Recaplet: Maou Episode 6

I shouldn't be blogging because my ring finger is still an ugly swollen thing but DAMN IT - Maou is killing me week after week!

I just have to ask - why does Toma always end up as the guy who didn't get the girl in his jdramas? It makes me... love him more. What?

Anyway, I don't resent the love triangle. Shiori is just adorable and she is, shall we say, "shippable" with both Toma and Ohno. That being said, I wish for a happy ending for her and Ohno because they're just so adfdfa;gg;;tlleref together!

But with the rate things are going, there won't be a happy ending for anyone of them. And Ohno, you're not helping matters one bit when you shut out Shiori like that! You hurt her feelings, and you're hurting yourself as well!

And just when I thought you might be thawing a bit with that whole woobie scene with Shiori, you went and watch someone die. Cold and evil!

More Toma and Ohno scenes please! I love it when Ohno is messing with Toma's mind with his double-meaning dialogues!

I'm sure you're tired of reading this, but I simply can't wait for the next episode!

Recaplet: Maou Episode 4

OMG OMG OMG.

Seriously, I need a real person to discuss this show with! It's made of awesome win and jdlfjlafljfooffl.

The first half was a bit slow but the last half pick up and there's so much revelation here but it left me wanting for more! I want this show completed! Hurry up Japan!

Finally, an adversary to Ohno. He's quite as cunning and he's a really dirty player. What's more, he knew about the events in the past and was quite invested on it.

Toma, Toma, Toma. Your voice, even if I can't understand Japanese, was just so nice to the ear. I see you have another color of that jacket! I can understand how you feel but like what psychic girl, you need to continue to live. I guess that's the best thing about Toma's character - he was able to rise above his dark past and tried to live a better life, whereas Ohno was still living in the shadows of his family's death and let the events of his past shape who he became.

This show is getting better and better! I love it!

Recaplet: Maou Episode 3

Finally! Watched the subbed episode 3 of Maou and afljflfjfjldjfjaofdktoma! And well the series in general omglfaofofjlfjejrjlfdjlf!!! I NEED to see the COMPLETE SERIES immediately! I don't care if Japan only have four episodes so far, omg I want Maou I want Maou want want ajflfjofoflgjlg!!!

Coherence is so overrated.

Moving on... I know I haven't posted yet the picspam for episode 2 but I promise I'm going to make picspams for the whole series. The process will be slow, for sure, but I will try to keep my promise. Now for this episode - we get a scene where Sousuke died in the hospital and Toma made this valiant attempt to save him by punching the dead man on the chest. I was totally surprised that it wasn't Ohno who gave the doll to the little girl and OMG did Ohno had an accomplice?!

A sweet moment between Shiori the pyschic girl and Ohno when she said that "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was her favorite song and Ohno said "I'm glad, that's also my favorite song" and aww... then the moment was ruined when Ohno was evil-ing again in his darkroom of cunning revenge-planning.

What's with the big deal over the adulterous lovers? I know geek glasses guy is going to die sooner or later (he is, after all, Toma's friend and among those present when Toma killed Ohno's younger brother) and his lover (Toma's sister-in-law) might die, too, but I don't like their scenes. It's eating up on Toma's and Ohno's screen time!

The deaths are starting to get on Toma - it's not just the emotional side of it, which pretty much is hard to deal with, but his feelings are getting in the way of job as a detective. But you know it's killing him that he wants to be good at what he is doing and at the same time seek justice for his friend and Ohno is doing a hell of a job in breaking this man's spirit.

RAIN SCENE!!! Even when he is crying, Toma is still pretty like OMG I want to hug him and comfort him and run my fingers through his wet, tousled hair.

What's with jdramas and the need of the leading man to tell the leading lady that "I will definitely protect you"? It's... it's... it's making my heart go gooey.

How many of that kind of tank top does Toma have? He's almost always wearing the white one, but he also wore a black one and now a grey one. Toma and Ohno seem to be losing some weight, too.

Who is that Otaku guy?

Shiori starts to question her psychic ability and thinks that it might be a gift not from God but from the devil. Ohno is just so conflicted I want to hug him to and tell him to just kiss and make out, I mean make up with Toma. No, not really. I want more drama! But I have this feeling that this drama will not end happily for anyone of them.

What the...? Otaku guy was the one who gave the doll to the little girl?!!

Toma and the tree. How many times in each episode will Toma get down on his knees and sob? Not that I'm complaining.

And the big reveal: Shiori was present during the stabbing incident! Is Ohno just using her or is he also seeking revenge from her? How did Toma managed to bury his memories of that incident? The way they're presenting it, he was only beginning to remember the things that happened in the past. Toma is just rocking that freaking out expression and for that final moment in the episode he looked so young and so vulnerable.

Great job you guys. And please hurry up with the episodes! I just want to watch all of it!

Toma Is Bad For My Sanity

I definitely did not watch episode 3 of Maou without subs.

I definitely did not fast forward to Toma’s rain scene.

I most definitely am not watching Maou just for Toma.

Recaplet: Maou Episode 2

I don't know how I lasted the week without peeking at the raw episode 2 of Maou. I did, but barely. The subs were finally released now, and dude, the wait is unbearably long! I can't just sit through a show without the benefit of translation, especially as this jdrama has such an amazing plot.

But then, who needs the plot when there is hotness to distract me! Toma in suit! Toma running! Toma breaking down! Toma just existing!

About two thirds into the episode and the subs got fucked up. Damn damn! I hate soft subs!

Anyway, I'll post pics later but I just want to discuss this episode. Damn, it raised more questions than answers! And the fake out is totally awesome. I didn't see that one coming.

Ohno and his creepy eyes managed to kill another character this episode, without him being present at the scene of the crime. Is he going to pick on Toma's love ones one by one? Will there be enough to last until the last episode? Are we going to see Toma break down every episode?

My question at this point is this (aside from the ones I raised above. heh!): did Ohno changed his name or something? How come no one remembers him when a lot of the secondary characters have prior knowledge of the incident in Toma's past?

And dude, someone is thisclose to falling in love with Ohno! A part of me is screaming: "Oh no, psychic girl, not him! He's a psychopath!" and yet another is like: "Aw, maybe if he falls for you, he would lose the creepy eyes and just go googly eyes on you". But I'm still loving the creepy eyes at this point, so.

Quite as terrifying as the creepy eyes? The creepy smirk. When Ohno's smiling his lips form into this adorable shape but the eyes remain cold as ever. And the red light is present as ever.

And my random comment about Ohno selling his soul to the devil? I think I might be on the right track here, seeing as we have two references to Faust in this episode.

Next episode: Toma in the rain!!! Me flailing all over the place! Thank you, Japan.

I think I need to learn Japanese. Waiting for the subs is just driving me crazy! I don't want to watch a raw version because seeing without having any idea what's being said is plain nuts.



Or maybe I'll just watch for the eye candy.

Incredibly Shallow: Nakatsu Rocks!

Top 5 Reasons Why Nakatsu Shuichi Rocks

- 5 -

He doesn’t have his own shampoo and walks around

half naked when he wants to borrow one

- 4 -
His talent involves kicking a soccer ball while doing a strip tease

- 3 -

Two words: crazy monologues

- 2 -

His homo janai dance is made of glorious epic WIN

And the top reason why Nakatsu rocks...

- 1 -

He’s willing to go gay for the one he loves

Recap: Maou Episode 1 (The Grieving Devil)

Just when I thought that my addiction to jdramas wouldn’t reach new lows milestones, I now download jdrama episodes myself, instead of getting it from John or from the local pirates. It is but only fitting that the first jdrama that I will review would be the first episode of Maou.

Maou is a remake of the Korean drama Mawang (English title: The Devil). It stars Ohno Satoshi (of Arashi) and of course, my Ikuta Toma (now you know why I want to see this). This is the first suspense jdrama that I’ve watched, a departure from the light hearted and funny shows I’ve already seen. I have not seen the Korean version and I have no idea how the story will go, so I’m a little glad that I’m reviewing this drama by its own merits, rather than through comparison. I’m excited!


Warning! LOTS OF PICTURES AND SPOILERS!

The episode starts with a very scary picture of a devil.
We hear the story of Lucifer, who was once a beautiful angel but was banished from heaven because he provoked God. With nowhere to go, he went to hell and became Mao, the devil king.

Then we are introduced to Ohno’s character, Naruse Ryo, a brilliant defense lawyer. He also has some score to settle. And he’s creepy as hell.
Toma on the other hand, plays Senizawa Naoto. He’s a detective with questionable tactics. And he’s totally gorgeous.
Plus, he got a stalker. Other than me, I mean.
Have I mentioned how gorgeous Toma is?
And how creepy Ohno is? And yet he looks just as fine as Toma.
They first met on the police station where Toma (can I just call him Toma? Senizawa is a lot to type) works. Toma bumped into Ohno (same reason) and had an amiable conversation with him about his new client (who also happens to be a friend of Toma). Except that Ohno had some soulless eyes going on. And giving the departing Toma some cold dead stare. Yep, Ohno is totally Toma’s stalker. But not because Toma is hot.
You see, Toma had a dark past: the young Toma killed Ohno’s younger brother in a school fight. According to Toma’s claim, it was an act of self-defense, and his lawyer was so persuasive that young Toma was acquitted of the crime. Ohno, of course, did not accept the verdict, or where would we be? He vowed revenge, in the most twisted and cunning way possible. I’m not sure if that includes selling his soul to the devil in exchange for his creepy, creepy eyes but who knows?

We are also introduced to an adorable girl who happens to be psychic.

Ohno is also stalking her.

I have to admire Ohno’s multitasking abilities, what with him being a brilliant lawyer and a revenge-plotter and stalker of at least two people. Just what is it about psychic girl that interests Ohno? I’m interested to know as well.

Toma spent a better part of this episode running around.

Because he’s a dedicated and unconventional detective, is why. Or it could be a metaphor for the way he had ran away from his past. But that’s just me overanalyzing the drama.

When he’s not running around, he is being put down by his father for having a low job (father and older brother, I think, are successful businessmen).

Also, he receives a mysterious package that contains a single Tarot card.

The lawyer of Toma’s father was murdered. The murder was complicated by Toma’s discovery of a Tarot card in the scene of the crime – similar to the card that Toma also received.
Toma’s boss went to psychic girl for help. Psychic girl does her thing with the murder weapon and said that it was the victim who first held the knife that killed him and was pointing it to a man in dark clothes. Toma of course was skeptical and dismissive. Toma is a man of reason! And still hot!
Ohno against a rainy background.

Ohno flashbacking.

The murdered victim was the lawyer who defended young Toma. Oh.

Just when the police had a lead suspect in the murder, the suspect himself turned up at the police station with Ohno as his lawyer. But of course.
Toma does his interrogation thingie while Ohno sits beside his client, looking cold as ever and a bit smug.

The suspect admitted to being with the victim on the night he died, but said that it was an accident. He also didn’t know anything about the Tarot card. Toma is disbelieving, but then Ohno produced a voice recording of the accident. Those who think that this isn’t part of Ohno’s grand master plan for his revenge, raise your hands.
Ohno made some creepy talk about justice and all that. Toma is starting to get unnerved by Ohno. You’re finally getting a clue, Toma.

And now, the scene that launched a thousand fanfics:
Nino (of Arashi) guest-starred as the victim’s son and he’s angry at the suspect’s lawyer. Ohno just gave him the dead stare and it’s awesome.

More awesome than the dead stare? The reenactment scene of the murder where Toma was the pretend victim. Toma had a flashback of his past crime and he was sweating and freaking out and OMG OMG OMG! He totally nailed it!! And Ohno was just standing there watching Toma freak out and yeah, nice scene, Japan.
When Ohno used the same self-defense claim of Toma for his client, Toma was just about ready to lose it.

Verdict: Isn’t it obvious? So far, I’m loving this drama. Even with the early reveal about Toma and Ohno’s past connection, the drama still has a lot of mysteries left to pique the viewers. Like with other jdramas, the story is fast paced but they were able to establish firmly the gist and the characters’ personality. I love the lighting and how the light is almost always behind Ohno. There also seem to be a lot of red lights when Ohno is around. The music is also perfect in building up the suspense.

I have no idea that Ohno and his eyes can be so terrifying! Toma is playing a character that’s a bit older than his previous roles and I thought he was convincing. He was a bit over the top in the earlier scenes but he simply rocked the freak out scene. Ohno and Toma has some great chemistry going on. And yeah, the hotness was a bit distracting but who’s complaining?
I already have the raw episode 2 but I’m still waiting for the subs. I can’t wait!