Paradise Kiss ep.7

November 26, 2005 | 16 Comments

The animation seems to be quite good just like last week and that's a good thing. This, episode, however, made me notice that the soundtrack in this show is quite lacking. When there is any, it's usually in the form of Jazz that is used in sleazy soft-core flick instead of the good quality Jazz. Oh well, I supposed I can't have it all with this one. By the way, when you watch this episode, do not skip the ending because after the ending, there are flashes of what looks like a group of people dressing up like Yukari, George, and Miwako. They even have the prototype Butterfly ring on display in that sequence. It's quite amusing to look at and made me realise how prior to this episode, I usually dismiss this particular section.

The episode opens with George being scolded by his teacher, Hamada-sensei, because he uses a car park area designated for teachers of the Yazawa Arts. She also wants to know if George is prepared for the show but he simply tells her that he's working hard towards it. Later on, George meets Isabella and Miwako and attempts to smooth-talk the two of them. He even propositions a blushing Miwako by telling her that if she's interested, he's available anytime, anywhere, in that 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink' kind of way. Arashi appears just in the nick of time to ask George to get his perverted self away from Miwako. Upon spotting Arashi, George gives Arashi's apartment key back to Arashi, causing the guy to wonder if Yukari has returned home. George denies this and tells everyone that from now on Yukari is living with him. Miwako immediately exclaims that George is Ecchi.

Cut to a shot of Yukari waking up inside George's lavish apartment. Yukari then proceeds to take a bath in his luxurious bathroom and wears the expensive dress ands shoes that George made. As Yukari puts the dress on, she wonders why every clothes that George made fits her perfectly. Before she can think further, however, her stomach is grumbling so she goes towards the kitchen and is surprised to find a plate of neatly arranged sandwiches, salad, and mash potatoes. Yukari thinks that George is nice but wishes that he'll come back soon and she begins to cry just thinking about it. Thankfully she quickly snaps herself out of it and orders herself to not fall into melodrama and achieves things on her own. Meanwhile outside Yazawa Art School, Miwako wonders why Arashi is grumpy and quiet today. Arashi claims that after 18 years of being together there's not much left to talk about.

Later on inside Atelier, Yukari expresses her disappointment in being unable to get a part time job. Her concern, however, quickly changes to Miwako who apparently suffers from another bout of indigestion. Yukari clues in to the possibility that Miwako is probably upset about something. While this happens, George makes an accessory for the show and that accessory turns out to be a ring in the shape of a butterfly. Yukari quickly becomes attached to the ring and refuses to remove it from her finger even after George tells her that it is meant to be for the show. However, when Yukari sees George quietly sewing next to her, she can't help but thinking that all of these look like a beautiful dream. She then decides to return the ring and go to bed, leaving the door opens a bit so that George will come inside soon. During her sleep, Yukari has a dream about failing her exam and upsetting her mother.

Yukari eventually wakes up in the middle of the night and realises that the whole thing was a dream. She then notices that George already falls asleep next to her. She thinks about how this also looks like a dream but then notices a smaller version of the butterfly ring on her finger. It looks like George has decided to make another version for her. The next day Yukari meets up with Mikako to talk about the possibility of doing some more modelling. She tells Mikako that she tried to look on her own but hasn't been successful so far. Because of this, Mikako decides to refer Yukari to a friend's modelling agency. After a quick phone call, she manages to get an appointment for Yukari to meet the leader of the agency. Unfortunately, Mikako can't accompany Yukari to the place so Yukari is a bit worried about failing to get the job. Mikako, however, assures Yukari that she will get this job if she does her best.

As the two leave the restaurant, Mikako wonders about the brand of the dress that Yukari wears. Yukari tells Miwako that George made it. Miwako admires the dress and comments how George is indeed her future rival dressmaker. After the two part ways, Yukari goes to the modelling agency. On her way up to meet the agency's leader, she remembers how earlier that day George allowed her access to his dress wardrobe and asked her to choose any dress she wants to wear. Anyway, Yukari eventually meets the agency's leader, Shimamoto. Yukari quickly asks Shimamoto if her 170cm height is enough to be a model. Shimamoto assures her that her height is fine and similar to her other models. Yukari is relieved to hear this because prior to this Shimamoto made a comment about her being small. Shimamoto laughs upon hearing this and thinks that Yukari is amusing. Nevertheless, Shimamoto promises Yukari that she will certainly become a top model.

Impression:

When Yukari wondered why the clothes that George made always fits/looks good on her, I can't help but thinking that maybe it's because George likes dressing up dolls and to him Yukari is like one giant doll. At the same time, there is that scene where he kindly gives her a smaller version of the butterfly ring just because she likes it so much. But when I really think about it, this is probably why I don't like George as a character. He seems to be one of those people who provide material needs instead of emotional needs. Even his apartment has a cold and sanitised emotion emanating out of it. I think that to a certain extent, a person's apartment/house reflects the personality of that person and unfortunately, I get the impression that George is a rather cold and arrogant individual.

In fact, there seems to be a shortage of good male character in this series since Arashi has also become a bit of a jerk as well lately. The only nice male character left is actually Hiro but the problem is, he's just a supporting character in this series so his screen time is limited. Anyway, moving on to another topic, it's nice to see Yukari finally getting ahead in her career although it's a bit disheartening to see her getting the job through connections. I guess it can't be helped that most of the time the best jobs are obtained through people that you know. But sometimes I can't help but wonder if it's possible to get good jobs because you are good enough and not because someone refers you to it. I guess when it comes down to it, I feel that if I get a job through a person, I will always feel that I don't really deserve the job. I will also think that it's not my ability that they like but instead my own association with a person that they know.

© memento 2003