流れ星 Episode Recaps #1

This show is turning out to be a very good drama. In just two days, I have watched 5 episodes. Just couldn’t stop myself. I see so many parallels in terms of the relationships, like metaphors of each other. Really like what the script writers are doing here. It left me thinking alot. Of the relationships, of the juxtapositioning again. It is one of the few dramas that I felt this compelled to write about. So have decided to do episode recaps. So that I can summarise and comment. To give my two cents worth.

The drama starts with the sound of bells that signals the gates closing for the trains. It’s a familiar sound, one that I kind of miss actually, but that’s not the story here. Anyway, we see the close up of Risa’s (Ueto) tear-streaked face. She is standing on the tracks and the train is coming towards her. Sad to say, I think for a lot of Japanese, that’s their way of getting out of an unsolvable situation – suicide by train. Her face shows the calmness of someone who has already made up her mind.

Tear-streaked Risa waiting for the train to knock her when suddenly a man dashes out to save her.

Suddenly, someone dashes across the tracks and tries to pull her away. She remains on the tracks, refusing to be pulled to safety. As the two struggle, Risa turns and faces the man (Takenouchi’s Kengo) who is trying to pull her away. They seem to recognize each other. Then, opening title.

Next scene is a month ago. We see Kengo on a bicycle, commuting to work at the aquarium. He seems to get on well with his colleagues. And his younger sister, Maria, as well, as we see that she is present at the wedding dress boutique where Kengo and his fiancée, Minako, are choosing a wedding dress. Just outside the boutique, we see Risa sitting. She is later joined by her boyfriend. They go for a bite where Boyfriend (don’t remember his name) invites her to his hometown in Kobe. He seems happy that she’s agreed, but she gets called away by work.

Inside the shop, Kengo is helping fiancee Minako select a wedding dress. Outside, Risa meets up with Boyfriend.

Work is something seedy in a sleazy place. I’m guessing that she is in the sex trade, although in this particular case, she is only giving the old baldy man a back massage. She is not happy working here (but who would be?), but is staying because she has taken a loan from the owner.

Risa giving a stressed-out baldy man a back message. At home another sleazebag in the form of her brother awaits her return.

Talking about seedy and sleazy, a sleazebag is waiting for her at home – her brother (starring the less known member of SMAP, Inagaki). The way he talks to her and the physical contact hints at something incestuous. Well, it seems, brother owes loan-sharks money and has searched high and low for Risa to “borrow” money. Not the first time it seemed. Risa has had enough. She runs out of the house and ends up at the aquarium where Kengo is working. They meet when it is time to close the aquarium and Kengo tells her some facts about jellyfishes, like how they dissolve into the sea when they die.

Kengo and Risa talking about jellyfish anatomy. Kengo and mom discussing Maria’s health with cutie Dr Kamiya.

Speaking of death, it is waiting ominously at the doorsteps of Maria’s house. After fainting in school, she was hospitalized and we soon learn that she has liver disease and is waiting for a suitable donor. Her doctor, Matsuda’s Dr Kamiya (isn’t he a bit too young and cute to be a specialist doctor??), tells Kengo and mum that Maria’s butin count is high and that putting her on the waiting list for a cavader liver transplant might take a long time. It would be better to find a suitable donor from family members. Kengo and mum volunteers, but unfortunately, both were found to be unsuitable, and none of the extended family members are willing to take the risk. Dr throws them a lifeline – family members include in-laws, meaning that Kengo’s wife would also be considered a possible live donor. This rule is to prevent the possibility of the poor selling their organs. I think this law is common in many countries. Anyway, mum goes on her knees and begs fiancée Minako. The shocked Minako asks for more time to think about it.

Mom begging Minako to donate her liver. Kengo and Risa meets again.

Kengo and Risa meets again, outside the aquarium. She is drunk and begs Kengo to allow her into the aquarium. They go to the jellyfish tank. Kengo talks to her about marine biology, but seems to be able to sense that something is troubling her.

Some time has past and Minako has had the chance to think about it, and unfortunately, she’s not going to do it – donate her liver to her future sister-in-law. Her reason – her parents are against it. I guess she is also not that willing herself. Kengo doesn’t come right out and break up with her, but it’s obvious the wedding is not going to take place.

Minako apologizing for not being able to donate her liver. Risa attempts to murder sleazy brother.

And it’s back to Risa’s apartment again where her brother is waiting for her again. Risa is sick of it, having to pay for her brother’s debts. It didn’t help that he has conned Boyfriend from Kobe into coughing up 3 million yen for a bogus business deal. Risa grabs the kitchen knife and attempts to kill her brother. Failing so, she tries to slit her own throat, but only succeeds in slicing brother’s hand. She runs out and decides to end it all by standing in the way of a train. And this leads us to the struggling scene at the beginning of the episode.

Kengo pulls Risa to safety. “Would you become my family?”

Kengo manages to pull Risa to safety, much to her annoyance. She had wanted to die. Then, as Risa walks away, Kengo asks her how much her debt is. That stopped her. And then, Kengo asks a very strange question. He asks Risa if she could be part of his family. That, I have to say, is the strangest way for someone to propose, no? Risa must have wondered too because she echoed, “family?” “I want to marry you,” he says.

Comments
Why do I like this drama? Because I think the scripting is very tight. There are many parallels and juxtapositions and the moral questions that are asked.
Firstly, I like it that they have managed to start and end the episode at the train tracks, putting the back story in between. That is like tight story-telling.
Then, there is the relationship between Kengo and his sister, and Risa and her brother. Complete opposite. The physical contact between the 2 sets of siblings just feels so different. And of course the concern that Kengo has for his sister is totally different from Risa’s brother, who only sees her as a money tree to exploit.

The other is something I’ve mentioned before, the selling of one’s body. In this case, Risa turns from selling her body in the sex trade, to selling her organ. Okay, maybe this is too soon, since she hasn’t agreed to it yet. The thing is, with both, do you judge her for it? While I’m condoning either of these, I think the writers have made it such that we can sympathise with her, as well with Kengo, for their drastic measures. It’s a kind of survival, no?

結婚してほしい。
Without hesitation, my answer would have been “Yes”. If the person asking is Takenouchi, don’t have to consider, don’t care for what reason. YES!