etoks21

You again. I repeat myself: The alleged stalker and his behaviors are the only aspect of this plot providing drama, suspense, fear, angst, all those juicy aspects of a story that make it exciting. It is of no concern to me that you can't differentiate between appreciating the stimulation provided by creepy characters and/or actions, and "defending" them.

I've watched lots of riveting murder thrillers that would be nothing without the murderer or the murder, just as without the creepy stalker this show would be almost nothing unless earrings and baggy pants provide you excitement. And guess what? I have yet to murder anyone.

I'm glad your last comment will be your last comment. Your comments are nothing as well.

Still can't read English, can you?

My comment was directed at the shrieking comments, which are still hilarious to read in light of the fact that gay baiting as a marketing strategy makes no sense, so why would they do it? I then proceed to ask a number of questions asking why it would be in the film's interest to use that strategy? You have provided no answers. Rather, you continue to accuse me of "defending" gay-baiting when you have not shown that is what is going on here, nor explained WHY they would market the film that way.

Using words like "obvious" and stating your opinions as fact do zero to bolster your hysterical, "outraged" arguments. People who use the words "I am outraged!" are generally emotionally "overwrought" and much less than objective.

",,,but now its become obvious that your just here to argue and troll.. Some you of people are so very very miserable in your actual lives.. How sad.." Says the outraged hysteric who keeps replying to my alleged "trolling" with troll comments of their own. Apparently, you're just here to argue and troll, distraught that I haven't bent to your will. lol

I hope your misery and sadness in life continue unabated.

Sorry about all the paragraphs again. I know how you struggle with those.

"...you haven't been in this situation or know what the reality is for people..." Just as I thought; you're not interested in what is going on in this story, you simply are eager to let us all know you or someone you know has been stalked and that you're an expert on stalking.

News flash: Haishin has never been in this situation before either. He knows nothing about stalking and case law surrounding it. Let it go.

"...when anyone can tell from the writing that taishin is somewhere on the autism spectrum..." lol OK, now, this is news. Where did this come from? It's nothing other than your assumption, made from your own perspective, with prejudice. You clearly want this to be about a dude with Autism when no such thing has been indicated in the least. You made a medical diagnosis of the character from "your perspective," and locked it in as if it were fact, when it is far too early to know any such thing.

Do people on the Autism spectrum, even high-functioning ones, really go pursuing a crush as aggressively as Haishin has gone after Takara? No, they don't. They avoid social interactions, making eye contact, prefer being alone, don't like people in their personal space, etc. Does this sound like the Haishin who chases after Takara, looks everyone in the eye, socializes with his new friends, and lays his head on Takara's chest after Takara chased away the chicken dinner man? No, no it doesn't sound like Haishin, not at all.

So, unless you're a certified M.D. specializing in Autism, please stop watching or at least stop posting comments that reveal your ignorance and need to play the expert on things you know little about.

I realize this comment contains paragraphs, which may be difficult for you to read and comprehend, but that's your problem.

P.S. if you reply, and I hope you don't, could you explain how you manage to view anything in the universe from any perspective other than your own as an individual? You can expand and grow your perspective by considering new information and the perspectives of others, but doing those things merely changes YOUR perspective, it doesn't endow you with someone else's.

I apologize for the extra paragraph. I know those are difficult for you.

Thanks for your know-it-all, insulting, arrogant reply, making it clear you have hostility issues. Also good to know you just "know" all of this without providing any backup info/links. So I'll assume you're full of shit on this.

None of what you wrote negates what I said above: Marketing a non-BL film as a BL is a stupid move, regardless of why it was done. It will backfire, as those who see it early will spread the word, hopefully in less of an a**hole-ish way than you have done, that it is NOT a BL, the BL audience will dry up and the studio will have hundreds of thousands of people left with a sour taste in their mouths. Sounds like a bad strategy to me.

My comment did NOT attempt to defend gay-baiting in the marketing of this film. I was seeking clarification as to whether that's what really went down and expressing why it would be a mistake. In your haste to play the all-knowing, self-righteous gay superhero, you missed all that.

Twit.

I guess you can't read English. In my comment, I pointed out that "he stood outside Haishin's door for HOURS with that chicken dinner sack..." Then for some reason you found it necessary to repeat what I already wrote. But can you point out where I wrote that his doing so is "normal?" Thanks, I'll wait while you try to find that quote in my comment.

I wrote "He hasn't really done anything yet." I wrote that because, legally speaking, he hasn't broken any laws unless it's illegal to stand on someone's doorstep for hours, which it's not. It might be later, after they get a restraining order issued by a court of law but that hasn't happened yet.

I'm afraid you're the "weirdo" here, making shit up and freaking out when nothing of consequence has happened yet. However, your hysterical reaction does make my point that the creepy dude character has been the only dramatic/interesting thing in this story thus far.

Started out pretty grippingly, but I can't abide that cheap TV-movie production look of these Japanese network "Specials." The straight-to-video vibe takes me right out of the story. Which is a shame, as this has a great cast, except for the actress playing the wife/mother. That semi-hysterical, whispery, meek-but-passive-aggressive Japanese wife type character drives me nuts. To anyone who would know, is this the way most Japanese women act? I've seen the type over and over in movies and series. ugh I wanted to slap the shit out of her ten times in the first 20 minutes.

I love Abe Hiroshi, but he's not gonna save this one for me.

OK, so dropped.

Haishin is definitely too naive and clueless to be living in the big city all alone. His mother is nuts for having allowed that since he wasn't going to be living on campus, which is where he should be.

After three episodes, I find his forced obliviousness annoying. I think that's a problem the actor has run into. The halting mannerisms and wide-eyed, nervous-Nelly affect ring false. He's ACTING like someone who behaves that way, rather than BEING that person. Which means the director is fucking up as well.

Why are you "disgusted?" He hasn't really done anything yet. "Creeped out," yes, but "disgusted?"

I like him. He's the only element of this story that has provided some drama, unless watching Haishin shop for earrings is your idea of angst and suspense. I find his perseverance amusing: He stood outside Haishin's door for HOURS with that chicken dinner sack, never once losing his amiable, cheerful demeanor, which is what made the character even creepier than he otherwise would have been. lol

What a weirdo. The actor did a good job with that character. Maybe he'll show up again and he and Haishin will hook up.

Are you suggesting that Haishin, the little trembling bird scared of his own shadow; who knows nothing of city life or case law regarding stalking, who doesn't even know what a stalker is yet, is nonetheless fully versed on the intricacies of how to deal with the chicken dinner stalker at his door, and that the last thing you do is call the cops?

The scenario in the series is not "your experience." It is the experience of the character, who knows only that a scary dude won't leave his doorway for hours. He's vulnerable, but we haven't been made aware yet that he is stupid.

It would definitely occur to him to call the cops. He's heard of police departments, right? Maybe he doesn't know what number to dial but that wasn't indicated in the script. Maybe he knows how to call them, but takes the opportunity to call his crush instead? That wasn't indicated either.

It is bad writing.

...and here you are again, still arguing your point.

So, are you saying this tiny, quivering bird from the countryside is ignorant of city life and its complications, yet understands "stalking laws" and the "nuances" of involving police with potentially dangerous people? He doesn't even understand what a stalker is yet, he just knows an intimidating weirdo won't leave his doorway

He is so scared of the man with the chicken dinner that he's been cowering in his apartment for hours shaking like a leaf, but he doesn't call the cops to deal with the situation. His vast knowledge of stalking laws and their unintended consequences prevent him from doing this, so he calls the guy he's crushing on instead?

Or did he simply embrace the opportunity to play damsel in distress and call his knight in shining armor for rescue?

Is it that you feel you've been stalked, and want to share your intimate knowledge of the law surrounding it? Let it go.

OK, well, you don't know what I feel or why I feel it, nor do you know what my experiences with police have been, so let it go.

Because if he did that he wouldn't have an excuse to call his power-top to come save him. :D It seems to me that given what we know of who Takara is, he would be annoyed by this shrinking violet routine from Taishin. I wish when Taishin called him Takara would have said, "for god's sake, just call the cops. I'm busy drinking here!" :D But then we wouldn't have an episode, would we?

The police would come to the apartment and tell the guy to get lost, and if he refuses, they would arrest him. Regardless of where the trembling flower is from, he has to know what police are.

Meh...
Konishi Eito is overplaying the timid, delicate, weak, trembling flower-bottom to the point of him being pathetic. Cowering in fear inside your apartment because a man is holding a chicken dinner outside your door? Call the cops, for god's sake.

Fortunately, Iwase Yoji continues to be eye candy, so I'll keep watching, but the barely-there plot is boring.

By god, you are absolutely right! The Chinese actor's name is Xu Bin. He and the Korean actor Iwase Yoji from this show should play twins. That's how much they resemble each other.

Thank you for the tip. I have a great eye for faces and it's been driving me nuts that I couldn't figure out where I'd seen the guy before. Turns out I haven't! lol I've seen his doppleganger in China. :D

Thanks!

omg...that horrible, selfish mother should be shot.

This movie has its moments, but overall is more than a bit of a mess. There is beauty in the core plot but the execution is clunky and confusing.

That said, I see two aspects that make the watch worthwhile: The connection/chemistry between the two boys in the first half, and the scene wherein the girl truly SEES who she is in the second half, including the reunion scene at the train station. That's the segment that brought me to tears. The young actress blew me out of the water there.

I wish someone would do yet another adaptation, this time as maybe a six-episode series, in which all the intriguing possibilities, questions, and conundrums, beginning with the question: Does a soul have a gender or sexual orientation? If so, how and why?

The ending lacks power for me because there is zero guarantee they'll reincarnate as two men on the same timeline. Also, that jump into the water is nowhere near long enough to kill anyone.

Nevertheless, I'll give it a C or 7/10.

You're an idiot. Pedophilia by definition is an adult being sexually attracted to a PRE-PUBESCENT child. Pretty sure the 10th grader has been through puberty, don't you think? Also, in your haste to play the self-righteous Church Lady you completely missed that adult Phop is NOT sexually attracted to Dew in the girl's body. They show affection and hug but there is not even a kiss. Grow up.

This is a beautiful little film with great acting and chemistry between the mains. Some of the teacher characterizations are over the top, but not enough to spoil the sweetness and angst at the heart of the movie.

As usual, precisely because this film is exceptionally good, it has a low rating on MDL. And the crap stuff gets high ratings here; just the way it is.

8.5/10

MDL ratings are f'd up.