Last Friends

And, phlargo, dude, you REALLY need to start using spoilers. Nearly all your content related posts I read were spoilers, and that's really annoying for readers who don't like episodes spoiled for them before they watch an episode.

Really??? I was super careful to avoid plot-point discussion and maintain only general ideas about what was going on with the perceptual aspect of watching the show. Can anyone back me up on this? Maybe I'm using the concept of spoiler wrong?

I'm very sorry if I deprived you of some of the viewing joy.

Great, I can see the previews now:

"Last Friends: Now with more inexplicable beatings and winking context!"

Of COURSE it's going to be an overwhelming response, you've got a Johnny Boy that's playing an abusive cold guy, which goes completely against the "so bad he's cool" image that so many other one-dimensional characters these guys play.

phlargo wrote:

And, phlargo, dude, you REALLY need to start using spoilers. Nearly all your content related posts I read were spoilers, and that's really annoying for readers who don't like episodes spoiled for them before they watch an episode.

Really??? I was super careful to avoid plot-point discussion and maintain only general ideas about what was going on with the perceptual aspect of watching the show. Can anyone back me up on this? Maybe I'm using the concept of spoiler wrong?

I'm very sorry if I deprived you of some of the viewing joy.

I realize that you're perhaps talking about older posts - in which case, you may be right. I have been very lax with discussing plot points prior to your announcement that you hadn't started - and I figured that if anyone didn't want to see posts newer than their experience, they'd be selective about which posts they read (ie - only reading up to page 46 when you've only seen ep 1 - 3)

However, since you announced your late start, I've been extremely careful to reserve plot progress.

Tenshigure wrote:Great, I can see the previews now:

"Last Friends: Now with more inexplicable beatings and winking context!"

Of COURSE it's going to be an overwhelming response, you've got a Johnny Boy that's playing an abusive cold guy, which goes completely against the "so bad he's cool" image that so many other one-dimensional characters these guys play.

sorry but i think it's beyond that johnny boy thing.

the effect would have been similar even if they got someone else to act as sosuke.

i guess if i have time i could try translating some of the comments on the last friends website. or if anyone else knows japanese here, perhaps you could help? what the people there are saying.... the own life experiences they are sharing.... it really sheds light on the extent of DV-ing in japan. not only between spouses/couples.... even parents to child, etc. i think i remember a comment from this lady, she talked about her own experience of living with a guy older than her when she was in high school, and she said something like 'thinking about how i had once been DV-ed, my tears just keep falling again and again. unless you have been treated similarly before, you wouldn't be able to sympathise with michiru.' this was a relatively old comment so i am too lazy to find it = =

but here's one of the more recent ones:

‚¢‚‚à–Ø—j‚P‚O时‚ðŠy‚µ‚݂ɐ¶‚«‚Ä‚¢‚Ü‚·(ÎjŽ„‚Æ“¯”N‘ã‚̃Lƒƒƒ‰ƒNƒ^[‚È‚Ì‚à见‚â‚·‚¢‚Æ‚±‚ë‚Å‚·‚ªAƒXƒg[ƒŠ[‚à–Ê”’‚¢‚µAo‰‰‚³‚ê‚Ä‚é•ûX‚àA‰¹Šy‚àƒsƒbƒ^ƒŠ‚¾‚ÆŽv‚¢‚Ü‚·™ŽŸ‚ª‘‚­‚Ý‚½‚­‚È‚è‚Ü‚·BŽ„Ž©gDV”íŠQ‚ÌŒoŒ±‚ª‚ ‚è‚Ü‚·‚̂ŁAƒ~ƒ`ƒ‹‚Ì‹CŽ‚¿‚à–”ƒ\ƒEƒXƒP‚Ì‹CŽ‚¿‚à•ª‚©‚è‚Ü‚·B¡“ú见‚½‚΂©‚è‚È‚Ì‚É‘‚­—ˆŽü‚É‚È‚Á‚Ä—~‚µ‚¢

i'll just do a rough translation. it says that every thursday at 10pm she will feel an anticipation. she can identify easily with the cast who is from the same generation as her. the story is interesting, the acting, the music... it's all good. she can't wait for the next episode. she also had an experience with DV before, so she can understand michiru and sosuke's feelings. after watching it today, she can't wait for next week to arrive.

just dropping by some scans.. :hehe:

from the magazine with lemons.. (sorry don't know what's the name of the magazine.. :beaten: )

[image] [image]

[image] [image]

TV Guide

[image] [image]

[image]

meoinkie2 wrote:[image]

My God!!!!

Jason smiles....!!!!! :shocked:

You know, even now I can't place it...still looks sadistic.

"Hi kiddies, I'm gonna beat your mother!" :thumbsup:


:hehe:

i know this is not related to the drama but does anyone know where i can find the song without words that sometimes come on durin the show? not hikki's prisoner of love.
is there gonna be a soundtrack?
*fingers cross*

fourleafclover wrote:i know this is not related to the drama but does anyone know where i can find the song without words that sometimes come on durin the show? not hikki's prisoner of love.
is there gonna be a soundtrack?
*fingers cross*

Did you check the Last Friends thread over at D-Addicts?

I think someone was talking about the OST recently. :)

bmwracer wrote:And you thought we we blowing smoke :muack:

LOL! And you know, I really did! I thought you guys were just saying that stuff because the actor is a JE boy. The truth is, the critcism is for the writers. Ryou is doing a great job with the character given to him. It's a matter of developing that character now, as you said in a previous post. :thumbsup:

Yup.

Not sure if you saw my comment, but I think the entire drama could've gone without the entire DV thing... But as deseipher said, the writers felt that they had to inject some sizzle (if the Ruka story wasn't enough) and a JE boy to boost ratings... :sweat:

Yup, I read this post. And I agree as well. I mean, the DV was appropriate in the beginning to establish the situation, but now it's getting annoying. They only need to suggest it now. They don't have to show each hit.

nutcase wrote:but in japan, the DV parts are generating more feedback and interest than the whole ruka-in-love-with-michiru thing.... we might feel that the DV part is redundant (actually i hate it too)... but at the other end of the spectrum you have some japanese viewers thinking that adding a GID (erm. Gender Identity Disorder) theme is uncalled for. because it is a fact that DV is a wayyy more common (and serious) problem over there than something like GID. if you take a look at the responses on the last friends website, 'sosuke' or DV appears in almost every comment....

oh well, it's even rumoured that the producers have decided to increase ryo's scenes in the show.... due to the 'overwhelming' response....

as much as i dislike sosuke, and JE fangirls in general.... i think ryo did a decent job with the character.... actually IMO the entire cast did well... just that some generate more hype than others (*cough* sosuke and ruka)... while a few pathetic ones get left out.....

I don't think we're questioning the amount of DV theme. It's more about the actual scenes and the content of those scenes. DV can be capture in more ways then just showing a guy kicking a weeping girl. The DV can continue, but I think they need to branch away from showing the actual abuse.

phlargo wrote:However, since you announced your late start, I've been extremely careful to reserve plot progress.

Yup, and I appreciate it. :hug:

I'm just doing my modly duties and keeping you outta trouble. ;)

And argh! My Last Friends epi 4 download is soooooooo sloooooooow. Only 7.9% done. :shamefulcry:

meoinkie2 wrote:just dropping by some scans.. :hehe:

from the magazine with lemons.. (sorry don't know what's the name of the magazine.. :beaten: )

[image]

he looks weird up close
can of creepy lol

Wynter wrote:I don't think we're questioning the amount of DV theme. It's more about the actual scenes and the content of those scenes. DV can be capture in more ways then just showing a guy kicking a weeping girl. The DV can continue, but I think they need to branch away from showing the actual abuse.

phlargo wrote:


:

but then wouldn't really make sense afterall is one of theings what they stressing more on

Wynter wrote:The DV can continue, but I think they need to branch away from showing the actual abuse.

It's possible that they keep showing it since potential new viewers jumping on board are going to hear 'OMG there's some violent scenes in there, you HAVE to watch'. It's still shock value, and it's still pandering to a need for sensationalism. But then again, with the ratings jumping from last episode... :bleh:

As for the GID, I need to see where that goes first. Could be something significant once it's all said and done.

FarOutFreak wrote:It's possible that they keep showing it since potential new viewers jumping on board are going to hear 'OMG there's some violent scenes in there, you HAVE to watch'. It's still shock value, and it's still pandering to a need for sensationalism.

Yup, like the proverbial train wreck: "I can't take my eyes off of it..."
:shakehead:

bmwracer wrote:
Yup, like the proverbial train wreck

Let's hope that's not as ominous as it sounds.

suzzy wrote:

he looks weird up close
can of creepy lol

i know... haha

the way he smiles.... i know some fangirls find it cute but it just sends chills down my spine....

to begin with i never liked him that much even in 1LoT.... :shakehead:

And it's also a reflection of youth today. I find that my students can sit through a movie if they're not stimulated every 5 minutes. And the stimulation can be ANYTHING. Violence, sexy people, loud noise, bright colours, anything.

They need the thrill of the shock, and the bluntness of visuals, to get excited about something. Metaphors and symbolism are things of the past. :headshake:

bmwracer wrote:
Yup, like the proverbial train wreck: "I can't take my eyes off of it..."
:shakehead:

I couldn't help but feel a bit of bitterness coming off of that post there. :P

But then again...I can't seem to help but agree at this point, some of the moments you're watching here are just so horror movie-esque in that you want to scream at the screen for the girl to NOT go that way! hehe

Wynter wrote:And it's also a reflection of youth today. I find that my students can sit through a movie if they're not stimulated every 5 minutes. And the stimulation can be ANYTHING. Violence, sexy people, loud noise, bright colours, anything.

You mean "can't sit through a movie," ne? :sweat:

How did they make it through The 39 Steps (remember that movie)?