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dangermousieI confess that while I used to watch a lot of jdramas (I watched jdramas before I've seen a single kdrama), I haven't properly followed one in years - jdramas moved away from romance and slice-of-life stories I adored them for and went in for procedurals and kooky comedies, which were very much not my thing.
So when a large number of flisties told me to check out Oguri Shun and Ishihara Satomi's Rich Man Poor Woman, telling me it was actually a romance drama, I was curious (and I love Oguri Shun - he was in my first ever jdrama) but very cautious. Luckily, I was wrong and it is v.v. awesome.
RMPW follows Hyuga Toru (Oguri Shun), a young billionaire who dropped out of school but has created a huge virtual media company. Hyuga is a little off-kilter, rather abrasive, and has a condition (apparently a real one) where he has problems remembering names and faces or connecting the two. Sawaki Chihiro (Ishihara Satomi) is Hyuga's polar opposite - a fourth-year student of the prestigious Tokyo University with near-eidetic memory, Chihiro should be swimming in job offers, but her awkwardness and odd personality have left her unemployed. Can you see where this is going?
I confess that the first half of the first episode didn't really draw me in and I was ready to write it off...and then, Hyuga and Chihiro met and it was antagonistic and awesome and sparks flew and I was a goner. I spend the second half episode all but hugging myself in glee - every interaction of theirs, whether angry or friendly, had me going gaga.
Credits...
Chiriko noticing Hyuga (on-line, of course). Interesting - she shares the name with Hyuga's mother who he has been searching for (no wonder he remembers her name), but by the end of the episode we learn that this isn't her real name. She clearly used it to get his attention. But the real mystery is how she knows that name is important to him - not even those closest to him know of the name. Taking that and her bitter little comment that it's not like he'd remember her real name anyway together - I wonder if they have some sort of childhood past together or similar. Hmmmmmm.
Loved this scene. He is being, frankly, horrible, using her as some sort of example of redundancy of modern world or whatever and she finally loses it and tells him her name is not "Miss Tokyo University" and he mockingly asks her what her name is and she says "Sawaki Chihiro." GGGGGGG!!!!
I just like this shot.
He hires her for a few days due to her eidetic memory to help him at a meeting with a minister to try to get a new line of business. This means...shopping! I have to say, prior to her makeover, I didn't find the actress goodlooking, but afterward, I definitely how gorgeous she is.
I've loved this sort of moment since forever!
At lunch, she not only uses her skills but helps him out when he doesn't recognize the person who comes over.
Only, then she commits a blunder (not that she would have known that would happen). Uh-oh.
So when they get back to the office, he really loses it, yelling at her and everything. Which is a hell of an overreaction as he's pretty much out of control - either he needs major meds or she really throws him off-kilter.
Well, somebody feels bad, looking at her shoes. YESSSSSS!
So he goes back to the office only to see her go off to lunch with his second-in-command, looking smiley and pretty. Can you spell 'jealous'? I know you can.
I just like this shot of her as she admits to second-in-command that Chihiro isn't her real name.
I am as hooked on the drama as he's hooked on Chiriko and her sensible shoes!
This looks set to give me what I wanted from Tsuki no Koibito and didn't get - cold-hearted rich bastard with issues and plucky poor gal. Yay!
So when a large number of flisties told me to check out Oguri Shun and Ishihara Satomi's Rich Man Poor Woman, telling me it was actually a romance drama, I was curious (and I love Oguri Shun - he was in my first ever jdrama) but very cautious. Luckily, I was wrong and it is v.v. awesome.
RMPW follows Hyuga Toru (Oguri Shun), a young billionaire who dropped out of school but has created a huge virtual media company. Hyuga is a little off-kilter, rather abrasive, and has a condition (apparently a real one) where he has problems remembering names and faces or connecting the two. Sawaki Chihiro (Ishihara Satomi) is Hyuga's polar opposite - a fourth-year student of the prestigious Tokyo University with near-eidetic memory, Chihiro should be swimming in job offers, but her awkwardness and odd personality have left her unemployed. Can you see where this is going?
I confess that the first half of the first episode didn't really draw me in and I was ready to write it off...and then, Hyuga and Chihiro met and it was antagonistic and awesome and sparks flew and I was a goner. I spend the second half episode all but hugging myself in glee - every interaction of theirs, whether angry or friendly, had me going gaga.
Credits...
Chiriko noticing Hyuga (on-line, of course). Interesting - she shares the name with Hyuga's mother who he has been searching for (no wonder he remembers her name), but by the end of the episode we learn that this isn't her real name. She clearly used it to get his attention. But the real mystery is how she knows that name is important to him - not even those closest to him know of the name. Taking that and her bitter little comment that it's not like he'd remember her real name anyway together - I wonder if they have some sort of childhood past together or similar. Hmmmmmm.
Loved this scene. He is being, frankly, horrible, using her as some sort of example of redundancy of modern world or whatever and she finally loses it and tells him her name is not "Miss Tokyo University" and he mockingly asks her what her name is and she says "Sawaki Chihiro." GGGGGGG!!!!
I just like this shot.
He hires her for a few days due to her eidetic memory to help him at a meeting with a minister to try to get a new line of business. This means...shopping! I have to say, prior to her makeover, I didn't find the actress goodlooking, but afterward, I definitely how gorgeous she is.
I've loved this sort of moment since forever!
At lunch, she not only uses her skills but helps him out when he doesn't recognize the person who comes over.
Only, then she commits a blunder (not that she would have known that would happen). Uh-oh.
So when they get back to the office, he really loses it, yelling at her and everything. Which is a hell of an overreaction as he's pretty much out of control - either he needs major meds or she really throws him off-kilter.
Well, somebody feels bad, looking at her shoes. YESSSSSS!
So he goes back to the office only to see her go off to lunch with his second-in-command, looking smiley and pretty. Can you spell 'jealous'? I know you can.
I just like this shot of her as she admits to second-in-command that Chihiro isn't her real name.
I am as hooked on the drama as he's hooked on Chiriko and her sensible shoes!
This looks set to give me what I wanted from Tsuki no Koibito and didn't get - cold-hearted rich bastard with issues and plucky poor gal. Yay!
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no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 03:11 pm (UTC)RMPW seems pretty interesting though. It just so happens I need something to watch to make the wait for episode 17 of Bridal Mask bearable.
*off to find download links*
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:17 pm (UTC)It's a good breathing break for me between BM, too.
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:19 pm (UTC)I love the opening sequence, the editing, the cinematography and the soundtrack. <3 plus, Oguri Shun just oozes charisma and the OTP has chemistry.
This drama made me think of Taiwanese dramas (they LOVE this sort of plot)... except much more subdued, quiet and high-quality.
I'm in the same boat as you... it's been a LONG time since I was hooked on a Jdrama (W no Higeki was a rare exception). I was even reluctant to try this drama, but out of boredom I checked it out and INSTANT LOVE!
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:21 pm (UTC)Looks like only the first two episodes are out though. I was hoping to marathon it.
I really like Oguri Shun. I'll watch eps 1 & 2 right away.
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 03:35 pm (UTC)That's right! We should always spread the news whenever we find a rare drama gem!
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:42 pm (UTC)This reminds me of a chinese online fiction that I read, about this CEO who can't remember anyone's faces at all, and can basically only "see" the person's designation on their foreheads, like, "janitor", "secretary who makes a mean coffee", "sleepyhead" etc etc. That was fun and this looks equally fun. And the best thing: it's only 10-12 episodes! :D
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 03:43 pm (UTC)Yeah, I thought she knew him from childhood.
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Date: 2012-07-22 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 03:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 04:03 pm (UTC)Episode two has even more goodness - this is like K-drama on J-drama speed.
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Date: 2012-07-22 04:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 05:34 pm (UTC)The premise seemed pretty standard but it it's done well, it always hooks me in. And this is done really really well haha.
I agree though, until they met it just seemed very filler/foundational. But these two are so much more interesting together. I just wish I hadn't watched both episodes because I'm going to be impatient for the 3rd now!
Also Oguri Shun looks great! I'd forgotten how much I liked him! I mean I sat through Hana no Kimi for him!
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Date: 2012-07-22 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 09:06 pm (UTC)I love how he is so emotionally retarded so he doesn't know how to treat the heroine and he has abandonment issues so he is a just a tortured softie underneath; its obvious he has never been in love before. (this totally reminds me of Jang Geun Suk's character in You're Beautiful.) I swear if they drop the romance and move on to more of a slice of life vibe I'm going to be furious b/c the chemistry is amazing and I actually like the heroine. I usually dislike most jdrama heroines, thank God that the secondary girl here is not the heroine, I could not stand her in Zettai Kareshi!
The only jdrama I ever really really liked was Hana Yori Dango b/c the hero was mean, crazy in love and jealous/possessive with a bad temper but he softened b/c of the heroine. This show actually reminds me a little of that set up- rich powerful jerk and poor, down on her luck heroine- and that's weird b/c Matsumoto Jun is actually producing RMPW, maybe, b/c of the huge success of HYD, he realizes that women want romance and obviously a powerful man to sweep them off their feet. Sorry for rambling, but I love this show!
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Date: 2012-07-22 10:40 pm (UTC)Exactly! I will note this on my "future watch" list. Even when I do not like Oguri Shin since his face always irritates me (Why Japanese men are ugly soo often compared to the women?) but when I like the drama I do not care for the actors faces anymore ;). Was alike with JHW who I still think average looking but since Queen In Hyun's Man I think he is incredible cute with is hanging eye and crocked smile.
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Date: 2012-07-22 11:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 11:30 pm (UTC)This is so so so sweet and I am sure they will keep the romance because it's described as a romance drama.
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Date: 2012-07-22 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 11:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-07-22 11:32 pm (UTC)Yes, this is such shippy fun. I forgot jdramas could do it.