Majo No Jouken: now with even more angst.
Aug. 21st, 2006 12:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieSo yes, I've been continuing my watching of Majo No Jouken. I have to say, I've been getting so anxious, I actually watched the ending to see how it turned out. Glad I did, too. I have no idea what's going on or why but I feel better because OMG together! And now I can watch the angst without hyperventilating about what will happen to the poor OTP.
But yes, it continues to be excellent and very angsty. I was going to keep on writing ep thoughts and then posting it all in bulk, but I think two eps is long enough and I just might OD on angst before I finish, so just in case...
You know how I said I liked Michi's fiancee and felt bad for him? Can I take it back. Regardless of whether Michi is with Hikaru or not and what you think of the morality of that, Michi is not your property. You cannot drag her back by force. A 'No' means 'No.' When he was physically hurting her dragging her away, and then was beating Hikaru (is it just me or is Hikaru spending most of his time injured, bruised or recovering from said injuries or bruises? Do they think that unblemished Takizawa Hideaki is too much for the female viewers to handle on a regular basis?) it was horrible and lost me any sympathy for his character.
And talking about unsympathetic, I'd feel sorrier for Hikaru's mom is I didn't get a creepy almost-incestual vibe in her feelings for him. Also, she is brainless. Hikaru is 17+. If Japan is like every other country out there, the age of majority, aka when she won't be able to control anything at all or come between Michi and Hikaru in any way, is 18. She thinks she can brain-wash him in less than a year, and get him back by hunting him and making his life hell? The logic escapes me.
But enough about annoying people. Want to talk about Michi and Hikaru, who continue being a rampagingly amazing OTP. I really do get the sense of how much they love each other, but also, and more importantly in the long run, just how compatible they are. When they aren't on the run, when they get a brief respite from having to hide, you see them relaxed and happy in everyday world, the only times we see them at ease in their own skins. They just fit. I love seeing them on Hikaru's Uncle's farm, helping out the children (and Michi really misses teaching, and Hikaru is just naturally good with kids). You see them in the fishing town, her trying to cook and his eating and liking her mediocre-at-best cooking. Them shopping for groceries (and how beyond adorable is the scene with the sunglasses on the beach). They are just uncomplicatedly happy.
It's the little moments that get me: Michi asking Hikaru if she can crawl in with him (in the hotel room) and his holding her so envelopingly and stroking her hair (OH. MY. GUH.) Or Hikaru telling sleeping Michi that she's said it but he hasn't and telling her "I love Hirose Michi. I love you." Or the bit where he is concerned that he really is ruining Michi's life and she tells him that the only thing that would ruin her life is if he left her and his promising never to leave. They care for each other, they put the other person ahead of oneself, and they are happy together. Sounds like a great relationship to me.
But of course the world won't let them be. They are fugitives and things short-circuit every time. They have to run from the Uncle's farm because Hikaru gives in to a humane impulse and calls his mother. And the fiancee catches up with them and gives Hikaru a cracked rib (I was SO wincing. And the scene in the hospital, where the doctor was bandaging him and he was in severe pain but he got there walking all the way without showing how much pain he was in? Bullet-proof kink of mine). And as soon as they get comfy in the hospital (I love it that she makes him laugh) they have to run again. And the same pattern in the fishing village. The intercut between Hikaru cooking dinner for Michi, oblivious to the fact that his mother tracked them down and Michi is being arrested (I love the dropped flowers bit) and Michi screaming his name is very dramatic. I am all apprehensive about 8.
Oh, and how adorable is the fact that Hikaru drew that little motion thing for the former schoolmate, to make her feel better? EEEEE!
But yes, it continues to be excellent and very angsty. I was going to keep on writing ep thoughts and then posting it all in bulk, but I think two eps is long enough and I just might OD on angst before I finish, so just in case...
You know how I said I liked Michi's fiancee and felt bad for him? Can I take it back. Regardless of whether Michi is with Hikaru or not and what you think of the morality of that, Michi is not your property. You cannot drag her back by force. A 'No' means 'No.' When he was physically hurting her dragging her away, and then was beating Hikaru (is it just me or is Hikaru spending most of his time injured, bruised or recovering from said injuries or bruises? Do they think that unblemished Takizawa Hideaki is too much for the female viewers to handle on a regular basis?) it was horrible and lost me any sympathy for his character.
And talking about unsympathetic, I'd feel sorrier for Hikaru's mom is I didn't get a creepy almost-incestual vibe in her feelings for him. Also, she is brainless. Hikaru is 17+. If Japan is like every other country out there, the age of majority, aka when she won't be able to control anything at all or come between Michi and Hikaru in any way, is 18. She thinks she can brain-wash him in less than a year, and get him back by hunting him and making his life hell? The logic escapes me.
But enough about annoying people. Want to talk about Michi and Hikaru, who continue being a rampagingly amazing OTP. I really do get the sense of how much they love each other, but also, and more importantly in the long run, just how compatible they are. When they aren't on the run, when they get a brief respite from having to hide, you see them relaxed and happy in everyday world, the only times we see them at ease in their own skins. They just fit. I love seeing them on Hikaru's Uncle's farm, helping out the children (and Michi really misses teaching, and Hikaru is just naturally good with kids). You see them in the fishing town, her trying to cook and his eating and liking her mediocre-at-best cooking. Them shopping for groceries (and how beyond adorable is the scene with the sunglasses on the beach). They are just uncomplicatedly happy.
It's the little moments that get me: Michi asking Hikaru if she can crawl in with him (in the hotel room) and his holding her so envelopingly and stroking her hair (OH. MY. GUH.) Or Hikaru telling sleeping Michi that she's said it but he hasn't and telling her "I love Hirose Michi. I love you." Or the bit where he is concerned that he really is ruining Michi's life and she tells him that the only thing that would ruin her life is if he left her and his promising never to leave. They care for each other, they put the other person ahead of oneself, and they are happy together. Sounds like a great relationship to me.
But of course the world won't let them be. They are fugitives and things short-circuit every time. They have to run from the Uncle's farm because Hikaru gives in to a humane impulse and calls his mother. And the fiancee catches up with them and gives Hikaru a cracked rib (I was SO wincing. And the scene in the hospital, where the doctor was bandaging him and he was in severe pain but he got there walking all the way without showing how much pain he was in? Bullet-proof kink of mine). And as soon as they get comfy in the hospital (I love it that she makes him laugh) they have to run again. And the same pattern in the fishing village. The intercut between Hikaru cooking dinner for Michi, oblivious to the fact that his mother tracked them down and Michi is being arrested (I love the dropped flowers bit) and Michi screaming his name is very dramatic. I am all apprehensive about 8.
Oh, and how adorable is the fact that Hikaru drew that little motion thing for the former schoolmate, to make her feel better? EEEEE!
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no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 05:02 pm (UTC)Hikaru is so stoic through all the cracked rib drama! I don't know how he got through that because from all accounts it's extremely painful, even to breathe.
One of my favorite parts of the entire dorama, is when they are at the uncle's farm. They both just FINALLY relax and seem so at ease with the world that isn't judging them anymore and with each other. It's beautiful and perfect, and so therefore, it has to end badly. ;)
And probably my very favorite moment of the entire dorama is that embrace in bed at the hotel. I just adore how he holds her, and the warmth and tenderness and love and need between them. All in about ten seconds of screen time.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 05:13 pm (UTC)I did think it was an awful thing to do, but as a result of way too many anime/manga/novels/movies whatever where this is a cliche situation for 'guy loses control but later reforms blah blah' once he got all apologetic (and didn't go through with it or anything) I was all 'fine, I'll overlook it this once.' Bad idea. He is quite psycho.
Hikaru is so stoic through all the cracked rib drama! I don't know how he got through that because from all accounts it's extremely painful, even to breathe.
I guess his general stoicism is helpful. Still, every time I saw him on screen post-that, I was wincing because...urgh!
It's beautiful and perfect, and so therefore, it has to end badly. ;)
Exactly. Otherwise this dorama would be only 6 eps long :) Btw, you were right, the second half is angstier. I didn't think it was possible, but I think if I didn't peek at the ending, I'd have a coronary with ep 8 alone.
I just adore how he holds her, and the warmth and tenderness and love and need between them. All in about ten seconds of screen time.
Oh yes. Such a beautiful scene. My favorite is actually when she finds him in the library at night, but this one comes close.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 06:22 pm (UTC)Thank you very much for this - I am considering watching this next, but I was so unsure about the ending I thought I would wait until I know it! I can't bear bad endings in my old age.
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 06:24 pm (UTC)And MnJ is really worth checking out!
no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 06:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-21 06:50 pm (UTC)