Glass Mask / Glass no Kamen

AN Shows
23

Episode 3 -

spoiler

Well, at the school play, Maya begins to plays Vivi as a fool, but the magic happens and she becomes Vivi – a tragic character. I knew this was going to happen and I’m glad she went with her own feelings of how the role should be played. The audience was captivated by her performance and was really moved by it. They applaud her and stop the show. I know that the teacher did not appreciate what she did, but at least her classmates did. And I hope her mother feels awful about missing the play, now that she’s been told how wonderful her daughter was.

It looks like Maya is really bitten by the acting bug now. She ends up at the Ondine acting school and sits in on a class. Her pantomime with the bird was really good, even if the other students made fun of her, but Ayumi could see her raw talent and appreciate it. She even later defends her. I have a feeling that Maya is somehow going to end up at this school. But I feel bad that she doesn’t realize her own talent, since she feels so inferior to Ayumi. I think I see her mother’s influence here - that woman really contributes to Maya’s low self esteem.

It was also nice to get some background story on Ms. Tsukikage. Since she owns the rights to “The Scarlet Angel” I know she sees Maya in the lead role. Especially since she told Mr. Onodera to wait ten years!

24

Episode 4 -

spoiler

Mr. Onodera really wants to get his hands on “The Scarlet Angel” and will do anything to achieve this. And Ayumi would like to take the leading role from her mother.

It looks like Ms. Tsukikage is pleased with Maya’s determination to become an actress and tells her that she has talent. However, Maya’s mother tells her the exact opposite and won’t let her no-talent daughter go to acting school. I think it was a good idea for Maya to run away. Her mother is not a good influence and I think Maya is better off without her.

Maya becomes a boarder at Ms. Tsukikage’s school and even gets a scholarship. I enjoyed their pantomime dinner and Maya really shone. Interesting that Ms. Tsukikage has no money, but does have a mysterious benefactor, but Mr. Onodera wants her and the school to fail.

Maya’s mother shows up at the school and tries to take her daughter home, calling them “kidnappers”. Ms. Tsukikage stands up for Maya and even tries to slap some sense into her mother. But Maya’s mother threatens her with a boiling tea pot and actually throws it. And Ms. Tsukikage protects Maya with her own body, saying that an actress’s face is her fortune. She has such faith in Maya’s talent that she’d sacrifice herself that way.

Maya’s mother disowns her, but later thinks better of her behavior and sends some of her daughter’s things to Ms. Tsukikage with a note. She apologizes and says that she wants Maya to follow her dreams. However, Ms. Tsukikage tears up the note and orders the package burned. I understand that she wants Maya to have a clean break with her past, but this seems a little much.

Ayumi appears at a press conference with her mother and vows to become a better actress than her. And Maya vows to believe in herself. I know these two will be crossing paths eventually.

25

I just marathoned episodes 2-5 and I have to say I’m hooked on this show. I had heard a lot praise for this one, and I’m glad to see it wasn’t misplaced. It’s rare that I watch a drama like this and it pulls me in so quickly. The characters have a lot depth and complexities to them.

26

Episode 5 -

spoiler

Maya seems to be finding acting school very hard. Ms. Tsukikage announces their first play, but each student is only given four simple lines. Maya is worried until she realizes something important about words in general.

I think Mr. Masumi might see something of himself in Maya. It looks like he had a sad, lonely childhood that was very hard. I think he can empathize a little with Maya’s situation.

The play exercise begins and it will be an automatic failure to use anything other than those four lines. As the students realize that it isn’t what they expected, they begin to fail. Ayumi shows up to “observe” but also wants to participate in the exercise by feeding the lines to the other students. Ms. Tsukikage lets her, also calling on Maya to take her turn.

Ayumi really tries to trick Maya, but Maya holds her own against her, sticking to her four lines. After an hour, more students hear what is happening and come to watch, cheering Maya on. However, Ayumi is determined to make Maya fail and makes her questions harder. But Maya gets past every one and passes!

As the other students praise her, Maya feels better about her acting and knows she’s made the right decision to follow her dream of acting. I’m glad she got some confidence in herself. And Ayumi knows they will be rivals one day.

27

This one took a little bit for me to warm up to.
Five episodes into it now, and I’m actually starting to really enjoy this one.
It’s kind of like a more dramatic version of Kaleido Star, but with acting being the main story theme.

28

That’s a very good way to put. I’ve been trying to think of a good way to sum up the show. I have to say everyone involved in the project really did their groundwork on this one.

29

Episode 6 -

spoiler

Segregation got Maya a ticket to Ayumi’s play, but she was so wrapped up in the performance that I don’t think she realized that she was on a date! She is unsure of herself and wonders if she will ever be as good as Ayumi – I think she is going to surpass her at some point.

The Tsukikage troupe will put on a play – “Little Women” – and Maya is chosen to play Beth. However, she really isn’t ready and can’t get a feel for the character. Ms. Tsukikage has her live as Beth for a week to the exclusion of all else. The other girls can see that she is really becoming Beth, but Maya has yet to be tested. If she fails the test, Ms. Tsukikage will throw her out, but I think she will surprise everyone again and come through with flying colors!

30

Episode 7 -

spoiler

Several girls want the role of Beth and Ms. Tsukikage lets them all try out, but Maya gets to keep the role. Living as Beth really paid off; she’s the perfect choice. Everyone there can picture her as Beth too. But she can’t play the piano. Sakurakouji gives her lessons at his home and Maya meets his mother and sister. He tells her that he’d like to be on the same stage with her someday, but she still doesn’t realize that he likes her.

The rehearsals involve a lot of hard work. Ms. Tsukikage wants perfection from Maya. She yells at her and even slaps her, calling her a failure. The woman is just as bad as her mother was, but I can see her purpose here, although she didn’t have to hit her. And when Maya goes to Sakurakouji’s house in the rain for her piano lesson, his mother says he isn’t home. But then she overhears him asking his mother why she did that and she says it’s because Maya is a runaway. His sister suggests that Ayumi is a better choice for him. More harsh, judgmental people!

Maya does some thinking and ends up sitting in a park, still in the rain, where the other girls find her. She gets a fever and I think she did it on purpose to get a better feel for Beth. It turns out she did. The day of the play, Sakurakouji finds out that Maya is performing with a fever and feels responsible I think. He doesn’t even give her the bouquet of flowers he brought her. The curtain rises and everyone is in the audience, all wanting to see who the next “Scarlet Angel” will be, including Masumi and others that want Maya - and the school - to fail.

Maya does not do well performing sick and the audience doesn’t like her. Ms. Tsukikage bullies her to continue and throws a pail of cold water over her. But even as sick as she is, I liked how she improvised a couple of the scenes. The scene where she almost dies really won the audience over too. But she collapses when the curtain falls. Masumi was impressed by her performance and I think he regretted influencing the critics. He even sends her flowers. Maya feels much better when she sees the purple roses sent from “a fan” and gets a renewed determination to succeed. Ayumi acknowledges her skill, but vows to be better than her. Strange that Masumi thinks that Maya is a “failed rose” like him. And he’s the one that sent her the purple roses!

31

Episode 8 -

spoiler

Very sweet that Maya kept a pressed purple rose petal as a memento. But the critics have begun to do their damage. Ms. Tsukikage tells her troupe that it is all rumors and lies meant to discredit them. She tries to undo some of the damage to no avail and even guesses who is responsible, but falls ill and ends up in the hospital. And her students begin to quit.

Sakurakouji has been covering for Maya at her job and when Maya finds out, she hugs him and then gets embarrassed, but I don’t think he minded at all. And Maya’s boss thinks that Sakurakouji is her boyfriend! Later, he tells Maya about the new play he’s in and recites some of his lines, but it’s so obvious that he’s really telling Maya how he feels about her. However, Maya still doesn’t get it and Sakurakouji laments that she doesn’t realize his feelings for her.

The girls visit Ms. Tsukikage in the hospital and she tells them to ignore the reviews because Masumi bribed the critics, thinking she joined with Aoyagi Productions and is a threat the Daito Troupe. She assures them that they all acted very well, but Maya just can’t believe that Masumi is behind the bad press.

The real investors come to the school to meet with Ms. Tsukikage. Did they really have to push Maya into a wall? They tell Ms. Tsukikage that they want her to enter a competition and that if her troupe doesn’t make the top three, they will disband it. But I know they’ll make it! When they go to register for the competition, Ms. Tsukikage meets Masumi and they exchange words. Maya inadvertently witnesses this and cries. Again, I think Masumi regrets his actions. But when Ms. Tsukikage leads Maya away, her memento falls out of her pocket and Masumi picks it up, surprised to see what it is.
Maya asks him to give it back, explaining about the purple roses from “a fan” and how happy they made her. Later, in the car, she is still crying over his insult of the play and her original image of him is shattered.

Ms. Tsukikage decides on the play for the preliminary competition and gives Maya the lead role of Midori, much to everyone’s surprise. Maya doubts she can do it, but her fellow students support the choice and Maya cries with happiness, still convinced that her acting isn’t any good. Meanwhile, the Ondine Troupe has chosen the same play and Ayumi is given the same leading role! Maya resolves to become Midori and do her very best. However, I wonder how she’ll feel when she finds out about the other troupe doing the same play. What a disaster!

32
spoiler

Don’t forget, Wicca, that in their first head-to-head meeting Maya bested Ayumi. It took some doing and she nearly slipped up a few times, but on a level playing field, I think I would put my money on Maya, if for no other reason that she has the heart to pull it off. Ayumi just seems too haughty for me.

33

I really enjoyed this episode a lot, as I have been the entire series so far. Though I have to admit I saw that little twist at the end coming a mile away.

spoiler

Like it wasn’t obvious that both troops would be doing the same play…lol Though I have a feeling Ayumi may win this challenge. But remember, Tsukikage only needs to perform well in the competition, not win it. I have a feeling that was put in specifically to set up for the strong possibility of a second place finish.

34

I agree with Cody -

spoiler

I think that provision of “top three” was made because of that. It may also be possible that neither troupe comes in first and there is a surprise winner for first place.

Going head to head, I’m not sure who would win at this point. Ayumi has the experience, but what Maya lacks in experience, she makes up for with her natural gift. Both girls are extremely talented. However, I think Maya needs a little more time to perfect herself.

35

Episode 9 -

spoiler

Well, they find out that the Ondine Troupe is also performing Takekurabe and Maya is upset to learn that Ayumi is also playing Midori. About the same time, Masumi finds out that Maya will be playing Midori in her troupe’s version. It looks as if he admires her and really doesn’t want to ruin her dream.

During rehearsals, Ms. Tsukikage is even more cruel to Maya, repeatedly slapping her, never satisfied with her performance, and she even grabs her by the hair at one point and throws Maya to the floor. Again, I understand why she does this, but I still think it’s a bit much. However, it does the trick here and Maya finds enough anger to say the lines as Ms. Tsukikage wants them said. But Maya still isn’t feeling her role and Ms. Tsukikage can see that something is lacking in Maya’s performance.

The troupe doesn’t even get to use the stage due to a mix up and you have to know just who is behind that! And it’s confirmed when Ms. Tsukikage finds out that Mr. Onodera is on the committee for the stage schedule. Maya gets to see some of Ayumi’s rehearsal and knows her portrayal of Midori is no where near Ayumi’s perfect performance. But I think it hurts her more to see Sakurakouji playing Shinyo. Maya loses heart and doesn’t want to do the play, so Ms. Tsukikage takes the role from her and locks her in the shed. Maya tells herself that she has no talent and never wants to act again, while tearing up her script.

But Maya ends up creating her own Midori. Ms. Tsukikage won’t let her out of the shed until she is better than Ayumi and tells Maya to create a Midori that goes against the playwright’s image. She challenges Maya to be better or give up acting forever. Ms. Tsukikage believes in Maya so much that she stands out in the snow, coaching her through the door of the shed and putting her own health at risk.

Ms. Tsukikage works with Maya endlessly, until she begins to cough blood and even then does not want to stop coaching her, keeping at it, until she finally faints from exhaustion. And the other girls open the shed to find Maya passed out as well – but smiling. A new Midori is born, but will she be enough to do well in the competition? I think so, but I’m still not sure she’ll win the top spot.

36

Episode 12 -

spoiler

It’s a shame that Maya had to shoulder the entire play by herself, thanks to Mr. Onodera, but as one of the judges said – it was a “sterling” performance and the audience thought so too!

I liked the original standings with the Ondine Troupe coming in third – it’s where they deserved to be after Mr. Onodera’s scheming - and their new friends, the Ikkakujuu Troupe coming in second, and the Tsukikage Troupe in first place. But of course that rotten Mr. Onodera had to interfere again and got the Tsukikage Troupe disqualified. Now he has his wish and the Tsukikage Troupe must close their school. However, I’m glad the troupe is determined to stay together.

And the Ondine Troupe may have moved into first place, but at least Ayumi knows who the real winner is. Besides the Ikkakujuu Troupe should have moved up to first place. They deserved it more anyway!

37

Episode 13 -

spoiler

The girls are very dedicated. They’ve found a tiny apartment and got jobs so they could stay together. Ms. Tsukikage got them a place to rehearse and her butler is even pitching in to help. Maya gets a hint of the “Scarlet Angel” role. And her “fan” sends her a ticket to see “King Lear” which was nice.

When Maya loses her job due to her age (I wonder if Mr. Onodera had something to do with that) – she just “happens” to meet Sakurakouji on the way home. He wants her to join the Ondine Troupe and gives her a very attractive offer. He even plays on her emotions, but I wonder if he’s acting a little - on Onodera’s orders of course. I’m not even sure why Mr. Onodera wants her – he already has a star in Ayumi. But the guy is such a schemer – you never know what is going through his head!

When she went to the casting call for the movie with Emi Abuchi, I thought she was going to get the part. Instead they give her a tiny bit part. But Ms. Tsukikage works with her to perfect the role of a girl with an injured leg and Maya even ties up her leg to get a better feel for the part. She really puts her heart and soul into practicing and the crew is amazed by her dedication for such a tiny part. Since Emi Abuchi makes such a lousy actress and has threatened to quit, it would be nice to see Maya get the lead. However, I have a feeling that Maya will end up helping Emi with her acting instead.

38
spoiler

I think Onodera (he doesn’t deserve a “Mr.” IMHO) knows that Maya is a threat to Ayumi’s career prospects. He would be the type of person who would bring her into the Ondine acting school and let her languish so as to protect his investment-Ayumi.

spoiler

Maya won’t get THIS part-I’d bet the show was tailored for Emi-but I’m sure she has caught the producer’s eye. Who knows what may become of it?

39
spoiler

I had the same thought - that he’d keep her out of the public eye. And it was really rotten of him to use Sakurakouji too.

spoiler

No, you’re right about that. It would be nice if something good happens though. I think at the very least Maya just made some very good contacts.

40

I didn’t get to watch episode 13 yet, but I watched episode 12 late last night. And I have one thing to say:

spoiler

The ending just pissed me off. I do like how it shows the determination of the girls in that they still want to practice with Tsukikage, but the outcome of the competition was BS! I hope that d*ck with the glasses gets some serious karmic payback for all the sleazy antics he has pulled.

41

I’ll have to agree with you there Cody -

spoiler

But I’m sure he’ll get his in the end!

42

Yes, but on the other hand, I really have to give the creators credit for not taking the easy road in this show.

spoiler

They could have easily just gave the Tsukikage troupe first place and left it at that. But they chose a harder road to walk; one their characters will have to be strong to travel.

I still love this show. I think it might be my current favorite on TAN. :slight_smile: