Frack…I almost skipped the Spring season for American Idol. Yay! David Cook!!! Wohooo Archey!!! I was never a big fan of American Idol, but this year, I got suckered in. Nowadays, you can find me lurking at rickey.org <shame-face>, even long after the finale had passed. Anyhow, I think that’s enough for embarrassing myself voluntarily. I’ve been catching up with the rest of the spring season jdoramas today. Initially, I was just watching Last Friends and Zettai Kareshi, but I am slowly losing my interest over them. I didn’t even plan on writing this post until I stumbled upon my new favorite dramas this season: Kimutaku’s “CHANGE” and Sato Ryuta’s “ROOKIES“. I just finished watching the third episode of ROOKIES and I am jumping with joy.
This SPRING, I don’t want to contradict myself in the later episodes, but one thing is for sure…this is the month for great OPs, EDs and Soundtracks. They are just so well done. Special mention, no surprise here, is Last Friend’s OP with Utada Hikaru’s Prisoner of Love. The drama may not be the best I have seen( as opposed to all the hype it’s getting from d-addicts) but it is indeed the most memorable opening video I have ever seen. I could even say that is part the reason why the drama came to be such an instant hit at its debut episode. Too bad, the actual drama didn’t live up to such a promising video.
Each episode seem to have a formulaic and repetitive set-up. Michiru gets beaten up and then she goes running to Ruka & Co. It gets old. Recycling the scenario so many times kinda lose its disturbing premise. Even Sousuke had lost its creepiness. Now, he’s just like a bug you can’t get rid off. There’s even a turning point in the drama, where Juri and Masami became distant. If that is intended, then I applaud their acting abilities. Ueno Juri has proven herself yet again with this drama. She’s living inside her characters. Where is my Nodame? Goodness, I am so shock. I remember during her Nodame days, she seems so goofy off and on camera. But this time…I am really getting some lesbo radar from her. The voice has changed too, her gait, her posture…Forget Maki, forget whatshername-Ella, forget Lee Yoon Eun Hye. They have nothing on Juri.
Last Friends also failed to wrap up the vibe between its sharehouse members. Heck, even the live action cast of Honey and Clover has better chemistry that this group. I guess, they were just so focused with the Takeru-Ruka-Michiru trio. I’ll have my Orange Days anyday, thank you very much.
No doubt, Last Friends has a very strong beginning; it might even have a finale that will blow us away. We don’t know. But if it doesn’t fix itself up during the last three episodes, then I might not be there to witness the ending – no matter how great it’ll be.
Wow you have been prolific during the weekend! Nice to hear from you again!
Well I cannot give any good 2 cents on any of the doramas for this season because i have not seen any of them yet. I am only reading all the posts I can see/get in dorama blogs I trust.
Anyway, this thing is quite a shocker for us because of the cast. I know Japan is not unfamiliar with disturbing human drama stories but we never anticipated that these set of actor would be playing roles on something like this… very SOON. Well, it has to come sooner or later for their careers.
Yeah kudos to Ueno Juri! She is one good actress!
On Philippine news, apparently one station is pimping Wu Chun now. The My girl remake is also airing but I dare not poke it with a ten foot pole because the whole thing reeks. Hehehe
Hi
I was waiting for your dorama reviews for this season 
LOL.
@American Idol: I’m so happy David Cook won \^_^/ *random*
Whoa. Is the first pic from the ending song of Last Friends? It looks so good~~ Maybe I’ll watch this just because of the actors. (EEEEEEE. Ryo, Eita and Ueno Juri! <3)
..oops it was supposed to be the opening song, not ending ^^, sorry. XD
LOL…Mayumi, you will love Ryo in this (evil laugh) Hak Hak Hak. I am also SO happy that Cook won but after the announcement of the winner and a 30-second victory dance, Archey’s lost hit me and I felt so sorry for him. But now, with all the guestings of those two in several shows, I think they both won.
maaku_sutipen: Thanks, hehe. As for last friends, it’s interesting for you to mention about the casting. I don’t think it is shocking to see these actors casted for these roles. Well, except for Ryo, that is a shocker, especially being a JE boy. But for Juri and Eita, I couldn’t think of anyone else in the industry who could have brought Ruka and Takeru to life. Masami might be inferior on the acting side against these two, but her damsel-in-distress act completes the triumvirate, just perfectly. I hope you get to see this one soon. I think you’ll like it… maybe not “like”. Umm…you’ll find it thought-inducing.
have you seen the latest episodes of last friends? i think it’s getting better each week. i just saw episode 8 and i’m so loving eita right now. takeru’s the best… and as for juri, she’s just awesome.. takeru and ruka FTW!
* though i’ll agree with you on zettai kareshi. it didn’t live up to how much i loved the manga. =)
I agree, Ueno Juri is unbeatable in my heart. I thought Ryo could have done a better job with character of Sousuke. Was totally in love with his acting at the beginning but I kind grew tired of his pity act. Just wished he was either more hate-able or more mentally messed up. The drama definitely gained points thanks to Utada Hikaru’s voice. Prisoner of love is very appropriate for this drama. Wish the all the episodes were as colorful as the intro.