Itazura na Kiss 2 Love in Okinawa First Impressions

This!

How come I never got updated that the second season had already been out when I have been waiting for it for almost a year now? Was I that busy? Too pre-occupied? Hahaha whatever. At least I've already caught up (and that's saying something I guess, since I started both Joseon Gunman and Fated To Love You last June but haven't gone anywhere near finishing any of the two until now). 

Official drama poster. Image via My Drama List.

It's already been three episodes after the pilot ep Love in Okinawa has been aired, and the chemistry that both Yuki and Miki was able to exude in the first season doesn't seem to be sinking on me in this season just yet. I don't know if it's just me, or if I'm comparing this season so much with the Taiwanese version, but I seem not entirely sold to the fact that Kotoko and Naoki are, in actuality, already married. It's like there's something missing in the romantic aspect, whereas Naoki isn't acting as nice and sweet a husband as Zhi Shu was in They Kiss Again (except for episode 4).

And the pacing... The story seems to be moving kind of fast, what with Kotoko already presumed to be having a baby by just the third episode (and each episode runs for only 40-mins, compared to TKA which ran for an hour). And Kin-chan? Him falling for Chris in like what, a snap? was... lol. But seriously, whichever way I look at it, it all seemed rushed. There hadn't been that much of a connection built between Chris and Kin-chan yet to even make the latter bawl his eyes out at the airport screaming "OMG why did you leave me?!?!" after the former left. Hah. I guess that was kind of ridiculous.

It may seem like I'm complaining, but nah. I am so, so not. Besides it's still probably too early in the game to judge. With 12 episodes left before the series concludes, a lot could still happen. Developments could still happen. So, in the meantime, I'm just going to enjoy watching Miki in all her cuteness, Yuki in all his handsomeness, and the rest of the gang in all their crazy antics. Enjoy the show, as they say. Just enjoy the show.

Image via heenimkyu

That reminds me... Last year, I spent the remaining of the days going to new year watching Yuki, Miki, and the rest of the gang be all cute and fluffy in ItaKiss Season 1 while finishing our school's contest issue paper. This year, I seem to be doing the same exact thing: ranging from the school paper work to ItaKiss Season 2. Tell me... what sorcery is this? Hahahaha.

On a different note... Merry Christmas, everyone!

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, J-Drama Impressions, J-Drama Ramblings   Edit

Comparative Review: Itazura na Kiss Live Action

You know the drill. Girl likes boy, girl confesses, boy rejects. Yet due to some convenient coincidence, the two ends up living together. Romance soon blossoms, splotched by a few kisses here and there, and that's that. Pretty simple premise with no overarching plot drivers. Yet this pretty simple premise to Kaoru Tada's timeless story actually became a big hit garnering not only an anime counterpart, but four Itakiss live action adaptations (the first of which I'm not including in this post).

So mirror mirror on the wall, which is the best kiss of them all?

It Started With A Kiss (2005)

Image via Crunchyroll.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•» 

1) I strongly believe that this adaptation is what nailed the chemistry best. Joe and Ariel are sooo good together! Seriously, I squeed and squeed while watching these two I'm left like an emotional ball of squeeing mess after the show ended.

2) I love how ISWAK tended to delve deeper into the budding romance. Though it was quite long (30 episodes at max) and may have dragged a bit, pacing was never a major problem (for me) since the length of the show was mostly spent in the development of Zhi Shu's feelings for Xiang Qin. Him falling in love for the girl was absolutely the highlight of the show for me.

3) I think Joe Cheng did the best portrayal of Naoki. Jiang Zhi Shu's transformation from an ice cold jerk to someone warmer and cozier is the best part that other adaptations botch, and I love that he isn’t as stoic and though quite subtle, is a tad more lovable and humane. 

4) There’s season two! I love season two.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•» 

1) Yuan Xiang Qin is the most awful Kotoko to have sprung to life. Suffice it to say she’s my least favorite. And the problem here isn’t about Ariel Lin, but how Xiang Qin's character has been written. She’s supposed to be a bubbly burst of sunshine and optimism – a characteristic which led Zhi Shu to fall in love with her – but most of the time Xiang Qin is just an awkwardly over the top doormat I want to reach past the screen and strangle her for making me cringe too much. 

2) Of course I love that there’s a wedding. Who wouldn’t? But... couldn’t they have just gone through it without swapping dresses? I know that Jiang-mama originally wanted a girl thus dressed Zhi Shu in various baby girl dresses when he was a child... but seriously, making him wear a gown on one of the most important events of his life is just weird.

Playful Kiss (2010)

Image via Hancinema.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•» 

1) I must admit, Jung So Min did a pretty decent portrayal as Oh Ha Ni. Compared to Xiang Qin, Ha Ni was delivered as someone dumb yet not as overly irritating. And I love her for that.

2) Baek Eun Jo is the cuuuutest kid brother of all adaptations. Right? Right.

❀ RANTS ❀ »•» 

1) Yes Kim Hyun Joong is hawt, but somehow I just can't find it in my heart to connect with him. He seemed rather... bland. Don't even get me started with his perm.

Itazura na Kiss~Love in Tokyo (2013)

Image via Amazon Japan.

❀ RAVES ❀ »•» 

1) Best portrayal of Kotoko. Ever. Hats off to Honoka Miki! She tends to act under and over the top at times, and that excessive duck face thing isn’t the cutest scene to see on screen either. Yet of all Kotoko portrayals, hers is the most realistic. She’s able to capture that essence of a teenage girl in love and I love that she isn’t written as stupid to not have her own spine. She exuded that bubbly burst of enthusiasm and optimism expected from her, and thus showed more personality and depth, as compared to her regional counterparts.

2) I love Kin-chan! Yamada Yuki was a breath of fresh air from all Ikezawa Kinnosuke adaptations. And though Lee Tae Sung was good doing Bong Joon Gu (compared to Jiro Wang), it is only with Yuki that I've seen that heartfelt connection between Kin-chan and Kotoko, despite of the latter not being able to return the former's feelings. 

3) Irie-papa... He's just soooo cute! 

❀ RANTS ❀ »•» 

1) The drama itself even mentioned that "the probability of a house being hit by a shooting star is one in a million", so why did they even bother with this trick? It would've been better had they stuck to the intensity-two-house-collapse-reason instead, because seriously, when does a shooting star ever hit a house?

❀ RULING ❀ »•» 

All adaptations are good in its own right, but after all this is said and done, my loyalty is unwavered and thus still lies with... ISWAK. I think it was able to delve deeper into the story and the feelings of the characters, and had the best chemistry. Plus, the fact that it continued to tell the story of the leads' lives through a second season had me reeling for it even more. Did I mention I absolutely love the second season? Itakiss though is a really good contender... and had the second season aired prior to this writing, who knows... I might have changed my mind. 

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, J-Drama Reviews, K-Drama, K-Drama Reviews, Other Drama Reviews, Reviews, T-Drama, T-Drama Reviews   Edit

Last Cinderella: Episode 10

The ship is sinking, the ship is sinking... Call the captain really quick!

Dang Hiroto. Why let go? Why? That isn't noble idiocy. That's loser idiocy... And that, Hiroto, sucks. Big time.

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

Rintaro's ship have already sunk since episode 7... Or so I think... Or so I would like to think. I may have started Team Rintaro but the dim man (for me) had blown away his chance long loooong ago. Passive nitwit. So Hiroto, don't you dare say that Sakura is better off with someone else. You can't lie to yourself. See?

Such gut wrenching tears...

"I said leave but all I really want is you~♪♫"

As for Rintaro, I waaaant to believe he's the fairy god mother (or father. whatever) and that the real cinderella here isn't really Sakura. It's Hiroto. Hiroto!!! (Writers, if you play it this way, hats off to you. Really clever.) He probably needs just a little wind of courage to prevent his ship from sinking... A little wind of courage to stay at the other side of the door... And Shima's already working with one.

So fairy god mother, get those wands working too. RIGHT. ABOUT. NOW.

Image via Pinterest.

PS. I stumbled upon this poll by FujiTV over who the end-game partner is better. 広斗 (Hiroto) or 凛太郎 (Rintaro)? May already be too late, but for fun, votes go here.

Team Hiroto all the way! ;))

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, J-Drama Ramblings   Edit

Last Cinderella: Episode 6

My original ship's already sailing towards 'that' direction... I think. But where's the butterfly fluffy fluff fluff and all? Rintaro, getting there yet?

Or is Sakura better off with Hiroto? He seems to genuinely care for her now...

             

I'm confused. And Miura's not helping at all. Why you so pogi? Lol. Seriously though, whose ship are we going to end up with eventually? Rintaro? Hiroto?

Image via Pinterest.

Last Cinderella... stop messing with my brain~ 😐

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, J-Drama Ramblings   Edit

Sweet Thoughts

Drama: Tatta Hitotsu no Koi

When I'm with you, I'm always finding things.
But I'm never gonna have to find you....
Cause we're never gonna have to lose each other again.



Good night. ❤

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, Original Poems, Original Quotes, Original Works   Edit

Review: One Litre of Tears (2005)

Man is born to sorrow as the sparks fly upward. To live is to suffer and the only solution to the problem of life is to suffer with courage.
- Edith Hamilton

Meet Ikeuchi Aya, a 15-year old girl who was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Degeneration—an incurable disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write or eat; but doesn’t affect the mind at least. Aya tries her best to be strong in spite of this and keeps on living; simply because she wanted to live. She was able to continue her life and lived to the fullest until her death at 25.

After watching this series, I can say that 1 Litre of Tears stood out for a reason. Though Aya suffered from an incurable disease, she didn’t lose hope nor was upset of her cruel fate. Instead, she was touched by the love and patience she received from her family and friends; and bravely chose to live her life until the end.

Character-wise, Sawajiri Erika was able to bring Aya’s character into life. She had brought it powerfully that people who are watching this series would feel compassion as she suffers from the disease. Honestly speaking, I cried in almost every episode commiserated by Aya’s fate, yet amazed by her braveness.

Cinematography-wise, the series all throughout was good. It’s nice, clean and pretty much like modern series are. 

All in all, I’d give 1 Litre of Tears two thumbs up. This is the kind of J-Drama that will surely give you a touching and deeply moving feel. So for those who love heart-felt types of series, watch 1 Litre of Tears and allow Aya’s earnest desire to live enlighten and encourage you to be positive in life despite of problems and difficulties. After all, “just being alive is such a lovely and wonderful thing.”

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TAGS: Dramas, J-Drama, J-Drama Reviews, Japanese, Reviews   Edit