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dangermousieSeeing that I’ve been waxing poetic about Meteor Garden, it made me think of Hana Yori Dango, because after all, MG is a live-action adaptation of the latter. I can’t speak about the manga (I’ve flipped through a few volumes, but that’s the extent of my acquaintance with it), but I do want to talk about the anime.
Yes, I’ve posted excessively about it when I was watching it, but I just want to blab about something I haven’t yet. Character development. Namely, Doumyuoji’s character development (for anyone who’s only been following my MG posts, in MG he is called Dao Ming Si). Why? Because in HYD something happened that almost never happens to me. I might start out liking a character and then end up loving them more or less. But almost never do I start hating a character and end up falling for him, and getting impatient as to when the story will get back to him.
I mean, in Trigun, I started liking and being amused by Vash and ended up falling madly for him. That is pretty normal for me. But in HYD, I started watching the anime and I literally loathed Doumyouji. I looked up spoilers (bad, bad girl!), and I just couldn’t believe Tsukushi (called Shan Cai in MG) would end up with him. And there was no question about the boy being misunderstood. He really was a bastard. Yet, by the end, I was getting super-irritated at Tsukushi and almost yelling at my TV for her to return his love. And it’s not as if the guy found God or repented. He matured and lost some of his rougher edges, but his basics weren’t that different. The only time I had a similar transformation in feeling is for Logan from Veronica Mars, where I started disliking him and he ended up being my favorite character.
But in fact, in HYD the feat is even more impressive because the show accomplished my change in feelings without showing either the angsty fragility or giving the guy some childhood trauma. I remember talking to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aliterati after an earlier ep and telling her that Doumyouji better have some severe trauma to explain his behavior and she said he doesn’t but ‘you’ll fall for him anyway’ and I couldn’t believe this at the time but she was so right.
I started liking Logan a bit after we saw him be so angsty over his gf’s death and pulling a memorial tribute for her. And then we found out that he came from a horrible family and his father abuses him and everything fell into place and I loved him. (And later his mom killed herself. And we found out his father had an affair with his gf and killed her. And he tried to kill himself etc etc etc). But HYD has nothing like that. It gives Doumyouji tons of angst but it does it relatively late in the story and it didn’t do it until well after I’ve developed a huge thing for him already. And while he comes from a distant, cold and arrogant family, it’s not as if his mother stubbed out cigarettes on him.
I don’t know why I like him so much. He is arrogant, bossy, rough-edged, and not the world’s greatest thinker. Maybe it’s because it becomes clear that not only is he not actively malicious, but that if he really cares for you, he’ll do anything (as he proves to Tsukushi time and time again). Or maybe it’s because his determined fight for her against the circumstances and the world, as well as his constancy is so appealing. He does mature into his feelings when it counts (can’t dangle worms in front of her nose forever, after all). Or the fact that he fell in love with the strongest female character out there, on the show, someone who’ll fight back and won’t take any nonsense and half the time can wipe the floor with him and yet it’s not as if he gives up any of his own willpower. The largest part is probably because HYD manages to convince me that while he is no picnic (and neither is she), they are perfectly suited to each other, and no one else would work half as well for either of them.
In completely unconnected news, mentioning Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam inspired me to post some gorgeous HDDCS shots. It's a flawed movie (my least favorite of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's four films, but then I adore the other three), but like all SLB movies, it is impossibly beautiful and has moments that I like an emotional punch to the gut. Also, it's kinda appropriate, since I just found out today that the male star of HDDCS, Salman Khan, has just been sentenced to a year in prison for hunting an endangered animal. Hmmm. Pity, he is way too hot.
At the beginning of Tadap Tadap, one of my fave Bolly songs ever:
And in completely random but hot tangent, here is a picture of John Abraham, full of Bollywood hotness, and looking scruffy and beat up, in his latest film:
Yes, I’ve posted excessively about it when I was watching it, but I just want to blab about something I haven’t yet. Character development. Namely, Doumyuoji’s character development (for anyone who’s only been following my MG posts, in MG he is called Dao Ming Si). Why? Because in HYD something happened that almost never happens to me. I might start out liking a character and then end up loving them more or less. But almost never do I start hating a character and end up falling for him, and getting impatient as to when the story will get back to him.
I mean, in Trigun, I started liking and being amused by Vash and ended up falling madly for him. That is pretty normal for me. But in HYD, I started watching the anime and I literally loathed Doumyouji. I looked up spoilers (bad, bad girl!), and I just couldn’t believe Tsukushi (called Shan Cai in MG) would end up with him. And there was no question about the boy being misunderstood. He really was a bastard. Yet, by the end, I was getting super-irritated at Tsukushi and almost yelling at my TV for her to return his love. And it’s not as if the guy found God or repented. He matured and lost some of his rougher edges, but his basics weren’t that different. The only time I had a similar transformation in feeling is for Logan from Veronica Mars, where I started disliking him and he ended up being my favorite character.
But in fact, in HYD the feat is even more impressive because the show accomplished my change in feelings without showing either the angsty fragility or giving the guy some childhood trauma. I remember talking to
aliterati after an earlier ep and telling her that Doumyouji better have some severe trauma to explain his behavior and she said he doesn’t but ‘you’ll fall for him anyway’ and I couldn’t believe this at the time but she was so right. I started liking Logan a bit after we saw him be so angsty over his gf’s death and pulling a memorial tribute for her. And then we found out that he came from a horrible family and his father abuses him and everything fell into place and I loved him. (And later his mom killed herself. And we found out his father had an affair with his gf and killed her. And he tried to kill himself etc etc etc). But HYD has nothing like that. It gives Doumyouji tons of angst but it does it relatively late in the story and it didn’t do it until well after I’ve developed a huge thing for him already. And while he comes from a distant, cold and arrogant family, it’s not as if his mother stubbed out cigarettes on him.
I don’t know why I like him so much. He is arrogant, bossy, rough-edged, and not the world’s greatest thinker. Maybe it’s because it becomes clear that not only is he not actively malicious, but that if he really cares for you, he’ll do anything (as he proves to Tsukushi time and time again). Or maybe it’s because his determined fight for her against the circumstances and the world, as well as his constancy is so appealing. He does mature into his feelings when it counts (can’t dangle worms in front of her nose forever, after all). Or the fact that he fell in love with the strongest female character out there, on the show, someone who’ll fight back and won’t take any nonsense and half the time can wipe the floor with him and yet it’s not as if he gives up any of his own willpower. The largest part is probably because HYD manages to convince me that while he is no picnic (and neither is she), they are perfectly suited to each other, and no one else would work half as well for either of them.
In completely unconnected news, mentioning Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam inspired me to post some gorgeous HDDCS shots. It's a flawed movie (my least favorite of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's four films, but then I adore the other three), but like all SLB movies, it is impossibly beautiful and has moments that I like an emotional punch to the gut. Also, it's kinda appropriate, since I just found out today that the male star of HDDCS, Salman Khan, has just been sentenced to a year in prison for hunting an endangered animal. Hmmm. Pity, he is way too hot.
At the beginning of Tadap Tadap, one of my fave Bolly songs ever:
And in completely random but hot tangent, here is a picture of John Abraham, full of Bollywood hotness, and looking scruffy and beat up, in his latest film:
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:24 pm (UTC)I've found I have a pattern for liking anime characters. I'll be fond of a lead character, but most of my love will be aimmed at a secondary character. I liked Van well enough, but I loved Folken. Tetsu is great and all, but I adore Susumu. Claus is charming, but Alex owns me. Gram is a sweetheart and I wouldn't kick him out of the bed for eating crackers, but he'd have to move Yagami out of said bed first. I tend to latch on to the quieter male characters too. And a lot of time it's the pairing that makes the character tolerable. Aoshi, while hot, would be no picnic to live with yet I like him an Masao. Sano can be an immature brat, but he's perfect for Megumi. Tetsu is ridiculously obnoxious sometimes, but he and Saya are adorable.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:29 pm (UTC)So is his fiancee. I think they should be mandated to reproduce for the benefit of the human race :P
I'll be fond of a lead character, but most of my love will be aimmed at a secondary character.
I usually prefer main characters (I am very conventional, so the more info, the more interest I have).
I tend to latch on to the quieter male characters too.
For me, it depends. I mean, Vash is my favorite anime character so far, and while he can be very still and quiet, he is generally a hyper goofball of a man. I think all the characters I love have both angst and great deal of competence though. And none of them are 'bad guys.' I mean, I feel sorry for Nakago (speaking of 'childhood trauma'), but I am not in the least into him.
And a lot of time it's the pairing that makes the character tolerable.
True. Anime seems to be very good at showing OTPs that really work for each other, no matter how quirky or difficult the people are in general.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:46 pm (UTC)But then I like Vash/Meryl, and while it's clear they really care for each other, it's not a grand-romance-type of love story. Hmmmm.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:35 pm (UTC)sentenced to a year in prison for hunting an endangered animal They are tough in India, aren't they?
no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 09:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 09:12 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-17 10:10 pm (UTC)Yes, all are very well-done, but that first song impressed me the most because, well, it was the first song! :D
My apologies for the weirdness and randomness of this
Date: 2006-02-18 01:46 am (UTC)Many thanks (although certainly understandable if you ignore this altogether),
Leyla
Re: My apologies for the weirdness and randomness of this
Date: 2006-02-18 05:01 am (UTC)Five or so (this is all subjective, of course):
Kal Ho Na Ho: it's set in NY so a lot of Westerners find it a lot more relatable. Plus it's funny and romantic.
Devdas (2002): it's very angsty, but one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Veer-Zaara: quintessential Bollywood romance
Dil Se: this is rather art-house, but still Bollywood and deals with terrorism and obsession.
Parineeta: my fave film of last year, this is simply gorgeous and very romantic.
Yuva: also art-house and a bit violent, but IMO very thought-provoking.
Karam: if she likes action and hot men. This is very angsty.
Re: My apologies for the weirdness and randomness of this
Date: 2006-02-19 01:45 am (UTC)Re: My apologies for the weirdness and randomness of this
Date: 2006-02-19 04:33 am (UTC)You are welcome! Hope you enjoy!