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

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.