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Hiroshi66 Profile
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


<EPISODE 9>

I found this episode to be another very good one! I had a feeling that Mai's mentor would be involved in some capacity, mainly due to how the camera would zoom in on her looking melancholy or upset during several early scenes. However, I had no idea that she and the man who lost the promissory note were having an affair!

Season 2 has definitely upped the quality of the individual plots. Instead of being HR-related issues or other problems restricted to the bank, the stories involve actual crimes and we see Soma and Mai engaging in some detective-like activity. I got a kick out of their 'investigation' of the restaurant and how they were interviewing all the staff there.

After watching this episode, I have mixed feelings about Hotta. Yes, he was technically not at fault since Kasumi was the one who stole the note from inside his bag, in order to get revenge for his lies and the fact that he was leaving her now that his wife became pregnant. She was in the wrong and should never have done such a thing. However, I didn't feel sorry for Hotta at all! He is the type of person who acts friendly and attempts to look clumsy for the sake of being liked by his colleagues and friends, but has a lot to behind the scenes.

I suppose he did man up and take responsibility by not throwing Kasumi under the bus. I'm sure he suspected her from the start, but didn't want to say anything so that news of the affair would not come to light. At the same time, I disagree with Soma's comment that Hotta did this for Kasumi's sake, and to save her career. I'm sure he was just as concerned for his future at the bank - after all, he was just as guilty for engaging in the affair and would have received some sort of punishment at the end, which is exactly what ended up happening. So, I don't think it was necessarily for Kasumi's sake that he kept their lunch date a secret. It was just as important for his sake that the affair not be revealed, as well.

At the end, I'm glad Kasumi was able to move on and begin applying to business schools. She seems like a good person deep down and I think she could benefit from leaving the toxic environment of the bank. If she was such an important person to Mai and was like a mentor to her, I'm surprised her character had not been introduced at an earlier point. In fact, we have seen so many people from Mai's past introduced throughout these two seasons that I can hardly remember everyone and what exact relationship they had with Mai. The only non-primary character I can remember is Matsuki!

Episode 10 is next! By the way, Partners 15 doesn't begin until May 28. I'll create a front page soon.
5/19/2017, 9:44 am Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 
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Re: Re:


引用 (quote):

dunedan wrote:

So it looks like Partners will begin airing May 21?



The website says the 28th.
http://utbhollywood.com/en/program/aibou-season15/


---
http://pikapal91746.livejournal.com/
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Hiroshi66 Profile
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


<EPISODE 10>

I've noticed a pattern in J-drama lately (even in Partners) for the episode before the grand finale to be a 'filler'-type episode, which is not really integral to furthering the plot or character development. However, I did enjoy this episode quite a bit. Most of the plot didn't even take place within the bank and seemed to involve other entities, like the police. I think the writers really wanted to take the plot to the next level with Season 2, and I think they generally succeeded.

What a surprise that Soma and Mai went all the way to Iwate (northern Japan!) to find out the truth behind what happened with the company and why the son of the late president committed arson and made himself a criminal. It shows that once Mai decides to get to the bottom of something, she won't stop until she finds out the whole truth!

Though the son was wrong to commit a crime and endanger the lives of people, I don't feel bad at all for the nasty branch manager. He essentially committed fraud by encouraging the company president to expand internationally in Thailand, and then demanded an exorbitant amount of money to cancel the deal when it became too dangerous to expand there. Ugh. Eventually, the company ended up going bankrupt, and the president passed away after losing everything - perhaps from a broken heart.

Plus, it's one thing to lie and then not offer a loan to the company president, but to make the poor man undergo such humiliation (literally pushing him down in the rain) was disgusting to watch. What a jerk.

Good thing that the nasty manager will be questioned and hopefully will lose his job and future at the bank. If even Shindo was angry at him, then you know he did something pretty bad!

Things are certainly heating up between Shindo and his rival. I wonder if this will be decided in the final episode?

I did get a kick out of how Mai was panicking every time she saw a fox in the beginning of the episode. LOL!

Part 1 of the season finale is next.
5/19/2017, 10:56 am Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


<FINAL EPISODE> (#11, Part 1)

Woah! This final episode is going to prove to be an interesting one. At this point, the scandal is so big that I don't know if the bank will be able to survive such a major earthquake. (No wonder a Season 3 has not been produced yet! LOL.)

I'm sort of relieved that Shindo is not the one who illegally received the bribe. From what Mai and Soma have investigated so far, it looks like he was forced to take the over for it by the CEO of the bank. Now, Shindo is being thrown under the bus so that the President's crimes are not revealed. Shindo, at least from what we've seen so far, appears to be okay with taking responsibility for the bank's sake and being the sacrificial lamb. Knowing Mai, I don't think she'll let him do that!

Things have turned out quite ironically, haven't they? Who would have thought that Mai and Soma would actually end up being on Shindo's side for once. At the same time, I would have never imagined that Shindo would be painted in such a positive light. I think his grumpy and cold exterior made him look like a corrupt individual, but deep down, I think he has a big heart and wouldn't do anything corrupt - unless he is forced to do something.

I got a big laugh out of watching Mai and Soma work so closely with Kodama, Shindo's assistant. Kodama was always the one yelling at them and telling them to stay out of Shindo's business, but now he's actually sneaking around and secretly investigating together with Mai and Soma! I guess this is a big help, since as Shindo's assistant, he has access to certain records and files that Soma and Mai don't have access to.

I'm really curious what is going to happen to the bank. If the president is found to be guilty of these accusations, it could spell the end of the bank. Hmm. Mai and Soma have really gotten themselves into a fix this time - this problem was bigger than they expected, I suspect!

There is still quite a lot of unanswered questions, such as where the 100 million yen went... we will find out everything in next week's season finale.

I'm finally all caught up with this drama. Part 2, the season finale, airs on Sunday!
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arturas Profile
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I really like part 1 of the finale. I think it is probably better than the season 1 finale.

I guess we'll fin out later whether Mai's speaking out actually changes the culture of the bank. I hope they find a way to work Matsuki into the finale. I hope he just doesn't disappear forever.
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Hiroshi66 Profile
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


Yes, this is definitely more interesting than the Season 1 finale. Actually, the entire season has been a lot better!

I'm a little curious about how they will deal with Matsuki, as well. Unless they are planning to have a third season, writing Matsuki out when they did felt awfully abrupt. Hopefully he'll make a cameo appearance or at least be mentioned in the season finale.

On a side note, it has been a couple of years since this season aired and they have yet to produce a season 3. I hope they will at some point!
5/21/2017, 7:35 am Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


<FINAL EPISODE> (#2, Part 2)

Well, this drama is finally over! I did enjoy it very much, and am sorry to see it end, but I am also ready for Partners to begin!

Hmm, I thought we were going to see a third season at some point, but after watching this episode, I don't know if a Season 3 is in the works. Yes, Shindo made his "I will be back" spiel to Mai and Soma, but at the same time, everything felt very final and conclusive. The new president was inspired by Mai to change the rotten rules of the bank, and Mai has pledged to do her part in changing the bank no matter what it takes. She's been talking about changing the bank since the first season, and now, there is nobody stopping that change from taking place. So, unless something unforeseen happens, I don't anticipate a Season 3 in the future.

It's a shame that Matsuki was not part of the finale, but there was really no need for him to be there. Mai symbolically got revenge for what happened to him by getting the higher-ups to realize that it is wrong for a subordinate to take the blame for the mistakes of his or her boss. That's why Matsuki was transferred in the first place.

What surprised me the most was Shindo being transferred! I was sort of hoping to see him making the speech as the new president, but then again, I think there was simply too much baggage with him. Not only was he affiliated with the "old regime" but he was also hiding the truth about the bribe, and so it might be best for someone totally new to become president. The new president will be responsible for rebuilding the tarnished reputation of the bank, so it was a good move.

I got a kick out of Shindo borrowing the "If I may humbly speak up" line from Mai. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! LOL.

This was a great drama, and I'm glad UTB aired Season 2. Even if there is no Season 3 in the future (which I don't think there will be, given that Season 2 aired in 2015 and it is already 2017 with no third season in sight) it was a good run for this drama!

Partners 15 begins airing in this time slot tonight!
5/28/2017, 10:01 am Link to this post Send Email to Hiroshi66   Send PM to Hiroshi66 AIM
 
arturas Profile
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The ending was bittersweet. I was glad to see Mai accomplish her goal, but at the same time it appears as though we'll never find out what she does in the future with her life. Some parts of the finale did indeed make it seem like the series was ending, but it was rather odd that the final scene shows Soma and Mai heading off on some new adventure.
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Re: J-Drama: 花咲舞が黙ってない 2 (Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out II)


Yes, I think that final scene was done to make the goodbye moment a bit "easier to take", by making it look like just another day at work. Shindo's "I'll be back" bit could also be interpreted as a hint for a potential Season 3, and I guess they did that to always keep the door open, but judging from the fact that there has yet to be a third season after a few years have passed, I think what we saw was the last episode of the Hanasaki Mai series.

I suppose we have to speculate what happens to Soma and Mai ourselves!
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