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Honey and Clover, ep. 16-22
Ohhhh, how does this show keep hitting that exact note, a mix of melancholy, wistfulness, and joy?
I'm making myself stop here, at least for a day, just because I don't want the first season to be over yet. I mean, I know there are still two specials and the second season, but I very much don't want this to be over.
Morita returns! He's just as weird as usual, and I love his first real meeting with Hagu. It reminds me of the twins from Ouran. But really, most of what captured me was Yamada, her heartache, her willful obliviousness, her attempts to move on. I especially loved the episode when the four guys proposed to her and how it made her look at herself in a new light. It's just... I remember having that exact experience (minus three guys, minus the proposal), having the situation flipped back on myself, seeing myself as the one I was rejecting. And I remember how much that hurt, and how it made me think of the other person (both the unrequited crush object and the rejected one).
I didn't think I would like Nomiya, especially after he yelled at Yamada for using him to play tag with Mayama. I mean, she was, but on the other hand, I disliked that he was just taking her places without permission and not listening to "no," because that edges too closely to other issues. And then, there's that moment when he thinks, "Why does she like the incomplete version of me?" and my heart just broke for him.
I love the Nomiya-Mayama comparisions; I don't think I ever would have seen them as the same person. But both Mayama and Takemoto are so serious partially because they are lost and they are trying to find their way. I keep thinking back on moments in my life and realizing how different I must seem to different people; those who knew me during senior year of college, while I didn't even know who I was, much less what path I was on, must think I'm a very different person than those who know me at work, where I'm assured and competent.
And oh, Takemoto. I'm not actually as caught up in his journey of self-realization, but I'm sure the show will make me care in a few more episodes. I loved the moments with him, his mother and Kazu. I also love how much the show remembers -- the bicycle wheel imagery from the very first episode is now Takemoto bicycling across Japan, the ferris wheel from the ending sequence and everyone's first ride becomes Nomiya's first ride and Nomiya's dream, hands engulfing hands, Morita and Yamada's small moments of friendship. I loved her clay-dirty hand in his, how it echoed Morita listening to Yamada pour her heart out in the pottery studio in the first few episodes. And oh, I loved the neon of the ferris wheel reflecting across Yamada's face.
Also, the dialogue as text across the screen is totally Evangelion! I think it's the stillness and the voiceovers and the pervasive sense of melancholy that reminds me of Evangelion, strangely enough.
Also also, Miwako is evil and scary. But that is why she is awesome.
But oh, I felt so bad for Takemoto as he realizes all of his friends -- even wee Hagu, even nutsy Morita -- have plans for the future, and I remember how alone he feels as he thinks he's making steps out there by himself, without the surety that the others have.
I think if I had watched this two or three years ago, just as I was graduating and job hunting, I would have cried and cried and cried. I still might, but there's this lovely thread of calm and joy underneath the doubt and frustration, and that's what really breaks my heart right now, even as it makes me smile.
I'm making myself stop here, at least for a day, just because I don't want the first season to be over yet. I mean, I know there are still two specials and the second season, but I very much don't want this to be over.
Morita returns! He's just as weird as usual, and I love his first real meeting with Hagu. It reminds me of the twins from Ouran. But really, most of what captured me was Yamada, her heartache, her willful obliviousness, her attempts to move on. I especially loved the episode when the four guys proposed to her and how it made her look at herself in a new light. It's just... I remember having that exact experience (minus three guys, minus the proposal), having the situation flipped back on myself, seeing myself as the one I was rejecting. And I remember how much that hurt, and how it made me think of the other person (both the unrequited crush object and the rejected one).
I didn't think I would like Nomiya, especially after he yelled at Yamada for using him to play tag with Mayama. I mean, she was, but on the other hand, I disliked that he was just taking her places without permission and not listening to "no," because that edges too closely to other issues. And then, there's that moment when he thinks, "Why does she like the incomplete version of me?" and my heart just broke for him.
I love the Nomiya-Mayama comparisions; I don't think I ever would have seen them as the same person. But both Mayama and Takemoto are so serious partially because they are lost and they are trying to find their way. I keep thinking back on moments in my life and realizing how different I must seem to different people; those who knew me during senior year of college, while I didn't even know who I was, much less what path I was on, must think I'm a very different person than those who know me at work, where I'm assured and competent.
And oh, Takemoto. I'm not actually as caught up in his journey of self-realization, but I'm sure the show will make me care in a few more episodes. I loved the moments with him, his mother and Kazu. I also love how much the show remembers -- the bicycle wheel imagery from the very first episode is now Takemoto bicycling across Japan, the ferris wheel from the ending sequence and everyone's first ride becomes Nomiya's first ride and Nomiya's dream, hands engulfing hands, Morita and Yamada's small moments of friendship. I loved her clay-dirty hand in his, how it echoed Morita listening to Yamada pour her heart out in the pottery studio in the first few episodes. And oh, I loved the neon of the ferris wheel reflecting across Yamada's face.
Also, the dialogue as text across the screen is totally Evangelion! I think it's the stillness and the voiceovers and the pervasive sense of melancholy that reminds me of Evangelion, strangely enough.
Also also, Miwako is evil and scary. But that is why she is awesome.
But oh, I felt so bad for Takemoto as he realizes all of his friends -- even wee Hagu, even nutsy Morita -- have plans for the future, and I remember how alone he feels as he thinks he's making steps out there by himself, without the surety that the others have.
I think if I had watched this two or three years ago, just as I was graduating and job hunting, I would have cried and cried and cried. I still might, but there's this lovely thread of calm and joy underneath the doubt and frustration, and that's what really breaks my heart right now, even as it makes me smile.
no subject
I really disliked Nomiya early on, because at first I felt like the story was just throwing Yamada at him to resolve the Mayama love triangle. But I really came around to him. I think my opinion changes when we got to that bit where Mayama talked about how Nomiya loves ferris wheels but doesn't ride them, and you realize that Nomiya's actually sharing something big with Yamada when they ride the Yokohama one.
Miwako is so awesome.
The first season didn't make me cry so much as it took my breath away; it just made me go very still, because I was constantly aware that watching it was this very special experience. It was the second season that kept making me sniffle, because I love the characters so much.
Addendum
Re: Addendum
I thought Nomiya was sort of skeevy early on and had the same reservations Mayama did. But oh, the ferris wheel scene! It's one of my favorites.
I totally didn't realize that about Takemoto in ep. 1; I need to rewatch this! Also, I just want to rewatch it because I miss the tone of it already, and I'm not even done with the first season!
Re: Addendum
The series stands up to rewatching really well; I've gone through the whole thing twice and have rewatched my favorite episodes even more than that. It's especially fun to rewatch because of the way all the imagery and symbolism comes together (as you're already seeing).
I forgot to mention this earlier, but I totally cracked up in that scene where Yamada serves Nomiya and Mayama her curry with chocolate.
Re: Addendum
I have watched the last two eps. of S1 now and I am so sad! I mean, there are still 14 more to go, but still... =(. I held my breath through most of the last one, just not wanting it to be over.
Re: Addendum