A month's worth of culture

 Last month was exhausting. Oscillating between work and laziness is a burden one must not carry!

Here's something I delved in during the last 30 days:

Rewatching: Hunter x Hunter

I would put this anime among my Shounen favorites like One Piece or Bleach. We follow the protagonist Gon on his journey to become a hunter just like his father. Gon is our typical shounen hero who believes in friendships and not hurting someone and the usual rigamarole. 

But we do not go through the usual arcs like we encounter in other manga/anime. This is like a shounen manga on video game adrenalin, with good fast-paced plots, quick but apt developments and interesting cliff hangers or climax. 

The characters are always developing and that is the USP of this series. Gon and Killua and the posse are always attaining new levels and it is a delight to watch them get new skills in every arc. From the Hunter card arc to the Arena arc, winning is not just a given for some and the fights are fun to watch as you do not know what aces do they have up their sleeve.

Obviously when we talk about cards, Hisoka deserves a mention. He is the grey man, anti-hero or anti-villain or let's just say the Snape. We do not know who he supports as his intentions are shrouded in mystery. However, we all know that he is attracted to (ahem..) power and talent. I guess competition and upskilling really lights a fire in his belly. 

This series is a must-watch for all Shounen fans. I would rate it as high (or maybe more?) as Bleach but maybe less than Naruto.

Watching: Psych

This series is fun, and light hearted. A bit like Brooklyn99, but without the entourage. I thought the jokes might fall flat as they are not topical, but that was not the case. Being a mystery fan, I had a lot of expectations. However, it is better to view this series as a comedy rather than a detective series. 

It's a fun watch and tickles your funnybones. But as a mystery standalone genre watch, it might not be the best pick. 

Reading: Gyakusatsu Happy End

This is a dark manga. I am almost halfway done but it gets darker with each chapter. 

This manga is about Makoto Kusakabe who works part-time to earn money for her ill younger sister's treatment while being tormented by his abusive father, a mother who left him and bullies. But when he is told that his sister has only a short time left to live, he is desperate. And in such a state he goes to a dark side of himself which cannot be undone. 

If you are fond of time loops and Death Note, this manga will definitely appeal to you.  

 There are other things in offing as well, but for now Toodaloo. 

back to school

Japanese audience loves its school dramas. Whether it is a romantic comedy set in school like Hana Yori Dango or it’s something like Great Teacher Onizuka where a former thug comes to school to make a difference in the lives of his students. The newest addition to this genre is 35-year-old high school student, where a woman returns to school to complete her graduation.

School dramas mostly deal with issues like bullying, isolation, friendship and peer pressure, lawlessness, depression, and relations between teachers and students. Baba (whose name means an old woman) joins a high school class teeming with such issues. There are class bullies, girl gangs, troublemakers, victims and teachers who are unable to do anything. Baba, who has scars from her previous school experience, this time, tries to help others by being a strong and trustworthy character. While at school she helps the class get closer with each other and tackles issues which the school staff wants to avoid or brush under the carpet.

Films like Billy Madison, etc deal with this issue in a lighter vein but Japanese television takes school issues very seriously and churns out school dramas every season. However, the only drawback to this is that the themes and issues get repetitive. Also, as these dramas are usually led by a strong main character, this would mean that the lead has to be convincing and do a stellar job wooing the class and the audience.

Grim little sleepy town

ITV’s Broadchurch is about a small town that comes to the forefront when an 11-year-old boy dies under suspicious circumstances. Mostly, the show deals with the aftermath of a young boy's death as the family and the town copes with the onslaught of grief and attention.

The show stars Barty Crouch aka David Tennant as an ill and tired DI Alec Hardy supported by DC Miller, played by Olivia Colman. Doubt is in the air and suspicion fall on everyone who is even remotely linked to the case. Both follow leads and clues and often end up reaching nowhere. There is a lot of misdirection but slowly all the false clues are eliminated.

Small town murder mysteries often remind me of Miss Marple mysteries that are teeming with undercurrents. There are incestuous dealings, gossip and rumour mills, nosy neighbours, and just plain people hiding truth that have nothing to do with the murder. 
(Also reminded me of Murder she wrote, where a sleepy town in Maine becomes the victim of a grim crime, much too often.)

There is a lot of similarity between Broadchurch and the Danish hit Forbrydelson (also called The Killing), which also deals with a single murder throughout the series: A town rocked by an unexpected murder but while Forbrydelson had a political angle attached to it, Broadchurch focuses on the lives of people shattered by the tragedy. I would recommend this series. Although the end might not be very surprising (at least it was not for me), the ride is enjoyable. The scenery is wonderful and spectacular, the dialogues crisp. How a single murder can set off a series of onslaughts has been explored quite well.

Saving the damsels in distress

Lucius Malfoy… excuse me, Jason Isaacs stars in this fast-paced mystery drama about a former cop-present detective who has a penchant for finding lost people, especially girls.

The mysteries are intriguing and the chase by the lone detective are rewarding. The stories are intertwined and flow into each other and sometimes we have to follow three cases at once. From finding a girl who went missing 20 years ago to aiding a crime novelist in his who gets embroiled in an accident, Scottish detective Jackson Brodie is the unlucky detective, who is always at the right place at the wrong time and loves his old American country songs.

What I liked about the series was that it did not try to be more than what it is. There is the mystery that is tackled and sometimes we are made privy to Brodie’s internal struggle as he continues to deal with the drowning of his sister when he was a child. Comparing this to Wallander, I found Case Histories to be a better drama in terms of pace, storyline and action. Wallander mostly took place inside the mind but Case Histories takes you where you want to be.

Review: The Girls

I would usually avoid a series with such an obvious title. But I am not regretting picking this up. The series is a fresh take on girls living in New York and experiencing lives as an adventure. I think there is some Gossip Girl and SATC in this but I also saw some hues of Mad Men.

The series revolves around Hannah and her friends, trying to figure out their lives (aren’t we all?) as they traverse through their 20s. The series generates a lot of introspection and sometimes as you look through the characters’ anxieties, mistakes and misgivings, you oscillate through a sense of belonging and a sense of alienation.

But the series is more of a montage on living and experiencing. I really liked an episode where Hannah goes to apologize to a stranger for dumping garbage in his trash can and somehow ends up spending two days with him.

Overall, the series is worth watching and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in light watching and slight contemplation.

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?!

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.

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.

Shedding the last bit of conscience

Byakuyakou translates to journey under the midnight sun. The two of them proclaim to be each others’ shining but fake sun.

Episode 2 and 3 were an emotional turmoil, a joy ride. Children who split meet as adults, but they still have dread hanging over them. There are witnesses and bullies, suspicious old timer cop and burgeoning evidence all hanging over their heads. One struggles with his last bit of conscience and decides to drown it; The other is sure that to be together forever, everything else is just an obstacle, even being together now.

Episode 3: Hand holding, take 2

The actors are superb, the plot heavy and palpable. At this point, I have no problem with the pacing and I am really glad the episodes are not exactly episodic, as in one obstacle per episode.

Looking forward to the what happens next :)

Sinners who love

A snap from e1 : This was just so warm, coming where it did.

I had been postponing my watching Byakuyakou for a very long time. Now that I have seen the one-and-a-half-hour long episode one, I wonder why I try to delay watching pleasurable things.
This trend, of not watching anime or dramas that I know will suit my likes and choices, is not a new one. I still haven’t watched Monster and Death Note. I know Baka-Raptor recommends it and I surely know that I will be a fangirl when I watch them.
I think this all stems from insecurities. I think that after watching the best, where do you turn to? What if there isn’t anything better after this and what’s left is a pool of mediocrity?
Back to Byakuyakou. I like stories of revenge. Redemption stories are better too, but revenge and getting what one deserves is the best way to get my attention.
Byakuyakou is the story of two kids, who have embarked on a similar journey. There’s laughter and longing, suspense and murder, and star-crossed lovers are always fated for either doom or domestication.
I am looking forward to watching this with force and gusto. Recommend this to everyone who likes good acting and a strong plot.

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

The man who made me love TV more

is being heralded by the Slate as the man who changed TV criticism. Alan Sepinwall has made me fall in love with Mad Men, Breaking Bad and I’m sure more are soon to follow. An excerpt from the well-written Salon article:

His recaps appear online in record time, typically bursting with incisive commentary and wit." Sepinwall's output is also legendary: He's currently reviewing between 10 and 15 shows each week, which he says is "a fairly light schedule for me."

His earlier blog was a wonderful discovery that I am really grateful for. It was the epic series The Wire that directed me towards his blog and since then I have always turned to Sepinwall after finishing every episode that he also reviews.

I loved his reviews of Dexter, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and recently Community.
Sepinwall (or the king of the form) can now be read here.

Technorati Tags: alan sepinwall,tv,popculture

Couch potato for a week

This past week has been hectic in terms of watching and finishing series. Catching up with wonderful and mind-blowing series is pretty much called hard work.

Sepinwall always sang praises about this but I was too wrapped up in Mad Men to care. But when it started to make it to lists on top of the decade, I knew I couldn’t ignore it.

I covered the series in about 4 days. It’s something that first takes you in easily – you want to know what is going to happen to this man who has knowingly involved himself in danger. But then you go from care to apathy to excitement. The acting is top-notch and so is the plot.
Top marks all around.


I also covered one season of Twin Peaks. I would call this show an existential dilemma made easy (oxymoronic, I guess).  The show is like a small-town meets Luis Bunuel. David Lynch’s Blue Velvet is like this too – It looks like a mystery, but it’s a surreal look at the seedy mechanics going underneath. The music is haunting and so are the town folk. Kyle MacLanchlan is a treat to watch.


I’ve finished most of Cougar Town (atleast as much as was made). It’s fun to watch cause it’s witty, crisp and refreshing. Although 24-hour wine drinking bums me out. But it’s still nice to watch if you want a break from all the heavy drama.


This is what I’m currently watching – Korean drama Full House is a long journey ‘cause even though there are 16 episodes, each one is almost more than an hour. Plus, it is a pain to find them! It’s a bit of melodrama and romance but not bad to watch. Definitely recommended.

Rebels, or are we?

What a talk!

Speaking as someone without an opinion, boy, have I got an opinion. And what’s more it’s directed towards everyone.

And what’s more I even hate writing about it ‘cause I know others won’t have the same as mine.

But, for once and for many, I wish my opinion was a maxim. Or probably, the final stopping point… Something like..

BTW: Shinichi Kudo is never wrong. Why is that?

It’s changing. Probably. Someday

I miss writing.

Somehow, going through the wires each day and seeing political policies, crime and violence and just plain ol’ news, has made me jaded. It has also pushed me away from writing, something that I enjoyed occasionally.

So, now I’ve decided to do something about it. I will probably start writing reviews of things I see daily but am too lazy to post about. And these will be, of course, anime.

Watching these shows everyday, I have somehow managed to form an opinion about them (something I usually avoid). So, even though these reviews won’t be lengthy, they will have more screenshots and comments and less analysis (Which I was trying to do in my other blog…)

So, even though I can’t put a date on it, I’ll start soon. Probably. Someday. Soon.

In any case, I don’t feel too bad cause…