Bhavna

When I see the romantic notion of marriage that the Japanese dramas create, I need to remind myself: Life in this world is not like that- people stay miserably married while claiming a “Happily ever after” on the surface. To be honest I never understood why or how “Bucho” fell in love with Hotaru- to be clear, Hotaru is like a mirror of myself. I can relate to her lifestyle (except for the beer part), but the need to be free in solitude and recharge my battery on my own. Honestly I don’t think she needs a man, not emotionally at least. She’s fine on her own and doesn’t like to think too deeply about things. She knows how to take care of herself- keeping a polished image at work, while being her true honest self at home. To have a man who sees that true self and genuinely falls in love with her- well, I can say it only happens in the J drama universe. And that’s why I’m here for that. Sometimes Hotaru really annoys me in this series- like how she misses so many engagements with Bucho and then apologizes each time. And she often doesn’t keep her promises. She talks a big talk and then fails to deliver. She’s constantly disappointing her fiancée in that way, to the point where at one point when she blew him off 3 times in a row he left the house to stay in a hotel to get space from her. Why? Because she’s annoying! Her way of living only works for her, so I would advocate that she should be alone and happy and free. She would be just fine alone. I think putting her in a marriage box and making her conform to the manager’s expectations is doing her sovereign lifestyle a disservice. Here are a couple more things I found annoying:

-Why is one of the tracksuit pockets always turned inside out like a floppy kidney hanging from her hip! It’s so gross and it annoys me to no end! Hotaru is lovable but she’s also annoying! How is that possible…

-How does Hotaru not have a potbelly after drinking all that beer? And does Bucho cook every single day and night, because Hotaru seems incapable of making edible food..

-Hotaru goes to Hong Kong for 3 years and doesn’t answer a single letter or email from Bucho like what on earth? But this just shows that she is more suited to live a free and single life rather than with some dude.

-How she keeps saying “Bucho” for every reply- sometimes in a scene, (I guess for humor) all she says is “Bucho” and while she is sovereign and free, she comes across as a clingy child who’s worshipping this manager- and it just sounds like an employer-employee relationship even at home. And the way she says it grates on my ears.

-What’s up with the other lady with the kid - the ex-girlfriend of Bucho? Like what in the actual heck is up with her? She continues to encourage Hotaru and Bucho’s relationship while actively sabotaging it by coyly asking Bucho to tie her Yukata, trying to sleep with him, and seduce him every chance she gets- like tie the yukata yourself you indecent woman! She really annoyed me. And then her kid turns out to be another version of herself, as she manipulates Bucho into staying the night with both of them, and then Hotaru comes to their cabin and sees Bucho lying there with this ex-girlfriend lady practically sleeping on top of him. What on earth?! How is this okay? Why wasn’t it addressed by anyone? Why didn’t Hotaru get mad and demand an explanation? Why didn’t anyone hold this sly woman accountable for her actions? And yet Bucho acts so jealous and rigid when it comes to the young crush guy that likes Hotaru even though they never did anything. Which leads me to…

-The young guy who likes Hotaru.. I feel like being a Himono-otoko himself, he could have understood Hotaru in a better way and I wish they could have deepened their relationship more. Like ditch the manager for a few months and date this guy for a change. But who knows, maybe it was just an ego thing for him, like wanting to compete with the manager to steal his woman.

Anyways in the end they show how Bucho accepts this offer in Taiwan for 3 months and she starts becoming disciplined. That was nice to see.. and then in the end they’re planning to marry I guess. Now I have to move on to the movie and see what other young crush comes along to steal away Hotaru… With that said, the actress who plays Hotaru (she’s also in Hitori de shinitai/I want to die alone)- and I think she has such a beautiful, exquisite face. I do see a pattern in her themes though, and I like it!