Seven Reasons Why Nodame Cantabile is the Best Kind of Crack

[topazera]

It's like listening to classical music on acid.
But while snuggling a puppy and eating a cupcake!
That's how happy it makes you!


Ah, Nodame Cantabile! How can I describe my love for you? After first falling in love with Asian dramas through Hana Yori Dango, Nodame Cantabile was the first show that really knocked my socks off and showed me that I hadn't reached the pinnacle of my drama love. I've been both brought to tears and to cackling laughter by this show. It's more of a straight comedy than anything else I've watched and yet all the insanity works (and works well) because this show made me care about its characters so very much. Plus, the writing just consistently impressed me and made the whole thing feel so fresh and original.

To summarize, Nodame Cantabile is about the quirky, odd couple relationship between Noda Megumi and Chiaki Shinichi. Nodame, as she's called, is an incredibly talented but free-spirited pianist, preferring to compose little ditties about farting for her future career as a kindergarten teacher. Chiaki is an unyielding, highly critical perfectionist, already an accomplished pianist but with his sights really set on conducting. Twin crippling phobias, due to a childhood emergency crash landing and a subsequent near drowning, keep him grounded in Japan. As you can probably guess, they have quite an impact on the each others' lives. :)

1. Nodame = Cutest Eccentric Prodigy Ever Y/Y?

I just love Nodame herself. Now, a lot of heroines in dramas are adorable, plucky, independent women who go against the grain. However, I haven't yet seen any quite as actually crazy as Nodame. She's a packrat who lives surrounded by mountains of garbage. She steals other people's food as soon as they turn their backs. She gets so obsessed that she doesn't bother to sleep or shower for days. She's also an amazingly talented musician who can play anything by ear. Nodame is chaotic and unpredictable and you can't help but love her for being totally whacked.

2. This guy's face. So pretty. So hilarious.

Oh, Chiaki. As the relatively less odd half of a very odd couple, Chiaki is often the straight man to other people's (especially Nodame's) antics. His face generally switches between expressions of shock, incredulity, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO KILL YOU NOW, and various facial tics that being surrounded by these people have created. But I like that Chiaki really has as many eccentricities and flaws as the other characters. He's can be arrogant, prone to OMGKILLFACE, insensitive and exacting. In fact in several episodes, Chiaki acts as "the bad guy" of the plot. But he comes across harsher than he really is. Also, you may have already noticed, he's gorgeous. And I'm nominating him for "Most Successful Translation of Anime/Manga Hair to Real Life". It's fabulous.

3. This is not a drama about normal people.




I just love all the characters, with their various talents and eccentricities. This drama is chock full of interesting people, so I only listed my pictured my four favorite secondary characters. Trust me, there's more. From the top:
Mine Ryuutaro, (electric) violinist and champion of expressing music through your whole body. Just look at the hair. OMG HE'S MY FAVORITE!
Masumi-chan, a timpani player also known for his hair. Also, his big gay crush on Chiaki. Can you blame him?
Kiyora Miki, an excellent violinist and Concert Mistress, a dream right-hand woman for any conductor. Seems a bit on the cool side at first but isn't shy about getting awesomely drunk.
Sakura Saku, a tiny girl who often gets mistaken for a elementary school kid yet plays the huge contrabass. Because she thinks it's cooler than a violin. Solid reasoning.

4. The show isn't constrained by reality.

Honestly, it's madness in the best way. This drama uses the slapsticky visual conventions of anime/manga more than any other I've seen and actually pulls it off! I didn't think I'd ever like that! Also, everyone makes the BEST FACES all the time. If you want a show with wacky hijinks, this is the one for you! Between weird fantasy sequences, using an extremely fake plastic plane to simulate a plane crash and just plain outlandish people, there's enough to satisfy any fan of crackiness and WTFery.

5. The music will make you seriously verklempt.

The music of Nodame Cantabile is just so powerful and moving, from watching a solitary figure alone at the piano or a sweeping orchestra in concert. Whether you're a fan of classical musical or not, the characters love what they do so much and are so invested in the piece, it creates a real emotional connection to whatever they're playing. The musical sequences have often brought me to the point of tears, not just because they're often the culmination of a plot but because they're so damn beautiful! Plus, now I find myself humming things like the melody of "Montagues and Capulets" from the Romeo and Juliet ballet. Have I seen the ballet? No, but I've seen Nodame Cantabile.

6. Everyone is so BFF!

I just adore that this drama focuses so much on all the interactions between our group of weirdos. Everyone gets their little moments together and hilarity is usually the result. It's fun that you can have any two given characters in a scene and have there be something interesting there. But I have a special place in my heart for whenever some combination of Mine, Masumi, Nodame and Chiaki hang out. They have hijinks. *smishes them*

7. Crazy people need love too!

When I started off this drama, I was struck at first by how unromantic it was. Not that I didn't think that Nodame and Chiaki were absolutely adorable, it was just that Nodame and Chiaki aren't developed like your average couple. Chiaki can be tough on her, but he pretty much immediately takes up the charge of Nodame's domestic life. Nodame is instantly smitten with Chiaki but she has a hard time being serious (and taken seriously) about anything. In every moment I watched, it slowly built up just how great they are for each other. At its heart, Nodame Cantabile is about how someone can come into your life and change everything. There really isn't anything more central to show than the relationship of these two and it's such a pleasure to watch.


As I mentioned in my previous pimping posts, if you're interested in downloading this or any other Asian drama, you should go join jdramas. It's an awesome community that's provided me with many hours of entertainment. If you prefer there's also a lot of torrents floating around, many of which can be found on D-Addicts.

I hope you enjoyed the picspam! Thanks for watching, folks! Leave a comment for your waitress! ;)

Comments

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

I think we have had many conversations about how much I love Nodame and how it makes me consistently cry like a baby. THE SPECIALS OMG THE SPECIALS! Seriously though, this picspam is A-Mazing! I might have to pimp this out because this is really why everyone should be watching this show. THE FACES! I was totally sold the first episode when Chiaki made one of his FACCCEESS. The plane crash!

Remember the episode when Chiaki gets obsessed with the kotatsu and like doesn't leave the house but just stays under it? LOL! So funny.

I really feel the need to rewatch this show again. Especially the SPECIALS! I need another good cry I guess? lol!

(PS: I finished Mei-chan no Shitsuji and oh-my-cracky-god. That show! It's so over the top and people are always getting shot or stabbed with sciscors or there's a ~sword duel~. Thank you for bringing this show to my attention.)

[topazera.livejournal.com]

OMG, I finally finished the specials and they were AMAAAAZING. Again, there were many tears. It was all I could've asked for! Now that's how you come back and do a special, take note other dramas.

I might have to pimp this out because this is really why everyone should be watching this show.
I always assume that everyone who knows dramas has seen this one but I'm still dedicated to making sure everyone watches it. XD

THE FACES! I was totally sold the first episode when Chiaki made one of his FACCCEESS.
ME TOOOOO! All of his reactions shots are equally his hilarious (and thankfully he always has a lot to react to). Though I particularly love his face when Nodame is about to go back to a hotel with a man she just met off he street in the first ep. His OMGWHATBITCHSTOLEMYFISH face is classic. XD

Remember the episode when Chiaki gets obsessed with the kotatsu and like doesn't leave the house but just stays under it?
HAHAHA, yes! That's actually the last ep I capped for the spam! I like when he freaks out about it being some crippling blackhole of comfort and throws it out while makes this face:

Oh, Chiaki! Don't even pretend you're actually normal!

I really feel the need to rewatch this show again.
You know, I totally want someone to start a drama watch/rewatch community. I don't know if us independent-minded folk could stick to a schedule but I love rewatching and squeeing anew!

People are always getting shot or stabbed with sciscors or there's a ~sword duel~. Thank you for bringing this show to my attention.
You're welcome, bb! I'm actually watching ep 6 tonight! You know, some people look for plot in their dramas but all I'm looking for is someone getting attacked with a pair of scissors. XD

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

OMG, I finally finished the specials and they were AMAAAAZING.
RIGHT! I'm so excited that there are going to be more specials of some kind coming up soon. Nodame: It's specials are better than yours.

I always assume that everyone who knows dramas has seen this one but I'm still dedicated to making sure everyone watches it. XD
I know! Everyone should watch this drama. It should be jdrama required viewing! :P It's just so amazing.

Oh, Chiaki! Don't even pretend you're actually normal!
OMG that face made me LOL! Chiaki's FACES are my favorite. The whole kotatsu episode was just like an orgy of Chiaki FACCEEESS! and it was wonderful.

You know, I totally want someone to start a drama watch/rewatch community. I don't know if us independent-minded folk could stick to a schedule but I love rewatching and squeeing anew!
This is honestly a fantastic idea. Because it's fun to be able to watch whole dramas really fast but it's also sort of a downer to feel like you're watching in a bubble and not to have other people to squee with. This idea is sort of genius. If you ever wanted to do it I would totes help/be there in a second.

You know, some people look for plot in their dramas but all I'm looking for is someone getting attacked with a pair of scissors.
True story: When I saw your pimp post and got to the scissor-screen-slashing part I was like "That's insane. I'M SOLD!"

[topazera.livejournal.com]

This idea is sort of genius. If you ever wanted to do it I would totes help/be there in a second.
Oh man, there was a part of me that was hoping you'd say that. XD I've been mulling over trying to start this comm for a couple weeks but I wasn't very confident that I could figure it all out and convince people to join me by myself! I've never started a comm before. I'd love to bounce ideas around with you about structuring this baby!

Chiaki's FACES are my favorite.
I think that Tamaki Hiroshi is the next actor I need to stalk into his other dramas. XD

True story: When I saw your pimp post and got to the scissor-screen-slashing part I was like "That's insane. I'M SOLD!"
Yeah, when that happened at the end of the first ep, it kicked the show up to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL for me. Also, the ep I watched yesterday just turned knit-cap-girl into another potential psycho killer so this show really knows why I'm watching. XD

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

Yay! I was hoping you'd really want to do it cuse OMG DRAMAS!

I've never started a comm before. I'd love to bounce ideas around with you about structuring this baby!
Me neither! At least I've never started a comm that wasn't developed around an inside joke involving killing a character off Grey's Anatomy and replacing him with a twin who is actually awesome. So...basically I've never started a comm that has involved more than four people. LOL!

I'd love to bounce ideas around with you about structuring this baby!
Yay! I'm totes there! What were you thinking?

think that Tamaki Hiroshi is the next actor I need to stalk into his other dramas. XD
I KNOW! I recently saw someone post up a picspam for a Drama called Love Swap or something similar and he was totally making FACCCEEEESSS again. And I was like "Damn. SOLD."

Also, the ep I watched yesterday just turned knit-cap-girl into another potential psycho killer so this show really knows why I'm watching.
When that happened I LOL'd so hard. I was like "Show, it's like you understand exactly what I'm looking for from you and you deliever. every.time." If you're ever looking for the MOST DRAMATIC jdrama of all TIME? You have to watch LIFE. I saw it without subtitles when I was in Japan a few years ago and was just watching in facination as more and more ridic shit happened. So later when I got back I watched the whole show and OMG it's just...I don't even have words.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

I've never started a comm that wasn't developed around an inside joke involving killing a character off Grey's Anatomy and replacing him with a twin who is actually awesome.
Ahaha, sounds like a much-needed community! I love inside-joke comms but I've never even set one of those up!

Yay! I'm totes there! What were you thinking?
Okay, well, I'm not sure what would work and what wouldn't but here's my thoughts at the moment
1) Maybe running two dramas at a time, so people have a choice of watching either one or both.
2) I'm iffy on how fast it should run. Most rewatch comms are one-ep-per-week but people often seem to watch dramas so quickly, so I don't know if that would seem slow. Two a week? Then you might not need two shows at once.
3) I was thinking of making a list of dramas and having people vote to chose what the comm is watching/rewatching. I'm not sure if this list should start with shows I want to watch or be more fairly created. Like, grouped by genre or "popular kdramas" or something. (Clearly, I'm going to be biased towards the light-hearted, cracky end of the spectrum).
4) A squeeing post for each ep, encouraging reaction posts/icons/links to fic. I don't know how much people would be into producing content. It seems like rewatch comms don't always work because people are better at responding to other people's excitement when they've already seen the show, so you need newbies.
...I don't know, I guess how much structure you need really depends on the amount of people who are interested. If it's just you, me and a few drama people on the ole' flist that join, we could be pretty darn casual about the set-up. Thoughts?

I recently saw someone post up a picspam for a Drama called Love Swap or something
Love Shuffle! That picspam is totally what inspired my urgent need for more Tamaki Hiroshi FACES too! That girl put so much effort into selling me on the show... but really his FACE was all I needed. We should totes watch this at the same time-ish.

If you're ever looking for the MOST DRAMATIC jdrama of all TIME? You have to watch LIFE.
Morgan (...may I call you Morgan? XD), how do you find the most RIDIC examples of anything you watch? It's impressive. I've never heard people talking about that one. So, it's ridiculous but RIDICULOUSLY DRAMATIC and SERIOUSFACE about it?

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of running two dramas at a time but at the same time I can't imagine only watching one drama episode a week. I know I personally don't have that kind of restraint. LOL! I think two episodes a week is a pretty good idea tho but then running two dramas at once seems like a bit much? I dunno my braiiinnnn hurts!

I'm not sure if this list should start with shows I want to watch or be more fairly created.
I figure it'll be dicated a lot by how many people we manage to lure to the comm. Like if it's just a bunch of our flisters who love dorama crack then we can probably just poll or something. I figure at least intitally we'll just start with what we want to watch and just go from there. LOL! If it gets bigger we could take nominations and then poll to decide what the next drama to watch would be. :)

A squeeing post for each ep, encouraging reaction posts/icons/links to fic.
I think this is a really good idea. Maybe we can do a seperate post for each episode and then people can squee in the comments for overall ep-squee/thoughts. Then maybe we can have more general posts that are just icons/fic/picspams/etc that are focused on what we're watching at the moment?

I'm actually really excited about this idea though. Dorama squeeage! Yayz!

but really his FACE was all I needed. We should totes watch this at the same time-ish.
YES! The FACES had me totally convinced as well. I didn't even need it to have a story or pretty cinematography. I just need more Chiaki faces in my life. We totes should watch this at the same time so we can properly squee to someone about FACES.

Morgan (...may I call you Morgan? XD), how do you find the most RIDIC examples of anything you watch?
Hee! Yes you can bb. :P Also I swear I do not find the crack, the crack finds me. It's totally true. Like I never intended to watch Gossip Girl but my roommates talked me into it. And with this show I was just flipping around channels when I was on skype and was "WTFug is going on?" And my mom was "You're not even listening to me! What are you doing?" Because I was staring at the screen like O___O. So I was like "Dude, in the last five minutes of this show someone has tried to kill herself, someone got kidnapped and another dude is being abused. IN FIVE MINUTES THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED." It was like a hilariously overdramatic car wreck and I just couldn't look away. I mean just look at the preview! That's not even half the shit that goes down. LOL!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think two eps a week sounds about right to me. That would only come out to about ten eps a month though? Hmm, I don't really mind watching dramas at that pace but is that too slow for most people? We could do two a week for shorter jdramas and three a week for longer kdramas? It's so hard to know what's too fast/overwhelming for people to keep up AND write a little something about the eps VERSUS the comm running too slow to be useful. This is why I needed a second opinion!

I don't know, would two series at two a week too much? Maybe we could run one show Mon/Wed and the other Tue/Thurs, then people would have the weekend to catch up or make icons or something?

Maybe we can do a seperate post for each episode and then people can squee in the comments for overall ep-squee/thoughts.
Yeah, I was thinking there would be one general squee post per ep and then people are invited to make their own posts of icon/picspams/links to old posts/whatever they want about that week eps. Or we could open it up to "We're watching these two dramas this month, post whatever you want about them as long as SPOILERS for the eps are clearly marked!".

I figure it'll be dicated a lot by how many people we manage to lure to the comm.
Yeah, that's such a big factor, I may be overthinking this! I mean, we could start the comm or just poll out flists about it, see how many people are interested and then ask everyone how they feel about scheduling and the set-up?

I'm actually really excited about this idea though. Dorama squeeage!
Yay, I'm so glad! I'm really excited about this too! I'm just a little unsure if I can set this up to people's liking. But I really would like to watch at the same time as people!

We totes should watch this at the same time so we can properly squee to someone about FACES.
Hahaha, have we already picked one of our first dramas?

IN FIVE MINUTES THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED.
HOLY CRAP. That trailer is above and beyond intense! Fires! Getting hit by trains! All sorts of abusive sexual relationships I don't really want to think about! God, Japan, you really live for the drama! Also, "You shouldn't drive your best friend to suicide"? Shouldn't that one be a no-brainer? XD You do seem to just have some sort of crack magnetism.

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

We could do two a week for shorter jdramas and three a week for longer kdramas? It's so hard to know what's too fast/overwhelming for people to keep up AND write a little something about the eps VERSUS the comm running too slow to be useful.
I knooooow! This is the hard part. Because sometimes I take my time with shows but sometimes I get in a mood and just marathon the crap out of shows. So it's hard to say what people would want to do. I do think that since it's nearing the end of the TV season it'll probably be easier for people to fit in drama time when their regular shows go on summer break so there's that. But I think maybe two a week for Jdramas and three a week for Kdramas sounds about right?

I don't know, would two series at two a week too much? Maybe we could run one show Mon/Wed and the other Tue/Thurs, then people would have the weekend to catch up or make icons or something?
Yea I have no idea! That's why this gets so confusing. I guess if we ran two shows it also gives people the option of watching one instead of the other too, so it wouldn't be overwhelming to everyone. Although if we run a kdrama at the same time as a jdrama that's like five episodes in a week lol! Crap! Scheduling is hard! Maybe we can start out with one drama when we first set it up to get a feel for how it would work (also since it will probably be like...us and people on our flist we force to join lol) and then expand from there?

Although maybe two dramas wouldn't be that hard but I think maybe two eps a week for both might be easier? IDK THIS IS HARD

Or we could open it up to "We're watching these two dramas this month, post whatever you want about them as long as SPOILERS for the eps are clearly marked!".
Yup! That's what I was thinking too. Like how a lot of comms have general episode discussion posts and then you can post whatever you want about the show/shows. :)

I mean, we could start the comm or just poll out flists about it, see how many people are interested and then ask everyone how they feel about scheduling and the set-up?
True! We could totally do that too! LOL!

I'm so glad! I'm really excited about this too! I'm just a little unsure if I can set this up to people's liking. But I really would like to watch at the same time as people!
At the very least we will get to watch FACES at the same time tho. :P

"You shouldn't drive your best friend to suicide"? Shouldn't that one be a no-brainer? XD You do seem to just have some sort of crack magnetism.
I KNOW! I was like "Dude a girl just tried to throw herself in front of a train! Wait! Someone else got kidnapped! WAIT! Why is that dude abusing his son?! WTF IS THIS?!" It is the most dramatic thing that has probably ever been created. It made me inappropriately LOL a lot. My crack magnetism is both a gift and a curse I think. :P

[topazera.livejournal.com]

This is the hard part. Because sometimes I take my time with shows but sometimes I get in a mood and just marathon the crap out of shows.
So true. And I think it's different when you're watching for the first time vs rewatching. Hopefully we can figure out some moderate speed. I mean, obvs, this doesn't have to be all of someone's drama watching in a week.

it's nearing the end of the TV season
Oh, good point. That could definitely give watch/rewatch comms a bump. ;)

Maybe we can start out with one drama when we first set it up to get a feel for how it would work (also since it will probably be like...us and people on our flist we force to join lol) and then expand from there?
...That's a really good idea. LOL, I don't know why I felt like I had to figure everything out before the comm even started.

True! We could totally do that too! LOL!
Okay, so I think we should tentatively plan on either polling the interested people when we start or just start running one drama at two a week to get our feet wet, then polling depending on how that goes.

On a more superficial note, what do you think this baby should be called? Dramawatch? Doramawatch? Dorama_watch? Something more clever? thedoramaclub? ;) I was thinking of getting the comm and starting the layout. SO THIS IS FOR REALS.

"Dude a girl just tried to throw herself in front of a train! Wait! Someone else got kidnapped! WAIT! Why is that dude abusing his son?! WTF IS THIS?!"
LOLOLOL! I shouldn't be laughing... but I am! Japan, you're totally kicking our ass at angst-whoring.

My crack magnetism is both a gift and a curse I think. :P
I think you're right. On one side you discover crack-inspired masterpieces yet you also delve such terrifying depths of crackiness. Thanks for hitting the extremes and reporting back for the rest of us! :P

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

I mean, obvs, this doesn't have to be all of someone's drama watching in a week.
That is very true! If the crack becomes so overpowering that they need more they can always watch another show. Like LIFE. :P

Oh, good point. That could definitely give watch/rewatch comms a bump. ;)
I know I tend to break into my boxsets/download things more in the summer when there's nothing else to watch. So hopefully people would have more time for important drama squeeage.

On a more superficial note, what do you think this baby should be called? Dramawatch? Doramawatch? Dorama_watch? Something more clever? thedoramaclub? ;) I was thinking of getting the comm and starting the layout. SO THIS IS FOR REALS.
WE ARE PLAYING FOR KEEPS NOW! Yay! I'm excitedddd! Drama time! I'm thinking either doramawatch/_watch? because it's pretty self-explanatory and anyone searching for dorama stuff on LJ would be able to get that it's about...watching doramas. lol! I don't think I'm explaining myself well. But I think that either of those options are good. :)

hanks for hitting the extremes and reporting back for the rest of us! :P
No prob, it's apparently what I do! LOL!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

dorama_watch

No, really, check it. XD The layout is up and hopefully running smoothly. It's doesn't have any real text in it yet though. Oh, and if you happen to have any awesome caps for the header, let me know! I really haven't seen that many shows to pull caps from. :D

So, do you want to form an alliance be a maintainer of the comm with me? I mean, I think this thing will be pretty low-key but the you'd have the power to banish people and stuff. Which is fun. :D

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

OMG I CHECKED IT AND IT IS WONDERFUL! Yay! I love the header btw. It's so pretty! I actually love the whole layout! I think there's enough variety in the header (also, many of my favorite shows! Full House! Nodame! Hanadan!)

So, do you want to form an alliance be a maintainer of the comm with me? I mean, I think this thing will be pretty low-key but the you'd have the power to banish people and stuff. Which is fun. :D
Sure I'd love to be able to wield a banhammer! :P Not that I think that we will have issues with that. Yay! I'm so excited! I can't wait to pimp this out to my flist and USE FORCE politely ask people to join!

Also I have to say I love that what is now showing at the comm is Awesomesauce. :P

Yeee! I'm so excited!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Glad you like it, dude! I'm pretty happy with it, as I was working I was thinking "This is way nicer than my journal, I need to change my layout!" The code is by milou_veronica and the particular layout is melt me down.

Also I have to say I love that what is now showing at the comm is Awesomesauce. :P
Oh, you know whatever we pick to watch is going to be awesomesauce. :D I was thinking, to get out feet wet, we maybe we should pick one show to watch and one show to rewatch?

I can't wait to pimp this out to my flist and USE FORCE politely ask people to join!
There may be some form of coercion used. Or at least I lot of "Coooome oooon, it'll be fuuuun. All the cool kids are doing it!"

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

I know! I've been meaning to change my layout for awhile since I've had my current layout/theme so long but seeing the pretty of the comm made me actually do it! See! Already our comm is changing lives!

I was thinking, to get out feet wet, we maybe we should pick one show to watch and one show to rewatch?
I think that's a good idea. What are you thinking of for the watch/rewatch series?

We will use lots of peer pressure. Like "Look! All the cool kids are doing it! That means you should do it too!"

[topazera.livejournal.com]

See! Already our comm is changing lives!
dorama_watch = SO INSPIRING. And it's always tough just deciding to make the switch, considering how many hours you spend looking at your layout. I get attached, yo!

What are you thinking of for the watch/rewatch series?
Hmm, well I've been thinking maybe Love Shuffle and Nodame? Though it almost seems too good to start with! I don't know if you're ready for a Nodame rewatch, but this pimp post we're posting on got such a nice response that it put the idea in my head.

IDK, if it's a rewatch I don't mind watching only an ep a week, but what's a rewatch for you or me might be a first-time through for someone else.

Really, I think I'm overthinking this and we should just pick what we (+ maybe our flists?) want to start watching and just do it. Anything you feel like watching with a group right now, bb? :D

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

Yea, that's exactly it for me too. I spend a good amount of my online time on my LJ so I get really attached to the layout. I finally worked the kinks out of my new layout so now I'm really liking it. I've had a mostly dark/grey/black layout for years now so it's nice to have a more bright/summery one! :)

Hmm, well I've been thinking maybe Love Shuffle and Nodame? Though it almost seems too good to start with! I don't know if you're ready for a Nodame rewatch,
I think we had a braintwin moment because that was *exactly* the combo I was thinking of too but then I was like "Oh but she just watched Nodame, maybe she doesn't want to rewatch to soon!" I should have figured the awesome of NC would bring us both back again. :P (Also, obviously we have to rewatch the specials too and this time I will be prepared with lots of tissues!)

IDK, if it's a rewatch I don't mind watching only an ep a week, but what's a rewatch for you or me might be a first-time through for someone else.
True. I was thinking the same thing earlier. I think we'll probably figured these things out as we go along. We might end up eventually having both shows at two a week but we'll see how the 1-2 format works as a starting point. :)

Anything you feel like watching with a group right now, bb? :D
I think Love Shuffle and Nodame sound like a really good combo. I have flisters who love Shota from Hanadan/Liar Game so that should entice them and I have flisters who really loved Nodame so hopefully that'll get them on board. :) Yay! Dramas!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like your new layout! I wind up reading so much on my flist, I don't always get to appreciate other people's layouts. XD I really like that OTP icons thing!

I think we had a braintwin moment because that was *exactly* the combo I was thinking of too
Awesome, braintwin powers activate! Go us! I'm so glad we were already on the same page and just didn't know it yet. I think it sounds good to start with those two and see how this goes.

(Also, obviously we have to rewatch the specials too and this time I will be prepared with lots of tissues!)
Oh, it's going to be an event! I'd say we should try to watch those in a live chat... but I don't know if I can be that emotional and type at the same time. XD

I have flisters who love Shota from Hanadan/Liar Game so that should entice them and I have flisters who really loved Nodame so hopefully that'll get them on board. :)
Oh good! I was hoping we'd have enough of 'hook' with those two shows.

Okay, so I went and laid in some real text in the opening post and profile of dorama_watch.
Want to read it over and see if it makes sense? I kind of made it up as I went. Like, I assume we're going to take noms and do polls for future shows but are we really? Also, does it make sense to have a watching day on Fri? People might have other non-LJ plans. XD

I was thinking of making up a banner for the comm tonight so we can start pimping it in the next couple of days. And maybe start in a week?

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like your new layout! I wind up reading so much on my flist, I don't always get to appreciate other people's layouts. XD I really like that OTP icons thing!
Thanks! I was trying to figure out things to put in those top boxes and then I was like "What if I just put some iconnnnss there?" Me and icons....it's sort of a problem.

Oh, it's going to be an event! I'd say we should try to watch those in a live chat... but I don't know if I can be that emotional and type at the same time. XD
That would be really fun although I'm pretty sure all my contributions would just be "OMGOMGOMG SO CUTE OMG I'M CRYING OMG".

Want to read it over and see if it makes sense? I kind of made it up as I went. Like, I assume we're going to take noms and do polls for future shows but are we really? Also, does it make sense to have a watching day on Fri? People might have other non-LJ plans. XD
I think the first post sounds great! I was going to suggest the nominating posts too. I think the nominating/voting thing will be a good way of deciding what to watch next. Plus we can always nominate lots of stuff we want to watch. :P

I hadn't even thought of the non-LJ related plans thing about Friday but that's a good call. I'm not always around on Friday nights so I'm guessing other people would have the same issue? IDK. Hmmm. Would Thursday be better? Or possibly we could do something like Sunday-Thurs to have more time between episodes? IDK maybe Friday would be ok. Ah! Decisions!

I was thinking of making up a banner for the comm tonight so we can start pimping it in the next couple of days. And maybe start in a week?
Yay! I think this is a good idea. We can start pimping/shaming people into joining the comm this week and hopefully start soon! :) BTW I really love what you've done with the comm, it looks so prettttttyyy AND the user info is so nicely laid out and pretty as well. You rock! :P

[topazera.livejournal.com]

That would be really fun although I'm pretty sure all my contributions would just be "OMGOMGOMG SO CUTE OMG I'M CRYING OMG".
I think we should try to have live chats for something! They do sound fun! Maybe not the Nodame specials. 'Cause I think that's actually I pretty accurate recap (OF THE FUTURE). ;)

Plus we can always nominate lots of stuff we want to watch. :P
Ha, that's true. We can totally stack the deck. And I might make some sort of pimping post if I really want to swing the comm. XD

I'm not always around on Friday nights so I'm guessing other people would have the same issue?
Yeah, I don't know! If we're not doing live-chats, I guess it doesn't matter that much, but I guess people would more likely have more drama-time on a Sunday. Hmm, too many chooooices.

We can start pimping/shaming people into joining the comm this week and hopefully start soon! :)
Oops, well, I guess we can start late this week! Because I'm dumb, I didn't do my taxes until this week so of course, that created a minor freakout. XD Now I'm behind on all the fun stuff I want to do! I'll send you a banner soon and then we can get to the pimping right away!

BTW I really love what you've done with the comm, it looks so prettttttyyy AND the user info is so nicely laid out and pretty as well. You rock! :P
Aw, thanks bb! You're making me blush. The design work has been really fun! It's just the making decisions for people that makes me a little nervous sometimes. :D

Oh yeah! I was using my drama buddy phrenk as a mini-focus group about the comm and she brought up the point that maybe a lot of drama people watched Love Shuffle when it aired this season? Hmm, do we care about that? GAH, starting something seems to raise more questions than it answers! XD

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

I think we should try to have live chats for something! They do sound fun!
I know! They do sound really fun! We should def try to work that into the schedule somewhere down the line! :)

And I might make some sort of pimping post if I really want to swing the comm. XD
YAY! I <3 your pimping posts! All the pretty would totally sway me!

Oh it's no prob! Taxes are seriously super evil. I got my mom to help me with them this year but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm going to have to try to figure them out by myself next year. My friend imed me the other night freaking out about how confusing taxes are. :( LOL maybe next year I'll just pull a Texas and threaten to succeed from the union because I hate taxes. :P

Yay! I think we should def start pimping the comm soon. Or at least start forcing people on our flists to join. Peer pressure = totally awesome motivational tool.

It's just the making decisions for people that makes me a little nervous sometimes. :D
I know! I'm terrible at decisions. We are obviously a really great pair to run this comm :P

she brought up the point that maybe a lot of drama people watched Love Shuffle when it aired this season? Hmm, do we care about that? GAH, starting something seems to raise more questions than it answers! XD

AH! I hadn't even considered that! Darnit! Hmmm that's....hmmm. I don't know if there are any good current season dramas to watch at the moment though. I think we might be able to get away with it though because I feel like this is sort of a 'between' drama season. Like it's already into the spring dramas but not yet the start of summer dramas. Maybe in the summer we could pick up a drama that's running more 'real time'? IDK. There are too many things to think abouttttttt!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Taxes are seriously super evil.
Really, they are! This was the first year I really did them myself and it was so stressful. I sat there staring at them thinking "I'm either going to cry or going to barf! Damn you, federal government!"

LOL maybe next year I'll just pull a Texas and threaten to succeed from the union because I hate taxes. :P
LOL! Yeah, totally! Next year, I'm going to have my own Tea Party but it's really going to be about how confusing taxes are. Not just anything I want to complain about, like the annoying conservatives this year. XD

IDK. There are too many things to think abouttttttt!
I know, I feel like there's so much pressure to pick something awesome that everyone wants to watch! But again, I'm an overthinker! I think everyone loves Nodame, so that's good. Though you know, we could watch Coffee Prince, since you really need to watch that! But I like watching that show so glacially slowly. Like, one a week would be the fastest I could move!

I mean, as long as we're good with Love Shuffle, we might as well stick with that. If we wants to move on, we can always speed up how many we show a week. It's just that I'm such a drama whore, I could imagine watching any number of shows right now.

I know! I'm terrible at decisions. We are obviously a really great pair to run this comm :P
We're such winners. I like how we can spend weeks going back and forth and concluding: "IDK, man! Let's get some icecream and watch something trashy and then decide!" What impressive modly skils we have!

I think we should def start pimping the comm soon. Or at least start forcing people on our flists to join
Alright, I think it's time to jump in. I'm making a banner tonight (...it may just be the header shrunk down) and we started recruiting people tomorrow? Are we still good with Nodame and Love Shuffle, or are we going to last minute switch? ...Or make the comm decide for us since we're indecisive? XD

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

This was the first year I really did them myself and it was so stressful.
I am so scared to do them next year. I don't want to! Why can't I have a tax accountant in my family? That would be awesome. I think I need to start pressuring various random family members to rethink their professions.

Next year, I'm going to have my own Tea Party but it's really going to be about how confusing taxes are. Not just anything I want to complain about, like the annoying conservatives this year.
I think next year we should have a TEA PARTY to protest that taxes are confusing! Only we would just sit around drinking tea, complaining about taxes and IDK maybe watching Nodame specials and crying. But we'd totally call the media and they'd be like "Wow this is the lamest protest ever!"

I think everyone loves Nodame, so that's good. Though you know, we could watch Coffee Prince, since you really need to watch that! But I like watching that show so glacially slowly. Like, one a week would be the fastest I could move!
Hmm! This is also an idea (omg why do we do this to ourselves!?) Because I do really want to start watching Coffee Prince and I know that it's probably as universally loved as Nodame. So maybe, if we wanted to, we could do CP as the rewatch show and only do one a week? IDK I CAN'T DECIDE THINGS!

It's just that I'm such a drama whore, I could imagine watching any number of shows right now.
I know! I think I have an actual LIST somewhere on my computer of dramas I want to watch. (I know it contains Coffee Prince, Hanakimi, Last Friends, Kurosagi and Voice. And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head) I'm pretty sure our problem is going to be with wanting to watch too much lol!

I like how we can spend weeks going back and forth and concluding: "IDK, man! Let's get some icecream and watch something trashy and then decide!" What impressive modly skils we have!
LOL! We are the deciders who can't actually decide! We get close to a decision and then I'm like "Too many options! Must break out wine and watch Smallville BRB!"

Alright, I think it's time to jump in. I'm making a banner tonight (...it may just be the header shrunk down) and we started recruiting people tomorrow? Are we still good with Nodame and Love Shuffle, or are we going to last minute switch? ...Or make the comm decide for us since we're indecisive? XD
Ok! Sounds like a sort of plan! (Yay banner!) Hmm...I don't know. (IDK: Our Motto!) Do you want to do Nodame or CP (or make the comm decide for us?) I'd be good with either option!

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Why can't I have a tax accountant in my family?
This is something that's only fervently wished for on Tax Day but it's, like, everyone's wish right then! Taxes don't actually seem that hard but they are way confusing. And they have such crazy penalties if you mess up! I got an e-mail update that I had messed up my electronic filing pin number and just about had a heart attack. I imagined a Swat team swooping in and reposessing all my precious DVDs and goods.

Only we would just sit around drinking tea, complaining about taxes and IDK maybe watching Nodame specials and crying. But we'd totally call the media and they'd be like "Wow this is the lamest protest ever!"
Yes, we should so do this! We'll be all "What? This is how we fangirls protest. Look, we photoshopped FAIL onto our coasters!"

(omg why do we do this to ourselves!?)
This is what I've been thinking all the time! We make this so difficult because everything sounds good! I have conflicting thoughts, because the success of my Nodame pimping is what convinced that people might actually come and chat. But I'm totally going to be watching Coffee Prince (suuper slowly), no matter what we choose, so that would dovetail nicely with producing fannish content exclusively for the comm.

I think I have an actual LIST somewhere on my computer of dramas I want to watch.
I definitely have an actual LIST too! It includes like Voice and Goong and Mars and Long Love Letter and Capital Scandal and Nobuta wa Produce... and a million other things. Dramas are totally encouraging my intense-but-sometimes-fleeting tendencies. OMG, actually, I just started Meteor Garden and maybe we should watch that in a secret mod slumber party. (OMG sidenote, now I really want to have a drama slumber party!) Because it's strangely fascinating, as a low-budget, weirdly AU Hanadan.

We get close to a decision and then I'm like "Too many options! Must break out wine and watch Smallville BRB!"
Ha, it's okay! There's nothing for a stress like a FAKE BABY. (I like how I know about these things without having actually seen Smallville. Thanks, Morgan! :D) We get close to a decision and I reframe the question and start over again. And then I get some wine go "Look! Look at this unrelated thing I photoshopped! Isn't it pretty?" To be fair, I do this with all the decisions in my life!

Do you want to do Nodame or CP (or make the comm decide for us?) I'd be good with either option!
Hmm, we could do the in between option and make our flist weigh in! I mean, I only have about six people who consistently comment on my drama posts but that plus your flist might give us a good "focus group". IDK, it seems like we should already have our first shows to advertise the comm to the general public but I may be wrong about that. Okay, if I haven't decided between them by the time I send you a banner tomorrow, that's it! We are polling our friends and taking the decision out of my hands, that'll show me! (...that I don't really need to make decisions. Okay, I'm getting punchy over here.)

(IDK: Our Motto!)
Oh, it's funny because IT'S TRUE.

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

PS: I've been meaning to re-layout my LJ and I sort of love the layout of the comm. Where did you find the code for it? :)