Musings of the Obsessive Kind

Can you imagine Jandi acting this way? A fight in a public place with no sense of shame? She'd rather die (preferably from weeping) first!





Not to mention every time I watch Domyouji and Makino, I glee like mad and laugh and swoon at the same time:




( More behind cut )

Yup, am rewatching Hanadan movie to cheer self up after abysmal BOF.

(I also rewatched my favorite Hanadan moment ever: the part in Hanadan2 ep 11 where Domyouji remembers her and they just clutch each other and laugh and keep clutching, but no caps as was too busy spazzing).

I confess I redownloaded this ep just to watch the scene of Domyouji doing dogeza to Rui but I ended up watching the whole darn ep and capping like a madwoman.



Oh God, my OTP! My ridiculous, strong-willed, adorably dim, crazily energetic OTP! This is what jdrama did right and kdrama did wrong - this random ep shows it. I am so mad for Domyouji/Makino and I couldn't care less for JP/Jandi - you know why? D/M have tons of romantic scenes, they fit together perfectly (when Makino tells Rui she can be most herself with Domyouji, I actually buy it - she turns a bit demure with Rui but she is her own bulldozer self with Domyouji, not to mention the two just light up in the vicinity of each other, and feel more alive). Oh, and Domyouji actually acts like he can't live without Makino and the way he deals with Rui and the fiancee situation is so infinitely better! I don't hate him for one bit.

Anyone, I'll shut up and bring you caps from ep 8 of Hanadan2.

( When Domyouji was madly in love, Makino had a spine, and Rui didn't get his lifr wrecked )

I confess I redownloaded this ep just to watch the scene of Domyouji doing dogeza to Rui but I ended up watching the whole darn ep and capping like a madwoman.



Oh God, my OTP! My ridiculous, strong-willed, adorably dim, crazily energetic OTP! This is what jdrama did right and kdrama did wrong - this random ep shows it. I am so mad for Domyouji/Makino and I couldn't care less for JP/Jandi - you know why? D/M have tons of romantic scenes, they fit together perfectly (when Makino tells Rui she can be most herself with Domyouji, I actually buy it - she turns a bit demure with Rui but she is her own bulldozer self with Domyouji, not to mention the two just light up in the vicinity of each other, and feel more alive). Oh, and Domyouji actually acts like he can't live without Makino and the way he deals with Rui and the fiancee situation is so infinitely better! I don't hate him for one bit.

Anyone, I'll shut up and bring you caps from ep 8 of Hanadan2.

( When Domyouji was madly in love, Makino had a spine, and Rui didn't get his lifr wrecked )

You know how I did a list for my favorite kdramas, here (even if it already has to be revised, seeing that The Legend is my fave kdrama ever, and actually my fave drama, period). Well, this is my Top 10 jdramas list.

Same rules apply: it’s all about which are my favorite jdramas? And why? Here is a Top 10 list, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Beautiful Life might end up on the list once I have enough courage to finish it, but am not done yet. Also, I have not yet seen a lot of famous jdramas (Friends, Million Stars, 1 Litre etc), because of a recent kdrama binge, which is about to give way to a jdrama one, so my list might be very different a few months from now ;) Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible. Except for the Top 3, the places within Top 10 get reshuffled quite often. A drama I rank number 8 this week might be number four next ;) But the content of Top 10 stays the same.

( List behind cut, with reasons, caps and vids )

ETA: Yes, I plan to do the same list for Taiwanese dramas as well. But I need to finish a few twdramas I am currently watching first (Romantic Princess, Corner with Love, My Lucky Star) so as to know whether they should be included.

If you watch only one drama in your life, make it Hana Yori Dango. Yeah, I mean it. And Hanadan isn't even my most favorite drama (that would be Mars), it's just so...everything. More specifically, watch both seasons because it's that weird show where season 1 is awesome and season 2 is awesome, but combined, they are greater than the sum of its parts.

See this second season MV:



I spent both part of lunch and evening reading manga in the local Borders (if there is anything better than drinking strong coffee and reading shoujo when it's raining outside, I have yet to discover). This included volume 26 of Hana Yori Dango. More about that particular volume below, but it made me think about Hanadan in general. According to wikipedia, Hanadan is the most best-selling shoujo manga in Japan, and definitely it's crazily successful: there have been numerous reprints, a successful anime series, a hugely popular Taiwanese AND Japanese drama adaptations, etc etc. It really makes me think that the story is the most important thing even in such a visual medium as manga. Because while the art in later volumes is rather nice in a spare sort of way (and miles better than the somewhat horrid art in the earliest volumes), the mangaka of Hanadan is nowhere near the gorgeousness of other manga artists.

And also, if you think about it, both Tsukushi and Domyouji are rather atypical for shoujo heroine and hero. Tsukushi is far from the usual manga heroine, who is usually very pretty, loved by many, a little adorably ditsy, and interested in boys. The most you can say about Tsukushi's looks is that they are average (and once she chops off her hair, she is definitely plain), she is just as interested in studying hard and making something of herself, as she is in any romantic complications, and as to popularity? The first few volumes the girl endures some horrid hazing, to put it mildly. As to Domyouji, he is very tall and very rich, which does make him shoujo hero material. Oh, and he saved her about seven billion times. Except...he is also pig-headed, selfish, stubborn, and let's be frank, not very bright. And if you want a sweet extravagantly romantic gesture, look elsewhere. He is as likely to insult Tsukushi as anything. Of course, she will insult him right back.

Ultimately I think that is why Hanadan is so enduringly popular: it's a sort of shoujo Pride and Prejudice, isn't it? A strong-willed woman and a flawed guy who loves her for her strength. And they bicker :) Because ultimately, with all his flaws, the reason I think Domyouji is so awesome is because he is so unswerving in his love of Tsukushi. Because he loves her because she is scrappy, and strong, and heck, when roused, fearsome.

And that whole love of Hanadan got refreshed by that volume 26. Because, oh the mangaka gets it so right, they are so teenage. Great love or not, the foot-in-mouth syndrome is so present, and so is their bickering. I love it when she tells him she made lunch for him and he is so delighted. Heh. But my favorite scene is when their well-meaning friends lock them together in the summer house. Heh. I love when she says he is always 'annoying there to rescue me' (or similar) and he is all, 'you could drop 'annoyingly.'' Heeeee. Or when they kiss, and he grumbles that his neck is hurting because she is so short, and she could at least stand on tiptoes and she shoots back that it's just he is freakishly tall. Never a quiet moment. Or when (because there is so a bed there) she is trying to come up with a talking topic so as to fill the silence, she asks how come he is such a good kisser, because she is his first girlfriend and then her brain catches up with her and she is all 'OMG, what is my mouth saying?' but she perseveres and continues 'did you practice? Who on? A Stuffed animal? A human? F3?' (at that latter, the slashers go wild, heh). And he matter-of-factly tells her that when they were in middle school, Soujiro and Akira always had a swarm of girls around them and sometimes girls would want to make out with him, so he'd be kissing with them, but then when he got to high school he stopped because he thought it was childish. And (because she asks) he is all 'only kissing, it's gross to have sex with someone you don't know.' EEEEEE! That is such a Domyouji thing to say. In some ways, he is the most infantile of the F4, but in some he is the most grown-up one. And, of course, he would be the straightforward one and tell this to Tsukushi, not even thinking to lie or hide. And also, I love how to him, of course, you don't have sex unless you love the person. As Tsukushi ends up thinking, he is both pure in spirit AND annoying (and then wonders why she fells for someone unstable :D) The funny thing is, I could totally picture MatsuJun and Inoue Mao (or Jerry Yan and Barbie Xsu) do this scene. EEEE! How much do I love both the Japanese and the Taiwanese live actions.

If you watch only one drama in your life, make it Hana Yori Dango. Yeah, I mean it. And Hanadan isn't even my most favorite drama (that would be Mars), it's just so...everything. More specifically, watch both seasons because it's that weird show where season 1 is awesome and season 2 is awesome, but combined, they are greater than the sum of its parts.

See this second season MV:



I spent both part of lunch and evening reading manga in the local Borders (if there is anything better than drinking strong coffee and reading shoujo when it's raining outside, I have yet to discover). This included volume 26 of Hana Yori Dango. More about that particular volume below, but it made me think about Hanadan in general. According to wikipedia, Hanadan is the most best-selling shoujo manga in Japan, and definitely it's crazily successful: there have been numerous reprints, a successful anime series, a hugely popular Taiwanese AND Japanese drama adaptations, etc etc. It really makes me think that the story is the most important thing even in such a visual medium as manga. Because while the art in later volumes is rather nice in a spare sort of way (and miles better than the somewhat horrid art in the earliest volumes), the mangaka of Hanadan is nowhere near the gorgeousness of other manga artists.

And also, if you think about it, both Tsukushi and Domyouji are rather atypical for shoujo heroine and hero. Tsukushi is far from the usual manga heroine, who is usually very pretty, loved by many, a little adorably ditsy, and interested in boys. The most you can say about Tsukushi's looks is that they are average (and once she chops off her hair, she is definitely plain), she is just as interested in studying hard and making something of herself, as she is in any romantic complications, and as to popularity? The first few volumes the girl endures some horrid hazing, to put it mildly. As to Domyouji, he is very tall and very rich, which does make him shoujo hero material. Oh, and he saved her about seven billion times. Except...he is also pig-headed, selfish, stubborn, and let's be frank, not very bright. And if you want a sweet extravagantly romantic gesture, look elsewhere. He is as likely to insult Tsukushi as anything. Of course, she will insult him right back.

Ultimately I think that is why Hanadan is so enduringly popular: it's a sort of shoujo Pride and Prejudice, isn't it? A strong-willed woman and a flawed guy who loves her for her strength. And they bicker :) Because ultimately, with all his flaws, the reason I think Domyouji is so awesome is because he is so unswerving in his love of Tsukushi. Because he loves her because she is scrappy, and strong, and heck, when roused, fearsome.

And that whole love of Hanadan got refreshed by that volume 26. Because, oh the mangaka gets it so right, they are so teenage. Great love or not, the foot-in-mouth syndrome is so present, and so is their bickering. I love it when she tells him she made lunch for him and he is so delighted. Heh. But my favorite scene is when their well-meaning friends lock them together in the summer house. Heh. I love when she says he is always 'annoying there to rescue me' (or similar) and he is all, 'you could drop 'annoyingly.'' Heeeee. Or when they kiss, and he grumbles that his neck is hurting because she is so short, and she could at least stand on tiptoes and she shoots back that it's just he is freakishly tall. Never a quiet moment. Or when (because there is so a bed there) she is trying to come up with a talking topic so as to fill the silence, she asks how come he is such a good kisser, because she is his first girlfriend and then her brain catches up with her and she is all 'OMG, what is my mouth saying?' but she perseveres and continues 'did you practice? Who on? A Stuffed animal? A human? F3?' (at that latter, the slashers go wild, heh). And he matter-of-factly tells her that when they were in middle school, Soujiro and Akira always had a swarm of girls around them and sometimes girls would want to make out with him, so he'd be kissing with them, but then when he got to high school he stopped because he thought it was childish. And (because she asks) he is all 'only kissing, it's gross to have sex with someone you don't know.' EEEEEE! That is such a Domyouji thing to say. In some ways, he is the most infantile of the F4, but in some he is the most grown-up one. And, of course, he would be the straightforward one and tell this to Tsukushi, not even thinking to lie or hide. And also, I love how to him, of course, you don't have sex unless you love the person. As Tsukushi ends up thinking, he is both pure in spirit AND annoying (and then wonders why she fells for someone unstable :D) The funny thing is, I could totally picture MatsuJun and Inoue Mao (or Jerry Yan and Barbie Xsu) do this scene. EEEE! How much do I love both the Japanese and the Taiwanese live actions.

Dorama Gods clearly love me.

First, there is the upcoming Kurosagi movie and now

HANADAN BECOMES A MOVIE!!!!!

The cast from the jdrama returns for a movie set a year after Hanadan2.

Omg omg omg

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I wanna see a wedding so bad)

Omg. Domyouji/Tsukushi back on my screen in all their bickering glory!!!!!

Btw, because this made me think of Matsujun. Is his 'I am in love with my little sister' out with subs anywhere yet???

I am SO hyper now!

I have been rewatching second season of Hana Yori Dango. There are really few damas more addictive.

And yeah, I still heart the pig-headed, word-mixing, totally in love Domyouji.

*sigh*

I ended up thinking what any kids of Domyouji and Makino would be like. I confess my mind was boggling at imagining them with kids. Especially Domyouji. I mean, imagine him with a baby? Did your brain just break?

But then I remembered how awesome he was with Makino's kid brother, helping him with the girl the kid crushed on. That was actually my favorite subplot of all in Hanadan 2 because it was so Domyouji where if you are not on his radar you do not exist, but if he cares, he will put himself utterly into caring (and he wasn't trying to win Makino's good opinion, as he didn't want her to find out). He is someone who has these innate good qualities that never really got brought out before Makino because of his upbringing, but they are there, despite his inability to express himself or to really even utilize them: his unshakeable loyalty, for one. Or his stubborn caring: he would do anything for you if he cares for you, whether it's something as huge as allowing those guys to beat him into unconciousness without raising a finger to defend hmself because otherwise Makino would get hurt or something as little as waking up early to wait for the little brother to cheer him on (with the incredibly Domyouji-centric 'if I approve of you, she must too').

So maybe not all is hopeless :)

Of course, he has NO family models to follow at all about future offspring but I am sure Makino would screw his head on straight (or knock it off if he went weird :D) LOL. Any kids of theirs will either be total bulldozers or the meekest things ever.

The same applies to Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai in the Taiwanese version, Meteor Garden, of course. I love the scene where SC drags that little kid she was supposed to be babysitting to her date with him and he is totally grumpy but when the kid is all 'I wanna see everything in the zoo, but my legs are too short,' he picks him up and carries him and ends up carrying him all the way home because the kid falls asleep. OK, they know their target demo. If there is one thing hotter than a hunky hunky guy, it's a hunky hunky guy with sa small kid. (Oh, and of course there is DMS's story in Meteor Rain too, to corroborate. I love it even though it's a continuity nightmare in terms of character development and hair as it's a prequel but...anyway, I don't care. He gets to be gorgeous and bond with an old guy and a mute child and angst a LOT. They know what women want. Xi Men gets a story involving Xiao You and working out some of his issues, Mei Zuo gets a frothy one, and DMS? Angst. Of course. Heh. I slurped it up with a spoon).

I have been rewatching second season of Hana Yori Dango. There are really few damas more addictive.

And yeah, I still heart the pig-headed, word-mixing, totally in love Domyouji.

*sigh*

I ended up thinking what any kids of Domyouji and Makino would be like. I confess my mind was boggling at imagining them with kids. Especially Domyouji. I mean, imagine him with a baby? Did your brain just break?

But then I remembered how awesome he was with Makino's kid brother, helping him with the girl the kid crushed on. That was actually my favorite subplot of all in Hanadan 2 because it was so Domyouji where if you are not on his radar you do not exist, but if he cares, he will put himself utterly into caring (and he wasn't trying to win Makino's good opinion, as he didn't want her to find out). He is someone who has these innate good qualities that never really got brought out before Makino because of his upbringing, but they are there, despite his inability to express himself or to really even utilize them: his unshakeable loyalty, for one. Or his stubborn caring: he would do anything for you if he cares for you, whether it's something as huge as allowing those guys to beat him into unconciousness without raising a finger to defend hmself because otherwise Makino would get hurt or something as little as waking up early to wait for the little brother to cheer him on (with the incredibly Domyouji-centric 'if I approve of you, she must too').

So maybe not all is hopeless :)

Of course, he has NO family models to follow at all about future offspring but I am sure Makino would screw his head on straight (or knock it off if he went weird :D) LOL. Any kids of theirs will either be total bulldozers or the meekest things ever.

The same applies to Dao Ming Si and Shan Cai in the Taiwanese version, Meteor Garden, of course. I love the scene where SC drags that little kid she was supposed to be babysitting to her date with him and he is totally grumpy but when the kid is all 'I wanna see everything in the zoo, but my legs are too short,' he picks him up and carries him and ends up carrying him all the way home because the kid falls asleep. OK, they know their target demo. If there is one thing hotter than a hunky hunky guy, it's a hunky hunky guy with sa small kid. (Oh, and of course there is DMS's story in Meteor Rain too, to corroborate. I love it even though it's a continuity nightmare in terms of character development and hair as it's a prequel but...anyway, I don't care. He gets to be gorgeous and bond with an old guy and a mute child and angst a LOT. They know what women want. Xi Men gets a story involving Xiao You and working out some of his issues, Mei Zuo gets a frothy one, and DMS? Angst. Of course. Heh. I slurped it up with a spoon).

Argh, the heroine of Something Happened in Bali annoys me. Stop your frakking whining.

Seriously. When a hot rich guy who is in love with you offers you an apartment, clothes and lots of cash (in fact he literally says everything except marriage. Of course, I see why that makes heroine feel unworthy, but she is supposed to be playing at a pragmatist here) you should either take him up on it or not. If not, stop whining about 'I am so poor no cash blah blah.' Yeah, I'd understand and think you just wanted an honest job if I haven't seen you agree to more tawdry things for less cash.

Or, if you do take him up on the offer (smart girl). Then for goodness' sake, stop acting like a Christian about to be fed to the lions. No one made you accept. The guy is young, hot, and madly in love with you. Hell, he bought you all this stuff and he 'keeps' you without laying a finger on you. Have you ever heard of something like that? So stop with the wailing. And the glum faces. Actually, how about you smile a bit, and then offer sex because so far he is not getting the benefit of the bargain. Or say no thanks for everything and leave. But pick something and stop the freaking weeping. You are not some helpless victim, jeez.

(I think Jae-Min is just terrified he'll lose her, you see it again and again, he half expects her to be gone when he comes into the apartment every time. He tries to 'chain' her to him with material things. Maybe if he gives her enough, she'll stay, she'll love him back. Dummy, just tell her ILY repeatedly and get her some flowers. That will help).

Also, I think I'll rewatch Hana Yori Dango, both parts, this time in a giant subtitled binge. I've bee rewatching the scene in the cabin in ep 11 of HYD2 this morning and sniffling and grinning like mad.