Feb 13 2008
Honey & Clover Live Action - First Impressions
I’ve never read the manga, watched the anime series or seen the live-action (LA) movie of this series, but when I heard about the LA drama series coming out (and I know it came out a VERY long while ago), I decided to give it a go because the storyline caught my attention.
Although many of those who are familiar with the series will be very disappointed and angry with the way the LA drama is going so far in terms of pacing and sticking with the original story (or so I’ve heard), I, being the blissful ignorant person that I am where this is concerned, am in love with it. That’s usually the case when you’re watching a series for the first time with no prior knowledge and thus have no clue how it’s really supposed to go. I feel that’s the best way to get into a series (being ignorant), but sometimes people like to watch series they’ve read the manga for. That’s a discussion for another time, though xP
Also, for me, anytime something can make me cry is always good in my books, even though it doesn’t take much to make me turn on the waterworks xD And I cried about three times during the hour I was watching this, so, yeah, I’m quite in love with it. As well, I’ve watched until Episode 3 of this so far, and I’ve cried in each episode. Mainly I cry at the story between Mayama and Ayumi, since they have that whole unrequited love that always leaves someone hurt and thus is sad and creates the waterworks.
Aside from being able to touch me emotionally, it was great that Ikuta Toma is a main character. If you’ve seen the LA drama for Hana-Kimi, where Toma-san also starred in, you’ll understand <333 Other than him, I don’t think I’m familiar with any of the other actors and actresses in this drama, who are as follows:
Narumi Riko as Hanamoto Hagumi
Ikuta Toma as Takemoto Yuuta
Narimiya Hiroki as Morita Shinobu
Mukai Osamu as Mayama Takumi
Harada Natsuki as Yamada Ayumi
The setting reminds me a lot of the Nodame Cantible LA drama, with the whole art school, future lives with romance and drama rolled into it. I don’t know a thing about painting and drawing, unlike the history I know with music where Nodame was concerned, but I’m still very much in awe with everything. Although the love and drama part seems to be picking up quickly, even for me, I hope more time will be placed on the characters’ life where art and their future is concerned and give the series a more realistic feel to it.
They’re in school for a reason, after all, and love wasn’t it. It will help slow down the pace, too. Chiaki from NC took a long time to realize his feelings for Nodame, and was still in denial at the end, but then again, that was his personality as well xP But there’s also a lot of time gaps in between episodes, such as jumping to summer break in the third episode and having Xmas in episode four, which I suppose I should take into account in terms of characters’ developing feelings. In any case, I like and enjoy the Honey and Clover LA series, and will continue to watch it ^^
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Say Que!?
Yeah, Ikuta Toma was awesome in HanaKimi!
I don’t know if I’ll be watching this, but in the anime I remember taking a good liking to Morita and Yamada, dunno if that would happen the same.
yuh
Mm, Morita and Ayumi I find would be a nice pairing, too. He’s always cheering her up when she’s depressed about Mayama.
Well, you know that’s true know that I remember it. They did have nice chem. I meant individually though. Ayumi has this invigorating atmosphere, and Morita was super charismatic.
OOOH, individually. Gomen xD; Eeh, Morita bothers me, as does Mayama. I don’t like how they pick on Takemoto. Do guys really do those things to their friends? That’s horrible! But I do like Ayumi!
I’m glad to hear that someone else is also enjoying this series! =)
I’ve seen the anime and loved it, but I don’t mind the drama to stray a bit from the original story (hoping it won’t stray away too much though). Yamada and Nomiya is my favorite pair. *squee*
Ikuta Toma is awesome as Takemoto. I thought they did a perfect job casting him in that role. I also like Mukai Osamu and Harada Natsuki as Mayama and Yamada, respectively. I think they’re doing pretty well.
I’m glad to see a fan of the previous works actually like the LA xDD It seems like a rarity. Whose Nomiya? Aa, I wanna see Ayumi actually happy @_@
Mm, Ikuta Toma has been getting amazing praises for his casting as Takemoto ^^ I still can’t remember if I’ve seen any of the others somewhere else xP
Nomiya is the guy at Fujiwara Design. He had a bit of screentime in episode 1 while talking with Miwako when Rika and Mayama went to Fujiwara to deliver something. Which episode are you on now? =)
There’s this one particular Nomiya and Yamada scene/episode from the anime that I’m anticipating in the drama. I might be enjoying H&C drama they mess up Nomiya x Yamada, I might get a bit annoyed! (but I’d still watch it anyway). LOL
I’m not really much of a fan of J-dramas, but I’ve seen a few (mostly anime/manga to LA), so I’m not too familiar with the actors. Ikuta Toma is doing a great job and he has very good acting skills. Curious about him, I marathoned HanaKimi and I totally liked him as Nakatsu! So funny and adorable!
If you’ve seen Nodame LA, Mukai Osamu had a small part there as Kikuchi (the cellist with 3 girlfriends). Harada Natsuki had a small part in HanaKimi as the former love of Nanba-senpai (the episode where they went to the beach). With my limited J-drama knowledge, I’m not too sure about the others. xD
-thinks back- Aa, I still don’t remember him. I’m too lazy to go back and rewatch xD I’m on episode 4 ^^
Aa, I have watched Nodame! I never realized he was the one with the three girlfriends LOL Kinda matches him now. I still can’t remember Harada Natsuki, but still yay, they both come from series I have watched!
LOL. That’s okay. Nomiya is often in the episodes, he wears eyeglasses too. By episode 4 onwards, Mayama will be working with him and Miwako in Fujiwara Design. =)
Is he the one that was against Mayama joining their workplace? I think I know who you mean now xDD He and Ayumi actually meet? O_O
LOL, yep, that’s him! He meets Ayumi later when Mayama tells them he knows someone who makes great pottery.
Nomiya comes off a little bit as obnoxious in the LA, but his meeting with Ayu in the anime was pretty cute. I’m looking forward to the Tottori scene, but they may downplay it (or cut it… ) in the LA. I’m still hoping they won’t though. xD
If you haven’t seen the anime yet, but you’re liking the LA, you might want to try watching the anime when you have the time to spare. It’s quite good and funny too.
Hee, yeah, I see the Nomiya x Ayu pairing! -is up to episode 8 now- Eeh, he doesn’t seem that bad to me! Then again, Mayama’s really bugging me, so I like that he’s sticking it to him xDD Here’s hoping to a big scene between them, too!
The anime already aired, ne? Mm, I guess I will try the anime after watching the LA. Is it 26 episodes, or more?
LOL. I’m glad you like Nomiya so far. I think him and Ayu make a lovely pair since they seem to compliment each other well. =)
I saw the preview for episode 9, the Tottori scene I’ve been babbling about seems to be there. It’s supposed to be best Nomiya x Ayumi scene/episode (at least I think so, LOL). Sadly, I think they will condense that part.
Yep, the anime has already aired. Season 1 has 24 episodes while season 2 has 12 episodes. There’s also a couple of random episodes (Chapter L and F). I’d love to hear your thoughts about it when you’ve gotten around to watching it.
Oooh! Tottori! That project! Did it happen as you hoped it did? I still cried during the scene. Maybe Nomiya going away is what Ayumi will need to realize her feelings! Will so go with him?! O=
Mm, if I find it, I’ll watch it and tell you! ^-^
Ack, nope. Sadly, the Tottori scene I was looking forward to didn’t go as well as I hoped it to. They took out a big chunk out of it (they took out the best parts!). *sigh* Maybe I was expecting too much. What annoys me more is that the Mayama x Rika part was there in a big part but not Nomiya x Yamada… unfair. T_T Despite that, I’m still gonna keep watching though. Heh, maybe I’m just biased with the pairings. xD
BTW, have you seen Bambino? I recently saw it and Mukai Osamu had a part there. I was like, “Ah, Mayama!” ^_^
Sorry for double posting but I just finished ep 10 and 11… I take back what I said previously. LOL. The Tottori part wasn’t how I expected it to turn out but it’s fine since the finale part for Yamada x Nomiya was more than what I was hoping for! We got the manga ending for that pair and it just made me so happy since it wasn’t in the anime. It was a nice surprise, totally made my day! ^_^
Iie, don’t worry about it! LOL, so they did Tottori alright, then? Is that how it ended in the manga? That’s nice, and it’s more realistic than the two of them ending up together. Now she can get over what’s his face and really fall for sweet little Nomiya! -squeal-
It was also good that Hagumi didn’t end up with anyone either, though it was nice to get a little hint that Hagu-chan may like Takemoto. And while I’m still skeptical about Mayama and what’s her name, they are a sweet couple. I almost expected one of their planes to crash xD That would’ve been horrible.
LOL. Thanks. Yep, I think the Tottori scene was alright, although it was definitely sweeter in the anime, I really fell for Nomiya there. *blush* With regard to Nomiya x Yamada, yep, that was how they ended up in the manga (although their story had a followup chapter in a H&C manga spinoff ^_^). I liked that Yamada was honest enough to Nomiya that she can’t get over Mayama right away, I thought it was realistic that way. Nomiya being willing to wait for her and stay by her side until then… it was just so sweet! Though I didn’t really read the entire manga for H&C, just the last part and the special chapter for Nomiya x Yamada (I’m so biased, no? xD)
In the anime, Hagu preferred Morita over Takemoto, although she didn’t actually end up with anyone either. There’s a strange twist regarding Hagu and Shuuji in the anime, though I’m still quite confused about that one until now. I’m really not much of a fan of Mayama x Rika, but I was too happy over Nomiya x Yamada that I even found Mayama x Rika alright by the ending. LOL.
I think I like the LA ending version better than the anime, I guess because it was more definitive and had more closure with regard to each of their storyline. Overall, I love H&C whether anime or LA.
(I won’t watch the Taiwanese version though)
Thanks for chatting with me about this, it’s really nice to exchange thoughts with you!