Staying tuned

Until having spent my college life in US, I hadn't been a movie buff. I used to think watching a movie is just a waste of my PRECIOUS 2 hours or so. I had rather preferred to study instead (Of course not. I'm just kidding!!). But, then I found a ticket in America as cheap as half the price in Japan, and many other films which were not released in Japan. Soon moive watching became my pastime.

Ever since back to Tokyo 8 years ago, however, American TV dramas have been my another favorites, but giving me a little headache. I was once totally devastated by watching some 6 or 8 stories of "24 - Twenty Four". That was the hardest movie (or TV drama) marathon I've ever had in my life. Movie series like Spiderman, Star Wars or Indiana Jones give some break of months or years before next story, but TV drama series seem endless.

Never lose control (and batteries)

There was another reason why I disliked films. My bad memory for remembering casts' names and faces. Unavoidably I had bad understanding about the stories. Sometimes did not really get it. I wanna blame that for my bad eyesight, though. Thanks to the 4 years' life in US, however, I somehow learned how to distinguish and remember casts.

Some classic dramas are decent in that they only have 4 main actors/actresses at max: "Friends" and "Sex and the City". "Desperate Housewives" are in the line. "24" is simple enough. Only Jack Bauer. He is as immortal as Steven Segal is in his movies. As the series are going on to Season 7 next year, I suppose nobody remember who Jack has dated, got married or divorced with in the previous seasons.

However, "Lost" and "Heroes" have given me a real trouble. I hope I'm not the only one who totally lost in the drama. It seemed to me the drama had dozens of main characters. A couple of years ago I gave up watching it, and am now working on "Heroes". Trying to figure out who's who. Wish me luck...

Oh, but wait. baseball has two 9 starting players each for a game of 2.5 - 3 hours. And 22 players plus for 90 minutes' soccer match. Seems like watching TV dramas are more resembling to watching sport games. And perhaps TV drama marathons are physically and mentally challenging "sports".