dangermousie | Karei-Naru Ichizoku, Mukodono, and other jdrama stuff...

I've picked up watching Karei Naru Ichizoku, with Mr. Mousie. It's a drama I really really love, but what with this being a rare drama Mr. Mousie wants to watch (this and Hong Gil Dong are sum total) so we have to make time for both of us, and finding it so emotionally draining (yes, I've seen the ending), I sort of watch it on and off, in small dozes, like a really contolled drug. :)

I remain totally impressed by Kimura Takuya, who portrays a truly decent man at the end of his rope, and is so incredibly real, not a character but a complete person. My hatred for the Manpyo family grows leaps and bounds with each episode. Ugh. Monsters, most of them (what I want to say about Daisuke would probably be unfit for polite company). By this point, most of the revelations about family relationships are out (though of course, the final devastating one is for the very last ep...I saw that scene and...OK, I was a mess), and yeah...it all is a sheer descent. I think one of the things I find the most painful is how hard Teppen tries to have Daisuke express anything, something, that would indicate some glimmer of caring, some humanity. It's heart-breaking. Kimura has the most expressive face!

In news of more cheerful dramas, I continue madly in love with Mukodono.

I am four eps in, and Yu is just the most adorable jdrama male lead ever. In some ways, he shares some characteristics with children: excitement for seemingly mundane tasks, energy level in the morning (I'd kill him) and emotional openness. But he can also be grown-up when it counts, and the way he dealt with the little boy nephew of Sakura (how did they know my total thing for men interacting with children not their own) and with Satsuki, Sakura's career-oriented sister, made me melt.

Yu bought a bike for child nephew of Sakura's and promised to teach him to ride. Squee. I wonder if when he saw the kid being bullied for having no Dad, he connected it to his own childhood in some way (after all, he had no father too).

But there is a paparazzi scandal which might reveal he is married! (This cap cracks me up).

So he has to go on public TV and deny Sakura. There is a moment he almost tells the truth though (I love that she both understands his having to deny it, and is still hurt by it, and that her family is all 'whatever' as opposed to more emo. It strikes me as right). Also amused to note he is a head taller than anyone else :)

But of course, this was the same day as the proposed lesson and kid is devastated and upset and Yu promises to wait for him every day, until he forgives him and comes to be taught. AWWW.

It's like taming a wild animal. Kid sneakily checks if Yu is there (I get the sense Yu's been doing it for weeks).

Awwww. You'll make good parents, adorkable couple.

Awwww. Yu talks about kid being bullied...

I loved this scene like pie.

Kid shows up! I also like that he sort of takes Yu as a father figure from then on. It's adorable.

Satsuki, third sister (who I ship with Yu's manager) gets bailed out by Yu. Who had to work through the night in order to do it. He really treats Sakura's family as his own and he really is very very good about family obligations and relationships. I loved this scene. (There is also a brilliant moment where he transforms from icy superstar back to his dorky self for a millisecond to gesture at Satsuki and snaps back right afterwards, and it's awesome).