Valar Morghulis

Valar dohaeris.

Finally got to use my broad paintbrush once again

I'm heading out of town tomorrow with my backpack (and my co-workers) so no painting and baking for me for the next two weeks. Yikes.

TV Series: Otomen

I recently finished a Japanese drama called OTOMEN. I've been meaning to watch it long ago but never got the chance. It's based on a manga of the same name. I've also been meaning to read the manga but I never had the time.

Anyway, look at this! When I was in Japan, my orgmate Stychen brought me to a manga shop in Shibuya. I practically drowned and was too overwhelmed that I didn't even look at anything! I can read katakana but with this much, I get too lazy to read the titles! Instead I just took a few photos. When I got home and browsed my pictures, I noticed that this one reads "Otomen". What a coincidence, huh? :))

You see, the reason why I want to watch/read Otomen lies in the synopsis. Masamune Asuka is a school idol. He is kind, handsome, intelligent and is the school's kendo team captain. However, he also likes girly things like sewing, crochet, cooking, baking and shoujo manga (girls' comics) and he has to hide these hobbies because a Japanese boy is expected to be very masculine. Meanwhile, Miyakozuka Ryo is a girl who can't sew, bake or cook. She is also kind but is very boyish. Compatible much, huh? And as I usually say "there goes a love story".

The title "Otomen" comes from the Japanese word "otome" which means "young lady" and the English word "men"

Well, a little cliche but isn't that so cute? I mean, come on, who doesn't like a handsome, intelligent and sporty guy? What more, he sews, crochets, cooks, bakes and reads shoujo manga (hey, those are practically my hobbies!) Yes, it's fictional but that's what makes it so enticing to watch/read (and besides, it's not like you can find a real human guy like Masamune Asuka anyway haha).

Okada Masaki and Kimura Ryo holding Otomen manga

My other motivation to watch the drama is the actor who plays Masamune Asuka: Okada Masaki. I've always found him to be adorable since I saw him in HanaKimi (one of my favorite shoujo manga-turned-TV drama) where he played Sekime Kyogo.

I especially love Okada Masaki's jawline (LOL)

Isn't he adorable? Whether he's in school uniform, in kendo uniform, in a girl's kimono or casual clothes, he's so cute... or rather, pretty.

Aaaaaand when I finally watched the drama, I could not stop gushing. Super kilig forever! I feel like I'll get an imaginary nosebleed everytime. Everyone and everything is just too cute and too funny. It's definitely lives up to the "romantic comedy" genre. And while there are a lot of parody references to Japanese culture, I think even non-Japanese will find this drama funny. The plot is also pretty light and not too serious, which I like because I'm watching this for leisure after all.

Kendo club members

Boys in kimono hahaha

And if that isn't enough to make you watch Otomen, here's a lineup of more adorable people:

Kimura Ryo plays Tonomine Hajime, Asuka's rival. His character in Otomen is really cute. And I still can't believe that he's the same actor who played Senri Nakao in HanaKimi. His character was really different there. Apparently, he also played some role in Nodame Cantabile (also one of my favorite manga-turned-TV drama).

Seto Koji plays Ariake Yamato, one of Asuka's lowerclassman in the kendo team. I've seen him in Runway Beat where he played Mizorogi Biito.

He's cute like that.

He's pretty like that

Sano Kazuma plays Tachibana Juta, Asuka's bestfriend. It's my first time seeing this actor. (I like his tan haha.)

that smile

Sometimes I wonder why Japanese boys are always prettier than me. And I don't think it's just the actors. I've seen lots of prettier-than-me boys in Tokyo.

Otomen's version of F4 (haha)

Anyway, they're not just adorable. They're also pretty good at acting! You'll be sure to laugh and swoon all the time.

TV Series: Once Upon A Time

Romance, beautiful costumes, swords, capes, bows and arrows, stone huts, chimneys, windmills, forests, horse-driven carriages, castles, faerie dust, etc. I like fairy tales. (One of my friends told me that I'm such a romantic... I told him, "Yeah, hopeless romantic!" LOL.)

But I like "reinvented" fairy tales more. (I'm not sure if "reinvented" is the right word to use but oh well.) You know those that target adults instead of children, those that present a little more serious conflict but are still very romantic. Think The Princess Bride or Stardust.

Once Upon A Time is no exception. My friend introduced the TV series to me last February and I've been watching it since then. So far, there are 19 episodes (out of 22 scheduled for the first season).

The story goes like this: all the fairy tale characters live in one magical world but because of the Evil Queen's curse, everyone is transported to present (modern) time and forgets his/her real identity. Of course, the challenge is how the characters are going to remember their true selves and how they can break the Evil Queen's curse.

What's to love? Aside from an interesting plot and beautiful settings, the show also has A LOT of adorable actors.

Josh Dallas is the Prince Charming you'd expect: blonde hair and blue eyes.
But heh, at least he lives up to his name. He's sooooooo charming!

He was also in Thor! He portrayed one of Thor's friends.

Jamie Dornan (this snapshot does not do justice)

Eion Bailey

He may not look adorable at first but eventually, you'll see it.

Greyston Holt

Jesse Hutch and his adorable smile (and jaw).

Sebastian Stan (He also portrayed Captain America's bestfriend!)

And it's not just the male actors.

Ginnifer Goodwin is Snow White. She's super pretty and she rocks that pixie cut, don't you think?

Except for Snow White and Prince Charming, I didn't mention the names of the characters (just the actors) because one thing about this TV series is that it will always have you thinking "Who's this character? Who's that character? Who's his/her fairy tale counterpart? Who's his/her modern time counterpart?"

Now who doesn't like fairy tales?