we are only made of air and dust

I'm watching the prefinale SP for Hana Kimi, and you guys, I cannot stop smiling. There may be a little crying too.

( PEACH! )

In other news, Yuuta Hiraoko has MAD SKILLZ. Oh, Yuuta. Who knew you had it in you? Take that, JE boys!

( liveblogging for the series finale of Hanazakari no kimitachi e )

Hanazakari no Kimitachi e episode 6 recap: Chasing Sano & Hanazakari no Kimitachi e episode 7 recap: Stupid Cupid

I paired the two screencap reviews for a number of reasons 1) I was so enthralled with the last five minutes of 6 that I just watched it over and over again, without really thinking about the rest of the ep, 2) there's a running joke that starts in episode 6 and concludes in episode 7, 3) Emotionally-wise, these two episodes fit better as bookends to one another.

Screencaps for Episode 6 start here

( Previously, on Ohsaka Gakuen: as the Boy Turns )

Me x the cast of Hanazakari no Kimitachi e = endless, bountiful buckets of love. Seriously, I've never had such a huge crush on an entire cast before, not even for Hanadan, but how can you not love a cast that gives the lead actress the nickname Horikitty, play with fireworks, rescue kittens, take extra long takes for a kissing scene between two boys, and it just comes off as the GREATEST SLEEPOVER CAMP/SUMMER JOB EVER. Adopt me, Hana-kimi! Even though an ocean and a language separates us (I know about ten words/phrases in Japanese, and half of them are animal identifiers. If you want me to name a frog, a fox, a bear, a cat or a dog, I'm your girl.), my experiences in traveling abroad have shown me that 90% of the time I am mistaken for Japanese anyway. Really, I spent most of my time in Italy politely saying, "No, I'm not Japanese," before losing it in a train station, yelling, "I'm CHINESE, CHINESE!" at some guy who was trying to sell me gum.

ANYWAY.

Man. I've not been this giddy about anything since high school. Or possibly Tom, but that is quiet, reserved dignity. For reals.

The final part of the Super Sized Episode 4 Review, behind the cut.

( it's all getting a little wonder years now )

( developments in relationships )

let's go, shall we?

( love means saying you'll only stalk on alternate Wednesdays )

Next up, Oscar and Hibari - when Titanic meets the Hindenburg, Forbidden BL at Ohsaka Gakuen, and a miracle occurs.

Or as I like to call it, "The amazing adventures of Chibi-san and the Emo Kid."

You know the drill - I snark (with LOVE!), intense graphical overload, and wild speculation abounds. Not as wild as the speculation/spoilage for Harry Potter, but I thought everyone knew Harry was made of rice pudding.

Lots of lovely little character embellishments this episode, the OTP for Sano/Mizuki finally makes a case for itself, Nakatsu continues to fight the GAY!, and really, no one ever goes to class in this school.

( PEACH! )
The screencaps from the third episode I took are here.

The screen cap review of Hanazakari no Kimitach e, episode 2

subtitled: Why you be hating, man? Mizuki's my homegirl boy. I think I'm going to ease off visiting the forums for a while, because while I can see and understand some fans' valid complaints about this incarnation of Hana Kimi, I am not a slavish devotee to the Taiwanese adaptation or the manga. I just like being entertained - and I want to take each version on its own merits, because to me, they're all separate entities. I think the J-drama is acquitting itself quite nicely, brilliantly at times with the off the wall baka-ness, while also slipping in some clever sight gags. I also believe they've got the essence of the characters, and I like that I'm not watching a word by word retread of the manga - I like the manga, but if I wanted to see it page by page...why don't I just read the manga? It's there, it's complete, and no flesh and blood men are ever going to come close to looking like their drawn counterparts.

So Your Mileage May Vary.

Also, SARS surprisingly released a hardsub of episode 1 before the group that was listed to sub it (but apparently BON is still doing it, just at a different pace).

( welcome to Nakatsu double entendre theater of LOVE )

( part 2 )
( part 3 )

about a girl named Mizuki, and the very very lovely school she infiltrates! My (by now, redundant) screencap review of the premiere episode of Hanazakari no kimitach e. I took over 200 caps from it, but I'm picking and choosing for the review. ( warning: still image heavy ) So actual thoughts - yes, it was rushed, and there was some dangling plot lines (but I think they might have been mistranslations or omissions) with the school principal and the early entrance of the St. Blossom's, and aside from the boys, not enough Gay!Dr. Umeda, but it is only the first episode, so I'm willing to follow the pace. The chemistry is awesome, and I didn't see the bullying or overt jerkiness....they were being guys.