(L) Nana

[fignae]

Isn't that a spoiler image for #40?

Spoiler for Thinking about episode 40:

The "I hate Nana" message: reading the manga, I have always thought that was a flashback! So is it, or is it up to our own interpretation? because I felt quite strongly about this. The scene occurs alongside Nana's voiceover at the end, so that they could possibly be happening in the same timeframe, the Nana narration from the future and Hachi's spraypainting, except that Hachi's wearing the same clothes....

Love those eyes. Wow. It's always Oosaki Nana's eyes we're seeing, and then this.

Nobu and Nana. Heh, the relationships in Nana are complicated, and that's just another layer in the weave. In Nobu's case, he has said that he doesn't treat Nana as a girl. Nana has asked him if he wants to 'do it' before, I believe, and he was shocked in a way that suggests they really don't think of each other like that. It's probably their special kind of relationship, having known each other for years and years, as long as any other two characters have.

And well, the director was probably shooting for their complete unconsciousness of their positions. Kind of a bodily familiarity, maybe, and a level of comfort that.... Heck, it was fanservice.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Well. I finally caught up and can take part in this revived festival. In general: what a great show.

Spoiler for eps34-40:

I haven't read this part of the manga, but the spray-paint scene seems to be in the present, to me. She sprayed out the words wearing the same shawl she received the phone-call in. But I do wonder when those words were painted: were they by some schoolgirl upset at Ren being taken? Were they some random thing from the past?

I loved how it ended with the two Nanas seeming to be thinking so intensely of each other. And Hachi's fierce eyes contrasted so beautifully with Paku Romi's world-weary voice. The whole idea of Nana turning the tables and making Hachi the center of her story gave me a weird thrill. As did Nana's decision to just go for it, taking full advantage of the unwanted chance (I guess you could say Hachi has been doing the same thing). It's like a moment where they both become very strong and forward-oriented.

But I was so sad during the little scene of Layla and her assistant Mari. The fact that the record release dates have been made the same gives such a feeling of foreboding, as Takumi said earlier to Ren. I may be the only one, but I am just blown away by how much fragile emotion comes pouring out of Hirano Aya's voice as that character, without her having to force anything, at least here. I don't know the manga Layla, but this one makes a huge impact on me. It was really this role that made me take an interest in Aaya in the first place.

And I was enjoying Mari's voice, so I checked the end credits -- and found she is being played by Toyoguchi Megumi. Naruhodo.

Takumi is such a jerk...or is he? I am constantly surprised. He is good when I expect him to be bad, and bad when I expect him to be good. The contradictions, which I am still unable to resolve, make him live. I sympathize with him when I realize that his cynical selfishness is the only way he can find that enables him to carry on.

I suppose you could say that things are on a more even keel now than they were eight or ten episodes ago. And Blast's new hopes are exciting. But this episode still made me very uneasy. So much can go wrong, both professionally and personally. What is going to happen for Nana and Ren? And the magazine editor and his ilk are like snakes that can strike when you least expect it. I don't think the angst is ever really absent here. And I don't want it to be, either.

Finally, one thing I have to say: please put more of what you write in spoilers, people. In a show like this, anything that gives the slightest hint of where the story is going just has to be in spoilers until after an episode has been subbed. I couldn't even read this thread until I had caught up with the raws. I've been criticized for the same thing in another thread, and this thread is what helped me appreciate their point. (But I don't think the cap of Hachi's eyes is a spoiler.)

[tritoch]

Reira and Takumi stole the show for me.

I never realized but- I grew to like Takumi. I act just like him in somewhat similar situations he faced.

[aliensporebomb]

Wow.

35.

Spoiler:

The scene that hit me was when Nobu and Nana were talking about
the ending of Nobu and Hachi's relationship. Nobu seems almost too
calm, too accepting of this and Nana bursts into tears - holding him
telling him to never be sad just because a girl dumped him. In a way,
Nana is more affected by their breakup than he is. I still believe that
Nobu is just shell-shocked and soon it will sink in more although he
said he knew it was over the night before. She also says some very
nice things to him that I think surprised him, that he had ten times the
heart she does and that he single-handedly made her stop hating all
people from the way he treated her with kindness back in school.

Maybe he's more mature than I thought or at least able to motor thru
emotional situations better than I would.

Yasu handled the thing with Reira in a way where she reacted as I
expected she would. She was hoping for a safe haven. I don't think
she will thank him for how things ended with Mari the assistant
showing up. Ultimately, she has to go back to the band and to
recording. Yasu is simply too responsible to allow her to run away
and also, I think he might feel that he's been used as a shoulder
to cry on too many times? Or he's just a little sad that the only
reason she comes to him is because Takumi wouldn't tolerate
it and she certainly wouldn't go to him after he made that
stunning announcement.

It was cute to see him describe her as being like a kawaii imouto
so he basically thinks of her as his precious sister. Ren, playing devil's
advocate insists "why not give her what she wants?" and Takumi's
shocked reaction shows that maybe he honestly never considered it
and had been ignoring her attentions all of these years because with
his player ways he'd undoubtedly hurt her eventually and that would
kill the golden goose in a way. She'd definetely never sing again then.

And Reira feels trapped - that she sings because it is the only thing she
really can do. She must be incredibly lonely and her seiyuu is doing an
incredible job at portraying that loneliness.

A great episode but we're starting to see things: Hachi sees the rent
on a prospective new residence only to find the rent seems absurdly
high - she needs to adjust her financial expectations now because
Takumi's income must be considerable.

The next five episodes should be very interesting.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I put this in my recent spoiler, but for people who haven't seen up to ep40 yet, and just because I'm kind of fixated on her recently (see my avatar and sig), I have to point out that Layla (Reira) is played by Hirano Aya, the 19-year-old who played Suzumiya Haruhi and whose image is splashed all over the Japanese seiyuu magazines right now.

It was her work as Layla that got me interested in her in the first place. I think that her breathy, fragile delivery just makes Layla's emotions come through so well, even if it isn't exactly naturalistic. She is posting pics of herself and her life (including recording sessions, other seiyuu, making chocolates for Valentine's Day, getting her hair dyed, etc., etc.), to her blog at least daily. I guess you'd call her an "idol seiyuu," lol.

The voice acting in this show is so effective overall. I posted elsewhere the nominations for a new set of seiyuu awards that will be given out next month. Paku Romi (Oosaki Nana) is one of those nominated as best female lead (I ranked her in the top three, with Kuwashima Houko@Shuurei in Saiunkoku and Tanaka Rie@Hiro in Hatarakiman).

But I'm finding other people's work great, too (or at least well cast): Kawahara Yoshihisa (Yasu), Morikawa Toshiyuki (Takumi), Seki Tomokazu (Nobu -- he also plays the king in Saiunkoku and Chiaki in Nodame Cantabile). KAORI is really making Hachi come alive. And I noticed that Layla's assistant Mari is played by Toyoguchi Megumi (Revi in Black Lagoon, Honoka in The Third, Alti in Simoun, etc., etc.)

[kriez]

Originally Posted by fignae

Isn't that a spoiler image for #40?

Spoiler for Thinking about episode 40:

Nobu and Nana. Heh, the relationships in Nana are complicated, and that's just another layer in the weave. In Nobu's case, he has said that he doesn't treat Nana as a girl. Nana has asked him if he wants to 'do it' before, I believe, and he was shocked in a way that suggests they really don't think of each other like that. It's probably their special kind of relationship, having known each other for years and years, as long as any other two characters have.

And well, the director was probably shooting for their complete unconsciousness of their positions. Kind of a bodily familiarity, maybe, and a level of comfort that.... Heck, it was fanservice.

sharing same sentiments.. nobu and nana are just too comfortable and even if nana popped the question, it would only be as a joke, teasing nobu. even if they really went ahead, i'm sure they are only drawing comfort from one another as very close fwens to cope with the outside world, and no kinky sexuality inotations included. they are close for do not forget, it is nobu who pulled nana out of her shell and aroused her interest for music through the cd he lent her, of Sex Pistols, the one who intro her to the band and indirectly the middleman for her and ren too.

Originally Posted by tritoch

I never realized but- I grew to like Takumi. I act just like him in somewhat similar situations he faced.

eh..~ that shouldn't be something to brag about heh? lol~ then i think you need some reflections, haha

[Kaoru Chujo]

In the continuing torrent of photos posted to her blog, Hirano Aya (Layla) has posted pics of herself being manhandled (in a nice way) by Paku Romi (Oosaki Nana), who she says took her out to eat after the recording session this week (probably Wednesday).

In the background of one of the shots is Seki Tomokazu (Nobu). Both photos were taken by Kawahara Yoshihisa (Yasu), presumably with Aya's cell phone.

[Ja-Y-Ce]

Has anyone caught up with Episode 41? The host mentioned that on 28March will be the final episode for Season 1 of NANA. Hmm, does that mean that it will definitely have an upcoming Season 2?

Lolz, I really like the bgm, that pc of music that Ren has composed and Reira is supposed to be adding on to the lyrics. Wonder if they will really "compose" the whole song out and make it as one of the 7 Special Endings since the 1st of the 7 is out in Episode 41. Hehz.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Posters on 2channel also noticed the host saying that this was the "first season." There was some debate about whether there was enough material for a second season, but one person thought there would be enough for 13 or even 26 more episodes, with this season ending around the beginning of volume 12. I'm not familiar with the manga, myself. Another person thought there would have to be a hiatus before a second season started.

The phrase "first season" was also used in a news article about Olivia's songs (new EDs next week and the week after).

On 2channel, someone posted comparative TV ratings for the past five weeks of NANA and Nodame. Nodame has dropped in ratings, while NANA has held its own:

Wed【24:00】NANA　 *4.5__*4.9__*4.4__*5.0__*4.2__　[avg: 4.60]
Thu 【25:00】Nodame *5.4__*5.5__*4.4__*3.5__*3.5__　[avg: 4.46]

Spoiler for ep41:

Someone on 2channel thought that Shin's e-mails were too long. I thought they were long, but I also thought they worked beautifully, and were very romantic. But I couldn't help imagining their relationship being exposed.... I can't say much about the episode, except that I enjoyed it a lot. Takumi is so complex. As are so many of the relationships, as we see the bands becoming more and more entangled.

[MrProphet]

LOL

I watched episode 41 and let me tell you...

Spoiler:

Hachi has taken THE WORST moment to mention her evil nemesis Sachiko. I laughed out loud at everything that followed. 8)

And it was great to hear "A little pain" once again at the end of the episode.



PS: 47 episodes sounds a little bit weird. Have there really been 5 numberless recaps? I can't seem to remember more than 3...

[Sinestra]

Watch episode 35 and I enjoyed it of course. Yasu proves once again that is unshakable. I really dont know how he does it, he handles everything so well and is always so sure of him self. The choice he made telling Takumi where to find Reira was the right one. Her mopping around his apartment would solve nothing and only send her into a deeper depression.

Reira too me is a very unique character given her back round and relationship with Shin. Yasu, and Takumi. Reira personality borders on the extreme one min and the playful side the next. Her emotional outcry and her mental state are very saddening. For her to say she is nothing unless she is singing shows how dependent she has come to be on Fame and Takumi's approval of her. If this were real life and some how her career ended Reira would have a nervous breakdown. Takumi even though i know he was not being mean also states she has no other skills besides singing. Its just tough to see someone in that kind of position. She is a bird trapped in the cage that she created herself.

Nana O. emotional talk with Nobu was funny and sad as now Nobu knows about the marriage plans of Takumi and Hachi. I could literally see Nobu's heart being ripped out of his chest and being trampled on. It was an obvious shock but i think it was one that drove home that he and Hachi are over. Even with that he didnt cry and Nana ended up doing instead. I think she was crying for both of them Nobu has been a great friend to Nana one of the few she trust.

Did anyone catch what Nana said at the beginning of the episode.

"I should stop depending on Yasu's kindness; after all hes not mine"

[Aidan]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

LOL

I watched episode 41 and let me tell you...

Spoiler:

Hachi has taken THE WORST moment to mention her evil nemesis Sachiko. I laughed out loud at everything that followed. 8)

I really loved that scene. Comedy gold.

[MrProphet]

MIU! Yuri Kousaka! Meet the Parents, anime-style!

Spoiler for episode 42:

Yay! My favourite character, Miu! 8)

- Reira's letters to Shin are just as long-winded as his are to her. 8)
- Takumi charms Nana's parents in his best devilish manner.
- BLAST relocates back to Tokyo where they take residence at the company hostel.
- The hostel serves as a home for various company-contracted artists, including the timid Miu and a pornstar Yuri Kousaka who is a huge fan of BLAST
- Nana begins suffering from hyperventilation (excess breath) when Nobu, in his usual dickish fashion, tells her that he gave up on Hachi, so if Nana wants to get Hachi back, that's her business.

Yasu, Shin and Nobu were hilariously shy when Nana confronted them about deep, deep knowledge of Yuri Kousaka's failed-swimsuit-idol-turned-pornstar career. 8)

There was one thing that was strangely absent from this episode. Since it is now a manga-exclusive scene, I'll tag it separately.

Spoiler for some manga spoilers and a mention of a possible future storyline:

When Reira finds Ren curled up in the bathroom of their London suite, the tell-tale marijuana joints are absent. It is somewhat hinted at that Ren is heavily stoned, but it is never explicitly mentioned.

So, I wonder if Ren's future addiction problems will ever be addressed? Or are drugs a no-no subject for anime?

I feel like this is an important part of the whole Nana story, since it relates to Ren's and Nana's similarity to Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen and the drug addiction that lead to their tragic deaths.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Really wonderful episode. An hour's worth of fascination in 21 minutes.

Spoiler for ep42:

Layla and Shin. Layla and her "family," Trapnest. Layla with Mari and Ren. "Meet the parents." Lol. Takumi can really turn it on. Is he that happy to have a family, even this one? The way Hachi looked at him in bed was so nice. If that's how she feels, then maybe I should forgive him everything?

The scene between Nana O. and Nobu that broke her down. What does Nobu really feel? Can Hachi's feelings for him possibly interfere with her feelings for Takumi?

Miu. I look forward to some time in this hotel with these characters.

Miu's brief speech was played so effectively by Chiba Saeko. And Hirano Aya is getting even better at Layla, I think. Not to mention the great characterization by Paku Romi throughout.　Kousaka Yuri is played by stage-film-TV actress and actual photo-idol Suhou Reiko.

[pathyfinder]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

There was one thing that was strangely absent from this episode. Since it is now a manga-exclusive scene, I'll tag it separately.

Spoiler for some manga spoilers and a mention of a possible future storyline:

When Reira finds Ren curled up in the bathroom of their London suite, the tell-tale marijuana joints are absent. It is somewhat hinted at that Ren is heavily stoned, but it is never explicitly mentioned.

So, I wonder if Ren's future addiction problems will ever be addressed? Or are drugs a no-no subject for anime?

I feel like this is an important part of the whole Nana story, since it relates to Ren's and Nana's similarity to Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen and the drug addiction that lead to their tragic deaths.

IS this issue necessary? (to the plot that is)....wow, cause well, I didn't catch onto that fact. I was wondering why Nana stated she didn't tell Ren her "feeling" or "talk" when she has problems. does "this" play into why?

[MrProphet]

Well, it's hard to say, since this particular plot line hasn't really developed much in the manga either, though it does certainly play into the hints of the destructive nature of Ren's relationship with Nana.

It's hard to say anything without spoiling the plot, but let me just say that it seemed like an important aspect of a larger whole (rather than important in itself).

[MrProphet]

OK, so episode 43 came and went. What happened?

Spoiler for 43:

- Nana went to the doctor and was told that she has a hyperventilation syndrome due to her emotions running wild. Nana is worried about her singing voice.

- Takumi almost catches on to Reira's relationship with Shin, when he notices her lighter (which Shin gave to her) and the fact that she doesn't smoke. Reira laughs it off, but Takumi is, obviously, no fool.

- BLAST have their guerrilla live in what looks like Shibuya. It's a wild success. Everyone knows Nana.

- BLAST's and TRAPNEST's new singles will be out on the same day. Hachi wants to be married in the same wedding dress that Reira has in the new TRAPNEST music video.

- Nobu befriends a girl called Miyu (although, everyone calls her Myu) who lives next door from him and who is a small-time actress employed by the same company as BLAST. Nana thinks that Myu is similar to Hachi, thus the attraction. But Myu is also hiding something that looks like razor marks on her writsts (OOO, so emo!).

Oh, and the next episode preview had Anna Tsuchiya and OLIVIA (who sing the OP/ED and give "singing" voices to Nana and Reira respectively).



I wonder why they look so unJapanese! Is this a new chic in Japan, famous people looking like Europeans? Moreover, Anna and Olivia both speak with a funny gaijin accent. Makes you almost think this is all a part of the image, since Anna sounds like she is playing Nana (with a punk attitude and stuff like that). 8)

PS: I am really looking forward to the next week. It should one hell of a weird episode. If they don't cut and censor it, that is. If they don't, it should really be one of the most interesting NANA episodes, I think.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Episode 43 (episode 46 in one set of raws and in most Chinese subs -- how confusing) was one of those that left me with the emotional emptiness in my chest that is the mark to me of something special. I can't exactly explain it, but this episode touched me deeply with the sense of us humans stumbling around on Earth like the playthings of nonexistent gods. We misunderstand each other and ourselves, and yet there are moments of contact with each other that offer a promise of redemption. The sight of Hachi there in the street gave me feelings of both connection and separation.

I continue to be impressed with the voice of Chiba Saeko as Miyu. I accept the "emo" thing MrProphet referred to at full value, without resistance. It made emotional, dramatic, and human sense to me.

[poptart]

Originally Posted by MrProphet

Oh, and the next episode preview had Anna Tsuchiya and OLIVIA (who sing the OP/ED and give "singing" voices to Nana and Reira respectively).



I wonder why they look so unJapanese! Is this a new chic in Japan, famous people looking like Europeans? Moreover, Anna and Olivia both speak with a funny gaijin accent. Makes you almost think this is all a part of the image, since Anna sounds like she is playing Nana (with a punk attitude and stuff like that). 8)

thats because both ana and oliva are not 100% japanese

anna is i think russian-american and japanese, and olivia is american and japanese. oliva more than anna i think has the thicker accent because english is her first language and she spent more time in america.

[Sinestra]

Man i am going through withdraw i need my dose of Nana but subs are coming along pretty slow at the moment.