[Drama] Lunch no Joou

Summer 2002

Episodes: 12

Starring: Takeuchi Yuko, Eguchi Yosuke, Tsumabuki Satoshi, Ito Misaki, Yamashita Tomohisa, Yamada Takayuki, Eita, Morita Go, Tsutsumi Shinichi...

Mugita Natsumi is a pretty young waitress who loves lunch time and the Omurice at a restaurant named Kitchen Macaroni. To her, lunch is like hope for the working class. (a bit of an exaggeration but her words, not mine.) She came to work at Kitchen Macaroni after a strange series involving the eldest son of the owner of the restaurant who tricks Natsumi into tricking his family with him. Posing as the fiancee of Kenichiro, Natsumi meets his family but was left behind when Kenichiro escaped with the family's hard-earned money.

Natsumi later convinced the stern second son of the family and head chef of the restaurant Yujiro to let her stay and work with them while waiting for the return of Kenichiro. She did so with the help of Junzaburo, the third son.

During her stint there, she achieved rapport with the family who takes to her very soon. The three brothers Yujiro, Junzaburo and Koshiro also developed a strange fixation on Natsumi but refrained from taking actions as they thought she was actually the fiancee of their eldest brother.

Well, actually, some of them did try to get it on, namely Koshiro, the playboy, flirty, straightforward youngest son who is still a highschool student. Junzaburo on the other hand was shy but probably was the most attached to Natsumi and he helped her throughout the way. Junzaburo is also the most passionate about his job as a chef. Yujiro took to her the slowest, his hard outlook was probably used to intimidate but actually he is a real softy inside. Well... or something like that.

Oh yeah, Junzaburo, really cute.

*****

I heart Tsumabuki Satoshi in this. Heart heart heart. What? Bite me for fangirling. Geez. He is seriously adorable in this. So young and... adorable. I first watched this when I was in my Pi-phase. Yes, I had a Pi phase, it happened a long list of phases ago, but hey, I remember that it was there. I probably have another entry for this drama stashed somewhere in this blog or another blog or somewhere else. But it was a long time ago. So I thought I'd do this again just for the heck of it.

It is a fun family drama. Sorta like a gyaku-harem. We love gyaku-harem. Love, love, love. Not to mention the brothers (minus the eldest, I couldn't stand the eldest) are all so... diverse and have their own strengths. xD Underneath all the snippets of humour, there's a heartfelt bond within the family (minus the eldest, again) and their passion for their restaurant is admirable. And for them to take Natsumi into the family just like that. xD Well, it is a drama. Without Natsumi, there wouldn't be a drama to start with.

When the patriarchal figure, their dad, passed on after playing catchball with Koshiro for the first ime. And it was Koshiro who walked away from the game to go on a date, it kinda hit me a bit. The next time you meet with anyone might be the last time and that we shouldn't take anything for granted. But that is really difficult because there are too many things, too many people to spend time with. But it was so sudden and sad. T_T

How could Natsumi be so oblivious about the brothers' feelings, that, I don't get. She's one of those girls that seduce men in a not-so-obvious way and then act innocent when the men are hurt because of her refusal. xD But I heart Takeuchi Yuko + Tsumabuki Satoshi althought Tsumabuki is actually with Shibasaki Kou in real life. Takeuchi looks adorable in here too. xD So does Pi. They all look so young and... young. Well, Yamada Takayuki needed a haircut badly though.

I found it HILARIOUS when Koshiro used the line made famous by KimuTaku's Osamu in "Asunaro Hakusho". Koshiro went "Ore jya dame na no?" on Natsumi. I LOLLED. I am not sure if it was meant to remind viewers of "Asunaro Hakusho" but it sure did remind me of it. And the fact that Pi's like a skeletal figure here~ xD and that blonde hair. Ah~ the days when I liked Pi~ What nostalgia~

xD And it just occured to me that Yamada, Pi and Tsumabuki all appeared in "Long Love Letter" as well eh? xD

One more thing. Morita Go's appearance in this drama as a badass. I have never seen a role more suitable for him than this. Really. I had a thing for Morita Go too. xD

Reitings: 4/5

[TV] VS Arashi

10 January 2009

NOT the SP.

I cannot find the damn SP. T_T I want the damn SP.

This is just the introduction to the SP which will be aired the night this show was aired. So they introduced the various teams who went on the show. Of course, they mentioned the previous SP in which Sho failed big time... I don't quite remember. Perhaps I shall watch it again? After I found this new SP though.

The athlete team is great. There's Tomita Hiroyuki. I watched this man in two Olympics! I mean, to watch him on such a world class stage and then watch him in... well... this show... it is a bit... WOW. I mean, it is Arashi. And have you seen the muscles on Tomita? Have you seen Nino's biceps? I believe that Arashi has perhaps deviced strategies to overcome the muscles. Perhaps seduce him with midget-sex? Possible. There is this really cute bald dude in this team who was like "Nah, we don't really have to bother about the comedian team..." which is true.

The comedian team is... xD Well, there's Tutorial, the Nabeatsu dude, Miyagawa Daisuke and Marie and several others. And the majority of the members are in their late 30s to early 40s besides Marie and Tutorial - as Nino pointed out. xD I always thought life ended at 40. xD One of them threatened to take the 'kaze' away from Arashi... or something. Miyagawa threatened to take a bath with all of them. xD They all like midget sex... Okay, you know, you cannot call Aiba a midget. Let me see... uh... we'll settle the use-of-words later. Marie wants to go home... xD well, she isn't really a comedian now is she.

There will be five games. Uh~ yeah. They added improvements to the games which I am too lazy to really describe. Besides, everyone will watch it. So there is no point. This time, they'll bring the falling pipe game to the people from Mecha Ike and Code Blue. Sho said "CORD Blue" so they made him apologize. Again. xD If I get ten bucks for everytime he apologizes.

They then decided on who's doing what. xD Sorta like a battle formation/strategy kinda thing. Sorta like SunTzu's "Art of War". *Smacked* Okay, it is not like that. But I do want to find that book. In English, of course. They decided that Jun and Nino would go for the catching and Ohno and Sho would do the choosing for Falling Pipe. Wait? Choice Ouji would not do the choosing? xD But he has better reflexes. For Pinball Runner, Aiba would do the running and supporting would be Jun and Nino. Jumping Shooter - the most energy consuming one, they have Jun and Aiba who practically begged for the role. Goal keepers Sho and Nino. Cliff Climb they have Ohno doing the climbing. They had to adapt to Ohno's ability to focus. xD They love their leader, besides, Nino and Jun are very protective of him... and with the two Do-S as his bodyguards, they others have little incentive to object. Jun and Aiba will support him by throwing him the thingies. xD Then the participants for the second round will be decided later. For the Rolling Coin Tower, Sho should be banned.

xD They made Ohno talk again. Seriously? Is that the smartest idea to let the old man with alzheimer's talk? He was all "We're spending 2 million yen for the winner, lets stop them from having it!" xD The response was... total silence.

PLEASE, let me find it before I go to sleep tonight? xD

P.S. I haven't watched the entire show yet. All I found is the part with Pi and surprisingly, the robotic one is not... expressionless. This might be caused by 3 reasons:
a) The robotic one is not entirely robot.
b) The robotic one is modified or replaced with a model that can make expressions. Ah technology is great.
c) Uh... Pi got some last night. xD

[Talk] Crap That Should Not Be Here

The things I find most endearing about certain people from Johnny's Jimusho.

1. Arashi's bond
   
2. V6's bond
3. Ryo, Pi and Jin
   
4. Chinen's adoration for Ohno

And I have this especially soft spot for Ryo and Pi when they are combined. Separately, I don't think they would appeal much to me.

Cos Pi's face is usually... that expressionless and he is usually THAT boring and Ryo is usually that much of a meanie asshole.

But when they are together. Its like, expressions found their way back to Pi's face and Ryo's 3rd grade bully behavior suddenly becomes endearing when Pi, who usually has too much pride to take anyone's shit, is willing to take Ryo's shit. You know? Its like, Ryo would be the only one who is able to just walk around and act like a rebel and Pi would just let him. Ryo would just ask Pi to shut up and Pi would do it. Pi would prepare a special dish for Ryo (during the Never Ending Wonderful Story DVD Bonus scenes) and Ryo can be an ungrateful bastard and complain that its already cold even if Pi prepared it JUST FOR HIM and others had to share the other remaining dishes. Its that sort of thing that makes them so endearing to watch when they are together.

And their handshake. I used to have a handshake with my group of friends back in high school. Ryo and Pi would do it before they go on stage. (And Pi and Jin and Ryo and Jin too.)

And I know the three of them would them march around and think that they're hotshots. Its like you know back in school, the jocks will always be feared and looked up upon? They're the jocks. They're the men about town. That is exactly what I don't like about them. But the bond between them is very endearing.

If you read back in my entries, you will find that I really dislike Jin in KAT-TUN. And yes, I am not retracting it. I really dislike him in KAT-TUN and his expressionless face. But if you happen to come across any footages of Jin with Pi or Ryo, you'll know what I am talking about.

It is like, they don't do anything for me as individuals, but when they come together, I get hyper and excited like a fangirl does. Weird.

We have Ryo, Pi and Jin in their little circle that excludes others. Sure, they're really cocky people. But I just have a soft spot for friendships like that.

Why do you think Arashi and V6 are my top two boybands again?

V6 is mostly made up of recluses who don't quite know a lot of other Johnny's. Only perhaps TOKIO. And that is only for Tonisen. Who Kamisen are friends with, I have no idea.

In Arashi, we know that Nino and Jun are very popular people who are friends with lots of people including Johnny's people. Aiba does so too, Sho, probably. But Ohno... well I think he is opening up, which is good for him.

I have a backpain.

[Drama] Code Blue

Summer 2008

Starring: Yamashita Tomohisa, Aragaki Yui, Toda Erika, Asari Yosuke...

This is a drama about 4 trainee-doctors who aim to be flight doctors. The four trainees were placed under their instructor, Dr. Kuroda, who seems to be a tough, stern old man who hates young people. (Or so, the actor says when he went on SMAPxSMAP)

Aizawa Kousaku, a seemingly very capable young trainee who is able to keep calm in a moment of chaotic mess. He is smart, skillful, confident and fears nothing.

Shiraishi Megumi, a booksmart who is able to get her theories right. A top-of-the-class type who lacks confident in herself and her skills. Most probably due to the fact that he father is an outstanding personality in the medical field.

Hiyama Mihoko, an eager young woman who gives herself more credit than she deserves. She started out with riding in the helicopter and performing surgeries on her mind but she has a compassionate side - like everybody else.

Fuikawa Kazuo, a nerd who thinks he's hot stuff. Clumsy and incapable is what he truly is. Yet he is sneakier than he appears BUT has a good side too. Like everybody else.

These four young trainees are rivals who will compete to be able to be a true flight doctor, who will ride on helicopters and save lives within a limited about of time and space and less than enough equipments.

Theme song:

Mr.Children - HANABI. I didn't really like Mr.Children until very recently. When I came upon "Dakishimetai" by accident. And then I go... "Ah, I get Mr.Children and their popularity now." And then suddenly, a lot of their songs sound nicer than when I previously thought they were.

Yeah. Its not bad.

*****

Shall I express my distaste for the drama upon watching first episode despite its high viewership ratings? Is it me, or is it that Pi is playing Kurosaki again? He doesn't smile, he's smooth, confident and cool. He knows what he is doing, he's all steady and shit. Yeah, and like in Prodai, there's a clumsy geek next to him to accentuate how tall, hot and cool he is. *Yawns* Type-cast galore! I don't get what is it about this man that is hot. His lack of facial expressions in both dramas and on TV. His refusals to do certain things that his seniors ask him to. His... HAIR! They all annoy me. His neck is too big for his small face. He is overrated. But oh well, for the sake of the memory of Akira. I'll just... watch.

Take Grey's Anatomy, and instead of climbing the ranks of medical doctors, the prize that everyone is aiming for is to become a flight doctor and voila, you have Code Blue. Well, with less drama and attendings+interns-banging and sexing up each other in the hospital.

Episode 1:

In a very Japanese-drama way, this drama quickly takes on the compassionate, human path where the trainees quickly realize that being a doctor is not all about the achievements and operations. The previously enthusiastic trainees quickly feel for the patients and know what to prioritize.

My first impressions on the characters quickly change towards the end. Which is exactly what the drama wants to show. Eager and brash trainees who quickly learn the more human, more realistic side of being a doctor and also, they learn about their own incapabilities. All of them except that Aizawa dude played by Pi. Yeah, yeah, Pi plays an outstanding trainee with lots of whatever good stuff. I am bored.

Yeah, he's good at everything. But probably, in the episodes to come, he'll reveal a DARK past. Woo. Probably killed someone before, thus brushed up his skills. Overcame obstacles and stuff and in the end he'll be a great doctor. Cliched.

I don't hate it as much as I sound like I do though. Its quite Grey's Anatomy, and I liked Grey's Anatomy. Now if only they can find a McDreamy~ or a McSteamy~. On a final note. Pi? Doctor? *Tee-hee*

Upon finishing the drama:

Did Yamapi make a single believable facial expression in here? I think not. Did this drama kill every ounce of like I had for Yamapi which I gained a year or so ago watching "Nobuta wo Produce"? Totally. In fact, it is running on a deficit. Geez, what the hell? I am placing my bet on botox. It must be botox. They can't make facial expressions after they get them.

What a crap drama. I regret even trying to watch it. And Pi's hair made me want to shave it all off. So annoying. SO DAMN ANNOYING. And rabid Pi fans can go ahead, bash the so-called haters for speaking their feelings or try to defend the damn drama or whatever. I am so sorry that they spent all that money making the drama. The only good thing about this drama is Ryo and Susumu Terajima. xDDD Okay I am biased cos I so totally am watching "Ryusei no Kizuna".

Ratings: 2/5