Majisuka Gakuen Season 1 Discussion Thread

[Yanki31Mina]

I really think Jurina and the fact that Mayuyu never did anything in the end mean there will be another season.  However, they left Mendol open ended too, and still no second season.  Maybe they just want the option open.

[Rayle]

Well, I finally caved and watched the first episode...which led to blitzing through episode 11.   

I gotta say it far exceeded my expectations as an idol drama and it definitely was way better than Mendol. (Not to say that I didn't enjoy Mendol)
Just wish some of the build-ups hadn't fizzled into nothing like the Sayaka fight and the whole Nezumi thing going nowhere, etc. But I definitely didn't see the Yuko-Maeda going going the way it did(with Yuko's "sadism" actually being a "spice of life" wisdom thing), and that was a pleasant surprise. The director definitely used a romantic subtext angle to give they Yuko-Sado-Torigoya-Maeda-Takamina scenes extra sparks, and they worked beautifully.  Team Hormone was pretty endearing, but sorry, Daruma was not. Props to Nachu for playing her so unapologetically though, that must have taken quite a bit of effort to maintain that kind of character. But Black just didn't look intimidating at all. 
I loved how they acknowledged the girls' idol images and twisted that into some of their characters, especially with Team Lolithe Sanshou Sisters, Haruna, and Mayu. We all knew Mayu's soul-sucking stare meant something evil,  . Mariko, Yuko, and Rena really outdid themselves in the acting department, though. Haruna, Tomochin and Mayu also were quite convincing in fleshing out their characters.
This was the perfect turn-your-brain-off-fan-service drama, without being completely stupid at the same time.  I think my fledgling AKB48 fandom might have gotten a mini-revival because of Majisuka Gakuen.

From AX2010:


This song becomes 100x better with the bass amped up and the rest of AKB/SKE having a blast in the stands. 

[reina's eyes]

it seems like Jurina and Nezumi are colleagues? O:

The wonders of an ambiguous and openended ending!

Nezumi will make the most out of any situation, subtly steering things in her desired direction. She and jurina might be long standing colleagues, but just as easily nezumi could see newcomer jurina as the next best thing to come along to make convenient use of. It's a sound ending without a sequel, but does (as has been said frequently) leave options open.

BTW was there ever any indication of just what's wrong with Yuko? Something worsening and untreatable, but the result of what?

[aznnerd]

^ Not to my knowledge no, just that she had a month to live so on and so on. Then again, the subs may have been off but I doubt it.

Just for clarification, Yuko dies at the end right?

[jafeijai]

^ Even that is left open-ended lol

Anyways, about Jurina/Nezumi; my thoughts are that Nezumi was working for Jurina. At the end of the Maeda/Jurina encounter, you see that Nezumi falls in behind Jurina as Jurina passes by; something she has never done with any of the other students and thus my conclusion.

[sousora]

^ I figured they were sisters, and until there's another season that reveals otherwise, it works nicely for me Although it would make sense that Mayuyu was working for her, no reason was shown as to why she would be. If she is her sister, then no reason is needed.

[Rayle]

it seems like Jurina and Nezumi are colleagues? O:

The wonders of an ambiguous and openended ending!

Nezumi will make the most out of any situation, subtly steering things in her desired direction. She and jurina might be long standing colleagues, but just as easily nezumi could see newcomer jurina as the next best thing to come along to make convenient use of. It's a sound ending without a sequel, but does (as has been said frequently) leave options open.

BTW was there ever any indication of just what's wrong with Yuko? Something worsening and untreatable, but the result of what?

That's what I got out of it; that Nezumi's manipulations are just her way of competing at Maji High because she can't compete physically. She said as much in one of the episodes. I also agree that Nezumi is probably turning to Jurina as the next rising star to advise because everyone already at Maji now know that she's a manipulator and won't trust her.
The falling behind Jurina thing that jafeijai mentioned I think is just another inconsistency. They had quite a few symbolic-y cinematography in the series that I suspect that they just used for dramatic effect.  Like the Nezumi dancing on the desks and stairs stuff.

[Aly.~.]

i haven't posted here, lol. i'm a little late, but anyways just saw the last ep. it was a nice ending.
the last part with nuzumi and jurina was very interesting.

i hope they make a sequel of it, then again thats what they did with mendol as well and its been awhile.
but i still hope they do, i'll support it. lol. haha. 

[jafeijai]

Hooooly shit! The most shocking Majisuka moment so far!

Part TWO.
Mukuchi

^ Epic! ...I expected a whole speech, but this'll do for now.

I so called it.

[SomethingWild]

Finally watched the finale!

Pretty boring  I kinda expected this ending. The Jurina bit was actually pretty cool. If they want to do a new series they'll need like 40 new girls... which actually shouldn't be that big of a problem 

This show definitely exceeded my expectations. I was a bit wary at first and didn't like the first ep. Still, the girls all looked great and there were some lulz to be had. Yuko, once again, proved her great acting skills 

Absolute highlight of the series for me was Gekikara. Not only looked Rena hotter than ever, she also proved she's a great actress. Her role was completely different from her normal character and she nailed it. 

[maliciel]

I so called it.

Mukuchi, so quiet, 4 lines is a speech.

[Datalanche]

I very much enjoyed the last episode. It was very well done although slightly anomalous that the auditorium of this run down ghetto school was absolutely spotless. I really enjoyed the symbolic "fight" between Atsuko and Yuko. It was nice to see the show briefly take a turn towards the metaphorical, rather than the 'beat the shit out of everything' concept of the rest of the show.

Overall, this show was quite exemplary. It's not going to win any awards, but was terrific fun to watch. My favorites actresses were Sasshi, Rena, and Nachu. Personal favorite episode would be 11. It was terrifically done.

[SomethingWild]

*insert maniacal laughter here*

[Bloo48]

This has already left the dorama
Gegikara is real 
   

[Masa]

[winner]

I was a little disappointed there wasn't an all-out brawl like Crows or Drop. But since they're on different levels (this IS a girls drama, and there wasn't much reason to fight anyways), I guess a warm ending is also nice.
The Nezumi x Jurina bit was a nice touch.

Guess I'll have to imagine what great partnerings could have happened... oh wait..!

 

[SomethingWild]

Mayu didn't get beat up... sneaky nezumi!



They'd make a nice couple 

[reina's eyes]

The book jurina is reading at the end is Unterm Rad by Hermann Hesse.

Wikipedia:

Beneath the Wheel is the story of Hans Giebenrath, a talented boy sent to an elite seminary in Maulbronn. However his education is focused on increasing his knowledge and neglects his development as a person. He befriends Heinrich Heilner, who is less hard-working than he and more liberal; the friendship is a relief for Hans. In the end, Heilner is expelled from the seminary, and Giebenrath is sent home after his performance decreases when he shows symptoms of mental illness.

Back home, he finds coping with his situation difficult, as he has lost most of his childhood to scholastic study, and thus never had time to form lasting personal relationships with anyone in his village. He is apprenticed as a blacksmith and seems to enjoy the work; concrete, as opposed to the abstraction of scholarly work. However, he never fully adjusts to his new situation. Going out in a neighbouring village, he and his colleagues get drunk. Giebenrath leaves the group to walk home early. Later, he is found to have drowned in a river. Ambiguity rests over whether the death was accidental or suicide.

Beneath the Wheel is one of Hesse's first novels and severely criticises education that focuses only on students' academic performance. In that respect, the novel is typical of Hesse. There are biographical elements in the story, as he attended and was expelled from the seminary described.

[maliciel]

Wow, I didn't even think about checking out the title of that book. And it's funny that they went to that extent. Although maybe it was accidental.

[hibachifinal]

its gotta be intentional.