14 Days To Love - Kisses No. 2

"Saranghae."



From my favorite Korean drama! I want to say that this is another great FIRST kiss, but technically, it's not their first (they had 2 accidental kisses before!). This was their first kiss as a couple, though, and it's sweet and passionate and swoon-worthy. The guy, Gong Chan, is your typical responsible, very serious guy who fell hopelessly in love with his pretend-cousin, the street-smart and bubbly Yoo Rin. Their kiss was both playful and romantic, and for me, showed Gong Chan's growth as a person. The first kiss on Yoo Rin's forehead was sweet, but like Yoo Rin, I was a bit disappointed. And then he pulled her close and really kissed her! The best part was that pause, with their noses touching a bit, long enough for him to whisper "saranghae" (I love you), and kissed her again. *swoons* I'm a pile of goo after watching that and even after rewatching that scene, I'm still kilig.

Twu Wuv

I was actually searching for youtube vids for So You Think You Can Dance (Digression. It seemed a lot of vids from SYTYCD were taken down because I can't find some videos I never had trouble finding before. I have the same problem with AI-related vids. End of digression.) when I found this video:

Pacey is so much LOVE. If I have to describe my ideal guy, I would say season 3 Pacey fit the bill. And yes, I love the story arc for that season. I love how they build up Joey and Pacey's relationship, I love the foreshadowing and I love that it didn't feel rushed or contrived. There are some scenes between the two that I like which were not included, but overall, this fanvid managed to capture their love story.

Okay, mush moment over. Time to go back to my youtube, uh, researching.

Go Kris! Go Adam!

This is the absentee fan's way of saying "I can't wait for the AI Finale!"

macros courtesy of some guys from ONTD!

House of Ill-Advised Procrastination

It seemed I dropped off from the face of blogging universe! It's not entirely procrastination (I think!) but a lot of things took up my spare time these last few days, and I found myself lacking the energy to write about what’s keeping me busy and/or entertained. So I’m updating in bullet points!

• Nintendo DS lite
  I rarely talk about my gaming endeavors, because I already admitted to myself that I pretty much suck at video games. That didn’t stop me from trying, though; if anything, my doggedness at pursuing something I’m not really good at is my saving grace. :D
  
  SO. Ninjatown and Big Bang Mini are costing me hours of sleep. I officially gave up on Prince of Persia; the game movement is erratic and unreliable to me. Wish I could say the same for Sudoku. Why am I still staying up late for Sudoku? Just how many Sudoku games can I play in this lifetime before I say enough is enough?!



• Jdramas
  Obviously. I am watching THREE on-going jdramas this season, and catching up with another one. I gave up a long time ago on the Korean Hana Yori Dango. It started well, but went downhill for me. The story is nothing like Hana Yori Dango or Meteor Garden. Heck, I’d take Meteor Garden 2 over the second half of the kdrama (and I disliked MG2!). In addition to the three, oops, four current jdramas, I also finished watching one old jdrama. The current jdrama season is about to end, but there’s no rest for this adik. Next season is going to be awesome! Jun! Toma! Sho! Me flailing each week and the hard drive about to crash and burn!



• American TV shows/series
  I finally caught up with Burn Notice’s latest season! Still behind Fringe damn it. I’m waiting for Criminal Minds’ season 4 to end so I can watch everything in one go. Gave up on Prison Break, but would like to reconnect with Heroes and House. American Idol is still not interesting enough for me. I’m kind of tempted to check out Dancing With the Stars because Steve-O is one of the contestants. (Yep, he’s the guy from Jackass and Wildboyz, and he’s paired up with Lacey Schwimmer!) I also want to watch Kings, Leverage and The Mentalist... Let's see about that!



• I… haven’t read any new books since January. *cries* I’ve been re-reading Foxtrot comics and the Artemis Fowl series.



• Still busy complaining about the weather! I just want to go to Baguio!

Fivesome

Honestly? I had a hard time elaborating on these because I’m pretty sure I’ve talked to death about these things a lot of times already and I don’t know how to make this post a little bit more interesting without me just repeating myself. Either Jen knows me too well or I’m way too predictable! Either way, let’s give this a shot!

(Comment to this post to get your own 5 things from me!)

5 Things From Jen:

1) Post-it
I started collecting post-its when I was reviewing for the board. The review school was near the Corona store in Recto and they have local post-its and flags that were cheaper than the trademarked Post-It by 3M. I used the post-its and flags to organize my review materials and notes, and I want to believe that those helped me pass the board! I haven’t bought any kind of post-it or notepad in more than a year (Woo hoo! Be amazed at my self-restraint!), although I can’t help but make sad little noises whenever I see new post-its at National Bookstore.

2) Apple
I don’t hate apples, I just don’t… like it!

3) Dangling Earrings
My preference in earrings used to be simple and uncomplicated. I wear small silver hoop earrings pretty much all the time before. Along the way, I discovered that dangling earrings are the easiest way to look lady-like! I prefer cheap earrings with playful designs, different enough but not too loud or clunky to draw too much attention.

4) Harry Potter
Do I even need to elaborate on this? :D I LOVE Harry Potter ridiculous amounts! I lost track of the number of times I’ve reread ALL 7 books (Book 3 being my favorite, is the most tattered and battered). Aside from the 7, I also have Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Quidditch Through The Ages, and Tales of Beedle the Bard. I plan to collect the UK adult edition books. I have DVDs (original) of movies 3 to 5. I joined an HP-related contest!

But by fandom standards, I’m just an average fan – I haven’t created an HP fansite, I haven’t written an HP fanfic, I never supported a ship and have not engaged in shipping wars with wankers fans. And yet, I spent way too much time creating my own theories about the series, overanalyzing characters and scenes, memorizing lines and spells, and inserting HP references in normal conversations.

5) JDrama
My current crack of choice! There are days when I can sensibly explain why I like jdramas and prefer it over pinoy telenovelas: jdramas are shorter (usually 9 to 11 one-hour episodes) and have fixed storylines that even if the drama became popular or highly-rated, the series will not be extended or the plot suddenly veer away from its original intentions just to satisfy fans’ clamor.

Also, I’m yet to see a jdrama that features clichés I hate, to wit:
- baby-switching
- “we are siblings we can’t be together” angst angst angst “oops, no son, I was an adulterer, he’s not your dad so she's not really your sister”
- I will SUBTLY oppress you by slapping you and pulling at your hair every scene we’re together, dialogue-ing “wala kang utang na loob!” when you so much as fight back a little, throw food at you, finally throw you and your clothes out of the house (which I should have done A LONG TIME AGO if I really hate you that much)
- you can tell I’m poor because I lack table manners
- you can tell I’m the kontrabida because I dress better than the bida (even if she suddenly becomes rich, her fashion sense is still godawful) and I CACKLE when I’m evil-ing

That’s not to say that jdrama don’t have their own clichés; it’s just that so far, I can take those clichés better.
- rain scenes of doom (leads break up in the rain, male lead angst beautifully in the rain, etc etc)
- squee-inducing embrace from the back (bonus if done in the rain a la Hana Yori Dango)
- batshit crazy antagonists (so you don’t feel bad for laughing at them because you’re not supposed to take them seriously)
- gratuitous parade of androgynously pretty guys, with bonus gratuitous nudity (how can anyone NOT like that???)

Obviously, today I’m coherent about my affair with jdramas. Often, I’m too caught up with either its soul-crushing angst or massive suspension of disbelief or pure crack-iness to explain properly why jdramas tick. Jdramas taught me that “WTF?” and “W-wait. What?” are completely acceptable reactions that convey the awesomeness of the drama.

(for someone having a hard time elaborating, I sure have some long answers!)

14 Days To Love - Day 13

Domyouji: Makino have you ever eaten a fig?

Makino: Huh?

Domyouji: What do fig tastes like?

Makino: Aren't they sweet and sour...

Domyouji: When you cut a fig in half, it looks like a heart, so some say its bitterness is like love... But to me, the flavor of love... tastes like the lousy cookie you made.

Jela: *flails madly*

HANA YORI DANGO, Season 2 (2007)







Notes:

My previous post was from Season 1, okay, so technically this is a different jdrama. And no, the last part you will not find in the drama (unless you'd react the same way I did then change the name to your name).

Again, the dialogue, while quite funny, can't convey enough how awesome the exchange was. After Domyouji said the last line, he gave Makino this look, part-sneering, part-puppy-eyed-please-love-me-again look. And it's just so wonderful! Love confession, ALMIGHTY Domyouji style! I'll tell you I love by criticizing the cookie you gave me, the cookie I preserved and kept near my bed for one year before taking a bite of! (what he really wanted to say: Love me! Love me! Choose me! Let me make you happy!)

Anyway, after that beautiful ending in season 1, season 2 presented various roadblocks to the Domyouji/Makino romance, much of which is due to Domyouji's stubborness (I invariably want to stab him and hug him and tell him everything will turn out right). So of course, an arrogant declaration of love would solve their problems. Yeah right.

It's still romantic, though.

14 Days To Love - Day 12

Domyouji: I know you’re happy.

Makino: No way…

Domyouji: You liar. You’re in love with me.

Makino: I AM in love with you. You’re stupid, selfish and self-centered. I’ve fallen in love with…


HANA YORI DANGO, Season 1 (2005)








Notes:

The best, the BEST part about that exchange needs to be seen with your own eyes. Makino couldn’t finish her sentence because Domyouji, after hearing her say that she love him, suddenly hugged her. HE hugged her. He HUGGED her. He hugged HER. Excuse me, I need to stop myself first from squeeing.

Okay. Squeeing not quite over, how awesome was that scene from Hana Yori Dango? Domyouji, who love Makino unconditionally but had to endure her rejections, suddenly found Makino running after their private plane after she learned that he’s leaving for New York. Makino was crying while angrily berating Domyouji for being stupid, for going away without saying goodbye to her, and Domyouji FINALLY got a clue – Makino might just be in love with him. So while she was fuming and weepy, Domyouji had this little smile on his face. When he said “You’re in love with me”, he uttered it as a statement, but you can still see the uncertainty in his face. So when Makino AT LONG LAST admitted that she does love him, he hugged her and that hug said a million things more than the actual conversation. His face was OMG killing me – it’s a mixture of happiness, relief, gratitude and some sadness because he has to leave after. A very satisfying, fitting parting scene. Eeeee!

Don’t get me started on their kiss after that embrace. Eeeeee!

14 Days To Love - Day 11

Shan Cai: Dao Ming Si, we had a deal about the time. If we can still not be together then we will give up. And you will accept what your family has arranged for you… Ok?

Dao Ming Si: Why are you giving up?... If I can give up the first time we broke up, I would have given up already. I don’t even want to think that. We will be together.

Shan Cai: … I got it. We will be together.

Dao Ming Si: I miss you so much.


METEOR GARDEN, Season 1 (2001)





Notes:

OMG this scene! Conversing behind closed doors! Say what you want about Jerry Yan’s acting skills (or lack thereof), but here is one scene where his acting was understated and surprisingly good.

After he was locked in his own room by his mother and after F4 failed to rescue him, Shan Cai went to see Dao Ming Si. His mother only let her talk to him outside his room. Shan Cai was worried for Dao Ming Si, which is why she asked him to give up so we he wouldn't have to suffer. But Dao DOESN’T WANT TO. Aww.

Dao Ming Si might be physically strong, but his greatest strength is his utter conviction in his love for Shan Cai. So much so that it hurts so bad each time Shan Cai rejects him or waffles in her feelings between him and Lei...

...which brings me back to this scene. After Dao Ming Si said he’s still not giving up on her, Shan Cai finally understood Dao’s conviction and for the first time, stood up to fight for him. It was a quiet but effective moment; they weren’t being dramatic about their plight, Dao wasn’t even screaming, each was trying to be strong for one another. At the end when Dao said “I miss you so much”, he teared up a bit and you feel how much he means those words.

14 Days To Love - Day 10

Takemoto Yuta: There were so many four-leaf clovers inside, though I could only find one of them after searching an entire day... During spring two years ago, we met in a place which seemed like a miracle... I was happy just being with her... But, even though she was right in front of me, the way I couldn't reach my hand out was always irritating... The person that I was, telling myself I would never obtain it, and staying quiet while doing nothing, always made me angry... The thing that made me realize this was Hagu-chan's kindness. The thing which pushed the cowardly person that I was Hagu-chan's strength... Until now, I always wondered if there was a point to a relationship which failed. I wondered if something which disappears and something that never happened were the same thing... But, now I understand that there was a meaning to it. Because I met Hagu-chan, the person I am today is here now. The day that everything will turn into memories will eventually come... However, I probably will remember the priceless time we spent together.



HONEY AND CLOVER, episode 11 (2008)







Notes:

Oh gosh. I couldn't watch this jdrama in one marathon session - every episode made me cry so much. But I love, love this drama! It's not quite as popular as it should be, others were bored by it, but I like its quiet appeal and the cinematography and the theme song and of course, Toma!

By now, you should have realized that I don't watch much happily-ever-after movies or dramas. The quote above was from the last episode of the drama and it never fails to tear me up whenever I watch it. Takemoto started out as this loser with an unrequited love for Hagu-chan (who in turn has romantic feelings for his friend Morita). Anyone who has ever had an unrequited love can fully sympathize with Takemoto - how it hurts to be so near that person and yet not find the courage to say what you feel. It's mostly a story of varying degrees of unrequited love among friends, but it's Takemoto's story that was the focus of the drama. Despite him becoming a better person after his personal journey, he still couldn't let go of his feelings for Hagu-chan. Maybe Takemoto will call that cowardice, but to walk away from those feelings, that takes a certain strength of character.

14 Days To Love - Day 9

Qiluo: I'm sorry. I asked you to model. In the end, it's forcing you to hurt yourself. I don't want you to model for me any more. I don't want to keep hurting you.

Ling: It's okay. It's you. I don't mind at all. I'm a little afraid, but I still want to see how I'd look in your painting. Before, I always thought there was nothing to be afraid of in this world. But ever since I met you, I've got a lot of things to be afraid of. Now what I'm afraid of most, is when you sit on the backseat of my motorcycle. I absolutely can't make mistake; I can't lose you like that.

Qiluo: You won't lose me.



MARS, Episode 4 (2004)







Notes:

Mars is a Taiwanese drama that I HIGHLY recommend to those who are fans of Vic Zhou (to those who are not, this is a good place to start). He is so hot, hot, HOT in this drama. That alone would have sold me on this, but he and Barbie Xu rocked their respective roles. I wouldn't recommend this, though, to those who like their dramas happy and fluffy, because this is one angsty drama that will tear at your soul.

But despite this drama being riddled with emo moments, I love that the leads were actually right for one another. It's not a star-crossed lover story - it made sense for them to be together because they brought out the best in one another. Ling (Vic Zhou) inspired a timid Qiluo (Barbie Xu) to be stronger and to rise above her horrible past and Qiluo provided the daredevil Ling a fresh purpose in life.

14 Days To Love - Day 8

Joey: How would you know what I need?

Pacey: You're probably right. I'm sure I don't have any idea what you're going through. How hard it is to let someone go. How painful it must be to know that as right as you two are for each other, it doesn't mean you're right for each other right now. I wouldn't know a thing about that. About how it makes you want to scream, or hit someone... or cry.

DAWSON'S CREEK, Season 3 (1999)

Cheesefest Again

Granted, it's still the auditions week, but I just can't seem to care about American Idol this year. There's just too much of the trainwreck auditions and not all of it is funny. Perhaps when Hollywood week starts?

I'm not sure that having a fourth judge is a move towards improvement. I don't think we really need a female version of Simon Cowell - I think what we need are more constructive criticisms from the judges. But that doesn't make an entertaining show, does it?

Hana Kimi Stole My Heart And Social Life

A year ago today, an obsession was born.

For lack of something to do, I decided to watch the DVD of this TV drama that a friend lent me. He first told me about this two weeks prior on our friend’s house blessing.

Friend: Do you like Japanese shows?
Me: Well, I watch anime.
Friend: Are you familiar with the human tetris?
Me: On youtube? Yeah! I’ve seen those!
Friend: Hilarious, isn’t it?! How about jdramas?
Me: Uh, no…
Friend: Good! I’ll show you something! Tell me if you don’t like it, but really, it’s awesome!

And then he made me watch on a portable player the first few minutes of the drama. It featured this cute girl dressed in a boy’s uniform trying to sneak in at a popular all-boys’ school.

Me: She’s a she, right? What is she doing there???
Friend: *smiles mysteriously*
Me: Right. I’m supposed to watch to figure it out.

I got until the part when the girl met the tall, somewhat arrogant athlete ("she disguised herself as a boy for this guy?!?!") when we were cut off by our friends. He promised to lend me the DVD so I can watch the full season. I was curious enough to find out what happens next so I said yes.

So – a year ago today, I watched. And watched. And watched. And finished all eleven episodes in one day. Didn’t I say that it was the start of an obsession?


By the way, that little drama that changed my life? It was called Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, or Hana Kimi for short.

I have to admit that it wasn’t obsession love at first sight. The show was weird! Why was it called a “drama” when it’s so anime-ish? How can the students of this exclusive school for handsome boys - them of the raging hormones - be so blind and stupid they don’t realize there’s a girl in their midst? And why is that girl so attracted to that jerk when the awesome Nakatsu is so willing to go gay for himher? It was crazy. It was full of crack. And OMG I love it.

The biggest reason for this mad love was Ikuta Toma. I didn’t know a thing about him before Hana Kimi. I didn’t even like him the first time I saw him on screen. But Toma’s turn as Nakatsu was so memorable and so lovable he ended up stealing the drama from the two leads. I couldn’t care less whether Mizuki and Sano hook up, I just want to see Nakatsu do his crazy monologues or walk around half naked looking for the damn shampoo. His homo janai dance was epic. I was flailing so hard when he decided to pursue Mizuki and damn if it makes him gay! I was flailing equally as hard when he discovered that Mizuki was actually a she and damn whatever her reason was for hiding her identity! And then he got rejected, and I love him for taking it like a true gentleman.

I ended up re-watching the jdrama for almost two months. I figured I could limit my jdrama intake in this lifetime to just Hana Kimi. And then other dramas and other Japanese boys happened.

Hana Kimi and Toma led to Hana Yori Dango and Matsujun. Hana Yori Dango and Matsujun led to various Matsujun dramas and Arashi. Arashi led to irreversible addiction on my part and bewilderment on the part of my friends and families. So far, my JE-fandom is limited to just Toma and Arashi, but I’m getting to know the other JE boys bit by bit. The sheer amount of media available (on Arashi’s part, especially) was scary at first, but I’m trying my best to catch up. It’s a long way to go for me, but I learned to just enjoy each TV show/drama/concert that I could watch, and not worry about the others I haven’t seen yet.

I love that this obsession of mine led me to this LJ-fandom where fans are friendly and helpful, where fans don’t have strange or crazy expectations from their idols, where the obsessives mock and poke fun at their idols at regular intervals (and not be accused of loving them any less). I may not be able to convince my RL friends to get into either Toma or Arashi, but I’m glad I get to meet others who are bigger fans than I am.


Happy anniversary to me and Toma and Hana Kimi! :D

Ang Huling El Bimbo - McDo Style

Aww... I like the new Mc Donald's advert! It's cute but really sad. I should have known - the theme song was Eraserheads' "Ang Huling El Bimbo"!

They first met as kids in Mc Donalds and the first thing he noticed about the girl is that she dips her french fries to her sundae (I used to do that, too!). Then she took his hand to lead him to the playground and it suddenly cut to them as adults, and she's still holding his hand to lead him to the playground - to meet her husband and kids! Ouch!

Then they sit together and she noticed that he dipped his fries to his sundae and they share a special look. Ouch! The first love, the one that got away!

Did I just talked about a television commercial? Well, yes, I believe I did.

Couch Potato Version 2009

So – for those who are expecting hoping against hope that my jdrama addiction will wane this year, you’re in for a disappointment. You’re free to wander, though, to more exciting places whenever I gush about my obsessions.

I’m excited over two upcoming jdramas – the one starring Ikuta Toma (of course) and the one starring Ohno Satoshi (the role looks hilarious and a far cry from Maou). Plus, I intend to finish my remaining jdrama DVDs before I buy/download new ones. See, I’m trying to be organized and in control!

I’m still playing catch up with my fave American TV series and starting on some promising and recommended series. Can you believe I have not watched a single episode of Prison Break season 4? I’m not exactly motivated to watch PB since the last season was a disappointment and I’m not particularly pleased with the Dr.-Sara-Trancedi-back-from-the-dead storyline, but I want to change my mind about this series, I really do.

Then something happened that made me weep – weep for my hard drive, weep for my couch potato time, weep for my soul. The Korean version of Hana Yori Dango/Meteor Garden is now on and I know I just have to watch it! Which reminds me – I still need to finish my HYD picspam. And finish reading the manga. And watch the movie.

I’m yet to start with anything and already I’m cracking under pressure. Damn.

Homicidal

So I've been marathoning Criminal Minds since my vacation leave. It didn't grab my attention at first, but I slowly developed an affection for the show. It wasn't as flashy as the other procedural shows like CSI but the ensemble cast were such interesting characters that you get to care about them as much as the mystery that they have to solve. It didn't matter that the first season finale was a huge cliffhanger because I already have a copy of the second season.

I first saw red when I realized that my second season was incomplete. I had to go to Quiapo and find a seller that has the second season that was not bundled with the first one. And for good measure, I bought the third season as well.

The second season finale was not a "To Be Continued..." episode like season one. But I got the insane urge to kick something when I realized that Jason Gideon was leaving the show! I mean, it's not like the show has not disappointed me yet - I didn't like the way the Spencer Reid arc was resolved - but still, I was not prepared for the departure of a major character.

And then I had to watch the season three finale AND IT WAS ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER AND I SWEAR I WANT TO STAB THE TV, THE DVD PLAYER, ANYTHING WITHIN MY SIGHT SOOO BAD BECAUSE I CANNOT TAKE IT! Why, why do I have to care about this show so much?! And it's not like I cannot download the season four pilot RIGHT NOW just to satisfy my curiosity but I HATE that I didn't see that ending coming when I could have just read the spoilers on the net to save me from this stupid, stupid shock.

And I keep asking myself why I watch this show ABOUT SERIAL KILLERS AND REALLY BAD GUYS AND SOMEWHAT GOOD GUYS DOING BAD THINGS when it's depressing and bleak and I wonder if I'm turning into a PSYCHO because a few months ago I get a kick out of watching Japanese guys who are into rainbows and stuffs and now I'm watching American guys talking about evisceration and mutiliation and sadism and should I take this all as a sign or something?

Not Enough!

I can’t believe my vacation is finally over! I’m not thrilled to be back at the office after living like a rock star for almost two weeks – you know, the sex, drugs and rock n roll kind of lifestyle. Except for the sex. And the drugs. And a bit of the rock n roll. It’s more like sleep, daydream and jpop.

As promised, my vacation was a slackfest – except it wasn’t the big slackfest I was hoping for. I slept a lot, even if I don’t want to. Did you know that watching TV in the afternoon was no longer as fun as it used to be? Even if there were TV shows and movies to watch, I just can’t shake off my sleepiness! It’s like all those times I refused to sleep in the afternoon as a kid has finally caught up with me!

Our PC went bonkers on me so my plan of downloading and watching Arashi shows was unceremoniously scrapped from my agenda. Perfect timing! Obviously, I was not able to blog as well. So, when I was not sleeping, I watched TV or read or played DS lite games.

Some of the things I did:

• Watched the first season of Life (and what a short first season it was!)
• Watched seasons 1, 2 and portion of 3 of Criminal Minds (developed a big crush on the nerdy Dr. Spencer Reid and the hot Special Agent Derek Morgan and wanted to work with a mentor like Jason Gideon. Will probably blog about this later on)
• Re-read Battle Royale
• Read Jasper Fforde’s The Fourth Bear
• Half-way through with Kate Mosse’ Sepulchre
• Peeked at a few scenes in Meteor Garden season 1 (what?)
• Re-watching season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance (I got seasons 3 and 4 from Quiapo yay! The cable is airing re-runs boo!)

I watched lots of shows on cable (NBA, Jeopardy, Survivor re-runs on Maxx, Step It Up and Dance (poor man’s SYTYCD), Room 401 and Wildboyz on MTV, Throwdown with Bobby Flay) and on local channels (Kahit Isang Saglit, Pilipinas Game KNB?, Pinoy Fear Factor, PBA, premiere of Fringe on CS9). If couch potato is an acceptable job, I would have a respectable career.

Whoever said that it’s a good idea to play Dementium: The Ward in the dead of the night should be locked in a room full of zombies. It’s not just I suck at first-person shooter games, the setting of the game was a bit scary, too. I think I’ll stick with Super Mario Bros., thank you very much.

My vacation was a bit uneventful, save for yesterday morning when I got locked in in our bathroom. No, I did not do anything stupid, it’s the lock itself, I tell you. It took my brother about 10 minutes before they could open the door – and yep, they did try kicking at the door like what they do in the movies. Epic fail.

Darn. Did I just blog about how boring my vacation was? And yet, it’s still not enough.

Maou... What the hell, just watch it!!!

Maou has completed the destruction of my soul. I'm still crying here, not teary-eyed mind you, but full blown bawling. I don't know if I can watch the last episode again, if last week was painful for me, this time the feeling is... whatever is greater than painful.

I won't discuss the last episode yet, so no spoilers here. I'm just glad I didn't watched Mawang or the whole experience would have been different for me.  I was worried when I saw that the episode was only 45 minutes long; I thought it might take more than that to wrap the whole series up. But I'm not complaining because it was a tight 45-minute episode and why should I complain when I've been crying the whole time?!!

I'm so going to miss the weekly camping out waiting for the raws and subs, the clawing at the screens for akusub to please please hurry up with the subs, the dread right before I watch a subbed episode not knowing what to expect, the elation I felt when I got more than what I expected, and then back to the unbearable anticipating for the next episode!

Congrats to Toma and Ohno! I never thought a jdrama would make me watch for the plot AND the eye candy, but Maou certainly did!

And now excuse me while I try to pick up the pieces of my heart.

All Things Must Come To An End

Ouch. The pain of seeing hot guys cry:

My heart! My heart - it's been torn to pieces by the penultimate episode of Maou. How can something so painful be so beautiful?

Honestly, I'm scared to watch the last episode. BUT I DON'T WANT THIS SHOW TO END!

Maybe I'll refrain now from watching ongoing series. The past 10 weeks Maou just consumed me! Next time if I want to be a masochist I'll do it by watching a series in one sitting. Or, I'll just stop watching heavy jdramas and just stick to the cracstastic ones. Maybe I'll just stop watching jdramas altogether.

B-b-but... the lineup of next season's jdramas looks awesome! Why did I ever get into this addiction in the first place?!

Anyways - Maou. I regret peeking at the previews for the finale! I can't stop thinking about that scene! If I cried buckets over episode 10, for sure I'd be crying rivers come episode 11. But no, I'm not peeking at Mawang to see how it ended, oh no.

But I just might watch the raws unsubbed the minute I got hold of it.

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My blog just achieved a new milestone - this is my 400th post! Yay!

I know I've talked so much about Maou in this blog, in my other blog, in my plurk. I hope you'll forgive me for rambling about my latest addiction that none of you can relate to! Kilala niyo naman ako, when something strikes my fancy, talagang all-out flailing, all-out obsession. I won't promise that I would stop talking about Maou the minute I watch the very last episode because, you know - withdrawal syndrome!

Maou Is The Evil's Name For Awesome

I'M DYING. I'm just dying. I'm dying over the awesome that is Maou and I'm loving every minute of it!

The following events happened in the first 14 minutes of episode 9:
- Souda got beaten up while Kasai stood in the sidelines
- Kasai told the goons to give him the pleasure of killing Souda and deciding to spare his life at the last minute
- Kasai ended his affair with Toma's sis-in-law
- Toma's BROTHER killed Souda! He even left evidence to frame Kasai.
- Ohno went to the crime scene and called Toma USING SOUDA'S PHONE without speaking to let him realize that Souda is in danger
- Finally! - the confrontation scene! Toma punches Ohno! Toma screams at Ohno to tell the truth! Ohno admits the truth while smirking that evil smirk! Toma and that tear drop! MAJOR EPIC WIN!

I swear - not even 24 can pack that much kick ass in one episode.

I was flailing all over the place over how fucking amazing this episode is, how totally brilliant and ruthless Ohno's scheme this time, how much I can feel Toma's anger and guilt and hopelessness and Shiori's pain! And Ohno's pain for causing Shiori's pain! This show is absolutely killing me!

You know, it's amazing how much I crave for new episodes, and how desperate and edgy I become even after getting that new episode! Then I realize that there are only two more episodes left and I just... I just can't begin to describe how torn I am between wanting to see the conclusion AND not wanting this show to end.

It's not even JUST the series that I'm raving about [the series ITSELF is so rave-worthy]. I like over-analyzing and this series is making me do that so much! The whole "line between good and evil" stuffs keeps messing with my head and this series got so much gray in it. Like, for this episode - the only decent guy in the series, when the means presented itself, was the only guy to have killed in cold blood. I can give more examples but this was just so glaring and unexpected and I LOVE IT.

I'm totally incoherent, am I not? I love this show so much.