Spec : Japanese drama

Honestly I was incredibly shocked there's so few news on the drama. 

[caption width="400" id="attachment_372" align="alignnone"] "Yeah, how is that?" ~ possible dialogue from Toma XD[/caption]
"To-Ma!" ~ Sebumi would say. 

There was an original SPEC series I believe but I started from First Blood with the unbelievably talented Erika Toda, Ryo Kase, Raita Ryu and Ryunosuke Kamiki. Generally I don't praise a lot of actors so highly but as I watched them they were so immersed in their roles I just embraced the plot and it all.


The majority of the actors I mentioned made up the Unsolved Cases team. A unit which was looked down upon by the police force in general. They were stuck in a section of the building with low ceilings, drab grey walls, and an industrial material lift (the caged ones which totally supports how dingy the place was initially before the Chief likely cleaned it up)  to let clients come and go. 

The actors were able to show off their quirky characters that I felt it was even apart of who they were. Be it stick-up-your-butt serious or just plain goofy. 

I really felt like eating gyoza throughout the show.  

[caption width="512" id="attachment_370" align="alignnone"] http://aitoda.blogspot.sg/2013/04/erika-toda-tbs-all-star-show-pics-from.html?m=1[/caption]
Loving the English mixed in with their Japanese too. Super impressive. 
 The plot  went along so smoothly for the series itself, summary here ...

[caption width="384" id="attachment_371" align="alignnone"] More light hearted in the poster [/caption]
[caption width="322" id="attachment_367" align="alignnone"] And then this is how dark the plot becomes [/caption]
Summary of SPEC（スペック） ～警視庁公安部公安第五課　未詳事件特別対策係事件簿:

Like the original series, "SPEC" will revolve around a pair of police detectives as part of a special division solving difficult cases (Mishou). Touma Saya is a woman with an IQ of 201 and an inability to "read the atmosphere" in social situations. Due to a previous case, her left arm is in a sling. Her partner Sebumi Takeru used to be the star performer of the Metropolitan Police. After some incident however, he was transferred to Mishou. Those two track down offenders with special abilities(SPEC) who managed to get away with their crimes.

... and the first few movies which was a lead up to the big plan, or rather, the "Simple Plan", to quite basically wipe out SPEC holders, people with amazing powers, from telekinesis to control over time. 

Given any show with the minority of people having powers, there's gotta be two major things happening: 

Those with powers cropping up like locusts and showing why you shouldn't let bad people have such abilities 

And there being an evil plan that the main characters are working towards

Because this is also a Japanese drama, with a comedic nature (thanks to the actors I especially mentioned above), there's always twists and painfully bitter ends for the fan favourites. Ugh. It's always the case. It doesn't end totally happily. And I could never accept this fact. Hurts too much

But I thoroughly love the fact that these supposedly minor characters aren't given the brush off, they're recurring so often and to do useful things. Though most are just super hated at one point in their lives. 

Truly though, the directors and writers really pulled me in. 

But once they introduced the true intentions and the big reveals of Toma's gifts (notice that 's') it really had my reeling. I was dumbfounded trying to figure out what was happening in the plot's entirety for the last movie (perhaps the second to last too). 

If they hadn't involved so much of stories from the Bible I would be able to reason with most of it. I totally get how the villains wanted to purge the world for the sake of Gaia needing to be renewed but they clearly had their own twisted ideals mixed up in this. All hallmarks of a good stupid villain that you'd hate. 

I don't quite get the necessity of Jun considering she didn't do all that much for the villain side but I guess they wanted a touching moment with the mum and some comedy with..the dad. 

Then I wondered if Toma was meant to be the angel in the biblical story with all that left hand wielding, considering that side of her is meant to show harm and bad.  

I did eventually get it. Most of it. So wish it was less of a show of how simple it was for the evil SPEC holders (the ones who played the top villain roles) to use their cruel abilities, plus how much time they spent on the bigwigs from every other country basically whining like kids over their plans not ..going to plan. 

The final scenes for all the movies and the series, which were basically cliffhangers till the end, were phenomenal. Last bits of the final movie was also very epic. And gross. REALLY gross. 

It did end with something touching despite, as how I mentioned, how heart wrenching it was after all. 

I commend Erika and Ryo for their tremendous effort that seemed effortless. 

All in all, I SAY, YOU GOT TO WATCH IT! In one sitting for the movies cause there's no way you'd tear yourself away with just one. 
Related titles (drama series/specials):

Unsolved Cases | Keizoku (TBS / 1999)

Keizoku Special: Phantom (TBS / 1999)

SPEC ~ First Blood (TBS / 2010)

SPEC: Shou (TBS / 2012)

SPEC Zero SP | SPEC～Rei～ (TBS / 2013)

Related titles (movies):

Keizoku: The Movie (2000)

SPEC: Heaven | Gekijyohan SPEC ~Ten (2012)

SPEC: Close~Incarnation | SPEC～Ketsu～Zen no hen (2013)

SPEC: Close~Reincarnation | SPEC～Ketsu～Kou no hen (2013)

Next level thinking for Oral

What is a noble profession ? 


Caregiver 
Would you go to the paragames

- what games are there


- watching them fight, what does it really teach you








Replacement words:






Value-in-action projects




Superfoods 


Do you enjoy reading









Teaching  -  Ambition






Recycling
 

Friends



Holidays 

Who said class had to be dull

Writing - excursion to the library



Writing - sharing & describing


Writing - Props


Oral - Debate


For more, https://thewriteelements.wordpress.com/2017/07/19/who-said-class-had-to-be-dull/, which is obviously private (from my classes)

The “dramatic ending”

When you wanna teach students how to create a dramatic ending - or just an ending that works well

And they go ahead and write an ending for you with you in mind

Ah, Ian... Cat High P6s are so quirky

The big showdown

In the class of 3 Compassion, five groups had to compete to earn the chance to be on TV!

I took three while my co-trainer took the remaining two. The form teacher had to decide who were the best

.

.

.

1st place: Three Billy Goats Gruff!

2nd: The Woodcutter and His Three Wishes!

Two out of three places!!!! Well done kids you were amazing!

Maroon 8: Scorpion

"I have a lot to live for" ... 

"A flower for my flower" - Walter to Paige, as they trek through the jungle. 

Sly is somehwere in front. Really far. In a deep dark jungle. Willingly. 

It's episode 24 which means there's only 2 more left till this season is over. And as much as I find cliffhangers in-between episodes downright cute, it's going to be absolutely adorable if it happens at the end. 


The whole team is obviously alive and well. That being said, whoever is generally with the team will end up being the one facing a dire situation. Case in point, the gallant pilot, whose wife is expecting in 3 weeks (oh the foreshadowing...). 

Toby wants to create a dialysis machine for the pinned-down pilot. Sly and Paige offered to explore the "scary jungle", the total unknown, to look for citrus fruits. 

Yes, Sly did. The normally fraidy-cat is... pretty much losing it, or himself, at that point. He's suddenly crossed a deep ravine, with a log that looks thinner than my leg, without even blinking. He's lost hope in calculating any new scenarios that could get them out. 

What is believed is that since he's been so afraid of death all his life, to face it so imminently, he's okay with being reckless. 

His descent to madness was really a focus for me. He's one of my most fave  characters of all time. Who is slowly turning into a crazed almost-Lord-of-the-Flies, hermit-like character with a beard. 

Our beloved germaphobe has a beard And was seen teaching a chameleon, perched on his finger, to sing. Need I say more. 

So now we have the Single, The New Couple, and The Newly Married Couple. 

Let's not forget a key point that began the TNC's arc, Walter agreeing to go with the duo. 

To quote Ralph, "who needs help picking fruit?"

Walter has opened the floodgates and it resulted in gushy-mushy "a flower for my flower" and has escalated to using geeky science references like "my little arrhythmia" (Walter) "because you make my heart skip a beat..." (Paige). 

Honestly my theories point to the ironic, cliche but grave situation that will likely befall Walter and Paige's relationship, considering how late they finally got started. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond thrilled that they're finally together. Or as together as they can be. How many times can you walk along the beach and coves till it gets boring? Try it for about a month and you let me know.


The team begins their plans for survival, saving their heroic pilot and to be rescued...eventually.

More than halfway through the episode when Scorpion has their hope. Everything takes a turn for the worst, as it always does. Though I think it happens much too often, I do like how the plot flows. 

I'm pondering over more theories which could happen in the remaining episodes. 

Based on the episode, it'll be 3 weeks in.

Being stranded on an island the team will definitely be pushed to their limits. More than any other situation just because they don't know when they might actually escape and get home. 

Happy: ...bottom line is I wouldn't change anything because it led me to where I am today

Toby: abandoned on an island with little chance of survival?

Happy: because it led me to be your wife, jackass. 



Scorpion as they all hopefully watch for a cargo ship, which...never comes around 

Toby to Happy, as they watch the waves crashed onto the shore: 

"Water Channel...HB-Ocean...Sea-BS...Sea-W"

Scorpion never fails - Paige to the pilot

What a jump!

This is the P6 student, Valencia, who I took for one lesson to drill her in the art of the compo 🎋

So in one lesson I kicked those bad habits out! She was so excited she wanted to show me her results instead of her regular tuition teacher 😆

She used to write like it was a personal recount. Where's the excitement ? So this time it's WAY better than what she wrote before, I'm so pleased! Yay Valencia!

Mass for the Sick

I thought about this particular bulletin a lot when I was assigned to cover the mass. Would someone who never experienced this hardship, or know someone who has, understand what it means? 

Though it was edited to make it more refined the overall articles are there. 

Pope's Monthly Prayer Intentions Pope Francis: “[God] comes to visit us with his mercy, to lift us from the dust of our sins; he lends us a hand in rising from the abyss into which our pride has made us fall." Each year the Holy Father asks for our prayers for specific intentions each month. This month we pray for… Comfort for the Afflicted That all those who are afflicted, especially the poor, refugees, and marginalised, may find welcome and comfort in our communities Read more on Page 2

 

Pope’s Monthly Intentions ● Feb

Once, Pope Francis asked where God is if there is evil present in the world; if there are people who are innocent but suffer hungry, lonely, homeless, and as exiles. He then answered, “‘God is in them’. Jesus is in them; he suffers in them and deeply identifies with each of them.” As Jesus embraced the “wood of the cross” He embraced the suffering of all. So when we welcome those who suffer, we welcome Him. When we are called to serve Him in all those who are marginalised in society, it is there we “find our God; there we touch the Lord.” But if we were to ignore them, the Pope says we are denying even Christ himself. "In the face of evil, suffering and sin, the only response possible for a disciple of Jesus is the gift of self...in imitation of Christ; it is the attitude of service."

Pope’s Prayer Intention ● Scripture and Reflection

Matthew 25: 31-46 Neither group saw Jesus in the hungry, sick, and strangers, but one group had a heart like Jesus that was moved by suffering. The other group had hard hearts and Jesus said that there was no room in his heavenly kingdom for those with hard hearts. By their “sins of omission” they ended up “omitted.” How am I challenged to reject sins of omission? 1 Corinthians 12: 12-26 The Body of Christ consists of Jesus, the Head, and all the baptised, parts who are joined to him. Thus, “if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.” How do I find myself suffering when I see suffering in the world?

The team found my initial picture a bit too sombre. Hence the one I set as the feature image 



 

Francis explained that it is God who "comes to visit us with his mercy, to lift us from the dust of our sins; he lends us a hand in rising from the abyss into which our pride has made us fall."

1st Book Review of 2017

Review of Night School by C.J. Daugherty 

To tempt you I'm adding in a scene that anyone could just gush over.Mind you I typed it all out cause, well, duh.

Say hello to male leads Sylvain and Carter (had to omit some  things to keep the story a secret):

... "Now we shall enjoy the croquet."

"Yay," she replied weakly. "Croquet."

As they walked back around the corner, she could see that everyone had been waiting for them, including Carter, His eyes told her that he knew exactly what they'd been doing.

"Allie! Sylvain." His tone was mocking. "This is great. What have you been up to?"

Surprised by his aggression, Allie flushed with anger.

...

Sylvain pulled her closer. "Unfortunately, Carter, our teams are set already. We do not need  another player."

"I didn't come to play." Carter put emphasis on the last word.

...

He turned from Sylvain to her.

Allie felt as if a cool breeze had chilled her skin. "I... I'm fine, Carter. Thanks."

She faltered under his gaze, which seemed to challenge her. As if she'd done something bad, disappointed him in some way.

"That's great. You do seem much recovered." His words dripped sarcasm. "Did you hurt your lips, too? Or is it from something else?"

Allie's hand flew up to cover her mouth as Sylvain took several steps forward.

"Why are you still here, Carter?" he asked icily.

Carter stared at him, unflinching. "I just wanted to see if what I suspected was true."

"Seen all you need to see?" Sylvain's voice was low and menacing.

"Hey, everybody," Ruth stepped between them. "Come on. Stay calm. Let's not get into something here."

Carter ignored her. "Oh, I've seen enough, Sylvain."

With a sigh, Ruth stepped out of the way. They were now standing no more than a foot apart, glaring at each other.

READ IT - Night School by C.J. Daugherty

Good books don't let you know exactly what is going on till the end, especially if they're likely going to be made into a series.

That's what's been done here - till the wee few pages at the end will you get some sort of closure. And you know what? It's definitely NOT enough. I NEED MORE

It's the moment when you read and read and just wish you read faster because you want to know what's coming next. It's a truly special thing. 

Fair warning for those who love a paranormal YA story, just so you know, this isn't one. Though seriously, I wouldn't have guessed it! It surely seemed  to be headed in that direction and yet there's no mention. Heck, even the title is "Night School". So it's truly a gift C.J. has to be able to hold our attention as she has. The usual rustle in the brush, the creepy sinking feeling that there was someone or something there in the room while you slept, common in teen books but she writes it so well that you can't imagine it being cliched at all. I gots me the chills and I was devouring every bit of the book till like 2am, and I hardly read this fast, which is when I'm reviewing this because I got all excited about it. Loving every word of it. 

CJ writes really well. She's got wit, which is wonderful and highly necessary with writers (I had JUST read a story where the writing ruined what could have been an amazing idea - assuming what I had assumed about the title and synopsis, cause I couldn't read further than a certain point) 

If you're a total scaredy-cat like me, who doesn't like the dark and quiet when it's too quiet, don't read this at night. Also I don't think it helped that I was listening to "Fire". I swear the song replayed at the most opportune time - there, not spoiling anymore on that front.

You get full doses of suspense and intrigue as you try to decipher the hidden agendas of the Night School - it was so cool to have the 'cool' boys be from there - and the mysteriousness that's been plaguing the characters in the story. I was really trying to find out if any more surprises would pop up honestly, like the whole paranormal thing. Almost begging for it haha but the fact that there really is none surprised me, in a pleasant way. 

I didn't know that "boarding school" was a theme in stories, significantly in YA, so when I was reading reviews (as usual, after the book) it was an interesting tidbit to find out. I wasn't focused too much on it because it wasn't so outstanding. Basically you 'saw' the woods, Allie's room, and the typical school but hardly any "chase scenes" went on inside. Maybe just the roof. 

I was actually kinda shocked at the ending. It should have occured to me but it didn't, like what Carter said. Perhaps I was too into the book to think outside fangirl-squealing and mystery lover-shivering. 

There are quite a bit of characters here but the main ones I will obviously focus on are Allie, Sylvain (Yes, Sylvain) and Carter. 

However I do want to mention names: Jo, Rachel, Jules and Ruth. 

They're friends not enemies, hence my mentioning them. There's this tangled web linking them. Though the incident that happened to one of them was just jarring and saddening - I can still picture it in my mind, like the face of the Joker. *shudders* 

And for another...I suppose you can forgive the crazy somewhat when you finally realise what drove her. But I still didn't care for the Jekyll and Hyde thing. I can't remember when I said this exact same thing but it is a usual character trait in the books I read. 

Allie - I love her demeanour. She was already portrayed as someone who is 'troubled' but strong-willed, yet we saw her vulnerable sides, like when she was scared out of her mind (me too me too) and how good a person she is. She's probably what you'd consider the accidental heroine but of course she's not going to be dainty, how boring would that be. 

Sylvain ("Sil-VAN" as Allie put it)  - 

"Please do."

She followed the voice, with its French accent, to her left side, where a boy with tawny skin, thick dark hair, and exquisite blue eyes was watching her.

Carter - 

The room was empty save for one deep chair, where a boy sat watching them over the top of an ancient-looking book. He had straight black hair, a firm mouth, and huge dark eyes surrounded by thick lashes; his feet were propped casually on a tabletop painted like a chessboard. He studied her with a mixture of insolence and open curiosity that she found unnerving. She tried to keep her expression blank, but his lips curved up into a knowing smile.

Very happy to not read about another hot blonde. Dark hair is just as attractive

YA 101: guys gotta be AMAZING; and they ARE in this book. It's always fun for me to find new book eyecandy, so to speak. And their descriptions are far from boring - okay maybe Carter's is the typical badboy, cocky type but come on, you need those types. And Sylvain is the nice - oh so nice - FRENCH (kind of unusual for the mains) guy.
They both play the extremes - two sides of the same coin that fell for the main girl. Strong personalities that want to protect and don't hold back - you need this in your stories, ladies and gents.
For Carter he was more the free-r spirit than Sylvain, who wasn't stuffy by any means, but they both could walk on the wild side. I actually thought something bad was gonna sprout from Sylvain - cause he was TOOOOO nice - but I was sorely mistaken (yay haha)
They're both their own characters and I'm sorry to lump them together. I will reread and revise my statements! As for camps..I can't pick yet ;( huhu

Allie Sheridan’s world is falling apart. Her brother’s run away from home. Her parents ignore her. And she’s just been arrested.

Again.

This time her parents have had enough. They cut her off from her friends and send her away to boarding school, far from her London friends.

But at Cimmeria Academy, Allie is soon caught up in the strange activities of a secret group of elite students.

When she’s attacked late one night the incident sets off a chain of increasingly violent events. As the school begins to seem like a very dangerous place, she finds out that nothing at Cimmeria is what it seems to be.

And that she is not who she thought she was.

The back cover says

Sent away from home,

Allie Sheridan will discover

a new LIFE

a world of MYSTERY

a world of SECRETS

a word of DANGER

To tempt you I'm adding in a scene that anyone could just gush over.Mind you I typed it all out cause, well, duh. 

Say hello to male leads Sylvain and Carter (had to omit some  things to keep the story a secret):

... "Now we shall enjoy the croquet."

"Yay," she replied weakly. "Croquet."

As they walked back around the corner, she could see that everyone had been waiting for them, including Carter, His eyes told her that he knew exactly what they'd been doing.

"Allie! Sylvain." His tone was mocking. "This is great. What have you been up to?"

Surprised by his aggression, Allie flushed with anger.

...

Sylvain pulled her closer. "Unfortunately, Carter, our teams are set already. We do not need  another player."

"I didn't come to play." Carter put emphasis on the last word. 

...

He turned from Sylvain to her.

Allie felt as if a cool breeze had chilled her skin. "I... I'm fine, Carter. Thanks."

She faltered under his gaze, which seemed to challenge her. As if she'd done something bad, disappointed him in some way. 

"That's great. You do seem much recovered." His words dripped sarcasm. "Did you hurt your lips, too? Or is it from something else?"

Allie's hand flew up to cover her mouth as Sylvain took several steps forward. 

"Why are you still here, Carter?" he asked icily.

Carter stared at him, unflinching. "I just wanted to see if what I suspected was true."

"Seen all you need to see?" Sylvain's voice was low and menacing. 

"Hey, everybody," Ruth stepped between them. "Come on. Stay calm. Let's not get into something here."

Carter ignored her. "Oh, I've seen enough, Sylvain."

With a sigh, Ruth stepped out of the way. They were now standing no more than a foot apart, glaring at each other.

Now who wouldn't want to get in between them to - ahem - break up the fight? And only a foot apart. Hmmm. 

Anyway, I read her Acknowledgements at the back. I found it fitting that this book sprouted from a dare. But it was gut-wrenching to know her mother couldn't see the finished product. I'm glad to add to C.J.'s fanbase though!