[Discussion] Last Friends - Nagasawa Masami/Ueno Juri/Eita
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Apparently so.hanapyupyu wrote:Well, the producers couldn't let a chance like that pass without redeeming the Johnny boy, right?bmwracer wrote:And we were only kidding about the SP being a Sosuke-fest... Obviously the drama revolves this psycho and not Michiru/Ruka at all.roon wrote:
Yeah, you of all people should pass... Sousuke was way too prominent for my liking. Repressed feelings of rage came flooding back!
Bleah.
Y'know, you're probably right on the mark....
No. Michiru's baby grows up and falls for a young douchebag who looks like Sousuke, and history repeats itself. Yippee! Ryo can make a comeback in the movie with fresh scenes of DV!And they're going to make a movie... What, more recaps??
Forget the movie... Pray for Nodame SP 2. *fingerscrossed*
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I only started watching this drama because Juri-chan was in it, so I really didn't care that much about the quality of the show (I enjoyed it though).bmwracer wrote:So was the first part of Episode 11.lichter002 wrote:I guess this SP was to appease his fangirls
This drama has degenerated to this...
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What's really sad is, I totally didn't care about the abuse of DV (harhar) throughout the series since I kept up with it week after week (and I also really only continued for Juri and Eita)... but seeing it all consolidated into over an hour just made me realize how unnecessary and stupid it usually was. It seems like it's affecting a bunch more people besides me, even, because there was no payoff to sit through something so uncomfortably. They might as well have named the damn SP a DV marathon.
And with that, all my hopes for this series go flying out the window. Unless they had to nix their original intentions for the SP in favor of a movie with the original cast, I am so, so disappointed in this show.
And with that, all my hopes for this series go flying out the window. Unless they had to nix their original intentions for the SP in favor of a movie with the original cast, I am so, so disappointed in this show.
Last edited by roon on Jun 26th, '08, 15:23, edited 1 time in total.
LOL so TRUE!!! seriously i enjoyed the nodame SP much much more than the series itself, it's like 4 hours straight of non-stop whacky humor and emotional scenes, it's sooo good. Gosh, the LF SP is totally unnecessary at all if they're just recaps and few mins of what...stuffs that could've been shown in the last episode itself? urgh....hanapyupyu wrote:Definitely looking forward to Nodame SP 2 or Nodame Season 2.bmwracer wrote: Y'know, you're probably right on the mark....
Forget the movie... Pray for Nodame SP 2. *fingerscrossed*
Nodame SP 1 PWNs LF SP by 938458385994993299 times!!
aww so the sp was nothing special at all? that sucks since i've been anticipating all week for it. i guess in a way it's kinda expected. i mean they didn't decide to have the sp until half pass the drama since it was getting good ratings. so having the sp air right after the drama itself was kinda hard to get a good plot running. unlike nodame who had months of time for plot and filming. now i'm just disappointed cause there's no NG.
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It's like the SP was a DV training course, ne?roon wrote:What's really sad is, I totally didn't care about the abuse of DV (harhar) throughout the series since I kept up with it week after week (and I also really only continued for Juri and Eita)... but seeing it all consolidated into over an hour just made me realize how unnecessary and stupid it usually was. It seems like it's affecting a bunch more people besides me, even, because there was no payoff to sit through something so uncomfortably. They might as well have named the damn SP a DV marathon.
How ridiculous.
Random question thats been bothering me for some time. What did Eita character's sister do to him to make him like that? Did he ever really explain it without being so vague or did I miss something? I always thought that he was molested, but why would his sister touch him while he was that young, and her own brother even?
Last edited by shineox on Jun 26th, '08, 19:59, edited 1 time in total.
I'm a fan of Ryo-chan BUT..... As I know all that 11 episodes was to show the life of Michiru and her friends (that's what the name of it is abaout right??) and Sousuke was just a side one who made it more dramatic with his actions.. So what was the point of making a SP about him? HE IS DEAD! End of his story!
besides I loved the last episode! Those Ruka&Takeru moments and a baby girl
ech... I don't think fans hated him they hated Sousuke....besides who hated him before LF they will hate him after this alsoI guess this SP was to appease his fangirls then, after an entire season of making everyone hate him.
*dead from laughing* that would be something... again... good idea! lol It's like dead's return....It would be ridicuous...I wouldn't be surprised if something like that happens... I think the trailer of the LF horror movie might become the real one...No. Michiru's baby grows up and falls for a young douchebag who looks like Sousuke, and history repeats itself. Yippee! Ryo can make a comeback in the movie with fresh scenes of DV!
besides I loved the last episode! Those Ruka&Takeru moments and a baby girl
Hmm, she didn't so much molest him... Like maybe not forcefully, but because he was so young and because it was someone he thought to be his sister (though not by blood) it confused him and made him unstable. That's my guess, anyway.shineox wrote:Random question thats been bothering me for some time. What did Eita character's sister do to him to make him like that? Did he ever really explain it without being so vague or did I miss something? I always thought that he was molested, but why would his sister touch him while he was that young, and her own brother even?
I agree. If they get a different cast, I'm not even watching it. I mean, I wonder if the producers or whoever know that the show was good because of the actors, and not so much the situations. Somebody, please tell them.avieamber wrote:i have a feeling the movie's gonna suck too. Unless...
I'm done ranting haha
Can someone tell me where they announced there would be a movie for this..and does anyone know where it can be viewed..Sorry I'm somewhat of a newbie..this was a great series and touched on some great subjects but I felt it was to short that they needed to let us get to know each character more..Like Sousuke , why was he like that, how was his childhood ( since he loves kids so much its most likely he was abused as a child) ect. Maybe if they do a movie and take it off TV they can discuss the subjects more since TV is so limited with censures.
Isn't it having a movie stretching it long already? I mean the ending was not was not great as I expected but at least it was a nice closure (well except the issue about Takeru and his sister which i feel is still hanging.). Now i wonder what other "life drama" will they show in the movie that wasn't presented in the series already? Haven't these people gone through enough already? But if they insist on making a Movie, they may as well bring back Sousuke from the dead and have start hunting people in their sleep. For honestly, I think the major reason why most watched this drama -fandom aside- is to see what wako stuff Sousuke will do next. Yes sexual identity crisis and incestuous sexual molestation are worthy issues but from the opinions I read and watched from those with in Japan, it's the DV part of the drama and creepiness of Sousuke's character that had people on the edge of their seats each episodes. The ratings are a testament enough, if you notice the episodes that peaked are the ones with the major wako-Sousuke cliffhangers. Viewers wants action and not talk drama, and that is what the character of Sousuke brings into this series and what will sell if ever they will go through with the movie....
I'll be ecstatic if there's another SP for Nodame! Even though the manga is still on-going, I'd much rather see it live on-screen with more Juribmwracer wrote:I meant a second Nodame special... An entire season would be unlikely, but another SP would be way cool.yanlin wrote:Nodame SP 2???? that is new, or you mean Nodame lesson 2?
Gomen, we're off topic.
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Anyhow, Last Friends SP totally wasted my time. I'll probably just grab the edit version of the SP Ujf uploaded.
That's too bad about the SP. But about Nodame, is there anywhere to read the manga in English? I didn't know it was still ongoing and I'd love to know what's happening in the story!wintergal wrote:I'll be ecstatic if there's another SP for Nodame! Even though the manga is still on-going, I'd much rather see it live on-screen with more Juribmwracer wrote:I meant a second Nodame special... An entire season would be unlikely, but another SP would be way cool.yanlin wrote:Nodame SP 2???? that is new, or you mean Nodame lesson 2?
Gomen, we're off topic.
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Anyhow, Last Friends SP totally wasted my time. I'll probably just grab the edit version of the SP Ujf uploaded.
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Maybe they'll title the movie Halloween or Nightmare on Elm Street.zaq wrote:Isn't it having a movie stretching it long already? I mean the ending was not was not great as I expected but at least it was a nice closure (well except the issue about Takeru and his sister which i feel is still hanging.). Now i wonder what other "life drama" will they show in the movie that wasn't presented in the series already? Haven't these people gone through enough already? But if they insist on making a Movie, they may as well bring back Sousuke from the dead and have start hunting people in their sleep.
You're probably quite right... And that's pretty sad.For honestly, I think the major reason why most watched this drama -fandom aside- is to see what wako stuff Sousuke will do next. Yes sexual identity crisis and incestuous sexual molestation are worthy issues but from the opinions I read and watched from those with in Japan, it's the DV part of the drama and creepiness of Sousuke's character that had people on the edge of their seats each episodes. The ratings are a testament enough, if you notice the episodes that peaked are the ones with the major wako-Sousuke cliffhangers. Viewers wants action and not talk drama, and that is what the character of Sousuke brings into this series and what will sell if ever they will go through with the movie....
I really was more interested in what went on in the sharehouse: those stories were more interesting and deeper than the in-your-face shock value of all that DV crap, which the writer and director exploited to the fullest.
Re: help!
try www.fourlc.comlamania wrote:Where can I watch the SP without downloading Torrent? I tried Tudou and Youku but neither had it...help please!!
many thanks!
Speaking of the manga, chapter 1 seems to have a different mangaka than the prologue. And yeah, it's pretty much like the drama ep1. Takeru kinda became a blondie though? Haha. Sleepyzzz, thanks again! Any idea when chapter 2 will be out? Another 2 months? ^^;
I haven't watch the SP yet...*sigh* after the 9 minutes it'll be over huh? And over in such an unsatisfying way too...>_<
Well, here's what the movie will be about along with cast pics:
I haven't watch the SP yet...*sigh* after the 9 minutes it'll be over huh? And over in such an unsatisfying way too...>_<
Well, here's what the movie will be about along with cast pics:
Last edited by ^Yuuki on Jun 27th, '08, 14:15, edited 1 time in total.
EEK!! WHAT??? They swiched Juri and Masami ?? Nagh.. I bet Juri will do better job on creating Michiru's character^Yuuki wrote: Well, here's what the movie will be about along with cast pics:
Ha! It would be very possible actually!There's something bugging me though about the kid Sousuke was close to before, i know it's not what i'm thinking now but i seriously hope that kid won't grow up to be another Sousuke reincarnation and haunts them afterwards lol...just a random thought.
but we already know what the movie will be about
EDIT: found the SP uploaded
Last edited by Yumi Yan on Jun 27th, '08, 13:37, edited 1 time in total.
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Word.magicmusic wrote:Anyway...yeah, the end of "Last Friends." Hmm. I was with them all the way until:
I don't know about you, but after Episode 11, I felt like a DV victim.
Yeah, thank goodness for Ruka (and Takeru, somewhat), else this drama would've tanked a whole lot sooner... As far as the mugs are concerned, I've no access to them from the States...
The SP is a bit disappointing cause you really want the story to continue versus be a recap. Although the edited SP was short, it felt like the writers did not have that much to say other than everybody is OK and maybe that is all that was needed as they had their friendships.
I still think that this was one of the best j-dramas that have come around in a long time. DV, abuse, coming out, relationships with married men, and child welfare are not your everyday topics that get tied up in a love story.
I still think that this was one of the best j-dramas that have come around in a long time. DV, abuse, coming out, relationships with married men, and child welfare are not your everyday topics that get tied up in a love story.
I think you're band on. Originally, I'm pretty sure the 12th episode was supposed to be an actualy episode, not even a special, so it seems likely that, once the movie was decided upon, they gave the series a half-assed ending in order to save content for the movie. (Like Sousuke's and Takeru's stories.)roon wrote: Unless they had to nix their original intentions for the SP in favor of a movie with the original cast, I am so, so disappointed in this show.
oh isn't that a picture of ruka during swing girl days? and that pic of eita was when he first started out as a model. hehe funnie. i was going to reply this morning when i noticed someone actually thought this was real but i had to rush to work. good job though.^Yuuki wrote:Speaking of the manga, chapter 1 seems to have a different mangaka than the prologue. And yeah, it's pretty much like the drama ep1. Takeru kinda became a blondie though? Haha. Sleepyzzz, thanks again! Any idea when chapter 2 will be out? Another 2 months? ^^;
I haven't watch the SP yet...*sigh* after the 9 minutes it'll be over huh? And over in such an unsatisfying way too...>_<
Well, here's what the movie will be about along with cast pics:
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yeah.. the same.. i watch this for ruka and takeru too.avieamber wrote:i think that's what everyone had in mind after watching the dreaded SP. But somehow i don't get why the writers don't understand the reason why a lot of us here watch this for. Apart from the fresh DV and GID issues, i watch this for Ruka and Takeru only.kishimoto-ruka119 wrote:on the SP:
they didnt know there are million of fans of TakeRuka pair
^Yuuki: Malika is a monthly magazine so I guess it'll be say another 2 weeks before the next LF manga release. I'll keep an eye out for it but I'm kind of disappointed by the whole SP etc....they should have just left it at ep 11 rather than give us false hope!!
Hmm...do you think there's any chance they'll do a SP 6 months later like PropDai or Nodame??
Hmm...do you think there's any chance they'll do a SP 6 months later like PropDai or Nodame??
After seeing the SP, not having any of the MichiRuka talk that we've all hoped for is one thing, but Ruka only had 1 minute at the end?? What the heck~! And we didn't even get to hear what she said to the others because of the voice overs...>_< The Ogurin at the hairdresser part was really unnecessary. Why are they explaining why she bullied Michiru when there's still unsolved mysteries in the MAIN storyline? The scene between Takeru and his sister, while it kinda tied up the issue, still felt out of place and so last minute.sleepyzzz wrote:^Yuuki: Malika is a monthly magazine so I guess it'll be say another 2 weeks before the next LF manga release. I'll keep an eye out for it but I'm kind of disappointed by the whole SP etc....they should have just left it at ep 11 rather than give us false hope!!
Hmm...do you think there's any chance they'll do a SP 6 months later like PropDai or Nodame??
So, yeah, if they can't come out with a proper and satisfying SP episode, I'd rather they end it all with the last one(at least it'll make us think once in a while,"I wonder what happened to that threesome". It just feel so 'fixed' now.) . And who needs to watch a recap when the series just ended anyway? If it was just before the last episode, it's understandable(btw, they already aired a digest version before ep10).
Brilliant at parts, typical JDrama at parts. Despite everything, it's still one of the most awesome series I've seen so I don't regret anything. It gave us Ruka and shined the spotlight on Ueno Juri. So, thank you. Hopefully Juri-chan will get more awesome roles like this in the future. Until then, go lurk at the Ueno Juri thread or join the LJ community.
@rulan: That's from Waratte Iitomo SP 2 years ago. Juri and the nodame team totally crushed the other teams. Lol. I think veoh has the full episode.
Last edited by ^Yuuki on Jun 28th, '08, 07:24, edited 1 time in total.
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I was so excited with downloading the SP and having the soft subs...there was a lot of seeders so it took less than 2 hours for me to download it ^^ I was happy until I watched the SP...it was okay, but it was so...rushed and Ruka?! I only saw like 5 seconds of her T_T So it is confirmed there will be a movie?
hehe yea i know. i stopped watching jdrama after yasha and that was like years ago. then recently someone mentioned last friends and i saw the opening theme and was like wow awesome. after that i got hooked on last friends and fell practically in love with juri so i went to search for her other dramas and saw nodame. yea i'm a late comer but thanks to her i'm starting to watch jdramas again.^Yuuki wrote:
@rulan: That's from Waratte Iitomo SP 2 years ago. Juri and the nodame team totally crushed the other teams. Lol. I think veoh has the full episode.
Greetings my fellow LF loyal watchers. I know it's been a while, work has just been hectic, but fear not I still made time to catch up on this ever growing thread....Like everyone, I am kinda disappointed with the pace of the story, the lack of and/or unnecessary closure and no Ruka/Michiru heart to heart discussion without Souske in the convo. It has so much potential, but went the safe route. Justice was not served in many ways. However, I think it's not entirely the writer's fault...we also gotta think about who makes these decisions: the executive producers, the TV stations execs, the director, the president of the station/network/? AND the majority of Japan's societal traits and expectations.
Seriously, everything is so ambiguous. But I guess that is also the show's strength, in which neither one is in a specific category or specific gender role. It was definitely risky business for everyone involved. I appreciate the fact that this drama had us glued to this forum, our computer screen, the wonderful theme song and score by Utada Hikaru and most of all the amazingly beautiful and talented Ueno Juri...RUKA! I was really just watching this show for the sake of Juri and Ruka.
You all have been an amazing LF community sharing our insights and observations. It was a great journey. Thank you all for putting up with my crazy cup obsession. And most importantly THANK YOU ujf for uploading consistently! THANK YOU suketeru and seri for your wonderful soft subs (You both are lifesavers for everyone here...without the softsubs we'd be pulling our hair out in anticipation and in our attempts to comprehend and express our opinions accordingly). Also, Thank you Kioku for your hardsubs.
And heck..why not add a little more insight on the cups:
Episode 11: Where my cups at? I kinda missed them b/c the share house was momentarily disassembled.
SP: Yay my cups are back...together in one place. Now, little cute Rumi needs a sippy cup in the mix preferably in the colors of red/blue....and maybe purple too :-P
Also, Just got this in the email, DVD purchase linky:
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PCBC-61414
Sorry for the long post...it's been a while
Seriously, everything is so ambiguous. But I guess that is also the show's strength, in which neither one is in a specific category or specific gender role. It was definitely risky business for everyone involved. I appreciate the fact that this drama had us glued to this forum, our computer screen, the wonderful theme song and score by Utada Hikaru and most of all the amazingly beautiful and talented Ueno Juri...RUKA! I was really just watching this show for the sake of Juri and Ruka.
You all have been an amazing LF community sharing our insights and observations. It was a great journey. Thank you all for putting up with my crazy cup obsession. And most importantly THANK YOU ujf for uploading consistently! THANK YOU suketeru and seri for your wonderful soft subs (You both are lifesavers for everyone here...without the softsubs we'd be pulling our hair out in anticipation and in our attempts to comprehend and express our opinions accordingly). Also, Thank you Kioku for your hardsubs.
And heck..why not add a little more insight on the cups:
Episode 11: Where my cups at? I kinda missed them b/c the share house was momentarily disassembled.
SP: Yay my cups are back...together in one place. Now, little cute Rumi needs a sippy cup in the mix preferably in the colors of red/blue....and maybe purple too :-P
Also, Just got this in the email, DVD purchase linky:
http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=PCBC-61414
Sorry for the long post...it's been a while
zeiroc: Welcome back. I agree on what you said. And about Rumi's cup, she already has one~ Check out the end of the SP. No need to guess who got it for her.
plumblossoms: No idea if it's a real news yet. But if they're doing a movie, it's either:
a) remake of the whole thing like HnC
b) sequel (like what I say above, kinda nothing much to explore anymore)
c) prequel (something like what I suggested...kekeke)
d) something with different characters and storyline but still has the same feel and deals with other issues...
DVD is coming out on the 15th of October. Will have some extra stuff. The Eri~My Love spin-off series as well. 22800yen.
It's a picture of JURI during Swing Girls days. Lol. I don't blame you because when she takes on a role, she really become that role that it's hard to differentiate where Juri and Ruka starts and ends.rulan wrote: oh isn't that a picture of ruka during swing girl days? and that pic of eita was when he first started out as a model. hehe funnie. i was going to reply this morning when i noticed someone actually thought this was real but i had to rush to work. good job though.
If they didn't show us that 9 minutes, it would have been possible. You know, since there's supposed to be some unresolved stuff. But now, they already shown what happen after 2(?) years and a happy happy scene to go with it so...any issues are assumed to be solved...sleepyzzz wrote:Hmm...do you think there's any chance they'll do a SP 6 months later like PropDai or Nodame??
plumblossoms: No idea if it's a real news yet. But if they're doing a movie, it's either:
a) remake of the whole thing like HnC
b) sequel (like what I say above, kinda nothing much to explore anymore)
c) prequel (something like what I suggested...kekeke)
d) something with different characters and storyline but still has the same feel and deals with other issues...
DVD is coming out on the 15th of October. Will have some extra stuff. The Eri~My Love spin-off series as well. 22800yen.
The SP... was.... meh
the only thing that I like was cute Rumi and her cup lol.
I'm wishing for MichiRuka talk too, coz the only 'their moment' that I've caught in the SP was only Ruka somewhat holding Michiru's hand, when they held Rumi's cup together.
And that was only a glimpse and last for a second also.
the only thing that I like was cute Rumi and her cup lol.
I'm wishing for MichiRuka talk too, coz the only 'their moment' that I've caught in the SP was only Ruka somewhat holding Michiru's hand, when they held Rumi's cup together.
And that was only a glimpse and last for a second also.
Juri in a drama with YamaPi? Lol. That's just too funny to even think about...~_~ Maybe they can combine both LF and ProDai together and have them fighting over Masami's character huh? >_>
Btw, the SP had some unaired scene that wasn't in the edited version uploaded. TakeRuka scene(after Takeru got attacked). Ruka tells him she's moving back in. Get it here: http://pickup.mofile.com/0833091461538512 (click the 2nd red link in the green bar)
It's in the middle.
Btw, the SP had some unaired scene that wasn't in the edited version uploaded. TakeRuka scene(after Takeru got attacked). Ruka tells him she's moving back in. Get it here: http://pickup.mofile.com/0833091461538512 (click the 2nd red link in the green bar)
It's in the middle.
From episode 1 and being reminded throught the series, we already know that Michiru will come to know about Ruka sooner or later(her feelings and the 'problem' she has kept to herself). But the last few episodes were really pretty vague about it. So she knows about Ruka's feelings about her. But whether she truly knows that Ruka's issue is deeper than that, they didn't show...and didn't properly acknowledge it. But I think she knows...As for Ruka herself, is that speech during the press conference meant as an answer? That's she's living neither as a man or woman, but as a person? And what Asami said, "Ruka is Ruka"? While those are nice to hear, it's still not that easy shouldn't have been that easy after all the relentless agony...That's why, regardless of what Ruka decides to do(after watching the SP, looks like she decides to stay like she is), it would have been good if we have a closure on this issue from Michiru at least. orzback4lley wrote:
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Apparently one of their subbers had gone overseas and another is engrossed with Euro2008. lol There should be releases of ep 8 & 9 from Kioku soon.magicmusic wrote:As someone else stated before, what IS going on with Kioku? 3 weeks with no release? Are they having some troubles?
Anyway...yeah, the end of "Last Friends." Hmm. I was with them all the way until:
Drop the ball they did. I'd imagine the tv execs had a nervous discussion and decided to appease the Ryo fangirls, because while Sousuke was clearly a nutjob, they were afraid to make Sousuke too bad. Hence they threw in some 'redeeming Sousuke scenes' which were not convincing in the least and went against the flow of the story. Hmph.
Preach it, sister. Ueno Juri made Last Friends watchable, even through its gawdawful moments of insanity and lack of character development. I think Asano should thank her lucky stars that Juri (and Eita) agreed to act in this mixed bag of a drama. Ruka's storyline and her friendship with Takeru was precisely why I was glued to the drama. Their awesome chemistry rose above the mediocrity of the 'DV-Lifetime movie of the week' theme.I really liked "Last Friends" so much, but its conclusion irritated the hell out of me! This drama had SO much potential. Parts of it WERE great but others were just so bad. Even in that weekly hour I often wondered: "How can this show be so damn good one moment and so damn crap the next?"
Guess I can't dwell on it anymore. If nothing else, LF gave us the awesomeness that was Ruka! And those coolass mugs which I bought.
Now, I'd really like to see Juri cast in a new movie where she can play a real out-and-out lesbian character, simply because she's so good at it and makes a truly hot lesbian.
Last edited by hanapyupyu on Jun 28th, '08, 11:02, edited 1 time in total.
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Some news --
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Last Friends SP garners 17.4% in VRs
(Source: Mainichi) Mainichi's always using the same photo for Last Friends-related news. Anyway, VRs = Viewer's Ratings and compared to Last Friends' Final Episode's VRs of 22.8%, 17.4% is rather low. Viewers also commented that the ending of Last Friends [i think they refer to the last episode, and NOT the SP] was 'confusing and ambiguous'. The company president, Yutaka-san [豊田皓 --> anybody know how to read this Kanji? did not appear in my google results] admitted that it was a bit 'confusing and ambiguous', but nevertheless thanked the viewers for their support while explaining that the themes and issues addressed in the dorama were "difficult" ones.
source: http://myfirstgossipblog.blogspot.com/2 ... n-vrs.html
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Last Friends SP garners 17.4% in VRs
(Source: Mainichi) Mainichi's always using the same photo for Last Friends-related news. Anyway, VRs = Viewer's Ratings and compared to Last Friends' Final Episode's VRs of 22.8%, 17.4% is rather low. Viewers also commented that the ending of Last Friends [i think they refer to the last episode, and NOT the SP] was 'confusing and ambiguous'. The company president, Yutaka-san [豊田皓 --> anybody know how to read this Kanji? did not appear in my google results] admitted that it was a bit 'confusing and ambiguous', but nevertheless thanked the viewers for their support while explaining that the themes and issues addressed in the dorama were "difficult" ones.
source: http://myfirstgossipblog.blogspot.com/2 ... n-vrs.html
thanks for the news. I actually thought that the last episode as pretty fine and understandable. Maybe except Takeru's vague conversation of his past, but we can still come to a conclusion from there. Oh i'm not surprised with the SP's ratings at all, actually i'm surprised it's THAT HIGH even...i thought people would have abandoned it after knowing it's all just mostly recaps.hanapyupyu wrote:Some news --
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Last Friends SP garners 17.4% in VRs
(Source: Mainichi) Mainichi's always using the same photo for Last Friends-related news. Anyway, VRs = Viewer's Ratings and compared to Last Friends' Final Episode's VRs of 22.8%, 17.4% is rather low. Viewers also commented that the ending of Last Friends [i think they refer to the last episode, and NOT the SP] was 'confusing and ambiguous'. The company president, Yutaka-san [豊田皓 --> anybody know how to read this Kanji? did not appear in my google results] admitted that it was a bit 'confusing and ambiguous', but nevertheless thanked the viewers for their support while explaining that the themes and issues addressed in the dorama were "difficult" ones.
source: http://myfirstgossipblog.blogspot.com/2 ... n-vrs.html
Thanks ^Yuuki Thanks for all those picture goods too! I didn't even noticed the little Rumi cupey. And I didn't even notice how Ruka and Michiru's hands were under Rumi's little red cupey. Good eye ^Yuuki and m-ayu!^Yuuki wrote:zeiroc: Welcome back. I agree on what you said. And about Rumi's cup, she already has one~ Check out the end of the SP. No need to guess who got it for her.
I guess I was in shock and awe at how the SP was just 9 minutes and didn't bother paying attention to the little cup and hands
As much as I would like to think it means something, it think it's just the actor's own gestures...or could it mean....*pop* our own interpretations. -> Since Ruka is sitting in the middle and Rumi is to her left and Michiru is next to Rumi...they already seem like one happy family. Notice how they are kind of in the center couch.
Is it me or am I kinda overwhelmed by Takeru? I mean as much as I like the guy I can't help but feel like he had a bunch of screen time for the final episode and the SP.... or maybe b/c I was anticipating a Michiru/Ruka scene without a middleman?
I just can't get over how CUTE Rumi is!!!!! She melted my heart when she was walking past her mother in the graveyard..oh you take those little tiny steps Rumi! And I can't help but smile even more when Rumi was smiling the whole time in the last scene. That little 1 year old already has so much potential :-D
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Pass.^Yuuki wrote:DVD is coming out on the 15th of October. Will have some extra stuff. The Eri~My Love spin-off series as well. 22800yen.
Spend your hard-earned money on the Nodame box sets (regular season and SP).
Yuuuuck.2muchsoda wrote:is there any drama she had with Yamapi?
Right on.hanapyupyu wrote:Preach it, sister. Ueno Juri made Last Friends watchable, even through its gawdawful moments of insanity and lack of character development. I think Asano should thank her lucky stars that Juri (and Eita) agreed to act in this mixed bag of a drama. Ruka's storyline and her friendship with Takeru was precisely why I was glued to the drama. Their awesome chemistry rose above the mediocrity of the 'DV-Lifetime movie of the week' theme.
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What a great series so far. Though there're so much that could be done better. Anyway, I really appriciate the works from the writer, casts, and singer. Have anyone watch the whole series over again? I noticed certain things I missed out lol Like the scene where Ruka stands beside Michiru by the river. It was sorta like an indirect confession to Michiru when Ruka gave an example howher dad loves her what he does.
I'm really appreciate this drama. Now it's all over....
A little something for "Last Friends" (in my attachment)
I'm really appreciate this drama. Now it's all over....
A little something for "Last Friends" (in my attachment)
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i think its quite clear that LF's success isn't entirely based on the individual cast members as evident by the mediocre ratings of the drama in the beginning. A lot of people on this board are vocal about who they like, don't like, who made the show and who didn't -- but I think its a multitude of factors that contributed to the success of the drama in the last arc. As much as the show owes its popularity to the cast's chemistry and artistic abilities, it can go both ways. Given the diversity of the issues, I'd say the lead characters in LF owe their new legion of fans to the show.
Why did you think they have Ruka come out only at the last minute? Because they want people to literally watch until the final minute...and they probably did...>_>avieamber wrote:thanks for the news. I actually thought that the last episode as pretty fine and understandable. Maybe except Takeru's vague conversation of his past, but we can still come to a conclusion from there. Oh i'm not surprised with the SP's ratings at all, actually i'm surprised it's THAT HIGH even...i thought people would have abandoned it after knowing it's all just mostly recaps.
Heh, probably both. But even Ogurin had more screentime...zeiroc wrote: Is it me or am I kinda overwhelmed by Takeru? I mean as much as I like the guy I can't help but feel like he had a bunch of screen time for the final episode and the SP.... or maybe b/c I was anticipating a Michiru/Ruka scene without a middleman?
Yeah~ Seeing Ruka like a papa coming home from work and playing with Rumi with Michiru mama on her other side, probably the only part I like about the episode. ^^I just can't get over how CUTE Rumi is!!!!! She melted my heart when she was walking past her mother in the graveyard..oh you take those little tiny steps Rumi! And I can't help but smile even more when Rumi was smiling the whole time in the last scene. That little 1 year old already has so much potential :-D
Uhuh. Even as we complain about Michiru's way of thinking at the end, don't forget that all the character's dialogs came from the same person. Even Ruka and Takeru's. They tried their best to provide different viewpoints on all of the issues they touch on in the series. Rather than just go with what is generally the 'correct' choice. So, I still think the writer did an awesome job in building the characters by including both their strengths and their very human weaknesses. The actors and actresses were also great in portraying their characters and making us feel something. Whether it's annoyance, hate, love or a mixture of it all, there wasn't a single episode where there isn't a scene that touched us. (It's also true that this drama have probably made Japan stand up and notice the awesomeness that is Ueno Juri. Heheh. )fayenatic wrote:i think its quite clear that LF's success isn't entirely based on the individual cast members as evident by the mediocre ratings of the drama in the beginning. A lot of people on this board are vocal about who they like, don't like, who made the show and who didn't -- but I think its a multitude of factors that contributed to the success of the drama in the last arc. As much as the show owes its popularity to the cast's chemistry and artistic abilities, it can go both ways. Given the diversity of the issues, I'd say the lead characters in LF owe their new legion of fans to the show.
@DeAngel999: Nice art~ ^^ Oh yeah, that harbour scene, I mentioned it before as well. One of my favorite episode in the series. Kinda as close as a confession that we got at that point. Ruka practically said, "I love you, that's why I will watch over you instead of stopping you". Michiru thanks her and asks Ruka if she can be her friend forever. Is that an indirect rejection? Haha. Probably just Michiru being oblivious like she is throughout the series.
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Appearantly according to the writer, Michiru is straight.
Although it was kinda obvious, but nevertheless I'm bit dissappointed coz that means there would be small possibility for MichiRuka ending in the movie...... >< (if there's any movie that is)
Although it was kinda obvious, but nevertheless I'm bit dissappointed coz that means there would be small possibility for MichiRuka ending in the movie...... >< (if there's any movie that is)
Ultimately, one of the biggest problems with this drama is the way it addressed the problems it brings up and the solutions to each. Everything was wrapped up waaaay too "neatly" in the last episodes...
Sousuke's sociopathism? Solved! He done kilt himself.
Michiru's self-esteem issue and relationship with her mother? Solved!
Ruka's gender identity disorder? Solved! She decided that she's comfortable in her female skin now, and told Takeru as much.
Eri's loneliness? Solved!... I guess... She got married, but I don't think that's much of a resolution for her issues.
Even Ogurin's problem of cowardice was solved by finally ending things with his wife and marrying Eri. To make it even more evident, they gave his character a little chance to show it in the SP scene too..
The only thing really left hanging was Takeru's thing with his family, and I think that's the only reason why they actually did the SP. The writers thought to themselves, dang... we missed one. So there you go. Forgiveness.
All neat and tidy like...
Meh... the character interactions were the more interesting part of this drama, but since it was overshadowed by all the DV melodrama, it didn't really make me want to watch each ep every week. So I didn't. Muri na Renai was much more touching, satisfying, and overall enjoyable. That was my favorite this season.
Sousuke's sociopathism? Solved! He done kilt himself.
Michiru's self-esteem issue and relationship with her mother? Solved!
Ruka's gender identity disorder? Solved! She decided that she's comfortable in her female skin now, and told Takeru as much.
Eri's loneliness? Solved!... I guess... She got married, but I don't think that's much of a resolution for her issues.
Even Ogurin's problem of cowardice was solved by finally ending things with his wife and marrying Eri. To make it even more evident, they gave his character a little chance to show it in the SP scene too..
The only thing really left hanging was Takeru's thing with his family, and I think that's the only reason why they actually did the SP. The writers thought to themselves, dang... we missed one. So there you go. Forgiveness.
All neat and tidy like...
Meh... the character interactions were the more interesting part of this drama, but since it was overshadowed by all the DV melodrama, it didn't really make me want to watch each ep every week. So I didn't. Muri na Renai was much more touching, satisfying, and overall enjoyable. That was my favorite this season.
As it is their relationship now is a strange one so I wouldn't be so sure about everything. So, here's my version to 2 of the questions:m-ayu wrote:Appearantly according to the writer, Michiru is straight.
Although it was kinda obvious, but nevertheless I'm bit dissappointed coz that means there would be small possibility for MichiRuka ending in the movie...... >< (if there's any movie that is)
--For Asano-san, this kind of ending, is it considered a happy ending?
I think that's a fairly happy end. Because it ends with the 3 of them together, even though Michiru doesn't know in what way she should accept Ruka's feelings. For me, I think Michiru is a totally straight woman. The way she feels, everything. It's something that can't be bridged. That's just they type of person she is(laughs). But as a human being, as someone precious to her, she accepts, and she is able to understand Ruka's feelings. It would normally just stop there. But still, the child connects them in a way, and so while having Ruka as such an existence to her, she chooses to live together. Also, Takeru is there too. The ending is probably something like, "While being in this delicate/complicated triangle relationship, let's go as far as we can go".
--Will Ruka go ahead with the operation after everything?
For the drama, we didn't go as far as depicting it, but I don't think she has thought about it since. Able to share her issues with Takeru and was accepted as who she is, and in that form, able to live together with Michiru at the end. As we discussed earlier(the parts i translated before this), Ruka is in what we say, not 100% GID, but a grey zone(the 2 opposite ends are lesbian and FtM). So, having people around her that accepts her true self, it is possible that she is able to live as the way she is. At least this is what I think. I believe in real life, it differs for each individual involved.
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This interview was taken quite some time before the final aired or was filmed I think. (Since there seems to be separate opinions on how they should go with Eri's end...)
hmm in both versions it seems the word straight was mention as michiru being straightforward in her way of thinking and action instead of emphazing that she was heterosexual. like how she was so dedicated to sousake even though he beats her and everyone else tells her to leave him. Basically in her world there's only black and white until ruka came along and the gray area came in.^Yuuki wrote:As it is their relationship now is a strange one so I wouldn't be so sure about everything. So, here's my version to 2 of the questions:m-ayu wrote:Appearantly according to the writer, Michiru is straight.
Although it was kinda obvious, but nevertheless I'm bit dissappointed coz that means there would be small possibility for MichiRuka ending in the movie...... >< (if there's any movie that is)
--For Asano-san, this kind of ending, is it considered a happy ending?
I think that's a fairly happy end. Because it ends with the 3 of them together, even though Michiru doesn't know in what way she should accept Ruka's feelings. For me, I think Michiru is a totally straight woman. The way she feels, everything. It's something that can't be bridged. That's just they type of person she is(laughs). But as a human being, as someone precious to her, she accepts, and she is able to understand Ruka's feelings. It would normally just stop there. But still, the child connects them in a way, and so while having Ruka as such an existence to her, she chooses to live together. Also, Takeru is there too. The ending is probably something like, "While being in this delicate/complicated triangle relationship, let's go as far as we can go".
--Will Ruka go ahead with the operation after everything?
For the drama, we didn't go as far as depicting it, but I don't think she has thought about it since. Able to share her issues with Takeru and was accepted as who she is, and in that form, able to live together with Michiru at the end. As we discussed earlier(the parts i translated before this), Ruka is in what we say, not 100% GID, but a grey zone(the 2 opposite ends are lesbian and FtM). So, having people around her that accepts her true self, it is possible that she is able to live as the way she is. At least this is what I think. I believe in real life, it differs for each individual involved.
---
This interview was taken quite some time before the final aired or was filmed I think. (Since there seems to be separate opinions on how they should go with Eri's end...)
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Thank you all for appreciate my art. ( I got pretty much obssesed with LF and finally got my inspiration back ((maybe I should do some more lol )). Back to the discussion, I think they should have SP 2. Like in Nodame. (which they film it a yr later? I might be wrong) They should've wait 2 weeks before they air the SP, which they can have more times to plan things out. Otherwise.. a SP 2 film a month from now should be better. T T they need to fill up the gap for the issues and character interactions. By the way, Does anyone have any news about the celebration night when Juri accompanied Utada to sing? I saw a few news' pictures of that day but nothing about translation (except for some from ^Yuuki) or vid about it.
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