Kalen was definitely better in this episode! I can't wait to see how she evolves as the show continues. I also really like how they play the songs that represent the scene. It gives her lyrics so much context.

Oh my god this episode had an LOL moment in every scene. :laugh when Ayu got blasted with water LOL
Why is the eye patch secretary giving me TOMIE vibes?!
Is the girl group being put together Dream? Or is it going to be totally fictional?

That teacher was EVERYTHING lol. For some dumb reason for the girl group I thought Super Monkeys! But I think they debuted way before that, right?

Has monochrome been played yet?

!!!!!

Not that I've noticed.

I wondered if it’s Dream too, but they came out of Avex Dream 2000, which started in 1999.

Not that this show is being complete correct with things lol.

Avex really didn’t have many girl groups, so it’s kind of interesting.

Yup, it seems as she broke the ice a bit. Still, far from being good.
Although really laughable, I’m digging this show.

I really enjoyed the episode. Is it cheesy? Yes, but that's part of why I like it. :'D The whole stuff with "Fly High", the balloon or the coat all probably fall into that category but I like that, it warms my heart. I absolutely loved the teacher! :D They obviously changed the New York/vocal lessons thing (with ayu actually attending properly, the marathon) but I feel like they did a good job using it as a way to show ayu's strength & will power. She often thought about giving up but knew she had to keep going.

Only thing I'm not entirely sold on is Reika (the secretary). In itself, her role is a fitting concept but lines like "I can see her dark future" or the 'be my right eye' are kinda out of place.

Judged by the concert scene, they are giving very clear nods to some of her iconic looks but it doesn't seem like they actually try to re-create any specific performance. It's more for the sake of evoking a feeling of nostalgia within people.

The drama isn't perfect but personally, I'm very happy with the outcome so far.

I feel that the forming of the girl group might be SPEED even though they debuted at 1995. But Dream makes sense too. That said, the timeline for this show is all over the place anyway, so we'll never know for sure :laugh Like why did she already get the iconic 2001 blonde hair before she even released poker face, we'll never know. #choices

Again, another so bad it's good episode. I feel that they're trying to squeeze a lot of things during this episode though! Any idea how many episodes are planned for this?

Seems like they're gonna cover Ayu's debut and her grandmother's death next episode.

Btw, drinking game that Meat Pao and I came up with for this show:

Take a shot for every:

*shing* sound whenever a character is (re)introduced
a victory president’s assistant mindlessly agrees with him
Reika playing with eyepatch/looks into the future
Reika's entrance ominous low piano note plays
Reika being EXTREMELY inappropriate with Masa
Referencing the rainbow
When Masa starts another shouting rampage
Ayu changes hairstyle
Random Ayu song that plays [and is NOT M]
Reference to a has-been avex act

Feel free to add on any cheesy or corny recurring themes in the episodes! We're gonna be so drunk after every episode :laugh

^ every time Ayu ends a question with “desuKaA?” Lol

Now that 2 episode has been released I think the comical and over the top aspect of this drama were done in purpose ! They definitely aimed it for younger audiences and considering how it’s a big topic en social media especially on twitter it worked lol

The actress playing the teacher is amazing she makes me laugh so much lol
Btw the real teacher of Ayu back then Harada Mayumi reacted on her blog about how she was portrayed in the book and it seems like she was a bit angry to be described as a tyrannical teacher while it was not really the case. Notheless she understands that a part of it is fictional. She said that young Ayu was so grown up/ mature and a wise child.

i think the second episode was not as good as the first but i'm not still losing interest of the drama. as mizuki-7 said, that over the top acting etc seems to be on purpose and it's kinda hilarious. although I personally would love this series to show ayu more strong and independent, now she seems to do everything for max / because of max and the character is just a puppet Max is turning into a diamond. yes it's a drama but this shows Max as a hero and Ayu as an weak person

I wonder how far trainees are really forced to go in real life until they get their debuts. they show the hard training camp in NYC and that ridiculous runs just to have a chance to debut. I bet they won't go that far in real life but as we seen in KPOP, people are really going far and beyond just to have a debut. I actually wouldn't be surprised if big companys like avex (a victory) made people to run 10km and then have a debut like they did in series

I thought the girlband could be maybe MAX?

^ That wouldn't really make sense though, given their Supermonkeys start - they weren't really peers to Ayu in that sense, they were already well established. Obviously there's creative license, but that just doesn't seem like the right fit.

I loved the first episode but the second has taken a direction I'm not sure about...

Putting aside the usual cheesy flaws and the over the top acting, everything was fine until the trainee camp part. How come they send Ayu to NY with an exclusive top trainer, but then they have the same woman back to train a bunch of random wannabes? Who in their right mind would force someone with a dislocated shoulder to run a marathon carrying 10 bottles of water? I understand the show wants to portray Ayu as a really strong girl who would do anything not to let Masa down but there must be a limit.

Y’all, I haven’t posted in 500 years but I am LIVING for this drama!!! It’s just so fun. This is something I never thought we’d get. It’s definitely not perfect but I’m here for it! : )

I was expecting Max to encourage Ayu to start writing lyrics in New York. Isn’t that when she started doing that?

I really don't enjoy how the show presents Ayu as some silly sap. I can't really buy Kalen as a "rough diamond chosen by the gods" — Ayu yes that's evident but Kalen plays Ayu like an android cafe waifu hostess with the charisma of a microwaved apple.

Though no doubt we're going to be expected to swallow that someone so meek with little to nothing to say in show — will go on to pen her first album with songs like A Song For. I can imagine the scene now

Masa with a *fist full of papers with Ayu's lyrics* "Who write this?" AYU WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?"
Ayu "I-i-i *clutches diary close to chest"
Masa "Ayu chan it's a miracle you write such introspective lyrics beyond your years"
Ayu "I just close my eyes and the lyrics come to me"
Masa "The gods have destined it for you"
Ayu "^__^ *nods*"

Thinking about it, maybe the little dialogue for the Ayu character is probably a design choice to accommodate for Kalen's acting ability?

Ayu's real story is pretty amazing in a lot of ways, but it lacks some "pizzazz" - which is where this drama is coming in. I enjoy it when I separate it from the reality of her, and just appreciate it for goofy entertainment.

That said, I think for certain audiences, this will start to blend with the real Ayu - even the fake parts. It's partially re-writing her history, but also in a somewhat relatable and favorable way. Oh, this girl was bullied so badly, but look how she came through it! Nobody believed she could do it, and wow she did! She never gave up, even when anybody in their right mind should have - how did she run with that sprained arm? (Alluding to her hearing loss, etc.).

If you look at Namie, for example, once she started to increase in popularity again, it became about erasing the negatively perceived parts of her persona. She had tattoos removed and covered up. She never discussed her shotgun wedding, child, or divorce. She was very deliberate in her image and what she did (and did not) put out there. I think there's a lot of similarity here, just that Ayu isn't necessarily the one driving all of this (to our knowledge).

I wouldn't be surprised if she is on it aswell... Her early interviews always hinted she went through some shady stuff before making it, and she is frequently trying to clean her image up since. She always comes across as lot more stubborn, headstrong and defiant on pretty much every gossip about behind the scenes dreama than she is being shown on the drama.

Actually, I have a feeling it will be more along the lines of Ayu's writing seeming lackluster or amateur at first, but with Max's encouragement, it becomes amazing. :rolleyes Again, attributing her success more to Max than to some innate ability that Ayu has.

I'm enjoying the drama and think it's fun though. I just probably would have preferred something a bit more grounded and serious I guess? I feel like the actual story is darker and more serious than this, but oh well.