Apparently they put the subs out on Mediafire a half-hour later...
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I was all set to call the episode 'flat', and then the last ten minutes was just all heavy drama.
The episode was merely a point where people are now fully aware of what exactly is happening with Ruka. And as far as how things are between her and Takeru, well, that's the height of this episode, probably.
It's a bit cheap from a viewer's perspective to be manipulated like that at the end, though. Same with the obligatory co-worker DV situation, as well. I know it's a drama, and it's supposed to keep you watching up until the next episode and establishing some affinity with the characters, but it feels forced in some areas...
I'm now officially confused as to how things are going to end up between the three.
And the preview... I am now officially numb to that.
Not a cooking show. It's Tokio's (band) show Mentore G. The "cooking" you're referring to is the restaurant segment of the show. Anyway, I was flipping channels between this and Ryokiteki na Kanojo. I did catch Masami's impersonation of Kenshiro (Hokuto no Ken). "WA TA TA TA TA TA.....!!!"
Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1969 Location: Newbury Park, CA Country:
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 1:50 am Post subject:
pancakes wrote:
The way I see it...
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Ruka is a genderless human-being and the one whom she loves just happens to be female. I think that michiru would still be the apple-of-her-eye regardless of which gender she could've/would've been. It doesn't seem fair to so easily assign labels like "homosexual" or "transgender", isn't that what ruka's whole spiel is against anyway?
This is exactly how I feel about her.
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I think that Ruka feels powerless over her emotions and is trying to take control by making a decision, whether is justified by her actual emotional needs or not. It's exactly the reason the doctor is a little hesitant at her eagerness.
_________________
"Actually, I don't have bones. I'm supported
by a system of fluid-filled bladders"
Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 1969 Location: Newbury Park, CA Country:
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 2:04 am Post subject:
Finished Ep. 8 today.. thanks for the subs, Seri!
All in all, one of the better episodes in my opinion. Still terribly melodramatic - you'd think we were watching Days of Our Lives or something like that.
I was very glad to see Eri belt out some actual thinking and reflection. I'm still rooting for her.
Ugh it the propensity for characters to shrug off talking about things and laughing them off is a very tired drama cliche and frustrates me to no end (not because of the admittedly forced outcome, but because the rhetoric is so tired).
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Takeru's actions in this episode are all over the place - he is clearly dealing with a lot of confusion himself. Also, lying to Michiru seems really out of character for him.. and also, his big declaration 40 feet from her seems just ridiculous from him. He seems nothing if not concienscious of other's feelings and his radical departure in this ep. either speaks to extreme emotional instability or poor writing.
Michiru officially became boring again. She had her little moments last ep, but lost them this one. She's officially the deer in the headlights.
I specifically liked the scene with Sousuke and Eri in the hospital. I think that might be one of my favorite scenes from the series so far. I really thing Asami did a great job showing both repulsion and vulnerability and understanding. I think she's a really good actress and just hasn't been given the parts to show it yet.
As far as Ep 9 - I can't believe you guys were shocked or dismayed about the Takeru/Sousuke melee - it's been building for 5-6 eps now, since Takeru first confronted Sousuke. I have the hope that, in the end, Takeru will stand up for himself anyways - and I bet, as Beem proferred, that it will be a two ep. fight (milk it for what it's worth in the ratings).
I'm going to put my bet in for two possible death outcomes at this point which I've thought for a while but was holding in reserve. The first was Takeru's suicide (similar to what was described before) and the second is Sousuke's "accidental" death after Michiru returns to Sousuke and Takeru or Ruka flip out.
I do not think the writers will have someone kill off Takeru - he's too sympathetic, but whether they will let him off himself remains to be seen.
8 is definitely better than 7 and one of the better ones, in my opinion. I only had a couple "ugh.. they did that again" moments this time. _________________
"Actually, I don't have bones. I'm supported
by a system of fluid-filled bladders"
All in all, one of the better episodes in my opinion. Still terribly melodramatic - you'd think we were watching Days of Our Lives or something like that.
It was, yet I wasn't bugged too much by it...
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Ugh it the propensity for characters to shrug off talking about things and laughing them off is a very tired drama cliche and frustrates me to no end (not because of the admittedly forced outcome, but because the rhetoric is so tired).
Again, I agree... Apparently it's the nature of the beast.
If there was actual communication and no misunderstanding, the drama would've been only like five or six episodes at best...
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his big declaration 40 feet from her seems just ridiculous from him. He seems nothing if not concienscious of other's feelings and his radical departure in this ep. either speaks to extreme emotional instability or poor writing.
Hmm, I didn't think that in the least... I thought it was just things coming to a head as expected, since we're nearing the finish line...
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Michiru officially became boring again. She had her little moments last ep, but lost them this one. She's officially the deer in the headlights.
Honestly, I think she hasn't strayed much from that since the get-go.
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I specifically liked the scene with Sousuke and Eri in the hospital. I think that might be one of my favorite scenes from the series so far.
I think I know why:
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It's the first time someone gave that dirtbag a legitimate bitchslap after 7+ episodes... I was really hoping she'd take one of those hospital chairs and pummel his ass.
Notice that the still haven't offered crap as to his behavior... Even how he got injured was vague... Everything about him is just ether.
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As far as Ep 9 - I can't believe you guys were shocked or dismayed about the Takeru/Sousuke melee
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I was shocked by the violence of it... Just like that of Michiru's beating... Seems really gratuitous, IMO.
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I'm going to put my bet in for two possible death outcomes at this point which I've thought for a while but was holding in reserve. The first was Takeru's suicide (similar to what was described before) and the second is Sousuke's "accidental" death after Michiru returns to Sousuke and Takeru or Ruka flip out.
I do not think the writers will have someone kill off Takeru - he's too sympathetic, but whether they will let him off himself remains to be seen.
It's the first time someone gave that dirtbag a legitimate bitchslap after 7+ episodes... I was really hoping she'd take one of those hospital chairs and pummel his ass.
On that...
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Seeing Eri kinda think twice about giving the letters was nice, though. It at least played off of her own nature, in that she's never had to deal with anyone quite like Sosuke, who is extremely stubborn in love and takes all his actions to the extreme end. I was actually worried at one point that she was starting to get attracted to him. And there's a bit of sympathy in terms of how the men have treated her in this series so far: either they've gone back to their wives, or they've feigned being gay. Tough love. She really ought to bash them all with those melons.
And on that preview, it is violent, but they've used it to the same effect for most episodes anyways, and it'll draw in viewers nonetheless. Nothing new there.
Seeing Eri kinda think twice about giving the letters was nice, though. It at least played off of her own nature, in that she's never had to deal with anyone quite like Sosuke, who is extremely stubborn in love and takes all his actions to the extreme end. I was actually worried at one point that she was starting to get attracted to him. And there's a bit of sympathy in terms of how the men have treated her in this series so far: either they've gone back to their wives, or they've feigned being gay. Tough love. She really ought to bash them all with those melons.
Episode 8 did offer a little more insight into Eri, but she's still much of a question mark... And Ogurin? The dude's a wuss.
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And on that preview, it is violent, but they've used it to the same effect for most episodes anyways, and it'll draw in viewers nonetheless. Nothing new there.
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True. But there's a certain savageness to it that I found unsettling.
I think if Sosuke isn't the one who dies, a lot of viewers will be really upset.
Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 1351 Location: Davis, CA
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:46 am Post subject:
Got to watch the latest episodes with subs late last night...
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While Takeru's confession of love for Ruka was nice, in a sappy way, I was thinking to myself, that's it? After all the self-torment Ruka has put herself through, it comes down to a letter to Takeru for him to know? I can't wait for them to brush this aside now and move on to something else I can see how others can take the confession by Ruka as something anyone in her situation would do, and I couldn't argue with that really. Sometimes there are things we are afraid to talk about in person, which is why we have diaries or journals. Oh wait, this is 21st century now, make that blogs. Yeah, that's why we have blogs now, so we can share our inner thoughts and feelings to random people. Anyhow, despite the realism of it all, a letter just seems anti-climatic to me. Perhaps they're saving the climax for when Ruka talks, or writes a letter to Michiru about it, and confesses her feelings. Maybe.
Having Eri show up to the hospital to deliver the letter back, some food and a verbal smackdown to Sousuke was nice to see. After the reading the letters though, it seems like she has a weak spot, as Sousuke's twisted dedication to Michiru has her wondering about her relationships. Perhaps she's just never found a guy who is as dedicated to a relationship as Sousuke, leading her down a lonely road which she tries to walk with a smile on her face. It'd be nice if we could actually see what she has gone through in the past relationship-wise, either by simple flashback scenes or Eri giving some narration herself.
I don't like the fact that they brushed Ogurin's meeting with his wife aside so easily though. For something that clearly affected Eri, to give it so little time, and no exploration into it at all is a bit frustrating to me.
I think I'm just going to have to accept the fact that no matter what happens, no one is going to call the police. I wouldn't be suprised if nothing actually came about of Sousuke taking off from the hospital. He'll probably just beat Takeru up, go back home, or even back to the hospital and that'll be that. Who knows, maybe Sousuke and Takeru end up at the same hospital, leading Ruka to beat the crap out of Sousuke. Actually, that would be pretty awesome. I understand all fiction would require some suspension of disbelief (although it can difficult at times to distinguish Juri-chan from Nodame, but that's for another day), but the idea of not calling the police just is too hard to let go. Though I guess, no one ever bothered to call the police on Jason Voorhies either, especially when he was running around Manhattan, and seeing how he shares some craziness with Voorhies I could see how it could apply to Sousuke as well. They never truly go away, do they? It really has nothing to do with this particular episode, but seeing the psychotic Sousuke makes me wonder if restraining orders actually exist in the world of Last Friends. Perhaps it's just a matter of different countries with different sets of laws, or even different perceptions of domestic violence for that matter.
Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 388 Location: Gatineau, Quebec Country:
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:58 am Post subject:
Yea, that's the biggest issue for me in that, if they hadn't exposed the whole fact that there is Domestic Violence between Sousuke and Michiru, the whole idea of police involvement (or lack thereof) would make much more sense, and could be justified in that "the victim doesn't know any better".
HOWEVER, when you throw in easily 4-5 more people who are fully aware of the situation, that's when it gets out of hand to say the very least. Imaginations have to be stretched to the limit to believe that nobody would ever consider taking it past their own personal honor to protect their friend.
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The letter thing actually is kinda believable if you put into consideration the amount of courage it took to even do that. But then again, it also allows them to stretch it to the next episode, make it that much more painful for a result!
While Takeru's confession of love for Ruka was nice, in a sappy way, I was thinking to myself, that's it? After all the self-torment Ruka has put herself through, it comes down to a letter to Takeru for him to know? I can't wait for them to brush this aside now and move on to something else I can see how others can take the confession by Ruka as something anyone in her situation would do, and I couldn't argue with that really. Sometimes there are things we are afraid to talk about in person, which is why we have diaries or journals. Oh wait, this is 21st century now, make that blogs. Yeah, that's why we have blogs now, so we can share our inner thoughts and feelings to random people. Anyhow, despite the realism of it all, a letter just seems anti-climatic to me. Perhaps they're saving the climax for when Ruka talks, or writes a letter to Michiru about it, and confesses her feelings. Maybe.
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Of course it's anti-climactic because we're the viewers and know what's transpired... Yet I still found the last five minutes gripping because things did come out...
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I think I'm just going to have to accept the fact that no matter what happens, no one is going to call the police. I wouldn't be suprised if nothing actually came about of Sousuke taking off from the hospital. He'll probably just beat Takeru up, go back home, or even back to the hospital and that'll be that. Who knows, maybe Sousuke and Takeru end up at the same hospital, leading Ruka to beat the crap out of Sousuke. Actually, that would be pretty awesome. I understand all fiction would require some suspension of disbelief (although it can difficult at times to distinguish Juri-chan from Nodame, but that's for another day), but the idea of not calling the police just is too hard to let go. Though I guess, no one ever bothered to call the police on Jason Voorhies either, especially when he was running around Manhattan, and seeing how he shares some craziness with Voorhies I could see how it could apply to Sousuke as well. They never truly go away, do they? It really has nothing to do with this particular episode, but seeing the psychotic Sousuke makes me wonder if restraining orders actually exist in the world of Last Friends. Perhaps it's just a matter of different countries with different sets of laws, or even different perceptions of domestic violence for that matter.
Hmm, didn't I say something to that effect way, way back regarding the authorities? Maybe not as adroitly as you put it, but the gist was still there... Like you said maybe in the LF world, the authorities and common sense among a group of young adults in Japan doesn't exist, despite tackling suck real-world issues as GID and DV...
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 744 Location: Dorama Land Country:
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:
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I thought Takeru took Michiru to have a medical checkup so that they could call the police to investigate?! What happened after that? I thought Takeru said to Sousuke that he should be prepared to see police showing up at his work place?
I guess the writer has no choice but to leave the whole police thing out.. throwing in other stuff to direct our attention away... becos if they were to get the police involve, then that's the end of the story... Michiru could live in peace, Ruka will have one less thing to worry about, Takeru will not have to take care of Michiru but focus his attention on Ruka, Eri could just go and be the pretty air stewardress, that other guy whatever is his name could go on and play PS in the share house everyday..
Anywhere, I think something is stuck in Michiru's head... I can't believe she still cannot sense anything wrong with Ruka despite all this sudden weird bad temper, and stuff... I think her character was way tooooooo innocent until it is almost unbelievable.... she could sense the reason why Sousuke was behaving that way, yet she could not understand there is more to Ruka's (her best friend!) sudden change in behavior...
I thought Takeru said to Sousuke that he should be prepared to see police showing up at his work place?
It was only a warning.
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I guess the writer has no choice but to leave the whole police thing out.. throwing in other stuff to direct our attention away... becos if they were to get the police involve, then that's the end of the story... Michiru could live in peace, Ruka will have one less thing to worry about, Takeru will not have to take care of Michiru but focus his attention on Ruka, Eri could just go and be the pretty air stewardress, that other guy whatever is his name could go on and play PS in the share house everyday..
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By not having the police involved it takes away a lot of the realism/reality of the drama... What's been said in previous posts is how can so many people know about this DV/stalker situation and not one of them reports it to the police... It doesn't make sense and is almost ridiculous.
Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 1351 Location: Davis, CA
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:
bmwracer wrote:
Hmm, didn't I say something to that effect way, way back regarding the authorities? Maybe not as adroitly as you put it, but the gist was still there...
Gomen, I don't really remember. I'm sure I usually end up repeating points that have already been made since I usually don't read comments too far back before posting myself. Lets just say I babble on about stuff that's already been brought up at times
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I can see how others can take the confession by Ruka as something anyone in her situation would do, and I couldn't argue with that really. Sometimes there are things we are afraid to talk about in person, which is why we have diaries or journals. Oh wait, this is 21st century now, make that blogs. Yeah, that's why we have blogs now, so we can share our inner thoughts and feelings to random people. Anyhow, despite the realism of it all, a letter just seems anti-climatic to me. Perhaps they're saving the climax for when Ruka talks, or writes a letter to Michiru about it, and confesses her feelings. Maybe.
