Hana Yori Dango 2

[meganbmoore]

I 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.

Comments

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Umi made me want to throw things at the screen. Though I think that was a combination of the manic optimism as well as the scheming - I'd kill someone who was that cheery in hospital.

I didn't like Shiguru because I think you'd have to be insane to keep flinging yourself at someone who clearly didn't want you (though it seems to be a common dorama trait: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't). Though you're right - D. does say he'll try with her and she is about as clueless of people's feelings as he is so I don't think she's malicious. I kept seeing her as a sort of female D. with about the same social skills so I didn't mind her as much.

Poor Rui! I felt he got a raw deal in HYD 2. No Makino, no Shizuka...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Shigeru to Domyoji was basically Domyoji to Makino in S1...it just comes across differently if it's not really the OTP.

As far as I'm concerned, Rui and Shizuka get back together and make babies that will take care of and eventually marry Domyoji and Makino's babies.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Let's hope that Makino's babies had D's height, then. Otherwise there will be a lot of standing on boxes/backaches going on... :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I prefer MG to HYD times seven but even I refused to sit through MG2.

Re: otp interlopers. I liked Shigeru in manga/anime/MG but couldn't stand her in the jdrama. Maybe because in the former, she did go for the guy, didn't know he and Makino were exes. Found out he still cared about the ex, made one attempt (desperate as it was) to get him back, and then stopped. But here she was trying to be manipulative. Mainly though, it was the actress+character combo. She was so shrill+hyperly annoying, I think I would have wanted to brain her even if she wasn't an otp interloper.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

she didn't know for sure they were exes until she walked in on them...and then only did one thing after that(a major thing, but they did hurt her, so i couldn't blame her). but yeah, her version is the only one i prefer in the TW version to the J version.

i'm neutral about her as a character, but really, the only major difference between her chasing domyoji and domyoji chasing makino in hyd1 is that she's the otp interferer instead of half the otp. i'm neutral about the character herself, but cant feel more than mild irritation towards her.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

I think she had a pretty good idea right from the beginning. Their very first meeting he drags her off thinking she's Makino - that had to mean something. She was just deluding herself into believing it was 100% over between them.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

And they let and pretty much encouraged her to do so. If either one had just told her from the start, it never would have gone down the way it did. Not saying I blame them, as they were both trying to do the right thing, but really, they HAD to know they were just putting her into a position of getting hurt.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Very true. But she still cares about both of them rather than getting bitter - that's why I like her.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

yup. if they hadn't led her to believe she had a chance, she never would have been an otp interferer.

not a malicious bone in her body, really. shallow and spoiled, sure...

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Actually, the manga's ending was 10 times less satisfactory than the drama's. It ends with just seperating - no "I still love you & might come back some day", etc. And the manga was obsessed with trying to get Makino & Domyoji in bed - not that it ever happens but I got extremely sick of it. MG follows the manga fairly closely but, since I didn't like the manga at all, I haven't been motivated to watch MG2 & am even less motivated knowing it's all about the Umi/amnesia storyline. I love how they rearranged things in the jdorama. He gets his memory back when they are snowed in because it re-enacts their first "date" - in the manga she throws a baseball at him & storms off - very anti-climactic.

Overall, I think the Japanese drama ends on a much more optimistic note. There's a possibility for Soujiro/Yuki, Rui/Shizuka, etc. (Interestly, the manga had a small sidestory with Akira sharing some of his story with Makino & it shows that, if Domyoji hadn't fallen for her first, they all would have eventually.)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

One of the major problems I had with MG was that too many of Shan Cai's problems with being with Si were money based...it was like it was all about the money. In HYD, it's his behavior and what's best for more people.

Yeah, after I finished HYD2 I asked a friend about what happened in the manga and WTF?-ed my way through it. Don't think me reading the manga is ever happening now...30+ volumes and only 2 people MIGHT be happy a year or so after it ends? No thanks.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

The artwork is pretty horrible, too. The only reason I read it was to compare to the dramas - & I wanted to stab my eyes out with a fork most of the time.

The only two things I liked better in MG was
1) much better kissing &
2) the part where he's locked up & crying that he misses her at the door.

The only thing I hated about the jdrama - why couldn't she wear a pretty dress at the end? Don't give me that, "fancy dresses aren't me" bit - they were you at Shizuka's party & you knocked Domyoji's socks off. But then, he might not have been able to stutter out a proposal if she'd shown up all dolled up.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I thought it was silly that she showed up in her school uniform myself. I guess its the "signature clothes" thing or something...

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Her dancing was not so great either but still very cute.

The ending with his Mother being forced to accept her was awesome. A great comeupance. (Not in the manga at all - they actually tried to make her slightly human in the manga, too.)

And I Love, Love, Love the scarf kiss.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

scarf kiss is great.

HYD1 ended with her kinda accepting Makino when sdhe stopped the plane so they could say goodbye. I guess maybe she assumed domyoji would find someone else in new york.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Her biggest mistake was bringing him back to Japan & even bigger was inviting her to the party. He resisted when Makino came to NY. But seeing her so often wore down his defenses. I love it because I dislike Kaede so much & she ruined her plan herself.

[kitkat-cat.livejournal.com]

hate umi, she needs to be strung up! what got me was the maliciousness all packaged up in a 'butter wouldn't melt' cutesey-pie image! and the tears and the scheming! GRR!

i love HYD1&2 and MG for different reasons. For me, HYD is a more confident production with the money to back it up. acting is not too bad either. i also preferred the story development between Doumyoji and Makino. the general cracktastic feel to it also helped.

but MG, is a little more grown up, perhaps because they are university students as opposed to high schoolers. the major emotional angst to me to simply a bit more believable. i also preferred the treatment of the Ximen/YiaoYou (Soujirou/Yuki) relationship there. the acting and production value sucked to put it kindly though.

Really though, i can sit through hours of tv viewing for a Soujirou/Yuki type storyline and they dont even have to get together at the end! yup! i love PAIN! i even sat through meteor rain and MG2 for the glimpses of any Ximen-XiaoYou plot! saying that MG2 was really dire... somehow, i think that they had a workable idea...but didnt know what to do with it. that was its downfall...

ok, end of essay! :)