#vivant jdrama

[angryborzois]

VIVANT MONUMENT

CLOSEUP OF SOME CAST MEMBERS' SIGNATURES

Sakai Masato | Nikaido Fumi | Abe Hiroshi

Ninomiya Kazunari

Tomisakae Doramu | Matsuzaka Tori

CLOSER LOOK AT EACH LETTER

[sandreeen]

"Sakai often petted the camels to express his gratitude to them. At one point, he petted one so much that a camel spat on him at full blast." --From Drum's Secret Investigation File (Vivant Live Broadcast 2023.09.10)

[tokidokitokyo]

Japanese Dramas

that I watched in January/February & my thoughts on them ^.^

VIVANT

VIVANT - (Netflix) A drama about corporate and political espionage that takes place in a fictional country called Balka but is filmed in Japan and Mongolia. I love the main stars Sakai Masato and Abe Hiroshi, and the various references to Sakai's previous show Hanzawa Naoki (the director of which also directs Vivant). There is a lot of action and I found the story very interesting, but in the middle it slows down for an episode, so just push through that part lol. 5/5 particularly for the cast.

ペンディングトレイン―8時23分、明日 君と

Pending Train - (Netflix) A train car full of normal, everyday people are suddenly thrown together in an unknown location where they have no idea what is going on. They cannot contact anyone else, and they must learn to survive and to work together. Here the main trio are played by amazing actors (Yamada Yuki, Akaso Eiji, Kamishiraishi Moka) and the story line kept me interested until the end. 5/5 acting and storyline all around.

御手洗家、炎上する

Burn the House Down - (Netflix) A fire destroys a whole family, but years later the daughter can’t accept that her mother, who was left without a memory of the events, was the arsonist. She infiltrates the house of the person she thinks is responsible for this tragedy and works to solve this mystery. Nagano Mei is great as the protagonist and Suzuki Kyoka is an amazing antagonist, and the twists and turns will leave you wanting to binge this drama quickly. 5/5 for suspense and for making me nervous right through to the end.

恋はつづくよどこまても

An Incurable Case of Love - (Netflix) If you liked Itazura na Kiss you’ll like this drama! A girl recognizes her dream of becoming a nurse so she can be by the side of the doctor she met in high school. But he’s kind of a jerk. Plenty of ドキドキ (fast heartbeat) and 胸キュン (that squeeze in your chest) for romance drama fans. Hospital setting so beware of the mild hospital type things that come along with it. Some deep subject matter as well. Kamishiraishi Mone and Satoh Takeru with excellent acting for your troubles. 5/5 for making my heart race (this was my second time watching it!).

[jiimama]

[nekoluw]

[miloucomehome]

VIVANT EPISODE 7 THOUGHTS

(protip: never read the official episode titles from TB/S on T/Ver. Episode 7's could be considered a spoiler)

Wow. And wowowwow...

Pictured: Me finding yet more details I missed during the first two watchthroughs

Pictured 2: My reaction when I notice something brought up in this week's episode actually makes a statement/profile we saw a number of episodes ago look really suspicious.

First: Holy shit what the hell?! WHAT THE HELL NOGI?!

Second:

Kohinata, you're not off the hook! I don't remember which episode Kohinata's Nagano gets interrogated, but if I recall...didn't we learn that he was former JSDF? Isn't that what made him a prime suspect to Nozaki and Public Security? I kind of remember him saying how he left the forces...but wasn't he active in the 80s? We learned this week that Balka fell into civil war in 1983 and that Nogi Suguru (Nogi's dad) is reported dead in 1984 when he ends up dragged into the factional conflict. He did have a reaction when Nogi name-dropped Zayir/Zahir and Nogi F did go right up to his face and sniff him, stating he literally smelled "off"/suspicious.

(Kohinata always plays sus characters. I don't mind if in the end, it turns out he's just an old dude who wanted to hang out with a younger woman because his marriage is on the rocks, but MIU404, MOZU and even S1 of Emergency Interrogation Room set me up for years of doubt XDDD.)

Shinjo (gone from sus to maybe sus idk) brought up good points: why didn't Suguru communicate with Public Security in the 80s to tell them he was alive. I wonder if a flashback episode is around the corner...the late 70s to 80s seem like they might be really important. If Nozaki is in his 50s, then any older character we've seen could potentially be important a future flashback episode. If there's one planned.

Nozaki Mamoru = Canon gay lead? IN PRIMETIME JP SUNDAY NIGHT TV?!

(I'll take it. Even if they forget about it or reverse course)

One of the only pieces of good news in this episode--writers confirming, as much as jdrama will allow them to outside of a BL drama, that Nozaki is gay. Not only that but he had loved another man: Liu Mingxuan. (And that it seems like Liu liked him first before he noticed or wanted to commit but did? Maybe he was closeted back then and worried it could be used against him?)

Nozaki: Well, in your position, it's not like you can have a normal love life, can you? (pause) Nogi: Nozaki-san...? Nozaki: Yeah? Nogi: Could it be that you... Nozaki: (laughs) I'm sorry. I can't help but look [at you]. Nozaki: You look just like him. Nogi: I do? Nozaki: It's like I'm looking at the junior who I lovedーLiu Mingxuen. He was a colleague of mine when I worked as a liaison at the embassy in Beijing. Nogi: And I look like him? Nozaki: Yeah. But he's not in this world anymore...

I did find this part oddly curious? worrying?:

Nozaki: He worked so hard for me. He was serious and tried so hard to get me to like him. But because of that... (smile fades) I ended up going over the line during the interrogation <-- this part Nogi: So then...that's when...? Nozaki: If I had actually paid a little bit more attention to him, he wouldn't be dead. That, for me, is my one failure.

The part I "highlighted", the "I ended up going over the line during the interrogation" (other TLs welcome!) part, has me wondering...what happened. And when. He's jovial and charismatic, but Nozaki still is a state intelligence officer. What could've happened?

I'll also headcanon that Nozaki sharing his story about his last lover and how Nogi resembles him, is a roundabout way of confirming Nogi's question was maybe "Could it be that...you like me?".😇🙏

I don't watch BL dramas (because I simply don't know which ones are?), but I've seen the odd drama or two with vaguely-gay-but-we-won't-say characters (with some exceptions: Nigehaji, for example has three). The fact that so far Nozaki is older, has been in love, exudes life experience, and has a different personality and energy from the usual gay characters I've seen in jdrama, is something. He also cares. He's competent at his job. He comes off as really cool, too.

Also his wink is dangerous. I take 500,000+ pts in damage each time (thank you.).

I'm very inclined to believe that despite the increased frostiness and visible gradual distancing in their friendship (see: the last two episodes T_T)), Nozaki was being honest. I also would like to believe that Nogi's line to him later was somewhat reciprocal?

(I know we love to see Nozaki be all close to Nogi, but I'm actually also really enjoying the frostiness of their relationship and how they're both trying to maintain façades more than ever with each other--Nogi as he tries to deceive Nozaki more and Nozaki as he tries to act as he always has despite the very significant information he's been learning about Nogi's true identity)

But as much as I'm inclined to believe his story, jdramas have the ability to betray and I'm steeling myself ahaha.

Nogi's cryptic message to Nozaki on the plane

I totally misread this scene at first as an "end of relationship" moment...but I later felt it was a compliment...then a potential coded message? Jdrama detectives on twitter think it may have been purposefully cryptic/metaphorical as a message to Nozaki, even planting a kind of signal to him--"if something goes wrong, watch for my signals" or something. (Among so many other possibilities)

But it also felt...affectionate? Nogi gently placing his hand on top of Nozaki's and gently clasping(?) it before talking to him felt genuinely kind. The slow letting go of his hand felt, sad almost?

The first idiom used is apparently quite old (1800s) and together with the second half reads:

あなたは鶏群の一鶴、眼光紙背に徹す

(For the sake of keeping it cryptic and rare-sounding, following the proposed definitions in the dictionary):

"You are a great figure among men; one who is able to read between the lines"

Literally (extra deep?):

You are a singular crane among a flock of ducklings chickens, able to read between the lines

Given how later the tracker Nogi removed and placed in some kind of signal blocking pouch, is reactivated and leads Nozaki, Chenggis and his officers to the site with the unconscious/dead Vostania members...Nozaki notices the "calling card" left by Nogi too before he receives a message that really catches his attention. I wonder if in that moment Nozaki's ability to "read between the lines" and grasp at the deeper meaning behind the evidence he finds kicks in.

I also feel like Nogi F realizes that he can trust Nozaki? Or at least that he believes he's exceptional and intelligent?

(I also believe that Nogi F was the one talking to Nozaki during that scene. Sorry Yuusuke! XD)

Now...my most recent "AFHDSKJHFSD AAAH" and "HMM 🤔🤔🤔🤔" discovery--

6 BEPPAN BODYCAMS BUT ONLY 5 ARE NAMED ON THE SCREEN IN THE CONTROL ROOM!!!

The most recent find--

The members of Beppan chosen for the Vostania-Tent meetup interception mission that were all gunned down by Nogi all had their bodycams named...except for Nogi's. That's such a strange thing to overlook.

Not only that, but weren't they all wearing bulletproof vests? Were the bullets in Nokor's gun for piercing bulletproof vests? I don't think the 6 willingly would go into danger without their vests...

COPIUM: Nogi and the Commander are in on it. This is their operation. Nogi didn't betray Beppan. Commander Sakurai's reaction may have been because of Nogi's methods and/or who was shot. If any of the 4 survived, it'll be interesting to find out what they think... (I think that...maybe each group in this series will have traitors of different kinds in their midst? Or maybe we learn about other members of Public Security, Beppan or Tent that neither of the revealed agents of either group are aware of?)

EDIT: THIS GUY LIVES! (credit to the fans in the VIVANT thoughts tag on Twitter) In the "Next Arc" trailer when ep 3 ended, they show Kumagai's actor, Nishiyama Jun, in hospital robes:

Now I'm extra curious. If the others are dead and only Kumagai and Kurosu live (please live), then maybe the Commander and Nogi suspected someone among them was a mole?

Sam is also in that trailer (earlier video?) maybe that wasn't him in episode 5 hahahahaha (denial)

H*rry P*tter -- Nozaki the geek

I made another post about this, but the HP reference and DVD set drop is actually likely really important, I think. I really do believe it's to find a subtle way to keep Drum by Jamine's side and keep watch over her (whether for Public Security or because his intuition is going wild and he's worried for her safety) The post is here and in summary, my realization is that his words to Drum as they leave Jamine's hospital room has me thinking he's setting Drum up to keep near-continuous watch of her later on!

Nozaki : Alright then Drum, let's go grab a bite to eat. Drum: 😄😄😄!!! Nozaki : See you, Nogi Nogi: (nods, smiling) Nozaki (as he leaves Jamine's hospital room with Drum): Oh yeah, that's right, there's no Mongolian [version]— Make sure you translate it properly for her [while she watches], alright?

Also, for real though, I'd like to believe that during happier times for everyone in that franchise's boom, Nozaki was definitely a fan and did the midnight lineups and dressed up with his buddies (or relatives?) for the movies and books. If he's not using a ruse, my headcanon is that he's been able to enjoy life in some ways and indulge in some hobbies.

(Also: If I were to romanize スネイプ社, it'd be using Mongolian Cyrillic romanization. "Snape Co." is too awkward lol and from what small research into Mongolian I've done, "sna" will not produce the same sound as it does in English. Maybe Snép? Snaype? Snaïp?? Snêip??? Snayipp??)

Is this is a hint that he's going to act as a double spy...?

I'm excited and scared to see how Nokor and Nogi will face off. Nino's delivery of the line "Hey there, brother of mine" was menacing in the episode 8 preview. (I'm only familiar with Matsumoto Jun's acting in 99,0%)

I wonder what Nozaki received on his phone. And poor Kurosu...he's living up to the kanji associated to him in the early promo cast announcement teaser of 信頼 (shinrai - trust, faith), but it's getting thrown back in his face in the worst way by this apparent(??) betrayal by Nogi?? I feel awful for Kurosu--he put a lot of faith in Nogi believing this betrayal, the capture, and the injuries, were all part of his plan...when apparently they're not. I want to go back in time to this moment:

I wonder if each character's kanji words will mean they'll each come face to face with that crashing down on them. Kurosu is sure to trust Nogi less, if at all, if it turns out this was all part of some bigger plan....maybe? A bit of a "One must fall before they can come back stronger" type of theme? (I wonder how Kurosu ended up partnered up with Nogi?) I'm still so sad over his "This is all part of the operation, right?" and "You did this because it's part of the plan, right?"....Kurosu really trusted Nogi.

To end (Because I could go on for a while I think)---

Nozaki and his "Oh wow oh no this sucks. It would've been great if someone had stuck another tracking device on Nogi somehow without him noticing, eh?" pose (Chenggis, meanwhile: $@%#!$#!%):

Chenggis being cute. CHENGGIS BEING CUTE??

Wink = 5,000,000pt damage

Thanks for reading to the end. Sorry if my thoughts were all over the place--I made a draft of this on Monday and meant to post it but was out in the evening and came home and was too tired XD;;.

[morela2016]

Mejores DORAMAS del 2023 - Parte II

… ultima parte de los doramas que más me gustaron.

como dije anteriormente, los de los primeros lugares no creo que sean mejores a los otros solo que por diferentes aspectos y porque tengo que ponerles un número, están en sus respetivos puestos.

7. GEKOKUJO KYUJI

¡Super Emocionante! así lo describiría.

Exceptuando los 2 primeros capítulos, el ritmo es rápido, haciendo que uno se entusiasme con lo que viven los miembros del equipo de béisbol para lograr ganar el campeonato, que se los apoye, que se les tome cariño. Con esa guionista no esperaba menos y con esos actores tan buenos ya me imaginaba el nivel de interpretación.

La historia tiene dos focos, los que van entrelazados:

Primero en Nagumo, quién por cierto hace un buen duo con Yamazumi , la forma de lidiar con su condición de falso profesor y las consecuencias de esto, lo cual también le impide poder entrenar al equipo.

Este tema toma algunos capítulos, los justos para que se hiciera sentir la gravedad del asunto sin tampoco llegar a exagerar. Lo del falso profesor no me lo esperaba para nada, hizo que me interesara más en la historia, su desarrollo igualmente no me dejo indiferente.

Las escenas donde sus alumnos lo aceptan, exigen que vuelva, me las repetí varias veces por lo intensas que fueron, por ejemplo cuando van juntos a buscarlos por toda la escuela para pedirle que los siga entrenado y el capítulo en el que los mismo se invitaron solos a la casa de Nagumo y comieron con él.

Segundo, por así decirlo es la transformación del equipo de uno que solo tenía un integrante a uno que es capaz de llegar al koshien. El ímpetu de Yamazumi con la experiencia de Nagumo lograron incentivar a los jugadores y que se crean capaces de ganar. Para esto los integrantes requirieron madurar, pasar por momentos duros y superarlos.

En este punto debo decir que aunque entiendo y me agrado que tomara años conseguir el progreso, no sintiéndose milagroso, también encontré difícil aceptar como se iban del equipo los personajes que tenían aparentemente una gran importancia pero al ya no pertenecer al equipo, disminuyen en aparición obviamente. Desde Hioki con su llorosa despedida, pasando por Nohara que no se conformaba con perder y en general ir aceptando nuevos capitanes e integrantes cada tanto, quienes sin poder conocérselos del todo, fueron geniales.

He de decir que además del dramatismo un poco exagerado, característico de las historias deportivas, también me incomodó el insuficiente desarrollo de personajes individualmente, respecto a los jugadores. Es decir se conoce muy poco de ellos si no es referente al juego.

Creo que hubiera sido bueno conocer más de hyoki, Tomishima, Nohara, Tsubakiya, Kugahara, Nakaseko, Nori, entre otros pero en fin supongo que se trataba en si del equipo, de lograr que confiaran uno en el otro para formar un equipo fuerte, dando de resultados encuentros realmente expectantes como lo fueron los últimos juegos.

Me parece que de los personajes jóvenes fue de Sho y de Nemuro de quienes más se supo.

Estoy de acuerdo con sus correspondientes finales aunque no sé porqué el del primero mencionado me dejó una sensación nostálgica, será porque fue mi favorito (disfrute totalmente sus participaciones en los últimos juegos⚾ y su relación con el abuelo) después de Nagumo☺️; mientras que el segundo si bien sé que es un buen personaje, nunca pude empatizar con él 🤷 , me caía mal.

En fin, un dorama que recomendaría 🙌 por lo motivacional, los personajes entrañables, momentos apasionantes. Me hizo disfrutar una historia sobre un juego que ¡ni entiendo bien! Es realmente espectacular lograr eso.

6.  0.5 NO OTOKO

¡Delicada! ¡Sutil! ¡Tierna! ! realista ! Adjetivos que pueden definir a esta serie o por lo menos la forma en que se desarrolla la misma.

Podemos ver como una familia conformada por personas de tres generaciones, comparten una casa y van adaptándose a esta convivencia. Recorrido ilustrado por la foto familiar, la del principio, que no se logra tomar y la del último capítulo.

No se trata de cambiar las personalidades en si porque hay cosas que puede disgustar o no pero son parte de los personajes sino más bien de alcanzar un buen entendimiento. Sin embargo no se puede negar que el punto central es la transformación de Masaharu y su camino a volver a enfrentarse con su entorno fuera de su casa.

Las relaciones de Masaharu con sus sobrinos y sus padres sirven de medio para que él poco a poco vea las cosas de otra manera, en parte porque se ve obligado pero también porque quiere hacerlo. Gracias a ello se pueden ver escenas únicas entre los personajes.

Es difícil explicarlo pero el dorama despliega una dinámica natural que se acentúa por la musicalización en los momentos necesarios asi como el uso idoneo de silencios. Es que siendo poco lo que hablan a veces ya es suficiente porque las acciones o actitudes lo dicen todo.

5. VIVANT

¡Trepidante en varías ocasiones!

Como hubo mucha promoción, sin revelar la trama, antes del estreno, me intrigaba saber que tal era pero sin gran expectativa tampoco. Por lo mismo no me puse a imaginar de que se podría tratar.

La trama de espías estuvo muy emocionante, no solo por las escenas en si mismas sino también porque las actuaciones que fueron muy bien ejecutadas, mis favoritas fueron las de Yakusho Koji y Masato Sakai pero los demás no se quedan atrás tampoco. Me pareció bien manejado el cómo se conoce el pasado del protagonista y el por qué de su condición.

Un conjunto que logro que espere cada nuevo capitulo con ansias. para darnos un final digno . Además los personajes se hicieron querer, teniendo un dinámica muy buena entre ellos.

Los giros de la recta final me gustaron pero son un poco predecibles y creo que un par de cosas se pudieron explotar más pero por lo demás todo bien!

4. GANNIBAL

Esta serie de caníbales obviamente la vi con la intención de ver algo entretenido y ya pero la verdad es que me parece que va más allá, es vertiginosa, perturbadora pero adictiva con aura de misterio que es mucho mi estilo ⭐.

Los personajes son complejos y misteriosos, eso incluye al protagonista. Me quedé perpleja cuando se conoce esa otra parte del personaje, que se contrasta de alguna manera con ese trato amable que tiene en ciertos momentos con su familia. Que buena interpretación del actor!

Por otro lado, el tema del "clan" caníbal es intrigante, horroroso pero tan atractivo.

Quiero saber sobre ellos, sus "costumbres" y claro que me gustaria que los pudieran parar pero creo eso será bastante difícil considerando el alcance de influencia / poder que tienen.

Ése final estuvo impactante, espero con ansias la 2da temporada.

Nota: Gannibal salió a finales del 2022 pero la considero del 2023 porque se desarrollo en enero de ese año.

3. A Table!: Rekishi no Recipe wo Tsukutte Taberu

Una serie que sabía que me gustaría por la sinopsis pero ni de lejos creí que fuera así de buena.

La dinámica de pareja es encantadora. Sus interacciones mientras cocinan y comen es idílica, no porque sea perfecta sino porque te hacen ver cómo manejan las cosas, en general, tranquilamente, conversando, entendiéndose con una conexión envidiable y eso que tampoco es que las conversaciones entre ellos sean abundantes ya que cada capitulo hay momentos narrados, por ella en su mayoría, con reflexiones sencillas pero profundas, contándonos cosas del día a día.

Es apetitoso ver las diversas recetas que preparan y como lo van haciendo, mientras cuentan curiosidades de los personajes históricos de turno.

Lo que hizo que me atrapara este dorama tanto así es que increíblemente con poco minutos, escenas cotidianas y diálogos sinceros logra crear una atmósfera acogedora para nada pretencioso.

Simplemente maravillada me quedé, un dorama inesperado 🌟.

Por cierto se anunció 2da temporada y estoy emocionada pensando que ojala encuentre traducción al español🤞.

2. BRUSH UP LIFE

Una historia de ¿reinicio? De vida nada convencional, con diálogos inteligentes y una amistad inquebrantable con interacciones divertidas...¿Qué mas puedo pedir?

No sabia que esperar pero tenia la idea de que seria una serie algo deprimente, de ahí lo reacia a iniciarla, incluso la comencé cuando ya estaba por terminar su emisión pero no resultó en lo que me había imaginado, así que bien por mi.

Que bueno que fue así porque esperar capitulo por semana no me hubiera gustado, igual no la vi tan rápido porque la vi en inglés pero llegue a alcanzar la emisión 😅.

Esta serie la sentí innovadora, tal vez porque es la primera vez que vi alguna historia de ése guionista. Fue grato descubrir que los comentarios positivos que leía en su momento no fueron errados.

La forma en que muestra cada vida digamos es interesante, así como ver las diferencias entre ellas, referido no solo por los cambios de profesiones que la protagonista elegía. Pero también es como tragicómico la manera en que muere cada vez🤦. Tuvo sus momentos conmovedores también, hay que decirlo.

Los últimos capítulos cuando conocemos que siempre fueron 4 amigas y no 3 como lo recordaba la protagonista me sorprendió.

Aquí se pone mucha relevancia en la amistad y los seres queridos en general. Porque si algo hay en la serie son muchos diálogos, algo me me gustó, sobre todo porque son frescas, realistas, divertidas...hubo momentos que pensé: ¡claro, así converso con mis amigos mas cercanos de algunas cosas!

1. RAKUJITSU

Esta serie es una genialidad en solo 4 capítulos!!

Con una aura enigmática nos adentra a la solución de un asesinato de hace varios años y que involucra de alguna manera a las dos protagonistas.

Momentos frustrantes y emotivos conforman una historia con personajes complejos que encuentran consuelo como resultado de destapar todo lo relacionado al asesinato e incendio perpetrados por Rikito.

Fue tan satisfactorio y reconfortante el último capítulo. Conocer la verdad sobre la muerte del papá de kaori, el encuentro de ella con rikito en la cárcel y la esa escena final de ella dos, con una sensación esperanzadora sin ser ridícula.

Sigo pensando que en algún momento la volveré a ver.

[thethera-rossa]

[timotey]

Holy smokes, some of the Vivant finale theories out there are mind-blowing. And there's going to be a sequel, aired in 2025, so S1 might end up on a cliffhanger?

My favorite theory so far is...

... that Matsuzaka Tori's character, Kurosu, and not Sakai Masato's Nogi, is the son of Noghon Beki. One of the reasons is that they did not use the actor playing the young son for young Nogi, which would suggest that they are two different people.

Also, apparently, when the other leads left for Japan, Matsuzaka Tori stayed behind in Mongolia and continued filming?

OMGosh! If that's true then I wonder if Kurosu knows and he's a mole or if he's been unaware of this the whole time. Considering that poor Kurosu usually knows nothing and is always left in the dark, it would be such an awesome twist if he did not know!

[slowestofsins]

FJASLKDF THEY GOT ME GOOD... it’s really interesting so far I can’t wait to see what they’ll do! (praying to god they won’t fuck it up in the end like they did with Last Man fhkjshds)

Body language: flirting

He Kabe-don’ed him a few minutes later too

@slowestofsins you’re already hooked?? @actiaslunaris highly recommend you start watching too it’s no Fukuyama/Oizumi but it’s GOOD it’s really really good

[angryborzois]

Yeah

[sandreeen]

Chinggis (Barslkhagva Batbold) & Drum || The Time x Vivant 2023.09.12

[pjsk-headcanons]

ANSWEEP

An would introduce Toya to classic movies and make him watch Jdramas and stuff because she like “what do you MEAN you don’t know vivant” <very very popular and cool Japanese spy drama antoya friendship is so fun.

she drags him to the tv plops him down and plays an episode any time she can — 🎧 anon

.

[kabutoraiger]

took me a little while but finally finished VIVANT.

when this was airing there was a lot of discussion about how Different and Epic and Sweeping this was for a jdrama. so i must admit it was kind of funny getting into it and finding that once you zoom in from the shots of vast foreign deserts it is actually... about as typically mainstream jdrama-ish as it gets. same unrelenting corniness, same last ep "winning against the big conspiracy" plot, same particular quality of acting, same visual fidelity that hasn't improved since 2007.

obviously i don't consider any of that a negative per se. i wouldn't have sat through so many jdramas in my life if i didn't enjoy their reliability. and it's not to say VIVANT didn't surprise me at all - it's definitely twistier than your average show, and it was fun enough seeing each layer of what's going on here get revealed.

but the basicness at its core really does end up weighing it down by the end. particularly at the point where the initial promise of international espionage action fades away and you realize the show is primarily just another entry in j-media's masturbatory obsession with jpn citizens doing charity work in impoverished countries & making those poor peasants lives soo much better it's like. oh come the fuck on 😑

not really sure if i can recommend this one. maybe only if youre a fellow middle aged man liker since the central cast is pretty stacked in that regard

[nekoluw]

[miloucomehome]

Episode 6 thoughts to come later, but more importantly, this shot from the preview for episode 7---

KANTOKU SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN. WHAT IS THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS?? NOZANOGI?!!? BROMANCE HANDS?! THOSE AINT SHINJO'S HANDS!

I'm usually calm about these things because I'll miss it, but but BUT--

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT AWAY HUH?! THIS IS SUCH A BIG TEASE?! PLACED WHILE NOGI IS TALKING ABOUT NOZAKI (そのほうが野崎なら動きやすいと思いまして) <-- (One possibility, without context, "I believe it'll make it easier for Nozaki to move around that way")

Next thing you know, we'll have a redo of the kabedon but with Nogi F pinning Nozaki or something later. Or Nozaki again but this time he's like:

Nozaki: 捕まえた♪ *grin and winks* *half the fanbase is taken out in an instant*

(to be honest, it's likely a red herring, but the director's really aware I think of the fanbase. )

(ty more winking Nozaki ty ty ty ty kansha desu. kansha desu)

BUT ALSO THE SCENE WITH KAORU!? WHAT?(I actually think the voiceover of that scene is Nogi F intruding)

Unrelated but I'm sure the scene will be amazing:

"I can't die. I won't let you die"