[REVIEW] One Pound Gospel - Round 01
Jan. 19th, 2008 04:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mecI had such fun reviewing Yukan Club that I've decided to do it all again with One Pound Gospel! Because 1PG actually airs on Saturdays, however, and that's when I write reviews, I'm not bothering to include the preview in my write-up as the episode will been shown already. (And naturally, the 'Obligatory Jin commentary' is now the 'Obligatory Kame commentary'.)
Disclaimer: I know nothing about boxing and even less about nuns, so if I screw up with terminology somewhere, feel free to set me straight.
One Pound Gospel - Round 01
Plot: Gluttonous boxer Hatanaka Kosaku loses to the scent of takoyaki, earning himself a KO right at the start of the episode. Mukoda Seiko, the gym chairman, is understandably unhappy but sets Kosaku up in another match, this time against Dragon Kanzaki, a guy who does a nice line in fiendish taunts with a hamburger. Unfortunately, Kosaku has to lose nearly 10kg by the match or he'll be disqualified. His training regime skyrockets, and the harder he works...well...the less he eats, leading to his collapse and unexpected religious experience on a leafy hill.
Kosaku is revived by a nun, Sister Angela, and manages a sip or two of her forbidden black tea before he remembers he's supposed to keep running (until death and beyond, quite possibly). She tells him to do his best and Kosaku is immediately energized, throwing himself back into his training with a sparkle in his eyes and romance in his soul, albeit nothing in his stomach.
All seems well on the training front until Kosaku has a Matrix moment and saves an orphan in slow motion, resulting in an invitation to the convent for a thank-you lunch with the kiddies. Naturally, Kosaku finds it impossible to turn away the food, though he makes a good stab at it, and the match gets cancelled because he's one lousy pound overweight.
A conversation with Sister Angela provides Kosaku with all the reason he needs to quit boxing - namely, he's not happy, and he suffers a lot, so why the hell should he continue? He's going to search for a new light, which, from the looks of his eating habits, he will probably find underneath a mound of noodles.
Meanwhile, gym chairman Seiko has a religious experience of her own, passing out while drunk only to be saved by Sister Angela. Mitaka, our resident good guy, explains Seiko's tragic backstory to Sister Angela, who tells her that she must raise a champion. This conflicts directly with her advice to Kosaku, who is determined to quit. Realising that lunch with the orphans was the cause of Kosaku's cancelled match, Sister Angela braves the gym just in time for a World War III, which is taking place between the chairman and Kosaku. Well, they're not about to win an argument with a nun, even when she tells them conflicting things, and Kosaku is easily goaded into agreeing to a match with Onimaru (who looks scarily like Billy Zane when he shaved his head).
Back in training, and it pays off! Kosaku passes the weigh-in and he and Sister Angela get invited to Onimaru's house to have a meal and learn about all the emotional baggage he's carrying. Onimaru always gets beaten by guys who go on to be champions, and his son Tooru has never seen him win a match. Sister Angela feels that this is a tragedy and asks Kosaku to throw the fight. He agrees, but only if it will make her happy.
It doesn't, of course, and she lies her way out of the convent and into the match. Kosaku's losing, all right, but he doesn't feel too good about it either. People keep asking him why he took up boxing and what it means to him, and of course the obvious time to think about these deep and meaningful things is when you've got some guy trying to take your head off. He sees Sister Angela, realises that he's looking incredibly uncool in front of her and that he actually loves boxing. He doesn't want to lose! Kosaku is almost defeated again by his empty stomach, but when the chairman promises that he can eat whatever he wants, his strength is renewed and he leaps back up to finish the fight, saved by his love of a rather nice-looking dish involving pork, egg and beef.
Tooru and Onimaru both end up happy, as the boy got to see his father have one hell of a fight, even if he lost. Kosaku, on a high from winning, promptly asks Sister Angela for a date. She tries to hold him off with her cross and takes off on her bicycle to buy oden at the nearest convenience store, appalled that he was working hard not because he really loved boxing but because he really loved *her*, and the rest of the guys at the gym (who are all incredibly bitchy) make fun of him for being dumped. Kosaku does get to be happy in the end, though - he gets to pick the food!
Characters: I'm not doing everyone because I really can't remember them all, so this is just a brief look at a few, okay?
- Katsumi: The chairman's kid, as played by Yamada Ryosuke. Now, I'm used to Yamada as Ryu in Tantei Gakuen Q, which means I've never seen him being anything even approaching normal. Does he always act like he's on something? He's got this really cheerful, smiling, sarcastic attitude the whole time, like if he speaks softly enough and smiles wide enough people won't notice he's insulting them.
- Gym chairman Seiko: Despite her obvious drinking problem, I like her a lot. She's tough, straightforward and ambitious, and I love Mitaka's flashback about them as kids, when Seiko knocked out five guys by herself. She really loves boxing, and she's not going to let Kosaku's lack of willpower prevent her from turning him into a champion.
- The nuns: Unexpectedly funny. I love the director, who is a devious little sweetie and I'm sure knows full well where Sister Angela was sneaking off to. I take great pleasure in watching her shut down Sister Millie, who is the morally upstanding, humourless, petty villain of the convent.
- Sister Angela: Nun on a bicycle! (Albeit nun who looks better in black leather and on a motorbike, but you can't have everything.) She's obviously the most powerful person in the series because everybody at the Mukoda gym feels the urge to obey her commands. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that she keeps reviving them from unconsciousness, whereupon they mistake her for Mary... But I like that she gets caught up in the arguments, and she's cheerful and enthusiastic, and she really does care, especially if she thinks she's made a mistake. And she seems to be getting into boxing!
- Kosaku: Imagine Goku from Gensoumaden Saiyuki taking up boxing. There you have Kosaku. His fighting ability is dependent on food, one way or another, and while it makes for powerful motivation it's also a serious problem if his stomach is empty. And he's so darned cute and energetic that I'm sure people get the urge to feed him all the time! Kosaku's problem is a lack of direction - he likes boxing, but all the suffering (exhausting training, denying himself food etc.) is a good excuse for him to throw in the towel. But now he has Sister Angela to impress! If he really wants something, he'll go for it with everything he's got.
Music: Lots of variety. Nice rock stuff for fights, training and the like, balanced out with almost video-game sound for the comedy moments. It's pretty much constant - there aren't that many scenes with no music at all. The nuns get peaceful piano tracks.
Obligatory Kame commentary: I almost can't write this because there are no words for how adorable Kame is in the role of Kosaku. He's done a lot of drama, so he's good at the heavier, more intense scenes, but where he really comes into his own here is the comedy. Going completely nuts over food, being incredibly energetic and quirky in his movements, and declaring his love for a nun. He works so hard, too! I felt completely exhausted watching this episode the first time, and it's no less tiring seeing it again with subs. He's absolutely brilliant.
Best scene: Oh, this is a tough one. Possibly when Kosaku was hugging the punchbag and doing his "All right! Maria-sama!" routine, and the others thought he was hallucinating. Or perhaps Kosaku and Sister Angela walking with Rikako holding their hands, which was very cute. Or Kosaku going to hug Sister Angela on the steps and she goes straight past him. Or Kosaku opening his locker and enough food to feed a family of twelve falls out. There are so many scenes I loved that I think I'll just stop here before I end up writing another synopsis.
Conclusion: Fabulous first episode. Heartwarming, sweet, and absolutely hilarious. Great cast (even if I haven't learned who all the bitchy boxers are yet), utterly insane, and the comedy is gold. When I first heard about Kame being cast in the series I thought that if they were going to dramatize a Takahashi Rumiko manga, they should do Ranma 1/2 instead and Kame could play both boy-type and girl-type Ranma quite easily! But I'm more than satisfied that they went with this one!
Disclaimer: I know nothing about boxing and even less about nuns, so if I screw up with terminology somewhere, feel free to set me straight.
One Pound Gospel - Round 01
Plot: Gluttonous boxer Hatanaka Kosaku loses to the scent of takoyaki, earning himself a KO right at the start of the episode. Mukoda Seiko, the gym chairman, is understandably unhappy but sets Kosaku up in another match, this time against Dragon Kanzaki, a guy who does a nice line in fiendish taunts with a hamburger. Unfortunately, Kosaku has to lose nearly 10kg by the match or he'll be disqualified. His training regime skyrockets, and the harder he works...well...the less he eats, leading to his collapse and unexpected religious experience on a leafy hill.
Kosaku is revived by a nun, Sister Angela, and manages a sip or two of her forbidden black tea before he remembers he's supposed to keep running (until death and beyond, quite possibly). She tells him to do his best and Kosaku is immediately energized, throwing himself back into his training with a sparkle in his eyes and romance in his soul, albeit nothing in his stomach.
All seems well on the training front until Kosaku has a Matrix moment and saves an orphan in slow motion, resulting in an invitation to the convent for a thank-you lunch with the kiddies. Naturally, Kosaku finds it impossible to turn away the food, though he makes a good stab at it, and the match gets cancelled because he's one lousy pound overweight.
A conversation with Sister Angela provides Kosaku with all the reason he needs to quit boxing - namely, he's not happy, and he suffers a lot, so why the hell should he continue? He's going to search for a new light, which, from the looks of his eating habits, he will probably find underneath a mound of noodles.
Meanwhile, gym chairman Seiko has a religious experience of her own, passing out while drunk only to be saved by Sister Angela. Mitaka, our resident good guy, explains Seiko's tragic backstory to Sister Angela, who tells her that she must raise a champion. This conflicts directly with her advice to Kosaku, who is determined to quit. Realising that lunch with the orphans was the cause of Kosaku's cancelled match, Sister Angela braves the gym just in time for a World War III, which is taking place between the chairman and Kosaku. Well, they're not about to win an argument with a nun, even when she tells them conflicting things, and Kosaku is easily goaded into agreeing to a match with Onimaru (who looks scarily like Billy Zane when he shaved his head).
Back in training, and it pays off! Kosaku passes the weigh-in and he and Sister Angela get invited to Onimaru's house to have a meal and learn about all the emotional baggage he's carrying. Onimaru always gets beaten by guys who go on to be champions, and his son Tooru has never seen him win a match. Sister Angela feels that this is a tragedy and asks Kosaku to throw the fight. He agrees, but only if it will make her happy.
It doesn't, of course, and she lies her way out of the convent and into the match. Kosaku's losing, all right, but he doesn't feel too good about it either. People keep asking him why he took up boxing and what it means to him, and of course the obvious time to think about these deep and meaningful things is when you've got some guy trying to take your head off. He sees Sister Angela, realises that he's looking incredibly uncool in front of her and that he actually loves boxing. He doesn't want to lose! Kosaku is almost defeated again by his empty stomach, but when the chairman promises that he can eat whatever he wants, his strength is renewed and he leaps back up to finish the fight, saved by his love of a rather nice-looking dish involving pork, egg and beef.
Tooru and Onimaru both end up happy, as the boy got to see his father have one hell of a fight, even if he lost. Kosaku, on a high from winning, promptly asks Sister Angela for a date. She tries to hold him off with her cross and takes off on her bicycle to buy oden at the nearest convenience store, appalled that he was working hard not because he really loved boxing but because he really loved *her*, and the rest of the guys at the gym (who are all incredibly bitchy) make fun of him for being dumped. Kosaku does get to be happy in the end, though - he gets to pick the food!
Characters: I'm not doing everyone because I really can't remember them all, so this is just a brief look at a few, okay?
- Katsumi: The chairman's kid, as played by Yamada Ryosuke. Now, I'm used to Yamada as Ryu in Tantei Gakuen Q, which means I've never seen him being anything even approaching normal. Does he always act like he's on something? He's got this really cheerful, smiling, sarcastic attitude the whole time, like if he speaks softly enough and smiles wide enough people won't notice he's insulting them.
- Gym chairman Seiko: Despite her obvious drinking problem, I like her a lot. She's tough, straightforward and ambitious, and I love Mitaka's flashback about them as kids, when Seiko knocked out five guys by herself. She really loves boxing, and she's not going to let Kosaku's lack of willpower prevent her from turning him into a champion.
- The nuns: Unexpectedly funny. I love the director, who is a devious little sweetie and I'm sure knows full well where Sister Angela was sneaking off to. I take great pleasure in watching her shut down Sister Millie, who is the morally upstanding, humourless, petty villain of the convent.
- Sister Angela: Nun on a bicycle! (Albeit nun who looks better in black leather and on a motorbike, but you can't have everything.) She's obviously the most powerful person in the series because everybody at the Mukoda gym feels the urge to obey her commands. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that she keeps reviving them from unconsciousness, whereupon they mistake her for Mary... But I like that she gets caught up in the arguments, and she's cheerful and enthusiastic, and she really does care, especially if she thinks she's made a mistake. And she seems to be getting into boxing!
- Kosaku: Imagine Goku from Gensoumaden Saiyuki taking up boxing. There you have Kosaku. His fighting ability is dependent on food, one way or another, and while it makes for powerful motivation it's also a serious problem if his stomach is empty. And he's so darned cute and energetic that I'm sure people get the urge to feed him all the time! Kosaku's problem is a lack of direction - he likes boxing, but all the suffering (exhausting training, denying himself food etc.) is a good excuse for him to throw in the towel. But now he has Sister Angela to impress! If he really wants something, he'll go for it with everything he's got.
Music: Lots of variety. Nice rock stuff for fights, training and the like, balanced out with almost video-game sound for the comedy moments. It's pretty much constant - there aren't that many scenes with no music at all. The nuns get peaceful piano tracks.
Obligatory Kame commentary: I almost can't write this because there are no words for how adorable Kame is in the role of Kosaku. He's done a lot of drama, so he's good at the heavier, more intense scenes, but where he really comes into his own here is the comedy. Going completely nuts over food, being incredibly energetic and quirky in his movements, and declaring his love for a nun. He works so hard, too! I felt completely exhausted watching this episode the first time, and it's no less tiring seeing it again with subs. He's absolutely brilliant.
Best scene: Oh, this is a tough one. Possibly when Kosaku was hugging the punchbag and doing his "All right! Maria-sama!" routine, and the others thought he was hallucinating. Or perhaps Kosaku and Sister Angela walking with Rikako holding their hands, which was very cute. Or Kosaku going to hug Sister Angela on the steps and she goes straight past him. Or Kosaku opening his locker and enough food to feed a family of twelve falls out. There are so many scenes I loved that I think I'll just stop here before I end up writing another synopsis.
Conclusion: Fabulous first episode. Heartwarming, sweet, and absolutely hilarious. Great cast (even if I haven't learned who all the bitchy boxers are yet), utterly insane, and the comedy is gold. When I first heard about Kame being cast in the series I thought that if they were going to dramatize a Takahashi Rumiko manga, they should do Ranma 1/2 instead and Kame could play both boy-type and girl-type Ranma quite easily! But I'm more than satisfied that they went with this one!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 06:01 pm (UTC)I think my favourite scene was the bit with the rain water when Kosaku rushes out to drink it and the other boxers run to 'save him'. So hilarious. I have a feeling though that this series is going to be a wonderful crack filled ride! I just hope the ratings increase, although I am holding onto the idea that people avoided it because it was so weird but will watch after others tell them its more than just dumb crack!
I'm so excited to see these reviews every week!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 07:27 pm (UTC)They were, they really were! So petty and spiteful! Okay, so they're not bad guys, in the end, but you really don't want them mocking you all the time.
I really like Ueda, the one who was sat with Kosaku when he was packing to leave
Oh, is that which one he was? It amused me that there was an Ueda (in a boxing series with Kame) but his identity did not register with me.
I think my favourite scene was the bit with the rain water when Kosaku rushes out to drink it and the other boxers run to 'save him'.
That's a good one too! And it's nice to have that cleared up, because when I watched it raw I didn't follow that part and didn't feel inclined to go back and listen again.
I just hope the ratings increase, although I am holding onto the idea that people avoided it because it was so weird but will watch after others tell them it's more than just dumb crack!
Let's hope so! Because yes, it is amazingly crack-filled but it's also sweet and heartwarming, and has a lot to offer. Especially for Kame fans!
I'm so excited to see these reviews every week!
*grins* I'll do my best, but there will be a gap in March 'cause there's no way I'm going to try and review while I'm in Japan!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 06:33 pm (UTC)Your conclusion cracks me up. Oh, what we wouldn't give for Kame to play a real girl on national TV... :3
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 07:34 pm (UTC)Probably not - I was thinking of Meisa in her black leather jacket! (She's far too pretty to be wrapped up in a nun's habit all the time.) And I'm thinking your mind was wandering over to Jin, which is where mine usually wanders! ^_^
Kosaku is ♥ I have high hopes for this drama
Oh, I agree totally. It's such fun to watch! Everything's just so sweet and funny and incredibly crack-filled.
Your conclusion cracks me up. Oh, what we wouldn't give for Kame to play a real girl on national TV.
Well, girl-type Ranma isn't exactly girly...or a real girl, come to that! But it would be fun to watch. I'd cast Jin as Ryouga but I can't help thinking he'd make a better Mousse. Must be the glasses.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 06:54 pm (UTC)And I LOVED this review too. 1PG is seriously very adorable. It's so adorable, I can't cope. And Kame? Kame is comedy GOLD. I am floored by that to be honest, but my God, he's funny!
I couldn't choose a best scene too, because there were so many!
I hope you are having a lovely weekend!
xxx
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 07:41 pm (UTC)I'm addicted to doing these now! I hope someone in KAT-TUN gets a drama next season so I have one to do then, too. (Well, I guess we can rule out Ueda...)
It's so adorable, I can't cope. And Kame? Kame is comedy GOLD. I am floored by that to be honest, but my God, he's funny!
He is! He's incredible. The timing and everything. I want to track down all those people who say Kame can't do comedy and make them watch it. I'm probably not going to watch the second episode until there are subs (yes, I know I said that about the first one too, but that was when it was just starting and I was desperate to see what it was like) but I know I'm going to have a fantastic time watching these every week.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend!
Not bad, thanks! Failed to find fabulous boots while shopping, but did get a couple of nice cardigans, then managed to get the house looking presentable again in time for parents' return next week. (Watching 1PG this afternoon, though exhausting, was much less tiring than my morning!)
Hope your weekend has calmed down some!
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 10:40 pm (UTC)AND SO PRETTY WHEN IS HE ALWAYS HALF NAKED AND COVERED IN SWEAT AND
I'VE GOT NOTHING
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-19 11:19 pm (UTC)True. It would take a lot to convince me that Kame needs to lose weight! And being in love with a nun, even if she is hot... But oh, he's wonderful!
AND SO PRETTY WHEN IS HE ALWAYS HALF NAKED AND COVERED IN SWEAT
Well, not so sure about that, but half-naked men do absolutely nothing for me so you can keep shirtless Kame and I'll stick with long-sleeved T-shirt-wearing Kame, minus the sweat. ^_^
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 01:37 pm (UTC)Love this drama. Really. It's LOVE.
Kame is cute, adorable, pretty, serious, heartwrenching... funny and you just want to hug him sometimes when he looks so sad, or just laugh at him because he looks sad and pitiful, in the same time he's comical...
My favourite scene in ep 1 is that one when he opens the locker and the food fall out. He was really cute with that guilty look. Also, I like when he and sister Angela had this "eye fight".
Reading the manga at the moment, come to Vol 3. The manga is good too, but the drama is better, because it contains Kame. <3
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 07:40 pm (UTC)Thank you. I'm glad you're still enjoying them!
Kame is cute, adorable, pretty, serious, heartwrenching... funny and you just want to hug him sometimes when he looks so sad, or just laugh at him because he looks sad and pitiful, in the same time he's comical...
Exactly. He manages to be all that, and I think it's pretty amazing. The boy is so good!
Also, I like when he and sister Angela had this "eye fight".
Trying to stare down a nun - it'll never work! ^_^
The manga is good too, but the drama is better, because it contains Kame.
And that, of course, makes anything better! ^_^ Is it worth trying the manga? I suppose it's not really necessary to have read it in order to enjoy the drama...
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 07:11 pm (UTC)I think it's worth to try the manga if you like the mangaka, but it's merely a comedy, her other works are better, have more depth. And since I'm Christian I don't really agree with her view of Christianity, I think the nuns are more "Shintoish" than Christian (but then I don't really know Catholicism that well....)
The manga is only four volumes and the drama don't follow the manga chronological, they always make changes (like persons, situations), but both episodes are included in the manga. It's just, they've already gone to Volume 3 in the drama's storyline, I'm wondering if they will have 'original' storylines in between. How many episodes is this drama, do you know that?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-22 06:53 pm (UTC)Only four volumes, hmm? I guess they must be putting in original material, since there's no way they could stretch it out for a full series. I'm afraid I don't know how many episodes it will be, but if the manga's that short then maybe only 10?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 09:31 pm (UTC)I just wanted to say I really enjoyed reading, and I love what you wrote about Kame here, I totally agree - he's too adorable for words (I feel tired after watching him too!xD)
Plus I totally understand how impossible it is to pick a favourite scene, I don't think I could either!
Would you mind if I add you to friends?, I'd like to keep up to date with future reviews and I just checked your profile and saw I have more than a few interests in common with you as well (Manic Street Preachers, Gundam Seed, yaoi, pretty much all of the JE ones etc.!)^__^
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-20 09:39 pm (UTC)I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I have an unbelievable amount of fun watching and reviewing episodes, and I'm sure the rest of the series will be just as crazy and entertaining.
So...yeah, if you don't mind the weird JE and misc. ramblings that tend to make up the majority of my posts, feel free to pull up a virtual chair and make yourself at home! (Episode 2 of 1PG will not get reviewed until Saturday, though, regardless of when subs come out, because that's the most convenient time for me to watch it.)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 06:00 pm (UTC)I'm sure I'll very much enjoy all the 'wierd JE and misc. ramblings' XD ^_^
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 12:22 pm (UTC)LOL
with the synopsis i was scared to watch 1 pound. LOL (sorry i haven't been commenting much - been overseas to Japan!! so real life got in the way)
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-21 07:10 pm (UTC)Ooh, Japan! Nice! Whereabouts did you go?
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-22 08:42 am (UTC)BUT omg Japan was AMAZING (dream come true almost)!! I loved the place SO SO MUCH. I went everywhere, Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagoya and even into the country towns like Kanazawa, Takayama, Matsuyama, etc. Though, highlight, Yokohama, WHERE I GOT TO SEE NEWS LIVE!! :D (I don't love them as much as Kat-tun but Kat-tun tour on bad dates for me ><)!!! I saw UCHI COME BACK :D
(no subject)
Date: 2008-01-22 06:58 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-06 08:01 am (UTC)Best. description. ever. This really never occurred to me, but asfjkl, it sounds so right.
I'm loving your reviews and 1PG! It'll take a while before I can watch the future episodes, but when I do, I'll probably pop up with random comments. ;D
(no subject)
Date: 2008-02-07 06:49 pm (UTC)Thanks! When I think of fighting and food, Goku is the first person who springs to mind, so I couldn't help but make the comparison. ^_^
I'm loving your reviews and 1PG! It'll take a while before I can watch the future episodes, but when I do, I'll probably pop up with random comments. ;D
Aww, thank you. By all means, pop up! Hope you continue to enjoy, and that you get to watch more soon!