Nakamura Yoshiki - Skip Beat, vol. 04-05 (Eng. trans.)

[oyceter]

Much better!

Volume four isn't all that different from the first three, except it has a chicken suit! The chicken suit makes all things better, including Kyoko's maniacal schemes. And volume five takes a side character and does a lot more with her, which also made me happy. We also get to see more of Kyoko that isn't just about her grudge against Sho, and some more depth to Ren as well.

I was a little bored in the storyline about parents and Maria's parents, largely because I have a really hard time following the various acting strategy things, particularly when someone is acting and when they aren't. On the other hand, I love how Maria thinks Kyoko is her hero because Kyoko's the first person who doesn't sugarcoat things.

If you can't already tell, I love the giant chicken suit storyline, particularly Ren confiding in someone dressed as a giant chicken. I am liking Ren a little more, now that I think Kyoko will not immediately fall for him and that he's showing some emotional vulnerability while Kyoko isn't. Also, I am a total sucker for the "they have past history together!" schtick.

And in volume five, we get wacky hijinks with Moko! Why do I think her name is Moko when it's Kanae?

I am disproportionately amused by how much Kyoko wants to befriend Moko, and I know everyone is going to say "Told you so," but it's so good seeing female friendship! Privileged!

The acting strategy has me rolling my eyes again, but that's ok, because it's going with Kanae and Kyoko against the world!

In conclusion: giant chicken suit!

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Aaah, Asian Fowl of Doom...they get us EVERY TIME!

" I am liking Ren a little more, now that I think Kyoko will not immediately fall for him and that he's showing some emotional vulnerability while Kyoko isn't."

And so it shall continue(at least until Vol 9, where I remain)

"Also, I am a total sucker for the "they have past history together!" schtick."

*nodnod* Especially when he remembers and she doesn't.

"Why do I think her name is Moko when it's Kanae?"

Don't worry, I have the same problem.

[oyceter]

Birds of DOOM of all origins are awesome!

So does Kyoko call Moko "Moko" and not "Kanae"?

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yes, she does.

[sarasusa.livejournal.com]

Yup, because Kanae goes "Mo!" all the time. Or at least Kanae used to earlier in the series--if she still does, the translators aren't representing it as such.

[oyceter]

Ahhhh, ok! I was so confused at first.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

You need a chicken tag.

[oyceter]

I do! I need a birds of DOOM! tag!

[anenko.livejournal.com]

Heh. I think of Skip Beat! as the shoujo equivalent to shonen (acting powerups!)

Kyoko and Moko's friendship is my favourite part of the series. There's a scene later on in the series that is absolutely perfect between the two of them.

[oyceter]

Yes, the acting is definitely very shounen! I half expect them to whip out fancy techniques with complicated names.

[marfisa.livejournal.com]

Kyoko and Kanae/Moko's friendship is also rather shonen. It's like all those relationships in series like "Naruto," "Yu-Gi-Oh!", "Shaman King," and even "Bleach" (e.g., Ichigo and Ishida) where the hero and various other boys start out as rivals, but eventually become friends, or at least reluctantly respectful allies. There's frequently one boy who, like Kyoko, is more willing to call a truce and/or actually describe the other as his friend (for instance, Naruto in regard to Sasuke right before Sasuke flips out and leaves the village), while the other continues to resist and claim that he still sees his self-proclaimed "friend" primarily as a rival, the way Moko does for about the first two volumes of her and Kyoko's "friendship."

[jinian.livejournal.com]

See? :) The Ren bits especially stay good, though that's partly because they're not overdosed. We go through a longish no-Moko period, but I still found it interesting and we do get back to her later.

[oyceter]

Tampopo xxxHolic icon, awwww! (Is that right? I swear, it's from vol. 11)

Oh good, I'm glad the Ren bits stay good, since he's starting to interest me now.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Someone else made it, so I don't know what volume, but you have accurately identified the bird. :)