problems adjusting not only to the mess his home is in, but also to the difference between the public and private Hotarus.  Soon, however, after some issues such private articles of clothing being left out and gourmet cheese being eaten as a midnight snack, the rules of cohabitation are established and Hotaru and Takano are somewhat peacefully coexisting and becoming friends, with Hotaru helping Takano deal with his separation from his wife, and Takano somewhat grudgingly helping Hotaru move forward with her blooming romance with another coworker, Makoto.  It is, of course, rather obvious where it's going.

I think that if you liked Sapuri/Suppli, you'd like this.  Aside from the obvious office romance similarities, they also have similar themes of looking past the cute and fluffy crushing for the better, adult love, as well as both parties growing up and becoming comfortable with themselves and each other, and who they are.  It's a romance, but one where both parties grow up.

The only problem is Makoto.  All the women in the office are crazy about him, and I can't tell why.  He's pretty nice looking, but no more so than any of the other men in the office, and less so than some(like Takano.)  There isn't really  anything about his personality that stands out, either.  He's nice, but mostly just kinda...there.  It wouldn't stand out as much, except that pretty much everyone in the office is pretty cool and interesting, even the ones with tiny roles.

Also, this is The Office of Pretty People.  I think it's a requirement to be hired.

( and now, I bring pictures )

Sidenote:  I kept getting thrown because I'm used to Hotaru as a boy's name, and have seen Hikari/Hikaru a lot as a name, too.  Therefore, I keep forgetting which is her name, and that the title doesn'r refer to both their names.  (Well, I only had the problem in the first ep, but...)

jdrama: Hotaru no Hikari eps 1-3

Aaah, jdramas...it's been too long.

Hotaru is a cool, efficient, elegant, collected office lady in a prestigious firm.  At work, she's calm, perfectly groomed, and always prepared.  At home, she's a total and complete slob.  She wears ratty clothes, has manga piled everywhere, leaves her clothes all over the apartment, and talks to stray cats.  No one in the world outside her home will ever see the real Hotaru.  Except that one day, her landlord's son, Takano, not knowing his father is allowing someone else to live in his childhood home, decides to move in.  

Problem A:  Hotaru doesn't actually rent the house, she's just allowed to live there as long as she wants.

Problem B: Takano is her manager at work.

Needless to say, Takano, who is extremely neat, serious and organized, has some problems adjusting not only to the mess his home is in, but also to the difference between the public and private Hotarus.  Soon, however, after some issues such private articles of clothing being left out and gourmet cheese being eaten as a midnight snack, the rules of cohabitation are established and Hotaru and Takano are somewhat peacefully coexisting and becoming friends, with Hotaru helping Takano deal with his separation from his wife, and Takano somewhat grudgingly helping Hotaru move forward with her blooming romance with another coworker, Makoto.  It is, of course, rather obvious where it's going.

I think that if you liked Sapuri/Suppli, you'd like this.  Aside from the obvious office romance similarities, they also have similar themes of looking past the cute and fluffy crushing for the better, adult love, as well as both parties growing up and becoming comfortable with themselves and each other, and who they are.  It's a romance, but one where both parties grow up.

The only problem is Makoto.  All the women in the office are crazy about him, and I can't tell why.  He's pretty nice looking, but no more so than any of the other men in the office, and less so than some(like Takano.)  There isn't really  anything about his personality that stands out, either.  He's nice, but mostly just kinda...there.  It wouldn't stand out as much, except that pretty much everyone in the office is pretty cool and interesting, even the ones with tiny roles.

Also, this is The Office of Pretty People.  I think it's a requirement to be hired.

( and now, I bring pictures )

Sidenote:  I kept getting thrown because I'm used to Hotaru as a boy's name, and have seen Hikari/Hikaru a lot as a name, too.  Therefore, I keep forgetting which is her name, and that the title doesn'r refer to both their names.  (Well, I only had the problem in the first ep, but...)

manga: Peacemaker Vol 1

At the beginning of the Meiji Revolution, 13 year old Tetsunosuke hid in a closet while his parents were slaughtered in their home.  Two years later his brother, Tatsunosuke has become an employee of the Shinsengumi, and Tetsu believes that if he can join them, he can become a stronger fighter and get revenge against his parents' killers, despite his father's desire that he become a Peacemaker instead.  After constant rejections because of his small size, Tetsu catches the attention of Okita Shouji, a member of the Shinsengumi, and "close friend" of one of its vice commanders, Hijikata.  Despite his reservations, the ill tempered Hijikata takes Tetsu on as his page.  This also displeases Tatsu,  who dislikes violence and only joined the Shinsengumi so that he could have a job and support his brother.

I watched the anime about two years ago and enjoyed it and its more serious take on the history of the era, but was amazingly annoyed by Tetsu, who would have greatly benefitted from being permanently gagged.  While not the best thing ever, he doesn't annoy me in the manga, and is more the sympathetic-if overeager-kid he's supposed to be.  More interesting are Tatsu, with the conflict of choosing to do something he hates-working with people who make their living killing-to protect something he loves-his brother, who wants to become a killer himself-and the Shinsengumi, who range from cheerful and effeminate to loud and brash to surly and to ill-tempered, but who are all cold killers at their core.  

Despite the shrimpy redheaded kid as the lead and occasional light moment, the book is very serious and dark, and seems to be historically and politically driven.  My only complaint is that eyes tend to disappear into the shadows when the mangaka decides to show us that these are scary men we're dealing with.  I think the blood spatters accomplish the same without people suddenly going one-eyed, myself.

manga: Peacemaker Vol 1

At the beginning of the Meiji Revolution, 13 year old Tetsunosuke hid in a closet while his parents were slaughtered in their home.  Two years later his brother, Tatsunosuke has become an employee of the Shinsengumi, and Tetsu believes that if he can join them, he can become a stronger fighter and get revenge against his parents' killers, despite his father's desire that he become a Peacemaker instead.  After constant rejections because of his small size, Tetsu catches the attention of Okita Shouji, a member of the Shinsengumi, and "close friend" of one of its vice commanders, Hijikata.  Despite his reservations, the ill tempered Hijikata takes Tetsu on as his page.  This also displeases Tatsu,  who dislikes violence and only joined the Shinsengumi so that he could have a job and support his brother.

I watched the anime about two years ago and enjoyed it and its more serious take on the history of the era, but was amazingly annoyed by Tetsu, who would have greatly benefitted from being permanently gagged.  While not the best thing ever, he doesn't annoy me in the manga, and is more the sympathetic-if overeager-kid he's supposed to be.  More interesting are Tatsu, with the conflict of choosing to do something he hates-working with people who make their living killing-to protect something he loves-his brother, who wants to become a killer himself-and the Shinsengumi, who range from cheerful and effeminate to loud and brash to surly and to ill-tempered, but who are all cold killers at their core.  

Despite the shrimpy redheaded kid as the lead and occasional light moment, the book is very serious and dark, and seems to be historically and politically driven.  My only complaint is that eyes tend to disappear into the shadows when the mangaka decides to show us that these are scary men we're dealing with.  I think the blood spatters accomplish the same without people suddenly going one-eyed, myself.

Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold

SO!
MUCH!
HAPPENED!

Departing almost completely from the plotline of the first three novels, Lindskold heads for more exotic pastures.  During a celebration, Firekeeper, Blind Seer and Derian are abducted.  Waking up caged in a ship, they find themselves bound for an exotic land as "honored guests," and soon learn that they-or rather, Firekeeper's ability to speak to the Noble Beasts have been sold out by their old nemesis, Waln Endbrook.  Arriving at their destination, they find themselves in a land that worships magic, and where the Noble Beasts(they call them something else, but I'm not going to try to spell it) are treated as holy creatures.  But are they there of their own free will, or is it another form of slavery?  What affect will this have on Firekeeper and Blind Seer's relationship? What about the legends of beasts in human form, and firekeeper's own views about her nature?  And will Derian finally meet a girl not named Firekeeper or Elise who doesn't drop him like a hot potato?

( SPOILERY EXCLAMATIONS! )

Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold

SO!
MUCH!
HAPPENED!

Departing almost completely from the plotline of the first three novels, Lindskold heads for more exotic pastures.  During a celebration, Firekeeper, Blind Seer and Derian are abducted.  Waking up caged in a ship, they find themselves bound for an exotic land as "honored guests," and soon learn that they-or rather, Firekeeper's ability to speak to the Noble Beasts have been sold out by their old nemesis, Waln Endbrook.  Arriving at their destination, they find themselves in a land that worships magic, and where the Noble Beasts(they call them something else, but I'm not going to try to spell it) are treated as holy creatures.  But are they there of their own free will, or is it another form of slavery?  What affect will this have on Firekeeper and Blind Seer's relationship? What about the legends of beasts in human form, and firekeeper's own views about her nature?  And will Derian finally meet a girl not named Firekeeper or Elise who doesn't drop him like a hot potato?

( SPOILERY EXCLAMATIONS! )