mbarker | Don't touch that dial

Very 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?