DrKay
Parody or Satire?
I'd like to give a fair warning here that I'm coming to Ossan's love after a marathon of Pornographer series so I might have gone into the series with some lingering elements from there. I'm trying to be as unbiased as I can. At 7 episodes, Ossan's love seemed an easy rainy day watch but the story managed to get problematic by the 4th ep. And that's not even because the story seemed to lack a direction. We've seen shows go berserk before setting themselves on the track, or have the berserk happen for a reason, but OL falls under neither category. It was probably my mistake for expecting the breaking point to come mid season and then thinking the remaining episodes would be "heal".
Sadly, no.
A large part of it was because of the characterisation of Haruta. He was depicted to be capable professionally but an utter disaster in every other aspect. It's an interesting prologue to the main character. But, he is inconsistent. It's not just his house and life that he needs to get together and that shows, all the way till the last episode. (If the duration of the show was any longer, it would have been a frustrating melodrama so I'm glad the show ended when it did). Haruta, at 33, is in emergent need of a complete makeover of his psyche, of his understanding of himself. While his kindness was intelligently portrayed to be a stumbling block in his self discovery, it was not convincing enough. After a point, it became difficult to say if Haruta had a problem coming out or accepting his feelings, or even realising he had those feelings in the first place and what those feelings meant, thereby making it hard to empathise with him in spite of the initial laughter his confusion elicited. Even towards the end, I had to wonder what changed in him and why he did what he did. I'm already half convinced if the other person hadn't given up, Haruta would have just gone along with the flow. Frankly, it looked like the coming out Haruta needed was him being an indecisive Aro/Ace ass. His sexuality aside, I wish the writers worked on him more. I wish more detail went into creating his character than the various theatrical expressions he gives. The actor makes brilliant faces, no doubt, but that's not what he's here to do?
This is not to say that the show wasn't good. There is a decent amount of well placed situational humour that will crack you up until your sides hurt. The dance at the end was memorable. The setting is convenient and suitable to the story. I wouldn't exactly say that midlife crisis was addressed but it was probably there in the subtext for us to figure out. The three statements that redeem the show somewhat are:
What is love?
What is marriage?
Love is not such a neat thing.
However, the questions remain unanswered, both for good and bad- good, because most of us don't know the answers ourselves, and bad because it complicates an already complex plot, unnecessarily. Another good thing is that, the story bares open how love changes over time- as the chief's wife explains to Maro, who is my favourite character in the show. He is consistent, mature, and has a clear growth curve, be it when he advices Chizu or when he pursues Choko. Maki is equally amazing and stuns us with his clarity in an otherwise ambiguous story. The actors who play them are excellent too.
Secondly, Chizu's entire storyline was half baked and way too typical. She enjoys Haruta's attention and repeatedly rejects him but begins to covet him when he gives up. I'm not even going to talk about how unfair she was in her brief relationship. She's selfish and about as stable as Haruta. They are two peas in a pod. The difference is Haruta knows he's self destructive. Chizu doesn't and doesn't even realise until much later. The only sensible female character was Maika-san and I rooted for her from the beginning till the end.
My third point of discontent will be the chief. Oh where to begin with him! He's a can of worms that is better left unopened and untouched. His obsession with Haruta is downright creepy and borderline stalkerish and the reason for his love is never explained. Yes, love doesn't need explanations, but I demand some when one minute he's celebrating his anniversary and the next he's thinking of Haruta. Additionally, there were never any indications that his marriage was unsteady or unhappy. I also have to wonder if in all his years of married life he ever heard of "consent". Right from the beginning, he's always seen doing what he wants- be it liking someone or giving up someone. It's always his call when it comes to his relationships. And that he calls "love"? What kind of proposal was it anyway? It was eerily similar to Mr. Darcy's for Lizzy and bizzare to the extent that even Haruta notes that the word "crazy" appears often. Also, was he never taught the meaning of "No"? Here, his wife needs to be given special applause for encouraging her husband and wishing for his happiness so much that she helps formulate the plan to grab Haruta. Wasn't this stereotyping wives as sacrificing for the sake of their husbands? And where is her sense of self?
Which is why I'd like an answer to my question- was this show a satire or a parody?
Sadly, no.
A large part of it was because of the characterisation of Haruta. He was depicted to be capable professionally but an utter disaster in every other aspect. It's an interesting prologue to the main character. But, he is inconsistent. It's not just his house and life that he needs to get together and that shows, all the way till the last episode. (If the duration of the show was any longer, it would have been a frustrating melodrama so I'm glad the show ended when it did). Haruta, at 33, is in emergent need of a complete makeover of his psyche, of his understanding of himself. While his kindness was intelligently portrayed to be a stumbling block in his self discovery, it was not convincing enough. After a point, it became difficult to say if Haruta had a problem coming out or accepting his feelings, or even realising he had those feelings in the first place and what those feelings meant, thereby making it hard to empathise with him in spite of the initial laughter his confusion elicited. Even towards the end, I had to wonder what changed in him and why he did what he did. I'm already half convinced if the other person hadn't given up, Haruta would have just gone along with the flow. Frankly, it looked like the coming out Haruta needed was him being an indecisive Aro/Ace ass. His sexuality aside, I wish the writers worked on him more. I wish more detail went into creating his character than the various theatrical expressions he gives. The actor makes brilliant faces, no doubt, but that's not what he's here to do?
This is not to say that the show wasn't good. There is a decent amount of well placed situational humour that will crack you up until your sides hurt. The dance at the end was memorable. The setting is convenient and suitable to the story. I wouldn't exactly say that midlife crisis was addressed but it was probably there in the subtext for us to figure out. The three statements that redeem the show somewhat are:
What is love?
What is marriage?
Love is not such a neat thing.
However, the questions remain unanswered, both for good and bad- good, because most of us don't know the answers ourselves, and bad because it complicates an already complex plot, unnecessarily. Another good thing is that, the story bares open how love changes over time- as the chief's wife explains to Maro, who is my favourite character in the show. He is consistent, mature, and has a clear growth curve, be it when he advices Chizu or when he pursues Choko. Maki is equally amazing and stuns us with his clarity in an otherwise ambiguous story. The actors who play them are excellent too.
Secondly, Chizu's entire storyline was half baked and way too typical. She enjoys Haruta's attention and repeatedly rejects him but begins to covet him when he gives up. I'm not even going to talk about how unfair she was in her brief relationship. She's selfish and about as stable as Haruta. They are two peas in a pod. The difference is Haruta knows he's self destructive. Chizu doesn't and doesn't even realise until much later. The only sensible female character was Maika-san and I rooted for her from the beginning till the end.
My third point of discontent will be the chief. Oh where to begin with him! He's a can of worms that is better left unopened and untouched. His obsession with Haruta is downright creepy and borderline stalkerish and the reason for his love is never explained. Yes, love doesn't need explanations, but I demand some when one minute he's celebrating his anniversary and the next he's thinking of Haruta. Additionally, there were never any indications that his marriage was unsteady or unhappy. I also have to wonder if in all his years of married life he ever heard of "consent". Right from the beginning, he's always seen doing what he wants- be it liking someone or giving up someone. It's always his call when it comes to his relationships. And that he calls "love"? What kind of proposal was it anyway? It was eerily similar to Mr. Darcy's for Lizzy and bizzare to the extent that even Haruta notes that the word "crazy" appears often. Also, was he never taught the meaning of "No"? Here, his wife needs to be given special applause for encouraging her husband and wishing for his happiness so much that she helps formulate the plan to grab Haruta. Wasn't this stereotyping wives as sacrificing for the sake of their husbands? And where is her sense of self?
Which is why I'd like an answer to my question- was this show a satire or a parody?
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