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The Journey to Staying by Your Side
I actually found about Anakoro by accident. Watching the S1 only 2 weeks before S2 was broadcast.
The thing that hooked me to this drama both S1 and S2 is the initial background story.
The S1 focused more on Odajima's journey and struggle to kill Kataoka to avenge Asahi's death, while S2 focused more on their past, mainly Odajima's.
Then let's talk about S2.
___________________________
Odajima, despite having such a peaceful life with Kataoka, he still carried his past nightmare.
His killing the parents, Asahi's death, and Kataoka got shot, took a bullet for him. Those things affected him a lot.
His nightmare revolved around death. He didn't mind losing his own life but he really couldn't lift those nightmare shackles.
Whenever he started to feel in peace and happy, his nightmare haunted him again.
As for Kataoka, his father's death and his mother's breakdown after losing the father is what made him making the oath.
An oath which was taken after joining Yakuza, that he will never marry and settle down with a woman, because he didn't want to repeat his parents' heartbreaking experience all over again.
Then he met Odajima, a very devoted man who's willing to go through life and death with him.
Odajima's dead-set actions to protect him, to stay by his side really rendered Kataoka to a complete helplessness and also delightful feeling.
Teen Odajima fell in love at first sight with Kataoka, while Kataoka also noticed Odajima's existence around the same time.
I'm pretty sure that Kataoka might have taken a liking to Odajima around that time, but never made any further movement.
Long story short, Kataoka finally fell in love with Odajima.
When he proposed in S1 E3, while using the 'taking responsibility' as the reason, despite knowing Odajima wanted to kill him, he also knew that Odajima sincerely loved him. And he also loved Odajima.
Marrying Odajima was what Kataoka really wanted. He found a companion, a devoted lover, a partner to go through heaven and hell together. The right person that he also dearly loved.
If Odajima fell in love first, then Kataoka fell much harder. When he had decided to marry Odajima, he proudly announced it and acknowledged Odajima's position in his life.
From Honsai to Yome, then escalating to Koinyobo.
Kataoka just wanted to tell everyone that Odajima was his one and only beloved wife [spouse].
And also the Kinkin Renren app. That app loudly announced to the world that Kataoka really loved Odajima. So much in love with him.
For Kataoka, Odajima was his anchor, his companion, his motivation to live a better life and grow old together.
For Odajima, Kataoke is his safehaven, his source of peace and happiness, his only reason to survive and live.
Kataoka didn't need to say 'I love you' to express his love, but simply by saying 'Live your life with me, Ren' because that is what Odajima needed, a reason to live.
Odajima didn't need to say it loudly either.
His 'I never thought of leaving your side' and 'I will protect you and never let you die'.
His reckless effort fighting the whole VOID gang so that he would also be captured and able to reunite with Kataoka, or his unwavering effort to protect Kataoka in times of danger.
Those things deliver more lethal effects to Kataoka than just simply saying 'I love you'.
____________________________
S2 is really about the past, and also to express the depth of their feelings and relationship that has never been shown before.
There a lot of flashback scenes presented in this season, which perhaps for some people, considered to be an annoying factor.
But those flashback scenes are important, serves as a bridge to define the main point of this season, the messages that want to be delivered.
The bitter, painful past experiences shaped of what they have become today, but it will not define their future.
The past served as remembrance, as a reminder for their present and future choice.
Asahi's existence is also served as a reminder for Odajima, a positive reminder that he is free. Free to live, free to choose, free to love.
They, once in a while, might reminisce about the past but it should not serve as their shackles to live a happy and peaceful life together, to love and be loved.
So... I think, despite the Yakuza theme, there are more meaningful messages that this drama wants to deliver.
Free youself from the bitter shackles, live your life to the fullest, and never give up on it. Life is too precious to be wasted.
__________________________
Masanari Wada and Takahashi Hiroto definitely have had improved their acting in this season.
They didn't do much preparations beforehand, but had more discussions and brainstorming on set.
6 episodes only, indeed, but they still managed to give a solid performance, stronger than before.
Not much additional words said, but you can see their feelings through their eyes, their expressions, their gestures. Things that not much shown on S1.
And we got a wedding scene as a sweet bonus for being devoted to this drama.
Sweet, but not overdo, held in the place where Kataoka proposed for the first time.
Kirii Keito and Hikari Hanao, the additional characters that turned the whole plot twist, sweet yet hilarious plot twist.
Kazuki for his adoration to Renren, Eiji to Kataoka-san, Ihashi-san, Kumakura-san, even Papa Kataoka who only showed up for a minute or two but gave a deadly impact for me.
So... Is this season still worth to watch? My answer is YES!! DEFINITELY YES!! BIG YES!!
For me, yes this S2 is even more successful and meaningful than the S1.
So, if you have got hooked by the S1, I can assure you that you won't get disappointed by this S2.
Thank you Anakoro team for delivering such wonderful dorama to us.
I personally really touched by your work. Thank you so much.
🧡💐🫶🏼😊
________________________________
'We are free. It's because we're free that we can choose not to be. That's why I married you. I have never once thought of leaving your side. Live your life with me. If it's with you, we'll be together in life and death.'
_________________________________
The thing that hooked me to this drama both S1 and S2 is the initial background story.
The S1 focused more on Odajima's journey and struggle to kill Kataoka to avenge Asahi's death, while S2 focused more on their past, mainly Odajima's.
Then let's talk about S2.
___________________________
Odajima, despite having such a peaceful life with Kataoka, he still carried his past nightmare.
His killing the parents, Asahi's death, and Kataoka got shot, took a bullet for him. Those things affected him a lot.
His nightmare revolved around death. He didn't mind losing his own life but he really couldn't lift those nightmare shackles.
Whenever he started to feel in peace and happy, his nightmare haunted him again.
As for Kataoka, his father's death and his mother's breakdown after losing the father is what made him making the oath.
An oath which was taken after joining Yakuza, that he will never marry and settle down with a woman, because he didn't want to repeat his parents' heartbreaking experience all over again.
Then he met Odajima, a very devoted man who's willing to go through life and death with him.
Odajima's dead-set actions to protect him, to stay by his side really rendered Kataoka to a complete helplessness and also delightful feeling.
Teen Odajima fell in love at first sight with Kataoka, while Kataoka also noticed Odajima's existence around the same time.
I'm pretty sure that Kataoka might have taken a liking to Odajima around that time, but never made any further movement.
Long story short, Kataoka finally fell in love with Odajima.
When he proposed in S1 E3, while using the 'taking responsibility' as the reason, despite knowing Odajima wanted to kill him, he also knew that Odajima sincerely loved him. And he also loved Odajima.
Marrying Odajima was what Kataoka really wanted. He found a companion, a devoted lover, a partner to go through heaven and hell together. The right person that he also dearly loved.
If Odajima fell in love first, then Kataoka fell much harder. When he had decided to marry Odajima, he proudly announced it and acknowledged Odajima's position in his life.
From Honsai to Yome, then escalating to Koinyobo.
Kataoka just wanted to tell everyone that Odajima was his one and only beloved wife [spouse].
And also the Kinkin Renren app. That app loudly announced to the world that Kataoka really loved Odajima. So much in love with him.
For Kataoka, Odajima was his anchor, his companion, his motivation to live a better life and grow old together.
For Odajima, Kataoke is his safehaven, his source of peace and happiness, his only reason to survive and live.
Kataoka didn't need to say 'I love you' to express his love, but simply by saying 'Live your life with me, Ren' because that is what Odajima needed, a reason to live.
Odajima didn't need to say it loudly either.
His 'I never thought of leaving your side' and 'I will protect you and never let you die'.
His reckless effort fighting the whole VOID gang so that he would also be captured and able to reunite with Kataoka, or his unwavering effort to protect Kataoka in times of danger.
Those things deliver more lethal effects to Kataoka than just simply saying 'I love you'.
____________________________
S2 is really about the past, and also to express the depth of their feelings and relationship that has never been shown before.
There a lot of flashback scenes presented in this season, which perhaps for some people, considered to be an annoying factor.
But those flashback scenes are important, serves as a bridge to define the main point of this season, the messages that want to be delivered.
The bitter, painful past experiences shaped of what they have become today, but it will not define their future.
The past served as remembrance, as a reminder for their present and future choice.
Asahi's existence is also served as a reminder for Odajima, a positive reminder that he is free. Free to live, free to choose, free to love.
They, once in a while, might reminisce about the past but it should not serve as their shackles to live a happy and peaceful life together, to love and be loved.
So... I think, despite the Yakuza theme, there are more meaningful messages that this drama wants to deliver.
Free youself from the bitter shackles, live your life to the fullest, and never give up on it. Life is too precious to be wasted.
__________________________
Masanari Wada and Takahashi Hiroto definitely have had improved their acting in this season.
They didn't do much preparations beforehand, but had more discussions and brainstorming on set.
6 episodes only, indeed, but they still managed to give a solid performance, stronger than before.
Not much additional words said, but you can see their feelings through their eyes, their expressions, their gestures. Things that not much shown on S1.
And we got a wedding scene as a sweet bonus for being devoted to this drama.
Sweet, but not overdo, held in the place where Kataoka proposed for the first time.
Kirii Keito and Hikari Hanao, the additional characters that turned the whole plot twist, sweet yet hilarious plot twist.
Kazuki for his adoration to Renren, Eiji to Kataoka-san, Ihashi-san, Kumakura-san, even Papa Kataoka who only showed up for a minute or two but gave a deadly impact for me.
So... Is this season still worth to watch? My answer is YES!! DEFINITELY YES!! BIG YES!!
For me, yes this S2 is even more successful and meaningful than the S1.
So, if you have got hooked by the S1, I can assure you that you won't get disappointed by this S2.
Thank you Anakoro team for delivering such wonderful dorama to us.
I personally really touched by your work. Thank you so much.
🧡💐🫶🏼😊
________________________________
'We are free. It's because we're free that we can choose not to be. That's why I married you. I have never once thought of leaving your side. Live your life with me. If it's with you, we'll be together in life and death.'
_________________________________
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