Suzuki Sensei ep 5

I've got a few jdorama reviews swimming in my head but have just been too lazy to take screencaps and start typing. Then I watched episode 5 of Suzuki sensei and I just had to write about it. Episode 5 starts of with more of Suzuki sensei and his wild fantasies about Ogawa. The revelation at the end of episode 4 casts doubt on whether the fantasies are his imagination going wild or a product of some mental projection from Ogawa.

I love the possibility and I love the tease that it could be true. More importantly, it doesn't have to be for the storyline to work. It is the possibility that makes it fun to watch as it enables the viewer to see things in two different ways. It also gives the viewer impetus to watch closely and look for clues whether it is one or the other. Is Ogawa sharing in his fantasies or is Suzuki sensei letting his infatuation with her get out of hand?

Episode 5 deals with friendship, jealousy and changing oneself to better get along with others. But first, a new sports teacher Tsuzuki sensei arrives threatening Suzuki sensei's throne of most admired teacher. Worse, Tsuzuki sensei seems to be acquainted with Ogawa which ignites Suzuki sensei's infatuation with Ogawa even more. The scene with Suzuki sensei typing angrily was overacted too much IMO and went too much into camp which does not fit in the dorama world. Have to admit it was funny though.

Ogawa and Honoka have become the best of friends and this provokes Saki to start spreading rumours about Ogawa and Tsuzuki sensei. One thing leads to another and suddenly the rumour takes a life of its own and gets connected with the identity of the person Ogawa really likes, which is the main mystery for Suzuki sensei and the viewers.

I have to say, I am still a bit unclear on the whole class experiment thing. Suzuki sensei has said that normal students usually have issues that are buried and Ogawa was central to his plan because she is the model student. The show has been pretty much the Ogawa fascination, whether she can project her thoughts and what is Asami's role in the story going to be. I'm starting to think its just Suzuki sensei's way to justify spending so much time thinking about Ogawa.

I liked how ep 5 incorporated more Ogawa teasing the audience and Suzuki with a look at Saki feeling betrayed by Honoka and turning her ill feelings towards Ogawa. Like episode 4, you have another student seeking an outlet for negative emotions and not realising the harm the student is doing. Once again, I can't hate Saki because you can see her point of view, however misguided. Its kind of like the intro of the song where the students put on Suzuki sensei's glasses and pass it on. Its like seeing the world through each of the characters' eyes and the quality of the writing and acting makes them more than 2D cut out problem students.

I felt that there had to be a big reveal at the end of the episode and boy, it was an interesting one. It also made me think about Suzuki sensei's rationalisation to refer to Ogawa as god. We know that Ogawa is self conscious of other's perception of her and wants to be liked and get along with everyone. We know that Suzuki and Tsuzuki worship her. We know that at least 5 guys in the class do.

We know that there is a possibility she has the ability to project her thoughts onto others. What if she had been actually doing it to the 5 classmates and the two teachers? Subconsciously making them fall in love with her? I am sorely tempted to watch the rest of the series raw to find out....

Suzuki sensei ep 6

I've got a bunch of doramas and jmovies to write about but right now I want to write about the show I had the most fun watching. Yes, Chucks is back and after a long wait, episode 6 is out! I tried watching it raw but there were bits that I couldn't get and Suzuki sensei is one show where the dialogue is very important. Episode 6 deals with the aftermath of ep 5 where Takechi went nuts and is now on a sabbatical from school.

In order to smooth things over and get Takechi back, Suzuki sensei suggested that Konno, who was one of the main rivals for Ogawa bring Takechi the newsletter. Nakamura volunteers to go with him but Kawabe Ayaka hijacks Suzuki's grand plan. Suzuki sensei is similar to Doctors in that it is about human manipulation but we get to see the thought process and things never go according to plan.

So Ayaka visits Takechi and the next day she shows up at school with band-aids on her neck. I won't spoil what happens but suffice to say episode 6 is a dialogue about breaking up and sex, specifically nama (raw) sex. Whether or not one agrees with Suzuki sensei's view, his delivery just makes it a hoot to watch. His acting here is so much different in quality from his acting in Mita. Goes to show how important great dialogue and and well fleshed characters are.

Once again in ep 6, we have another great performance from a young actor in Ayaka. She is able to play someone in puppy love, desperate and the scene with Suzuki sensei in the infirmary reminds the audience that she is so childlike and yet talking seriously about something so adult. Couldn't they have gotten young actors of this calibre when they casted Mita?

The humour of the series comes from character saying unexpected things but they believe what they are saying. There's no winking at the audience as Suzuki sensei has to deal with issues that Kinpachi sensei would not touch. Actually Kinpachi sensei has dealt with some rather adult stuff but Suzuki sensei doesn't talk down to the audience. Its not preachy and not black and white. Suzuki sensei presents his opinion strongly but the audience is allowed to make up their own mind. Actually, you could say Suzuki sensei treats his students like adults.

Big cliffhanger at the end of ep 6. Just when things were going so well and I was looking forward to the students speaking their mind. Ep 6 has not dealt with the two big mysteries of the series. I'm guessing Asami got back with Suzuki because she knows he is trying to overcome his Ogawa obsession. As for whether Ogawa really has powers, we have 4 more episodes to find out.

Suzuki Sensei movie

I've been waiting so long for this and its now available on the interwebs with Japanese subs! Suzuki sensei is to this 2K10 dorama era what Kinpachi sensei was to the 90s. Kinpachi sensei was an idealistic, preachy and moral look at various student and social issues while Suzuki sensei is smarter and looks at grey area issues. I'm not dissing Kinpachi sensei but Suzuki sensei is a more sophisticated dorama. Plus Kinpachi season 6 was the only time I thought Ueto Aya was a decent actress.

The movie is basically two episodes into which would have worked better separately; one is the high school council election and the second story is about two former students who are now 'rejects' of society. The student election story I enjoyed a lot more. Taruko sensei comes back and has the power to completely ignore Suzuki sensei's existence which becomes a running joke throughout the movie.

To combat spoiled votes, Takuro sensei changes the voting rules to require all ballots be signed. What follows is an interesting examination on right to not vote and its fun watching the students gear up for elections and having to give speeches. Good thing they didn't have to walk around the school with megaphones giving speeches about Japan.

The second story is about two ex-students who hang around at the park everyday with one of them being played by Mitsushima Hikari's brother from Soredemo Ikite Yuku. Those two are perceived as dangerous people and Suzuki sensei and Ogawa are the only two to treat them as normal. An incident happens in a park and suddenly the public ashtrays are removed and a sign erected saying be careful of suspicious people. Basically the two ex-graduates only place to hang out are taken from them.

One of them, having lost is hang out place ends up bashing his mom and Mitsushima Hikari's brother decides to go to school and make Ogawa his hostage. Suzuki sensei has always been about interesting arguments from both sides but hostage dude does not have an argument. I was excited about his casting cause of Soredemo but alas, there seems to be a law in Japan that every bad guy has to do the evil laugh.

The hostage situation is more to set up the payoff of Suzuki sensei's speech to the class about the merits of acting in real life and to the most wtf action scene in Suzuki sensei that had me in awe and laughing at the same time. The movie ends with the result of the hostage situation but the movie doesn't take time to appreciate the gravity and trauma of the hostage situation. Its as if it were just an everyday occurance.

Not the must watch movie I was hoping for but it doesn't suck either like the Gaiji Keisatsu movie which I'm trying to forget. I think the writer did what he could to make it work as a movie. I think its worth watching for fans of the show.

Here's some necessary vocabulary to watch to movie:

小川病 - sometime every guy in the movie has
公約 - public commitment
生徒会 - student council
選挙 - election
書記 - secretary
立候補 - announcing one's candidacy
記名投票 - registered ballot
無効投票 - invalid ballot
宣言 - declaration
立会演説 - campaign speech
規制 - regulation
不審者 - suspicious person

Seinaru Kaibutsutachi eps 1 and 2

Seinaru Kaibutsutachi is similar to Saigo Kara in the sense that it fees like a hodgepodge of genres.Its your underdog medical drama with Okada Masaki as Shiba Kengo, your typical young, nice guy protagonist who is transferred to a rural hospital that is understaffed and in the red. There he meets head nurse Kasugai Yuka (Nakatani Miki), a very dedicated and intense person.

Seinaru Kaibutsutachi is also one of those rich people political dramas. Fuga Keiko (Kato Ai) is married to Suzuki sensei, the son and heir of a major group that runs a lot of schools. While Suzuki sensei is divorced, the daughter lives with him and the ex wife is still an important member of the organisation. Kato Ai suffers a miscarriage during the wedding and as a result is unable to have children. Basically normal daughter in law married to rich family and for some reason filthy rich people in doramas have to speak and act like aristocrats from the 17th century complete with sneering mother-in-law. Perhaps Japanese think people buried in money have lost all sense of normal conversation and only think in terms of duty to the company and family.

Finally Seinaru Kaibutsutachi is a mystery thriller with the first episode starting with a unknown pregnant woman dropped in front of a hospital and the young protagonist Shiba sensei proclaiming that it was all part of a plot. By the end of episode 2, we can pretty much guess who the mystery pregnant woman and the plot was, which is not a bad thing. The important thing is how well it is executed.

To be honest, Seinaru Kaibutsutachi feels very disjointed. The tone of the dorama is inconsistent. The way scenes from the three genres are shot are very different. I think they director made a mistake in not establishing a consistent look for all the scenes instead of playing with different tones for each scene depending on what is was about. For example, the scenes involving Suzuki sensei's aristocratic like family are so brightly lit like an afternoon soap opera. There is a surgery in episode 2 with the music trying to imitate Iryu. Shiba sensei's story with his patient feels like your generic feel good doctor story. Lastly, Nakatani Miki and Suzuki sensei's scenes in episode 2 were like from a realistic and serious dorama where the dialogue meant something.

First off, I have to say what is holding this dorama together is Nakatani Miki's Kasugai Yuka. She is so fucking awesome. She's like Koizumi Kyoko, able to play a character with depth that draws the viewers attention everytime she is on the screen. It also helps that her character Yuka gets more and more intriguing. Let's just say that the title is not called The Holy Monsters for nothing. I love characters that we can see thinking and know what they want and what they have to do.

Contrast with Kato Ai's acting. I know she's not playing the most well developed character in the show but its like she's playing a character in an overacting afternoon soap and Nakatani Miki is playing in a Wowow dorama. I probably should put more blame on the directing and the fact that there's probably some clause in Kato Ai's contract which states that every time she is on screen, warm fuzzy lighting must be used.

Anyway back to my two favourite scenes in the series and they are between Suzuki sensei and Nakatani Miki in episode 2. All I can say is wow.  Its like suddenly all the crappy generic dialogue disappears and we get two scenes where what was not said is as important as what was said. I love the smug way Suzuki sensei defends his actions. He knows that he does not have to appeal to Yuka emotionally. Yuka tries to use emotion but Suzuki sensei cuts her off by defending the difficulties and risks his actions pose to his position.

Yuka then plays on his battlefield of logic and asks some pertinent questions that Suzuki has no answer for before showing him how serious she is and how much she is willing to do for Kato Ai. The second scene is Yuka using the allegory of the sea to convince Suzuki that her plan can be done with little risk to his position and company. I just love how Nakatani Miki can put on a different mask for Yuka depending on the situation.

I hope Suzuki sensei's character gets to play a big role. I want to see him engaged in a battle of manipulations but I have a feeling he's going to be just along for the ride. Suzuki Anne shows up in episode 2 as a tool of Yuka's plan. Haven't seen her in ages but I expect good acting from her. Seinaru Kaibutsutachi has potential and Nakatani Miki is worth watching for.

Hamsapsukebe awards 2011

Now that I finished watching Pandora 3, its time for no prizes for my favourite doramas and performances from last year.  Hopefully I've watched everything worth watching. The only two caveats could possibly be Shitamachi Rocket and Co Ishoku Coordinator. Both are unsubbed and would be pretty hard to watch since they would involve lots of technical jargon though jdrama weblog has written detailed synopsis. Can't get HKEng subbed Wowow doramas so maybe I'll give them a go some time in the future. Forgot to look for Kazoku Hotei when I was in Japan. :(


I CAN'T BELIEVE AWARDS:

I can't believe 40% of Japanese thought Mita was good or at least tuned in for the last episode.

I can't believe Suzuki sensei has an average rating of 2.16% An incredible dorama is on TV and the ratings actually slide done. Where are the Japanese reviews and blogs telling people how good it is?

I still can't believe they screwed the middle Jin 2 up. That's what happens when you write Nakatani Miki out of the story.

I can't believe how brainless Watashi ga Renai Dekinai no Riyuu is. What is more unbelievable is that I lasted 7 episodes.

I can't believe there are 4 seasons of Hancho and they rate pretty decent. Talk about rewarding mediocrity.

I can't believe Takei Emi is getting such a big push like as if she's bonking all the producers. She's like the second coming of Horikita Maki.



WATCHABLE DORAMAS OF 2011

Jin 2 - The ship got back on the path towards the end but it was too late.

Kurumi no Heya

Is - Unfortunately not based on the Masakazu Katsura manga but still watchable.

Don Quixote

Last Money ~Ai no Nedan~ - If not for the johnny guy, it would have been a pretty good dorama.

Shinya Shokudo 2 - Not as good as the first one.

Pandora III

Madonna Verde - Haven't watched the last 2 eps. Could end up sucking.


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS


Ono Karin as Kawabe in Suzuki sensei.

Kawabe is the most important student in terms of performance and she absolutely sold me that she was playing a real character and believed everything she said. Ogawa was the central character storyline but no acting was needed for her. Suzuki sensei would have failed without Ono Karin's fearless acting.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Takashima Masanobu as Moriyama sensei in Doctors

I guess the most of award is due to the writing but Moriyama is the most memorable supporting character from last year's doramas. There is not subtle acting here but the character does his job well. Moriyama inspired me to write this post about memorable jdorama characters.

Shout out to Kazama Shunsuke who played Futaba's sister in Soredemo. He is one johnny beside Nino who can act.

BEST ACTRESS

Mitsushima Hikari as Toyama Futaba in Soredemo Ikite Yuku

There is no one else to give it to. Whoever gives it to Matsushima Nanako in Mita is an idiot.

BEST ACTOR

Can't choose between Eita and Hasegawa Hiroki.

Both great performances. Eita really impressed me and I was never impressed with his acting until Soredemo. Hasegawa Hiroki followed up his faultless performance in Suzuki sensei with Mita but even he couldn't even act to the horrible lines.

TOP 5 DORAMAS OF 2011

5. School!

Knows what it is doesn't try to be what its not but doesn't it very well.

4. Doctors: Saikyou no meii

Doctors is what happens when you take all your hospital dorama cliches and give the characters' brains. You end up with something intelligent unlike hospital doramas that make things stupider by making it more soap operaish. *cough* 37 sai *cough*

3. Yuusha Yoshihiko to Maou no Shiro

Very, very funny dorama made on a shoestring budget which further enhances its charms.

1. Suzuki sensei (tie)

I think I've said all I need to say about Suzuki sensei here, here, here, here, here, here and here. 7 posts on Suzuki sensei! Probably the only other dorama I've written so much about is Kekkon Dekinai Otoko. Suzuki sensei has plenty of subtext and undertones as well as being pretty funny.

1. Soredemo Ikite Yuku (tie)

Can't decide which one is better since they're both bloody fucking good. So good I have to consider both of them if I ever make a top 10 list which I'll never do cause I can never whittle it down to just 10. Soredemo is just a great emotional journey that shows you what they characters are going through instead of preaching it to you. Can't believe Fuji TV made something so good.

Suzuki sensei ep 7

Got back from work and guess what? Suzuki sensei ep 7 sub is out! This dorama is too bloody good to be true. In the Japanese dorama industry filled with idoru doramas trying to push the next singer with no acting talent, finding such a well written and acted dorama is like finding water in the desert.

I just love how Suzuki sensei keeps surprising me with what he says. When we last left our characters in ep 6, they were interrupted by Ashiko sensei. I was shouting at Suzuki to tell her to get the fuck out of there until she said some interesting things. I like that she's more than just a busybody teacher. Best part was the students indirectly telling her to piss off.

What follows is one of the most riveting, cool and funny discussions about sex, virginity, expectations and selfishness. I cannot think of a dorama that manages to speak to the audience, entertain and at the same time provide a lot of laughs. The students arrive at some sort of understanding but unlike your generic doramas like Kare, Otoko, Tomodachi there is a strong build up, there is danger and there are very well written thought provoking lines with the acknowledgment that it is merely a small step.

Poor Kana and her oujisama no yume.

Not since Jyoou no Kyoushitsu have we seen such a collection of great acting talent. The best thing about Hasegawa Hiroki's acting is that I believe Suzuki sensei absolutely believes what he is saying, unlike his acting in Mita. The same can be said for Ono Karin who plays Kawabe. Kawabe is real. Some hack overpushed hack like Horikita Maki doesn't even have half of her acting talent.

It was an awesome speech but I was just laughing at the double meaning.

Here's some more thought provoking stuff from episode 7: if you deal with students by the book and problems arise, you won't get in trouble. Suzuki's is afraid that his methods will make him an easy scapegoat when things go awry. Its true of any job. Do it by the book so you can always explain your actions and you won't get into trouble. Put filenotes on the system or clear it with your team leader. However, is there a be all and end all book about dealing with students?

Most of episode 7 deals with Suzuki sensei's origin story. What made him create this plan about model students, why Ogawa is so important to him and what the fuck his plan actually is. This part of the story is on par with episode 1 of Shozukai. I'm talking really heavy, great movie quality scenes. Its such a sad story and I wanted to look away because I knew the outcome yet I am enthralled because I can almost feel Maruyama Yasuko's pain because I can see it in her eyes.

Its just bloody beautiful. The scene where Maruyama is carrying the bucket, she looks out towards Hiroka who's skipping her duty and the two share a look of something. The scene is repeated three times and the third time Suzuki finally puts words into the look and the moment. Ok it was actually shown twice but it was part of the cleaning scene which is shown three times with three different voice overs. Its just an absolute triumph of writing and directing; show a situation three times while giving the audience a different take each time.

Another example is the above two pictures. Same scene but featuring different narrators. The first with Maruyama resigning herself to her fate. The second Suzuki sensei not realising that in encouraging her, he made Maruyama think there was no other way for her act except to fulfill other people's expectations and not live for herself.

Its just beautiful stuff. And the scene where Asami finally tells Maruyama's soul? in Suzuki's place that she could go home. Clearly Asami has powers but it has yet to be explained. Do I care? Not as long as this series keeps giving me godlike episodes like this. And the end where Suzuki tells Takechi he understands his feelings is so funny because its true. Whatever happens in the next three episodes, this is on of the best episodes ever, on par with Soredemo Ikite Yuku's episode 8. Just too perfect to be true. If you know anyone who watches this stuff, pimp Suzuki sensei like its the greatest thing on Japanese tv.