Kijinnmaru wrote:

Just some humor on my part. Simply commenting on how puerile the writing for the series is. The story, and how they deal with everything, is on the same level as something on Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel.

Yep, like i said, what this show needs is a beheading!
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- Douglas

Itazura ichiban wrote:

Yep, like i said, what this show needs is a beheading!

They should start with the screenwriter.

I am now officially done with Atsu-hime. I've endured the lack of storyline and plot. I've endured the pacing that rivals the speed of the sun burning out. I've endured every character having the depth of inflatable kiddie pools. But episode 21 reached a new low in wasting time. I was hoping that once Atsu-hime entered the Ooku, the series would grow up, but it simply refuses to rise past an elemetary school level. We are nearly at the halfway point and it's still Hannah Montana-hime. I can already guess what's likely to happen. Atsu-hime reveals her mission to Iesada, winning his trust and heart. He now trusts her judgement and she'll help make political decisions. But hey, it's Atsu-hime who will save Japan with her smile!

Didn't like Yoshitsune, did you then?

Seeing as there are Satsuma factions involved and trying not too remember too much history, I'll bet there will be some action soon.
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It seems that this thread has been abandoned for quite some time. I am a taiga fan, and I first watched Shinsengumi! After that I watched King of Zipangu, and currently watching Atsu hime (halfway), Toshiie & Matsu (near completion), Fuurin Kazan (early), and Aoi Tokugawa Sandai (early).

Despite all the pros and cons in this thread about Atsu Hime, I actually enjoy it. A good comparison of this series would be against Toshiie & Matsu where the lead role is held by a woman. Although not precisely a "character" taiga, it tells the transformation of a Satsuma girl into a shogun's wife. Other than that, mostly this is about politics. Perhaps this what raise the negative points about the series. Toshiie & Matsu, on the other hand, although have the elements of politics, it was, IMHO, about characters after all, especially Matsu.

I must admit, though, that Atsu hime is not as powerful as Toshiie and Matsu in terms of touching the audiences' emotion. But there were some great scenes, mostly with the Satsuma family. But that's that. Other than that, it changed theme into politics.

While some may think that it is boring because of too much history here, I think that's what a taiga drama has to offer. Romance is merely a backside story. This also applies to Atsu hime. The main theme, however, is changing from one taiga to another. I believe patriotism was the heart of Shinsengumi, a deep character exploration of Oda Nobunaga was the essence of King of Zipangu with the spread of Christianity as a side story. Toshiie and Matsu was mostly about the power of woman in a man's world. I cannot help to think that T&M was mostly about Matsu instead of Toshiie. Military was the side story of it. Now with Atsu Hime, it was actually, IMHO, a politically-themed taiga instead of romance. Although the early episodes were coated with family-theme, it changed once Katsu moved to Edo.

Overall, I think Atsu hime is actually a good taiga. Enjoyable, but not fantastic. As for historical lessons inside, well, that's another reason why I like taiga dramas.

Does anyone happen to know where I can find the english subtitles of taiga dramas? Just the subtitles, not necessarily the entire movie.

I'm watching Atsu-hime, and enjoying it. I have not watched a taiga previously, so have nothing to compare it to. But if i'm enjoying it, it doesn't matter to me what others think of it.

You could try www.d-addicts.com for subtitles. That would be the main source for asian drama subtitles on the net, apart from subbing group websites

@anime dad

that's where i got atsu-hime. somehow, the uploader stopped uploading (whatever his/her reason is) the series and now i got stuck at ep. 25. subtitles for most taiga are not available too, because most of them have been hardsubbed.

eternalfuture wrote:

@anime dad that's where i got atsu-hime. somehow, the uploader stopped uploading (whatever his/her reason is) the series and now i got stuck at ep. 25. subtitles for most taiga are not available too, because most of them have been hardsubbed.

LOL, that's not where I'm getting it from. A friend is recording it hardsubbed from the TV in the USA and is mailing it to me on DVD

Lucky you, anime dad

I'm still stuck with ep 25. I'm not sure when the subtitled version will be uploaded again. Well, at least a separate subtitle text file will do. In the mean time, I'm proceeding to watch Fuurin Kazan, and probably Yoshitsune.

Just watched episode 1-4 (Thanks to Anime Dad! (and Ralph too))

It was pretty enjoyable. Simple and easy to follow and unexpectedly light-hearted(for now) for a Taiga series . But I have only watched 5 episodes of Toshie to Matsu before, so not much reference. I like the Dad, Tadatake(oh, he was the guy in News no Onna), and the lord, Nariakira, was very good too.

xploring wrote:

and the lord, Nariakira, was very good too.

Takahashi Hideki. He's like, the guy you want as your samurai lord, ne? I think he's perfect as Nariakira.

I am unaware of any woman in Japanese history getting this close to reigning as Shogun or Mikado. I think that this was the attraction of this story for NHK.
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Itazura ichiban wrote:

I am unaware of any woman in Japanese history getting this close to reigning as Shogun or Mikado. I think that this was the attraction of this story for NHK.

There were empresses very early on in history, actually. They were the exception, but they existed. One thing learned from my Women in Japanese History class.
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Trade with me!!! Marspeach's Drama Trades!!!

I found Atsuhime very easy to watch, flew right through to episode 22 in just a few days. But if I had any expectation to begin with, I think I probably would have been disappointed.

The story when Atsuhime was in Satsuma was very enjoyable. But after that, I don't really understand her motivation for giving up her family and going through all that... To me, the characterisation is lacking, I couldn't really put together her care-free/inquisitive side with her determined side. Perhaps because I am not Japanese? (or well-informed on Japanese history) The story, though slow, is watchable, but I felt there wasn't a lot of substance, or meaningful revelations. Like in the beginning with the character of Zusho(?, the old councillor who fixed Satsuma's finance).

The end of episode 22 was interesting. But reading the summary for the next few episodes, and not feeling particularly drawn to the impending crisis, I am not sure whether I want to continue watching....

ralphm1999 wrote:

Fumiya kun's mother is in the cast also but I forgot where.

Yeah, I thought it was her.

Accidentally I watched th 25th episode and now I just can't stop.
It's very unllkely for a taiga dorama to have a huge portion of a love story

love it!

PS: How come Masato Sakai's name is not on the cast list?

xploring wrote:

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Tenchijin The cast list looks promising at the moment...

Aw, geez, shudō.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoe_Kanetsugu
I am going to miss Tenshōin sama.
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- Douglas

Watching this drama from beginning on TV in California. Only at weekends which is a pity. the story flows better if you can carry episodes quickly.
I have enjoyed this taiga very much. I agree that our Atsuhime is not at all like the real princess. If you look at her photograph you can then see that she would indeed be a very strong woman even locked away in the Ooku. Guess we have to have a pretty Atsu to keep us interested.

This drama otherwise, follows the history quite closely.

I think we are far ahead of th drama you are discussing so I will not spoil it .

I think if you stay with this you will enjoy how things are turning out. It is quite unusual for any woman, especially in the Ooku, to be as invasive into national politics as Atsu was. I always love taigas because of the beauty of the settings and the lovely costumes. It is interesting to see how hairstyles take on importance depending on the position of the
woman.I was also interested in the history of Satsuma.
The shinsengumi caused a lot of division once they began to act in Kyoto. The times were scary and when you realise what was happening in the outside world it is not surprising that the old Japan was sitting on an upheaval in so many ways.

Didn't you like Eita?? He loved Atsu so much. If only his message for marriage had been in time...history would have been diferent ..at least for Atsu. How could she not she this love staring her in the face.

This drama is a way to learn about the social lives of the people who lived in palaces and the women who were used as pawns for politics.

I guess it was still going on in the Western world..certainly in the days of Queen Victora in UK. she was amazing in the way she tied European countriesin to friendly relations with UK by marrying her children to other royals....Lasted a long time. Lasted a long time in Japan also but with greater changes socially.

Peg

^ I've finished up to episode 30, but I don't have any more eps to watch until my next batch of discs arrive

Anime Dad wrote:

^ I've finished up to episode 30, but I don't have any more eps to watch until my next batch of discs arrive

I think they showed ep 39 last week, so you're not that far behind.

gaijinmark wrote:

I think they showed ep 39 last week, so you're not that far behind.

Yatta! Ralph's been sending them 10 eps at a time. so it won't be long