[2024] Hiroshige Blue ~ 広重ぶるう

 This is available on NHK World-Japan's site.  It's free with subs and it's only 3 episodes.
Hiroshige Blue

I know NHK offers short series like these but sometimes I forget to check what's new.  Thanks to FB, I'll be watching some reels and NHK has one about their new shows.  

Episode 1 is about 41 1/2 minutes long. Sounded interesting so I'm gonna check this out before I go back to my next drama.  If this is any good, I'll probably end up watching all 3 now.

Another Change of Plans

 I know I said Ties of Shooting Stars was going to be next and I already started it BUT I have started others since that last post. 

Though I am fairly easy to please with dramas, I realize that the speed by which I watch them, tells me how good I think they are.  I mean, I really have liked all the ones I've watched but now with so many sites and options to watch, if they don't grab me from the getgo, it might take me longer to watch them.

My first love has been and always will be Jdramas.  When I found Shiratori Reiko de Gozaimasu! 40 years ago, I never would have thought that all these decades later, I would still love them.  When I found it, it was on my local PBS station and it was 1 episode per week.  Then almost 12 years ago I started watching Kdramas which were available on a couple of sites.  A couple of years later I found the Cdramas.

When I was a kid, we had the 2 major TV stations, ABC, CBS and NBC.  Any other stations were just local junk stations that didn't really have great shows on them.  If we were lucky enough to have a really good TV set AND a good set of "rabbit ears", we could watch the UHF stations.  You could find the Spanish channels (this is where Univision & Telemundo were found before they were known as Univision and Telemundo) and other languages.  We had an inexpensive TV with cheap rabbit ears so when I watched my telenovelas, it was 90% snow.  It was difficult to make out faces though I could hear everything clearly.  On a good day (which happened to sometimes be on rainy days somehow), I could see the actors better but mostly, it was like listening to the shows on the radio like people used to do it before TV was a thing.

When cable came out there were lots of channels to choose from so we watched a lot of shows. Back then I never would have thought there would be a time when there was almost an infinite amount of content to watch.  We went from having maybe 10 channels to watch to a couple of 100 and we were in heaven.  Little did we know what the future held.

Part of the reason now that it takes me so long to watch a drama is because I have a lot of other shows I watch including a few American ones. The dramas I watch now need to grab me from ep01.  Before when there were only a few sites I could watch them on, I could sit and watch 3 episodes before deciding if I was going to stay on it or not.  I am still committed to watching at least 3 but now I take my time getting there. If a new show doesn't impress me during e01, I will shelve it for a while.  I eventually go back to watch the other 2 but I take my time on it.

Not sure I mentioned I finally finished Miss Night and Day.  It took some time precisely because I was watching other shows. I've started a new Japanese one and I'll post that info maybe later today or tomorrow.

UP NEXT: (2008) Ties of Shooting Stars ~ Ryūsei no Kizuna ~ 流星の絆

 I know I had a list of dramas that I wanted to watch an episode of and then figure out what order to watch them in.  That plan went a bit sideways when I got addicted to the 2nd drama I chose and I ended up watching all 40 episodes without touching any of the others.

Well, I went back and started watching episode 2 of Miss Night and Day until I got a phone call and I had to pause it.  While I was talking I was looking at the list of shows available of Netflix and I happened to see a "Recently Added" drama.  I recognized 2 of the 3 actors on the poster.  I had to add it to my list and watch 1 episode right away.

Ryo Nishikido was the first one I noticed.  Had a crush on him since I first saw him in 2005's 1 Litre of Tears (Ichi Rittoru no Namida).  Then I saw him in 2008's Last Friends. OMG!  He was so good in that drama but it crushed me to see the character he played.  Back in the late 00's it was still a bit difficult to find good J-dramas with subs so I watched what I could find.  Luckily, it's a rare thing to find a drama that is just so bad, I can't bring myself to finish it.  Recently saw Ryo Nishikido in this year's Extremely Inappropriate.  Shortly after I saw 1 Litre of Tears, I researched him and found out he was part of the idol group NEWS.  I was able to find several of their songs which were pretty good.  

I also recognized Kazunari Ninomiya from Arashi (by far my favorite Jpop band).  Saw him in the movie Letters from Iwo Jima and he's in the drama that is on my original list, Black Forceps. I haven't really made it a point to watch dramas he's been in but now that I have access to more Jdramas than I used to, I'm going to watch more of them. He is in a drama from 2009 called Door to Door which looks interesting.  I'm pretty sure I watched the original American version of that because the story sounds familiar. I also checked out some movies he was in and I found he was part of the Japanese version of Murder on the Orient Express from 2015 which I now have to watch!

Lastly, though I did not recognize her face, I did recognize her name.  Erika Toda.  I remember her from Gal Circle which is the 1 Jdrama that I almost gave up on after the first or second episode.  She was also in the 2nd season of Hana Yori Dango and in Taisetsu no Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta from 2011 with Miura Haruma (RIP).  She was also Misa Amane in 3 Death Note movies. I know I've seen her in at least 1 or 2 other dramas but atm, I can't remember which ones.

Synopsis: (fm Wiki)
During their childhood days, the Ariake siblings -- Koichi, Taisuke, and Shizuna, lived peacefully with their parents who owned a western restaurant named after their family name that specializes in hayashi rice.  One day, in the night, the siblings ran away from home to watch a meteor just to later find out that their parents were killed while they were gone.  The case remained unsolved due to lack of evidence and witnesses; only Taisuke has barely seen as a suspect, and a plastic umbrella with no prints was apparently left by the killer.  Leaving a great impact to the lives of the siblings, they made a promise to find the killer and kill him themselves.

There was more but I purposely did not read it in case it told me more than I wanted to see.  It sounds like a good drama.  So, I am going to finish the 2nd episode of Miss Night and Day and then I'll start this one!

(2024) The Double ~ 墨雨云间 (E02)

Wrote this a month ago shortly after I started E02 and I got so involved in it, I just couldn't stop watching the show.  With limited time to spend on it, I am on E32 of 40 I think.  Going to try and finish it off in the next week.  This is a GREAT show!  

E01 ends with Xue Li making a deal with the woman at Zhannv Hall.  Xue Li tells the woman she will take the place of Jiang Li so the woman doesn't get in trouble for beating Jiang Li to death.  Nobody has seen Jiang Li in 10 years since she arrived at Zhannv Hall so nobody knows what she looks like now.  Xue Li tells the woman she calls the shots at Zhannv Hall so no one would dare defy her.  The woman is skeptical and asks Xue Li "What is your motive?".  Xue Li tells her, "She's still better off than me.  She's the daughter of the Chief Secretariat. It's better than a peasant woman like me. Perhaps the Jiang family will remember heir daughter someday. Then I can live a life of luxury."  The woman rolls her eyes.  Xue Li asks, "Do we have a deal?".  Hidden from the woman's view is Jiang Li's maid Tong'er who is listening to everything while she holds a pair of shears in her hands.

Next scene, the woman is met by one of the girls who complains to her, "Chief, Ms. Jian still dares to lie in her bed?".  The woman smacks her. She says, "Tell everyone to butt out of Jiang Li's affairs".  The girl says "Yes".  The woman continues, "She'll be recuperating here for the next seven days."  And she walks away.

Next scene, Jiang Li is buried by Tong'er and Xue Li.  Once they're done shoveling, Tong Er tries to attack Xue Lie with the shears.  She tells her that if it wasn't for her, Jiang Li wouldn't have died.  She tells Xue Li that she's an ingrate who stole Jiang Li's identity.  She says, "Today, I'm going to kill you to avenge her ladyship!" Xue Li tries to reason with Tong'er by asking her if it's enough to kill her and the chief.  How about everyone else at Zhannv Hall who wronged her and the people who ignored her for 10 years?  Xue Li gets the shears from Tong'er and convinces her that she needs Jiang Li's identity.  Both their reputations were tainted and no one was willing to believe them but Jiang Li believed in her and she believed in Jiang Li.  Jiang Li is dead now and she can't clear her name.  She asks Tong'er to help her clear it. "They think our reputation will forever be tainted, don't they? Let's show them how you and I can clear our names".

(2024) The Double ~ 墨雨云间 (E01) - ADDITIONAL

While watching this one, I hadn't realized how late it actually was so I had to stop and get to bed.  Just finished watching the rest.

So far, it's really good.  New episodes are out on Tuesdays and they're already up to E12 so I'm going to keep watching this one.  I'll watch 2 or 3 more today and tonight will be the J-movie Drawing Closer.

(2024) The Double ~ 墨雨云间 (E01)

 My drama watching history is non existent really.  The first one I ever watched was The Princess Weiyoung and I think it was on DramaFever.  Then I watched Medical Examiner Dr. Quin (2016) which was also a really good.  That one had a total of 3 seasons but I only watched the first.  I really liked the lead girl (Jiao Junyan) so when I found out she wasn't going to be in the other 2, I decided I was probably not going to be watching those. The Double will be my third.  Aside from Tiffany Tang and her husband actor Luo Jin (Both from The Princess Weiyoung), and Jia Junyan, I don't know any other Chinese actors.  

So, here we go!

The episode starts off with some nice flute music that I really like.  A girl in a candy apple red and white outfit is running through a forest and a man in white is chasing after her.  He catches up to her, turns her around, embraces her and kisses her.  The scene turns into a girl sleeping and she is woken up by the sudden sound of thunder (haha a dream?)  She is "Xue Li, courtesy name Fangfei" 

Side note:  I had no idea what a courtesy name was so I had to look it up.  I read up on some of it but it was boring so I'm going to go back to watching the drama and leave the research for tomorrow!

Xue Li wakes up and there is a man laying down on her.  Looks like his head is resting on her stomach.  She wakes him up and when he looks at her she screams.  (maybe he's not who she thought he was?  or not the same guy from before?)  She struggles and 2 women walk in (described as Shen Ruyun and Mrs. Shen).  Shen Ruyun screams out loud.  

Next scene Xue Li is in a room and she's sitting on the floor looking like she's tired or waking up.  She's remembering someone yelling at her "You dirty and shameless bitch!"  She hears her name twice and she jumps.  Cut to her hands and you see they are tied up with chains.  She is chained to the bottom of a table or bench.  A man walks in (Shen Bingxiu, courtesy name Yurong).  Xue Li says "Dear, you're here at last.  I was set up.  Mother and Yurong are mistaken."  The man's fae is expressionless as he stares at Xue Li.  She continues, "We've been married for so many years.  You should know me."  The man reveals he has a hatchet in his right hand.  Xue Li looks at it and says "Dear. You...".  He raises the hatchet as she loudly says "You don't believe me either?"  He strikes the chain several times with the hatchet and frees her.  Tears start to flow from her eyes and he says to her "Let's go"

Next scene they're in a horse drawn carriage (I was certain that there had to be a Chinese word for this so of course I had to look it up.  It's ma che I was curious!).  Xue Li is in his arms as he opens a bottle for her and she drinks from it. (right here I am suspicious.  did he really believe her or is he just getting revenge?)  She drinks from the bottle and he watches her.  He takes the bottle, puts it down and he returns to holding her.  She closes her eyes and quickly her head goes limp. (honestly looks like he drugged her but she probably just fell asleep).  You see the ma che go off into the distance.

Next scene, Xi Li wakes up.  She's laying down in a hole with her hands tied with rope.  She sits up while Shen Bingxiu is walking towards the hole holding a lantern and a shovel. She sees him when he stands by the hole.  "You know I was set up". Shen Bingxiu stares at her.  She says "Who did it?  Was it you?".  Tears start to roll down his face.  "Or was it your mother?  Was it your sister? Shen Young, I'm not a clingly person.  One letter of divorce from you and I would be gone. But why are you so cruel?  You want to destroy my reputation and kill me here too."  Shen Bingxiu says "Xue Li, I have no choice. She could have crushed us like ants."  Xue Li asks, "Who?"  He puts the lantern down.  "Xue Li, close your eyes."  Xue Li grabs the shovel and says "Shen Yurong! How dare you do this to me? Aren't you afraid my father and brother wouldn't spare you?"  Shen gets the shovel back and says "You'll reunite with them soon enough."  Xue Li says "Shen Yurong, what happened to them?"  He says "Duke Xue was sentenced to death for corruption.  Xue Zhao ran into bandits on his way to visit you.  He died a horrible death."  "Was it your doing?" Xue Li asks.  "Was it?  Why are you doing this to me?".  He says, "I'm sorry.  I have failed you in this life." as he strikes a blow to her head and then he screams out loud in pain.

A little over 8 minutes and again, a lot has happened so far.  Going to end it right here for now so I can pay attention to the rest.

(2024) Miss Night and Day ~ 낮과 밤이 다른 그녀 (E01) - ADDITIONAL

 I didn't realize this first episode was just over 1 hr long.  I didn't check to see if they're all an hour or if it was just this first episode.  I'll check before I watch the next episode.

After this episode, the premise of this drama got a little clearer!  We see exactly who Choi Jin-hyuk is as well.  This first episode covered a lot and there were no dull moments.  I'll watch E02 tomorrow.

Next one I'm going to watch is the C-drama The Double.  The first episode is 45 minutes.  I really wanted to watch the J-movie Drawing Closer but it's 2 hrs and I won't be able to fit that in tonight.

(2024) Miss Night and Day ~ 낮과 밤이 다른 그녀 (E01)

Beginning intro was very Sailor Moonesque.  I wonder if that was just for the intro or if it'll get worked into the story somehow.

So, the story begins with a girl riding her bicycle to take a local civil servant written exam.  She gets stopped by a guy in the lobby telling her that getting a civil service job can't be done with just grit or perseverance.  The girl asks him who he is and he says he's like a miracle worker that makes the impossible possible.  The girl tells him she doesn't believe in luck or miracles.  He tells her that the world might deceive her but a miraculous business card could change her life and he hands her his card.  She looks at the card and turns it around.  It says "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry".

In the next scene, an ajumma is praying for Mi-jin to pass her civil service exam since she's taken it 8 times already and she's failed it each time.  "There's no misfortune as disastrous as this" she says.  As she finishes her sentence a cat screeches and breaks a bowl that was on the table.  The ajumma yells at the cat and we see the cat jump across a bright silhouette of the moon.

Next scene, the girl, Mi-jin is sitting on a bench with another girl and a man in between them.  A woman walks out and calls out "Jeong Min-su".  The man gets up and says "yes" and walks away.  The woman says "And Lee Mi-Jin" and both girls say "Yes!".

They are both sitting in the room and one of the female committee members says "Lee Mi-jin?" and the one girl says very enthusiastically, "Yes!".  Our Mi-jin says "Please go ahead".  The woman says "I see you're both named Lee Mi-Jin.  Lee Mi-jin one is in her 20s.  Lee Mi-jin two, in her thirties.  Let's do it this way."  Mi-jin raises her hand and says "I'm also in my 20s though".  Lee Mi-jin one looks at her and laughs.  The female committee member mumbles under her breath, "If you're 28, you're in your 30s".

Next scene, Mi-Jin is walking with her bike when she gets a text.  She has not been selected for the job.  She starts to cry and says she wonders what she'll tell her omma this time.  She reaches home and upon entering, her parents are in the living room.  Her omma has a angry scowl on her face.  Mi-jin weakly announces she's home.  Her omma yells at her "Why didn't you tell me?" Her appa says "Alright, dear.  That's enough. This calls for a celebration". Mi-jin's omma says she called the environmental department and found out she got the job and says "You should've told us that you got the job!"  Mi-jin is confused and realizes the mistake due to the other girl having the same name.  Her omma says "I can die in peace now".

In her room, she can hear her mother calling someone to tell them she got a job after 7 years.  Mi-jin takes out the card the guy gave her at the exam.

Trying to conceal who she is, she arrives at a café called "Vanessa".  She peeks in at the door while Choi jin-hyuk's character is standing there watching her.  He sighs and walks over to the doors and opens one, hitting Mi-Jin in the forehead when he does.  She falls back into his arms and when she looks up to see him he asks her if she's okay.  

Side note:  OMG he's still so damn hot!

Mi-jin is now sitting with the miracle guy.  She asks him "This isn't a scam is it?".  Choi Jin-hyuk's character hears this and takes an interest.  Miracle guy says "What do you take me for?".  Choi Jin-hyuk's character turns around to check out the guy. 

Turns out, there's a large fee Mi-jin needs to pay to get her miracle.  After convincing her that he's on the up and up, she agrees to pay it.  

Next scene miracle guy is on the phone in the bathroom.  "Be ready.  I hit the jackpot today.  I'll buy you something good.  Tell me what you want to eat."  Choi Jin-hyuk's character is in the bathroom as well and he hears everything.

We're 9:15 into the show and already a lot has happened.  I'm going to leave my little bit here.  So far, it's pretty good.

A Few Good Dramas

 I found a few good dramas over on Netflix. One each Chinese, and Korean, and 3 Japanese  One of the Japanese is a movie  

Japanese

Drawing Closer 2024 MOVIE

With only a year left to live, 17-year old Akita finds new meaning in life by bringing joy to a terminally ill girl who has just six months remaining. 

Similar theme as 2004’s Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying Out Love in the Center of the World) and 2005’s Ichi Rittoru no Namida (1 Litre of Tears). I am a sucker for these kinds of tearjerkers. 

Japanese

Black Forceps 2024 - 10 episodes

A brilliant surgeon with a reputation for being difficult battles his colleagues’ incompetence and a new medical device that could make him obsolete. 

This one doesn’t seem to interesting but it has Arashi’s Kazunari Ninomiya so I figured why not. 

Japanese

Public Affairs Office in the Sky - 2013 - 11 episodes 

In this inspiring romance, a former pilot and a demoted TV director meet at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and discover new paths in life. 

A lot of the J and K dramas I’ve watched have some kind of lesson to learn about life. Lessons on how to be just a good person in general. They have a way of making you see certain things in a way that you may not have thought of before.  Inspirational dramas are full of good feels.  

Korean

Miss Night and Day 2024 - 16 episodes

Life is already hard for Mi-Jin, but add supernatural age flipping, a tough new boss…and a blooming romance?  How will she navigate her new life?

Can’t lie, I’m not crazy about the plot. Doesn’t sound great but it’s got Choi Jin-hyuk and that’s good enough for me. Since I’ve been watching dramas (early ‘90s), I don’t think I’ve ever had to bail on one. There are quite a few that I’ve seriously thought of abandoning during my “3 episode rule” but I stuck with them and they turned out to be a lot better than I thought. 

Chinese

The Double - 2024 - 40 episodes

When acts of betrayal leave her family broke, a young woman assumes a false identity and, aided by her political allies, fights for justice. 

I’ve been looking for a good Chinese drama since 2016’s The Princess Weiyoung. I think that was my first C-drama and it was so good!  I’m hoping The Double is good also. 

My plan is to watch an episode of each drama and then the movie. After the movie, I’ll decide how I want to watch the rest of the dramas.

King the Land 킹더랜드 - EPISODE 1

Netflix calls this a "limited series" but it's got 16 episodes which, to me, it's just a regular K-drama.

The show opens with a shot of "King Hotel" and then goes to various shots of men and women at job interviews for hotel concierge.  It ends with candidate 506 burying his head in his hands and telling the interviewers he's shy and he runs away.

They show candidate 511 in a waiting area and a woman comes out and yells for 511.  The candidate gets up and walks towards the interview room.  As she's walking, the heel on one of her shoes breaks off.  She picks it up and keeps going.  The interviewers are waiting and looking at her resume.  One woman asks "What's with number 511? Don't we require a bachelor's degree?"  The man sitting next to her apologizes and says there must have been a mistake during the resume screening process.  Then 511 walks in.  She walks in confidently as if she still had her other heel.  She bows and introduces herself as Cheon Sa-rang

There is silence for a while and the woman mentions she sees her hobby is playing the piano and asks if she'll play for them.  Cheon Sa-rang says "right now?"  and she is told yes.  She looks around and says there is no piano there and the woman says "I know, right?".  They stare at each other and then Sa-rang looks at both men sitting at opposite sides of the woman.  She then starts to "play" Chopsticks on air piano.  The men look up at her.  As she is singing the notes, one of them smiles.

The woman, stone faced, says "Your hobby is playing piano yet you played Chopsticks".  Sa-rang replies, "It's my hobby, not my specialty.  I'm not that good, but I enjoy playing".  The woman says "Can you smile for us?"  So she does.  Then they cut to her in a restaurant not smiling at all as she's drinking a mug of beer.  She's sitting with her friend who is using her actual chopsticks to mimic playing chopstics on air piano.  She says "You really did that?"  Sa-rang says "Yes. What else was I supposed to do?"

Four and a half minutes in and it's funny.  I'll watch 2 of these episodes tonight!

Fermat's Cuisine フェルマーの料理 (Fermat no Ryōri) - EPISODE 2

I hadn't realized that I was up to EP 2 until I saw the opening credits.

This episode centered around Gaku trying to create a dish the rest of the staff would like.  He had failed at all his attempts until he got an idea after speaking with his friend Uomi.  He had one more chance to get a majority of the staff to like his meal.  If he failed again, he would be fired.

A decent drama so far!

Fermat's Cuisine フェルマーの料理 (Fermat no Ryōri) - EPISODE 1

Opening scene, you see someone washing their face in the bathroom.  He walks out and several people say to him "Chef..." as he walks by.  He walks through the dining area of a restaurant on his way to the kitchen.  Assistants hand the check a pot where he takes a taste of the contents.  He walks to a station, tosses a pan from out of his way and begins to season what is in the pot he was given while everyone stares at him.  He walks back to the table, plates the contents of the pot and hands it to a waitress.

Another assistant places a plate with food on it next to the chef.  He doesn't look at the plate and the camera focuses on his face.  You can see him sweating.  He calls out to the assistant and tells her to "remake it".  She says "what?"  Chef tells her "It tastes wrong.  Do it now".  The assistant fights back.  "It tastes wrong?  You didn't even taste it!"  He replies "Can't you see it?".  He looks at her.  "You can can't you?"  He lifts the plate and puts it in here face "Look...LOOK!"  She jumps back and he yells "Why can't you see it?!"  The whole kitchen is staring.  He calmly says "Why can't you see it?"

They switch to a scene of a kid in school.  It's 2023.  The student is walking in the hall and narrating.  He said he wanted to become a great mathematician. They flashback to the student's birth.  His mother telling him to do what he loves and "enjoy this life" while his father sat beside them nodding in agreement.

The student says his mother passed away when he was young so it was just him and his father.  He tells us that ever since he was a child, he loved math.  He was so passionate about it, he decided he would dedicate his life to math.  His dream was to become a globally recognized mathematician.  On the last day of high school, he participated in a contest of the top math students.  It was then that he realized he would never become a mathematician and he saw his dream crumble.

Next Up

I know I'm still on the first episode of "Death Game" but I'm going to start 2 others today and then watch all 3 during the week so I can finish them.  I work 60 hours a week (40 FT and 20 PT) and I don't get a lot of free time.  Most of my free time is spent trying to get as much sleep as I can  If I can get 4 hrs overnight and 2 in the afternoon between jobs, that's pretty good.  I think 6 hrs of sleep in 24 hrs is not too bad.  When I was only working 1 FT job that was 0900-1700, it was great but my FT job now is 4 days of 1400-0000 and my PT job is 4 days 0600-1100.  I used to be able to binge watch dramas after work, while cooking, while eating and at night until about 0100.  Now I need to find time.

Dramas have changed a lot since the Hallyu wave.  I was on board maybe 2 years before it exploded.  Only a few sites were legally streaming K-dramas and they were so so good.  Then PSY got popular (in America) when "Gangnam Style" hit the US and the whole K-drama watching experience changed.  

Everyone wanted to stream K-dramas after the Hallyu wave.  At first I thought it was great but as I started to watch some of them, they weren't the same quality as they were before.  They were dropping so many new shows, it was much harder to keep up.  There are dramas that I really wanted to watch but then 2 weeks later there were more to choose from and some of those I wanted to watch.  Then a couple of weeks later, more new dramas and there were some there that I wanted to watch too.  There were just way too many and now 10 years later, there are a bunch that I had wanted to watch but had no time to fit them in.

Anyway, I'm going to watch the Netflix K-drama King the Land.  Not sure what that title means so I'm hoping it will become clear when I watch.

"Amid a tense inheritance fight, a charming heir clashes with his hardworking employee who's known for her irresistible smile -- which he cannot stand".  This sounds funny.  

The next one I'm starting is the Netflix J-drama Fermat's Cuisine.

"Giving up hope of becoming a mathematician, Gaku feels aimless until star chef Kai brings him on at his restaurant, giving him a new world to master".  This one sounds fun AND it reminds of Bambino (2007 drama with Matsumoto Jun).