bmwracer wrote:

Uh, shouldn't this be in the Upcoming Dramas thread, not this thread?

You're right. never thought of that the way the conversation went.

Back to the topic, and this will be long.

We are now 17 episodes in, and with a third of the series over a fair judgement can be made. But first, I find it funny that some complain about previous Taigas being mostly in dark rooms. Many of the previous Taigas centered in Sengoku or earlier periods of Japanese history before the "urbanization". This means most of these series spent the bulk of time in the outdoors. If anything, late Edo Period series like Shinsengumi and Atsu-hime spend the bulk indoors in the aforementioned "dark rooms". Secondly, this is not a new style of Taiga. In fact, in terms of acting, directing, and writing it's the same as its predecessors.

The Good: The series is beautiful, which is to be expected when the series is centered around noblewomen wearing Uchikakes. Miyazaki Aoi is gorgeous when dressed up.

The Bad: Unfortunately, this is the bulk of my comments. The story of Atsu-hime is an insignificant one. The only event in her life worth mention is her participation in the handover of Edo castle to the Satsuma-Choshu forces that spared Edo from being a battleground, and that was really more symbolic since it was Katsu Kaishu who deserves the credit. I expect some historical embellishment for storytelling's sake, but there just isn't a story to tell. The bulk of each episode is mostly filler material. In the episode that Atsu-hime travelled from Satsuma to Edo, the trip took most of the episode. She didn't face any trials, mature as a character, meet historic people, or get attacked by ninjas. It was simply a scenic trip that took most of the episode. I had to watch the bulk of these episodes on tape. My buddy recording it missed one episode and I didn't notice a difference in the story. I think this is the primary turn-off for most of the "traditional" Taiga watchers. There really isn't anything to see.

As I said before, Aoi-chan is a sight to see when dressed up in court garb. Unfortunately, in reference to this series, she moves and talks. Anytime she does that, the illusion is broken. She doesn't simply act like the young women fighting against the rigidity of the society, she acts like a ditzy modern teenager. I've seen some of her other work and she can act unlike some previous Taiga leads, but she's only believable here when she's just sitting there quietly.

What is driving any of the characters? Everyone seems to be just drifting through the series from one point to another. I have yet to see anything that shapes anyone. Everything that's happening to Atsu-hime is circumstantial. When is she going to actually do something to advance the story or herself? Saigo, Okubo, and Komatsu will ultimately change Japan, but a third of the way through and they're still lollygagging around. There's a greater story that they should have blended with Atsu-hime's, but they seem to have tossed that out so they could dwell in the mundane.

When I saw the previews I was really looking forward to this series, but it's been a disappointment. If your only criteria for quality is Miyazaki Aoi, then it hit's the bullseye. She's in most of it. If you want plot, character development, drama, look somewhere else.

I was watching last night and the thought went thru my head, "When are we gonna see somebody get their head taken off?" Guess I've watched too many of these.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

If your only criteria for quality is Miyazaki Aoi, then it hit's the bullseye. She's in most of it. If you want plot, character development, drama, look somewhere else.

Which is why Ralph is so joyous.

gaijinmark wrote:

I was watching last night and the thought went thru my head, "When are we gonna see somebody get their head taken off?" Guess I've watched too many of these.

Maybe you've read too much history.

If we saw a little more of Perry's forces, maybe with a little bit of viciousness illustrated, it would have given the princess' role a more desperate motivation.
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- Douglas

bmwracer wrote:

Which is why Ralph is so joyous.

YES yes yes. give me tons more of Atsu hime type dramas. Have one of the great cuties of today's A list in each one.... How about Yuko Takeuchi for the next one or better yet Kuninaka Ryoko... yheaaa.

Jeez, you guys make Taiga fans sound like a pretty blood thirsty group.

Yup, scenes of battles are usually highlighted in Taigas. But go back to shows like Aoi Tokogawa and the fight scenes were few and far between. The show was mostly about court intrigue, and political moves. It was a show about the consolidation of power... not the winning of a few odd battles.

In Hojo Tokimune the main story line was about how Tokimune avoided a confrontation with the Great Kahn. There were some skirmishes, but most of the action happened off screen, and the big battle never did take place.

Toshi and Matsu wasn't exctly a fast paced action thriller. Of course there were battles. It's the story of the 3 great uniters at the end of the warring era. But it's mostly a story about the relationships between Nobunaga, Monkey, and Tokugawa, as seen through the eys of somone who had a relationship with all three.

These are all stories that have a hell of a lot going on. About fairly large groups of people who ended up having a major infulence on the history of Japan. And done well it takes a year's worth of episodes to let the audience familarize themselves with who all the players are, what they're relationships were to each other, and how their actions had a major and lasting effect on the people of Japan.
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bmwracer wrote:

Which is why Ralph is so joyous.

The man likes what the man likes.

The story could have been a great deal larger, with Atsu-hime being swept up by the changing times. The events she witness and experience would make her who she will ultimately be. Instead they chose to concentrate on the minutiae of her daily life. No conflict, no maturation. Instead of drama, it almost looks like a History Channel reenactment. Her behavior is also out of place. I'm sure they were aiming for a "new age" girl to oppose the traditional behavior, but Aoi-chan's performance is more like one of those movies where a kid from present day gets pulled back in time, then tries to make everything "hip". I wonder if she'll sing and dance at the end to make the Shogunate and Satcho forces understand each other and live happily ever after.

Geezer wrote:

Jeez, you guys make Taiga fans sound like a pretty blood thirsty group.

It's not so much that, but if I see them playing another game of "Go", I'm going to scream! I have a feeling the final scene will be Aoi and Eita playing one last game and everyone lives happily ever after.

gaijinmark wrote:

It's not so much that, but if I see them playing another game of "Go", I'm going to scream! I have a feeling the final scene will be Aoi and Eita playing one last game and everyone lives happily ever after.

Maybe we'll learn to paly GO. Wonder if there are any instructions for it.

ralphm1999 wrote:

Wonder if there are any instructions for it.

There aren't any... You have to be Asian.

gaijinmark wrote:

It's not so much that, but if I see them playing another game of "Go", I'm going to scream! I have a feeling the final scene will be Aoi and Eita playing one last game and everyone lives happily ever after.

The way they were going, I wouldn't have been surprised if they started playing Dance Dance Revolution.

ralphm1999 wrote:

Maybe we'll learn to paly GO. Wonder if there are any instructions for it.

It takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master. Did I just carbon-date myself?

Geezer wrote:

Jeez, you guys make Taiga fans sound like a pretty blood thirsty group.

You left out Musashi: a new bloodbath for each episode, pretty much. But that wasn't a very popular taiga was it?

It just seems that the crisis around which the Atsu-hime story revolves seems very abstract. Of course, the show is made for Japanese, and they know that period of history by heart.
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- Douglas

Itazura ichiban wrote:

You left out Musashi: a new bloodbath for each episode, pretty much.

Not at all... If anything is was a little too long: the issues between Musashi and the Yagyu was dragged out...

Quote:

But that wasn't a very popular taiga was it?

The lead actor wasn't a JE boy, that's why.

And maybe why that Taiga was one of the better ones.

Itazura ichiban wrote:

You left out Musashi: a new bloodbath for each episode, pretty much. But that wasn't a very popular taiga was it? It just seems that the crisis around which the Atsu-hime story revolves seems very abstract. Of course, the show is made for Japanese, and they know that period of history by heart.

True. Their world is changing and they concentrate on kimonos and sweets. The tale of Musashi was intermixed with the times, the period between feudalism and peace, creating all the characters and situations he would face to shape who he becomes. The same with Fuurin Kazan with the constant warfare and rise of Shingen "creating" Kansuke's story. "Atsu-hime" seems to just throw aside the fact that she's meeting the three men who will change Japan, the upheaval that Perry's coming produced, and the conflicts so they can dwell on how pure and spunky she is.

I have a feeling that Iesachi/Iesada is not as retarded as he's shown so far. In the last episode, when he's acting non-chalant about the wedding, one line caught me. He said Atsu-hime's life was going to become more difficult when she entered the Ooku. I'm hoping that's when the series will start getting interesting, but that will be dependant on them dropping the disney channel princess portrayal.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

the disney channel princess portrayal.

LOL.

Upcoming guest star: Miley Cyrus.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

I have a feeling that Iesachi/Iemochi is not as retarded as he's shown so far.

You're probably right. So far I have never seen them represent a shogun as totally reprehensible.
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- Douglas

Itazura ichiban wrote:

You're probably right. So far I have never seen them represent a shogun as totally reprehensible.

I'm not too sure... I looked him up on the interenet and what little I could find portrayed him as pretty offish.

ralphm1999 wrote:

I'm not too sure... I looked him up on the interenet and what little I could find portrayed him as pretty offish.

Keep in mind they take some creative licenses for these dramas. Just like Atsu-hime is nothing more than a footnote in actual history, here she'll likely have more of a role in the change in Japan. The narrator already credits her with ultimately saving Edo which historically is stretching what actually happened.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

The narrator already credits her with ultimately saving Edo which historically is stretching what actually happened.

I think she develops the Theory of Relativity as well... Around Episode 45.