(L) Kuragehime (TV)

[Kaoru Chujo]

Okay, now it's got me. Some great turns of voice from HanaKana, but the line that I liked best, in its context, was...

Spoiler for ep4:

"...What do you think about the increase in the sales tax?"

[satomianzaki]

this series is surprisingly really good...its really nice...

[wandering-dreamer]

Spoiler for episode 3:

Oh I love Kuranosuke now(and not just for his adorably cute outfit in the first half of the episode, although he did look pretty cute as a boy towards the end too). We didn't spend the entire episode in his head but just that little bit really explained a lot about him (I'm kinda happy that he's just cross-dressing for the heck of it, usually in manga it's either an extremely silly thing that gets brought up once or twice or it's a really serious matter, it's nice to see something that's both light-hearted and not shallow) and that little bit with his uncle was hilarious (was I the only one who thought he did the KIRABOSHI sign there in the beginning?). Must admit that I think the nuns are still amusing comic relief but I'm liking them less and less every episode. It's probably my American values coming out here but the fact that they're all in their 30s (I thought I read somewhere that Tsukimi was 18 however, which is right?) and are still living off of their parent's allowances just strikes me as a little sad. Of course, when I think of a job I think of one that (ideally) you enjoy doing for years and years and seeing the girls not think beyond tomorrow rubs me the wrong way.

[physics223]

Eight more episodes from being one of the absolute best of 2010.

Just ... wow.

[Ansalem]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Spoiler for episode 3:

Must admit that I think the nuns are still amusing comic relief but I'm liking them less and less every episode. It's probably my American values coming out here but the fact that they're all in their 30s (I thought I read somewhere that Tsukimi was 18 however, which is right?) and are still living off of their parent's allowances just strikes me as a little sad. Of course, when I think of a job I think of one that (ideally) you enjoy doing for years and years and seeing the girls not think beyond tomorrow rubs me the wrong way.

Spoiler for ep3 reply:

I'm not sure I really see the issue with living with the help of their parents, as long as they are willing to provide the support. I would feel that it is somewhat sad if their parents are put under a financial burden to provide such aid, but the show doesn't really touch on that. They are apparently working part time jobs as well. If you think about it, there are plenty of mega-rich people who live off their inheritance without working, but that generally isn't frowned upon. It's sort of a societal double standard. Don't get me wrong, I don't really think it would be an ideal situation to live the way they do. Having financial freedom and self-sufficiency would be ideal, but I don't see a fundamental problem with such a life-style.

[diabolistic]

This is easily one of my favorite series in the last few years. I'm hooked.
My favorite part of episode 3 was

Spoiler:

The older brother starts fantasizing about his meeting with Tsukimi, and in the fantasy they both start giggling for no reason

Also, the opening and ending sequences are great.. I wonder if the singles are out yet...

[MeoTwister5]

There can only be one appropriate response to post-makeover Tsukimi.

Spoiler for The appropriate response.:

Dayum.

Blog post to follow.

[aviot]

Though collapsing ,EP.3 is good.
I like this show

[physics223]

Just to clear things up, I assume those are freckles on Tsukimi's face, right? I doubt acne would clear up that well with just make-up.

[MeoTwister5]

Beauty and the Beasts.

1. Kuranosuke's cross dressing and rejections seem to be ultimately grounded on his mother issues. Specifically, it seems to me that this is really his way of indirectly getting closer to her, symbolized by adopting the fashion sense he thinks his mother had. This delves deeper into the mystery as to why their mother isn't around. Furthermore, I find it intriguing that Shu called their mother by her first name, which indicates a degree of emotional distance.

2. She convinces herself so hard that she's ugly, that beauty is beyond her grasp, yet she even denies it when she sees her own self become that which she fears and rejects the most. This isn't simple lack of self esteem; this feels psychological in its core. She seems to completely and adamantly reject beauty in any and all its forms within her, and sees it to exist only outside the real world. It extends towards the outside world, that she fears beauty outside. This makes me think without a doubt that it must be a real psychological issue she faces, and probably the rest of the tenants as well. There is something about beauty itself that she thinks must be feared. Again, this may extend towards an unresolved issue with her parents, but it's becoming clear just how deep the roots of this fear are.

3. The apartment was clearly developed as a safe haven for people like them. I don't know if this is really such a real and profound social phenomena, though I won't deny there are people who really act as such. It all feels like a very organized and constructed lifestyle, so it all seems to go deeper than initially thought.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by wandering-dreamer

Spoiler for episode 3:

Oh I love Kuranosuke now(and not just for his adorably cute outfit in the first half of the episode, although he did look pretty cute as a boy towards the end too). We didn't spend the entire episode in his head but just that little bit really explained a lot about him (I'm kinda happy that he's just cross-dressing for the heck of it, usually in manga it's either an extremely silly thing that gets brought up once or twice or it's a really serious matter, it's nice to see something that's both light-hearted and not shallow) and that little bit with his uncle was hilarious (was I the only one who thought he did the KIRABOSHI sign there in the beginning?). Must admit that I think the nuns are still amusing comic relief but I'm liking them less and less every episode. It's probably my American values coming out here but the fact that they're all in their 30s (I thought I read somewhere that Tsukimi was 18 however, which is right?) and are still living off of their parent's allowances just strikes me as a little sad. Of course, when I think of a job I think of one that (ideally) you enjoy doing for years and years and seeing the girls not think beyond tomorrow rubs me the wrong way.

Spoiler for episode 3:

No, no you aren't. And he did the Kira~☆ (from Macross F) pose when he left. That guy was a riot

The story took a surprising turn in this episode. The extreme makeover took place earlier than I expected, and I never imagined Tsukimi and Kuranosuke's brother would get paired up. Tsukimi was just as beautiful as we thought she'd be after her makeover. I can't blame Kuranosuke's brother for falling for such a stunning beauty. Now, if only he could learn to look past appearances... I don't see him as a bad guy, but even if it was understandable, his reaction upon seeing the "real" Tsukimi irked me a little.

It will also very interesting to learn the nunnery will get torn down, and that Kuranosuke and his brother don't have the same mother. I can't wait to see how all of this will develop.

Originally Posted by physics223

Just to clear things up, I assume those are freckles on Tsukimi's face, right? I doubt acne would clear up that well with just make-up.

Definitely freckles. She had them when she was a kid too.

Edit:

Originally Posted by MeoTwister5

Furthermore, I find it intriguing that Shu called their mother by her first name, which indicates a degree of emotional distance.

As I said above, that's because they don't have the same mothers. He didn't just refer to her by her first name, he used the honorific "san". Tsukimi saying the two brothers look nothing alike was another hint.

[MeoTwister5]

I find that strange actually. If they are indeed half brothers, given the politically centered family and that both brothers are under the same roof, it's not likely that Kuranosuke is a mistress' son. It could be that he's from the second wife.

Furthermore since he's younger, why isn't the mother at home? If he's the second wife's son, then assuming the first wife is dead, why is he in the family mansion without his mother?

[Shiroth]

Kuranosuke's attire this week was very lovely, though i much prefer him with the longer hair, so i'm glad that returned at the end of the episode :3. I'm very interested with his interest toward his Mother, so i hope that plays out in the 8 episodes left of the series. Guessing the redevelopment of the Nun's place will be the next focus.

Oh and the random Takehito Koyasu role made me laugh.

[Kaoru Chujo]

I'm imagining that Kuranosuke's mother is or was an entertainer, judging by the photo and the full closet. That would mean she was most likely a mistress, and the difficulty of contacting her is because her relationship with the father is being hidden deeply for political reasons.

I'm not a big fan of the broader humour in this show -- the uncle and the Three Kingdoms otaku, for example -- but other scenes were great: where the older brother couldn't bring himself to ask about Tsukimi, for example.

Objecting to the nunz' lifestyle seems beside the point, to me. One of the whole points of this show is contrasting freedom (nunz and crossdressers) with restrictive conformity (Kuranosuke's family), and showing the downsides of both. The nunz' life is joyful and sad at the same time. They justified it in the show by referring to the high unemployment rate and the comparative wealth of their parents' generation. But it really needs no justification, as part of the drama. And I'm sure there are thousands of otaku, in Japan and abroad, who live that way: cheaply on an allowance plus part-time work.

I guess some of the other nunz are older, but Tsukimi said in ep1 that she was 18.

[Shiroth]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I guess some of the other nunz are older, but Tsukimi said in ep1 that she was 18.

I'd say Mayaya is probably in her late 20s, and Chieko looks older. I'd say early 30s.

Jiji's appearance is quite deceiving, though going by her fetish, i can see her being younger then she looks.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I'm imagining that Kuranosuke's mother is or was an entertainer, judging by the photo and the full closet. That would mean she was most likely a mistress, and the difficulty of contacting her is because her relationship with the father is being hidden deeply for political reasons.

That's what I think too. The truth about his birth was probably kept hidden from the public. I find it a bit odd it wasn't hidden from him as well.

[physics223]

Or, as someone else suggested, she may just have been a one-night stand that produced Kuranosuke. But you guys are probably right.

Kuragehime - 03

It's pretty late, but I've gone through three drafts to write it ... there's still a lot to be said, however.

[MeoTwister5]

I still don't think he's a bastard son of sorts, because based on my understanding of political dynasties, it makes no sense for him to be in the mansion in a culture where honor and perception means everything. He would be considered a hindrance or an unwanted person, and Shu's apparent fondness of him means they've probably been together a while.

And those clothes he's wearing might not even be his but his mother's, which may suggest that his mother actually lived in the mansion at some point.

[Ashlotte]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

I'm imagining that Kuranosuke's mother is or was an entertainer, judging by the photo and the full closet. That would mean she was most likely a mistress, and the difficulty of contacting her is because her relationship with the father is being hidden deeply for political reasons.

I'm not a big fan of the broader humour in this show -- the uncle and the Three Kingdoms otaku, for example -- but other scenes were great: where the older brother couldn't bring himself to ask about Tsukimi, for example.

Objecting to the nunz' lifestyle seems beside the point, to me. One of the whole points of this show is contrasting freedom (nunz and crossdressers) with restrictive conformity (Kuranosuke's family), and showing the downsides of both. The nunz' life is joyful and sad at the same time. They justified it in the show by referring to the high unemployment rate and the comparative wealth of their parents' generation. But it really needs no justification, as part of the drama. And I'm sure there are thousands of otaku, in Japan and abroad, who live that way: cheaply on an allowance plus part-time work.

I guess some of the other nunz are older, but Tsukimi said in ep1 that she was 18.

Must be nice to live in a country with low health care costs and government sponsored insurance...No way you could pull this off in the states without a good solid job or you really would be a very large burden on your family if something ever happened to you...

Ah well I somehow doubt they'll delve too far into it...I shall just enjoy lovely dolled up Tsukimi~~~ (Wonder if that extreme makeover would work on the others...I have my doubts. )

[Guardian Enzo]

So Kuronosuke tries to pair off Shu with Tsukimi. Not interested in girls himself? Or just not interested in Tsukimi? Or too shy in matters of romance to pursue her?