belleza wrote:
Their connection seems willfully intimate;
Are we watching the same show? I may have missed something important then, because when I see them together, instead of "intimate," the words that come to my mind are "formal," "stiff," "sterile" and "ballistic gelatin." I'm genuinely curious to know which scenes led you to form that impression. And after you see episode 10, you'll find additional basis for the proposition that, far from being intimate, they hardly know anything about each other.
About the only thing they share in common is the architectural profession. But you'll find in episode 5 that their design philosophies are diametrically opposed. Tada's designs are meant to require as little personal contact between the designer and the actual builders of the structure, while Rei advocates closer interaction between architect and carpenter in order to nurture and preserve the dying skills of the trade. Compare the model of Tada's design with the dream house in Rei's last "love letter" to her jiji. Tada is a modernist that eschews traditional design elements, while Rei is a traditionalist who pays conscious homage to the past.
belleza wrote:
Rei expresses more completely with him than any of her other friends.
I totally missed this as well. In my own review of the show, the impression I get is, she hasn't told him squat. The one time I saw her attempt to give Tada a genuinely intimate view of her inner clockwork was in episode 10, and he wanted no part of it. But even if this were true, it isn't necessarily proof of intimacy. It may even be evidence of distance and objectivity. For example, people are usually able to tell things to their therapists, lawyers and priest-confessors that they could never say to their loved ones. Or take this very forum. I couldn't discuss this show with anybody that knows me in real life because...*
shudders* let's not even go there. However, the anonymity of the internet allows me to freely express myself here as an afficionado of romantic comedies.
belleza wrote:
and Tada seems disarmingly brave around her.
I will concede that Tada can be fearless, in much the same way a crash test dummy is fearless. But I have yet to see him display genuine personal courage, unless you can point me to a specific scene where this is evident.
sakurachan wrote:At least here we can assume that Rei was Tada's first choice.
Oh, but no she isn't. Check out episode 3, the scene where he hurns trash with Ken, and cross reference that with episode 10, where he and Rei check out the church reception hall.
sakurachan wrote:As boring as Tada may be, if his kind of man cannot make a good husband, then who can?
That is the central dilemma that Rei must confront. It's a very personal choice and there is no "one-size-fits-all" answer because the correct choice will vary depending on what each woman wants for herself. I pointed out earlier that Tada is the "safe" choice, so to that extent, I agree with you. He is a straight, level road; no bumps, no thrills. Ken is a riskier proposition. More twists and turns, but also more excitement. Who you favor really depends on how you want to live.