We have been focusing on the yuri aspect of this all this time but haven’t really gotten around to appreciating the other great things about this movie, like designs, cinematography or even the music!!! The music for this movie, dear Lord!
Okay Korea I am disappoint! Where is the soundtrack for this movie!?! Soundtracks are supposed to be released on the day the movie hits cinemas and The Handmaiden has ben out for two months already now and yet no CDs listed anywhere! What gives?!!
Thankfully the internet exists and where there is internet there is everything so of course we have some songs of the soundtrack either leaked or re-created by the hard-core fans of this movie.
I have gotten a chance to come across a few and I love them all so much. The favourite of course being the theme that plays during ‘The Escape’. This is titled ‘Teaser2’ and has another, clearer variation in ‘Teaser4’. It is so soothing to the point of reducing me to tears. it caresses my very soul! I love it so much.
The next is the one you have probably heard in that official video by Gain and Min-seo. Actually if play-count was the basis of favourite this song would be my favourite because the play count on both my phone and PC amounts in the hundreds already. Once I play it I can’t help rewinding right away. it is just soo good!!
Where is my full soundtrack South Korea?!! I want it!! I want to listen to the other great tracks in this movie. Come on, do it! This is already looking to take over Whispering Corridors 4 ~ Voice Letter’s OST as my favourite yuri Soundtrack.
Be happy, be very happy. You are getting to watch The Handmaiden in theatres from October 14th thanks to magnolia studios. You will get to experience this movie in all its 100% quality glory with the best English subtitles possible so I am feeling kind of jealous here. You better go and watch it and let us know what the big screen experience feels like.
The official trailer is out (still the stylish one) and to those who have managed to resist watching the online leaks, a word of warning before going into the cinema…
Buy very little popcorn because as soon as the movie starts, you will probably forget about it. Also make sure that you are ‘dressed for the occasion’ otherwise…hehehe…
Okay, this has been way overdue but I am glad I waited because the other day I was re-watching episode one after getting the second episode in HQ and I noticed something very, very interesting. Now of course this might as well be just the fruit of my CBS shipping heart but who cares. This is how I do things. I approach media with the couples that I dig and my ship in this drama is of course CBS.
Not to brag as well but notice how even my subconscious is great at detecting non-yuri? I am an avid shipper of Mayuki and if you are shocked by that, shame on you, but you must have noticed that I have not mentioned Mayuki in context of this show even before it aired! We knew nothing then but as if my conscious was looking out for me, I never even entertained the idea of Mayuki in this show, or as we should know it Mai/Kaoru!
Instead my mind was all on CBS AKA Mai/Maki. I have deluded myself more than I should already about this ship but then it was just my inner shipper going out of control basing my happies on just what could be instead of what has been.
Well, forget delusions! After the two episodes my delusions are seemingly on their way to becoming reality! Seriously, my jaw dropped the more Mai/Maki scenes we got and more of this when we get to episode 2 but for now, let’s stick with the first episode.
Before I go into it let me tell you that interesting something that I noticed. So we know Maki and Kaoru are the two leads. What is that something that every leading character has? A relationship. In some cases where it is a duo lead story like this, the two mains are usually put into the relationship and even when it looks like they aren’t, they eventually end up together because it was all for the drama. That is usually in romance stories.
Now, one might argue that Crow’s Blood is no romance story but all who have seen both episodes know what is going on with Kaoru and that Dude! Seriously by the end of the second episode Kaoru is ready to have that Dude’s babies! More on Kaoru’s side of things later.
So, they have obviously given Kaoru a love interest and no matter how you look at it, Kaoru/Maki is not happening! So Kaoru has her emotional corner covered that leaves the other lead Maki. What about Maki? Where is her emotional anchor? Are they going to leave her hanging while they take care of Kaoru so well? Is it because she is kinda zombie and thus unable to be in one? Bullshit! We have seen enough evidence to know that Maki has feelings. She is like Arcueid in Tsukihime/Melty Blood, or Alucard in Hellsing or the Wolfman or any other lead in the monster-led story. She is the Beast and so she must have her Beauty. In other story structures, the Beauty would have been Kaoru but we know now that is not the case in Crow’s Blood. In fact it couldn’t be farther from that.
Yes, Maki is going around kissing girls left and right (by the end of episode one – zero, but by two – four!!!) but of course there is no romantic meaning behind that, otherwise that last kiss in the second episode would make things super awkward!
And so there I was, re-watching the first episode and then going on to the second and then my brain exploded in wonderful chocolatey fireworks! I found the Beauty to Maki’s Beast. I found Maki’s emotional anchor. I found her relationship thread in a character that shocked me beyond belief…
Mai!
Yes, I had had delusions of this before the series started but of course that was all in my mind and never did I think that there would actually be something to it until the shows began! My mind was completely blown! When that thought occurred to me it grew like a cancer. It could not let go of me to the point of actually, actually, having a dream of this ship! I might not convince you as I might need more evidence with the following episodes and actual results, which might not really happen but let’s take it step by step and begin with this first episode…
百合 Goggles 