Musings of the Obsessive Kind

I have just started 2009 anime Genji Monogatari Sennenki, an 11-ep adaptation of the famous "Tale of Genji", arguably the earliest novel ever written, following the endless quest for love and entertainment of Hikaru Genji, a prince in 11th-century Japan.

I checked it out for two reasons:

* I plan to read the very lengthy novel but an anime focusing on a few incidents in the story is an accessible way to delve into the world prior to reading it so I won't be lost entirely
* The artwork is insanely gorgeous.

After an episode in, I love it - the artwork is amazing and the leisurely, looping, melancholy narrative is an art in and of itself. It's all pervaded by equal parts beauty, longing, and loss.

( A few images - generally from the series )

Watching eps 13 and 14 with subs firmly cemented two incompatible things in my mind:



1. Joo Won and Ra Im really do love each other and would be miserable without each other at this moment (especially Joo Won - if he lost her, he couldn't function - notice that he even gives up his meds when things are going well with her but when everything goes to hell in ep 13 he starts taking them again). They are crazy, passionately obsessed with each other.

and

2. I can't see a long-term way for them to be together at all. If she entered his world, she'd be miserable, withdraw, lash out, and then leave him (even if somehow his Mom magically became OK with her). If he gave up his world for her, he'd be happy in short term but in long term start resenting her and leave her eventually.



So yes, if they gave each other up now, they'd be more miserable than if they stuck together despite the differences and the difficulties and insanity. But in long term, they'd be miserable if they stuck together, too, unless there is a way out of either being with his family or giving up his world and entering his. It really is a Little Mermaid situation - the Prince can't live in the water, obviously, but the Mermaid can't be on land without being in horrific pain and losing what makes her herself.



Writer, find some way out, pls.

Watching eps 13 and 14 with subs firmly cemented two incompatible things in my mind:



1. Joo Won and Ra Im really do love each other and would be miserable without each other at this moment (especially Joo Won - if he lost her, he couldn't function - notice that he even gives up his meds when things are going well with her but when everything goes to hell in ep 13 he starts taking them again). They are crazy, passionately obsessed with each other.

and

2. I can't see a long-term way for them to be together at all. If she entered his world, she'd be miserable, withdraw, lash out, and then leave him (even if somehow his Mom magically became OK with her). If he gave up his world for her, he'd be happy in short term but in long term start resenting her and leave her eventually.



So yes, if they gave each other up now, they'd be more miserable than if they stuck together despite the differences and the difficulties and insanity. But in long term, they'd be miserable if they stuck together, too, unless there is a way out of either being with his family or giving up his world and entering his. It really is a Little Mermaid situation - the Prince can't live in the water, obviously, but the Mermaid can't be on land without being in horrific pain and losing what makes her herself.



Writer, find some way out, pls.

1. Sexy Bad Guys!



2. The gorgeousness of Bae Doona (and her awesomeness as Jin Jin)!



3. My OTPs!





4. My drama crushes!






Yes, am still behind on posts and replies, as well as monster end-of-year post. Mea culpa.

And, surprisingly, it's not the final scene of the episode (though I loved it to bits).

( It's this, in fact )

( Another scene I loved )

( And of course the final scene )

And, surprisingly, it's not the final scene of the episode (though I loved it to bits).

( It's this, in fact )

( Another scene I loved )

( And of course the final scene )

The many jealous faces of Mugyul:






I'll be honest with you. After ep 10 of MSOAN, I was this close to giving up on the drama. It was a chore to sit through it, the story was going nowhere, and the M&M moments were scarce.

However, I am glad flisties told me to keep up with ep 11. New Writer, ILY!!! The plot still makes no sense (if possible, it makes even less sense) but that's a given with MSOAN. However, the story now moves - it progresses, it has pace. Jung In has been given a personality, annoying characters (parents, Joon) have been minimized, and M&M get the lion's share of screentime which is what is needed to make this drama work (also, their misunderstandings don't drag out as in ep 10). It's funny again and heart-tugging again.

Plus, plot insanity or not, I could never hate an episode ( which gave me a scene like this )

I know I owe everyone replies. I promise to get to them asap. If it makes you feel any better, I am behind on my three dramas (MSOAN, SG and Gloria) too.

Or at least a really cheesy popstar. This fake poster made by the SG makers makes me LOL and LOL. Much like Oska himself. Bwahahahahaha. The man ooozes cheese. He must be a deadly hazard for the lactose-intolerant. I bet Ra Im has this in her closet and drew hearts all around it. I bet Seul has it too and poked the eyes out and drew horns :P



Bonus. Ahhhh, I ship them like mad. Work it out already, you socially challenged dork, before she gives you the heave-ho for good!



Guuuuh, my darling, chemistry-filled, dysfunctional OTP. I want you to aaaaangst, pls.

Or at least a really cheesy popstar. This fake poster made by the SG makers makes me LOL and LOL. Much like Oska himself. Bwahahahahaha. The man ooozes cheese. He must be a deadly hazard for the lactose-intolerant. I bet Ra Im has this in her closet and drew hearts all around it. I bet Seul has it too and poked the eyes out and drew horns :P



Bonus. Ahhhh, I ship them like mad. Work it out already, you socially challenged dork, before she gives you the heave-ho for good!



Guuuuh, my darling, chemistry-filled, dysfunctional OTP. I want you to aaaaangst, pls.

So, I checked out the raw of the first ep of Yaksha to see if it was my thing at all. I was quite looking forward to it because I love period revenge stories, because I've seen comments about it being like 300 (sometimes I love meaningful and smart dramas. Sometimes I just want to watch buff guys bathe in a shower of blood). Plus, the leading guy is hot:



I knew it was a midnight cable show with a 19+ rating



But I didn't think much about it. Friend Our Legend was 19 and even unblurred was not particularly startling. The only other OCN drama I've ever seen was the wonderful Someday and that didn't show anything you couldn't show on the main network except for smoking.

Oh, how wrong I was.

And of course, my other reason for my curiosity was to see Seo Do Young, Winner of Mousie's Heart as emo teddybear pianist in my favorite kdrama romance Spring Waltz, play the baddy.

Ummm.

Ummmmmmmmmmm.

Be careful what you wish for.

( NSFW caps behind the cut )

As to whether Yaksha is my thing, I'll have to figure it out once the subs are out. If I ever get over my shock, that is.