[personal profile] lucathia


I finally got around to watching the rest of the Chinese Tenipuri drama, season 1. :3 I'm impressed by how some things were handled (makes so much sense!) and really grew to like some of the characters. It's too bad rivals aren't nearly given as much attention as the Seigaku cast.

I jumped back in the series at episode 12. I don't remember much of the episodes before that, just that Long Ma (Ryoma) was really arrogant and not making much of an effort to join the team, but everyone else was pretty much ostracizing him too. It was a much bigger affair than the original series, which made it all the more touching when Long Ma finally earned his place.

some disjointed thoughts:
-LOL. The return of those people from the train who will never figure out the western/eastern grip!!

-Chun Long's (Kawamura's) dad wants him to quit tennis because Chun Long's injury and to take over the restaurant (and ultimately because of Chun Long's skill not being on par). Makes so much sense. Nice twist to the Kawamura-quitting-tennis plot line, though I wanted to throttle both of them for being stubborn.

-Ahahaha, I couldn't help but notice that Chun Long usually stands with Zhou Zhu (Fuji), Hai Tang (Kaidou) with Zhen Zhi (Inui), Ju Wan (Kikumaru) with Da Shi (Oishi), and Cheng Wu (Momoshiro) with Long Ma. Poor Guo Guang (Tezuka) usually just stands by himself.

-Hai Tang looks up to Zhen Zhi a LOT. and even kicked Long Ma out for even wanting to sleep in the same room during their training camp

-Dang, Hai Tang and Cheng Wu really hate each other. Their attempt at reconciliation (giving each other food) was so funny~

-Lin Ying (Sakuno) is cute and strives hard with painting! She really gave Long Ma the push he needed when he started doubting himself.

-Hm, St. Rudolph is still mostly intact. Mizuki (don't remember the Chinese name for all the rivals!!) has some purple highlights, but otherwise he seems pretty normal. Hai Tang and Cheng Wu, instead of knocking out Yanagizawa with a Dunk Smash, the poor guy fell and twisted his ankle from the Boomerang Snake. Zhou Yu (Yuuta) got the most focus from that team and provided lots of angst opportunity for Zhou Zhu, haha. It wasn't even about Long Ma versus Zhou Yu. Long Ma didn't figure out anything on his own.

-Heh, the Fudoumine-gets-hurt storyline is in this version too.

-Ehhhh, Akutsu is the captain? Oh hey, Dan's there, but Minami is totally in the background. Even Sengoku too! :O Interesting that they chose to have the "3 person doubles" in the Yamabuki match. I guess they wanted to have Oishi play in the final match against Hyoutei?

-I really like Da Shi's hair. XDD

-Atobe's hair is pretty nice too. XDD

-Eeeee, Long Ma's quite considerate for putting on that art show for Lin Ying.

-LONG MA, I KNOW YOU'RE COMING BACK TO BE THE SUBSTITUTE. HOW CAN YOU NOT? YOU LOVE YOUR TEAMMATES TOO MUCH.

-Man, that Jiroh is even more hyper than the original.

-Huh, Atobe's pretty considerate too with his mini speech about Guo Guang and both of them being winners. :3

-Erk, seems like Long Ma's final opponent is kind of like Kirihara with all the violent tennis he plays. ): Noooo, what does this mean for Kirihara in the second season?? Is he going to show up...(no Hiyoshi. ;___; )

-Somehow, when Long Ma copies everyone's moves in his final match here, it feels like a nod to all his teammates that he's taken in everyone's efforts, that he's grown strong because of them. Ending with Atobe's Rondo was a bit weird though. XD;

-...Long Ma didn't develop a single move of his own. :O

Time for the second season~
Tags:

Date: 2009-09-04 03:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] yoshikochan.livejournal.com
:D Is season 1 subtitled? (I saw you'd put up links on the tenipuri comm but said no subtitles for s2 ... ;.;)

Date: 2009-09-04 04:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] himilika.livejournal.com
Ha, ha... I see that you like the first season ;). I've fallen in love with this drama, mostly because all characters are more realistic and the interaction between them is shown more credible ^^.

Who is your favourite character? :3 Long Ma's fan here.

I don't think that Hai Tang and Cheng Wu really hate each other. It's rather a strong dislike on both sides. But it's changing in the future.

I like Da Shi's hair, too. And he looks cute, when he wears a cap.

^-^ I rewinded the scene in the car so many times~! Even though, I knew that he's going back it was so, so... sweet. This moment shows the best that they become a true team and that Long Ma prefers to be with his teammates :3.

Long Ma's final opponent reminds me the one from the live action movie. The whole scene was almost the same... Dramatic moments, injured knee and so on xD.

And Long Ma using all his teammates' movies is similar to the one from the last episode of the anime. But I agree that it was a beautiful nod and his way of saying "thank you".

OK, I'm ending now, because my comment is a bit long ^^;. Sorry for it, but I can talk and talk, and talk about this drama xD.

Date: 2009-09-04 11:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gem2niki.livejournal.com
There's a Chinese Tenipuri drama??? what...?

Date: 2009-09-05 12:56 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] disutansu.livejournal.com
Isn't it great how they explored the possibilities? ^_^ I like the tension and the angst, and also how they were really able to resolve them. It was really touching, especially for Taka-san's dad to support Chun Long during his last match. T__________T

Rivals don't get much screen time (is why it's difficult to get some decent caps). But I'm glad that some did~

Lin Ying was wonderful here. Xiao Peng was a bit much. @___@;;;

Somehow I really like Jiroh in the drama. XDDD;;

And Long Ma's opponent for Hyoutei really does remind me of the live action movie with 2nd cast. More than he reminds me of Hiyoshi anyway.

We still have 20 episodes to look forward to! *flaaaaaail*

Date: 2009-09-06 05:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] disutansu.livejournal.com
While I was capping the part where Chun Long's dad had prepared his tennis bag for him, did Chun Long tell his dad that he won't disappoint him (to which his dad told him that he shouldn't disappoint himself)? I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE MOST AWESOME-EST THING. T______________T

I really do like the first season's Sakuno and Ryuuzaki-sensei. First season Sakuno's actress has a more... patient and slightly vulnerable, but at the same time strong personality. And second season's Ryuuzaki-sensei is more aggressive, direct. XD;; Like "Do you understand? LOUDER!" OO;;;;

Yeah... Hiyoshi and Echizen's match was super short if I remembered right. T-T So I suppose they need to make it a bit more epic-y.

I'm glad it got there! ^_^ *hugs* Thank you~