Paradise Kiss ep.8

December 2, 2005 | 5 Comments

If the episode count is correct, then it means there are only four more episodes to cover 2 volumes worth of stories. I hope the writers won't botch these last four because the last two volumes of the story is actually the part that makes this series memorable. I also wish that there are a good amount of budget reserved for these four episodes so that the animators can give them proper treatment. Anyway, I know that I've been harsh with this adaptation so far but I can't really pretend that I like something unless I really do like what I see/read/hear. And while I don't think this adaptation is bad by any means of the word, I think there are many ways in which it could be improved. Oh well, let's just hope that the last four episodes will be the best that this adaptation has to offer.

This episode itself begins with Yukari telling her friends that she needs her parents' permission in order to become a model. Upon hearing this, Isabella suggests that she could pretend to be Yukari's mother but everyone thinks that this is one bad idea. Arashi, on the other hand, gets straight to the point and tells Yukari that if she really wants to become a model she should just return home. He thinks that if Yukari talks to her mother a bit more, her mother will probably listen. Yukari tells the others that she will think about it. Later on that night, Arashi wants to know what Miwako was doing with Hiro talking until early in the morning. Miwako tries to explain that nothing happened and she wanted to tell Arashi about it but knew she'll be angry like this. When Miwako begins to cry, Arashi decides to forgive her and invites her to come to his apartment.

Meanwhile, Yukari tries to tell George about her problem but he seems to be more interested in sex. Across the town, after Arashi and Miwako had sex, they get a phone call from Hiro who wants to talk to Miwako. It appears that Hiro wants to talk to Yukari but can't seem to contact her. Because of this Miwako has no choice but to reveal to Hiro that Yukari is in George's house right now. Cut to a shot of Yukari and George in bed. George wants to know what was it Yukari wanted to talk about. However, instead of telling George about the modelling agency, she instead tells him that she has finished her part of dress sewing. The next day at Atelier, Yukari is in the middle of admiring a frilly ribbon when all of a sudden George asks her if she can go home since she has nothing to do there. When Yukari tells George that she can help with anything, he tells her that she is in the way.

As Caroline gets out of Atelier, she checks her mobile's message and finds out that Hiro tried to contact her. The two eventually agrees to meet in a cafe where Yukari reveals that she's now working as a professional model. Despite this Hiro can't help but being concerned for Yukari since she lives with a boyfriend who doesn't seem to care for Yukari's well being. Hiro thinks that if George cares about Yukari, he would have told her to go back to school and home. Yukari tries to assure Hiro not to worry about it but Hiro tells her that he can't help it since he's her classmate after all. Meanwhile inside George's apartment, George's mother is seen trying to persuade her friend, Shimamoto Kozue, to give her a job at her agency. Shimamoto tells her that her agency doesn't accept old models. LOL. The conversation, however, is halted when Yukari returns to the apartment.

Shimamoto is surprised to see Yukari and vice versa. Yukari also wonders who is the young woman in the apartment so Shimamoto introduces each other. Yukari is in disbelief upon hearing this because she thinks George's mother is young. George's mother, Yukino, quickly glomps Yukari upon hearing the statement. After a while, Shimamoto leaves the two to go back home, so Yukari and Yukino ends up talking George's father. Yukino seems to blame the guy for ruining her life then leaving her. Upon hearing this, Yukari realises that his mother is the kind of woman that George doesn't like because she just complains about her lover but doesn't do anything to change her life. With this in mind, Yukari decides to pack up and leave George's house. Yukino tries to stop her but Yukari tells Yukino that she can't stand Yukino telling her that she regrets giving birth to George.

Yukino tries to tell Yukari that she really does love her son but Yukari is not convinced and decides to leave the place. After the incident, Yukari goes to Atelier and tells George that she has something she wants to talk to him. Having said that, she assures the others that no matter what happens, the show will go on. Once George and Yukari are outside, George reveals that he knew about the modelling agency issues and upset that Yukari didn't choose to talk about it with him when she wanted to talk about it. George seems to look down on her because she prefers to have sex with him instead of prioritising her life. Yukari eventually can't stand it anymore and decides to go home. Her mother surprisingly accepts her with open arms and even agrees to give her consent for modelling. There is, however, one condition: Yukari needs to pass her high school exam.

Impression:

I really like Hiro as a character. Just like George, he is a confident person but unlike George, he is also a mature and understanding character. He will say what he thinks another person needs to hear but then will leave the decision to that person instead of manipulating the person to do what he wants. He also doesn't resort to humiliation and harsh words in order to convey his message. I realise that George has mother issues but his action makes him equally despicable as well. I don't know why Yukari bothers to ensure that George likes her. I think a relationship is in trouble when one party feels that he/she needs to please the other party in order for the relationship to continue. I am glad that Yukari finally realises she has had enough of George's antics and leaves him even though she still wants to be by his side.

And in the end, Hiro and everyone else who thinks that Yukari should go back home and asks permission from his mother were right. Yukari's mother turns out to be quite willing to compromise with her daughter and agrees to allow her to become a model on the condition that she passed her high school exam. I think this is a rather nice compromise and could be useful in the future should Yukari fails as a professional model or has to retire due to her age. It's no secret that modelling world is quite fickle and that models come and go. If Yukari forgoes her education, what kind of future will she have once her modelling days are over? If she doesn't do anything else, I suspect she will turn into a drunk, bitter old model just like George's mother. Anyway, I can't wait for next week's episode because that's when the characters' life start to unravel.

© memento 2003