When Jigoku Shoujo (anime) came out, it got a generally mediocre review due to its lack of story and budget but somehow, a second season and a live action dorama are now airing. I haven’t seen any episodes of the anime this season since it’s one of those series that are on the back burner for me, but from what I have read on the Internet, it continues the same grain as the first season, meaning stand-alone episodes, with no continuing story. Rewinding a little further, when I heard that a Jigoku Shoujo live action dorama is coming out earlier this year, I was a little skeptical about it. Is the Japanese TV writers so lacking in material that they are going to adopt Jigoku Shoujo? I thought that Jigoku Shoujo is not a show that would reproduce well in live action setting, and its lack of a continuing stories its biggest pit fall for keeping viewers interested.
Strangely enough though, its lack of a continuing story was one of its draws for me when I watched the first season. While I also liked its not-very-horror theme and, to be honest, Emma Ai saying “ippen shinde miru”, the biggest reason why I kept watching. It was because I don’t have to care if I miss the next episode or not. An irony, that a show that I don’t care if I miss the next episode or not would keep me downloading and watching it every week, but when I turn on Jigoku Shoujo, I don’t have to think, “so what happened in last week’s episode” or “I wonder what’s going to happen next week?” I also don’t have to wait in front of the computer for the fansubber to release an episode, start the download, and hold my breath (unlike when I watched Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu).
Synopsis (1/2 hour episode):
The Jigoku Shoujo dorama seem to follow the same format, from what I have seem in the first episode and the preview of the second episode. The first episode tells of a story of a high school girl, Miyazaki Yuu, who lives in a poor single-parent family, but strives to overcome her handicap by getting an early acceptance (or is it a letter of recommendation? I’m not sure even with the Chinese subtitles) for university. However, behind the positive attitude she shows in front of her mother, she is being bullied by her classmate Rina. Basically, the bullying escalades until finally, Yuu contacts Emma Ai via Jigoku Tsuushin, a website that only appears at 12 midnight. Emma Ai appears to Yuu and gives her a doll that has a red ribbon on it, and tells her that but pulling the red ribbon, she would form a compact with Jigoku Shoujo, Yuu will get her wish after pulling the ribbon, but she would also fall into hell. Emma Ai then shows Yuu what burning in hell fire would be like, and vanishes.
The next day, Yuu continue to be bullied by Rina, even to the point of loosing her early acceptance because Rina framed her. When she was crying alone on the roof, she heard Rina saying tha Yuu was bullied and framed because Rina wants the early acceptance and Yuu beat her to it. Hearing the reason for her bullying, Yuu confronts Rina demanding an explanation, but was pushed away. In the process, her watch, which is a memento from her father and gift from her mother for her early acceptance, fell from her wrist. Rina then proceeded to crush the watch with her foot while saying the poor people should know their place. Heartbroken and with fury in her heart, she pulled the red string on the doll Emma Ai gave her. The servants of Emma Ai appeared to Rina, admonishes her actions against Yuu, and demanded to know if she has any shame. When she refused to admit her wrong doings, Emma Ai appears and sends Rina to hell, doing her famous “ippen shinde miru” and boat routine. Yuu is then shown to have her watch fixed and the mark on her chest, but she lives on with her grudge faded.
Impression:
Pretty regular Jigoku Shoujo stuff, I have the say. The acting of Emma Ai’s actress is only so so, and her facial expressions rather wooden. The three servants of Emma Ai are a little better, but still only B rate stuff. The CG effects during “the scare” is also pretty bad, bordering on cheesy. However, the pacing of the show is not bad at all, and the 30 minutes went by very quickly. Well, I got to hear Emma Ai do her “ippen shinde miru” and I’m happy about it. I’m also very very hooked onto the ED song, “Dream Catcher” by Olivia, and playing the song ripped from the ED constantly. Can’t wait ‘til the CD comes out
wow teher will be a movie on Jigoku Shoujo, I havent expected that
@LostSeraph92 It’s not so much a movie as a TV series. Yeah, I didn’t expect it either, but I just download the second episode and will be watching it tomorrow.
i just decided to catch up on your blog cuz i hadn’t read it in a while. i actually watched this ep, but haven’t watched any new releases yet. and of course, i watch in english cuz i can’t read chinese for shit. ^^;
anyway, it was a so-so series. i haven’t seen the anime, and i’m not sure if that’s good or bad. the acting was meh, but the theme’s interesting. i kinda wish there is a continuing storyline though. i’d probably be more interested.
i like the hot guy as one of the tree sidekicks. haha. he’s a singer, apparantly. i watched his PV for “vampire”. it was amusing. ^^
well, about the show itself, it actually reminded me of the drama for “princess princess d”. i only saw one episode of that also, but amazingly, this is actually better. i also saw that there’s a drama for “hana kimi”. makes me wonder who’s making all these anime to drama shows. they’re all so b grade, i’m not sure i want more. heh.
luckily, hana yori dango 2 is coming out soon. yay! ^_^
@seraph: Thanks for the comment. The show is not being subbed with much priority, since this is a pretty low budget and middle to low rated show. I’m lucky that there are Chinese subs out.
I didn’t know that Ichimoku’s actor is a singer. O.o
Well, JS and Pricess^2 D are aired in the same time slot, and both are low budget show….
Oh… Hana Kimi… must anticipate! (Yes, it’s probably my favourite Shoujo manga.) Not too sure about Hana Yori Dango 2, though, but then I was never a fan of the manga.
I wonder when will full version of ‘Dream Catcher’ release?
SOOOOOOO CUTIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE IT!! I WISH I HAVE THE ENMA AI DOLL, THAT SELL’S IN JAPAN!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
cute
WA EW EW EW!!! they look soooo UGLY! (the person in live action show thingy) especialy AI !!!! soooo ugly the lips and cheacks are so ew! so ugly!
i luv them all more than anything in the world!!!
Well for the live action series….it was bad.. compared to Jigoku Shoujo the Anime..sigh disappointed…
Emma ai’s actress is not matching with the character, for a few reasons, FIRST! the eyes are not big enough… there goes the red eye sigh, SECOND! her height is 2 tall for Emma Ai, and LASTLY! The facial features arent creepy and cute enough to match Emma Ai
if the creator of this live action is going to leave this points out they might as well get MAMIKO NOTO to act in it, since she is the Voice Actress for Emma Ai and she would be fitting for the character
Wanyuudoo is NOT BALD and oldman-ish (example: the deep voice, the wise looking face etc etc) and the acting is ….. -.- cant say anymore
Hone Onda is
sry abt that i wasnt finish when i accdentally press enter =.=
Hone Onda is JUST TOOOOOOO OLD!!!TOO FREAKING OLD and she dont look beautiful!! at all
ichimaku ren … nth 2 say he fits the role perfectly
and the whole show, the creepyness is not there, is just not there
this is more like for jigoku shoujo fans although they will be dissapointed sigh~ i am also very sad U.U wuuu~ wuuu~
btw they should get Snow to sing for the theme tho, it will add more to the originality
tök jó!
The girl is more like Makino Tsukushi from HYD than Enma Ai. Someone with bigger eyes [preferrably Maki Horikita] would be better.