"Love Shuffle" Review and Picspam
May. 9th, 2009 12:40 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owaranai_natsuI love this show so much that I can't wrap my mind around it. I'll try and write it down, but damn it, this show just gets to me:)
At first, I thought the 'shuffle' in the title meant like...dancing for some reason, lol, so I wasn't expecting an actual card shuffle theme. It was a nice surprise, and the cast definitely pulled it off:)
Now, some people are weary of this show, but I don't know why, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The stories behind each character were touching and thoughtful, so I have no qualms about loving this show wholeheartedly:D
Plus, the running theme was about people, people needing others, needing to love and connect, and how pasts can haunt the present, and how we can try and move on from it. Not only that, but Tanihara-san played a Psychologist, something that's dear to me, and he addressed suicide, which is also something that hits home for me ^^
*Spoilers ahead* if you're going to read:P Also, it turned out to be really long and image heavy ^^
This is the basic cast set up:)
The arrows point to the relationships before the shuffling, and the whole point of this game is to see what it's like to be with another partner temporarily. Of course, behind this, the characters should either realize they need to change, or that they've found someone else who's accepted them for who they are:) I, for one, do not feel like love can be played around so easily, but these characters seriously need wake-up calls, and I liked that there was humor involved in the process:)
Let's start with the lead Usa-tan played by Tamaki Hiroshi:P
I actually didn't feel like screencaping him, because he was the lead. Normally, I would say he is gorgeous and lovely, but his character was too clingy to his g/f, and that turned me off. I loved him in "Tada Kimi wo Aishiteru," but not so much in this show. However, I did like that he was willing to fight, be random, and realize his own potential and desires, by the end of this drama. Even though he was the 'lead,' I was less invested than I would have normally been. He did play an awesome duo with Daigo with the whole Tara-chanz joke though:P
His catch phrase was 'Tell me it's a lie, Joe/Tell me it ain't so, Joe," which was kind of funny.
The next person is Karina who plays Ai Ai:)
She is SO pretty! When I first saw her profile on drama-wiki, I didn't like her for some reason, but then I grew to like her character somehow:) I think she reminds me of me, a little...I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel like I can relate to her:)
Daigo plays Ai Ai's boyfriend, Yuuki, and he is SO ADORABLE!!! He's such a stalker, almost otaku-like, being a wealthy man who doesn't really know how to have friends, but buys friendship, but he's just so innocent and lost, and *SQUISHES*
I didn't know Daigo was going to be in the cast until I saw this:
"I've been here this entire time!"
"And I carry my money around for some reason or something..."
I love him, because he is the stalker type, and he's so resourceful, and the group helps him learn what it's like to have friends he can depend on and trust<3
In turn, he teaches them mad skills like this: "Ureshii WISH"
HAWT-ness man!
He's so pretty ^^
The only thing I had ever known about Daigo before this show was that he rounded up sheep with Aiba one time:P And of course, Tegoshi did Daigo's pose, but this show has pretty much made me love Daigo more than ever now:P
And then there's Mei, who we've seen as the tea ceremony girl of Soujiro's past in Hana Yori Dango. The connection didn't hit me until this:
...which is just perfect, because it's like the resolution they never got:P
Mei is the type of girl who, as Usa-tan describes, is the girl who hands you a love letter and cutely runs away:P
Now, I have no caps for this character (because she is my least favorite), but she plays a vital role anyways: Reiko.
I don't know what it is exactly that I don't like about her, but it was probably because she took relationships so casually and slept around. I felt like her character was just there, and a good plot device. I know that sounds cold, but yea:/ Plus, everyone was like staring at her boobs:/
In the end, she realizes she is not a woman so easily propositioned, and I think she ends up working well with Tanihara-san.
TANIHARA SHOSUKE is a sexy sexy man ♥
He is a sly dog;) He charmed his way into my heart *sighs*
OK, his character, Kikurin, is ZOMG amazing. You'll want to hate him at one point, but you'll end up falling for him anyway:P
He's like the knight in shining army, who's a little quirky, but knows the way. It's like he knows exactly how things are going to play out, people just play right into his plans, and he's SO YUMMY that way:P
And he really does care<3 Look how amazing he is:
*kya!* These two are so homely:)
I love that they can sit out in the lounge area outside their apartments and have 'slumber parties' and 'meetings' about relationships and stuff:P
And then there's Matsuda Shota's Ojiro (which sounds so similar to Soujiro), who wants to capture the emotions of people, deep, raw, emotions:D
I love that he can just carry around a camera and snap pictures when people are vulnerable, and make it look cool to creepily take random pictures:P
He's got a dark side, and that boy can seduce anyone he wants:P
Case in point, tehhe ^^:
Of course, O-chan didn't really seduce Usa-tan. It was an indirect kiss, because right before O-chan got there, he had kissed Mei, and since Usa-tan was so caught up with that, O-chan just went ahead and kissed him:P
"His lips are soft," he says...ojeez *nosebleed*
And finally, one of my favorite characters EVER, Kairi-chan:D
She is so pretty, and amazing, and just CUTE!!
She's Kikurin's patient and she's participating in this love shuffle, which is a whole bag of beans you do not spill in the real psychotherapy field, because you normally shouldn't have any relations (friendly/sexual) with your client outside of the office. For realz!
I know it's meant for fun, and it's a drama, but still, letting people get the wrong idea, yo:P
She's suicidal, but has promised Kikurin she wouldn't kill herself until her 20th birthday. After that, anything is possible. But, I'll explain what happens in the 'major spoiler section' :P
The actress is really good at playing this kind of character. She was sort of like this in "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoshitsu," but it's the kind of girl who brushes off caring about life and the important things, but underneath that facade is her pain. She just wants someone to love her, a reason to live:)
Her relationship with O-chan is ADORABLE! I want that kind of relationship:P
*zomg, dies*
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD-I'm warning you now:P
But if you don't care, have at it, lol.
OK-I don't even know where to being with how much I love this triangle (Kikuran-Ojiro-Kairi).
I'll begin with Kairi/Ojiro:
I definitely love this quirky pair:D Especially since Ojiro practically proposed to her on her fake bday. He gave her an anklet, and said that since she was his new pet, she might as well have a jingly bell around her ankle to let him know where she was at all times. That was totally cute!
And then he gets serious and he's like "Promise me one thing. Promise me that you won't die before me." She stares at him with a small grin and doe eyes, and barely nods.
"That means you can't die until we've grown old with each other. I'm going to stop smoking and I'll be super healthy from now on, so you can't die until we're very old."
O_O MOST AMAZING THING EVER!!!! ♥ *dies* lol
Prior to this, they had still been shuffling their partners around, and when Ojiro had Kairi, and when they were alone one night, he got really close to her and asked, "Since you're going to die next week, can I have you?"
I was like 'ohshit!HELL YEA!' LOL- the fact that Kairi was still 'underaged' then, didn't really matter, because it was totally hawt, seductive, and yea:P
Now, this is where Kikurin comes in, the master dealer behind the cards.
Kairi wants to die, he won't let her, so he makes up a freaking crazy plot twist that makes me want to throw stones at him, but hug him so hard at the same time.
In order to get Kairi to not kill herself, Kikurin staged Kairi's birthday a week prior to the actual date. Kairi had already been quite attached to Ojiro, because he's got a way with ladies, and well, he understands her ♥ And then, the day after her 'bday,' she disappears and they all think she's killed herself.
Of course, when Ai Ai and Usa-tan find out, they think that Kikurin's doing it so he can have O-chan for himself, because while Ojiro was going nuts, Kikurin was tending to him *snickers*
BUT, it's not really like that. It's true Kikurin's lover resembled O-chan, but Kikurin didn't love O-chan, he was just being loving in general....
FINALLY, Kikurin reveals to Usa-tan and Ai Ai that Kairi is alive and hiding out somewhere. They both agreed to do this, to show Kairi that if she died, this would be the pain and suffering her loved ones would go through. She would see O-chan not eating, becoming ill, not taking pictures like he used to, and yea. But, eventually, Kairi would also see that he would move on from it. That's what human beings are capable of, and then hopefully, Kikurin had planned for her to get jealous, and then with that jealousy and love for Ojiro, Kairi's obsession with Thanatos (death) would turn into Eros (love), and the whole situation would be worth it:)
THIS IS TOTALLY NOT WHAT A PSYCHOLOGIST IS ALLOWED TO DO; IT'S TOTALLY UNETHICAL!
It's the perfect plan, but it's not fair to the person who's suffering (O-chan) even if it turns out great in the long run. I know this show is meant to be fun, but people, please don't think psychologists are allowed to do that:P
As an aspiring psychologist, this issue really hits home with me. And not even just because of those actions. Death is something I used to think about frequently, and while I would be too cowardly to end my life, and I would consider others over myself (like what my mom would have to go through,) I would have liked to be able to not live for awhile.
I think some teenagers suffer what I call 'existential angst,' and looking back at it, I realize it wasn't depression, but just that:P
In any case, people kept asking Kairi "Why do you want to die?"
And she asks, "Why do you want to live?"
And then I was like flipping out, hugging the computer, because for some reason, that really hits home for me. She is too adorable, and too right. Why do you want to live? This world sucks, not even kidding.
BUT- I thought a little bit about it (I was worried there for a second, because I couldn't find a reason), and then I was like, "I want to help people. I'm living for my mom, friends, and those who need my help, in whatever capacity. *sigh of relief*
I'm glad I've moved past my 'depression' phase, but DAMN, Kairi is the character that I truly relate to and adore so much ♥
Anyways- After Ojiro had found out about Kikurin's plans about Kairi, they somehow realize that was the only way, but at the end of it, Kikuran asked for forgiveness (for more than the present actions) for not having tried hard enough to stop his ex-lover (who resembled O-chan) from killing himself (which is why he is so hell bent on saving Kairi), and then Ojiro's like "There's nothing to forgive, I love you with all of my heart." AND THE CRYING AND THE LOVE AND ZOMG AMAZING *wibbles* <3
I know that whole paragraph made no sense in proper English, but I had to write it:P When I come back to this post someday, I'm gonna be like OMG YES, let me go watch that again:P
OK-I think you can safely read now:P
OHDAMN-sorry for that massive rant ^^
And some final highlights: The "panda" jokes were abundant and hilarious:P
I especially loved the one between Kairi and O-chan, 'cause they were trying to have her catch on. He's like "What are you wearing underneath those pajamas?"
And she smiles so innocently and *squishes* says, "No pan da" which basically translates to "No underwear" and the others' faces are like :0 LMAO
THIS SHOW IS JUST DAMN LOVE, FRAKING WATCH IT NOWZ
YAY, PANDA! :D
At first, I thought the 'shuffle' in the title meant like...dancing for some reason, lol, so I wasn't expecting an actual card shuffle theme. It was a nice surprise, and the cast definitely pulled it off:)
Now, some people are weary of this show, but I don't know why, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The stories behind each character were touching and thoughtful, so I have no qualms about loving this show wholeheartedly:D
Plus, the running theme was about people, people needing others, needing to love and connect, and how pasts can haunt the present, and how we can try and move on from it. Not only that, but Tanihara-san played a Psychologist, something that's dear to me, and he addressed suicide, which is also something that hits home for me ^^
This is the basic cast set up:)
The arrows point to the relationships before the shuffling, and the whole point of this game is to see what it's like to be with another partner temporarily. Of course, behind this, the characters should either realize they need to change, or that they've found someone else who's accepted them for who they are:) I, for one, do not feel like love can be played around so easily, but these characters seriously need wake-up calls, and I liked that there was humor involved in the process:)
Let's start with the lead Usa-tan played by Tamaki Hiroshi:P
I actually didn't feel like screencaping him, because he was the lead. Normally, I would say he is gorgeous and lovely, but his character was too clingy to his g/f, and that turned me off. I loved him in "Tada Kimi wo Aishiteru," but not so much in this show. However, I did like that he was willing to fight, be random, and realize his own potential and desires, by the end of this drama. Even though he was the 'lead,' I was less invested than I would have normally been. He did play an awesome duo with Daigo with the whole Tara-chanz joke though:P
His catch phrase was 'Tell me it's a lie, Joe/Tell me it ain't so, Joe," which was kind of funny.
The next person is Karina who plays Ai Ai:)
She is SO pretty! When I first saw her profile on drama-wiki, I didn't like her for some reason, but then I grew to like her character somehow:) I think she reminds me of me, a little...I don't know what it is exactly, but I feel like I can relate to her:)
Daigo plays Ai Ai's boyfriend, Yuuki, and he is SO ADORABLE!!! He's such a stalker, almost otaku-like, being a wealthy man who doesn't really know how to have friends, but buys friendship, but he's just so innocent and lost, and *SQUISHES*
I didn't know Daigo was going to be in the cast until I saw this:
"I've been here this entire time!"
"And I carry my money around for some reason or something..."
I love him, because he is the stalker type, and he's so resourceful, and the group helps him learn what it's like to have friends he can depend on and trust<3
In turn, he teaches them mad skills like this: "Ureshii WISH"
HAWT-ness man!
He's so pretty ^^
The only thing I had ever known about Daigo before this show was that he rounded up sheep with Aiba one time:P And of course, Tegoshi did Daigo's pose, but this show has pretty much made me love Daigo more than ever now:P
And then there's Mei, who we've seen as the tea ceremony girl of Soujiro's past in Hana Yori Dango. The connection didn't hit me until this:
...which is just perfect, because it's like the resolution they never got:P
Mei is the type of girl who, as Usa-tan describes, is the girl who hands you a love letter and cutely runs away:P
Now, I have no caps for this character (because she is my least favorite), but she plays a vital role anyways: Reiko.
I don't know what it is exactly that I don't like about her, but it was probably because she took relationships so casually and slept around. I felt like her character was just there, and a good plot device. I know that sounds cold, but yea:/ Plus, everyone was like staring at her boobs:/
In the end, she realizes she is not a woman so easily propositioned, and I think she ends up working well with Tanihara-san.
TANIHARA SHOSUKE is a sexy sexy man ♥
He is a sly dog;) He charmed his way into my heart *sighs*
OK, his character, Kikurin, is ZOMG amazing. You'll want to hate him at one point, but you'll end up falling for him anyway:P
He's like the knight in shining army, who's a little quirky, but knows the way. It's like he knows exactly how things are going to play out, people just play right into his plans, and he's SO YUMMY that way:P
And he really does care<3 Look how amazing he is:
*kya!* These two are so homely:)
I love that they can sit out in the lounge area outside their apartments and have 'slumber parties' and 'meetings' about relationships and stuff:P
And then there's Matsuda Shota's Ojiro (which sounds so similar to Soujiro), who wants to capture the emotions of people, deep, raw, emotions:D
I love that he can just carry around a camera and snap pictures when people are vulnerable, and make it look cool to creepily take random pictures:P
He's got a dark side, and that boy can seduce anyone he wants:P
Case in point, tehhe ^^:
Of course, O-chan didn't really seduce Usa-tan. It was an indirect kiss, because right before O-chan got there, he had kissed Mei, and since Usa-tan was so caught up with that, O-chan just went ahead and kissed him:P
"His lips are soft," he says...ojeez *nosebleed*
And finally, one of my favorite characters EVER, Kairi-chan:D
She is so pretty, and amazing, and just CUTE!!
She's Kikurin's patient and she's participating in this love shuffle, which is a whole bag of beans you do not spill in the real psychotherapy field, because you normally shouldn't have any relations (friendly/sexual) with your client outside of the office. For realz!
I know it's meant for fun, and it's a drama, but still, letting people get the wrong idea, yo:P
She's suicidal, but has promised Kikurin she wouldn't kill herself until her 20th birthday. After that, anything is possible. But, I'll explain what happens in the 'major spoiler section' :P
The actress is really good at playing this kind of character. She was sort of like this in "Taiyou to Umi no Kyoshitsu," but it's the kind of girl who brushes off caring about life and the important things, but underneath that facade is her pain. She just wants someone to love her, a reason to live:)
Her relationship with O-chan is ADORABLE! I want that kind of relationship:P
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD-I'm warning you now:P
But if you don't care, have at it, lol.
OK-I don't even know where to being with how much I love this triangle (Kikuran-Ojiro-Kairi).
I'll begin with Kairi/Ojiro:
I definitely love this quirky pair:D Especially since Ojiro practically proposed to her on her fake bday. He gave her an anklet, and said that since she was his new pet, she might as well have a jingly bell around her ankle to let him know where she was at all times. That was totally cute!
And then he gets serious and he's like "Promise me one thing. Promise me that you won't die before me." She stares at him with a small grin and doe eyes, and barely nods.
"That means you can't die until we've grown old with each other. I'm going to stop smoking and I'll be super healthy from now on, so you can't die until we're very old."
O_O MOST AMAZING THING EVER!!!! ♥ *dies* lol
Prior to this, they had still been shuffling their partners around, and when Ojiro had Kairi, and when they were alone one night, he got really close to her and asked, "Since you're going to die next week, can I have you?"
I was like 'ohshit!HELL YEA!' LOL- the fact that Kairi was still 'underaged' then, didn't really matter, because it was totally hawt, seductive, and yea:P
Now, this is where Kikurin comes in, the master dealer behind the cards.
Kairi wants to die, he won't let her, so he makes up a freaking crazy plot twist that makes me want to throw stones at him, but hug him so hard at the same time.
In order to get Kairi to not kill herself, Kikurin staged Kairi's birthday a week prior to the actual date. Kairi had already been quite attached to Ojiro, because he's got a way with ladies, and well, he understands her ♥ And then, the day after her 'bday,' she disappears and they all think she's killed herself.
Of course, when Ai Ai and Usa-tan find out, they think that Kikurin's doing it so he can have O-chan for himself, because while Ojiro was going nuts, Kikurin was tending to him *snickers*
BUT, it's not really like that. It's true Kikurin's lover resembled O-chan, but Kikurin didn't love O-chan, he was just being loving in general....
FINALLY, Kikurin reveals to Usa-tan and Ai Ai that Kairi is alive and hiding out somewhere. They both agreed to do this, to show Kairi that if she died, this would be the pain and suffering her loved ones would go through. She would see O-chan not eating, becoming ill, not taking pictures like he used to, and yea. But, eventually, Kairi would also see that he would move on from it. That's what human beings are capable of, and then hopefully, Kikurin had planned for her to get jealous, and then with that jealousy and love for Ojiro, Kairi's obsession with Thanatos (death) would turn into Eros (love), and the whole situation would be worth it:)
THIS IS TOTALLY NOT WHAT A PSYCHOLOGIST IS ALLOWED TO DO; IT'S TOTALLY UNETHICAL!
It's the perfect plan, but it's not fair to the person who's suffering (O-chan) even if it turns out great in the long run. I know this show is meant to be fun, but people, please don't think psychologists are allowed to do that:P
As an aspiring psychologist, this issue really hits home with me. And not even just because of those actions. Death is something I used to think about frequently, and while I would be too cowardly to end my life, and I would consider others over myself (like what my mom would have to go through,) I would have liked to be able to not live for awhile.
I think some teenagers suffer what I call 'existential angst,' and looking back at it, I realize it wasn't depression, but just that:P
In any case, people kept asking Kairi "Why do you want to die?"
And she asks, "Why do you want to live?"
And then I was like flipping out, hugging the computer, because for some reason, that really hits home for me. She is too adorable, and too right. Why do you want to live? This world sucks, not even kidding.
BUT- I thought a little bit about it (I was worried there for a second, because I couldn't find a reason), and then I was like, "I want to help people. I'm living for my mom, friends, and those who need my help, in whatever capacity. *sigh of relief*
I'm glad I've moved past my 'depression' phase, but DAMN, Kairi is the character that I truly relate to and adore so much ♥
Anyways- After Ojiro had found out about Kikurin's plans about Kairi, they somehow realize that was the only way, but at the end of it, Kikuran asked for forgiveness (for more than the present actions) for not having tried hard enough to stop his ex-lover (who resembled O-chan) from killing himself (which is why he is so hell bent on saving Kairi), and then Ojiro's like "There's nothing to forgive, I love you with all of my heart." AND THE CRYING AND THE LOVE AND ZOMG AMAZING *wibbles* <3
I know that whole paragraph made no sense in proper English, but I had to write it:P When I come back to this post someday, I'm gonna be like OMG YES, let me go watch that again:P
OHDAMN-sorry for that massive rant ^^
And some final highlights: The "panda" jokes were abundant and hilarious:P
I especially loved the one between Kairi and O-chan, 'cause they were trying to have her catch on. He's like "What are you wearing underneath those pajamas?"
And she smiles so innocently and *squishes* says, "No pan da" which basically translates to "No underwear" and the others' faces are like :0 LMAO
THIS SHOW IS JUST DAMN LOVE, FRAKING WATCH IT NOWZ
YAY, PANDA! :D
