8/19/2007 - [Dorama] Hana Yori Dango 2
Aired: January 5 - March 16, 2007
Viewership: 21.7%
Duration: 11 Episodes
Starring: Inoue Mao (井上真央) (lead) as Makino Tsukushi (牧野 つくし)
Matsumoto Jun (松本潤) (lead) as Domyouji Tsukasa (道明寺 司)
Oguri Shun (小栗旬) as Hanazawa Rui (花沢 類)
Matsuda Shota (松田 翔太) as Nishikada Soujiroh (西門 総二郎)
and Abe Tsuyoshi (阿部 力)as Mimakasa Akira (美作 あきら)
Other notable actors in series: Matsushima Nanako (松嶋菜々子), Nishihara Aki (西原 亜希)
Synopsis: It's been a year since the conclusion of Hana Yori Dango and Makino hasn't spoken to Domyouji for months now. Their relationship had been going well at first but abruptly Domyouji stops answering her calls and has cut off all contact with Makino for no known reason. Getting increasingly frustrated and confused at this, Makino goes to New York (courtesy of her father winning tickets at work) to confront him. Instead she runs into the rest of the F4 gang and then finally meets Domyouji to see he has changed completely--her childish tactics have no effect on him anymore. Makino returns to Japan expecting to never see him again and attempts to forget about him when suddenly she is invited to his birthday day by his mother. Surprised but cheerful, she attends only to find that the party is used to announce his engagement to another woman. As his mother's evil scheme unfolds, the story begins and great love tangle unfolds.
!! WARNING: REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS !!
Review: Ah, sequels are always such a gamble. It is hit or miss--absolutely great or a horrible, unnecessary addition. You never really run across one that you think "Oh, well it was about as good as the first." It's just never the same, right?
Right. I was really excited for this series because I loved the first one. It seemed like everything was right about the first one and it was done with flair, especially for a manga adaptation (even though I've never read the manga).
The first episode was really good for me. Makino was typically overwhelmed being in New York and thinking that everyone looked like some movie star or other, it was cute. It was also a nice touch to have Hanazawa come to her rescue (once again) even though it was pretty unrealistic I admit.. Either way, it was entertaining. However, I think the scene that got me most intrigued was when Makino attempts to knock out Domyouji again as they fight and he dodges it. "I don't have time for child's play" he says as she lies on the floor after her deflected punch and he walks away. I got really excited thinking "Oh wow! This is going to be really interesting, a total spin from the first!" Not to mention he looked really, well, cool is the only word for it.
Then.. down the drain. It was late, I was intending to sleep right after the first one but I just couldn't wait so I immediately watched the second one.. and third.. and fourth.. each time getting a little less interested. What was the big problem?
Makino got hella annoying. REALLY annoying. What did they do to her character? They took away so much of her fire, her passion, her personality.. and made her into this two dimensional figure that was more of a bunch of traits rather than a strongly developed character. It was rather like watching a carefully constructed sand castle be kicked to the ground by some punk kid. I don't know who that kid would be symbolically, but I'm just saying they took a lot away from her character.
But. They managed to do one thing again.. they managed to confuse us once more. Confuse us with emotions. Everyone knows Makino and Domyouji are supposed to be together right? But then they introduce us to Shigeru, Domyouji's betrothed, and as the "other woman" she is nothing like she should be! I found her charming and likable, which was interesting since she was, after all, the "other woman." It felt like you wanted Shigeru to win but at the same time.. what about Domyouji and his feelings for Makino? Confusing indeed. Throw in Rui and his feelings for Makino.. and it got even worse. Rui is amazing, ne? He's always been there for her and even stands up to Domyouji in his attempt to be with her. He is someone who has always cared for her and always done everything in his power to help her.
Then after going through a number of so-so episodes, you get to the best parts (towards the end) where Domyouji is finally able to step up to his feelings and things are starting to unravel and his intentions are revealed. As it starts getting good though, ANOTHER girl comes into the picture at the last minute and even in her first scene my head was screaming "No! It's too late for her, it's too late for another huge complication because it would be a watered down way to complicate and show Makino and Domyouji's love for each other!" Yes, yes I knew from the beginning she would be just another complication and you know what? She was the worst character ever. And I mean ever. Even her little redemption bit at the end, I think it would have been better without it. I hated her. A lot. Not even as a character, but as an actor. She pushed all the wrong buttons, I think her part was a big mistake in the series.
Somehow.. I feel the end was a little too much. Too happy go lucky. Why is everyone there from before? And they are all there just to congratulate the couple? Not likely! It was just too much. And of course they went back to the old stand-by of sequels.. way too many references to the original! I mean, she completely re-did scenes from the first to jog his memories so he would remember her.. that's a pretty easy way to recapture the magic -_-
Ah, this whole season was a bit too much for me in the end. The best performances came from Matsujun, Matsuda Shota, Oguri Shun, and Kato Natsuki (Shigeru). From the first season that was more toned down and spoke through the characters more than the plot, this one was completely plot driven.
Favorite Scene(s):
1) This is the ultimate scene: the one where Yuki shows Soujiroh what he missed one year ago at 6 AM. It was such a great gimick (yes, it was pretty sappy you know) but all the same, it was something I'd never think of. Also, it was the climax of the whole side story to Soujiroh. I feel the side story was one of the things that makes this series worth watching, Soujiroh was always one of the best characters.
2) I liked the scenes where Hanazawa Rui is playing the violin. It just looked really elegant, amazing.
Rating:  /5
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