Honey and Clover Drama ep.04

February 9, 2008 | 11 Comments

I actually fell asleep not once but three times while trying to watch this episode. I think the adaptation has lost its appeal for me. I'm disappointed with the way the whole thing feels all over the place. In addition to this, they keep adding new situations which are neither funny nor interesting. I've lost any interest to watch the next episode except that I'm kind of interested to see how they handle Takemoto's journey later on in the story. I guess I'm hoping that there'll be some fantastic Japan outdoor scenery to see. Storyline-wise, though, I'm worried what might be in store. On the other hand, this episode made me realized that I do lose my interest in something quite easily. It's hard not to feel this way though, especially since this is an adaptation of my favorite series. Unfortunately, this situation is true for most manga/anime to live-action adaptation. I think the only exception to this is Nodame Cantabile live-action, which was closer to the spirit of the manga and is superior to the anime adaptation.

Takemoto narrates that ever since that day, Hagu has tried to hide her feelings for Morita. As for Takemoto, he's reached a new level of pathetic and is now dressed as a reindeer. His appearance, however, is not convincing so he ends up getting pummelled by children. The children eventually flees after being scared by Yamada. Hagu, who feels sorry for the reindeer (as opposed to Takemoto) wonders why they beat up the cute reindeer. Upon hearing this Takemoto wishes that he's actually a reindeer. His daydream is interrupted by the arrival of Yamada's father and his posse. They are unhappy that this year's Christmas costume looks ridiculous. Yamada reveals that the designer was Morita, causing the later to be in conflict with the Hamadayama shop owners again. Takemoto tries to separate the two but he ends up getting beaten up by them instead. In his attempt to run away, Takemoto hits a bike carrying some expensive liquor. As a result, he gets charged with 80,000 Yen bill (around $800) forcing him to look for part-time job.

Everyone then complains that they are hungry. Thankfully Mayama arrives and tells them that he'll treat them to Chinese food. Everyone gets to re-enact the "Mayama, suki!" scene from the anime but this one is really awkward and stilted. Later on, Takemoto gets screwed by fate, somehow. Even though he ordered rice, he instead gets ice-cream. Morita thinks that Takemoto should have ordered "gohan" (Japanese word for rice) instead of saying "rice". Takemoto is not plussed to hear this because his other meal is Mabu Tofu (soft tofu with spcy meat sauce), which obviously doesn't go well with ice-cream. Hagu claims that spicy and sweet might go well together and Takemoto immediately agrees and gives it a try. Eventually he likes the combination that he keeps repeating it, annoying everyone and forcing them to ask him to shut up. Later on, Mayama asks Yamada if he can borrow one of her pottery to his office. Because of this, Yamada uses the opportunity to ask if Mayama is busy in his new work and has to work during Christmas.

Meanwhile, Morita scolds Hagu because she didn't enter a competition that he entered. It appears that he entered the competition to avenge his previous loss to Hagumi. Busybody Takemoto immediately defends Hagu, claiming that it's okay since Morita gets the main prize. Morita counters him by saying that he doesn't care about the prize. Later on that night, Hagu seems to have problem painting anything on the canvas. At the same time, the guys are outside decorating Christmas tree but since Morita is an idiot in this version, he decorates the tree with paper wish. Takemoto reminds him that this is not Tanabata festival but Morita ignores him. When Morita shows off the watch he got last year, Takemoto reminds him that he broke Takemoto's watch so Takemoto wants a replacement. Morita tells him that he only has to wish for it so Takemoto repeats the fact that he hasn't received anything. Morita assumes that this is because Takemoto doesn't believe in Santa. Takemoto even admits that ever since he was a kid, he dislikes Christmas.

Meanwhile, Shuuji is being scolded by a teacher because Hagu didn't participate in the competition. The convo is interrupted when Rika appears to borrow some books. After seeing Hagum unable to paint anything on the canvas, Shuuji tells Rika that was the first time he saw Hagumi not being able to draw anything. Having said that, he thinks it's a good experience for her and partly why he brought her out of Nagano. On their way, Shuuji and Rika see a bunch of uni students goofing around. This causes them to remember their own time with Harada. Elsewhere, Ayu decides to thank Morita (for throwing Mayama to her) by sprinkling him with a bunch of dry leaf. Their conversation is cut short when Morita's artwork dealer comes over. Before he left, Morita tells Yamada that even if he's not around, she has to practice throwing herself to Mayama. Later on, Morita is reminded by the art dealer that he needs to be at the Museum of Contemporary Arts on the 25th of December. In response, Morita asks the guy if he can eat nice Takoyaki in New York.

Back to Takemoto, he now looks like a deer caught in headlight when he sees Hagu wearing Santa outfit while helping Yamada selling cakes. Yamada's father tells him that he should not be working part-time on Christmas' eve like this. Takemoto responds by assuring him not to worry since he has no plan today and tomorrow. This causes Yamada's father to advise him not to sound so old when he's still young. Inside the Fujiwara design office, Miwako is pleased with the potteries that Yamada made to the point that he asks Mayama if Yamada is available to help with their work. Nomiya immediately asks if the person in question is a guy or a girl. Meanwhile, Yamada and Hagu are still selling Christmas cake when they see Shouda-sensei looking depressed. It looks like his son has written a letter to Santa, asking for a new father as a present. After Shouda-sensei left, Yamada gets a phone call from Mayama asking her if she can meet him tomorrow evening. Yamada agrees although a bit disappointed when he asks her to meet his boss at the office.

That night, Takemoto and Mayama are in the middle of watching TV when they realise that Morita has sneaked in behind a weather reporter while holding a "Merry Christmas" signage. After turning off TV, the two end up talking about happiness. Mayama believes that the truth is, people who look happy are usually those who try their best or those who stretched out their hands even if something seems unreachable. Takemoto wonders about this but when he reaches the Christmas tree, he decides to write "Tokei" (a watch/a clock) as his Christmas wish. That night, Takemoto is awaken by the sound of someone opening the door to his room and upon seeing the figure, he thinks it's Santa Clause. As it turns out, however, the guy is just Lohmeyer-senpai. *sigh* And I thought we finally get an episode without him. Anyway, the "Tokei" that Lohmeyer brings is actually a wall clock instead of a normal watch. And since Lohmeyer is clearly a dumbass in this one, he actually tries to fit the clock inside a small sock. He then runs away when he realizes that Takemoto is awake.

Inside Fujiwara design, Nomiya bitches when a woman was excited after she got a bag as a Christmas present. Miwako points out that maybe it's not the present that matters but rather, the thought that goes into it. Meanwhile, Takemoto is still helping out Yamada's father with liquor delivery. They arrive at a Karaoke parlor where Shouda-sensei can be seen singing on his own. Later on inside the car, Yamada's father tells Takemoto that Christmas and Karaoke are kind of similar in that one has no choice but to enjoy oneself. Back at the uni, Hagu is still having creativity block while Morita decides to sign a contract with the art dealer. Across the city, Mayama buys a ring, inadvertently forgetting his meeting with Yamada, who has now arrived at Fujiwara design company. As for Takemoto, he's surprised when Yamada's father actually gives him a payment for his part-time job (which was intended to pay his debt for breaking the liquor). Takemoto tells himself that he didn't like Christmas. He feels that his heart is in pain everytime he sees people looking happy.

It makes him wonder: "Are you happy right now?", "Is there a place for you?". He wanted to ask: "If I gather my courage and sing, would the world change?", "Would Hagu laugh at my tone-deaf voice?". In the end, Takemoto decides to buy white gloves as a present for Hagu. Speaking of Hagu, she finally overhears the old teacher asking what would Hagu do if she can't make reach the deadline for the next competition. Because Shuuji keeps defending Hagu, the teacher demands that he stops spoiling her. In response, Shuuji tells the teacher that he's not spoiling her but he believes that one needs to break the wall in one's heart on his/her own accord. At the same time, Hagu decides to visit Morita but instead of seeing him there, she sees the date where Morita should appear the museum. Takemoto then arrives and tries to give his present to Hagu but chicken out at the last second. After Hagu left, Takemoto remarks that the thing that he hates about Christmas are the sparkling neon light and the cheerful Christmas song.

Takemoto then laments his inability to confess his feelings and to give present to the person that he likes. As long as he's afraid of confronting his cowardly self, he would continue to say that he hates Christmas. Meanwhile, Yamada braves herself and asks Miwako where Mayama sits. Upon finding out about this, she puts down an energy drink and a present for him. She, however, asks them not to mistake the gesture since they're "just friends". At the same time, Mayama is disappointed to know that Rika is not in her apartment. Before he can leave the place, however, he meets Rika on the street. Rika congratulates him for getting the new job and asks him to do his best. In response Mayama tells her that he'd definitely do his best for the sake of returning here. He believes he definitely will return to her side. After Mayama left, Rika realizes that he has left a present in front of her door. On the other side of the city, Hagu runs to the Museum of Contemporary Arts and finds Morita still in there. When he sees her, Morita asks Hagu why she hasn't been drawing lately.

In response, Hagu tells Morita that he is the reason why she hasn't been drawing. From the beginning, she has tried to get rid of Morita from her mind. But no matter how many times she tries to forget about him, he won't disappear. It doesn't matter if she closes her eyes or cover her ears or on her own, she always think of Morita. This is why she finally decides to confront her feelings. If she's afraid and keeps running away, things will stay as it is now and she won't be able to draw. Because of this, she decides to tell Morita that she likes him. In response, Morita tells her that in the near future, he only has himself in his mind. Because of this, he just encourages her to do better at her painting. He wants her to once again become the painter who can move his heart. He then concludes his speech by saying that they'll always be rival. The next day, Takemoto wakes up feeling cold only to realize that someone has entered his room and placed something inside his sock. When he checks the sock, there is a watch and a message from Morita saying that he's off to New York.

Takemoto immediately runs out to stop Morita from leaving. After running around a few blocks, he eventually finds the guy about to board an airport bus. Although he seems happy to see Takemoto, Morita becomes unresponsive when Takemoto asks him what about Hagu's feelings. He just hugs Takemoto and tells him that they will meet again. Because of this, Takemoto runs back to Hagu to tell her that she can still make it to the airport. Hagu, however, tells him that she wants Morita to go to America and do his best there. Takemoto realizes that the thing that Morita left for Hagu was himself, the guy who, no matter how long he's been by her side or how hard he tries, would never be in her mind. Like a jewel that doesn't shine and a cake that doesn't taste sweet. Although Hagu probably has started to accept this fact, Takemoto thinks it'd have been better if she had been depressed or crying and ask Morita not to go.

Impression:

The "Mayama, Suki!!" scene wasn't that funny and actually made me miss the original scene. This as well as the entire Christmas story were actually copied from episode 9 of the anime, which was one of the best episodes in the series. The difference is that in that episode, Takemoto gets a sense of achievement after helping Hagu and Yamada with their job. While he used to hate Christmas, he no longer feels that way. In this adaptation, however, Takemoto doesn't get that sense of achievement. If anything, he just feel like a big loser all over again because he doesn't have the courage to tell Hagu what he wants to say. Episode 9 of the anime was also touching because that was the episode where Takemoto realizes that this will be the last Christmas the 5 of them spend together. This has a lot of meaning for the upcoming storyline but is completely skipped over here. Instead, Morita actually leave for New York one day after Christmas. And my dislike for Narimiya Hiroki has reached an unbelievable level. This guy somehow manages to turn Morita into an unpleasant and boring character. Oh well, I guess that's an achievement on its own.

On the positive side, I really like the actor who plays Shuuji. I think he has a lot of chemistry with the actor who plays Rika. This, however, makes one wonders if the whole Rika/Mayama storyline will play out. I just don't see any chemistry between Mayama and Rika here. Although to be honest, I don't really like Mayama/Rika pairing in the original story. If I remember correctly, there's no romantic pairing in this series that I like. I thought Morita and Yamada have a nice friendship vibe which could turn into romance but unfortunately the author decided not to go that way. Overall, I think Honey and Clover works better as a friendship and self-development story than it does as a romance. This is because the series is more about failed romance and what a person decides to do in the aftermath. Yamada chooses to hang around and feel miserable while Takemoto decides to move on with his life, realizing that although his love wasn't reciprocated, he gained something else in the process. It's remained to be seen if this live-action adaptation will do the same thing.

It looks like they decide to introduce Takemoto's stepfather, Kazuo, in the next episode. Kazuo's interaction with other characters worry me though. The writers do not seem willing to explore Takemoto's character without the presence of other main characters even though that's the point of the entire series. While Takemoto cares about his friends, there are times when he needs to be by himself and sort himself out. It's also a prelude to their separation later on in the story. After all, nothing last forever and while it'd be nice to see this group of friends going on and on with their adventure, in reality people move on. One thing that sets Honey and Clover apart from other series is that it reflects life and the bitter-sweet experience that comes with it. Just like people in real life have to bid goodbye to friends and relatives due to work that takes them elsewhere, this series shows that there will be times when Takemoto will be on his own or meet a whole new set of people. I really hope that when this adaptation gets to the point of Takemoto's self-discovery journey, the writers will have the guts to not bring the other characters with him. That would defeat the idea of 'self-discovery journey'. Show them in Tokyo worrying about Takemoto but there's no need to involve them in Takemoto's jorney.

© memento 2003