Hana Yori Dango Season 2

[partypaprika]

Warning: really really really long review. I couldn't help it. I just got so into it. I heart Hana Yori Dango so much!

 

 

Yeah!!!!! My computer finally finished downloading Hana Yori Dango, which meant lots of glee inducing squeals could be heard coming from my room last night. Ok. Let me say this to start, but I didn’t think that the F4 could get any hotter. Clearly I was mistaken. Please let me make similar mistakes in the future.

 

I loved the way the episode started out, a clear reference to the very first episode, where they’re focused on Tsukushi’s eyes as she looks around. And then they zoomed out to reveal her convinced that she’s seeing celebrities everywhere. Then…there comes her trademark phrase “Unbelievable!” (So. I said it with her. Something wrong with that? ) Apparently, she’s in New York and slightly lost and all by herself. After freaking about for a moment, she gathers up the courage to ask someone for help. And what ensues is highly amusing. She ends up asking this random guy, wearing a Yankee’s shirt for help. Let me say that her English is pretty darn amazing. It’s far better than my Japanese. The guy is trying to find out how Tsukushi wants to go wherever she wants to go, but she’s not able to understand him. So, he speaks slightly slower and louder. Of course, he doesn’t understand her at all, and since Americans have no patience, he thinks she’s crazy and just walks off.

 

Meanwhile, Tsukushi’s bag, which in a moment of not thinking, she took off, is lying on the ground begging to be taken. Some guy, who flashes a really scary look at the camera, comes up behind Tsukushi and grabs the bag and RUNS. Man, does he take off, and interestingly, there are no police around to stop him. Tsukushi takes off after him, but ends up in a slightly sketchy part of…Harlem? Much to my glee, a pair of pointy shoes appear. Is it Domyouji? Please please please…

 

First, Tsukushi looks to be in trouble. Apparently, Americans hate foreigners in their alleyways, and they swear a lot. Oh maybe they hated her because she came to get down? I was kind of confused by why they hated her, but no worries, I think the point that Americans are really abrasive was what they tried to say. It came across quite well : )

Tsukushi appears to be in quite a mess, but we know that pointy shoes (please be Domyouji!) has come to save here.

 

Then we go into flashback.

 

Things haven’t been going so well at Eitoku. The three mindless evils (snobby girls) have taken to calling Tsukushi “Binbonim” (poor person) again. They also know that Domyouji hasn’t been talking to Tsukushi. (Why? Oh, the OTP is going to be angsty this season, isn’t it? ) Tsukushi explains about the extreme wealth about her school, and I’m drooling over some of the watches from the kids. One of the mindless evils (who I just abbreviate as ME, but please don’t think I’m mindlessly evil) is even thinking about going to the moon for her graduation trip. So not fair! We next see Tsukushi yelling outside the fire escape and Rui calls her name, except it’s just a memory. He’s no longer at her fire escape.

 

Then we get to the graduation of the F4. Minus Domyouji. So really, the F3. And they’re donating a one billion yen F4 lounge. And then, what I’ve kind of been looking forward to, the introduction to the F4. I loved last year’s introduction, but this one…so amazing! In the introduction, they’re all dressed formally. Rui’s in white jacket, while all the other guys are wearing black ones. They also must’ve taken smoldering looks classes, because I am melting. Please F4, be my hot friends.

 

Nishikado Soujiro has definitely gotten taller and hotter. Of course, he’s still the player of the group, but in Domyouji’s absence, he’s become the leader. Then there’s Mimasaka Akira, also quite hot. Despite being involved in the underworld, he’s become the arbitrator of the F4. Now…Rui! Hanazawa Rui went to college (I go to college, do you think that we’ll meet?) even though he’s heir to one of the largest trading corporations. He and Tsukushi are now good friends. Rui asks Tsukushi if Domyouji has talked to her. Tsukushi says no and tries to brush it off, but she’s definitely missing him. She goes to the place where they had their first date. We then go through an incredibly cute montage of Tsukushi punching Domyouji, their first date, him leaving, and them kissing. (I’ve once again become a puddle on the floor. )

 

Then, we get the opening credits. I’ll admit, I adored Arashi’s “wish” opening credits, but yet, I can see this one growing on me. It’s definitely got more of a manga feel for the introduction of the characters and the music is a little more mellow. But, it’s cute. I don’t know if I like it as much as the first season’s, but I do like it. (Complete side note: I never realized it but Matsumoto Jun is way shorter than all the other guys…)

 

After the credits, we come back to Makino’s family. Her whole family is adorable. They’re doing the definition game again, where Tsukushi’s father asks what the definition of a gapped society is. They launch into a discussion of money and Tsukushi’s debating getting a job instead of going to college. The family all wants her to continue, especially because they think that she’s still together with Domyouji. Even when she tells them they’re not together, the family just dismisses her comment as embarrassment. She’s doing pushups in her room when she goes to get a hair tie and sees Domyouji’s gold cell phone. (Awww…I love the Darth Vader ring tone.) We find out that Domyouji abruptly cut off all contact with Tsukushi. There’s a montage of her calling him only to get an out of service answering machine message.

 

Then Tsukushi gets a visit from Sakurako and her Australian boy toy. Apparently they’re on a world tour. When Tsukushi and Sakurako sit down to talk, Sakurako tells Tsukushi that she saw Domyouji in New York. (8 million people live in New York. Thousands of people visit every day. But apparently, Japanese people have magnets that attract like no other. ) When Sakurako finds out that Tsukushi and Domyouji aren’t in contact, she tries to reassure Tsukushi by pointing out that Tsukushi is kind of plain, but she’ll find a Tsukushi-like match someday. (If I only had such good friends : ) ) Poor Tsukushi, I can tell she’s hurting because Domyouji is doing so well and she’s not even a small part of his life. That night she vows that she’ll try to forget about Eitoku and Domyouji with her friends. But as she stares at her Saturn necklace, we know that she won’t really be able to forget him.

 

Tsukushi goes to meet with her junior high friends at French Restaurant. There she meets Junpei, who’s totally pumped to meet her. He tells her that he also goes to Eitoku and starts breaking out in praises. He’s totally adorable! Yuki gets him to admit that he likes Tsukushi, to which he says it’s because she’s like Joan of Arc. He also compares her to a picture of what I think is Liberty or Victory, not Joan of Arc. But no worries.

 

Together, Yuki and Tsukushi discuss Tsukushi’s becoming a lawyer and going onto Eitoku law school. Her parents are thrilled to pieces and Tsukushi really devotes all her efforts to studying. (probably what I should do. BUT HYD always comes first. )

It’s December, and Tsukushi is studying like mad. So much so that she’s not paying attention around her and gets tripped by the MEs. A really nerdy guy drops books on them, to which the MEs retreat to the nurse’s office. It turns out that the really nerdy guy is Junpei. Outside, he asks her to be his girlfriend, to which Tsukushi is slightly startled. She doesn’t answer him however, and he decides to take her to his after school activity. Ok, I’ll be honest here. Perhaps I know all the wrong people, but all the people I know have after school activities like working at the bookstore, doing homework, sports, or even the occasional research position. Junpei, however, clearly rocks the system, because he’s a model. He drags Tsukushi into taking a few pictures with him which end up being on the cover of a magazine. Tsukushi is totally unaware of that. (Tsukushi being the last to know something? Never. ) She gets glared at by the MEs and a nice congratulatory phone call from Soujiro and Akira. They think that she’s just being coy and it’s a plan to get Domyouji jealous.  She finally gets it when Junpei shows her the magazine, to which Makino decides that it’s time to “break up” with Junpei. Junpei then proceeds to cry. Poor Tsukushi is so confused and tells him that she’ll cancels them not being friends if he stops crying. He’s so excited that he almost hugs her to death, but is interrupted by none other than HANAZAWA RUI! Tsukushi runs off to class while Rui looks at the magazine cover. Foreshadowing music of angst comes on as he watches Tsukushi run off and then we cut to Domyouji(!) in New York although we only see his backside as he throws the magazine. But he looks angsty with all the moonlight, so I’m pretty sure he’s not happy.

 

Then we finally see the F4 lounge. It is a nice lounge with a very nice picture of the F4 looking hot. Soujiro, Akira, and Rui enter, somewhat reminiscent of their first entrance during the first season. They motion for Tsukushi to follow them into the F4 only space. There’s a sign that prohibits general people from entering. Clearly, Tsukushi is not just anyone. Akira mentions that it’s perfect because it’s near the University and meeting Tsukushi there will make like a little easier for her. I love how they recognize how much of a hard time she’s having. They’re teasing her, and totally loving it. She’s having a good time and laughing. They’ve become good friends even without Domyouji. Although I love how both Akira and Soujiro pass on dating Tsukushi.

 

The next day, Tsukushi, out of nowhere, gets a red card. There’s something terribly wrong, but the students don’t even care. They’re super excited to enact their bullying ritual once more. She’s in the process of being egged and thrown around when Junpei appears out of nowhere to help. When one of the students calls him on it, he pulls a Clark Kent, takes off his glasses, pulls back his hair (I love how he has to pull back his hair to be recognized!) and all the girls go crazy. Meanwhile, the F3 is convening at Rui’s house to discuss why this is happening.

 

I’m really feeling for Tsukushi at this point, the guy that she’s in love with hasn’t contacted her in several months and suddenly she’s being harassed at school on his orders. Rui urges her to fly to New York, giving her a pep talk that’s kind of similar to the one that she gave to Rui. Except, well much calmer. As luck would have it, Tsukushi’s father won a trip to New York playing Bingo and the family decides to send Tsukushi so that she can see Domyouji. She gets ready to go and even puts on the Saturn necklace before heading to New York. End of flashback.

 

Tsukushi’s in quite the situation. However, (surprise, surprise) someone’s there to rescue here. The actual surprise, to me anyway, was that it was Rui. He pulls out a gun, (Rui has a gun? That’s not possible) and scares the guys away. He sits down next to Tsukushi and tells her that she’s fine and then he…squirts her with the gun. (I knew he wouldn’t have  a real gun.) In his all knowing way, he told her that he knew this was going to happen and she should’ve told Rui. That way they would have gone together. (Jaw drops in sheer awe of his cuteness.) Rui calls up Akira and Soujiro as well as the embassy and fixes everything. He’s her total protector. When Tsukushi goes to get hot dogs and then remember she has no money, he even gives her some money. She goes to get hot dogs and then, there’s Domyouji. At the hot dog stand. Wearing a trenchcoat. Aviators. And we see his face! (I started squealing so loudly at this point. I’ve waited a long time for it. It’s definitely allowed.) At first, Domyouji looks surprised in a “Am I dreaming kind of way,” but then he takes off his aviators and it’s clear he’s surprised but in not such a good way. Whereas Tsukushi is trying to hard not to smile, she’s so excited. He asks her why she’s here, and she responds with it’s been awhile. And then, he does my favorite thing so far, his little pouty/jaunty thing with the eyebrows and then says, “Didn’t you hear my question?” Tsukushi’s trying to play it cool (Japanese word for Airplane. Oh, you don’t understand anything that not English? Airplane), and Domyouji just grabs and pulls her away.

 

They’re sitting at this corner and Domyouji asks if Tsukushi came this way just to see him. She totally did, but she can’t say it to him, so she just tells him that her dad won a bingo contest. When Domyouji responds, you can see his a little disappointed, although he tries to be all nonchalant. (Btw, I totally love Domyouji nonchalant. Or trying to be at least! Because he’s just so terrible at it!) Tsukushi’s practically in seventh heaven. When the phone rings, he does the jaunty model walk to answer it and Makino’s stunned at how professional he’s become. When he gets off the phone he tells Tsukushi that he has to leave because he’s busy and still the heir of the Domyouji Empire (I swear that he smiles the teeniest bit at that before repressing it) and leaves. He struggles with himself for a moment, but then tells Tsukushi to be safe and to not get into dangerous areas. He totally loves and misses her, but there’s something going on here, and he can’t tell her!

 When Tsukushi brings up the fact that they haven’t met in a long time, Domyouji responds with a so what, which tears up Tsukushi. Rui’s been watching and is thinking deeply. Rui and Tsukushi have dinner in a nice restaurant, when Tsukushi says that it’s everything is fine between her and Domyouji, he sees right through her, but doesn’t press it too much. Then, we hear evil Kaede music as the camera looks over Manhattan. Yep. It’s Kaede. And she’s speaking French. Better than all the other characters are speaking English. Better than I speak French for that matter. Back to the story however, Kaede is clearly planning something in relation to Tsukushi. Grrrr… stay away from Makino!

The next day, Akira and Soujiro meet up with Rui and Tsukushi. Akira’s got her bag, and informs her that her news has been spread to the entire Mafia, so she shouldn’t encounter any trouble. Wow. The Japanese mafia is apparently super super powerful. They also promise to fix the situation with Tsukasa. ( I heart the F3) While they’re going to meet Domyouji, Tsukushi tours around New York and runs into Tsubaki. (Japanese people definitely have a magnet that attracts them to all the other Japanese people. There are 8 million people in the city!) Tsubaki takes Tsukushi shopping and buys her a gorgeous dress from Celine for meeting Domyouji. She also reassure Tsukushi that she’ll save her whenever Tsukushi needs it.

 

Tsukushi meets up with the F3 in a dinner. When the F3 met up with Domyouji, he was completely mad at them, which resulted in him punching Soujiro. They then informed Tsukushi that Domyouji got mad when they brought up her name. Soujiro told Tsukushi that she shouldn’t date a jerk like Domyouji and he didn’t treat her correctly at all. (Oh my god. Kill me dead. When did he become a such good guy?) The F3 definitely cares about Tsukushi. When she announces that she’s going to visit his campus, the F3 are definitely proud of her. She decides to hide out at his campus until he returns. Along the way, she runs into a Japanese girl being taken away by the cops. At the school, she sees Domyouji and his posse of boy band like guys. When she tries to talk to Domyouji, they go to protect, calling him “Our great Mr. Domyouji.” When Domyouji yells for them to stop, they fall in line. Like an army. Holy crap.

 

They go out to the baseball field and Tsukushi confronts him about everything, including the red card. Domyouji is kind of confused about the red card, but Tsukushi mistakes it as him being a jerk and ignores it. She finally concludes, in typical Makino fashion, that she doesn’t like him anymore and to just leave her alone. He then asks if she’s stupid, and there it is! A moment I’ve been waiting for. He’s smiling at her, and she’s confused, and then he goes back to being cold. (No no no! Go back to cute smiling confused moment. I liked that. ) And then she tries to punch him and he dodges. He informs her that he’s not a kid at her level anymore before walking off.

 

When she meets up with the F3, they offer to treat her to make her feel better. When she says she doesn’t want to be a burden, she realizes that they really do care about her. (Awww.) She decides to do a Christmas party. On the other end of the situation, Kaede is quite pleased that Domyouji has outgrown Makino. Domyouji isn’t doing too well though. He’s been having nightmares about some guy jumping off a building. He’s also kept Tsukushi’s cookie from last Christmas! He’s definitely still in love with her. And then the F3 show up in his room with an apple and Soujiro apologizes. Domyouji smiles and (I hope) all is forgiven. They tell him about the red card and he informs them that he’s too busy to do that. Meanwhile, Eitoku kids are having a field day going after Tsukushi, who’s only armed with a mop. Junpei rescues her, while Tsukasa looks angsty and refuses to do anything to help her. No. He can’t not be in love with her. I refuse to believe it.

 

So back to Junpei saving Makino. After he leaves her to get a drink, he tells his cronies (so he’s a bad guy. I’m not really that surprised. ) that their plan will undoubtedly work. The cronies then go to get Makino. They take her to an abandoned warehouse. (By the way, they have tons of those in Japan. I watched Gokusen. I’m totally with it.) After tying her up, Junpei arrives and tells her that it’s all to get revenge on Domyouji. He tells the story of how his friend who stood up to Domyouji and was badly beaten up. He wants to get revenge as do his cronies. As Makino informs him that Domyouji and she are finished, she gets her rope off and makes a run for it. (She definitely punches one of the guys before taking off. Silly Makino. ) And who rescues her? Tsubaki! (I heart Tsubaki) She makes sure that Tsukushi is ok and then takes her out for dinner. She reassures Tsukushi that Tsukasa is just going through a certain phase. Tsukushi replies that she and Domyouji are definitely through and she’s glad. Tsubaki just wants Tsukushi to be happy. Tsubaki is definitely disappointed (as am I), but resigned to it (Maybe? I was a little unsure about Tsubaki’s plan of action.) But, when Tsubaki goes to leave, Tsukushi runs after her and confesses that she’s still very much in love with Domyouji. She completely lays it out how she can’t even imagine life without him and how much she misses him. Insert touching montage. *tugs heart strings* I won’t be able to handle life if they don’t get together soon.

 

The New Year comes and Tsukushi and Yuki go to visit Soujiro. Soujiro’s quite uneasy around Yuki, but I’m thinking that they might become a secondary item later on in the season. They’d be really cute. It seems Rui took care of the Junpei affair.

Junpei’s leaving the school, (wearing a fur coat. There seems to be a lot of fur coats in this episode) but he gives Tsukushi advice to get together with Rui. (Ahh…that helpful parting advice from a beloved enemy.) Domyouji’s birthday part is coming up and Nishida comes to give Tsukushi an invitation. She decides to go and makes cookies for him as a gift. She’s a little awkward about entering especially after a meeting with Kaede. However, Rui appears, wearing a silver suit (with some weird tassel thing that bothered me to no end.) to escort Tsukushi in. They meet up with the other F3 members. Domyouji makes an announcement on stage, but Kaede has a *surprise* announcement…Tsukasa’s becoming engaged. Poor Domyouji is completely confused. Tsukushi is kind of excited. But it turns out that it’s Shigeru, the Japanese girl being taken away by the police earlier. Not completely unexpected. I didn’t really think that Kaede was a nice person at heart.

 

But then, the previews for next week. AAAAAHHHHH! So excited! Domyouji chasing after Tsukushi. More of Shigeru, who I think I might like because she was scarfing down food when her name was called. Rui. Happiness. Next episode, please come soon!

Some screencaps! (sorry for the subs at the bottom!)


here's the new and improved F4! 


And hot Domyouji....


And of course, hot Rui. 


The F4. Look at how happy they are. They wouldn't be that happy if Domyouji and Tsukushi didn't get together. 


Rui saving Tsukushi


I tried to get the pouty/jaunty face, but i needed two screencaps


It didn't come out too well. He just looks surprised and sad. Oh well. 


Oh. Please be happy together!




Tsukushi looking all adorable


Shigeru. Is that bling on her hat? 



I'm definitely going to like this season...