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Mood Indigo (2019)
it's not what you expect to see... less, of what Pornographer had given to its audience.
In fact, the second installment of the Pornographer series, ie. "Mood Indigo"(prequel to Pornographer) was aired some time a year ago. As it was too painful for me to review it, therefore, it took me a year, to sink-in, in order to write my review without much emotion.
The thing is, with the beautiful love story of Pornographer 2018, I didn't expect this prequel to turn out to be, such blue. If Pornographer was a glass of lemon drink in a hot summer, then, Mood Indigo will be a cup of bitter black coffee. The former will be bright yellow, and the latter will be dull blue...
Perhaps, that was the purpose of the director cum scriptwriter, Miki-san. This second installment, Mood Indigo, was about the past of Kijima-san, at roughly 5 years before the story of Pornographer. It was about how Kijima-san became a pornographer(adult story author) and how he discovered his sexual orientation. It was about his relationship with his Teacher, Gamôda-Sensei(ie. teacher of Kijima-san for his porno work) which, reflected his relationship with his own father - regrets, and atonement.
However, in my opinion, Miki-san took a totally opposite approach in presenting the story, as compared to Pornographer. I reckon that, Miki-san was trying to make the story slightly darker, in order to create a contrast between this, and Pornographer, ie. dark vs. bright; blue vs. yellow; cold vs. warm. While Pornographer was the typical love story between 2 people, sweet and lovey-dovey, sometimes simply spiritual, of the current world. While Mood Indigo represents the darker, quieter, a more suppressed and conservative mode of Showa-style, yet, the craving of desire unleashed.
Pornographer: At the end of Love and Reason (2018)
knowing you, is the best thing that has happened, this summer...
Honestly, I didn't quite like the last episode of this tv-mini-series, but I have just given it another go, and now, I guess, I'll have to say, it's wrapped-up pretty well, the story...
the OST did a great job to 'end' the story for this summer,
and even though it's a "bye-bye" between Kijima-san and Kuzumi-kun, at this moment,
it simply didn't mark the end of the relationship...
Kijima-san was in a writer-slump when he knew Kuzumi, that's the whole story is about,
but having Kuzumi in his life this summer, get him (Kijima-san) kept going... knowing what he should do next in his life, and, at the end of the story, Kijima kinda did fulfill his "promise" to Kuzumi...
the appearance of Kuzumi in Kijima's life, is like new beacon to Kijima, which, lately he realized, and that finally Kijima managed to get out of his writer-slump,
I think the director, Miki-san, had done a great job in presenting this short little sweet yet bitter love story between Kuzumi and Kijima,
it all ended well, and given hope to a brighter future, to Kijima, and of course Kuzumi...
I like how both Kenta-kun and Takezai-san handled the roles that were given to them, how they delivered the emotion in this last episode...
both of them handled it, with great gentle, (smile) and subtle... even Miki-san did the post-production in a very subtle manner, (yes, the Moon to the Japanese, "the moon is beautiful tonight" simply means, "I love you"...)
love, yet not being together,
sweet, yet it comes with some bitterness,
care, yet not shown in the most straightforward manner,
that's how Kijima and Kuzumi "played" with each other in their little sweet love relationship...
the soundtrack by Koyama-san did a great job in delivery the mood for the end of the summer, a.k.a. the end of the story between Kijima and Kuzumi, AT THIS MOMENT... (smile)
and the great thing is?? the whole 6 episodes are worth watching over and over again, forward, backward, random sequence,
each episode itself, has a very distinguished agenda and message to be delivered...
Pornographer: Between Lie and Truth (2018)
I have to hide my truest feeling, behind my lies... as I~ Love~ You~
As for me, there are 2 parts in this episode,
first part, being the first 11 minutes, Kuzumi-kun VS. Kijima-san,
it was interesting to watch this first part, for zillion time,
how Kuzumi-kun finally expressed his feelings, and,
how Kijima-san was working so~ hard, to hide his feelings...
and the tiny-mini change of expressions on Kijima's face, (Takezai-san's performance was great!)
Takezai-san has handled well, for the "fight" scene...
as for the second part of this episode,
it was Kuzumi-kun VS. Kido-san, in Kido's office,
for this, I think Izuka Kenta, Kenta-kun, has done well here,
the way he spoke to Kido-san (Yoshida Munehiro), Kenta-kun has done well, in his speaking tone, ie. firm... which, disallow any rejection... (smile!)
all 3 actors in this show, had to handle their inner feelings, and they've done it very well,
however, as the title said, speeches in this episode, are lies...
the only truest person in this particular one, is Kuzumi-kun...
Pornographer: Darkness Arising from Affection (2018)
when I want to be with you, for as long as I can, you pushed me away...
This episode, tells a very simple story, on the surface, yet, on the psychoanalysis end, it's interesting, super interesting,
why Kijima-san behaved in that way, said those words??
my advice, watch it from Kuzumi-kun's point of view...
it's hurtful, for both Kijima-san and Kuzumi-kun...
In this episode, there're short moments, quick expression, performed by Takezai-san, and Kenta-kun, which were very subtle, yet, deliver the emotions, in my opinion,
I like it as both of them, delivered well, the mood of the whole story to be told, ie. just like tasting sour lemon in summer, a description used, when one describes the initial feeling of being in love, or when love secretly blossoms...
it's sour, a tad bitter, and a little bit sweet...
Pornographer: Night of Desire and Impulse (2018)
for a moment, I lost myself...
With Kido-san in the house, Kijima-san sent Kuzumi-kun to get some snacks, and Kuzumi-kun was having some funny feeling about the relationship between the two (Kijima-san and Kido-san). They had a mini party, and had some drink.
The interesting part of this episode was, when Kijima-san started to show another side of his(weak, lonely, childlike) after he got too drunk. Kuzumi-kun stayed back to take care of Kijima-san, and... as the title, the night turned into a night of hidden desire, and some impromptu act taken by Kijima-san.
The story in this episode signify one step further between Kijima and Kuzumi, and it changed the relatiionship slightly, leaving Kuzumi-kun having some expectation, from Kijima-san.
The actors, Takezai-san played this part well, from a mature, adult-like writer, to become a lonely and childlike person at night. On the other hand, Izuka-kun did well in expressing his very slight jealousy when Kido-san was in the house - slight, yet unknowingly, a kind of jealousy.
For a split second, I reckon Kuzumi-kun felt left out and that moment, was awful, until Kido-san left the house.
Pornographer: Between Love and Jealousy (2018)
a Catalyst arises...
As a continuation from episode 1, there were more stories between Kijima-san and Kuzumi-kun, how Kuzumi-kun got to know more about Kijima-san, and how Kijima Rio selectively told Kuzumi-kun about himself, as a pornographer.
The first part of the episode were in that manner, ie. how the two of them spent their time together, Kijima Rio read aloud his story, and Kuzumi Haruhiko would write it down, that was the deal they had agreed. Just like Dostoevsky and Anna.
The second half of this episode, there, came along Kijima's editor, Kido-san. There were some interesting moments, emotions, and information regarding Kijima Rio when Kido-san came into the story.
Pornographer: Awakening of Unknown Emotions (2018)
An episode that can be the first episode, and the seventh episode.
I guess, I'll have to be careful when I am writing anything regarding this series, as I have watched this series over and over again, until it's beyond countable, the number of time I watch any of the episode.
Well, as for the first episode, this episode, was pretty informative. The background of Kuzumi-kun, and Kijima-san, was introduced to the audience in the very beginning. What Kuzumi-kun was, and who Kijima-san was, clearly explained, and you enjoy that session. (smile!)
However, in my opinion, this episode, the audience will understand better, when you have finished the series, and when you will come back and watch again, THAT, you will understand the title of this episode.
Personally, I love this episode no.1, as it was informative, and it was enjoyable, as the personality of both of Kuzumi-kun and Kijima-san were being portrayed vividly by the actors Kenta-kun and Takezai-san.
Pornographer (2018)
it's not what you expect to see... more, this show has given to the audience...
I have to confess, when I first decided to watch this show, episode 1, I was simply drawn by the title (smile!). Late night show, internet tv show, I was expecting something steamy and juicy. However when I realized, half way down the series, I couldn't recall by now (as I have repeated watched the total 6 episodes over and over again, sequentially, or non-sequentially), maybe at the end of episode 1, or halfway of episode 2, I was drawn in by the mood of the storytelling, and the performance of both the actors, Takezai Terunosuke and Izuka Kenta. The visual, is very beautiful, in my opinion. The story is pretty simple, basically it is just a love story between Kijima-san(Takezai-san) and Kuzumi-kun(Kenta-kun) and the struggle of a writer, who's Kijima-san, who's encountering a "writer-slump". On and off, the editor of Kijima-san, Kido-san(Yoshida Munehiro) will be there, just to create more "sparks" between the two. (smile) This series has somehow be categorized as "BL" (Brothers Love) or Gay, or whatever you name it, however, in my opinion, the story is beyond these masks that the public has given to it. The director/writer, Miki-san has definitely delivered an amazing art work. Why do I call it an art-work? Despite the cinematography (I like the simple japanese style of filming, well, as I am pretty much into japanese style photography) as you watch the story going, it ponders you with loads of wondering and questions, of the emotions that the two (Kijima Rio and Kuzumi Haruhiko) were going through. Furthermore, the theme song, Twilight Dreams performed by Chihiro, Onitsuka is a beautiful song, it added more points for the emotion of this tv series. The directory, Miki-san, and the production team, has definitely made their best selection on the actors (Takezai-san, and Kenta-kun) to perform as Kijima-san, and Kuzumi-kun, both of them are adorable, and they both, handled well of the mood of this story. I'll say, they've brought life into the characters, Kijima Rio, and Kuzumi Haruhiko, to this manga-adapted story, created by Miss Maki, Marukido.