I want to tell you the truth

[topazera]

As I was a little inspired again but how much I love the drama community (and I've been watching a lot of dramas lately), this post will just be a little catch-up of my recent shows. Warning: I kind of love everything I've been watching. Also, I'm going to try out blocking the spoilery parts, please do the same in the comments and make this a spoiler-free space? Okay? Okay!


Last Friends
Status: Finished and Missed Greatly!

Ahhh, Last Friends! ♥ This is a drama that I had noted the existence of quite a while ago due to Ueno Juri, Eita and Mizukawa Asami all being together again but also with a note reading *BUT TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE I LOVE, I AM READY FOR THAT? I'm kind of a lightweight when it comes to angst, even though I still watch moderately angsty shows. Finally, I girded myself and watched and I'm so glad I did! Yes, it is a drama about issues and therefore not the most subtle of shows sometimes. If you're uncomfortable with depictions of domestic violence and talk of various forms of abuse, that would be reason enough to steer clear. Yet, happily, there's a hopeful core at the heart of the show: that meeting other broken people might help fix you. I never felt overwhelmed after an episode, in fact I had to stop myself from watching it all at once.

Important things!
1) Ueno Juri as Ruka!

askjdhgdjghhafl First of all, Ueno Juri could not be any more physically appealing to me than she is in this role. We all owe Last Friends a debt of gratitude for inspiring photoshoots like this one. Previously I had only seen and loved Juri-chan as Nodame but she was just as compelling as I thought she'd be in this next role I watched. The character of Ruka really deserves a whole separate post. Basically, I'd never before seen a drama deal with unconventional gender and sexuality before and that was something very welcome to me. Ruka was kind of the best. I'm easy in that, if you have a character breaking established gender roles, I'm probably going to be all over them. This drama delighted me by having not one but two such characters! Speaking of:

2) Eita as Takeru!

AH I'M RUINED FOR OTHER PEOPLE FOREVER. Okay, it is not hard for a drama to sell me on Eita whom I already love and am attracted to in everything, but in it he plays just an unambiguously great guy. Seriously, marry me, Takeru. He gives people the most supportive looks ever. And his hair, I shallowly think this is the ideal hair for him. Like with Ruka, he just isn't quite what society expects him to be. I don't want to give away too much if you haven't seen the show but I think they did a great job with how his character was shaped by his history. ALSO GREAT: EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM.

3) Nice to meet you, Nagasawa Masami!

I don't know why people dislike her (the actress) at all! Well, I do, but it probably has more to do with Nino's face or co-starring with Pi in many cases. Michiru, her role, is one of those characters that I can see people disliking due to plot reasons, she's a victim of abuse that has a lot of trouble freeing herself from the cycle but I thought they did a great job with her. She couldn't compete with my level of adoration for the other leads but her smile made me happy and I was rooting hard for her.

4) Hey it's Ryo! Look, Ryo can act! ...AHHH SOUSUKE, OH GOD.

^Pretty much my exact reaction to my first Ryo drama. He was great because he effectively traumatized me, I respect that.

5) The coffee cups of love and house sharing!

Ahhh, I'm such a sucker for people living together and becoming a family unrelated by blood. You hit so many of my kinks, drama. All of these scenes were my favorite parts, proving that I am indeed a fluffly, fluffy soul. XD

6) The ending!
Spoilers for EVERYTHING:

SO SO MUCH HAPPIER THAN EXPECTED! While, yes, it could definitely be argued that killing off the abuser was the easy way out of the plotline, I was just so happy not to have to lose a beloved main character. That sort of thing tends to tarnish shows in my memory so since someone was destined to die, I felt only relief.

AHAHAHA ALSO ALSO, I completely fell for their ~trap~ in the last episode: a truck is heading straight for our main characters in slow motion, they don't see it coming until the last second, someone sprawled on the ground... PSYCH! IT'S JUST A SPRAINED WRIST. GUESS WHAT, EVERYONE LIVES! Oh, dramas. Well played, sir. By the way, I would have killed you had you actually done that. This is why I can't watch a lot of kdramas. ♥

Finally, have you ever seen a show that more canonically ended in an OT3? Seriously. Seriously, that was more OT3-y than Nobuta. They are going to live together and raise a baby. I'm normally not the sort of person that goes for a "and then they have a baby!" ending but in this show the point is that traditional things like marriage and babies can be done in a unconventional way and that unlikely happiness is in reach for everyone. I cried happy tears. A lot of them. Takeru is going to braid this little girl's hair and Ruka will teach her how to ride a bike and Michiru will see her daughter grow up with not one, not two, but three parents who love her! LAST FRIENDS! I LOVE WHAT YOU CHOSE TO BE! ♥

7) Just a prisoner of looooooove~

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I sang along with the opening, Utada Hikaru's "Prisoner of Love", every time. I would replay the opening after I finished an episode because I already missed it. The lovely, sparse visuals with lots of white! A coffee cup shatters on the beat! Everyone is so pretty! ♥

8) A personal favorite when done right, the OT3!

It's funny, I used to never have OT3s that worked for me because I was just such a faithful shipper, who would decide an OTP and that's all I was interested in. But when canon presents me with a three people who love each other instead of two, why, I do not turn this down nowadays! It's important to note that this is not at all of a love triangle situation, it's people loving each other in all different ways and combinations. I will happily imagine all the patterns of love these three pretty, pretty people could settle into. Thank you, show, you giving me so many interesting angles to consider! ♥

So yes, as you can probably tell, I came out firmly in favor of Last Friends! It isn't a perfect drama, something I could recommend without disclaimer, but I loved watching it. It was a nice contrast with my usual fare and I will never turn down Ueno Juri, Eita or both of them together. See: upcoming post on Sunao ni Narenkute. :DD

Comments

[miquilis.livejournal.com]

oh I was about to ask if you were watching Sunao ni Narenkute, It's only been 4 episodes and I already love it - I have a little mini-flail after every episode.

I fell in love with Juri and Eita after watching Nodame as well so when I saw they had been in another drama together I watched it right away... I loved Last Friends but I just wish I had talked to someone before I watched it just to be given a warning. I had a tendency before to only watch dramas like Hanakimi or Hanadam or thrillers so it was one of the first people dramas about issues I had watched... and yeah Ryo traumatized me too. I still loved it but whenever someone says they're going to watch it, I always think it's best to warn them, not to put them off it, just to prepare them.

and yes, yes, yes Eita's hair ♥

[topazera.livejournal.com]

A million years later: Hiiiiiii. XD Yessss, Sunao ni Narenkute! I'm always waiting on the subs so I've only seen four episodes right now but I'm having such a good time. Shallowly, I think I would watch these pretty people do anything while The Ting Tings play in the background but I also legitimately like these characters and want to see where they are going. :) I really need to start capping because GUH. PRETTY.

I still loved it but whenever someone says they're going to watch it, I always think it's best to warn them, not to put them off it, just to prepare them.
Ah, I relate to this so much! For Last Friends, I went in knowing it would be rough and I think that really helped me. That way it actually wasn't quite as traumatic as what I had mentally prepared for. I'm definitely the same way, I have people warn me if a drama I'm thinking of starting has an unhappy ending if possible. I could still watch it anyway but it's something I like to know! Plus, this show has all sort of legitimate triggers that I wouldn't want anyone to walk into blind.

and yes, yes, yes Eita's hair ♥
Your iconnnnnn. Seriously, for the longest time I didn't have an Eita icon just because I couldn't possibly figure out which features of his to highlight. I just love so many and THE HAIR is just one of them! :DD

[miquilis.livejournal.com]

Shallowly, I think I would watch these pretty people do anything while The Ting Tings play in the background but I also legitimately like these characters and want to see where they are going. I had the same conflict! I made a post when it first started saying how much I loved it already but I keep thinking everytime I recommend it or flail over it "Am I loving this because it's a great drama or am I loving it because Juri's being adorable and they keep putting Eita in low cut t-shirts that show off his collar bone and make him do lots of shower scenes" Oh and I do love the songs in it as well, I knew I would love it since the very beginning when they had Eita running around to The Ting Tings XD

Oh I should totally ask people to warn me too! I hate spoilers but I hate when I get really invested in a drama and the characters and then it ends really badly - I'm never prepared for it, I like happy ending too much >__<

Ohohoho is the Eita icon you finally chose showing of his profile! I love strong noses, that's why I picked the one I have because it shows of my two favorite Eita things; the hair and the profile (and him making serious faces) ♥

[topazera.livejournal.com]

"Am I loving this because it's a great drama or am I loving it because Juri's being adorable and they keep putting Eita in low cut t-shirts that show off his collar bone and make him do lots of shower scenes"
Right?? This is a problem. Though I problem I always want to have. I'm glad that when Eita was given the lead role in this, the director was clearly thinking "Not only does he bring great acting chops, he is also really hot! *shower scene*". Hey, it's only fair that we get a little objectifying of guys too. :D

I knew I would love it since the very beginning when they had Eita running around to The Ting Tings XD
I know I'm up for a 40% Ting Tings soundtrack. ;) Though when the Glasgow Love Theme from Love Actually starts playing I'm always, like, automatically teary-eyed before it occurs to me, "...Wait, I think I've emotionally stumbled into another movie. XD"

I hate spoilers but I hate when I get really invested in a drama and the characters and then it ends really badly
I'm the same way. I don't want to know anything about the plot, just whether or not it ends well! The one 'yes or no' question can save me a lot of heartache. :) I definitely wouldn't have started Spring Waltz without it and there's one show I won't mention in case it's too spoilery that I wish I'd know the ending from the start. I'm a wuss that way but, hey, I'm watching these things to entertain me not completely break me. :)

Ohohoho is the Eita icon you finally chose showing of his profile!
YES, I love pronounced profiles too. GUH, it reels me in every time. If I was making a Pretty Dudes list, at least half the guys would be there with notable noses. XD With Eita, there was just no way to fit his profile, nose, neck, EARS (got that one! ♥), hair, forearms and skinny ankles into one icon. OH and I forgot to mentally list collarbones! Basically when we get to this point, I may as well just say I have an Eita fetish, that boy is really my type. XD

[miquilis.livejournal.com]

Have you got to Eita doing his second shower scene yet? Linda gets one too. All dramas should have a good mixture of character development, good plots and pretty boy shower scenes XD

I kind of hate when Japanese dramas re-use soundtrack scores. I understand the do it to save money but on Tokujo Kabachi, they started playing a song from Pride and Prejudice and I just started thinking about Mr.Darcy and he completely stole Sho's spotlight!

I'm watching these things to entertain me not completely break me. exactly! I'm watching dramas for escapism and entertainment not to break my heart and make me cry. Oh I just noticed that you have a Gossip Girl tag - did you see the finale yet? Me and my heart did not need that.

Ohhh talking abot notable noses is totally reminding me that I still haven't watched Voice yet. Eita+Toma is like my idea of notable nose heaven.

[mojotastic.livejournal.com]

OMGOMGOMGOMG! I've been meaning to watch this since FOREVER. I think I actually suggested it during several rounds of voting for dorama_watch. My friend watched this awhile back and posted about OMG UENO JURI and I was totally sold. I really need to actually sit down and watch this show now. I feel like the universe wants me to watch pretty people being sad and pretty.

Also I <3 Prisoner of Love so much. That whole album of Utada Hikaru's is actually pretty much the best thing ever but that song especially is so gorgeous and I love the opening credits.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, my communication still sucks but IT'S FAAAATE. Well, it's probably just my faulty memory that made me forget that you had already mentioned this show but: OMG THIS SHOW.

I feel like the universe wants me to watch pretty people being sad and pretty.
YES. YES, EXACTLY. I knew this drama was going to be really sad and when I started it my friend said (with merit) YOU ARE GOING TO CRY AND I DON'T EVEN WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. But I was just in the mood to watch pretty people being sad and pretty! It happens!

I would walk around the house and then just suddenly sing DUN DUN opening beats of Prisoner of Love DUN DUN. So goooood. :D

[otai.livejournal.com]

Somehow i prefer "Last Friends" than "Sunao ni Narenakute". I liked the characters more, i think.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm going to wait until I finish Sunao ni Narenakute since I'm still in the middle but the characters of Last Friends are steep competition. I just found them so powerful and such strong people. :)

[stringless-kite.livejournal.com]

From watching 1LoT to watching Last Friends, that's when I fell in love with Ryo. HAHA. He's great acting is capable of traumatizing. LOL. xD

Eita is loveeee :D

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I've already resolved that I can never watch 1LoT. No matter how good I here it is or how much I want to see the people in it, it would just break me. ...Okay, I once thought the same thing about Last Friends actually but when it comes to terminal diseases, I mean it. XDD

♥♥

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, I bumped into this journal looking for stuff about Nodame Cantabile and so I found the amazing entry: Seven Reasons Why Nodame Cantabile is the Best Kind of Crack.
Despite my love for Ueno Juri and Eita, I can't bring myself to watch Last Friends because of the many conflicting opinions about it and the very serious and dramatic themes featured in the drama (it's not a very mature attitude, I'm aware).
I appreciated nonetheless this entry and also I would like to thank you for inspiring my drama choices with the post at the opening of your journal.
Ludo.

[topazera.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much. I can't tell you how nice it to hear something like that, it feels like almost too big an honor! That entry was so much fun to put together and I still love the result but even more, I love how much people enjoyed it and how it helped steer people towards the wonder of Nodame. :)

Despite my love for Ueno Juri and Eita, I can't bring myself to watch Last Friends because of the many conflicting opinions about it and the very serious and dramatic themes featured in the drama (it's not a very mature attitude, I'm aware).
I don't think that's immature at all! Everyone has different things their comfortable with and I think it's mature to recognize where your limits are. After all, we watch entertainment to be happy, not to stress ourselves out. :) This is the sort of show I would never advertise without a disclaimer anyway, since it really does feature material that is hard to watch. I don't know how it ends yet but I've personally been glad that the next Eita-and-Juri drama, Sunao ni Narenkute seems much lighter. Perhaps that one will be better for everyone to try! :D

Thanks so much for your nice comment! I know I didn't reply in a timely manner but it really made my day when I read it. ♥

[poison-cheeks.livejournal.com]

I will watch the last episode tonight
I'm not going to spoil myself . I've to resist XD