Episodes 5 & 6 - - The plot thickens!

[pip]

Has anyone else taken a fancy to the hats that the reporters wear? What a great touch. The costuming in this show is very good. My favorite hat was the one with a rose print. As a matter of fact, the props are very good, too. Both emphasize the differences between the modern, West-influenced characters and the traditional Koreans very well.

I enjoy watching Ueda Sachiko. What a memorable character! The actress is wonderful.

You know who the least likely assassin would be (in Episode 6)? Mrs. Ueda! I know, I know, it won't happen that way, but it would make a heck of a plot twist. She is independent in money and actions, plus she's so unbearable that she deflects everyone's interest. And, being the Japanese wife of a Japanese high government official, she's above suspicion. As I said, it won't happen that way; I was just imagining.

I love the way the reporters act as a chorus. I got a big laugh when they were talking about Wan and said, "Shek-ee!" "Dude" might not be the best translation of that word, but the point was made.

This show is terrific for lots of reasons.

[mikey]

There was some sharp criticism of the show’s costuming over on the California board, by people suggesting that nobody actually wore pastel-toned suits back in the 1930’s. So unrealistic, they insisted!

I suppose that could be true. I wasn’t around in the 1930’s, and the old black-and-white footage from the era doesn’t tell us enough about the era’s attire to know for sure. But, the only people we see wearing pastels in this show are Wan and the very flamboyant Monthly Jirasi bunch. All the other male characters wear traditional gray or black suits. For those four particular guys, I think it’s actually very much in character for them to stand out like that.

Thus, the pastel thing didn’t bother me at all.

[pip]

Mikey, I think the costuming is not, strictly speaking, historically accurate. In fact, I had a hard time placing the era during the first episode because the clothing and music were vintage 1930s but with a strong influence from the 1940s (in America, anyway). But I found it to be a playful mixture which suits the characters to a T. As you say, Mikey, Wan and the Jirasi gang are the ones who wear the pastels and floral-print hat and other snazzy items. I think it's fun to see everyone's clothing and accessories; in fact I look forward to it.