What dramas are you currently watching?

Love Shuffle episode 10 :smitten: what an end :flyingkiss:

I just realised the series was written by the same guy who wrote Golden Bowl (and ehem SOS :sweat: ). ItLs not as good as Golden Bowl or Orange Days but itLs almost there :victory: .

bmwracer wrote:For who? :headscratch:

Even in its proper English form of "For whom?" I still don't understand the question. :headscratch:

Since we're both scratching our heads, I'd like to remind the general public that over-scratching one's scalp promotes dandruff.

I did find my sun glasses.

bmwracer wrote:Well is was dated: Back in the 70's, where part of the story takes place.

Yup, that's one of the things I liked best, other than Taiga's you don't have many dramas with an arc that covers several decades. Plus it was kind of cool to see all those old cars. In episode one or two, in the background there's a Toyota GT2000. I don't know where they found that, those things are scarcer than the proverbial hen's teeth. [/list:u]

Just finished Kurosagi and really enjoyed it. Am now totally in love with YamaPi. Also in the middle of watching Trick.

Waldo T wrote:Even in its proper English form of "For whom?" I still don't understand the question. :headscratch:

As you stated, why was "the choice of Natsukawa Yui not a very happy one?"

Since we're both scratching our heads, I'd like to remind the general public that over-scratching one's scalp promotes dandruff.

You must be a dermatologist. :beaten:

gaijinmark wrote: In episode one or two, in the background there's a Toyota GT2000. I don't know where they found that, those things are scarcer than the proverbial hen's teeth. [/list:u]

The incredible irony of it is that the owner of the GT2000 has hen's teeth. :beaten:

Finished "Innocent Love"

http://jdorama.com/drama.1330.htm

The show started out dumb... and over time became lame, ridiculous, and laughably bad. (And I don't mean that in a good way.)

The fast forward express saw me though this one. Truth to tell, had Uchida Yuki not been in this one I would have tossed it after the second or third episode.

I have a couple of episodes of Top Sales left and I wanted to clear something up.

I only compared the two shows, the other day, because I've been watching the two of them this week.

I've been disappointed in the writing of "Top Sales". In the direction they've taken while telling the story.

But the two shows really shouldn't have been mentioned in the same post.

"Innocent Love" was a useless waste of time and video tape.

"Top Sales" is a chance to see one of the best actresses in TV work.

Geezer wrote:"Top Sales" is a chance to see one of the best actresses in TV work.

Right on. :victory:

Geez, how do you compare it against Muri na Renai?

Watched Episode 23 of Kita no kuni kara last night... about to watch the last ep now :victory:

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Watched Episode 23 of Kita no kuni kara last night... about to watch the last ep now

That's so sad. Jeez I loved that show.

BMW

how do you compare it against Muri na Renai?

Rough question. I guess the simple answer is... I can see myself watching and enjoying "Muri na Renai" again in a year or so.

But I doubt I'll watch "Top Sales" again as a whole series. I might buzz through to watch things like the driving tests, or some of her scenes with the Director. But there really doesn't seem to be any compelling drama in "Top Sales". They just didn't develop the story.

I'll say one thing for "Top Sales". It made me go over to one of the streaming sites and start watching "Blue Bird".

"Blue Bird" is exactly the kind of show I normally avoid like the plague. It's a "tragic romance". That sort of show normally gives me gas. But the cast was phenomenal, and she was absolutely (pardon if I sound like a gay film critic here) luminous.

"Blue Bird" isn't funny, and it isn't sharp. But if you're Yui fan it's a must see.

Ruri no Shima: So far the best drama I've seen in a long time. It looks like all the stars lined up for it: story, actors, locale, music score... and the hairdresser subplot adds a very nice little mystery thread to it.

All right. I'm heading back there now in my little blue train.

Where did I put my suntan lotion?

Waldo T wrote:So far the best drama I've seen in a long time.

For who(m)?

Please substantiate.

gaijinmark wrote: Plus it was kind of cool to see all those old cars. In episode one or two, in the background there's a Toyota GT2000. I don't know where they found that, those things are scarcer than the proverbial hen's teeth. [/list:u]

I think it's difficult obtaining a 2000GT outside of Japan. I've seen some go on sale but I doubt I'll ever see the special 007 convertible for sale. If I were able to buy an old Japanese classic it would have to be the Prince KPGC10 Hakosuka GT-R. BTW, can anyone spot the "blasphemy" in the white 2000 below?

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Takoyama wrote:BTW, can anyone spot the "blasphemy" in the white 2000 below?

You mean the Nissan engine inside? :crazy:

Does it have "Nissan" on the engine? :hehe: *edit* oops, beem beat me to it.

OT: Finished Kita no kuni kara. It's one of those things that you never want to end, but you want to find out what happens at the end. My head hurts too much to think about writing a review at the moment, but it's definitely a 9.5/10

So, what next? Anything is going to pale in comparison. I do have the rest of Atsu-hime to watch (10 eps) but after that I think i'll go for something a bit more modern.. dunno what yet.

bmwracer wrote:
You mean the Nissan engine inside? :crazy:

Anime Dad wrote:
Does it have "Nissan" on the engine? *edit* oops, beem beat me to it.

Winner Winner Chicken Fricken Dinner! Someone give these two fine gentlemen something to eat. Yup, RB26DETT engine.

Takoyama wrote:Winner Winner Chicken Fricken Dinner! Someone give these two fine gentlemen something to eat.

Had sushi for lunch already... But una-ju sounds good. :victory:

Tenchijin, Episode 6.

Like a few others here I've been watching Top Sales and have finally got round to finishing it. Many thanks to Anime Dad for the subs. The greatest thing about it is Natsukawa Yui, who basically shines in anything she's in and is surely the best actress in dramas at the moment.

It works best when dealing with recent Japanese history and how this affected the lives of central group of friends. It taught me many things I didn't know about Japan in the last 30 or so years, some eerily reminiscent of current events, such is the nature of boom and bust.

What isn't successful is when it tries to use the buying, selling and ownership of cars a a metaphor for people's lives, and the resulting interventions from the car sales people, which where sometimes just toe curling.

But is the end it was entertaining, educational and starred Natsukawa Yui, and what more could you ask for? (apart from a better script).

Cerebus wrote:Like a few others here I've been watching Top Sales and have finally got round to finishing it. Many thanks to Anime Dad for the subs. The greatest thing about it is Natsukawa Yui, who basically shines in anything she's in and is surely the best actress in dramas at the moment.

Well, one of the best. :beaten:

It works best when dealing with recent Japanese history and how this affected the lives of central group of friends. It taught me many things I didn't know about Japan in the last 30 or so years, some eerily reminiscent of current events, such is the nature of boom and bust.

There is quite a bit of irony, to be sure.

I finished off Top Sales as well, and I think Cerebus summed it up pretty well.

About half way in I started thinking about a movie I saw a couple of years ago Hi wa Mata Noboru (The Man Behind The VHS) - Staring Nishida Toshiyuki & Watanabe Ken. The story of an industrial triumph, and the people behind it, and the times they lived in.

I had the feeling that they had enough material in Top Sales to do a pretty decent movie. But when they tried to stretch it out over 8, hour long, episodes... it all came out seeming sort of empty.

Hmm. It didn't make me want to buy a Japanese car, but it sure did make me want to look around for more Natsukawa Yui projects to watch.