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

Why Star Wars?

I am extremely late to this but I just finished watching Star Wars: A New Hope. The movie only seemed important to me in terms of the popular culture references it generates and if one is unaware of the film and its expanded circles, one would not be part of this inclusiveness.

The film itself is decent. I appreciate the wide scope, the grandeur and the epic narrative. Some effects seem ahead of their time and many just remind me of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or Doctor Who. But some things are extremely mind-boggling.

- Why is Princess Leia so irritating? She’s loud and demanding. And the hairstyle – my god!

- Because I am so late to hear ‘May the force be with you’ in its actual context, I was immediately reminded of the Indian Superman ‘Shaktimaan’, where the villain and his party often end their conversations with andhera kayam rahe (May there be darkness). And of course, there’s always Superman.

- The light sabers are actually a cool concept, expect for the noise they generate. They’re too noisy if one is planning a homely homicide.

- Is someone inside the suits or are they just bots?

- I don’t think it says much for the film if I like C-3P0 or R2-D2 more than the humans, does it? Those guys didn’t even care that R2-D2 was injured! Jerks!

Drink diary

First dry Martini. Pretty could, but Bond could have done better.

how’s the weather there?

It’s definitely the heat.
It’s not the heat where you strike a pose and strut up in less-than-nothings.
It’s the heat of the scorcher; the burning roads, the sweaty gardens, the crispy cigarette, and the melting bodies.
Or maybe it’s some end-of-the-world warning.
Either way I’m toast.

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

Delayed by good reasons

Silos is watching people that make her go squee!_{or explode}

Yes, I do realise that all of them are Korean.

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.

Best books of 2010

This year, for me, has been a really slow year in terms of books. I’m glad I’m back on the wagon, even though it’s by the help of the Sookie Stackhouse series. I finished the last 4 books in a month and they were entertaining. Currently I am reading From Dead To Worse, the eighth book in the series.

Anyway,
Here’s a compiled list of the best books for 2010.
- A comprehensive list by Amazon HERE. It includes best customer favourites, Editor’s picks, and it’s also divided up by genre.
- NYT also has a list. You can also hear a podcast on the link. In the site’s book section, there are also links to notable children’s books and crime thrillers of the year. 
- Salon also has a list of this year’s best books, which is divided into fiction, non-fiction and author’s picks.
- Boston Globe’s top 10 children’s books here.
- Slate’s list of year’s top books.
- At NPR, you have book critic Maureen Corrigan’s favourite books of 2010. You can also have a listen too.
At largehearted boy, you can get a complete list of the online best books of 2010.