Paradise Kiss ep.2

October 21, 2005 | 12 Comments

Well, I think the animation is still all over the place and not as good as the original. But I am quite used to it by now and besides, the storyline starts to become interesting. So I think I am just going to enjoy the series based on its storyline. Unless, of course, the animation becomes worse than it currently is at the moment. Anyway, storyline-wise, this episode contains some conversation and thoughts that I can relate quite well. I also think that at this point, the story reaches the part where everyone brings the best in each other and tries to help one another. So on a personal level, I enjoyed this episode a lot more than the first episode. Having said that, signs of George's erratic behaviour has begin to surface here. It'll be interesting to see how the anime handles this in comparison to the manga.

The episode begins with Miwako suggesting that they buy some fabrics for the dress they're about to make. George, however, thinks it's better if they find a model first before buying the fabrics so he goes off to find one. This surprises Miwako who thinks that they're going to wait for Yukari's answer. Arashi, however, informs her that he doubts Yukari will do it. Isabella also adds that George is not the sort of guy who will wait 3 days for a model to make up her mind. True enough, George suddenly shows up in a library that Yukari uses to study and sits in front of her. Strangely not long after this, he moves to a different table and let Yukari gets on with her study. Speaking of study, did anyone else notice what Yukari was studying? On a glance, it looks like Yukari is studying English but the opposite page contains notes on Arithmetic subject.

A few hours later, however, Yukari realises that George has left his table. But as she leaves the library, she finds out that he has simply has sit outside under a leafy tree. Yukari decides to bring some her lunch and asks George if she can join him. Speaking of lunch, it looks like Osama Kobayashi wants to remind all ParaKiss viewer to check out his earlier directorial attempt, titled Beck. Well, so much for subtlety. Anyway, Yukari wonders if there's some kind of an exam that one needs in order to become a designer. When George tells her that you don't need to go through an exam in order to become a designer, Yukari wonders how he'll become one. It turns out George simply believes that if one perseveres in what he/she wants to do, one day the road will open for that person. Upon hearing this Yukari admits that she envies George.

Yukari believes that she doesn't have that kind of dream and thinks that her trying to pass school's examination is just her way of going with the flow. But the truth is, she doesn't like studying and wants to do what she wishes to do with her life. Unfortunately, she's not sure how she will react if someone asks her what she wants to do in life. Upon saying this, Yukari apologises to George for complaining about her life to him. George, however, tells her that she shouldn't apologise for telling him her life. Yukari is touched to hear this and proceeds to excuse herself after telling George that she is still considering the offer to become their model. Yukari then runs away from George to ensure that he doesn't see her crying. As she runs, she tells herself that before this, she thought no one will listen to her problem but she now realises that George is different.

The next day Yukari decides to get more information about the modelling gig from the ParaKiss guys so she decides to visit Atelier. Yukari, however, is shocked when she enters Atelier and finds Miwako and Arashi in compromising situation. Later on when Yukari and Miwako goes out together to buy some tea, Yukari finds out that Miwako and Arashi were actually childhood friends turn into lovers. She's amazed about it since she doesn't have a boyfriend. Miwako is surprised to hear this and asks about "Hiro-kun", referring to the guy whose picture is in Yukari's pocketbook. Yukari tells Miwako that there's nothing going on between her and Hiro but now she wants to know how Miwako knows Hiro. Because of this Miwako explains that when she was a child, she, Arashi, and Hiro were friends. However, Miwako got separated from Hiro when she moved in with her sister.

Yukari notes that Miwako looks sad every time she says something about Hiro. Having said that she thinks it's inevitable that once someone moves to a different school/place, no matter how close that person is to his/her friends, they'll eventually become strangers. Anyway, the next day Yukari decides to accept the group's offer to become their model so the others decide to celebrate by holding a big banquet for Yukari. Yukari then proceeds to show her big appetite by gorging the food. She also gulps a large amount of drinks without realising their alcohol level and ends up passing out. When Yukari wakes up, the evening has turned into night so George decides to take her home. As he leaves her in front of her house, however, George closes in on her, causing Yukari to think that he's about to kiss her. But much to Yukari's disappointment, it turns out he only wants to get rid of the lipstick in her mouth.

Impression:

I felt a bit depressed when I heard Yukari saying no matter how close you are with a friend, once you live in different places, you start to become stranger with them. I really hope that this is not the case but I do wonder sometimes if some of the friends that I have in different parts of the world have become strangers to me and vice versa. That is probably not true because we still talk quite a lot using various methods such as email and messenger but I can't help but realising that they're living a different life where I have no involvement in it. In a way, wouldn't that mean that they are strangers? They obviously can't tell me every single thing that happens in their life and I can't do so either now because of the physical distance between us. It makes me wonder if with time, we will start to forget about each other. It's a depressing thought which I hope won't turned out to be true.

The other nice part about this episode is the conversation between George and Yukari about their future. I think this has been covered rather well by Honey and Clover but it's nice to see another variation of it in this series. I agree with Yukari that if I know what I want and if I like what I do then I'd most likely give 110 percent into whatever job I'm doing. The problem is finding out what I want to do and achieving that objective. I also like how Yukari realises that this is the first time someone is willing to listen to her problem. It's quite an overwhelming feeling to be able to find people like this. Unfortunately, the probability of meeting people who are willing to sincerely listen to your problem is quite rare. Unless, of course, you pay a counsellor to do the job. But what's the point of doing this when the person who listens to your problem does not even care about you?

© memento 2003