19 - Double by Ayako Noda – My Taste is Better Than Yours

This time it’s Samu’s recommendation for Enzo - and it’s another josei manga! Double by Ayako Noda is a psychologically twisted acting series about the complicated relationship of two men in the industry, one a natural talent and the other a hard worker, with differing levels of success and the drama that unfolds from the power each has over the other.

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction - a josei acting manga with a complicated relationship at the core

3:52 Is Takara and Yuujin’s relationship toxic?

5:00 Another Big Bang Theory comparison

6:47 The talented natural vs the hardworking grinder

7:41 The evidence/implications of Takara potentially being autistic

12:40 Comparisons to Spacewalking With You - the 2024 Manga Taisho winner

13:58 Examining the ‘toxic’ elements of their relationship, how professionals in the industry view it

20:57 Highlighting the other side characters in the series

21:53 Touching on Enzo’s acting experience - how authentically is it depicted in Double?

26:27 Comparing the intents of Double vs Oshi no Ko

28:42 The unlikely chance of an anime adaptation

29:48 Spoiler discussion begins

30:15 The big revelation in Takara and Yuujin’s relationship - did we think it would become a plot point?

35:31 Can their relationship work going forward for them?

37:26 Hiryuuden play - behind the scenes drama of the double play

41:53 Ayako Noda’s other works under her Arai Niboshiko penname

42:47 Samu’s Recommendation: Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii by Asuka Konichi

45:14 Enzo’s Recommendation: Sakamichi no Apollon by Yuki Kodamai

48:40 Overview and final scores

51:30 Finding patterns in our taste 19 episodes in… discussion to be continued

19 - Double by Ayako Noda

My Taste is Better Than Yours

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