Yamada Tarou Monogatari: YES YES YES YES TO ALL OF THIS. To the delightful gay being the reason to watch! To being kinder to Ikegami because Tabe Mikako, who is cute as a freaking button! Also, I didn't think she was going to get Tarou, so I was easier on her there, too. And also. TEENAGE GIRL. Seriously, she's far, far, far from the worst teenage girl I've seen.
Also YESSSSSS to wanting to punch the parents in the face. I know that it's a drama, it's not meant to be taken seriously, that it's supposed to be over the top parody. But the parents just sort of enrage me. If she just couldn't work or whatever, okay, fine, not her fault. But she spends HER SON'S HARD EARNED MONEY ON FRIVOLOUS PAINTINGS BECAUSE SHE FELT BAD FOR THE ARTIST. Money they could not afford to lose, money that is being taken away from feeding her children, money that could have helped them put a decent roof over their heads, she spends on a painting.
It's not like she earned that money herself! It's not like that money was in her purse! She went to go get the money and went out with it! And when her kids start to call her on her shit? She starts crying and guilt-tripping them so that they can't even protest about it anymore.
And the dad isn't any better--just breezing in when he feels like it? Inviting everyone over, despite that they can't afford it? Putting all the responsibility onto his kids' shoulders, including the one that has to give up his entire life for his family?
Just. They are seriously the worst parents I have ever seen, outside of extreme physical abuse. And it's just even more frustrating that it's played off as being silly or over the top or whatever, so you can't really even hate them properly. (Except I do. Oh, how I do.)
BUT. Aside from the total word vomit of my hatred for the parents, I love so much about the drama. Shibata Rie getting UP IN SHO'S FACE and THE LOOK ON HIS FACE and it's just. I will ship that until the end of time. Even if Mimura's fond looks at Tarou are kind of ridiculously gay. And OMG YES FLOWER ARRANGING TO HIGHWAY TO HELL. THE DRAMA LOVES US.
Same for Nino in drag and he really does make a terrible girl, but. They put that in just TO MAKE US HAPPY.
I think what held me back the first time I tried to watch this is that it was my first real Nino drama and when I went from Nino's actual personality to a character like Tarou, I had a really hard time letting go of Nino himself. When I saw Tarou acting sweet and innocent, all I could see was evil little devil bastard Nino underneath, pulling the cute act to get what he wanted. I rarely just saw Tarou, rather than Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Tarou.
I wonder if it'd be different now that I've had a little time to get away from it? ...I suppose I'll find out. *dark look* Since I'll probably pick it up since I'm not very patiently waiting for episode 3 or 4 of just about everything right now. orz
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Also YESSSSSS to wanting to punch the parents in the face. I know that it's a drama, it's not meant to be taken seriously, that it's supposed to be over the top parody. But the parents just sort of enrage me. If she just couldn't work or whatever, okay, fine, not her fault. But she spends HER SON'S HARD EARNED MONEY ON FRIVOLOUS PAINTINGS BECAUSE SHE FELT BAD FOR THE ARTIST. Money they could not afford to lose, money that is being taken away from feeding her children, money that could have helped them put a decent roof over their heads, she spends on a painting.
It's not like she earned that money herself! It's not like that money was in her purse! She went to go get the money and went out with it! And when her kids start to call her on her shit? She starts crying and guilt-tripping them so that they can't even protest about it anymore.
And the dad isn't any better--just breezing in when he feels like it? Inviting everyone over, despite that they can't afford it? Putting all the responsibility onto his kids' shoulders, including the one that has to give up his entire life for his family?
Just. They are seriously the worst parents I have ever seen, outside of extreme physical abuse. And it's just even more frustrating that it's played off as being silly or over the top or whatever, so you can't really even hate them properly. (Except I do. Oh, how I do.)
BUT. Aside from the total word vomit of my hatred for the parents, I love so much about the drama. Shibata Rie getting UP IN SHO'S FACE and THE LOOK ON HIS FACE and it's just. I will ship that until the end of time. Even if Mimura's fond looks at Tarou are kind of ridiculously gay. And OMG YES FLOWER ARRANGING TO HIGHWAY TO HELL. THE DRAMA LOVES US.
Same for Nino in drag and he really does make a terrible girl, but. They put that in just TO MAKE US HAPPY.
I think what held me back the first time I tried to watch this is that it was my first real Nino drama and when I went from Nino's actual personality to a character like Tarou, I had a really hard time letting go of Nino himself. When I saw Tarou acting sweet and innocent, all I could see was evil little devil bastard Nino underneath, pulling the cute act to get what he wanted. I rarely just saw Tarou, rather than Ninomiya Kazunari as Yamada Tarou.
I wonder if it'd be different now that I've had a little time to get away from it? ...I suppose I'll find out. *dark look* Since I'll probably pick it up since I'm not very patiently waiting for episode 3 or 4 of just about everything right now. orz