Sunday, January 16, 2011

Review of Yasashii Jikan 優しい時間 Episode 4

Ep 4: Neyuki

Will just touch on the more important developments in this episode rather than a full length review of the entire episode.

A regular at Mori no Tokei, Otonari comes to Master to borrow money so as to save his business. However, Master refuses to lend it to him and explains that he does not want money to become an issue with his customers who have become his friends. As Otonari has nobody else to turn to, he has to shut down his business and his goods being taken by his creditors.

At the same time, Azusa goes to Takuro's place again to have dinner with him where his teacher, Rokusuke finds out. He decides to get Tomoko to speak to Takuro for fear that something bad might happen between Takuro and Azusa. Tomoko tells Takuro to keep Azusa out of his house and concentrate on learning pottery before he can meet his father again.

Azusa is caught putting the money in the cash register into her own pocket. Her rationale is that she cannot tally the sums properly and had taken out the money separately but she has no intention to steal. Master tries to explain things to Azusa on how she should handle the situation but she gets very worked up and thinks that everyone is accusing her of being a thief. She even says that she will quit the job and dares Master to call the police to arrest her.

Azusa goes to Takuro's place but he refuses to let her enter because of his promise to Tomoko. They proceed to talk in Azusa's car where she keeps critizing Master for not helping Otonari and giving him a lecture as well as accusing her as a thief. Takuro cannot stand Azusa's words anymore and tells her to stop speaking ill of Master since he is Takuro's dad.

That night, Master is informed by his police friend that Otonari had hung himself after his business failed. Master wonders if he is too strict with the people around him especially Takuro and feels a tinge of regret for not helping Otonari. Megumi, who appears in the shop again tries to console him to look on the bright side.

Well, not too much developments on the Master-Takuro thread though but Azusa irriates me very much in this episode. No doubt I sympathise with her especially when it is known why she is so sensitive but putting money in your own pocket is not equal to stealing??? No matter how young she may be, she should have the sense to know that this action would create a misunderstanding no matter how you defend yourself. She's not a kid anymore and yet has the cheek to flare up when Master was trying to talk to her nicely. And now that she knows Takuro's relationship with Master, she's going to be a time bomb and sooner or later, Master will know Takuro's whereabouts before Takuro is ready to meet him again!!! That's why Tomoko tells Azusa in the next ep trailer that she should keep Takuro's presence a secret but knowing how rash she is, it is only a matter of time Azusa lets the cat out of the bag.

As for Master's decision of not lending money to Otonari, I don't think he is at fault. It is often when money comes into the picture that relationships are spoilt. Since he values Otonari's friendship, he does not want that to happen because if Otonari defaults on his promise to pay up before a certain date, Master would be in a fix as to whether he should chase him for payment or let things go like that. Thus, he wants to avoid such a situation. If it was me, I would probably do the same thing regardless of how others view me. However, Azusa, being the rash young thing feels that Master is heartless. Somehow, she gives me the idea that she is clueless about how reality is and the value of money (as well as what it can do) so that's why she criticizes Master for what he does. Azusa must be the only character I thoroughly dislike in this drama...

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