Summary:
Fujii Touya has a dream where it sounds like his idol girlfriend Morikawa Yuki is trying to break up with him but he can’t hear anything she says. He then wakes up to find that he has already overslept and gotten fired from the part-time job he just got. Then it’s on to Yuunagi University where he spends about a minute chatting with Yuki before she is whisked away by her manager, Shinozuka Yayoi. Yuki is a rising idol working with Ogata Rina and Eiji in Ogata Productions, and it seems she barely has any time for Touya now.
We then get a brief scene with Touya’s friend Nanase Akira and Akira’s longtime crush Sawakura Misaki. Misaki lends Touya a book of Robert Browning poems, and Touya also runs into childhood friend Kawashima Haruka. Haruka used to be a tennis phenom, but she’s been in a funk since her brother died. We then watch Touya and Akira run into Eiji while working at Echoes Cafe, Touya’s widower dad deny his loser son additional funds, and Touya grow frustrated at being unable to spend time with Yuki. Yuki is busy making lemonade out of lemons as she foils a plot by the jealous Sakura-dan to embarass her and scores brownie points with Rina.
Reaction:
This first episode was slow, and yet the flood of characters made things a little confusing. I had a hard time believing it was November 1986, though; where were the huge shoulder pads? The fluffy hair? As nostalgic as those phone cards made me, I felt like I was watching modern teens who had forgotten their cell phones. And what exactly does the Sakura-dan do besides sit on benches and look sullen? I’d be pissed if my backup singers suddenly showed up wearing retarded punky outfits that didn’t match my own glamorous dress, but I guess Rina hates the Sakura-dan that much.
This week pretty much established that Touya is a total loser and his friend Akira is not much better. Still, I don’t blame Touya for being frustrated over his pseudo-long-distance relationship and I think the constant tape delays really hammered this point home. Although the memories and little text bits were a bit confusing at first, I liked how they were utilized and I figure I will get used to them. I’m not sure who to root for yet, but I’m convinced Rina will backstab Yuki and steal Touya before too long.
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8 Comments
The moment Rina appeared, I knew she was going to steal Touya as well. She hasn’t done it yet, but I can sense it. All the characters are rather dull and boring though, but I still like watching this even though I hate it at the same time.
I was thinking that as well, but then I don’t remember a lot of Japanese girls having fluffy hair back when I was in Japan in the late 80’s. I do remember some guys having perms and even high-top fades when Kid-n-Play came out. *lol*
The only thing that gives this away as an 80’s title are the pay phones, corded phones, and certain other technology. Otherwise, I agree that it seems like a modern-day tale, only everyone forgot their cell phones.
I believe that one of the pitfalls of White Album is to proactively project the expectations of what we KNOW will happen later, and consequently miss the developments which lead to that and the root causes which trigger them. Since we start in the unusual situation of an established relationship, but at the same time know that the show is a romance drama, we can be reasonably sure that Rina WILL try to get close to Touya, but we should be very careful not to conclude this development BEFORE the anime gives clear indications about it. See what I mean?
In the beginning I see no reason whatsoever not to take the Yuki/Rina friendship as fully genuine. If anything, I’m most curious about what will cause things to change later – and here, I honestly doubt it’s going to be as simple as “it’s in Rina’s nature to pursue the boyfriend of Yuki”. Let’s see what happens.
I was pretty excited about this show before it aired. As a fan of shows like this (which admittedly, heavily contrasts with my love of all things giant robot) I was quite disappointed by the sheer boredom of the first episode. Still I’ve downloaded the next few, and when I’m bored enough I will watch em.
The one interesting to note is that the Nikkei is at around the same now as it was in 1986. The more things change…
one of us! one of us!! Still not sure whether Rina will indeed be a man-snatcher, though. Have to wait for more eps to conclude that.
and surprisingly enough, after 4 episodes, I still don’t know who to root for… orz.
I knew it was the 80s right when I saw this :3 But then again, exactly when did the Japanese get to see E.T.? Oh well, too lazy to find out (also, I think the second plushy might be Marty McFly from Back to the Future, but I can’t be certain)
Mmm hmm, yup, this will be the girl I’ll roost for! NOE FANCLUB MEMBER 159!!!… yea, I know that she doesn’t stand a chance, but look at the bright side! At least we won’t have to worry about her brother getting the hots for her! HARR HARR HARR!
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That is really depressing…
HOLY CRAP!!! LIke, oh em gee! We commented at the same time…NEARLY THE SAME SECOND (i’m talking about ur above comment and my comment on White Album 3)
AND ON UR 1590TH COMMENT?!?!? WOOT WOOT HOMESLICE!!!
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[...] This pro-Yuki sentiment is galling as this fifth column has come to spread more malicious lies as Kabitzin decided to join their ranks in defaming the good name of Rina Ogata. Rina has put Yuki first and [...]