Smile - ep 1 thoughts (unspoilery)

[dangermousie]

Finished first episode of Smile which I loved, but which should have been retitled "Angst."

Seriously, I wanted to give Matsumoto Jun a hug throughout the whole episode.

Also, it's so funny - objectively he is very much not my type and in "real life" I don't find him attractive either. But he has something incredibly charismatic on screen, IMO - I always fall madly in love with his characters, and crush on them. This is no exception. Also, I do love that his characters are pretty distinct - I can't really see Bito as Domyouji who I couldn't see as Momo who I couldn't see as Shin etc etc.

OK, before I become even more fangirly, let me be fangirly on a different topic - Aragaki Yui. I love her in this so far - she is beyond cute and adorable. They have a lovely lovely chemistry together, too.

Also, Oguri Shun! I didn't even recognize him at first and then my brain caught up with my eyes and I went "is that psychotic violent gang leader played by Oguri Shun?" OMG. I am amused to note, however, that in the preview for ep 2, he says Bito's name the way he used to say Makino's: a sort of separating the syllables sing-song way that made me swoon in Hanadan. Not making me swoon here though :P

They are being a bit too blatant and not in the least suble about the theme of discrimination but I don't mind because their heart is in the right place. I am willing to cut them a lot of slack because the topic of being discriminated against was something I had to deal with throughout my childhood (not in Japan, clearly, but still...) but thankfully not since we moved to the US.

And a last comment. Pssssst, police officer! Maybe he would be more willing to come to the police station quietly if you didn't call him various racist epithets and accuse him even before there was any evidence, you know?

ETA: Funny, the last jdrama I was following as it aired was Hanadan2. Heh.

Comments

[uisceros.livejournal.com]

Wha? Shun?! Okay. Definitely need to see this now *is an unabashed Shun-kun fangirl* Plus, I loved Aragaki Yui in My Boss My Hero, so I'm eager to see her in other things.

I echo your sentiment about MatsuJun. I don't really find him that attractive in real life, but man, his characters are great. (I'm watching Kimi wa Petto now, and I'm already in love with Momo)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

KwP was so quirky but good. Shun's a secondary role btw.

[main-hoon-emily.livejournal.com]

and I went "is that psychotic violent gang leader played by Oguri Shun?"

...and now I'm going to have to watch this!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Be warned - he is only a supporting so might not be in too much. It's a "special appearance" kind of role.

[issy-chan.livejournal.com]

so it is only me who recognised shun by first time i saw him in the CM. his voice was a big give a way.
i am a huge matsujun fan and i do find him very attractive. but what makes me more attracted to him is he is not only a pretty face. not so sure about his singing voice but i do think that he is very talented in acting. as you said, non of his roles remind you of other one. and each one is unique and loveable.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup, he is so very good. I hope he acts for a long long time.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

I was recently hunting for some Orugi Shun pics for a friend & noticed he looked way different (almost unrecognizable) in his recent pics. I was already planning to check this out simply because MatusJun! But now I'm even more curious!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's such a good drama. Totally recommended.

[xiaobellsa.livejournal.com]

Oguri Shun! I was going to watch this but now I'm soooooooo going to watch this.
Isn't Aragaki Yui great, I love her in everything I've seen her in.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

She is wonderful here, too.

[akosikae.livejournal.com]

The creepy guy is Shun, really? I mean I thought he looked like it. It was really him! Wooooww.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yup, isn't it crazy?