Plot: A bunch of young people who met on Twitter meet in person for the first time. Their lives (especially their love lives) begin to intertwine.
The meet-up. Too bad most (all?) gatherings of cyber-buddies aren't this attractive.Episode 1 Recap: There's a lot of storylines that intertwine in this show, and it's kinda easier to follow by character than chronologically. But the opening is important to note. It has Nakaji running desperately through Tokyo to an apartment door. He bangs on it and yells for whoever is inside to open it, but there's no answer except for blood seeping out from under the door. No clue yet who is behind the door. Nakaji narrates that
Back then, we didn't know what true love was. We didn't know that true love could hurt this much.
First up is Ueno Juri (Nodame from Nodame Cantabile) as Mizuno Tsukiko or "Haru" (her Twitter name). She says she's a high-school teacher, but really she's just a part-time teacher (not the same as a sub). She seems like she's good at her job, but she's too innovative for the full-time teacher and gets a verbal smackdown. It also seems that one of her male students has a crush on her, which is more than a little creepy (she doesn't seem to realize he likes her yet). She had a crush on Nakaji from his Twitter posts. At the beginning, they pass each other in the street oblivious to each others' existence. Their first real-life encounter doesn't go well. She accidentally spills coffee on him, not knowing who he is, and when she tries to clean up he calls her a pervert and on Twitter calls her a bitch. When they meet at the Twitter gathering things are a bit awkward, but Nakaji ends up trying to kiss her, which she rebuffs. They meet up again and Nakaji reveals the truth about his work.
Next is Eita (blond haired violine player, also from Nodame!) as Nakajima Keisuke or "Nakaji." He says he's a fashion and travel photographer who's worked for Vogue, but really he works for a gravure magazine (that means he mostly shoots girls in skimpy clothes). He's mean to Haru at first, but seems to like her later, seeing as he carries her on his back, tries to kiss her, and tells her the truth about his job. So far, Nakaji and Haru are the most tied together story-wise.
Hero JaeJoong (from the Korean band TVXQ) is Park Seonsu or "Doctor." He's incredibly sweet and is a bit shy and overeager. He's still Korean in this, and moved from Korea to Japan a few years ago. He tells everyone that he's a doctor (and even gives out business cards saying this!) but in fact he just sells medical supplies to doctors who are real jerks. He has a younger sister who gets picked up for shop-lifting. He also has a crush on Haru after he meets her (and he secretly takes her picture on his cell).
Tamayama Tetsuji is Ichihara Koaru or "Linda" (yeah, I don't know why he uses a girl name, either).
He actually is the successful magazine editor he says he is (at least it looks that way) but he is getting sexually harassed by his ugly female boss, who tells him that the only reason she promoted him was because of his looks and that he'll be in trouble with his career if he doesn't go on dates with her and kiss her. Because apparently Japan doesn't have adequate sexual harassment laws. He hooks up with Hikari and later accompanies her to the clinic.
Seki Megumi is Nishimura Hikari or "Peach." But since she doesn't use the name Peach yet, I'm going to call her Hikari. She isn't part of the Twitter group to begin with, but goes to the meet-up as a favor to Haru, who's her best friend. She's a flight attendant and is pregnant by her absent boyfriend, but she goes to a hotel room with Linda after the meet-up. She's got several self-inflicted cuts on her wrist which she hides with an armband. She goes to the pregnancy clinic accompanied by Linda for support (which is really nice of him, considering it's not his and they only had a one-night stand). At the end of the episode, she declares that she might take up Twittering as well.
Is this symbolic of how Nakaji and Haru feel like they are trapped in a cage? Or just a poor choice of camera placement?Thoughts: Wow, I didn't know this would be so serious. I thought a show about a bunch of beautiful young people who meet up online would be fun and funny. It's not, but it's a good drama and a lot better than I expected it to be. The opening especially was a wow moment and totally hooked me. Who was it behind the door? And how much did they have to bleed and why did they choose to stand right next to the door to have the blood seep out from under it? They did a good job of establishing everyone and making them different and memorable. The episode only contained American music, most of which I've heard on shows like Gossip Girl (which isn't a dig; I like Gossip Girl and I like the music). Using US pop so extensively is usually something I hear on kdramas, not jdramas, so it was surprising. Whenever it happens, I always wonder if they pay royalties to the US singers/producers/record companies/whoever owns the rights and if it's more or less expensive than for American shows. Also, how did everyone meet up on Twitter? It's not like it's Facebook where people join groups or a blog where it's usually about a specific interest. It's just random thoughts. How did they find each other? Everyone Tweeted about living in Tokyo?
Even one-night stands with hot guys can't take poor Hikari's mind off her problems.The Good: That opening. The way they're setting up all the character threads so far. The characters themselves.
Poor fake Doctor, your job sucks because real doctors are a-holes in this show.The Bad: Damn, is everyone in this show in a crapsack job? Seriously, sometimes it's just over the top. I mean, poor fake Doctor gets water poured on his head by his boss for poor sales. Is there no law against that? Does that actually happen? Plus, he has to give doctors foot massages and clean their offices. I'm pretty sure sales reps don't have to do that crap. And, again, I want to know why Linda doesn't sue his boss for sexual harassment (though I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen very often in Japan, if at all). If this was a US show, I'd say everyone would ultimately end up succeeding, but this is a jdrama so it could very well be Rocks Fall Everyone Dies.
Seriously, it's like no one's allowed to be happy in this show. Every breaks down/almost breaks down at least once this episode because their life is made of suck.The Verdict: I have to say, even though I liked the cast I was unsure about this drama before the first episode. But it's got me intrigued and I want to keep watching. Even if Rocks Fall Everyone Dies.
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