piecesofalice | Fanmix: The Weight of Smoke

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Fanmix: The Weight of Smoke | A {SPEC} Mix

Fashion 70s goodness (including the return of Ugly Hipster Jumper and a scuba suit) tomorrow -

cutselvage has been here this weekend, so we had a good ol' time that sadly wasn't seventies related. Don't be too sad, guys. I promise you paisley!

Anyway, in lieu of fashion polls, I offer you a fanmix I've been sitting on for a while. I wish I could put "making really good fanmixes" on my resume, as I'm sure I'd be the CEO of Fandom Music Inc. easily. Here's one about my new favourite set of partners - Toma and Sebumi from Keizoku 2: SPEC (PARTNERS GUYS).

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NOTES: Not to toot ye olde horn or anything, but I think this is probably one of the best mixes I've ever made. I just love it - it's a little 'shippy, a little sad, a little angry, a little quirky - just like the show. If you're in the mood for a procedural with a quirk - like Life, but supernatural - then I recommend SPEC in a heartbeat. I also posted about the OST at Lost in Omo!, so check that out, too.

Enjoy!

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THE WEIGHT OF SMOKE | A {SPEC} MIx

I watch you walking
You look like smoke

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DOWNLOAD
{MediaFire, zip, mp3/m4a, 82mb}

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{1.} WASHINGTON | Holy Moses

I know, I know you're keeping all your secrets to yourself
I know, I know you're holding onto mine as well

{2.} OWEN PALLET | E Is For Estranged

Haven't you heard?
I am a flightless bird

{3.} PENDULUM | Girl In The Fire

{4.} AGNES OBEL | Close Watch

There's nothing much to choose
Between the right and wrong

{5.} DOVES | Spellbound

A heart shaped face with words as cold as stone
I can't believe this is my fate

{6.} THE DOORS | The Crystal Ship

The time you ran was too insane
We'll meet again, we'll meet again

{7.} THE NATIONAL | Brainy

You’ll never believe me what I found
Think I better follow you around

{8.} LEE SEUNG YEOL | Lola (Our Lady of Sorrows)

Let's not forget
Who we were were

{9.} YOUN SUN NAH | Enter Sandman

Exit light, enter night
Take my hand

{10.} MASSIVE ATTACK | Man Next Door

I've got to get away from here
This is not a place for me to stay

{11.} JACK JOHNSON | It's All Understood

And fact is only what you believe
And fact and fiction work as a team

{12.} MY AUNT MARY | The Weight of Smoke

"You're the only light."

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DOWNLOAD
{MediaFire, zip, mp3/m4a, 82mb}

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They're the genderswapped Dani and Charlie. They really are. <3

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I really need to finish watching this show. I have a block on police procedurals, but for the sake of Toma and Sebumi I have been trying hard to overcome it! (I also will be downloading this mix. :D)

You MUST finish it. From episode five on, it's a rollercoaster ride of...rollercoasterness. And it becomes much less a procedurals than a partners forever (with a dash of the supernatural for kicks).

See, if you finish it, I get to write fic. That's how it works. [/enabling]

. . . . lady, you sure know how to enable. *ADMIRING*

*nods sagely* Aside from Olympic-level fanmix making, it's my gold medal skill.

I always love your fan-mixes even if I don't know the fandom or show. Sounds great! :D

You should give the show a go! It's awesome.

You're too awesome.

*BOWS* You're too kind.

oh wow
I just finished re-watching this show and I feel like start to watch again, lol
*downloading the mix*
thank you :D

You're welcome! And I'm almost finished my accidental rewatch. It's just so good. :D

HNNGGGG, downloading this, and thanking you because the music is amazing. Just finished watching the show a couple of days ago and have been rewatching it like crazy ever since.

Toma/Sebumi is the ultimate OTP. Can't wait for the movie and the SP!

I CAN'T STOP WATCHING IT. And theorising. And...it's just eaten my brain. I just finished the original show and feel it's only fitting to rewatch SPEC so I can reconcile the two. Y'know.

(I have a long-winded ~theories~ post up from this, if you're so inclined to join me in a crazy keyboard smash good time.)

(And OH GOD they're the OTP of OTPness. I can't even.)

LMAO, I'm actually downloading the original Keizoku as I type this. I already downloaded the movie and the SP, and they both look insane. I guess I know what I'll devote myself entirely to this weekend, lol.

Keyboard smash good time sounds wonderful.

Also, what the hell is up with the lack of fic?! It needs it like... yesterday. This show needs a fandom.

YESSSS SOMEONE ELSE IS WATCHING IT. Did you manage to procure it? I actually was making icons today and noticed in one of the caps that Nonomura mentions the Toma-lead from Keizoku, and NGL, I got dorkily excited. The film is gorgeous, and so's the show for that matter. (I have a bit of a director's crush, as the director of SPEC and Keizoku directed one of my favourite shows, 'Trick', and I just think he's got such a good eye.)

I am at a loss as to why there's no fandom. Like, what. Even the original has the biggest "this should be fic" moments I've ever seen. If I have to write bad baby fic where Toma and Sebumi awkwardly raise a child with or without a SPEC, I'll gladly go down with the ship.

Hell, let's just start a fandom. WHY NOT

I'm in episode 7 now, and I'm loving it. Too bad the video quality is hideous, but I'm enjoying it all the same. It would be so awesome if Toma and Sebumi met Shibata and Mayama. Their personalities are so different, it would be hilarious, but they'd all work great together.

I really wish I were talented enough to write or draw something, but sadly, I suck. I have seen a lot of SPEC fanart, though. Mainly here (maybe you've seen it before):

http://www.pixiv.net/search.php?s_mode=s_tag&word=SPEC

I think you have to get an account to see bigger images and all, but there's like 100 pages of SPEC fanart, so methinks it's worth it, lol.

coughhttp://jdramas.livejournal.com/2860279.htmlcough (you'll have to join the comm if you haven't already, but they're DVDrips)

I'm glad you're enjoying it! I found myself liking Shibata of course, but loving Mayama and Aya. I don't want to spoil you, so I'll hold off waffling until you've finished ;)

My writing is sub-par, but it won't stop me! FOR FANDOM etc.

OMG yes, that site is a treasure trove. Someone posted this to Tumblr (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrc13rAa801qi3upjo1_500.jpg), and I almost died of joy.

I love claptrap's stuff (http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=35174), have you seen it?

This one kills me (http://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=medium&illust_id=20570841), for some reason. The hands? IDK IDK.

OMG, THANK YOU. I will re-download the whole damn thing and watch it again because it was great. However, the ending...

WHAT THE HELL, SHOW?! How could you?! URGH, the ending broke my heart, so the SP+movie BETTER be good or I WILL cut someone. I have to say, I love the paranormal route the showtook at the end. SPEC makes a lot more sense after that.

Claptrap is actually my favorite! I snagged all of his/her stuff and put it on my phone, lol. I am so not obsessed with this drama, really.And that last fanart was actually the one that convinced me to get the account there because I wanted to see all the details. And the handssssss....!!!!111

I was trying to contribute to the fandom and attempted to make a fanvid with this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbYzZI-Pi-U

And I was halfway done when my friggin' comp died on me. I gave up in the end, lol. It must be a sign. I need a new computer.

Anyway, I think I'm gonna friend you. Is that okay?

I was the same, I watched the first episodes in the horrible Nippon Golden Network format and had to hit Google up. Luckily someone nice had taken the subs and ripped the DVDs. It's too pretty a show not to be good quality!

I love, love, love how the supernatural element came from nowhere, but fit perfectly. Did you watch the film and SP yet? I don't want to spoil you still!

LOL PHONE TWINS. I thought about changing my ringtone to the theme song, but that's too much...right? I love, love, love Claptrap's stuff, though - it's all good. The one with the hands, ugh. I can't even. I have so many ~emotions~ about those two. There's two pages in the magazine:

And I'm pretty sure I've lost the plot, as I saw that as ABSOLUTE PROOF that they're the OTP of OTPs. Yep. I know. *nods sadly*

I love that song! Who is the band? I'm guessing they're Japanese? And you must try and vid again! There's a couple of vids, and I made one recently, but it needs moar.

Friended back :)

I finished watching the SP and the movie last night. And now I have like a million theories about million things:

- I wonder about Shibata's status a lot. Up until the end of the movie, I thought that everything that had happened so far was a reality. However, Nonomura's words at the beginning of the SP ("the world you are living in might be created by your imagination") and Mayama's sort of cryptic line in the end of the movie ("you were asleep a long time") lead me believe that though she may be alive, she's still in a coma and dreamed all the events in the SP and the movie from the moment that guy in a suit touched her forehead. Of course, after more than ten years she must've woken up, considering she gave Nonomura the information about the Aggressors in SPEC. So, I want to believe she's alright nowadays, and that she and Mayama settled down and are living peacefully. Then again, maybe everything that happened in the movie and the SP really did happen, I don't know lol. Huge mindfuck.

- What exactly is Asakura? And what is his beef with Mayama? We know he was the ringleader in the whole Saori thing, but I always had the feeling that he did it to get back at Mayama somehow, for whatever reason.

- Regarding Asakura and his powers... I'm still not 100% sure about what they really are. He can get into the minds of others, do the whole face changing thing, and maybe even mess with their memories. That being said, could it be that Asakura= Tsuda? I mean, it would make sense that the guy is still around, he's virtually indestructible. Any thoughts on this?

- Also, wtf. Was Aya in love with Mayama the whole time? I thought she was in love with hunky robocop Madarame.

- Nonomura. I love the old man, but in SPEC there is something incredibly fishy about him. Keizoku makes a big deal about him retiring and all, but he's still in "active" (sort of, lol) service in SPEC: Why?

- Aaaand SPEC speculation. I always got the feeling that Sebumi and Mirei might have had something in the past, or that they were at least inching towards something before Shimura got shot. At least that was the feeling that I got from the first few scenes they shared together, though after Sebumi started getting more involved with Toma, his demeanor towards Mirei kinda changed a bit.

- I think it would be fun if Kintaro from the SP and the movie (if everything actually happened) has actually met Toma at some point. The whole Kyodai thing and the gyoza love/stinking of garlic... lmao, who knows. They'd be good friends, methinks.

- RE: the upcoming movie and SP... Kuriyama Chiaki's single mom character and Sebumi... I really hope it doesn't go down the "secret kid" road. I would HATE that.

I really wish someone would re-sub SPEC entirely. Because even with my uber-limited japanese I could tell that a lot of the subtitles were just OFF. And it bothers me so much because I feel like I'm missing a lot. And that's way too much when it comes to this franchise, apparently.

WHAT IS THAT MAGAZINE. What is in it? Because that picture is gorgeous, so I'm snagging it and PUTTING IT IN MY PHONE. Along with everything else SPEC/Keizoku related, lmao.

The band is COLD KITCHEN, and I downloaded their mini album from here (locked post, you gotta join :( ):

http://jp-underground.livejournal.com/57679.html

Their music is really good. I doubt I'll be picking up the music video again, lol. I honestly just attempted to make it because I was (still am) so excited about the drama, and I swear I haven't made a video in years. And obviously my comp just wasn't up to it (it isn't up to many things lately, lmao). I tried again a couple of hours ago and it proceeded to die on me again, fml. So if you ever want to make another video, there's a song candidate for you, hahaha.

BTW, your video is AWESOME. Guess where it is now, lol.

Also, I started watching TRICK last night. It's really different, but so, so great. I'm gonna stalk the crap out of the director forever and watch everything he's ever done.

Holy shit. I didn't even think that the whole thing was Shibata's dream. The freakin' movie is called Beautiful Dreamer! It makes perfect, perfect sense - there were a few really off/surrealist bits in it (her red panties, the red room, Asakura being a swamp monster thing, the whole dream-like feel to the island)...I can't believe I didn't pick it up! And she could have felt so much guilt about Maiko that she probably would have constructed a scenario where she was able to let her go through the gates of the underworld, as well as saying goodbye to her dad.

Could Mayama still be in a coma, too? And would that mean Aya lived? (I hope so) When she's narrating the SP, it does sound like one (or both) of them died - and there's no definitive answer as to who's grave Aya was standing at at the end of the SP when Madarame is staring at her.

And, to take it further, maybe the Aya loving Mayama thing (wtf out of left field) was Shibata's subconscious being jealous? MAYBE IT WAS WHY WAS HE LISTENING TO ABBA?!

...actually, nevermind, that's probably completely in character :D And because I'm nuts, I Googled the lyrics and hmmm (http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/abba/gimmegimmegimmeamanaftermidnight.html). I'm totally reading too much in to things, BUT IT'S GREAT.

Nonomura confirms she's alive, and I do hope they ended up happy, mindfucks aside. Her dad ("dad"?) did mention she would find someone that would make her happy, so I choose to believe that. Although Nonomura does say "but she's old now", which I thought was a weird turn of phrase considering she would be roughly 34 years old. I feel like maybe they were expecting another series or film or something, or maybe it's all going to be wrapped up in a SPEC-flavoured bow.

I really think Asakura is Tsuda, or at the very least, the same soul/being as Chii. If only from the touching of the foreheads, and how Asakura seemed to be able to jump bodies. There's an overarching theme about memories in both Keizoku and SPEC, which may come back to Shibata losing hers, and maybe Toma fighting against Tsuda/Chii/Asakura taking hers?

I do think Nonomura has a SPEC. I figure he had to pay off Miyabi Mark 1 and that's why he was still working, I guess. But you're right, there's something really fishy about him - if only because he knows Too Much. I would imagine Shibata and Mayama would still work in Unsolved Cases? I have so many feelings and theories. So many.

You're so right, Sebumi did change towards Mirei towards the end! It seemed to become more about trying to find the answers as apposed to living in the past. I get the impression that he wasn't the happiest chap before the shooting either, and maybe focused on her because she seemed to care about him and about someone he cared about. I actually think she's an interesting character and I do hope they flesh her out a bit more. And I think Chii took her to see them at the police station to make Toma jealous, but it didn't work very well. Bless.

OMG Toma and Kintaro together. Epic. I do wonder if there's going to be some crossover in the SP and film - it would make perfect sense. I remember reading somewhere (source?) that Shibata and Mayama were in talks to do a film together again - maybe, maybe? And I'm being selfish when I say I hope they don't end it with the SP and film like with Keizoku.

I thought the exact thing when I read about Chiaki's character. Maybe it could be a Shimura baby? Then it could have a SPEC etc etc. I honestly don't know how we're going to wait for the film to be subbed. AGONY.

...I HAD TO MAKE A NEW COMMENT.

Totally agree about the subs. If only so we can get a sub over Toma's calligraphy - I mean, you can guess what they say, but there's a couple of times where I think we miss a lot. And the police HQ hallway is apparently full of in-jokes, from the people in the halls (spot Yabe from Trick!) and the signs over the doors. I hate sounding ungrateful though!

SPEC Magazine! (http://www.amazon.co.jp/SPEC-magazine/dp/4901976869/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1317306555&sr=8-13) Here are scans (http://mayeveme.blogspot.com/2010/12/spec-magazine.html). There's also a Visual File (http://www.amazon.co.jp/%EF%BC%B3%EF%BC%B0%EF%BC%A5%EF%BC%A3-%E3%83%93%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A5%E3%82%A2%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB-%EF%BC%B4%EF%BC%A2%EF%BC%B3/dp/4048741527/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1317306555&sr=8-2) and an "Official Dismantling" (http://www.amazon.co.jp/%EF%BC%B3%EF%BC%B0%EF%BC%A5%EF%BC%A3%E5%85%AC%E5%BC%8F%E8%A7%A3%E4%BD%93%E6%96%B0%E6%9B%B8-%E7%9B%A3%EF%BC%9A%EF%BC%B4%EF%BC%A2%EF%BC%B3/dp/4048741675/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1317306555&sr=8-4), which kills me I can't read as it breaks everything down. I spent way too much on them (and a whole stack of Keizoku stuff on it's way to me), but totally worth it.

Thank you for the COLD KITCHEN (caps lock band!) link! I've put it on my iPod for the train tomorrow :)

YOU'RE WATCHING TRICK. Fair warning, Trick's just about my favourite show - I'm actually in the middle of a rewatch. I thought it was fitting. I actually stopped halfway through the first episode of SPEC and looked it up - "yep, director of Trick. Thought it looked familar". He's seriously my favourite director right now - he's got such a good eye, and he seems like a nice guy too. This is next on my list. (http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Psychometrer_Eiji)

(MiND STILL BLOWN OVER SHIBATA DREAM THEORY)

UGH, it just feels so awesome to be able to talk and theorize with someone about this drama. No one I know has actually watched it, and sadly, SPEC never got subbed in spanish, so I can’t exactly pimp it over here either. I really wonder why it wasn’t so popular, and why so many people refuse to pick it up. I’m guessing Erika-hate? So many people dislike her apparently, though I can’t really understand why. I had seen her in Liar Game previously, and even though Nao was incredibly stupid at times, I still had a soft spot for her. I thought that Erika must have done a good job in portraying her if so many people ended up raging whenever she showed up, lol.

I’m guessing not a lot of people know about Kase Ryo either. He’s a fantastic actor, imo, one of the best in Japan today, but even though I think he’s hot (srsly, his eeeeyesss, his noooooose), he’s not conventionally attractive like Shirota Yuu or some JE boy (and a lot of people go for that? lol). Also he’s done like... 7 dramas at the most? He’s a film actor, so, not very well known in the western jdrama fandom.

I guess I’m saying that if you try to pimp the drama by saying stuff like “it’s a spin-off of this 1999 drama called Keizoku, and it stars Toda Erika and Kase Ryo and they fight people with supernatural powers and shit!”, maybe it doesn’t work that well... because people will probably go... “1999? That’s OLD. Toda Erika? Ew. Kase who?”.
Anyway, I’d just love it if more people gave this drama a chance. Actually I’d just love it if they’d at least consider it without going all “ew, Toda Erika, I ain’t touching that shit”, because they’d be missing out on SO MUCH over something SO STUPID. Specially considering what a fantastic job she does here.

The main reason why I support the whole “most of the Keizoku SP and the movie was a dream” theory is because, DAMN, so many characters I liked died, lol. I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Aya, but it still pissed me off that she died at the end (where was it anyway? The boat? The island?), but more than anything, what really saddened me was Tsubosaka’s death (and the whole head scene kinda weirded me out a bit). He’s one of my favorites, and omg, it would be some awesome if he showed up in SPEC. He and Toma, omg, it would be amazing. So yes, I NEED HIM TO BE ALIVE.
I think that in case the whole thing was a dream, only Shibata would be in a coma, since at the end of Keizoku, Mayama was shot with plastic bullets and was alright. I love that he’s an ABBA fan, lol, it seems really fitting for some reason.
I still think Aya being in love with Mayama thing was totally random and completely unnecessary. I liked her whole “hate to love you”, obsessive, unhealthy dynamic with Madarame, and I felt unrequited love didn’t really suit her, idk. But yeah, you’re right. Shibata is really bright, maybe she picked up on it before all of us did and it reflected in her dream.

NEW POST, lol.

One reason I think Asakura= Tsuda, is because of the reasons he does stuff. Everything he does serves for no other purpose than entertainment. He kills people for fun, makes other people rape for his own amusement, torments for fun, turns siblings into enemies because he’s “writing a scenario”. Chii’s speech when he played chess with the old guy (still not sure who he is, btw) when he went all “lol, stuff has been really boring lately. Isn’t it time for another world war to start? *trollface*” is something that could perfectly have been said by Asakura himself.
And yes, the whole memory thing. I like to think that during Keizoku, Asakura’s powers still weren’t THAT strong, because he does things sloppily in many occasions. However, in SPEC he’s almost unbeatable, and he does such a perfect job that he finally does get Toma to kill Youta. However... he fails with Sebumi.

The shipper in me squeals with delight when Sebumi forgets everything and anything BUT Toma. And even after Chii erases his memories for the millionth time, his body remembers her and keeps insisting that he remember her completely until he’s writhing in agony. It’s so AWESOME that they remember each other at the same time, it’s like they’re synchronized (my favorite scene, btw).
One of the parallels between the two dramas that I enjoyed was both Mayama and Sebumi being on a revenge mission in the final episodes. Both of them are being hunted by their employers and do some really creepy stuff in order to achieve their goals. But mostly, I really loved how intent both of them are in their partners being able to live. Mayama asks Shibata to live so she can feed his goldfish once he’s gone (and so the truth won’t disappear with his death), and Sebumi asks Toma to live because... lol, I won’t speculate too much here (what are your thoughts, though?), but I’ll say that he wants her to live because he’s Sebumi, and Sebumi lives to protect those he cares about, and she’s “the only light”, omg.

I want Toma/Sebumi to happen so badly. I have no idea how it could happen, though. Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts?
Would it be really stupid to hope for a second season? I WANT ONE SO DESPERATELY.

THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS!! That magazine looks gorgeous. What other stuff did you order? I’d love to get some things myself.

ABOUT TRICK. Oh my god, I’m enjoying it so much. The casting is perfect, and even though he could easily be my dad, I have this huge crush on Abe Hiroshi. It’s Cha Seung-won all over again, jesus. Also, Yabe, I love him so much, lol. He’s probably my favorite character in the show, so he needs to live forever.

PS: I feel so stupid that this ancient (probably fake) piece of news got me all happy, lmao.
http://www.tokyograph.com/news/nakatani-watabe-reunited/

I hope they make a small cameo or something in the SP. That would be so awesome.
BTW, that drama looks fun! Hope the quality is decent, although if it’s good I’d still murder my eyes to watch it. I did it the first time I watched Keizoku anyways, lol.

And Tsubosaka. I'm going to admit to you that I got a bit weepy when they saluted him in the show, so I was so sad when he actually died. But I feel like everyone who was in the cave wasn't real, and a part of Mayama's dream/coma/what the fuck. Maybe - maybe the film is both Mayama and Shibata's consciousness streams? And maybe they're connected like Toma and Sebumi? It would make sense if they were both in a coma or "asleep" and they somehow met in the middle?

MY HEAD IS EXPLODING. I'm just makin' stuff up now. I wonder if they will make some sort of reference to it in the SP and film - probably the film, as they always seem to have the biggest revelations in them. I wouldn't be surprised if SPEC was Team Keizoku's attempt at trying to tie everything together. I think it's obvious now we've talked it through that Tsuda is Asakura is Chii is Tsuda etc, etc. Maybe Tsusakurachii's (let's smish their names together, why not) powers grow with every memory he steals/replaces? Like, his energy comes from them?

Oh god. Toma/Sebumi full stop. I think the "I remember" scene is my favourite, too. The way the music swells, and her little face - omg I can't even. I get weepy. I mean, he wakes up because she's eating The Fruit Basket of Her Dreams (I love that bit) and he needs to smack her on the head. If that's not true love, what is? I think Sebumi wants her to live because he's Sebumi. He's broken, and cranky, and hard-to-crack, but he always jumped in front of her when there was danger, pointed guns when she was threatened, etc. He's a good guy. But I think there's a point when he realises she's The Only Light, like she's the only one who can pull him out of the dark. They're not perfect together, but they're perfect for each other, like Mayama and Shibata. And the only way Sebumi and Mayama can allow themselves to be saved or looked after is by deflecting it with trivial things, like fish or telling them they smell.

I figure we got a kiss in Keizoku and one of the best subtle OTP endings in the film (when he lifts her into his arms in the water? Ugh. <3), so we'll get something. Hopefully. And I want a second season, too, so so bad. I think I'm going to fly to Japan and watch the film at the cinema, I can't wait for subs! EDITED TO ADD: I was being hyperbolic, but the more I think about it...

OMG THE THOUGHT THAT MAYAMA AND SHIBATA ARE TOGETHER IN REAL LIFE. Have you seen this (http://i54.tinypic.com/25u5g1g.jpg)? I got the magazine off Yahoo! Japan and needed a lie down after looking at it. I'll scan some of the other photos in the shoot, like the one where he's kissing her forehead (!!!!!), but it Ryo and Erika do something like that...holy moly.

I recommend all the SPEC guides, if only for the pictures. And I ordered this (http://i54.tinypic.com/qrncyr.jpg), which is the magazine you see Miyabi #1 reading at the end of the last episode, and this (http://i54.tinypic.com/358uhjb.jpg) which is the film guide. Or something. I'll report back when they arrive.

Where are you up to in Trick?

(This took me forty minutes to type. Thank you for reading my ramblings!)

(I also have a big crush on Abe Hiroshi, he's the reason I even started watching jdramas as he's everywhere in Japan [and in ads with Erika (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkS_3s_nLRg)!]. And a crush on Cha Seung-won. If only they'd do a drama together!)

Edited 2011-10-02 07:34 (UTC)

IT'S SO GOOD TO HAVE SOME TO TALK TO, seriously. This is how sad I've gotten: I had a going away dinner for someone at work on Friday night and had other socialising on Saturday and all I was thinking was, "god, I just want to go home and reply to

sainomadelaine/watch 'Trick'/make icons/plan a Keizoku fanmix/generally be sad. My life, let me show it to you. And I totally hear you about not being able to pimp it. One of my roommates has watched SPEC, though! And she loved it! And is planning a vid!

The Erika hate! What the hell is that? I can only guess it's because of Nobuta wo Produce? There's a Korean actress, Song Ji-hyo, who cops the same flack as Erika as she played the bitchy second lead in "Goong", and I think they're similar in that regard. There was a lot of "she can't act! She's just a bitch!" going around, but, geez. I was also surprised at all her fans hating SPEC because she looks "ugly" in it. If she's ugly in SPEC then we all must be swamp monsters. Jdrama/kdrama fans can be so odd, and small minded.

And Ryo <3. HOW IS HE 37 YEARS OLD?! I remembered him from 'Letters From Iwo Jima' (Ken Watanabe is my DILF) and thought he was adorable, but didn't think anything of it until SPEC. He's such a good actor - and people don't find him hot?! I feel like we've waltzed into an alternate universe when I read these types of comments. His freckles. Ugh. I've started to download all his films, and I managed to find a drama he did with Nakama Yukie from Trick and it looks terrible. But still. He's like a Japanese Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

And I love how Erika seems to live to make him laugh. He's obviously really shy in real life, until you work your way in, and you can tell they've got a really good relationship. If I were one of those people I'd totally ship them *eye dart*. I sat and watched this whole thing (http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/l21SOfHbE7M/), even though it's terrible quality and the streaming is awful and there's not subs. Plus this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwXnpS84YEY&feature=player_embedded). And this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESgh3BEiHx8&feature=player_embedded). And this (http://i.imgur.com/v4ncC.jpg). And this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87IamP15FzY&feature=related) (she's using her hand!). I've lost the plot.

I think the main reason I can't pimp it out is because of Trick, as weird as that sounds. I was so full-on about getting people to watch Trick and no-one seemed to enjoy it, that when I say "It's like a more accessible Trick!" people tend to eye dart and pretend to do something else. I get that Trick isn't for everyone, so I think we should just push it on our friends regardless. Or post about it 2983928329 times until they cave.

Anyway. The more I think about it, the more I do think it was a dream. I think I'll rewatch the SP and the film tonight or tomorrow. Aya really, really grew on me, and I think it's because they gave her something more to do than just be the Sassy Slutty Friend. I loved her relationship with Shibata because it wasn't about fighting over the guy - for the most part, sigh - and you could tell they genuinely cared about each other. I hope at least her ~love~ for Mayama was all Shibata's dream, because it really didn't make sense. And like you said, I loved her relationship with Madarame because it had this whole Bonnie and Clyde, us-against-the-world vibe. Obsessive, like you said.

If Aya was killed, I think it was on the boat, as she seemed to be resigned when she made sure the others weren't on the boat with her. Like she knew she had to die for everything to fit together? Which makes me think that ha;f the movie is a dream, and the other half isn't...although I keep thinking of when they were waiting on the dock and Mayama was having the running commentary of the suspects - "That's suspicious. That's convienient". I mean, I know the fourth wall in a Tsutsumi Yukihiko show/flim is totally broken from the start, but it was weird. It just stood out. I DON'T KNOW. I need to rewatch it.

I REMEMBER SONG JI-HYO, omg. I watched Goong a million years ago, but I remember her perfectly. I always think that when an actress manages to get people to hate her character, then she must be doing a good job. If people don’t feel anything for the characters then something is missing. And yes, I remember her, and I remember hating the crap out of her character but understanding her at the same time and feeling a little sorry for her. I never watched Nobuta wo Produce (I avoid Yamapi and Kame dramas like the plague, and find Maki to be extremely overrated), but since you say Erika is in it, I might actually go for it, lol. ANYTHING to help me with this anxiety and waiting, argh, because 2012 feels SO FAR AWAY.

And, omg, ugly? I wish I looked like that without make-up. Hell, I wish I looked like that WITH make-up. Erika is gorgeous, and she’s awesome too because she just didn’t give a fuck about her looks, and being all pretty in every shot at all in this drama. She’s really professional.

I actually watched “Soredemo, boku wa yattenai” the other day, and Ryo is incredible in it. It can get a bit slow at times because the setting doesn’t change all that much (like 70% of the movie takes place inside a courtroom), but it’s such a good film, and I really felt for his character. I also watched his segment in this movie called “Female”, and holy hell. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all. NSFW, lol. I might watch Funky Forest, but I fear I may never be able to watch him in SPEC again without laughing, because I watched a little bit of it on youtube, and holy crap, that movie looks insane.
I will rewatch Letters from Iwo Jima tonight, although I remember his character very well. When I watched that movie the first time, I felt really sorry for him. I never could forget the scene with the dog (and Ken Watanabe? That man is FIIIINE).

AND YES, thank you for those links. I watched them all, and then continued to click the related videos and couldn’t stop, lol. It really does look like they get along really well, it doesn’t look like an act to me (after the whole SawaEri incident at the Closed Note press conference, I always wonder how well co-stars get in reality, lol. I tend to doubt it a lot). It’s so cute that she’s always making him laugh. She doesnt’ even have to try, though. She just kinda says something and deadpans, and he just can’t help it, lol. And yeah, I’d totally ship them IRL too, if I were that kind of person. Thankfully, I’m not. *eye twitches*

I might rewatch the film and SP as well, so I can pay more attention this time. I’m sure I missed a lot of details because I was so engrossed in other stuff the first time I watched them. Like for example, I completely missed what you said about Aya making sure the rest didn’t get in the boat with her. I must have not payed attention because I remember thinking “wtf, Nonomura and the rest aren’t in the island? Why?!”

You know, I really do like your theory about Mayama being in a coma/asleep and sharing his dreams/conciousness with Shibata. In a way, everything that happens in that island would be good for both of them, kind of like... therapy, lol. She finally gets over her guilt about Maiko and says goodbye to her dad, and he lets Saori go. Still not sure why Aya needed to die, though, haha. Or Tsubosaka, for all that matter.
I really do hope we get at least some quick explanation/confirmationn in the SPEC film, or at least a tiny update on the original Keizoku team. I’d totally lose it if we got an actual cameo, but I think that may be asking for too much. I kinda want an explanation on how Asakura/Chii/Tsuda’s powers work, too. I’ve spent way too much time thinking about that, and still can’t figure anything out. Kind of like SPEC’s final scene. Did Toma unlock her own SPEC? Did Ninomae’s SPEC transfer to her after he died? IS HE EVEN DEAD?! I mean, it is heavily implied that she used that power, but you never know with this show. I get the feeling that even the writers and the director had no idea either and they just enjoy fucking with the viewers and ended the series with a cliffhanger just to keep everyone wondering and tearing their hair out for the next year and a half, lmao.

If people don’t feel anything for the characters then something is missing.

That's it in a nutshell. I don't get it when people just seem to hate an actress because they get in the way of their OTP. Come on, people. I've not watched Nobuta wo Produce either, but when i was originally looking for info after watching SPEC, I was like, "geez, does Erika's character kill puppies or something?!" I have another drama of hers, Gal Circle, which I'm going to give a go. It looks hilarious, and appears to have a cowboy in it? ANYTHING to fill the time up! I'm rewatching Ikebukuro West Gate Park as I had the smart idea of making a Yukihiko Tsutsumi vid. Why do I think of these things?! WHY? (And you should watch Ikebukuro, if only for the Ken Watanbe action ;)

Ooh, thanks for the Ryo recs. I watched 'Scrap Heaven', with Ryo, Joe "I'm Far Too Attractive To Be Real" Odagiri and Chiaki Kuriyama. It was really, really good - he's just a phenomenal actor, full-stop. It's one of those films that speeds along at a great pace and then it hangs - not in a bad way, but in a painfully tense way. Really, really good. And even though it looks potentially very bad, I'll go see 'Reckless', just to see him on the big screen. Ugh. Why so amazing, Ryo?!

I Googled the SawaEri incident and...WTF? I hope someone told her to sit down. That's the sort of thing I always get worried the people you start to follow are actually like, and it's always a relief when they're normal. I always wonder if in Japan and Korea they're told to be very submissive and polite, so you never really get a good idea of their personalities or relationships. That's why I think I was so surprised that Erika's so deadpan and giggly. Nakama Yukie and Abe Hiroshi from 'Trick' have a really good relationship away from the show, which just makes me like the show more, as stupid as it sounds. And we all know what's TOTALLY NOT GOING ON with Miki and Atsuro. Not that I'm totally not a real-life shipper of any of those couple. Not at all. *twitch*

Tomorrow's my day off, so it's going to be all Keizoku, all the time. And probably SPEC, just because. At the very least, a picspam of Beautiful Dreamer, just because it's so...beautiful. Did you know they released it in the UK and Germany (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000FIH6CW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&m=A2TUOLEQQ8CFXE) as a stand alone film?! I'm going to buy it because LOL. How weird is that, though? I wonder if it's edited, because damn. It would really hard to follow otherwise.

I actually can't imagine what we missed the first time around. (Remember when it didn't click that it could be a dream? Good times. ;) I think the reason why it sort of makes sense that the whole film was a dream is because both Mayama and Shibata were both conveniently injured at the end of the series and the SP. Maybe I just want the show to be a little more creative? IDK. It does piss me off a bit that people had to die, I won't lie. I don't think I'll ever get over Tsubosaka's wife with his head. :| (I thought his wife and kid died and that's why he was so crabby? WHAT GIVES, SHOW?!)

...'Dream is Collapsing' from the Inception soundtrack just came on my iTunes. IT KNOWS

I keep making bad Team Keizoku graphics for Tumblr. That's how much I want a cameo. It makes sense, though. Like, stupid sense. I'd like to think Director Tsutsumi is a big fan of referencing his other works, so I think it may happen. (Oh, you can spot Yabe in SPEC in the scene where Sebumi's walking to Unsolved Cases, and in a couple of other hallway shots later. I love that <3)

I'm starting to think the Asakura/Chii/Tsuda thing is going to break both of our brains. Could he be a thinly-veiled version of the devil, what with the whole underworld thing in Beautiful Dreamer and the trumpet guys sending Shimura to his death? I'm guessing he is the trumpet guys, because before he shot the guy he was playing chess with, you saw them as he cycled through his "faces". And I thought it was telling (maybe?) that it was the Tsuda face that shot Chess Guy and not the Chii face. Hmmm.

Maybe Toma's SPEC is taking other's SPECs? Maybe even dead people's SPECs? I know we thought about this a hundred comments ago, but if she was able to take Ninomae's SPEC after he died, that would make sense of her stopping time? Or maybe she takes on her family's SPECs after they die, and that's why she's so good at physics? Maybe? IDK IDK

I agree, I think Sebumi is very lonely after losing so many people close to him. I wonder if we don't get any background to him because it's a way of showing how private he is? I suspect he either has no family or is estranged from them, but he knows how important the people he cares about are. OMG, the scene where he's being held back as ragey-cop put his gun in his face - he almost jumps the table to get over to her. I think that was the point I went, "Yep, OTP forever". He's a really interesting character. So many facets. And at Chiaki being part of their love triangle! At first I was like, "DO NOT WANT". But then I realised that it would mean potential kissing and oh my god is it 2012 yet?!

THAT PHOTOSHOOT. I can't even. It must be promotion for this drama (http://i55.tinypic.com/w019o6.png), where they don't kiss (don't worry I checked LOL). I actually think I have a bit of a crush on Watabe Atsuro. I blame his little white socks in Keizoku.

THE FIRST TRICK MOVIE <3 I think it's my favourite part of the Trick canon. It's just beautifully executed, and we get to see a few more aspects of their emotions towards each other. Ueda is such a shit to her in the beginning. Yamada's basically my favourite character ever - I always wondered why they never gave her a love interest, and you only ever saw her get (slightly) jealous at Ueda's crushes. Their UST though, ohmigod. It's perfect casting. I have a lot of theories/emotions/keyboard smashing about Trick, so I'm glad you're loving it. Here's the Yabe show subbed (http://harorangers.com/2011/03/10/keibuho-yabe-kenzo-ddl-plus-donating-rant/), too.

Watch 'Chocolate' if you can. if only for Hiroshi's terrible Engrish. And 'Survive Style 5+', if only for this bit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ns-m1c7s30)!

GALCIR! Haha! Is that the drama where Fujiki Naohito plays a para-para dancing cowboy or something? Sounds like fun. I've adored him since Hotaru no Hikari, so I'd watch ANYTHING with him in it.
I just finished downloading Scrap Heaven, and from what I've read it must be really good. And it has like my three favorite actors in the entire world, so there. I had no idea Chiaki had been in a movie with Joe before (I love him sfm. I first saw him in that crazy ninja movie with Nakama Yukie, and promptly forgot how to breathe as soon as he showed up on screen), had I known about this during my "Atami no Sousakan" craze a few months ago, I would have lost it. They have great chemistry in that drama, and they make great partners. I really recommend that drama, btw. Satoshi Miki is the screenwriter and the director, and he directed Jikou Keisatsu and Instant Numa (Ryo is in this one, and he has like the craziest hair). "Atami" is really quirky, has hilarious characters, and tons of WTF moments.

I used to really like Sawajiri Erika back in 2005 or so, after 1 Litre of Tears came out. She was fantastic in that one, and perhaphs I was misled by her character because I thought she was equally as nice, lol. Then I saw the press conference, and... dang, lol. That was kind of the beginning of the end for her, though. She married this older guy and left Japan for quite some time. She came back last year and divorced him, and has been trying to revive her carreer ever since. Bitchiness aside, I hope she makes it because she's quite talented, and it would suck to see all that promise go to waste.
I'm so, so glad that Abe and Yukie get along in real life. I mean, maybe it's irrelevant and all while you're watching the drama, but knowing that they had fun making it and that they enjoy each other's company makes the watch a lot more pleasant.

Tsubosaka having a wife actually bothered me a bit, and it was another reason why I thought the whole thing might be a dream. I mean, his whole life had been about making it up to his dead wife and child. Then again, nobody said he hadn't remarried, so who knows. It just seems really strange to me for some reason. And wtf, they actually released the film in germany and the UK? There must have been some editing involved, because the movie assumes from the start that we know who the characters are and everything, we get no introduction at all. It's a fantastic film when you know the back story, but really confusing if you know nothing about it. Hell, even if you know some of it, it's still confusing. I'm really wondering how that went, lol.

You've made graphics?! I'd love to see them. I don't have an account there, but I might just get one to see if there's more stuff out there.

(Firstly, sorry for the lack of reply - I've had family visiting and I'd get The Look if I attempted to go online or do anything not-family related. Despite being a grown woman ;)

I got my Keizoku books! One is more like a magazine, with photoshoots and what-not (oh gosh, so early 2000s some of the clothes. And apparently you could buy a Keizoku watch!) and the other is a making of the film. It's full of behind the scenes photos, some that are seriously cute. I'll scan in some of them this week, if only for our entertainment! And there's heaps of French language phrases throughout, so I'll probably translate them. Because I need a new hobby.

You've gotten me interested in heaps of jactors, thanks for that :) I was exclusively into kdrama until I went to Japan late last year/early this year and discovered Trick as Abe Hiroshi is everywhere. It drives me nuts that I was there when SPEC aired for the first time, because the merchandise would have been easy to get and arrgghh. I remember seeing the Erika poster with her laying in the rose petals at the train station, but didn't think anything other that "that's a pretty poster". Re: Joe - apparently there were rumours they were together for a while? A friend of mine is obsessed with Chiaki, and mentioned it when I was buying Shinobi the other day. How is he real? I mean, how can he be so good looking and act and not be a douchebag or a robot? I was planning to watch a heap of movies this weekend, damn my family.

Here's Beautiful Dreamer at Amazon UK (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keizoku-Unsolved-Cases-DVD/dp/B000FIH6CW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318162192&sr=8-1). This review (http://homecinema.thedigitalfix.com/content/id/63703/keizoku-unsolved-cases-beautiful-dreamer.html) was excellent in expressing the WTF of it being released by it's self. Apparently the end bit after the credits is subbed, so that's something? So weird. I'm gathering there is no editing, but maybe the translation will be? I was reading something the other day about how Trick is so hard to translate, and I wonder what the hell we miss most of the time :| I'm a Korean language student, so maybe I should tack on some Japanese electives next term.

...I can't learn a new language for drama purposes. I draw the line!

MOST IMPORTANTLY: HOLY CRAP THAT MAGAZINE SCAN YOU LINKED!! Are they pointing guns at each other?! Is Tsuda wearing a bomb like Asakura in Beautiful Dreamer?! And is Sebumi looking sad in the doorway of Chiaki's house or something?! Arrgghhh! I wish we had some release dates, at least so we know how long to wait. The SP should be airing soon, I would have thought - and I assume if it's in magazines, they'd have to have a release date soon?

AND CHIAKI AND SEBUMI ON FIRST-NAME BASIS. Shit gonna be good. Maybe Toma's going to be wronged by her, and Sebumi refuses to see it, hence guns pointed at each other? (How does he break two legs?!) I'm thinking the battle field thing on their desks could hint at a war between SPECs? Oh god, HURRY UP AND BE IN FRONT OF MY EYES.

How is your Trick watch going? I was trying to articulate why I love it so much, and I think it's those moments of quiet shippiness that make it for me. Have you gotten to the end of Season Three? The finale. Oh my gosh. I don't want to spoil you, so I'm being deliberately cagey :)

Actually, come to think of it, quiet moments of shippiness are a real Tsutsumi thing, full-stop. I love his blog - he's an exceptional photographer, but I wish he'd stop posting pictures of the sky and have one of like, Erika and Ryo making out or something. I'll go down with the ship, too. Just like Titanic!

I think I'm going to start Liar Game this week, because I love Tabe Mikako (Deka Wanko: surprisingly good). I was going to start surmising that Erika is more invested in SPEC and Toma blah blah that's why she turned it down blah blah but maybe she just felt it was time to move on? I was going to attempt the Nakama Yukie/Ryo drama but it looks like it will make my teeth hurt so I'm going to put it aside for now.

As for graphics...oh god, they're not good at all, but they're at my drama Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/tumblelog/lostinomo). I also attempted some Keizoku and SPEC drabbles, but I don't know how successful they were. And just because, my BFF Liz posted about SPEC after I arm wrestled her into watching it, which is here (http://lizbee.livejournal.com/1200065.html). Spreadin' the love~

I should go to bed. I've saved the scans to my phone so I can creepily look at them tomorrow. And I'm planning a Keizoku fanmix - any song suggestions?

I'm so sorry it took forever for me to reply, it's been a crazy week as everyone's trying to catch up here, what with the whole student uprising and everything. We're supposed to finish our first semester (which should have been finished in july) ASAP, so we just started to take our finals. Anyway, I'm finally done, so it's back to dramaland for me, lol.

KEIZOKU BOOKS, omg. I think being able to buy stuff online is one of the main reasons I'm seriously considering getting a job this summer. There's some lovely merchandise out there, and damnit, I WANT THOSE BOOKS. And yes, if you eventually scan some of it, I would love to see it. I have zero knowledge of french, but a good friend of mine is a translator, so I could get him to look up some of those phrases if you want.
It's so amazing that you went to Japan. Is it as pretty as I imagine it to be? It's been my dream to go there since my dad went like 13 years ago and brought my sister and I a crapton of gifts and stories. He had to go a second time, and when he came back I just knew I had to go there someday. I took japanese lessons for almost three years, but had to stop after I started going to college. I will pick it up again someday, so right now I try to keep the language fresh in my mind by listening to a lot of japanese music, reading magazines and watching jdramas and movies, lol. I have even been reading some SPEC fic in japanese, which has really helped calm my anxiety.

I love kdramas as well. AND YOU KNOW KOREAN? Admiring you so hard rn. It seems like such a difficult language to learn, but it sounds so effin' beautiful, I can't even.... some of my favorite dramas of all time are korean. My name is Kim Sam-soon, for example. City Hall and Best Love had me obsessed for months. I wept like a baby with Stairway to Heaven (which strangely enough was aired here and did quite well), even though it's so dramatic and over the top, lmao. I'll pretty much watch anything if it has Cha Seung-won in it, haha. I remember reading that in South Korea CSW is absolutely everywhere, so I'm not surprised about Abe Hiroshi being everywhere in Japan, lol. They have a lot in common, apparently.
If Joe and Chiaki ever dated, it wouldn't be surprising. They have great chemistry. I think he got married a couple of years ago (to Kashii Yu, who is equally as quirky) and became a dad some time later.

I'm glad you're done with your finals :) Are the protests over? To be honest, it wasn't covered here in the press at all, so I only caught wind of it through work (I work in ~the travel industry~) and you mentioning it. Are you getting special consideration at all from your school? Or is it just business as usual?

THE BOOKS ARE AMAZING. I'm lucky in that there's a really reasonable proxy service based here in Melbourne (where I live), so Yahoo! Auctions are easy and cheap to bid on. Except...yeah, my pay cheque takes a big hit. But it's so worth it. The auctions always list that they're in "second-hand condition" and they all look as good as the day they were bought originally, I swear. I'll scan in some of the pictures this week, but here are some crappy ones I took with my phone:

The first picture in that uh-mazing photoshoot (lol mind my fingers in the picture) (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l509/lostinomo/photo1.jpg)
Behind the scenes - Miki looks like she's trying to escape (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l509/lostinomo/photo4.jpg)
Behind the scenes of the movie (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l509/lostinomo/photo.jpg)
Behind the scenes again - practicing the end scene down the bottom and Atsuro and Sarina I'm guessing after their last scene together <3 (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l509/lostinomo/photo3.jpg)
LOL HAIR (http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l509/lostinomo/photo2.jpg)

I'd totally recommend getting the Keizoku movie book thing, for sure. And I'll scan in the French bits so we can utilise your friend's translation skills :D

Japan was amazingly beautiful. Kyoto was my favourite place, but the whole place is just gorgeous. I kind of didn't want to leave, to be honest! I kind of want to go back and work there, teaching English or something, but we'll see. You have to go. I'll meet you there, we'll creep around all the drama locations ;)

I'm learning Korean, I don't know it all yet!! I do university part time. And you know almost three languages, so I'm admiring you so hard (you have to translate those SPEC fics, immediately. I assume there's a whole fandom I don't even know about?). Korean's a set alphabet, so it's quite easy to get that part down. The rest is just the honorifics and trying not to ruin it with my terrible accent! You'd pick it up easily, I think.

CHA SEUNG-WON IS MY BIAS, you know that right?! Your taste is impecable. City Hall was basically the drama that pushed me over the edge, and I can't bring myself to finish Best Love because I don't want it to end. Yes, I know how stupid that sounds, just go with it.

Ooh link me to the blog! I'll Google Translate that shit, yes sir. SEBUMI COLLECTS FIGURINES. Of course he does. Hopefully that means we'll see inside his house. And if he has a giant diorama on his desk, maybe he's more comfortable with Nonomura and Toma? OVERANALYSING

Re: the gun pointing thing...idk, I've watched a lot of ~partners~ type shows and there's always that moment where they doubt each other. Dramatic tension blah blah. Maybe one Asakusa inhabits one of them or...I'm just taking a stab in the dark. I wonder if Chiaki's character will end up being evil, and Sebumi, wanting to trust someone again from his past, may believe her over Toma because of their history together. But I have no doubt who's side he'll end up on. If not, I'm flying to Japan and punching people. And yes, everyone needs to stay alive because I can't take finally loving Aya and having her killed. Like, what the fuck was that. [/bitter]

A TRAILER IN DECEMBER. I can't even. Is there any idea when the SP will come out? It says 2011, so hopefully December? I honestly haven't been so excited for something since 'Athena' (the sequel to IRIS). The day it's due, I'm calling in sick and just watching it over and over, I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK.

(I'm participating in the Kaleidoscope Exchange (http://dark-agenda.dreamwidth.org/) this year, and I got SPEC (a prompt I'm a bit side eye about, but I won't say it here in case the recipient is reading) - I might have to run past some ideas I have for the fic, as I'm worried I'm going to kill the characterisations with my not so subtle writing style. Sigh.)

TRICK <3333 I'm glad you loved it, so so so so glad. I forgot how much I loved the season three finale - they're just so not touchy-feely that her little head in his chest gets me right in mine. I will admit to you I got a little teary at the end of the last movie, because it was so final. I do hope they pick it up again, in the future - I can totally get behind a show where they're a crime-fighting married couple with a baby who fight constantly. There's just something so special about it, I can't put it into words. A lot of people I've recommended it to tend to stop halfway through season one because they think it's too out there, so I'm so glad you watched the whole way through. There's a bit of good fic at (blergh) FanFiction.net here (www.fanfiction.net/anime/Trick/), randomly in the anime section. I found it accidentally!

Yes yes hit me with Keizoku songs! I've started a vid to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t-I-Lqy06g'>this song</a>, so fingers crossed it's not a huge mess of crossfades and angst. I've done 6 second, go me! (btw, here's my email addy: nouveaufille at gmail dot com - just in case replying to comments is getting tiring :)

There's this blog that I bookmarked at home that regularly posts info on the upcoming SPEC movies and SP. The person who owns it kinda gathers the staff's tweets and info in magazines and posts it up (I'll fetch you the link ASAP). If I read it right, we might be getting the trailer in December! I'm so excited it's not even funny. And it's just a trailer, ffs. I wondered a lot about the diorama in the spoiler pics, but I think I know what it is about after I looked through the drama website today. Apparently, Sebumi is a figurine maniac, lol. He collects gundam figurines, castle figurines and war figurines. The one on his desk is a war diorama involving british troops, lmao. I don't know why, but the fact that his hobby turned out to be something like this makes a lot of sense to me, rofl.
I'm hoping they're pointing the gun a someone from different directions, or that they used a different camera angle for them, idk. I'd hate it if Sebumi believed anyone else over Toma, considering how loyal she is. And although this is SPEC, I really hope they won't go the Keizoku way and someone ends up being stabbed/shot/drowned/etc in the end. I NEED EVERYONE ALIVE SO WE CAN GET A NEW SEASON, tyvm.
I have seen your graphics, and they're lovely. I've been "liking" them and saving them to creepily stare at them when I have time, lol. And if you ever feel like posting those drabbles, please let me know, I'd love to see them.

I FINISHED TRICK!!! Fantastic experience. I adored the season 3 finale (even when he trolled her in the end lmao), and was legit pissed off when they retconned their relationship in the subsequent SP, UGH. I was glad we almost got a confession in the latest movie, though. But it's like it's alway one step forward and three steps back with these two. Anyway, I hope the seasons, movies and SPs keep coming, because it's a great series, and Yamada Naoko is glorious and ahravfhasgsbd. I was genuinely sad when I finished it, so I started watching Keibuho Yabe Kenzo right away. It's not as amazing, but Namase Katsuhisa rocks and I love seeing Trick characters showing up every now and then.

I'll search through my songs to see if i find anything Keizoku appropiate... I'm really looking forward to that fanmix!

I watched the Trick movie, and I LOVED IT. And you're right, I wanted to punch Ueda in the dick at first, but then he spent most of the movie making up for his monumental fuck-up, and I loved him like a lot more. I like that at least her feelings towards him are more or less confirmed. I'm hoping that we get a bit more insight into his in the third season which I will start watching tomorrow after our weekly national protest, lol. Also, what the heck, ten years, three seasons, multiple movies and SPs, and no love interest for Yamada? The world must be mad.Thank you so much for the link to the Yabe Show. I started downloding it and quickly scanned through the first episode, and I think I'm really going to enjoy it.

So, from what I've gathered from the net, Chiaki's character in the upcoming SPEC movie is an intelligence officer who returns to Japan from overseas, and comes to Mishou to ask for help for some case. Apparently, she and Sebumi are on a first-name basis, which according to the articles implies they might have had something together in the past, and this unsettles Toma. SO YES, maybe I am reading too much into this, and maybe I'm already imagining a million possible scenarios, but one thing is for sure: DIS GON' BE GOOD, AND I WILL GO DOWN WITH THIS SHIP.
I keep thinking if they got together their relationship would be crazy. They'd bicker all the time, but they'd have these amazing quiet moments of understanding and and and UGH, they could eat tons of gyoza together and they'd both rub off on each other and they'd end up acquiring each other's crazy habits and ARGH. And if they have a kid, it could totally go and marry Mayama and Shibata's kid, and together they'd create like the most amazing person ever. BWAHAHA. I need to sit down now.

BTW, there's gonna be a new Liar Game movie, and Erika isn't going to be in it. They're actually replacing her character with Tabe Mikako (who I really like, so no complaints there) and they start shooting next week. I'm guessing Erika turned down the role because of conflicting schedules and stuff? She is in the middle of shooting the SPEC movie after all.

I'm stalking Tsutsumi's blog to see if anything new comes up: http://blog.goo.ne.jp/yukihikotsutsumi/
Also, this website here has tons of Ryo and Ryosuke pictures. It's a bit messy, but totally worth searching through: http://star-bakkure.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/

It's 3.14 am over here, so I'm gonna stop here. But fangirling with someone else >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>fangirling alone.

The hospital scene is adorable. I love watching how their relationship progressed and changed. They went from really disliking each other, to becoming frenemies, and then they began relying on each other and becoming “nakama”, to finally trusting each other completely. We know next to nothing about Sebumi’s past or his family (maybe we’ll get some info in the SP and the movie), but he must be a very lonely guy, and after losing both his senpai and his kouhai, it’s like Toma is all he has left. And he’s constantly protecting her, I mean, he saved her life so many times. That scene where he’s being accused of hacking into the database and Toma stands up for him and gets a gun shoved in her face by random-ragey cop (wtf was up with him, sheesh)? We all know Sebumi would have beat the crap out of the guy if he hadn’t been held back at the time.
I want to believe we’ll get something in regards to a possible romantic relationship between the two, but this is Japan, so I don’t want to get my hopes up, lol. I was looking up some articles about Chiaki Kuriyama’s participation in the film (I’m really curious about her character. Also, I’ve adored her ever since I saw her in “Atami no Sousakan” with Odagiri Joe some time ago, amazing drama, btw, criminally underrated), and although there’s no new info, whenever I google-translate the articles, there’s always a hint about a possible love triangle. SO, YES, I’m hanging on to that like crazy.

I HAD SEEN THOSE PICTURES BEFORE. Sexiest photoshoot ever (the one were they’re in like.. the bathroom or something? Holy hell). I completely and unashamedly believe the rumours about them being together at some point, and I demand that they reproduce, lol. If Ryo and Erika did a photoshoot like that? I’d probably die, omg.

I just finished watching Trick season 2, and I’ll watch the first movie tonight. I agree it’s not easy to get into it, but it’s incredible once you do. I think it has to be the drama with the most loveable characters I’ve ever seen. Seriously, I love each and every one of them. Yamada is a genius, and it’s so hard for me to understand why someone as incredible as her is so damn alone. And Ueda, omg. I get so much second-hand embarrassment whenever he’s around, but he is perfect all the same. They belong together, if only because no one else will have them, lmao. It helps that their chemistry is off the charts as well. The UST, wow. And YABE!!!! He has to be my favorite character of the drama. I read he has his own show... I wonder if it got subbed, BECAUSE I MUST WATCH IT (In which episode of SPEC does he appear?). I have to say, what makes the drama a winner for me has to be the huge amount of crack. Specially in season two. There’s this scene where Ueda kinda has this huge epiphany, and while he talks about it, the camera goes over his head and starts slowly zooming into one of those hilarious pictures of his younger days... I laughed until tears came out, lol. That’s the kind of humor I like, nonsensical and cracky. I even enjoy the dick jokes (omg, so many) and the slapstick.

Abe Hiroshi is in this Thai movie called Chocolate, which I will watch because 1) the protagonist is an autistic teenage girl who can kick MAJOR ass, and 2) because he’s butt naked in one scene, thank you very much.
OMG, they’re in a commercial together? MIND BLOWN. We need a crossover ASAP. I think Ryo is also in a movie with Watabe Atsuro, “Gravity’s Clowns”. We should just get them all together in one movie, although the world might implode from the sheer awesomeness of it all.

ALSO ALSO

"The song tells of a lover serenading a 'Beautiful Dreamer', who is oblivious to all worldly cares and may actually be dead." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Dreamer)

...THINKING TOO MUCH ABOUT IT, BUT WHO CARES

The original has ABBA?

I'm sold.

Oh yes. And it's so out of left field, you're kind of left standing there going, "yep, that actually makes sense."

WATCH IT WATCH IT (there's lolz! A nice female friendship! White socks!)

ABBA never comes out of left field. never.

Already downloaded it!

had to split my comment in two :D

Wow, this fanmix is amazing. I love how it fits the series musically as well!

(delayed reaction, thanks LJ)

Thank you :D

I'm listening to this and browsing SPEC stuff on LJ and Tumblr. How can a fanmix be so perfect? Kudos, seriously.

Danke :)

I honestly think I have a whole other volume in mind. The show is so...atmospheric? That's probably the right word. Or awesome. That too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fanmix: The Weight of Smoke | A {SPEC} Mix

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number 2

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Again!

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둘!

dos!

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