The crown is heavy - Mr Beast and the recent hubhub

More than a decade ago, I read a play by Jean Genet called Balcony. The play is set in a brothel in an unnamed city which is undergoing a revolution/rebellion. The brothel is a make-believe stage where one can indulge in activities of power and control, which is crumbling outside in the city. The clients of the brothel participate in role-playing and act out their dreams and fantasies. 

Genet, himself the son of a prostitute, was a politically charged French poet, playwright and an activist. His plays highlight power centers and established norms and subversion. 

But he also believed that once a revolution achieved its goals and established a new order, this new order would inevitably come with its own set of problems and forms of oppression.

I have not seen Mr Beast's videos in the last few/couple of years. But I have seen his early videos helping people or giving gifts to unfortunate people. Last time I saw him, he was driving a charity effort helping some children get better eye care. So the news that is cropping up recently and shocking the Youtube-verse could be stunning for many. The more news we hear, the worse it sounds.

If we collate Balcony and Genet with this situation, this was bound to happen. When climbing up the stairs of success, one is subversive and breaking the mold and displacing the status quo. In their mind, they are fresh, young blood and revolutionary - Pioneers.
But once established, it all goes down the same way. Rumors surrounding unsafe working conditions were the start; Now there is news of racism, homophobia, hiring criminals, and CP, among others. 

Investigation is ongoing but usually big corporations get away or bury such stories. And Mr Beast and his team is the gigantic mammoth bringing millions of views regularly to Youtube. So all this could be silenced or maybe there could be another quiet rebel working his way up again... 

But we are just here for the content, right?

Current Servings

A nifty list of what I am currently watching:

Jormungand

Tells the story of an arms dealer Koko and her troupe as they negotiate with governments, competitors and assassins. Just three episodes in and I like the fast pace, music and characterization.

Chihayafuru

Based on the Japanese traditional card game karuta, Chihayafuru is an amalgamation of sorts. It is a sports anime, a romantic anime and a shoujo ‘bildungsroman’ anime. The characters are good and sparkly, the storyline strong but the weak link is the pace which progresses slower than the astrological signage. But the build ups are definitely worth it. Have finished season one (and rewatched it too) and about to finish season 2.

Iryu Sousa

From the long (and sometimes exhausting) line of Japanese detective series comes Iryu Sousa. Although each episode starts out fine with a strong mystery element, the end is always lacking and emotional. I guess the point of the whole series is that the protagonist is from the personal effects department, which also includes the family members of the deceased. So after each mystery concludes, this ‘cop’ goes to the relatives and explains to them the reason behind the death and the actions of the deceased , among other things.
Not at all to my liking. Sigh, a few more episodes to go in season 1.

Saikou no Rikon

A very interesting and funny take on love and divorce is Saikou no Rikon. The characters are crisp and relatable, the story line taut and pacy. While some elements could have been better out than in, the story always keeps its focus right. Of course, the acting is stellar with Eita and Ono Machiko as the leads. A must watch.
Two more episodes to go.

Apart from these, the usual still go on. Naruto, One Piece, Detective Conan are always on the backburner, being collected steadily and being watched intermittently.

Working through the formula: Kdramas

Best Love: A love story set in Korea’s TV/film industry. The hero, an egotistical actor, figures out he loves the heroine, a down-and-out singer, by measuring his pulse.

I like watching Korean dramas. They’re usually fluffy romcoms, with enough melodrama and separation that drives viewers mad but not away. (I say usually because there is something called A Love to Kill – beautiful to see but extremely tough to watch).

These shows usually work within a paradigm. Most of them are love stories of a rich, emotionally-stunted hero and a poor but heart-warming heroine. Of course, there are usual suspects - the side hero who love the poor girl but has a fatal flow (he’s her brother, is the best of the lot); the side-heroine, who has her agenda but is deep down a kind person. For the pair to get together in the end, there are obstacles like the hero’s stern family, the heroine’s always-broke dad, etc.

 
Gloria: This show had all the familiar trappings of a K-drama. A closed-up hero who only knew how to express himself through getting beat up and a heroine who raised her older but mentally-challenged sister by doing 10 jobs a day.

So within this age-old formula, which works wonders in all cultures, it is always difficult to establish an OTP (one true pairing) that can sustain a) their own character flaws b) family outbursts and machinations and c) ratings! The first one is extremely negotiable, though.

Goong/Princess Hours: A classic trope loved by all, the forced marriage, with the added bonus of being set in a royal household, Goong is much-liked by all. The story is shaky but there are spots of good acting. Mostly, the OTP wins hearts. 

In any case, while the formula is constraining and limited, the possibilities of experimentation are huge. The same story told through different lens, with things changed here and there, just fuels the fancy of viewers. While Gloria added the theme of revenge to the story, Best Love became a story told through metaphors and symbols.

While I haven’t watched many Kdramas, I’m still waiting to see them try some Japanese police/detective shows like Trick. Can someone make that somewhere?!

A week’s worth of films

Here are some of the films I have this new year. Nothing recent and nothing spectacular or off the charts. Some just sounded interesting and some were critically-acclaimed.

1. Dressed to Kill
Last year I finally saw Scarface. I thought another Brian De Palma film wouldn’t hurt, especially one whose synopsis from IMDB read :A mysterious, tall, blonde woman, wearing sunglasses murders one of a psychiatrist's patients, and now she's after the prostitute who witnessed it. 

2. Leon the Professional
This movie is always floating in IMDB lists; so finally picked it up. While watching it, I loved the music, especially juxtaposing it with the continuous massacre in the film.

3. Paths of Glory
I am making an effort to watch war films. I haven’t counted but this might be my third war/anti-war film.
Paths of Glory is an anti-war parable, mostly about how war is not about the macro-picture but just about individual ambitions trumping over the lives of feeble soldiers. I was appalled and shocked at the right moments and Kirk Douglas was a revelation! Also Stanley Kubrick as the director ain’t bad either! 

4. The Social Network
I avoided this film on purpose. It’s difficult to see this film as an objective viewer. I’ll post a very apt blog entry by Filmdr who says that after watching this film ‘two ironies emerge’:
a) A shy, anti-social young man electronically seduces the world by appealing to everyone's social instincts.
b) Goaded on by sexual rejection and class resentment, Zuckerberg invents the ultimate club that establishes its own kind of exclusivity by allowing only members with the Harvard.edu address, but then he gradually lets everyone join. Like a bunch of lemmings, we do.

5. The Bad Seed
What makes a child go bad? Is it nurture or nature? I think the film tried to answer the question by introducing us to a child who acts perfect but is a basket of killings waiting to unravel. The film is a precursor to Children of the Corn, The Omen’s Damien but at a small, household level.

6. The Hurt Locker
In my attempts to watch War films, I came across this Oscar winner. I liked the film; the tension is palpable and loved the first words of the film:  The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug. There is no rush and there is no fast—paced action. Just the strain of getting out of anywhere alive. The film flowed like a poem, and ended where it began.


7. Winter’s Bone
I had heard a lot about the film but no names had popped up. The film’s story is nothing great, a girl who is hunting for her father; but the cinematography with the bleak and desolate land and a futile search kept me hooked. A thriller story set in the neo-noir country, the film creeps up on you. Just goes to show you that a good film can be made with less resources.

For the love of truth

The Closer is a pure bliss. Love her or hate her, Brenda gets you results.She doesn’t always do it by the book, but her passion and determination are so exhilarating, siding with her is the only way out. Too bad it’s ending! 

I’m a sucker for detective shows and I’ll take them in any form- Detective Conan, Agatha Christie, Midsomer Murders, The Closer, Psych and so on. I like it when there’s rigorous fact-finding, a bit of analysis and maybe a moral or two.


Keizoku 2: Spec: Lazy cop and angry cop solve crimes related to special abilities.

Just to be clear I mostly watch shows that include more investigation/talking and less CSI work. For me CSI work should be limited to aiding an investigation and not being just the investigation. I’m sure there’s more to detective/police work than just blood/spatter analysis and an autopsy.


Detective Conan: One of the longest running manga and a great detective show. Not only is there a new mystery with each episode, but there’s a over-arching mystery that’s just too cool (the villains are named Gin, Vodka, and Vermouth!); Plus having awesome love pairings also helps a bit.

I also dislike shows like Bones, Castle. I think their strength is mostly the pair and the will-they-won’t-they aspect of it. However, there is just one time that something like that actually worked. And it was:


Trick: A perpetually-scared professor and an out-of-work magician team up to resolve what seem like miracles. Not only is this chemistry great, but the plot is wonderful too.

Some other recommendations: The Mentalist, Midsomer Murders, Jonathan Creek, Columbo.

A gift from Japan

Of course, despair becomes you Japan.

The return of the Picspam!

What Am I Watching? Ichi

                             
So I’m looking at my download folder, which is just about to burst, and I think – How many dramas/anime am I watching?
Just a fair warning – Things that I watch are usually divided into episodic and non-episodic. With the episodic ones, I take my time cause the I think the story isn’t engaging if the author has to resort to episodic events. The non-episodic ones are sometimes also called awesome!

So here’s a list:
1. Inuyasha


Anyone’s who’s even a little bit into anime would have heard of this series at least. A high school girl is transported into feudal Japan reeking of demons and slayers. Here she meets the half-demon Inuyasha who is after the sacred jewel that can turn him into a full-fledged demon.
I like the series as a whole, but it’s too episodic and lengthy.  
For more pics, go here

2. You’re Under Arrest
Another anime. This time it’s cops in a quiet Japanese city.

The series is fun. Look at what they have – two female cops and an unusual motley crew. I’ve just started this but sadly this is episodic too.

3. Fringe

Welcome to episodic land! Fringe is something I watch when I’m loading up on some other (better) serials.  The place taken by Fringe now was earlier occupied by Criminal Minds. They try to do something better, but it’s all already been done. While Fringe is worth a watch, it’s not worth a save.

4. Glass no Kamen (Glass Mask)

And now, the good stuff. Glass Mask is such an inspired story. I first picked up the 1984 version anime and am currently watching and being inspired by the 2005 version. This is such a strong story that I’m now reading the manga.
Simply told, Glass Mask is the story of a teenage girl who knows nothing but acting; a simple girl who transforms on the stage. A must-see for everyone. Also a long, passionate love story.  

5. Gungrave

This anime is a delight to see. Not only does this have a strong storyline, I’ve fallen in love with its songs. Revenge, friendship, love, honour – and guns. Dark and serious, I love the heavy angst.
Here’s the opening!
p.s. The quotes on the wall!!!

6. Gal Circle
So this was an odd one. I am following the brilliant Jdrama reviews of this guy here! And when I saw Gal Circle there, I was a bit confused. A cowboy lands in Shibuya and with his pure-hearted Japanese and heart, tries to correct the behaviour of young para-para (dance) girls!! SO Odd!
 
But fun! Even though there is a usual moral ending, it’s just fun to watch everyone making a fool of themselves! Or you can just watch it for the tons of girls including Toda Erika!

7. Luther

I’m not asking for your approval sir; just your silence.

It’s just too good to see Idris Elba back on the screen and talking in British accent. The last I saw him was in The Wire as Stringer Bell…ahh, good times. Luther is a mystery/cop show. It’s not the best show around but it’s extremely powerful and it’s good. A definite must-watch.

Okay, this is just part one of what I’m watching. I’m sure by the time I write part two, many of these will either be done or long gone. I’ll update soon.
I sorta have a life!

Closer to Criminal Minds

In the past month, I finished the whole six seasons of The Closer. I had not heard much about this series; only that its lead had won the Emmy. Otherwise, I was totally in the dark about The Closer, which has turned out to be my this year’s best detective show.

Usually, I watch shows I keep hearing about, with some blatant exceptions to the rule (like Parks and Recreation, Glee, 30Rock, etc.). But The Closer is a show about detectives and more about interrogation and smarts than evidence and street stakeouts. Brenda Leigh Johnson, played by the delightfully surprising Kyra Sedgwick, transfers to LAPD as a high-ranking officer, and faces staunch opposition for being an outsider and a woman. But she overcomes that by being a top-notch interrogator and a detective.

The series mostly works because of Sedgwick’s brilliant portrayal as the quirky Johnson. It is a must-watch for all fans of the detective genre.

The other show that I started watching after this was Criminal Minds. I can safely say that it is one of the many shows in the line of the CSI blitz. Although the form of detection is based on psychological analysis, the series feels too churned-up and the characters, heavy. There are some good elements, but those are just once in a blue moon. However, I will not completely shun it.

Desire

Listening to: Taishou A
Sin exists because I'm giving up
Punishment exists because I want things too much
I'll leave everything behind
And travel, keep traveling through the cycle