[dorama] GOOD RUCK!!

[aoimidori]

So, instead of getting some much needed rest last night, I chose to finish Good Luck!! instead. I think I fell too hard for this show. You can tell I really enjoyed something, if, afterward, I can think "Maa~ I can watch that again." Because that definitely went through my head when I finished this dorama. Sure, it had its fair share of cringe worthy grating drama, but all in all, I found it very well balanced. I liked the actors, the characters, the plot, the pacing, and most especially, the romance and the relationship build up.

THE UGLY HAIR OF DOOM 1999!



I don't understand this though, did she really not go back to visit him after this? Because the first scene together they had after the accident was when he got out of the hospital a month later.





"You said you'd fly me somewhere."







"Let's put this moment on hold until I can fly again."
"Baka."




Well, okay, so this was one of their cheesier LOL moments. ^^;


This here is a scene where you can see that Kimura Takuya is a JE talent. Look at those hips. Because really, most JE boys, when they walk, their hips sway. *cough* Jun *cough*




"Take me on the Honolulu flight."
"What? So you could laugh at me?"
"It's not that."
"Then what?"
"I want to be there for you on your big day."











"When we get to Hawaii.."
"What?"
"When we land on Hawaii..."
"When we land on Hawaii what?"
"Kiss me."







AND THEN INSERT LAUGHS BECAUSE...




CRAB!!!! LOOOOOOOL~ But, all's well, that ends well:

What I love so much about Shinkai/Ogawa is that it was so perfectly paced. Right from the start, you could see the instant attraction (or at least the initial interest), but the build-up and the development was scattered all throughout the series. Also, there was that feel that they were equals. No one was a prince or a princess. No one needed to be saved by the other, they just had to be there for each other, and, in the process, save themselves. There weren't even unnecessary third and fourth parties. There was that time when they saw each other with other people, but there was no cliched love triangles or love squares. Even that annoying stewardess (whose name I forgot because she really was annoying) stood no chance, and right from the start, Shinkai was very honest in turning her down. There wasn't any "I can't be with you because *insert lame reason here*" drama. It was all really simple, they were attracted to each other, and that was that.

The awkwardness between them is also fantastic, like I pointed out in an earlier entry. I hardly ever get excited over a mushy couple cheesily exchanging words of love, but give me a couple awkwardly dancing around their feelings and you can hear me squee from a mile away. So everything about this couple? Was adorable. From the initial confession ("I was pissed off. Seeing you with another man. It pissed me off." "Me too. Seeing you with someone else -- I was furious!") to the botched first date ("I know it's late, but I want to see you.") to the botched first kiss ("Let's put this moment on hold until I can fly again." Awww.) to that scene in the airport before boarding on the Hawaii flight ("When we land in Honolulu..." "What?" "When we land..." "When we land what?" "Kiss me.") to the actual ending (see picture spam above, lol), everything was perfect between the two of them.

As for the ending, I'm guessing some people probably found ti anticlimactic? After episode 9 and the accident of DOOM I mean. Personally, I was really glad they were able to resolve the "dealing with the accident" quickly. I know it was necessary for the further growth of Shinkai's character (St. Shinkai, my mother calls him, because she says he was such an optimistic character), but if they'd prolonged it any more, there'd just have been so much unnecessary angst and drama.

Speaking of, that's another thing I loved about this dorama -- there's hardly any excess angst. Actually, all in all, it is highly positive and optimistic. And even though I can't exactly describe it as light cheery (like, say, Gokusen), it wasn't sad and depressing. Like I said at the start of this post, the overall balance is perfect.

And some people might say that Shibasaki Kou is a bad actress. I beg to disagree. Kou was just playing the role of a socially challenged girl, hence the tightness, etc. (And come to think of it, Kou's always been cast in such roles. Weren't Mitsuko in Battle Royale and Sae in Orange Days just as socially inept?)

This really is something I can watch all over again, if only for the scenes between Ogawa and Shinkai. Although, at the moment, I'm more in the mood for an Orange Days rewatch. Because Kou with Kimura Takuya is good and all, but Kou with Tsumabuki Satoshi is just. Plain. Awesome. ♥

I have to finish indexing for my LIS 64 term project first though. Guh.

P.S. My TricK 2 download is 70++% and steadily downloading (albeit at a rate of around 10-20 kbps). But at least by the time it finishes, I should be done with my finals, etc. Eeeeh. ♥

Comments

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

I love Shibasaki Kou! I also enjoyed her quite a lot in Orange Days, surprisingly more than in Good Luck! which is saying something.

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review, and I agree wtih virtually all of your points - I love that this isn't an angst-fest, I love that it's about hard-working people doing the best they can, being a team and still being very human and down-to-earth. The OTP thoroughly charmed me, and I'm so glad that you enjoyed it.

Personally, I didn't find the end anticlimactic, but I will confess to being a bit disappointed with the kiss at the end, but this is a common complaint with doramas - often the kiss is lacking and certainly doesn't live up to any western expectations. :)

Do you mind if I link to your review?

[aoimidori.livejournal.com]

My love for Shibasaki Kou started in Battle Royale, surprisingly. But she was also great in Orange Days, and like you I prefer her there. (Even though relationship-wise, I have to say I like Shinkai/Ogawa a bit more than Kai/Sae.)

I was satisfied with the kiss. I mean true enough, when the Japanese kiss on doramas and movies it looks weird. Probably because of the no tongue thing? LOL. But I think I've gotten used to it, not to mention AT LEAST we got a kiss. In other doramas, we don't even get a closed resolution on the relationships.

And of course I don't mind you linking to it! :)

[aoimidori.livejournal.com]

Awww. You have to get past the first episode! It's all good from then on. (Unless, of course, you're looking for an angst fest, because it's not. :p)

And oh God!! Jun's hip sway is esp prominent in HYD!! I mean, I love the guy, but I LAUGH OT LOUD everytime he does the hip sway thing. ^^;;;;

[cassiopeajelly.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm new to the drama chat group which is where I saw this post. Because Good Luck is one of my all time favorites I had to comment. I personally don't like angst fests. I like my characters to work through their problems, not mope about them for several episodes. So Good Luck was perfect for me. I like that people are dealing with their issues and don't get dragged down by them. And I agree coompletely with your comments about Shinkai and Ogawa. I really liked how the creators just let them slowly move towards each other without unnecessary drama. For example, I love how when they get a bit jealous seeing each other with some one else neither one of them makes a big scene. They are very adult about it and only later admit to each other that they were jealous.

I really love this drama. i know in a previous post some people were talking about Pride and I thought I would mention my thoughts on it. I liked Pride until about the 6 or 7th episode when the series really took a turn. Overall, I think it's a good series, but I don't love it whereas I adore Good Luck.

[aoimidori.livejournal.com]

Now I'm really feeling kind of apprehensive towards Pride. I mean, I know so many people LOVE it, but it seems that people who adore Good Luck!! as much as I do don't care much about it. (Although I probably should really give it a try before thinking about it too much, no?)

Generally I find angst fests dragging. I like my stories with a fair amount of cheer in it. So yes, you're right, Good Luck!! was kind of perfect for us people who don't care about too much drama. :D

[cassiopeajelly.livejournal.com]

I don't mean to discourage anyone from watching Pride. I like alot of the characters in the series and I love the first half of it. It's just that, well, it gets a bit angsty for me towards the end. It does end happily (though I have a few gripes about how they chose to resolve the relationship). It's definetly at the bottom of my list of Kimura dramas (Good luck being my favorite though I also liked Engine, Love Generation, and Hero).

So many people love it so you kinda have to see it at least once to understand when people reference it. I'm glad I watched it. But it isn't one I would rewatch.

[aoimidori.livejournal.com]

Nah. Don't worry you didn't discourage me. I just formed this weird pre conceived notion about it based on what people are telling me. And I;m still gping to watch it, because I already have it, and it'd be a waste if I don't :)

[scottishlass.livejournal.com]

Yay a lovely review about Good Luck!! It is also one of my favourite Kimura dramas,
I agree with you, this drama is so down to earth and cute and their awkwardness is adorable and just so right. :)

[joshtin-22.livejournal.com]

this is one of my fave takuya drama. i like every episode...but i dont think there's a chemistry between the 2..i dunno but i feel like she doesn't hav any expression at all...all i can say is i like takuya's acting here...

[ginzarhapsody.livejournal.com]

I love you for loving Good Luck!!. *giggle* One of my first and favorite Japanese dramas ever. It's what made me fall head over heels for anything Kimura does (I bawled with Shinkai in episode nine!) and also made me a complete fan of Shibasaki - acting-wise as well as musically. Shibasaki is one of my favorite Japanese female singers amongst my rampant JE!love. *grin*

I also didn't think the end was anticlimactic either. Good Luck!! is one of those dramas where at the end of it all, you are so completely satisfied and that's what I was. :) Even though I originally watched it like three years ago, it's one drama that I can come back to and watch any episode randomly and get totally sucked in. I love watching Shinkai grow in his relationships to everyone. :)

[rika-66.livejournal.com]

My congrats with successful finishing the "Good Luck!". Your review is very nice. I'm glad to know that you love it, so the number of us, who admire this dorama are growing! ;)