Don't touch that dial
Jan. 31st, 2008 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkerVery interesting week on the NHK drama. Basically, they started with a bunch of teasers on Monday, then set them all aside and did background sketches of each student this week. I'm guessing, but I suspect we'll pick up the action again on Saturday, with the tension and depth of understanding that the week has given us.
Monday was a kind of setup day, with Kiyomi, the heroine saying that she's had trouble, and the teacher visiting her mother. Little brother walks through, and he's seemingly imitating the uncle, not working and going a bit wild. A flash of Uncle proposing marriage, and being told when he has a pile of money - and trying to get there with lottery tickets. The competition girl (A-ko) was back in town, visiting her sick mother. Back to Kiyomi at the bar saying everyone is so busy, and that she has so much to learn. Teach coughing and wincing - mom asks what's wrong, and he responds, Oh, I'm just getting old.
So we have setups for lots of possible conflicts - and the rest of the week has been spent on the teacher and Mom reflecting on each student in turn, doing kind of meditative background sketches played against Kiyomi asking for advice. And occasionally the teacher winces.
Set up the tension and conflicts, then step back and give background. Even without mentioning it, I'm wondering what A-ko is doing, and the younger brother, and uncle, and . . . rising tension, just by NOT mentioning it. Very nice. And makes me pay attention to the background.
One more obvious student, and there's two days left in the week - do a background tomorrow, and then pick up with an action-packed Saturday episode? Sounds like a plan?
Monday was a kind of setup day, with Kiyomi, the heroine saying that she's had trouble, and the teacher visiting her mother. Little brother walks through, and he's seemingly imitating the uncle, not working and going a bit wild. A flash of Uncle proposing marriage, and being told when he has a pile of money - and trying to get there with lottery tickets. The competition girl (A-ko) was back in town, visiting her sick mother. Back to Kiyomi at the bar saying everyone is so busy, and that she has so much to learn. Teach coughing and wincing - mom asks what's wrong, and he responds, Oh, I'm just getting old.
So we have setups for lots of possible conflicts - and the rest of the week has been spent on the teacher and Mom reflecting on each student in turn, doing kind of meditative background sketches played against Kiyomi asking for advice. And occasionally the teacher winces.
Set up the tension and conflicts, then step back and give background. Even without mentioning it, I'm wondering what A-ko is doing, and the younger brother, and uncle, and . . . rising tension, just by NOT mentioning it. Very nice. And makes me pay attention to the background.
One more obvious student, and there's two days left in the week - do a background tomorrow, and then pick up with an action-packed Saturday episode? Sounds like a plan?
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no subject
Date: 2008-01-31 07:34 am (UTC)Friday's episode
Date: 2008-02-01 06:57 am (UTC)But they cranked up the tension a hair at the end, by having the mother go into the kitchen to get something, and the teacher suddenly winces, then turns and sprawls in the doorway to the garden. When Mom finds him and asks if there is anything wrong, he says, "Oh, no, I was just listening to the spring insects." And then as he leaves the house, he apologizes for not talking about Kiyomi (the heroine) and says there is still so much to teach her.
And a quick cut to Kiyomi, waiting at the school, looking at the dark and saying, "The teacher is late today. And there is still so much for me to learn."
I'm betting on the teacher being seriously sick - but I do wonder just when and how everyone is going to find out! Interesting that they've kind of let us in on his secret, while keeping it from all the other characters.