Massan Episode 3

Episode 3: Etiquette (and we will make them accept us!)

This episode focuses on Ellie's continued pursuit of gaining acceptance and her openness to learning Japanese customs and rituals (in some ways, not so much in others)

1. Ellie experiences her first 'Japanese dining table'. This is different because traditionally, you kneel or sit on a cushion and you have a little mini table. They arrive for dinner, only to find that Ellie has no table. Masaharu asks his mother, and she tells him (his mother never looks at or really acknowledges Ellie) that she is not family, but she can eat with the maids.

2.Angry, Masaharu says they will eat in his rooms. There Ellie shows how upset she is, and shares that this is just like Scotland. In a flashback, we see her talking to her mother, Rosemarie, who is vehement that she not marry Masaharu. Her mother says it isn't right because he is Japanese and she is Scottish, and Ellie says that shouldn't matter. Then her mother tells her that in Japan, they will never accept a foreigner and she will be bullied and mistreated and basically live a horrible life.

3.Ellie's last words to her mother, it seems, are essentially 'I'll show you! They will think I am Japanese!' so she's pretty determined and a tough cookie. But she is upset that not only does her mother seem to be right, but no one has congratulated them on their marriage, just like back home. Masaharu takes her in his arms and reassures her that everything will be fine (aww!!)

4.I guess her batteries recharged thanks to Masaharu, she is encouraged to keep trying. The next morning she is sweeping in front of the home, singing a Scottish song in English, and greeting whoever walks by. The people she greets are clearly not comfortable and bow before running away. Shimaji comes outside and tells her to stop cleaning because it's his job and he will get in trouble--then he proceeds to toss water on the ground because it helps the dust settle (he says it's an old Japanese trick but people have done that everywhere) and she wants to try, upsetting him. They fight over the little water pale and she rips away, dumping water on a man behind her.
Who turns out to be Masaharu's father! Lol. She apologizes and he tells her not to worry before heading her inside, and she's like is that dad, and Shimaji nods his head and says this isn't good

5.His father talks to his mother, who is adamant that he say something to their son about this Ellie. And he just nods his head and says well, I have work to do, leaving his wife annoyed. It seems that since he married into the family, he has really made sake his life and even collects rice in the field. Here Masahaur meets him for the first time in years and have a heart-to-heart.

6.But they don't talk about Ellie. They talk about Sake and whiskey. He explains to his father his desire to brew whiskey, and part of the reason he wants to make is the challenge, and he compares it to his father who managed to make sake in spite of not having the best water to work with. We also learn that Masaharu first had whiskey when he was 20 and said he never knew something so delicious could exist....his father tells him that if he really wants to make whiskey, then he should be willing to risk everything ?

7.We go Ellie who is scrubbing pots in the kitche. Chikoko, big sister, comes in and tells her that her cleaning is making problems for the maids. Ellie either doesn't understand or ignores this and asks what the brush is, learning a new word, and chikoko tells her. She then tells her that their mother isn't mean, she is just acting in the best interests of the family. Ellie smiles and says that means she must work harder to earn her approval, and this leaves elder sister speechless.

8. It's finally the day of the memorial service. Ellie wears her first kimono and she complains that while it is lovely, it's extremely uncomfortable. Sumire laughs and says that she will get used to it. Alone, Masaharu and Ellie practice the greeting to the priest (he plans to have the priest accept her since his mother respects him so much) and what results is an incredibly adorable scene

Conclusion: the leads in this show have so much chemistry I wish they were dating in real life.

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