Circe in Jdrama-land

For the record: Maou was my first ever Japanese drama--unless I can count Kamen Rider Kabuto as a drama, in which case it was the second. Ryuusei no Kizuna was the second (or third). So, essentially, I'm a total novice here. I'm not familiar with the tropes that Japanese television uses--they're not all different but there are some that are based on cultural aspects that don't come into play on Western television. What this means is that I am surprised about some events that I shouldn't be and I'm not sick unto death of others.

Spoilers for stuff, I suppose. Also, really, Becky does this rec-and-recap stuff so much better. I'm just going to ramble at you.

First up: Voice, which in MY mind is 'Toma's new drama'. (I don't know why I love Ikuta Toma so much. I really don't.)

Summary (taken from Tokyograph and jdramas): A group of five medical students take on the task of conveying the "voices of the dead."

Kaji Daiki fails to get into a popular heart surgery seminar but is somehow accepted into a seminar on forensic pathology. When he approaches professor Sagawa and asks him why he ended up in the seminar, Sagawa challenges him by asking why he wants to study heart surgery. Daiki replies that medicine is meaningless after the heart stops, but Sagawa counters that medicine also applies to the dead.

And so, together with fellow students Ryosuke, Kanako, Teppei and Akira, Daiki begins to explore the mysteries of death.

( Voice )

So that's a little bit deeper than the OTHER stuff I'm watching. For example...

Mei-chan no Shitsuji. (Shitsuji being 'butler'. I thought of sheep the first time I read it, though, and the show sort of plays with that.)

Summary from Tokyograph: The story revolves around a young woman named Mei, who was rescued as a young girl by someone calling himself her "butler." With only a vague memory, though, the experience seems like just a dream. But one day, after her parents' accidental death, he appears: Rihito comes from a line of outstanding butlers, and he has been appointed to serve her! Now her ordinary life has completely flipped, as she discovers that she's actually the heiress to a fortune, and is forced to transfer to St. Lucia Girls' Academy, where all the students have butlers! As a result, her childhood friend Kento decides to enroll in a butler school so that he can stay close to her.

( Mei-chan no Shitsuji )

If I had to chose between this and Voice, I'd pick Voice. It has less flower-filled scenes even if it DOES try to make you cry with its ending theme. So far I watch them together and it works pretty well.

RE: Uta no Oniisan. Please see beckerbell's posts about it. I am all over them. W-with ideas that are totally not turning into fic in my head. Omg, I swear they're not. I swear they are not brainworms. ...okay, they're probably brainworms.

BUT. The thing you are all really here for (that is not fic): My thoughts on Yamada Tarou Monogatari. AKA: That one that honooko describes as "You know, the one where the rich stoic kid is TOTALLY GAY for the super oblivious poor kid, who only has eyes for hamburger!"

That one.

( It's really gay, you guys. )

So...it really is just a frothy and silly show with some really touching moments and a message about how doing your best and rejoicing in the love of your family can make you happy with how much--or little--you have. It's a cute show and the kids and Ed and I are sort of loving the hell out of it. If nothing else it is worth it for the vast amounts of Mimura being gay on Tarou. And Tarou being obliviously gay right back when he is not fawning on his siblings.

It really sort of makes me want to write make-outs for it. And backstage make-outs.

I have better conversations when I don't have to try to sort it out, first. Bring something up in the comments and we can have a nice discussion? Otherwise, write me make-outs!