Last Friends

WD wrote:The reason I hated Sousuke's character is because they tried to give him this pitiful background as an excuse for why he behaved the way he did. Well, I hate to tell the writer, but many people grew up without parents or grew up in a lot shittier circumstances than he did and don't grow up to repeatedly abuse their girlfriends with no remorse. It was a complete cop-out at making his character "complex" or some ridiculous crap, which was completely ineffective for me. You do not have to be a product of your environment.

Well-said! Almost like what I commented on my LJ:

That's not right. Michiru doesn't deserve all the things that Sousuke did to her. Whatever cruel, twisted past he once had does not make it right for him to torture Michiru that way. Not even one ounce of remorse, guilt or conscience coming out of that man, and all that's present was that he's just being hypocrite. How did people sympathize with him and not the victim? That's so not right! Just because he's Ryo playing Sousuke, that DOES NOT mean that he's the "oh poor soul who's haunted by a dark past blablabla"! In reality, there are a lot of people who go through (probably) even worse situations than Sousuke in the past, but they make choices to do something positive about it. People like Sousuke are just weak. You just don't sympathize with people like this when they start going around abusing people.

What, did you all not see the tears that he shed when he was sitting outside the bedroom looking at the pictures? You mean to tell me that the award-winning scene did not convince you of giving him any sympathy? He convinced a lot of viewers with that scene. Man, you guys are brutal! :beaten: :mrgreen:

awrittensin wrote:

But the writer wrote herself into a corner by making him so irredeemable and by never getting the police involved.

That is what I could not figure out. I think it was episode 8 or 9 when Sosuke beats the sh*t out of Takeru and NOBODY CALLS THE COPS!!! WTF is going on around here?!!? That was when this drama completely lost it for me. :beaten: [/list:u]

gaijinmark wrote:awrittensin wrote:

But the writer wrote herself into a corner by making him so irredeemable and by never getting the police involved.

That is what I could not figure out. I think it was episode 8 or 9 when Sosuke beats the sh*t out of Takeru and NOBODY CALLS THE COPS!!! WTF is going on around here?!!? That was when this drama completely lost it for me. :beaten: [/list:u]

Not to defend the utter stupidity of it all, but Magicmusic pointed out a ways back that in Japan crap like that happens and people turn a blind eye to it... The nature of the culture, I guess... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:
Not to defend the utter stupidity of it all, but Magicmusic pointed out a ways back that in Japan crap like that happens and people turn a blind eye to it... The nature of the culture, I guess... :sweat:

I would think someone at the hospital would've figured out how he got hurt and called the police to look into it, but maybe it's outside a hospital's legal means to do so? I understand Magicmusic's point as I've read stories about similar things, but I figure someone at the hospital would have noticed something.

deseipher wrote:I would think someone at the hospital would've figured out how he got hurt and called the police to look into it, but maybe it's outside a hospital's legal means to do so? I understand Magicmusic's point as I've read stories about similar things, but I figure someone at the hospital would have noticed something.

You'd think... :sweat:

I guess we need to ask those who actually lived and grew up in Japan for an insider's view about this all: we're on the outside looking in. :sweat:

But that's where the writer screwed up. You have Sousuke's ass thrown in the slammer, get him out of the picture (no later than episode 3 if it were up to me) and then you focus on the two most interesting characters, Ruka and Takeru, and you've got a chance for something pretty good.

gaijinmark wrote:But that's where the writer screwed up. You have Sousuke's ass thrown in the slammer, get him out of the picture (no later than episode 3 if it were up to me) and then you focus on the two most interesting characters, Ruka and Takeru, and you've got a chance for something pretty good.

Apparently the writer and producer were looking more for ratings, so they gave Mr. DV more screen time and increased the beatings to the point where the drama was almost a snuff film. :shakehead:

So the general consensus is that if you look for even a shred of quality in your viewing, Last Friends sucked. Works for me. :mrgreen:

bmwracer wrote:
Not to defend the utter stupidity of it all, but Magicmusic pointed out a ways back that in Japan crap like that happens and people turn a blind eye to it... The nature of the culture, I guess... :sweat:

That always puzzled me. I can see that working with someone else, but why didn't Takeru call the police himself? Or when Sousuke was waiting outside the house, why didn't any of them call the police then. I can't see how the "turn the blind eye" works when those turning the blind eye are directly affected. Twin brother? Can you get more predictable? I'm guessing this twin brother is the "perfect" guy who will redeem Sousuke. :rolleyes: The writers have shown they don't need to put any effort out when Ryo standing there is enough to lure the fangirls, and their money, in.

deseipher wrote:

What, did you all not see the tears that he shed when he was sitting outside the bedroom looking at the pictures? You mean to tell me that the award-winning scene did not convince you of giving him any sympathy? He convinced a lot of viewers with that scene. Man, you guys are brutal! :beaten: :mrgreen:

Only a little. But what's putting me off with his performance is his lack of skills in dialog delivery. Ryo has always comes off being unnatural in this area, but maybe one day if hets to play a mute person he could get off with being excellent in my book. :hehe:

WD wrote:Only a little. But what's putting me off with his performance is his lack of skills in dialog delivery. Ryo has always comes off being unnatural in this area, but maybe one day if hets to play a mute person he could get off with being excellent in my book. :hehe:

LOL. :rofl:

Maybe he can play a log or a cadaver... That wouldn't be a stretch, would it?

bmwracer wrote:
LOL. :rofl:

Maybe he can play a log or a cadaver... That wouldn't be a stretch, would it?

I know it's kinda peripheral, but exactly what we're complaining about Ryo's acting in Last Friends serves him pretty well in 1 Litre of Tears. The brooding, angsty demeanor actually works pretty well for certain purposes :)

Even stranger, it can even be kinda charming in the right context.

bmwracer wrote:
LOL. :rofl:

Maybe he can play a log or a cadaver... That wouldn't be a stretch, would it?

You're mean, insulting logs and cadavers like that :beaten:

Actually, I agree with phlargo that Ryo's acting in Last Friends can work well in certain situations, though I would think more in a supporting role than a leading one. I haven't seen 1 Litre of Tears yet so maybe I should check that out. Who knows, it's all subjective really, but I wouldn't doubt that Ryo's acting would work well in some other drama.

deseipher wrote:Who knows, it's all subjective really, but I wouldn't doubt that Ryo's acting would work well in some other drama.

Hopefully it's a drama I'll never watch. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:
Hopefully it's a drama I'll never watch. :beaten:

So far it isn't getting the nod - it's pretty good, but not all it's raved up to be.

So I can't believe they aren't going to start filming this last friends movie until later this year.. does that mean if Juri's in it, she'll have to cut her hair short again? :puppydog:

phlargo wrote:So I can't believe they aren't going to start filming this last friends movie until later this year.. does that mean if Juri's in it, she'll have to cut her hair short again? :puppydog:

I'm hoping she backed out of participating.... Especially if there's that idiotic plotline of Sosuke's twin brother... :shakehead: :crazy:

bmwracer wrote:
I'm hoping she backed out of participating.... Especially if there's that idiotic plotline of Sosuke's twin brother... :shakehead: :crazy:

If the reports about Juri-chan being the one keeping her talent agency afloat, I sure as heck hope she uses whatever leverage she has to get far away from the movie as possible.

That plotline sounds so idiotic that I would be very surprised if it turns out to be true.

deseipher wrote:If the reports about Juri-chan being the one keeping her talent agency afloat, I sure as heck hope she uses whatever leverage she has to get far away from the movie as possible.

Let's hope. :fingerscrossed:

That plotline sounds so idiotic that I would be very surprised if it turns out to be true.

Yup. :bleh: :shakehead:

bmwracer wrote:
LOL. :rofl:

Maybe he can play a log or a cadaver... That wouldn't be a stretch, would it?

He already played the cadaver, or at least a corpse. Acting was so compelling it won him an award. Hell, even I cheered at that part, especially when the munchkins started singing "ding dong the witch is dead"......oh sorry. Wrong show. :hehe:

I hope the Sousuke's twin brother plot will be blown out of the way from movie. Isn't it time for other characters to shine?

WD wrote:I hope the Sousuke's twin brother plot will be blown out of the way from movie. Isn't it time for other characters to shine?

Apparently not, if you're after ratings.

*prays in the presence of a Juri-chan pic that she not be in the movie* :sweat: