The Outsiders: it's like everything I want in a drama

[dangermousie]

Oh God.

I am watching the first ep of The Outsiders and it's like everything I want for Christmas if I celebrated Christmas.

Hot gang leader on a motorcycle who is a former kid from the slums? Gorgeous sheltered rich girl who saved said leader's life? Gang leader has two best friends who are also hotties and crack me up? School uniforms? When they were children he used to look at her behind the fence? *symbolism* Gang bowing to the girl and chanting her name in unison? Knives? Hot guys off to fight with knives?

*meep*

LOVE

And he came to school, being all cheeky and alpha. Looking for the Heroine (because she is the only witness and ran away and he wants to get the guys who ambushed him into police custody and you need a witness for the complaint).

And OMG OMG. Did I mention that the leads have psycho chemistry? And the way he smiles at her and his eyes are warm and eeeeeeeee and when he is leaving (after finding her in the music class and disrupting the whole class because he wants to thank her) he is turning back because he wants to look at her some more and she is a bit shy but not at all displeased and eeeeee If I didn't mention this before it's because I was spacing out over how gorgeous the male lead is. Seriously. Stop and stare territory. They shouldn't be in a gang, it's a waste :D

I have to say though, I am definitely getting why people would be against her dating the guy. He is not a misunderstood but saintly person. He is not even Ling from Mars who is deeply troubled and has some severe violence issues. The guy is a bona fide gang leader who doesn't think twice of collecting a gang armed with knives and bats to go take care of people who tried to take him out. [OMG, it's like Haou Airen only without 'he rapes because he loves her and she realizes it and they fall in lurve' thing]

I am being really bad with the names though. So far in my head I am just referring to them as Hero, Heroine, Guy with Short Hair (hottie gang friend #1) and Goofball (hottie gang friend #2).

kitsune714 (or anyone who has seen it or plans to watch it), can I ask you for a huge favor? I am planning to watch the whole thing but only the first 10 eps are subbed and it doesn't look like there'll be more subbing (one person was subbing the whole thing, whoa). When I watch the unsubbed half, will you tell me what's going on if I get really confused? (Or if anyone knows where I can find ep summaries, I'll love you forever).

GUUUH, since this is Chinese subbed, I am almost tempted to buy a Mandarin dictionary and painstakingly sit there translating the characters.

Also, I went trolling and found spoilers. Is it true that He joins the Triads later to protect her. And she gets raped and actually does too which does not make him a happy person. Is it true???????

You know, somehow I am sensing the possibility of a happy ending isn't really high here.

Comments

[kitsune714.livejournal.com]

I knew you'd like it! This drama is, in many ways, like three dramas in one, because the first half is this star-crossed, forbidden love arc, while the second half is this much darker story (I like to use the "Paradise Lost" -- not the Milton work, but the whole innocence lost theme) superimposed on the foundation of friendship and trust that we saw in the first half. It's all so good, Mousie, because Ah Hao (the Hero, for those of you playing along at home) is, as you said, not a misunderstood woobie. He's just...well, he means well when it comes to Xiao Yen Zi (the Heroine) and his friends (the short hair one, coincidentally, you may recognize from "Meteor Garden" -- he played Dao Ming Si's imposter cousin! The actor also dated Barbie Xu for quite some time), and yeah, okay, he does have some issues, but he's not a woobie in that sense of the term.

I will be more than happy to fill you in when you're watching! I'll see if I can download a few eps along with you (my CDs are at my parents' house) so I can catch up, as it's been a while since I've seen it. Subs for the 11th episode have been released, according to d-addicts, so yay! For a Taiwanese drama, the Outsiders is a monster, as I think it runs somewhere close to 20 episodes, almost like a Korean drama (the second series was just as long, too!).

Also, re: spoilers--

I told you it was going to get dark! I've always thought that this drama, especially the second half, was about Xiao Yen Zi (the heroine) and her evolution, more than the boys and their involvement in the Triads. There is deception and mistrust and lying to people you love, and there are consequences to these actions, of course, and time jumps, and oh. Oh. It just makes the existence of The Outsiders II that much more satisfying.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's where I've seen the short-haired one! I wondered why he looked familiar. I like him here much better though, possibly because I wanted to strangle his character in MG.

I will be more than happy to fill you in when you're watching!

Thank you!!!

Re: Hero and the Heroine. I really like it that (at least so far) The Outsiders doesn't shy away that sweet boyfriend or a loyal friend regardness, Ah Hao is bad news, someone who doesn't even think twice engaging in illegal acts of violence. And yet he is so charming, I am just falling for him.

This is so incredible. It's like they knew all my kinks and put them into a story. When they escape from Mouse on the motorcycle? EEEEE!

[kitsune714.livejournal.com]

And yet he is so charming, I am just falling for him.

The smile gets me, every time. I love that the whole course of the series demonstrates a real evolution to their relationship; it takes on all sorts of new dimensions and it's not this pure, simple thing that it was at first. For an idol drama, The Outsiders is quite possibly the darkest I've ever seen, which is probably why I like it so much.

And there are motorcycles, too!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

This is just so interesting I am (to use a Russian expression) 'biting my elbows' that I don't undestand Mandarin and thus will end up going 'whaaaa?' at half of it :)

[janlake83.livejournal.com]

that is sounding like a good first eps in a drama but wow only person subbing that is crazy...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know. I really wish I knew Mandarin...argh :)

[janlake83.livejournal.com]

yeah i was wishing the same thing when i saw a drama long time ago raw *forgot what its called* and cursing myself for learning french instead of something more useful in my everyday life cause i only use french when traveling and stuff.. not as usual as spanish would have been

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. Exactly.

[grey-fuzzy.livejournal.com]

This drama sounds really cool, but wow, it seems like you're starting a new one each day for these past two weeks or so! My to-watch list is sooo long, I wonder if I'll ever get to all of it!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. I definitely have been. It's the kid in a candy store syndrome. I have all of them and so want to get to all of them at once :)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about the Haou Airen similarities myself...I guess the dorama gods knew that the story COULD be done in a good way. As far as ending happily...well, both leaders are in the sequel, but it looks like she has a different name, so, hrm...

Speaking of things that sound like other things, have you heard anything about Liar Game(I think only the first ep has aired) It sounds kinda Kurosagi-ish.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've heard about Liar Game and am mildly interested in it because Soujiro :D is in it. No idea if it's good though.

Outsiders 2 actually takes place during the time jump (so it's really set in the middle of Outsiders 1) so unfortunately doesn't help much on 'they survive or not' level.

Re: Haou Airen. It's basically that concept done right. I was dying during the scenes where he basically detailed some of his gang to always be around her to protect her, and they were kicking people out of bathrooms, shooing them off benches so she could sit, rising and saluting her in unison etc etc. It was awesome. And yet, yes, he is still a gangster and it was TOO AWESOME.

Btw, the bus stopping is in the first ep and I almost squealed at the scene.

Oh, and my Tokyo Juliet/Lovers DVDs got here. I'll let you know what the quality is.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I like both the leads in Liar Game, so it's on my list unless I hear it sucks.

Hrm...the actors a few year older playing the characters younger than they were at the end of the first series...sounds odd.

It's like I said in the Haou Airen posts...it's a great concept gonne horribly wrong there, but could be an amazingly dark and awesome romance if done right(as appears to be the case with Outsiders) And those scenes do sound great.

I almost squeed at the bus stopping in the MV. Grerat to the TJ/Lovers DVDs. I hope they turn out well.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Well, it's only a few years difference all told so I don't think the evidence of aging will be there.

But yes, it's an awesome idea anyway. And I think 'Lovers' also plays with that too, as I know she is a doctor who patches him up and he is a mob boss (Tree of Heaven plays with that as well, but there they are childhood lovers so dynamic is a bit different).

I let you know when I check the DVDs tomorrow morning :) And once I finish uploading all the awesome Haru/Rin scans for a Fruits Basket post :)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the idea isn't an entirely rare one, it's just whether or not it can be handled right(which isn't habitual rape)

*starts refreshing f-list for post*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. I am not posting the Furuba post until morning because it's 2:30 am here and Mr. Mousie is dragging me to bed. We've been marathonning Furuba anime all day btw and EEEEE! Kyo! Haru! Hatori! Ayame! *dies*

(which isn't habitual rape)

Seriously. So wrong. And the fangirls going 'eeee how cute' make me want to stab something.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I expect an anime post.


I knew the anime would make you EEEEEE!!! over ayame...he's just so incredibly overwhelming in it. I mean, there's only so much Ayame(and Black Haru) that can be conveyed in stills...

See, I can handle an attempt, as long as he's the one who stops himself(as opposed to being stopped) or even angry sex(as long as it's consentual angry sex) if it suits the story, but there are lines you shouldn't cross, and that entire concept is based on crossing the line. The idea of fangirls squeeing over it reminds me of a 2-3 page post I read once about how Storm(X-Men character) should be raped because she was a strong female character and should be used to show the dark side being a female action hero. It's just...what's wrong with people's brains sometimes?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

LOL. No anime post. I liked it, but I like the manga a lot better, as they seemed to gloss over some of the darker stuff and were less subtle and went off-canon (Mr. Mousie was all 'do I have to gag you?' :P). Plus, only first 6 volumes.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

The manga was only a little further than that when the anime came, and was only just past that point here when I watched it, so it was a lot easier for me. I don't blame them for cutting out the darker stuff because A) they didn't know where it was going yet and B) like Wallflower and Samurai Deeper Kyo(incidentally, based on this, if/when you check out both the anime and the manga, watch the anime first because it completely rewrites the story, though largely for the reasons above) including all the themes would have resulted in a completely different kind of anime.

I think the only animes based on manga where the anime is actually better are Saiyuki and Peacemaker. The only one I really hold it against, though, is Love Hina, where they completly missed the entire point of the OTP and the growth of the entire cast through the series, and without that, there's little point(though it was a fun anime, just disappointing in comparison)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I understand their reasons but basically it's taking out my favorite stuff. Because in some ways, while Furuba can be very fluffy, some of it is some of the darkest stuff in manga I've seen and made me cringe or cry. All the child abuse of various kinds is just...

And taking it out takes out so much of the themes that I find fascinating and a lot of the depth and interest out of the characters. I find FB characters really interesting and complex and messed up, borderline unfunctional actually, and most of it is gone. But hey, their designs for Haru and Ayame are awesome :D

Wallflower would have driven me insane if I didn't see anime eps first. Because once I got the manga, even with watching the anime first, anime is driving me insane because it's not nearly as good.

I think I'll rather read SDK actually.

The animes I think are better than the manga for me are Peacemaker and Saiyuki (agreed there), Trigun (I am not sure I like the manga style), Ouran (though it's a close call there), Full Metal Panic (i tried and tried and couldn't get into the manga at all) and Fushigi Yuugi (that one is really faithful to the manga, it's just the motion and the voices WIN). Oh, and Peach Girl but once again, close call.

Of course there are plenty of cases where even though I love the manga better, the anime is still fun. Ceres is my favorite manga hands down but the anime version, while not as good is still good(oh, if they only animated it faithfully!). Furuba might be in that category for me, I haven't decided yet...

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

One thing that I will ALWAYS defend the FB anime on is how seemlessly it goes from light and fluffy to almost pure darkness and angst at the end. Any anime I watch where pure crack is one of the central appeals of the manga, I go into it expecting a lot of the crack to be gone. As long as they still get the point and the characters, I'm good and along with the ride for a nice complement to an existing love.

If you only do one, I'd definately say SDK manga. Actually, you just reminded me that I've been meaning to post Kyo and Yuya's first meeting for a while, just because it must be the ODDEST OTP first meeting ever. *sets Wolf's Rain aside to upload pics. needs an angst break anyway*

I actually tend to forget the Trigun and FMP manga exist..esp. the Trigub manga(the designs and style work in the anime, but not at all in the book) Hmm...you know, in both cases, I read them LONG before I watched the anime...

I'd put FY as about equal...the first half of the Ceres anime is on a par, but the last half, while amazing without the manga, kinda makes you sad you're missing out on things(like, you know, SHURO!) Ouran I love the manga but am waiting for the anime to come stateside(ditto with the rest of Wallflower, barring when I just need a fix...anime!Sunako is just so blasted cute!)

[carviangli.livejournal.com]

OMFG!! Damn it, you keep getting me hooked on dramas. Heh. And now that holidays are over (boo hoo) I have no excuse to watch doramas all day. But DAMN. The lead is seriously hot. Like steaming. It's not that he's Hrithik hot (muscly and just damn fine) but he's more charming and devilish. The female lead is waay too pretty...I wish she looked a bit more realistic than this gorgeous, model-esque person...geez she's like a plastic Barbie Hsu...
actually for some strange reason this reminds me of MG ALOT.

I like the male lead's character a lot which is surprising because usually I go for good guys ALA Gong Chan,Sam Shiki, Zhi Shu as opposed to hot, messed up, angsty motorbike-riding bad boys ALA Ling or even DMS from MG....
gaaah! Does she really get raped?! That's really sad. I HATE it when the heroines get raped because it's just so sad...and she is sweet and goody-goody...
OMG I am so getting Steph Wang to sit with me at lunchtimes and translate for me the unsubbed eps because DAMN i WANNA watch so badly!!Actually I have an amazingly infinite supply of Mandarin/Chinese speaking friends who I could beg to translate. Yay:P

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's not that he's Hrithik hot (muscly and just damn fine) but he's more charming and devilish.

Exactly.

Re: female lead. But I think she is sort of supposed to be an ideal and 'princess' for the hero, so I think the delicate looks are appropriate :)

hot, messed up, angsty motorbike-riding bad boys ALA Ling or even DMS from MG....

I looooove the hot messed up boys like Ling or DMS, but then I also adore Gong-Chan so...heh. I guess I am not picky :P

And I am totally jealous of Mandarin speaking friends thing ;)

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

It's all about how well they angst, brood, obsess and protect. If they can do some(or bettter yet, all) the above, they get a pass.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Good point :)