...what are you watching...

Kimi to Boku 5! Summer festival episode. Chizuru teases Masaki. This show sounds dull, but it is nice, laid-back entertainment.

Nankyoku Tairiku 2! I don't think a ship that large should be listing side to side so much. After some ship drama, the crew makes it to Antarctica. There was some argument as to whether the team could winter over rather than just simply set up an observation station. The nationalism is ranked up on high. Gotta show the world Japan is moving forward after the war...etc, etc. I'm impressed by the production. There are traces of CGI, but the overall look and feel of the show is well made. On the other hand, the show is turning out to be too overly dramatic for my tastes. I may marathon it for the doggies later.

Nankyoku Tairiku 1! I actually saw the US watered-down, white-washed, Disney-fied adaptation of this story on tv just a few weeks ago; lured by the cute dogs. This drama is about Japan's involvement with an Antarctica expedition right after their WWII defeat. Doggies! Kimura Takuya plays the lead who goes on the expedition and later, tries to rescue dogs who are left in Antarctica after the expedition abruptly leaves due to weather conditions. Ayase Haruka plays a teacher (his love interest?). Yamamoto Yusuke plays a student who helps with the dogs. There's many more familiar actors/actresses in the show, too; a who's who of casts. While Disney's version really made a family-friendly dog film, this tv version made it a human drama. Personal conflicts, political manipulations, dramatic setbacks, the pride of the working class, a bunch of little children and dramatic music, and you've got everyone sucked in. And that's just the first episode. The first episode covers the start of the expedition, getting acceptance from the international community, permission from Japan's goverment, getting dogs, and getting a ship. It looks like the dog part of the story won't come until much later in the series. The quality of the show is great and I gotta wonder how much the budget is.

Sekaiichi Hatsukoi S2 3! I continue to like watching the yaoi-crazed bunny bounce all over the screen during the opening and ending. This was unexpectedly funny near the end when Chiaki was blowing up at Hatori, and when Hatori walks in on Yuu and Chiaki's conversation. More of them next episode. (eh, not liking the crunchyroll translations. i think they take too many liberties)

Mawaru Penguindrum 15! Yuri's past and motivation for stealing Momoka's diary are revealed. The power of Momoka's diary is revealed, too; *spoilers* it changes fate at a price. The insane plot twists are very enjoyable.