Asakomi

After the huge rejection in the last episode, things are understandably awkward between Suzuka and Yamato this time around.

I thought the simple piano melody that played while Yamato watched Suzuka stretch and as he reflected on the incident at the amusement park was quite beautiful and appropriate.

When he expressed regret at confessing I wanted to hug him and tell him I thought he was so brave and that he did a good thing. I always think it’s better to be honest and up front about feelings rather than hide them. At least things are out in the open now, and even if he didn’t get the result that he wanted he can only move forward from here on out. At the end of the day if Suzuka is never going to be with him isn’t it better to know sooner rather than later? On the other hand, his confession might help push her in the direction of acknowledging her feelings for Yamato. If neither of them ever said anything they might dance around each other forever and it would only cause them (and us) endless frustration.

Oh, and it’s great that Saotome said something useful for a change instead of just being an annoying drunk. She motivates Yamato to keep on trying, which leads to a humourous moment where he screams at the top of his lungs that he likes Suzuka and he’ll never give up. He yells loud enough that Suzuka hears him through her window and she blushes profusely.

ps. Maybe I was a little too harsh on Suzuka last time around. Mentar is right, it’s clear she feels bad about the way she’s been treating him. But I still think she needs to work on being less mean to him.

pps. I’ve decided to drop Glass Mask and Futago Hime from my blogging list. The subs are coming out way too slow to make it worth it. (In the case of Glass Mask.. they’re just slow, and you can visit Ten-chan over at YSP:Duh! for entries up to the current episode (19) as she watches the raws. In the case of Futago Hime, it’s silly to expect one guy to be able to singlehandledly sub a 52 episode show. He’s done a great job, but he’s got a lot on his plate right now.) I’ll definately be watching if and/or when any more eps come out, but I won’t be blogging them.

Finally some more Glass Mask!! SD sure took their time to release this episode, but it was well worth the wait. Sometimes it’s really annoying to have to wait for subs. I’m glad I’m starting my Japanese course at the University in the fall. Someday I’ll be able to watch raws!

So we pick up at the beginning of Maya’s school play. Maya plays Vivi the fool in the stupid/comedic manner as her teacher ordered.

But then Maya suddenly switches and plays the role seriously, shocking everyone in the crowd. It’s kinda weird how Maya’s voice gets deeper when she starts acting seriously, but i can chalk that up to her doing it on purpose to suit the role. Heck, I can make my voice sound differently if I want it to.

The teacher frets in the wings, but the crowd gives a standing ovation. You would think that would be enough to praise Maya, but he just yells at her for disobeying orders. Lawd there’s a lot of stupid adults in this show. At least Maya’s classmates have brains in their heads, and they congratulate her on doing such a great job.

Maya’s mother finds out that Maya did a GREAT job and had the most AMAZING part, one to be proud of not ashamed. Stupid mother!! That’ll show her!! I really strongly dislike her mother hahaha, can you tell ??

After the play, Maya’s performing itch gets stronger, and she sees an advertisement for a theatrical company that’s accepting new applicants.

She goes to apply, but is overwhelmed by the number and types of entrance examinations, as well as the registration costs and monthly fee. She ends up standing outside a window for two hours watching the students of the company practice, until a security dog comes after her.

One of the students, who noticed her watching, runs out and grabs the dog’s leash (why would a security dog be running around with a leash on?) And Matsumi catches Maya when she faints.

Maya is brought inside the school and her leg is bandaged. She confesses to Matsumi that she was watching the students, and that she wants to join the company but she doesn’t have the money.

This time she’s invited to watch the students practice and even participate. The other students make fun of her for her lack of experience. Ayumi, the 13 year old famous actress, is also a student of this school, and she comes and joins the pantomime practice.

In an effort to make Maya look stupid in front of the others, a catty student suggests that Maya does a pantomime first.

Then we have some great backstory for Tsukikage-san (formerly known as the lady in black, I’m so bad with names ) which I won’t sum up as I got so caught up in watching it I forgot to write anything. ha. She was quite the beauty when she was younger!

One thing I will say is that Tsukikage-san owns rights to a play called The Crimson Goddess, and since she does no one else can perform it. Matsumi and his croney want the rights as it was a huge hit back in its day. They even have an actress in mind to play the lead, but Tsukikage-san reveals that she has secretly chosen an actress for the role, but they have to wait 10 years to find out who it is.

Back to the school….. Maya pantomime’s “The Escaped Bird” and gets so into it that she forgets that she’s even performing. Ayumi ends up stepping in and helping her, even though the other students just mock Maya.

As Maya is on the train on the way home, she compares herself to Ayumi and worries that she will never measure up. But I think she’s fabulous!! I wanna grab a pair of pom poms and jump be her personal cheering squad. She’s so earnest, and so passionate. I admire people who can give their all to the things they love.

Glass Mask 2

It’s so obvious that Maya longs to be on stage. After the play is over she stays just sitting in her chair, watching the stage and daydreaming, while that weird lady in black watches her from a distance.

Unfortunately, after the escape of the play she has to return to her every day life where she feels belittled and out of place.

You know, I’d be totally weirded out if some lady came up to me like the lady in black did to Maya in the park in episode 1. I sure as heck would’ve run screaming just like Maya did. How much weirder is it to find out she ordered ramen just so you could come over, and then she has you recite lines from the play for her.. and when you try to leave she tells you not to go because she’s really come to like you @-@.. Dude. I’d so be out of there.

But of course she coerces Maya to stay by playing on Maya’s weakness - she loves to perform.

I have concluded that the lady in black is crazy and she scares me. Lol

Moving on to other things… at school Maya’s class is going to be putting on a play. It seems at least there she has some supporters as her classmates eagerly nominate Maya to be in the play.

When Maya tells her mom about the play, she initially expresses interest in seeing Maya perform, but my alarm bells went off when her mom tried to get out of going by saying she had nothing to wear. Maya finally convinces her, and asks her to bring her favourite lunch when she comes.

Maya ends up getting the role of a plain, poor girl. The lady in black tells her that this is the hardest role in the play, but “If it’s you, I think it can be done.” Even though I am glad that the woman is encouraging Maya (yeah, I realize I have to work on remembering her name lol), and her advice is true in the world of acting, I can’t help but be sad that Maya is being encouraged to “be someone else.”

“You must forget yourself…” she is told. Maybe I’m too soft hearted, but that just makes me want to jump up and hug Maya and say, “yes, while you’re acting that might help, but never forget that you are sweet and wonderful and valuable!” Haha.. maybe I should be a therapist.

Argh!! I just have to rant and rave about her mother now. With lines like this, “The number one fool of the country huh? It’s as expected. My daughter couldn’t possibly do a real role.” I want to punch her in the face!! How dare she be ashamed of Maya because she’s playing a fool in the play? It’s just a role! It doesn’t mean Maya is a fool too. It doesn’t mean Maya isn’t as good as her classmates. Support her no matter how big or small her role is!! Ugh!!

Maya is desperately seeking affirmation from her mother, and even makes a promise not to “shame”her, but of course her mom ignores all of these cries.

Taking the advice of the lady in black, Maya tries to play her character seriously, but she is reprimanded by the teacher and told to make it funnier - basically dumbing it down and making it harder for people to take Maya seriously as an actress. She gives in and does what he says. Man, hearing her say “I want to die” as if it’s a joke, so did not sit well with me.

Andddd of course her mom doesn’t show up at the play. She sends along Maya’s lunch with the boss’s daughter, who doesn’t deliver it.

As the curtain rises and the play begins, we see that the lady in black has come to see Maya’s performance.

The words, “If it is you, I think you can do it” echo in Maya’s head as the episode ends.

Final thoughts: Yay! I love this show! Bring on the drama!

Glass Mask follows the life of 13 year old Maya, who lost her father due to an illness and whose mother works as live in help at a restaurant. Maya also helps out at the restaurant by doing deliveries. She always seems to have her head in the clouds and often gets harshly scolded by her mother or the owner of restaurant.

Maya adores movies and the performing arts; they are her passion. Even the other workers at the restaurant comment on how much Maya loves movies. Unfortunately, as she is often distracted when walking by the theatre or when seeing a movie on television, she ends up taking too long for deliveries and is then subject to some pretty brutal critcisms by her mother and the woman who runs the restaurant.

The animation style in Glass Mask is an older style. I’m sure they’re trying to stick close to the original series but I can’t really say as I haven’t seen it.

I was really taken in by Maya’s character. She’s a sweet girl who just loves what she loves, and will do anything for her passion. Unfortunately, being in love with the entertainment business isn’t exactly something that’s practical in the eyes of those around her. I really hurt for Maya as she sat in her home and had her mother say to her that she’s basically good for nothing.

When asked why she loves movies so much, Maya responds by saying that when a movie is on she forgets everything else and she is drawn in. She even forgets herself. “I am no longer the useless person that I am.”

It’s no wonder that Maya escapes from life through movies and theatre when she is constantly put down by the boss, treatly cruelly by the boss’s daughter, and told things like “Someone like you won’t be able to have a decent life.”

How many of us have had similar experiences? Even if not spoken to us out loud, often through the actions of others we receive similar messages that we are not good enough, or that we’ll never amount to anything. How many of us have also sought escape in one form or another? How many of us have ever wished that we were someone else?

I look forward to seeing Maya’s journey as an actress. My hope for her as a character is that by the end of the series she will come to see that she doesn’t have to pretend to be someone else to be a person of worth, but that it is because she is who she is that the characters she plays come to life.