Episode 5 this past weekend... Rather a pleasant surprise to see Tanihara Shouske and Kanjiya Shihori in this drama.

bmwracer wrote:

Episode 5 this past weekend... Rather a pleasant surprise to see Tanihara Shouske and Kanjiya Shihori in this drama.

Tanihara was in Shinsengumi in 2004 and Fuurin Kazan in 2007. I guess he has a thing where he does a taiga every 3 years.

Since this is not showing on KTSF, I'll probably never see it. I may have watched my last taiga dorama. End of an era for me, I guess.
_________________

Itazura ichiban wrote:

Since this is not showing on KTSF, I'll probably never see it. I may have watched my last taiga dorama. End of an era for me, I guess.

You can always download the Taiga.

Up to episode 19, still pretty good, although it does crack me up that every time Takechi Hanpeita gets some bad news he reminds me Fred Sanford having a heart attack.

gaijinmark wrote:

Up to episode 19, still pretty good, although it does crack me up that every time Takechi Hanpeita gets some bad news he reminds me Fred Sanford having a heart attack.

"I'm comin' to see ya, Elizabeth...!"

Just wanted to comment about last week, episode 21, the scene where they're coming to take Takechi off to jail, he's there with his wife and they talk like he's just going away on a trip and will be back someday.

Kind of reminded of my favorite scene in Shinsengumi when Sawa Suzuki is talking to Yamanami before he commits seppuku and she acts like she doesn't know whats going on but later we find out she knew exactly what was going to happen.

The Japanese do stuff like this better than anybody.

Speaking of the Shinsengumi, episode 22 and they make their first appearance. They've cast Taizo Harada as Kondo Isami, now this is more like it!! They should have cast him in the lead in the taiga Shinsengumi, a guy with a perpetually pissed off expression who looks like he would slice you in half just because it's a slow day and he's got nothing else to do!!

Also, this episode marks the first appearance of Yoko Maki. I didn't recognize her at first, but in the final scene where she's bringing Ryoma his dinner, the light went on and I realized, "Hey, that's Yoko Maki!!"

What a difference six years makes. Tonight was episode 23 which had to do with the Ikeda-ya incident. Even though they only showed the aftermath, the Shinsengumi were beat up with blood on their clothes, it looked like they'd been in a fight. When the taiga Shinsengumi covered this they looked like they'd just taken a walk thru the park.

^ So which re-creation was more true to life?

If this drama accomplishes nothing else, it proves you could dress Yoko Maki in a gunny sack and she would still make your teeth sweat!!

bmwracer wrote:

You can always download the Taiga.

where can you download this years Taiga?

www.d-addicts.com

"Ryomaden" wraps up with 21.3% ratings

The final episode of the NHK taiga drama "Ryomaden" aired on Sunday. According to data by Video Research Ltd., the finale achieved ratings of 21.3% in both the Kanto and Kansai regions.

The series premiered on January 3 with ratings of 23.2% and reached its peak with the 5th episode (24.4%). Over all 48 episodes, the show averaged 18.7% in the Kanto area, compared to 19.5% in the Kansai area.

The 18.7% average in the Kanto region ties it with the 2007 series "Fuurinkazan," but places it behind the most recent taiga dramas; "Atsuhime" averaged 24.5% in 2008, and "Tenchijin" averaged 21.2% in 2009.

Up thru episode 41 here. Takaya Kamikawa as Nakaoka Shintaro made his appearance. A lot of good actors in supporting roles, if I've got one complaint, I think maybe they should have cast somebody else as Ryoma. Fukuyama seems to be the weakest link in this thing.

^ Taigas have had their share of miscasting... Yoshitsune comes to mind immediately.

Only two episodes to go and I wanted to mention Munetaka Aoki as Shojiro Goto.
Where the hell did this guy come from?!!? The only thing I'd ever seen him in before was an asadora Chiritotechin where he played a struggling rakugo artist. He's really good as Goto!!

it really looks promising.
i really wish i can watch this drama, along with getting the soundtrack...
_________________

It's not bad. Still one episode to go here. I think this taiga will be remembered for all the great actresses, Yoko Maki, Mitsuko Baisho, Shinobu Terajima, Kimiko Yo, and Aoi Yu, all great!!

gaijinmark wrote:

It's not bad. Still one episode to go here. I think this taiga will be remembered for all the great actresses, Yoko Maki, Mitsuko Baisho, Shinobu Terajima, Kimiko Yo, and Aoi Yu, all great!!

Aren't they going to break the finale into two parts like they've typically done in the past with other Taiga dramas?