Mei-chan no Shitsuji (Mei-chan's Butler)
A friend was watching a bunch of Japanese dramas so inspired by her I decided to pick up on one that she was watching just to kill some time. And boy, what a weird ride! Haha. Warning, I will be spoiling the show so read with caution!It has been a long time since I last saw a Jdrama and I don't typically enjoy them very much as I find them to be too cheesy for me. This drama is no exception. There is a manga of this and not sure if this drama is based on it or the other way around. This is a typical female school girl romance story, another words its shoujo. The main girl, Mei, transfers to this pristine high class girls academy where every girl has their own handsome butler. Mei is from a poor family so she sticks out like a sore thumb, but she is assigned by a S-Ranked butler so she immediately is hated by jealous and angered girls.
Mei and her parents own a udon restaurant. They are poor but they are happy. Mei has real passion for udon noodles and the show often show her working with the dough. She lead a happy life with her best friend Natsumi and childhood friend a boy name Kento. However, this turn for the worse for Mei when her parents are killed in accident and learns that her father is the son of a powerful and wealthy family of Hongo. Her grandfather wants her to attend the St. Lucia Academy to become the next heir to the Hongo family name. He even sent her his top butler, Rihito, to serve her. Mei refuses greatly but apparently there are people who are after her. Their first attack was bombing her home. Mei has no choice but to go to the school.
Going to this school was hell for her as the livelihood of the students were over the top and ridiculous to her. She is bullied by her appearance and jealousy of her butler. Rihito is loved and respected by all, and the only one in the school who supported Mei. She plans to leave but the threat of her grandfather separating her parents remains has motivated her to return to the school and fight back. In order to become a suitable lady to be the heir of Hongo she must achieve the highest girls ranking of Sole in the school. She loses her glasses and the jersey pants to fit the appearance of her fellow classmates. Soon she defends herself from her bullying classmates and was able to win them over. Mei also learns that these people are not bad as she witnesses the trust and closeness of the girls and their butlers. During this time the bond between her and her butler becomes closer.
We soon meet the face of Lucia Academy, Lucia herself who is mostly is in a fancy wheelchair due to her weak body. She is the lady of ladies. We learn that the troubles Mei and her classmates are facing and threats are to bring Mei down. We later learn that its Lucia's doing for she's the adoptive daughter to the Hongo name to take Mei's father's spot.
Mei's childhood friend Kento is brothers with Mei's butler, Rihito. Kento is in love with Mei so he becomes an apprentice butler to keep watch over her. For half of the show it there is a love triangle between these brothers and Mei. Kento has shown to be pretty brave and admirable despite his brash childlike personality.
Mei has eventually left the school to prevent from hurting her friends, but comes back. The story makes her to be like a role model, but she has a annoying habit of brooding and have the inability to make decisions in a timely manner. This does make set the mood for the show, but it annoys me! She clearly has feeling for Rihito, and does not see Kento as boyfriend material. She does care for him, but the show never showed her ever seeing Kento as a potential love interest. He's the only one who confessed his lover to her too. She hasn't answered him back on it which bothers me. Kento has showed and put a lot of effort for her, and it just bothers me that she doesn't reject him. Giving him this little hope that he has a chance. Rihito has professed that he will serve Mei and never leave her side, and Mei has agreed to that. She clearly chose Rihito, and Kento is still going to try to win her and both Mei and Rihito let him. This is weird to me. Is their love for each other that weak that they let Kento try to break them apart?
The show ends with Lucia losing to Mei in a duel, and also saved by her. Kento flies to the UK to become a S ranked butler, and Mei continues to go to St. Lucia Academy and also gains the Hongo heir title. Overall, this show was entertaining, but lots of things were cheesy and slightly disconcerting. Good show to watch if you're bored!
0 comments: