SPEC Theories. Or, Pieces Has Lost The Plot

[piecesofalice]

Alright. It's time to come clean. I am obsessed with SPEC. I have not been so into a show since...Trick and Life. That's the scale we're on, people.

I've fanmixed it. I've vidded it. I'm Tumblring it. I've accumulated the magazine, the visual guide and the whatever-this-is ("Official Dismantling", with full-page, detailed photos of the sets and each episode's title sequence and all the little things you miss when it aired and oh, Japan, you complete me with your fifteen million pieces of merchandise for one drama). I'll probably buy the DVDs, despite no English subtitles.

And I just finished my second full rewatch. Holy moly, me-oh-my. I was talking to theonlytwin about it, and I - just - I have theories, everyone. So many theories! And questions.

(MAJOR SPOILERS WILL BE UNDER THE CUT.)






THINGS I BELIEVE

+ Sebumi and Toma are the inevitable OTP of OTPness.



If your serial killer boyfriend believes it, then. Well. Plus:



and



Come on. I also suspect that Reizei's "I can see a bright future for both of you" means something, too.

+ There's more to Nonomura than meets the eye. If you've watched Keizoku, this is plain as day, and also they never really give an answer to why he requested Toma and Sebumi. Bad plotting, maybe, but does he know why Shimura was "gotten to"? (Geez, "Things I Believe" still works it's way into "Things I Have No Fucking Clue About")

+ I really loved Mirei's character progression, and think she'll be a big player in the SP and film (hopefully, anyway). I also suspect there may have been something going on with her and Sebumi that was cut short by the Shimura's shooting, or at the least, a mutual crush.

+ Sebumi's paper bag and Toma's suitcase - typical of director Tsutsumi Yukihiko, who likes to throw meaningless objects into the mix to make a character three dimensional. Two reasons why: 1 - aesthetically, it anchors a character through a particularly detailed plot and, 2 - because it's a really obvious metaphor. So obvious that I think you're meant to dismiss it. In this case, Toma and Sebumi have baggage. Lots of it. Neither of them are seen with their bags in flashbacks, and it's only when Nonomura gives Sebumi a new paper bag with the guns in it and when Sebumi picks up Toma's suitcase instinctively that you realise that the most obvious metaphors are often the most poignant. (See also: ten years of Trick canon)



+ Toma didn't sow her hand on at the end (although I thought so at first). The stitch marks aren't fresh and are a mostly healed wound, and I think the blunt end of the cast wasn't the stump but a protective case so she doesn't bang it/use it while it's healing/to throw us off the scent. She is, however, a badass for constructing a gun that can fire the way it did, so even if she didn't sow that sucker back on, she got it to move with the power of her goddamn mind. Beatrix Kiddo + Toma Saya = BAMFs.


THINGS I HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE ABOUT




+ Chii and Toma's relationship. Was it all built on lies? Obviously, but. Did he fabricate everything, or just the emotions? Like, did he make up their dates/the proposal etc, or did he just fabricate her falling for him and being in love with him and the events actually happened? This falls in with the question of much did she actually know - she is obviously uncomfortable around him in the hospital, but is that because she can sense he's a creeper? (probably)



+ Why are Sebumi's teeth numbered? This really bugged me.

+ Was Shimura being worked by Unit Zero? Is that what they mean by him being "gotten to"? Or was it all just about Mirei/Sebumi/Toma?



+ Speaking of which. Unit Zero. That makes no fucking sense. How many Tsudas are there? Are they implying Tsuda/Chii is a thousand years old/has been around for a freakin' long time? The scene with the old chess guy and the creepy twins lends to this, as does a lot of Sebumi's conversations with not-Chii!Tsuda. And does this mean "Tsuda" as a figurehead is a concept, and that the "Tsuda" persona (soul?) is thousands of years old? Does it take on a body (in this case, Chii's body) and can then change its face (into the Tsuda face)? AND "TSUDA" SOUNDS LIKE "PSEUDO(NYM)" GUYS MY BRAIN IS BREAKING

+ It's obvious SPECs are memory-related or trigged, building on where Chii said he could have potentially erased Mirei's SPEC if he'd wanted to. This lends to the (discounted-in-real-life-but-is-canon) theory that 90% of our brain is "asleep", and that a traumatic event (Mirei's brother's shooting, the plane crash) is often the key for a person's SPEC to be awoken.

What does this mean for Toma, though? We are never really ever specifically told she has a SPEC, rather we're shown/told she's obscenely gifted in terms of her IQ and her ability to process information. Is this a SPEC or just a high IQ? (I feel like this is where Keizoku and SPEC meet, as Shibata has the same ability to process information like Toma.) She does eat ten times more than most people, so this could be because her brain works more than others and she needs to replenish it? Like Satori and needing to sleep. Hmmm.

+ Is she spiritually/supernaturally connected to Ninomae? When Shimura was finally killed by the trumpet guys, she rubs the back of her ear:



Which makes me think she worked everything out a long time ago and Chii's been removing her memories, and she has been letting him because she always knew she would work it out/had faith in her brain/knew Sebumi and Unsolved Crimes would help in the end.

+ Come to think of it, why wasn't she on the plane that killed her parents? Did that actually happen, or did Tsuda/Chii orchestrate the whole thing, as he knew what the future was and what the Toma kids' SPEC potentials were?

+ Or: is the whole thing dependant on Toma, full-stop?



As in, she's the orchestrator manipulating the manipulative? GUYS.



+ I feel like the scene in the final episode where Chii makes a big deal about the Hayabusa spacecraft calculations is important. Maybe her SPEC is taking other people's talents? Or it's just pointing out her exceptionally good memory? I feel like the fact it was about what time and date it was in the spacecraft means something, too. I don't know, man. I DON'T KNOW.

Which leads to...



+ Did Toma stop time? Or did another Tsuda, the one at the dumpling stand?

And finally:




+ WHO ARE THE TRUMPET GUYS?! WHAT DID NONOMURA SEE WHEN PRAYING OVER NINOMAE? WHY WAS THE DUMPLING SHOP GUY THE TINMAN AT THE END?! WHAT IS GOING ON?!



I'm thinking too hard about this, but I JUST CAN'T LEAVE IT.

Guys. Throw some theories at me before I whip out the Dawson crying gif.

Comments

[theonlytwin.livejournal.com]

IDKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK

i was thinking maybe tsuda/chii is like bees, like, hive minded? there are lots that act independently but have a certain central controlling intelligence? THAT LAST TSUDA WAS THE DUMPLING GUY I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE I WAS ALL REELING FROM THE STUFF. so are they tsuda's all along, or does he inhabit bodies as they become necessary? a tsuda could be inhabiting a person with a spec and take that spec on, i guess?

do they all have the same powers? I HOPE NOT. I REALLY WANT HIM TO BE DEAD. DEAD BY TOOTH AND ALSO TIME FUCKERY WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PERPETUATED BY TOMA (it probably was perpetuated by her, probably?).

i'm interested by the idea that maybe chii and toma never ever did anything as a couple, he just turned up on occasion and gave her happy date memories and lied like a dog. maybe i just want to believe that because i never liked him at all.

on an unrelated note, toma/sebumi is the otp-est of otps. AND NO ONE WILL DENY THIS. what you were saying about how it's their journey together, YES. they learn from each other. such is the power of PARTNERS.

mirei is excellent. everyone else is all spirit of detective and fighting fit, she is an art student and an orphan and she steps up like nobody's business. i love her.

and nonomura, he has hell of secrets. i can't even think about how mildly pathetic and slightly creepy comic relief guy became kind of crucial to everything ever. HE REQUESTED THEM. HOW DID HE REQUEST THEM AND WHEN. when he first said that i thought maybe he was responsible for shimura's whole shoot at my team thing, and sebumi's subsequent demotion. AH WHAT IF?

don't make me watch the original, i already know it will be less good because it won't have sebumi's face.

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I definitely think the Tsudas can take on other bodies - remember when Chii was at the Japanese chess guy's place and he switched from Chii to Tsuda? What if the Tsudas are the "official" face, but the others take on the faces of people out in the real world, like moles? That would make sense for the Chii!Tsuda, as he's a physics teacher?

I think I'm so interested in the Chii/Toma history because if he "made" her do things, that could seriously mess with her head. Part of me wonders if the nice-nailed, pretty makeup Toma was all of his doing, too - in the stalker pictures, she's in that green tracksuit she changes into after getting petrol spilt on her, and her grandma makes a comment about "that child never changes her clothes". I don't know! SO MUCH TO THINK ABOUT.

I wonder why they never explain why Nonomura requested them - maybe it has something to do with his SPEC? He jokingly says he has one, but maybe he does? Maybe it's seeing things in the future, like Reizei?

I've only watched three episodes of the original, and I'm really enjoying it. So far there's NO mention of the supernatural, and I am told there's actual progression with the OTP. They're very Charlie and Dani, too, except if Charlie was an A Grade Creeper. I'll let you know how it goes (told you dramas are a slippery slope...)

[theonlytwin.livejournal.com]

yeah, see, compare the proposal flashback toma to the toma we see with youta and they just don't gel. i kind of think he fictionalised everything, which is so wrong. i can picture toma trying to parse her memories, questioning everything, rationalising it, finding the things that he might have altered to make her want to marry him. she would do it sensibly, but it would be unavoidably distressing.

nonomura seems to have some kind of intuition working in his favour, and i am terribly interested in his backstory and also all the girls called miyabi who seem to love him. is that a spec, getting all the girls called miyabi to love him? anyway, MIGHT HAVE TO WATCH THE ORIGINAL TO CHECK.

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

(Sorry for the delay in replying, I've been away)

The more I think about it, I think he did manufacture his own version of Toma - she may have existed, but I think he must have put the ideas of dressing a certain way etc into her head? Maybe? But I think her overall personality was always there, because of the blank look she gives him when he proposes. And her police badge:



It's in line with the now-Toma, not the flashback Toma. IDK IDK

I finished the original! It's good, and I think you should watch it, even if for the OTP. It's the first show I've watched in a long time where I find the male lead more interesting than the female, so that says something? I kind of need to watch SPEC again just to align them in the same universe, to be honest. And again, the OTP. THE OTP.

[firthgal.livejournal.com]

Damn it, woman, stop tempting me into watching all these Japanese procedurals. Awhile back I tried watching Trick and just couldn't get into it, but I have a feeling that I'd love this one (I watched your vid and enjoyed it, which is what initially enticed me, but now I think I will actually sit down and watch this thing on my next day off).

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

See, i'm learning very quickly that Trick is not for everyone. In fact, I think I maybe one of the few outside of Japan who really enjoyed it! It's not an easy show to watch.

BUT! I think you'd like SPEC, because it's kind of like Life? But more supernatural? They're Charlie and Dani for Japan, I reckon.

Here's some fanart to entice you:


(by claptrap (http://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=35174))

[solesakuma]

They are the OTP of Impossible OTPness. Also - you're forgetting the comatose smack. If that's not love, what is?

And yes, Nonomura is definitely more than meets the eye.

Good observation about the hand :O You know, I hate that telling people 'SH'E SO BAMF THAT SHE SEWS HER HAND!!' is so spoilery.

I think the Tsuda question is the key question. I think it's a sort of hereditary power - and they may be able to steal other people's power. Maybe last Tsuda IS or WAS Ninomae. Or when he kills you, he gets your power. Given how his name is in brackets in the credits, he's unkillable.

And Touma may have figured out way more than us :P

BUT YOUR LAST QUESTIONS. GOD I WANT TO KNOW.

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

(Sorry for the delay in reply, I"ve been away!)

The more I think about, the more I think they're the OTP OF OTPNESS. The two of them have great chemistry, but it's the first time in a long time (especially in k&jdramas) where I can see both the actors are on the same page in regards to their character's progressions and feelings towards the other. I really truly don't understand why there's no fic. Hell, I'd even read fluffy baby fic, that's how much I want some!

THIS re: the hand being so spoilery! That and Chii's creepiness actually having a reason other than being a jerk.

Have you watched the original Keizoku? I suspect the Tsuda question is tied up in that - it's a standard procedural for the most part, but there's a whole thing with swapped bodies and lots of questions about memory and the gates of the underworld and dead people being alive and geez. I need to reconcile the two, stat.

The worst thing is going to be waiting for the film to be released and subbed. FOREVER WAIT D:

[solesakuma]

both the actors are on the same page in regards to their character's progressions and feelings towards the other

That's very, very true. It's very easy to see the progression. Also, I like how the dynamics change in subtle ways but that their inherent... belligerence doesn't go away.

I really truly don't understand why there's no fic.

Yeeees. Besides, it's such a typical fandom pairing, you know? The whole bond being so important and them being so broken and ugh.

Hell, I'd even read fluffy baby fic, that's how much I want some!

I'd watch a season of that. Toma, Sebumi and a Baby. They'd fail so hard.

Or scenes like the proposal, which weirded me out and then it was on purpose.

I haven't watched the original, but I had heard it took a detour towards the supernatural later in its run. It does intrigue me!

OH GOD I KNOW. ;_;

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I like how the dynamics change in subtle ways but that their inherent... belligerence doesn't go away.

Episode five is such a game changer in so many different ways. I didn't realise until watching it again. You get a real sense that Sebumi just shut down after the shooting, and it takes the threat of another aspect of his life being taken away that he finally opens up to her. And I think it's so effecting because she simply says "yes" instead of ribbing him or making it trivial. The belligerance is important (it's still a jdrama/OTP of awesome after all) but you can see they obviously worked hard at making two very broken people still appear hopeful and real.

...god, I'm reading so much into it. BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

My new goal for 2011 is to write SPEC baby fic. That's a sign it's a real, active fandom if there's baby fic, right?!

Watch the original! I'd love to hear your thoughts, as they're similar but completely different at the same time. The main two are wonderful.

[solesakuma]

Yes, totally agreeing with you on that. It's a really well done case of Slap Slap Not Kiss, because you can see the growing respect in their interactions. At first they honestly don't stand each other, but they bond and learn to rely on each other and that's probably the main reason I ship them, that they're too fiercely indepent and mistrustful people who grow closer and learn to trust again.

BUT COME ON. THE CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I'M ONE COMMENT AWAY OF MAKING A FREUDIAN ANALYSIS OR SOMETHING.

Totally. You take the baby fic, I'll do the High School AU.

[solesakuma]

And I'll add the original to my list!

Also, do you mind if I friend you?

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

Not at all, I will friend you too. :)

[firthgal.livejournal.com]

And now I've finished watching the series. SO GOOD, OMG. The first few eps intrigued me, but I didn't get hooked until ep 5, I think, which really delved into the characters and strengthened the bond between Sebumi and Toma. And I loved how the Chief went from this crazy, clueless, perverted old man to an admirable sempai, so much so that I was pretty much bawling when I thought that Ninomae had killed him. And gosh, everything with the Ninomae/Toma story was so well done. My heart was aching for her when she realized that she had just killed her own brother. And oh how I loved the fact that Sebumi refused to forget Toma. He forgot everything but Toma, and that's what Tsuda was specifically trying to make him forget. They were so the OTP of OTPness. Pretty much everything pointed to that halfway through the series. The most notable anvil, I think, was when his sempai told him to settle down with Toma because she suited him so well. Sebumi's just like, "Ugh, kill me now," but he seemed to look at her in a slightly different light after that. Or maybe that was just my imagination, I don't know, but yeah, I'm convinced that Sebumi was devotedly in love with Toma by the end of the series.

Also, I'm with you on the theory that there was something going on between Sebumi and Mirei. I was sure that the show was going to reveal a past between them, but then it didn't, which actually pleased me because I was all about the Toma/Sebumi ship.

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU'D STARTED IT! I'm so, so glad you loved it - episode five is basically where it went from "I'm enjoying this, but. Y'know." to "HOLY SHIT OMG I CAN'T EVEN." <3

There's so much going on, especially with Toma and Sebumi. Her replies of "yes." to anything he asks of her (...you know what I mean, not in a creepy way, natch), instead of a verbose off-the-wall comment sums them up perfectly. I could watch the scene where they're looking over Tokyo together over and over - and the bit in the finale where she remembers him and the music swells and ugh.

The scene where his sempai tells him to settle down? There's basically the exact scene in the original scene. I love stuff like that, so hard. I can't believe there's not a fandom for it, or the original series. It's just bizarre. They're all such good characters, and the series' are both written so well.

I knew you'd see the Mirei/Sebumi thing. Even though he's 36 and she's 19, I just...there's something there. WHY ISN'T THERE FIC?!

[sainomadelaine.livejournal.com]

HEY! Someone posted these magazine scans about the movies over at d-addicts:

http://imgur.com/vHZe7

[sainomadelaine.livejournal.com]

By the way, holy crap!

http://warmboys.livejournal.com/52699.html

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I...Ohmigod.

DOES THIS MEAN THE FANDOM IS GROWING?!

[warmboys.livejournal.com]

Wow. This is AMAZING. I hope you don't mind that I stalked you here... lolol. YOU ARE AMAZING.

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT SPEC OKAY, and just want EVERYONE to watch it immediately.

(I'm going to friend you, if that's okay? :)

[warmboys.livejournal.com]

Clearly your feelings are a lot more productive than most other people's :D And yes! I was going to ask the same thing. Um, I use this journal mostly to post K-pop fic, but my personal LJ is at pregnantcigar if you don't mind the occasional RL rant ><;;

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

I shall friend both :)

[piecesofalice.livejournal.com]

also:

YOU WRITE RUNNING MAN FIC.

omfg ilu <3