Servant Prince: how the storytelling should really work
In my previous post I was ranting about terrible storytelling in Unfold. Now, though, I've found something really interesting! Despite having only one 20 min long episode released, Servant Prince immediately intrigued me with what's going on here. Why? Well, because the writer of the show understood the assignment and created interesting characters that I want to follow.
What do I mean by the word "interesting"? It's the principle of "show don't tell" — there are ambiguities left unsaid, and that is what keeps my attention hooked: I want to know if I was right in my feelings and predictions or not.
For example, >!Takaaki leaves the keys when he is asked to leave. Later in the episode he's saying: "I need an order to start working." That's brilliant! Now I'm thinking he's deeply traumatized because of him being bullied by Naoya at school. Or maybe it is love, distorted however… I want to know!!<
Now, let's talk about Naoya. I have a very controversial picture of him: >!he's a bully, but never kissed anybody but Takaaki. The writer trusts their audience and doesn't say to our face: look! He's a scumbag, you must hate him! No, presumably he's neither good nor bad, just a human who made mistakes when he was a kid. How does the writer show it? Well, he didn't change his hairstyle, lives in a dirty apartment, lost everything — all of these give me a vivid character profile of someone who got lost in life. !<
Another layer to his character is a tiny detail about his >!oppressive parents, which is apparently a sensitive topic for the Japanese, as it usually circulates in many titles. And it's used not for nothing. The plot doesn't just say: here, Naoya's dad is a dickhead! No, the next scene shows him studying with Takaaki, which makes me wonder how important a father figure is in Naoya's life. It should also, without question, have traumatized him.!<
I hope this line will get its coverage.
What makes me question the plot choices now is the following: >!if Takaaki was bullied at school, why does he say he's happy with Naoya? I hope to get the answers, as now it's kinda a bit messed up — he's willing to obey because…!< I do hope though it won't be like in ">!The End of the World with You," where the remorse basically looks like this: "I'M SOOOOOORRRYYYY! Now let's fuck."!< Sorry, fans, but this is how I saw it😅
So, I have a lot of questions and I'm very much intrigued about the path the show will choose.
Generally, it's a great example of a good writer's work. Yes, the story might look simple, the acting might not look superb, but because the story has its glue of connecting pieces together, it makes me want to continue watching. Or I might just be a huge fan of Japanese films, that's why I liked it so much 😆
Anyway, I'll be waiting for the next episodes!