Life Lessons from Skip Beat 01: This Calls For a Revolution!
I’m not sure if this will be a regular episodic feature in this blog, considering how much I lack consistency and determination, but since the idea of making this ‘life lessons from Skip Beat’ post popped into my mind when I was reading the manga about a month ago, I guess it won’t hurt to put this into action now that the anime has aired. Well it would be great if I could share the “life lessons” imparted in each anime episode, but we’ll see how this goes.
Demand, and it shall be given, especially if you’re the customer.
I’m going to assume that you’ve watched the first episode of this, considering that the sub has been out since days ago. So yeah, as we know, Kyoko is such a big fan of Shou, his #1 fan actually (or more like, she used to be). While most of us are probably not as zealous as this girl in terms of pursuing her passion/obsession– ok, fine. I do get as zealous as Kyoko when it comes to certain animes, but anyways. Kyoko, despite the wallflower doormat girl that she used to be, is already remarkable of a character. She slaves away working her ass off in part-time jobs in Darumaya and other places, all for the sake of paying the expensive condo-like unit she rented for Shou. Get that, she was paying the rent all by herself, while the rich bastard Shou gets to keep all his monies to himself!! Ugh, imagine that, making Kyoko suffer while you enjoy your stardom, you freakin bastard Shou!!! *devils unleashed*
yes, THIS is the bigass elite condo unit (though this pic doesn’t really show it) Kyoko is renting for that bastard Shou
Who said poor people can’t be rich?! Had Kyoko not been paying for that ludicrous condo unit, who knows how much she would’ve saved up! Millions or billions of yen, perhaps. Goes to show that you can be rich in Japan simply with part-time jobs. Though I’m not sure how that kind of life will fare for a gaijin…
BADASS Bike Skillz
As if that’s not enough, Kyoko also shows us that “anything is possible!” in this episode, as she reaches her destination in 15-minutes for a route that normally takes 40 minutes!! this was mentioned in the manga She could easily win the Anime Guinness Book of Record for traveling that route with the shortest time EVER. Talk about sheer willpower and determination! In the anime/manga world, anything is possible. But hey, the same can be said in real life, right?
poor Kyoko (damn you Shoutarou!!)
Though as we’ve seen, working hard TOO much will lead to your own downfall sooner or later. I mean, you can’t buy health right? And if you die, well, you can no longer work (duh). So given Kyoko’s wasted state after that GREAT biking feat she did, it was almost impossible for her to work, or at least work at her best. So yeah, think of the consequences of working too hard, both to your health and your employer (who’d be paying you for your ‘lousy work’ because of your fatigue from overworking). And of course, dear employers should note that as well. Death to crazy overtimes! I’m just talking to myself, never mind me~
Kyoko, giving bastards what they deserve since 2002.
More than anything else, I think what Kyoko ultimately shows us is that we should let our broken spirit/anger/negative emotions lead us to greater heights! Wallowing in self-pity is useless, and why be all emo and dorama-tic when it will just make your life miserable? Mourning over a lost love isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but still, at the end of the day, you’ll have to recover and move on, charging all the hurt to experience while being able to learn from mistakes of the past~ In short, in every step of the way, we should try our best to grow… and grow up. Kyoko’s still naive at this point, and we’ll see her grow up more in the later episodes.
So guys, never ever think that a timid girl will remain timid forever, and you can just take advantage of her kindness as long as you live, ok? The timid ones are actually the most mysterious and unpredictable among the girls out there, since you’ll never know what their true colors are, until they finally SNAP!
HELL YEA!
Also, just to clear up some misunderstandings about this episode (thanks lolikit, I wouldn’t have thought much about this if you didn’t post that question in your tweet), it’s not that this series aims to show how putting on makeup or having a makeover is a requirement to be a GREAT WOMAN, but rather, it tells us that NOTHING should hinder us from doing that (not even your prince charming), if that’s what we really want. Not to say that we should all be vain, but hey, if becoming more vain will allow you to feel good about yourself and allow you to have inner peace, then why not? Live with no regrets, live to the fullest! And most importantly, follow your heart and be what you want to be!
Oh and call me feminist or whatever, but I’ve come to believe that altruism in relationships will only spell d-o-o-m. So yeah, I don’t really believe in the “If he’s happy, then I’m happy too / So long as he’s happy~” crappylicious cliche line (also because it inherently means you’re being delusional, believing that the other guy is happy when it’s not really the case). Good thing Kyoko snapped from being the wallflower doormat that she is! I wouldn’t have been able to stand watching her acts of self-sacrifice, all for the sake of a bastard -___-”’
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My sister who’s the big TS fan told me what happened in this episode after I attempted watching it, but then you know, I just got bored ‘cos I watched SOUL EATER and ToraDora! 3 before that, so yeah. But I know that one of the guys is a total jerk, and its kind of predictable what’s going to happen next. Well, the “so long as he’s happy” cliche does happen sometimes, but I would have been angry at the chick Kyoko if she didn’t punch him (or did she slap him?) Anyway, hey, at least I’m keeping up with ToraDora! and lovin’ it!
@blissmo: you think you’ve seen it ALL, I think not, dear blissmo
Then again, you’re not joining the ride so you won’t see the twists and turns that’s gonna happen in this show later on =/ Meh, Skip Beat > Soul Eater and ToraDora combined! 
Ooo. I hope you manage to keep up with these “Life Lessons” posts because they’re certainly a good idea. You can learn an unusual amount of AWESOME life lessons (for girls a lot of the time, but there are plenty that are gender-neutral).
The lessons don’t seem to be as plentiful after this episode to me (at least in every episode) so maybe it would be better to combine some episodes for these posts. Makes it less scheduled too (just a suggestion, since I really want to see it work. I enjoyed this post so much).
And Kyoko definitely deserves to be a little vain and spend time and money on her appearance! She’s lived 16 years without ever spending time on herself. She deserves to spend about half of her day just being selfish now…but she still doesn’t and helps others. Oh she’s such a great girl.
After reading the first 14 Skip Beat manga books in less than a week(!), I have come to the conclusion that this must be one of the best mangas out there. I can’t remember the last time a manga had this effect on me (maybe Full Moon?), and I’m already suffering from withdrawal due to the fact that there are no more manga books to read at the moment
Even though the anime is true to the story, I can’t help but feel that there is something missing. I guess I just don’t feel the magic that is Skip Beat when I watch the anime. However, since only two episodes have been released, I’m hoping that the anime will grow on me and hopefully I’ll end up liking it just as much as the manga. So please keep posting these wonderful life lessons
Nice. I love them.
(I have a friend who apparently have problems about people bothering her. Her emo friends sending her messages because they’re having love troubles. I think that 5th lesson is what they just need. =’p)
I’m fine with just download Soul Eater’s subs. As for Tordadora, I’ll just wait for the raw to get uploaded and that’s when I’ll download it. 
So in truth, no determination for other series.. LAWL! 
They spell truth in them too.
I agree with you! Skip Beat > Soul Eater + Toradora
Hahaha~
for one, Skip Beat is the only show I watch online on TV Tokyo while it currently airs in Japan.
Btw!
I was hoping if you know anyone who’s good at Japanese to help us. x’3
Me and a group of fans were planning to sub the episodes!
We only need a translator. TwT Japanese to English.
I hope I’m not a bother..^^;
Since the subs were taking quite awhile to come out. D: (oh, but we’re not a speedsub) x’3
Anyways..I hope someone could help us. :’]
What I hate about Sho is that he treated her like shit and dumped her in the beginning, but later on when he found out that she changed and Ren becomes his rival (in love and show biz), he gets all baby-come-back-to-me-plz.
It’s not exactly a life-lesson, but Skip Beat has also the effect on me that, after readig it I’m filled with energy and I want to do everything perfect. There’s no other manga that can make me that positive thinking and happy in such a short time. It’s definitely the best manga out there.
At the moment I can’t feel the same energy (or let’s call it “magic” since it was mentioned already) the atmosphere is different either. But still I like the anime and keep on following it (unfortunately I can’t steam TV Tokyo)
I like Skip Beat because it has interesting characters with a LOT of troubled pasts. Especially Kyoko, almost 20+ manga volumes in and we haven’t delved into most of her story. And yet she has grown so much since.
Please do keep up with these life lessons and stuff. Some of Kyoko’s issues reflect those of mine actually.
For this one, no, mere makeup is not what makes a makeover! It’s the (devil!) inside that still counts in the end!
So long as Kyoko is being financially responsible and keeping an eye on her wallet then there is little to be said about how she chooses to spend her money. Hell it’s not like we do much better by buying anime related goods…
I don’t think makeup was about vanity but as a vehicle to create transformation without magic. Besides i find it hard to argue with the results.
I like Kyoko for the only questions she has about Sho-parasite -taro is whether to shoot him or run him over. Either way may Bakataro live to rue and lament his crimes against Kyoko. May he suffer from death by a thousand cuts, or be peeled into a rose.
Funny or sad to say, the life lessons Skip Beat is offering comes at a time of my personal life where I could probably use them right now. But call me the eternal cynic if you will, as much as I’m ‘admiring’ Kyoko’s sheer determination and the way she chose to bounce out of her detestable situation, I kinda resent the fact that she has the shoujo magic that goes against all rules of RL that actually FAVOURs sheer hard headed thoughtless stubborn-ness on her side.
I guess it’s a matter of taking the life-lessons (or portions of it) that can actually be applied in real life, though a big part of me really wants to achieve the dramatic effect of stomping worthless bastards via roundabout stalking and getting away with it
Too bad that’s only a one way ticket to jail in RL… *grumbles*
@FuyuMaiden: Kyoko deserves all the reward she can get (for all the hardwork, not the stupidity >.<)!
As much as I enjoy writing out this life lessons post, I might just go for the arc/multi-episodic route for this segment that you’ve also suggested… to lessen possibilities of burn-out and allow me to procrastinate from time to time hehe
@Priss-chan: I can’t quite see the anime and manga as separate entities, so my love for the anime right now is really really biased (my love for the manga is making me love it too XD). And I just love the fact that the characters are all “alive and kicking” in the anime hehehe.
And now that you’ve ran out of volumes, go for the scanlations! =P
@Wija-chan: It’s actually an unfair comparison given that we’ve been waiting for the Skip Beat anime for who knows how long now, so obviously our love for this anime far outweighs the other offerings of the fall
And lucky you for being able to watch it live D: Gah, I guess I can stream it live or something, hmm~
and as much as I want to lend a hand in subbing, I’m afraid I can’t commit to such a task because I lack time and I’m just lazy lol. I hope you’ll find that translator! Though instead of this blog, you’ll have more chances of finding that person in forums (animesuki, or the Skip Beat manga forums) or in LJ.
@Jayers: That’s actually the reason why I don’t ever want Kyoko to end up with Shou. Though I pity Shou for being the naive jerk he was, whatever he’s done in the past already makes him disqualified to win Kyoko’s heart. Ren-sama forever!
@EagleVision1999: we can always look at the series from varying perspectives, and learn from it ^^ As for the ‘magic’ of the anime, there might be several factors that come into play as to why you can’t feel it… the character designs, the not-so-funny comical scenes, etc. (or the mix of those elements). More often than not, you’ll just have to fill-in the details yourself, and not simply rely on the anime to have the same magic as the manga (loving the anime is a choice after all)
@bluemist: Kyoko’s issues reflect those of mine, too, which is one of the reasons why I said this series really hits close to home. The characterization present in the series is just amazing, and almost all the characters stand out because of that.
And true, “true makeover” involves a change of outlook, a change of heart, that’s what will ultimately show our true strength and being! ^^
@Crusader: The makeup is, after all, the physical manifestation of her “inner heart revolution”, kind of like magic in itself :3 And yes, DOWN WITH BAKATAROU!! (or DICKTAROU, as Impz calls him lol), though I can’t really hate the guy, especially in the later part of the manga, argh T__T
@issa: Take in whatever can help you recover, scrap out the rest! Whatever you’re experiencing right now is making you view Skip Beat on a much different lens, and I can only hope that Kyoko’s determination and optimism can affect you in a positive way *hugs*
and lol, you know we can still be [subtly] evil through other ways…
Thanks! :’D
I’ll go look from those sites!
Ironic how the OP/ED for Skip Beat plays when I go to your blog.
Of course I like the anime though. Everything I don’t like about it can be fighted with imagination (something I have far to much of…
I can’t wait for the next…
Thanks for visiting my site =D
I enjoyed the second episode more!!! Mainly because it got me more entertained. I think Skip Beat will become a fan favorites of mine and I’ll enjoyed reviewing the first season of it.
You,yourself, did a absolute good job reviewing the first episode. Haha, I reviewing mostly everly little detail.I love anime bloggers who can write so much better. Your a example, lol. I sympathize with it. Tho I’ll probably,hopefully, get better in due time.
Anyways, I was wondering,you don’t have to but do you want to be blog roll buddies? I’ll link you, you link me? Comment or email me about it. Thanks
@Little Neko: Ohh, link exchange? surely! Your love for Skip Beat earns you a spot in my blogroll =P
Awesome!!! I’ll add you right now!! =D