Yay for updates in lieu of much needed study
I cannot believe that it's already Thursday of my 1 week off from uni and I haven't caught up with uni work at all. AT ALL. In fact, I'm in a worse position than I was in several days ago because now I don't have the luxury of thinking that I have a few days left up my sleeve. WHERE DID IT ALL GO?
Actually, I do know where it went. A good part of it has gone into work - photocopying endlessly in the city or helping out at the shop. A part of it has gone into me conveniently finding other things to do instead of study. And the rest of it - into rewatching HYD.
I had made some sort of resolution 2 weeks ago not to watch any dramas till I was at least on track with my studies. That didn't stop me from watching old Arashi videos (mainly past AnS eps) though, and I felt that I could make that an exception to my plan. But in the last week or so, I was showing my brother clips from Arashi's second Odoroku SP, and R asked if she could watch it too. While we were waiting for the file to be transferred onto her USB, I thought I'd let her watch the first ep of HYD since I had planned on trying to introduce her to the awesomeness that the series is. Somehow, that ended up in her and Iv watching the whole ep even after her USB was done, and also watching the next 2 eps on consecutive nights till about 12:45am. Two nights ago, I insisted on pausing ep 4 so that they could go to bed before getting told off by Dad. Only, I stopped at the worst possible moment - the scene just before crazed-bitch-in-the-flesh Sakurako finally reveals all to Makino in the school cafetaria. I wouldn't have been able to resist watching on if I had had the choice, but Iv and R couldn't argue with me. They have yet to watch more, but probably will soon.
Anyway, I've ended up watching the whole series again, mostly on my Ipod nano. Watching the series in full again after falling in love with it the first time has been interesting. I can be a little more objective now. For instance, I can appreciate how well the comedic elements (eg. Makino's family dinners where Susumu is tested for his upcoming entrance exams) are weaved into the story and how funny they are on their own. I don't whether I realised the joke in my first viewing, but Iv and R were cracking up so much in the scene where Susumu plays on his sister's words and says 'Mune ga oppai' (My chest are boobs).
But back to being objective. Now I can see just how ridiculous the storyline is. It's so unrealistic and overdramatic, which reminds me of some comment I read on a blog entry about the Korean HYD which said that HYD had the essence of a Korean drama - the evil mother, rich guy falls for the poor girl, soulmates being pulled apart, etc, etc. (Speaking of which, I keep reading so many comments about how the Korean version butchered the story, at least after the first 12 eps or so, and how much ppl hate it. At the same time, there are ppl who have enjoyed it, either as an 'entertaining mess' or to be able to bash it later on. Coupled with someone at uni who passionately insisted I should watch it, I'm still undecided.)
Maybe that made the viewing experience less epic this time around, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it immensely. I mean, I think I will continue to love ep 4 to no end - the ridiculousness of their situation atop the lift is so epic, I cannot not laugh myself silly watching that episode. I was also able to compare the season 1 Makino with the Returns Makino. I remember reading reviews which described Makino as having changed, becoming a weaker and more insecure character compared to the first season. I didn't really agree at the time, but I think I do now. Makino's unwavering weed power and her overall kookiness is dampened in the second season - what happened to the weird but adorable Makino who cackled like a witch at the chibi F4 wanabees? That unpredictable and wacky side of her was lost in the second season.
And since I'm now watching the second season again (self-discipline has never ever been my forte), I shall be able to make more comparisons. Must mention the cheesy use of Utada Hikaru's 'Flavor of Life' in the 2nd ep: Makino is on the phone to Yuki while on her way to meet Domyoji and says 'Arigatou', and a fraction of a second later we hear Utada Hikaru sing 'Arigatou to ~'. Is that lame placement, or smart? Whatever the answer to that rhetorical question, it was still the right decision. 8D
Hmm, should definitely be getting myself ready for work tomorrow. As of last week not only am I working on Monday full day and Wed half-day, I will also be working on Friday mornings doing 'recovery'. Otherwise known as sorting out photocopied material into their respective categories. I haven't yet decided it that is more torturous than doing the photocopies, but I'm leaning towards a yea because now I don't have the privacy that comes with the photocopier machine's alcove. And it's harder to keep myself out of ppl's sight. These days, I'm trying my best to keep my hair around my face and not to look at ppl head on, so as to not draw attention to my acne and acne scars. Naturally, it's a failing regime.