Bleach...

Hi there! It's been so long since I've last written a post considering how like it's everyday when I write last time. But now, I really wanted to write what I think about Bleach's characters. Yeah. Yeah. I've shipped from Korean drama reviews to Japanese anime. But I love both, that's why. I might ship again to the previous though because like I said, I love both.

Let's start with the IchiRuki: Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia.

Seriously, I really, really love their tandem. I feel like they're so perfect for each other. I like Rukia for Ichigo because she seems to be the only one who could get Ichigo back to his feet even on the times when he is on his weakest (like when he was defeated by an Espada and Chad and Orihime got hurt or when he was so depressed because he remembered his mother's death convinced that it was his fault or when the Hollow inside him was like taking control over him and he couldn't seem to be at his full power). Rukia got him back to his feet then and in a split second, he was determined to conquer everything again. And that was a very important factor for me. Rukia brings the best out of Ichigo even when Ichigo himself doesn't believe in himself anymore. It was only Rukia who could do that. Rukia's the only one who could stop all the rain in his heart. And as Tite Kubo, Bleach's maker, stated himself, Rukia is Ichigo's ray of light. I think we should read between the words because the maker himself was already the one who said that. No explanations needed.


Now, let's talk about my views and opinion about IchiHime: Again, Kurosaki Ichigo but this time, Orihime Inoue.

Honestly, I don't really hate Orihime at Bleach. Not that I also like her character but come on, at least I don't hate her and go like "You're an a******! F*** yourself! Go die." Well, at some extent, there are also times that I actually hate her and go like, "What is she doing?" (just an example, when she healed Loly and Menoly considering what have they done to her before Grimmjow showed up). I really asked myself that time if she was just too kind or plain stupid? I actually believed the second. Well, okay, let's get back. I don't hate Orihime. It's just that I don't like her for Ichigo. I know right. She loves him with all her heart though she can't managed to tell it to him or even show some hints of it to Ichigo although I still doubt he'd noticed it since he's too dense (almost all guy anime protagonists, actually!) but the fact still remains that most times, she seems useless. Um, I'm cruel, right? But besides healing which all of the people under Captain Unohana could also do, what have she done except play the damsel in distress role and the one who always worries about her friends? I know her power is unbelievable but I'd rather have the Orihime who stood up for Ulquiorra when told that her friend is dead rather than the always crying, always worrying, damsel in distress, she always become whenever Ichigo's around. She also has a pretty high level of spiritual power and it could still improved. That's why she needs to be less kind! She needs to see enemies as enemies! She needs to fight herself. I kind of agreed when Urahara Kisuke said she'd just get in the other's way during the war because she really would if she won't change! Remember when Ichigo, Chad, Ishida and her went to Soul Society to save Rukia, if Ishida wasn't with her, she could have died already that time! Yeah, the series needs a character like her but at times, it gets too annoying.

Now, yeah, I admit I'm a huge IchiRuki fan and I don't really see Ichigo and Orihime ending up together because that would be plain boring. Ichigo never really see Orihime except as Tatsuki's friend. And if it wasn't for Rukia, he wouldn't have gotten close to her as a friend, still. One thing I don't like about the IchiHime thing is actually maybe it's too one-sided. Orihime's feelings for Ichigo was never reciprocated even a bit whereas if you'll look over at Rukia and Ichigo, it may not be directed but when talking about them, you could always tell that they care very much for one another. I know, Ichigo also cares for Orihime because he went to saved her from Aizen but it's just the same with Ishida when the Bount's got him, right? But what I'm pointing out here is the extent of urge to save the person. When Rukia was about to be abducted (is the word too much?) by Byakuya and Renji back to the Soul Society, he did everything he can to stop them but obviously, he didn't stand a chance against a Captain and a Vice-Captain that time. So he went to Soul Society without knowing that's waiting there for him. Or maybe, Urahara gave him some tips on what Soul Society is but still, there's just one thing on his mind, he needs to save Rukia. As for Orihime, I think he saved her because she's his friend, just the same as how Ishida, Chad and Rukia wanted to save Orihime. It's just that Ichigo's far stronger than them and is more capable of actually saving Orihime.

I would also like to point out a few more characters: Abarai Renji and Ishida Uryuu. (Not that they're exactly loveteams. LOL. They just add spice to what I was talking about previously because you see, it's not just IchiRuki and IchiHime, there's also RenRuki and IshiHime.)

That picture was when Rukia and Renji are still at the Academy, learning how to be shinigami because they're actually from Rukongai. It was pretty obvious even on the times when they're still kids that Renji likes Rukia and I damn know that the simple "like" on his friend turned out to be "love". Well, there are some hints about Renji's feelings for Rukia. Fine, fine, they're just hints but we need to start reading between the lines, really because if we'll just wait for everything to be spoon-feed on us, then, we're not getting anywhere. Now, to get back, I like the love triangle of Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji. Though there are many times that I feel sorry for Renji because just like Orihime for Ichigo, Rukia has no idea about his feelings for her and yet, he's always there for her. I'll just state a few moments of Rukia and Renji I already watched that made my heart twist because of the pain of one-sided love (again). When Rukia was notified that the Kuchiki clan wanted to adopt her and Renji suddenly burst inside the room about something like he passed an exam, Rukia clearly doesn't want to go. It was written on her face. It was so clear. But, Renji, not wanting to be a hindrance on whatever good things coming to Rukia, encouraged her to go even though when Rukia actually left, his face changed into the exact opposite he showed Rukia. I was wondering what could have happened if Renji did stop Rukia that time. Maybe Rukia hadn't met Ichigo at all and there wouldn't be Bleach. But, yeah. Another thing was when Ichigo threw Rukia to Renji and said, "Never let her go. Even if you die," or something like that and Aizen eventually caught up with them, he didn't let Rukia go even though it obviously meant his death. He didn't want to let her go like what he did when Rukia's just about to be adopted. He never wanted to repeat the same mistake he did that he couldn't change anymore. Lastly, as I've remembered, when they're at Hueco Mundo to save Orihime, Rukia went to faced an Espada but nearly died. Renji eventually felt her reiatsu weakening and as it seems, eventually disappearing, he went like, "Don't you dare die on me, Rukia." I absolutely love Renji's character though his feelings for Rukia is clearly one-sided. I'm actually hoping for a character to show like that would reciprocate his feelings because even though I really love Renji, I'm still IchiRuki biased.

On the other hand, there's IshiHime. I really don't like the name of this couple since it sounds and looks like IchiHime. But nonetheless, I would really prefer this couple rather than IchiHime. There aren't really exactly proofs that the one has feelings for the other. I have seen any, to tell you the truth. But my point is, Orihime is better off with Ishida than Ichigo. She needs somebody to protect her because she obviously couldn't protect herself. I remembered when they would up being together after their group accidentally split when they're about to save Rukia. Ishida protected her and she was like, "Sugoi!" Well, I couldn't say more about this couple and it's not just I only want Orihime out of the way of IchiRuki but yeah, I wished there are more hints about this couple, too, except only when Ishida's protecting Orihime when they're on their way to save Rukia.


So there, I've actually discussed for loveteams of Bleach. Actually, honestly, all of those above aren't really obvious and so if you want to choose between these, you really have to read between the line in both manga and in anime. Though, yeah, all is yet to come since Tite Kubo, I think I've already mentioned he's the maker of Bleach, had said that the current number of Bleach is just half of his work. So it's not really settled yet and of course, I'll continue following this until the end! Oh, and I would just like to say that I really, really, absolutely adore and love Nel.

She's Nel and she's so adorable! I'll talk about her on my next posts since I've got to watch Bleach, too. And another thing, lastly on this post, I love Bleach, all of them, all of the characters because bad or good, I believe everything contributes to it's wonderful plot and the series wouldn't be as amazing as it is now if a single character is has today is missing.

"Don't regret something that once made you smile."

Racial Discrimination

I've always been bothered by a very popular trend now, especially among the youth, which is called "Racial Discrimination." Just yesterday, several acquaintances were talking about how they hated it whenever they were seated beside an Indian national. And I can't believe they have the nerves to talk and laugh about it? No race is superior or inferior to the others. What the hell is the problem if my skin is so black and my eyes are so big if I am the owner of a very successful multinational company? What do you care if my eyes and my height are both small if I have the knowledge to stop the destruction of our ozone layer? What is wrong if I have a very pale complexion and a lot of freckles if I could track and catch all hackers in the world? Well, my point is simply, you couldn't judge anybody just based on how they look. That isn't just fair. And how would you feel if you're race this time was being bullied by other different races? I bet the feeling will be the complete opposite when you're the one discriminating other races. The bottom line here is still the Golden Rule: Don't do unto others what you don't want to do unto you.

Here's an example because I have always been a supported of Anti-Racial Discrimination Acts so when I saw this, I was hurt, first of all, because I, myself, is an Asian and I might as well add that I am proud of it. But I was also disappointed because what the image above showed was really true, the mind of a racist's is very, truly small. Take a look at the comment of CrashDeX. That proves how small racists' minds are. They sang the song great and just because they're Asians, he/she called them idiots and had said that they ruined the beautiful song. I couldn't argue more because I know I've already proved my point. People, let us not be racists so that our minds won't shrink.

Blogger.com

As I was browsing the blogs and continuously clicking "Next Blog," I noticed that some of the bloggers (I can see there's no such word but I think it would be more understandable if I'll use that.) had already started way back five years ago or even more. I just felt a little bit sad that I was only able to make my own blog just a couple of days ago. Maybe, if I discovered, (Technically, I didn't really discover it. My friends had been pestering my to make my own blog and upload here my writings. It was a little peer-pressure, actually. But nonetheless, I surely wished I had come with their peer-pressure earlier.) or made this earlier, say even though just two years ago, this blog could have been already filled with so many thoughts.

But anyway, it's too late to regret now. I'll just make the most out of it since I wasn't really that busy nowadays.

Cain and Abel (2)

I've already talked the summary of Cain and Abel, right? Well, now, I'll talk about the characters, the ones I loved and the ones I despised, and the actors and actresses who had portrayed these characters.

First, of course, there was So Ji-sub as Lee Cho-in, the main protagonist and the "Abel" of the story. What I love about Cho-in was his smile, above anything else. He was a good doctor, well, excluding the fact that he goes to hospital a "little" drunk with a beggar, a little boy, who has stomach pain and who doesn't want to go to the hospital at all. He also was a good son and younger brother. He had thought of his brother, Sun-woo, as an idol, as his god, always trying to be the best so that he can be called worthy as his brother's younger sibling. He had always longed to be regarded as his mother's, well, in reality step-mother but nevertheless, son even though his mother doesn't even want to be called "Omma." by him. And he was a good boyfriend and friend. Even though the time span that he and Seo-yeon had really become and be called as a couple was really short because of his China-abduction. He had stayed with Seo-yeon for the seven years that Sun-woo had left her in agony. That's why... Well, I believe he doesn't deserved what happened to him. Oh well, it did happen and we can't do anything about it. I guess, probably, God just used him as an instrument to portray a thing which most of us forget nowadays, forgiveness.

Next is Lee Sun-woo played by Shin Hyun-joon. I really, really commend this actor because even though I know for a fact that Cain and Abel was just a drama, he made me hate him like I'd want to kill him especially when he had teamed up with Choi Chi-soo, yes, another evil man whom I really hate when I was watching this drama, especially his freaking eyes, to kill Cho-in. I mean, oh yeah, Cho-in had gotten everything and he was only left with his mother but it wasn't never right to try to kill your own brother! Oh right, there wouldn't be a plot if he wasn't so jealous enough to kill Cho-in but I wasn't talking about the drama. I was talking about the acts. I also pitied him when his illness was beginning to take over him. It was so sad the moment he was with Seo-yeon, trying to look for the missing Cho-in all over China, when he collapsed, not wanting to shout for help to Seo-yeon because he doesn't want her to see him in that state and Seo-yeon just walking away from him. It was sad, really, but whenever the thought of his plan of getting Cho-in killed popped into my mind, I began thinking that it was his fate, much like what we call "karma."

Here is Kim Seo-yeon, the girl who had been friends with both Sun-woo and Cho-in since childhood but aparently has a heart ailment which was the reason why they all grew up at Bosung Hospital, was played by Chae Jung-ahn. I'll admit, at first I really love Seo-yeon, especially the moments when at her very first concert, she had acknowledge Cho-in first, above anything else and said to the whole world, I can say, because you see, her concert could be broadcast, that she loves Cho-in. I really love that moment. But as the story progresses, as Cho-in went missing at China and soon was proclaimed dead, she wasn't being the best girlfriend-who's-boyfriend-had-just-died. I know I wasn't supposed to compare because Sun-woo and Cho-in were two different persons but for Pete's sake. She went in complete agony state and had her life almost be proclaimed in hiatus when Sun-woo had left her for seven years. And it took her seven whole years to move on and finally give Cho-in her heart. But when Cho-in went missing, it wasn't even a year, it wasn't even half a year, she had already replaced Cho-in. Yeah, it was Sun-woo and don't tell me that he was sick that's why she gave him a chance because Cho-in was already dead. She never loved Cho-in as a boyfriend and a potential life-time partner. She never did. Don't tell me she did because it never happen. She may had loved Cho-in but it was like he was a good friend and like a brother to him. She admitted it all along the drama, I think. It was like reading, or hearing, between the line spoken. She said as quoted, Cho-in had helped her endure the seven years but it was still Sun-woo who made her live. And she has the nerve to even face Cho-in and say sorry? Even more, asked him to save Sun-woo? She was so selfish. Couldn't she even think that Cho-in also has feelings? That's why I kind of liked it when Cho-in said no to her request and when she asked him if he could bear to see Sun-woo, his own brother die, he had answered with a question, too. "Why? You think I could not do that?" Yes, I know. It wasn't right, too. But I understand him. There were too much that's happening and at the same time, he was hurting.

The last but absolutely not the least among the four lead characters of Cain and Abel was Oh Young-ji, the North defector girl who first appeared as Cho-in's tour guide at China, portrayed by Han Ji-min. She was poor, yes, that's why she agreed to the goons, who were asked to kill Cho-in, to tag along and follow him everywhere so that it would be easy for them to kidnap him knowing where he goes and where he'll go next. The only thing I don't like about Young-ji was the fact that she hid the truth to Cho-in although it was also because of that that Cho-in wasn't deported back at China and was able to live as Gang-ho. But if she really wanted to tell him the truth, she could have told him about it the moment they were already alone. Well, she was lonely and felt like she was already alone in the whole world knowing that his brother, Gang-chul, the person she looks up to and sees as her hope, was already dead, but it just isn't right to take him away from all the memories he lost, right? Well, she had made it all up. The time when they had rushed a man to the hospital which happened to be Cheondeong, the hospital which Dr. Kim Hyun Joo, Cho-in's chief, friend, fellow doctor at Bosung Hospital and a supported of the Emergency Center, was transferred to by the Vice President, Sun-woo and Cho-in's mother because they wanted to get rid of her so that it will be more easy for them to build the Neurology Center, she admitted everything. At first, I thought it was over when Hyun-joo just glanced at him and he already left the man with the hospital and went out of the building but Hyun-joo followed him and asked if he was by any chance Dr. Lee Cho-in. It was a lovely, lovely moment because all my favorite characters were on it. Cho-in, noticing that Young-ji was just along the corner, denied it saying that he was Oh Gang-ho though the truth is he already know that maybe he was indeed Lee Cho-in since before Hyun-joo showed and asked him that, the hospital scenario was able to trigger his old memories back and Sun-woo's number popped into his head out of nowhere. He called the number and asked if by any chance he knew him claiming that he was Lee Cho-in. It showed how important Sun-woo is to him that of all the number who may popped into his mind, it was Sun-woo's number. Sun-woo, however, denied and hang up which made him lose hope about finding his identity more. That's when Hyun-joo  showed. After he denied being Cho-in for Young-ji's sake, Young-ji herself confirmed it to Hyun-joo, that he was Dr. Lee Cho-in who was working at Bosung Hospital, the President's younger son and the one who was kidnapped and almost killed at China, the reason he lost his memory. It was commendable, really, Young-ji's action. She knew that Cho-in may hate him forever after what she'd done but she still found courage to tell him the truth after all knowing how much he likes Cho-in even back at China. She even set up an agreement for Cho-in and Seo-yeon to meet though Seo-yeon and Sun-woo were already together that time. It was the thought, at least. She loves Cho-in that much.

L-R: Shin Hyun-joon, Chae Jung-ahn, Han Ji-min, So Ji-sub

So Ji-sub and Ha Ji-min. I really love their loveteam. I think they have great chemistry.

Cain and Abel

I'll tell you about the summary of the drama first. If ever you'll find this as an spoiler, you may feel free to stop reading. I hate spoilers, too. Anyway, back to the summary, this drama was about brothers, Lee Sun-woo and Lee Cho-in. Cho-in was the father's apple of the eye which made their mother hate him because he was an adopted child and she thought he was her husband's son with another woman. And so that made Sun-woo her own apple. It was originally Seo-yeon, a girl who has a heart ailment and whom they met and together grew up with in the famous Bosung Hospital, and Sun-woo who were called the "it-couple" but when Sun-woo went overseas to study and to make his father proud of him, Seo-yeon's world fell apart. Finally, after seven years of pain, she gave chance to Cho-in who had stayed there beside her when she thought she'd die when Sun-woo left. To tell the rest of the story short, Sun-woo finally decided to have revenge to Cho-in, thinking that Cho-in took everything away from him, their father's love, the Bosung hospital and of course, Seo-yeon. Sun-woo wanted him dead. After few circumstances, Cho-in met a North defector girl named Oh Young-ji who wanted to bring her family to South Korea. It was at China where Cho-in met Young-ji as his tour guide because Sun-woo had sent him there to see for himself a surgery that was currently being disapproved by Cho-in to be performed to their father who's presently at comatose state. Cho-in had lost all his memory at China and was given the name Oh Gang-ho. After living a life as a North defector himself at China, he finally was able to come back to Seoul, still as Gang-ho, determined to know who he was and why somebody had tried to kill him at China, and to fulfill his promise to Gang-chul, the person who had given him his present identity and the one who saved his life a few times already, to find and protect his younger sister, Young-ji. Meanwhile, Young-ji, upon seeing Cho-in and Gang-ho as only one individual, decided to keep it a secret because if she'll not tell that Cho-in was Gang-ho, he might be deported back to China. They went to Cheondeong to try to live peacefully. But after some time, Young-ji was finally able to tell Gang-ho who he really was and after a car accident, all his memories came back once and for all. He decided to come back to Seoul to find out who and why somebody had tried to kill him. Finding all the missing pieces to the puzzle but one, the one who tried to kill him, was Sun-woo all along. Sun-woo was suffering a brain tumor that was an after effect of the tumor he has seven years ago. It was getting more dangerous and after finally revealing the truth to his younger brother, he gave Cho-in the chance to either save him or kill him. He said as quoted, I wanted to live or die in your hands. Cho-in finally saved his own brother.