Well things are moving very…slowly. I have been working almost everyday for the past 3 weeks so haven’t had too much time. Tried writing a few things but being interrupted every 5 minutes or so started to piss me off. When I get off work though it’s usually straight to FFXI or watching any new anime episodes. Trying to get the troublesome extra time consuming stuff out of the way in FF so when the semester starts up I can play semi-leisurely.
Anyways on to the main topic at hand: Ristorante Paradiso 2.
Ristorante 1 was of course an intro to the series introducing the cast, setting, story, and mood. In Ristorante 2 Nicoletta is presented a problem that was sort of brought up in the 1st episode: What is she gonna do now that she is in Rome?
The intro begins in the restaurant with a person asking what almost everyone would ask:
Obviously a new comer.
This is an Old Man Megane Waiter Cafe!!! But it’s actually just a peculiar restaurant. After the intro we see everyone eating dinner while Nicoletta asks about the pictures on the wall which show the restaurants history and they even explain how much the owner cares about his wife (Nicolettas mother). Feeling a bit sour towards her mother how she could be so happy and loved after leaving her behind. I wouldn’t classify this as curse bearing grudge but it’s more like resentment. Pan out to her apartment where she is talking on the phone with her grandmother about her predicament and some of her love problems (whether she really likes him or not). At the end of the conversation she decides that she has to do something like a get a job while she is in Rome.
Strolling around looking for a job….and I’m not sure if it’s the employment office or just another place that was hiring (probably the later) but it was closed. Disappointed she continues on walking. In the same area we have Luciano sitting with his grandson Francesco.
Very nice detail on the newspaper, and looks like a relaxing bench too.
Nicoletta passes them by until Luciano calls out to her. She meets Francesco for the first time and coincidentally meets Gigi. Everyone is invited to lunch with the destination being Luciano’s place. No relaxing day off for you my good sir!
Back at Luciano’s the gang is cooking up a mean lunch while Luciano waters his plants. Daww what a caring guy. Francesco compliments Nicoletta on her cooking. Luciano as always gives the tsundere praise. While Gigi….
The man!! He speaks!!!
Shocking to Nicoletta and all the viewers I believe. After the meal Nicoletta receives a stern lecture from Luciano on how she needs to find something to do and stop lallygagging around. Switch scenes to her mother who is speaking with her husband about not knowing how to treat Nicoletta (while it sounds like she is talking about as a friend we know it is actually as a daughter).
Nightime scenery.
We see Nicoletta in an awesome cafe/bar that seems to be a hit with the people at night time. Wish I could find a place like that. Only in Europe and every place but America I guess. On that note I also wish to find a restaurant like the one in the show. Tucked away in a nice a quiet area with awesome food, a relaxing atmosphere. I hate the rushy rush feel of some restaurants nowadays. I don’t mind waiting for thee food if I have some good friends to talk to.
She walks to the restaurant with nothing better to do and while there contemplates love, wondering if Luciano were ever nice to her if she’d fall for him.
Luciano? Nice? APFFFFF.
Afterward the meal it turns out to be raining outside with Caludio and Nicoletta stuck under the roof with no umbrella. If Nicoletta had one it’d be perfect high school romance time under the umbrella!! But alas it is Rome and the person who saves them turns out to be..
Dawww you're so nice.
If only he were like this all the time...I might fall for him...*blush* lol
Nicoletta and Claudio walk back to her place. We find out he doesn’t really have a wife and that the reason he wears the ring is to ward away crazy customers who pursue him for real. This is her chance! As she prepares some coffee for him back at her place she ponders the next course of action and then suddenly she springs into action!
Get him!
Mom just cockblocked her daughter, oh lulz.
After the little incident Nicoletta and her mother argue in the kitchen who Claudio belongs to. They finally start having some mother daughter like conversations which I thought was very good. It showed that her mother actually cares about her daughter. Maybe we’ll learn in more detail why she left Nicoletta to marry her husband besides the “he doesn’t women with children” thing. Also Nicoletta blackmails her mom into getting her a job at the restaurant. Payback is a bitch lol.
Master Chef in the making.
A bit of an awkward situation for her and Claudio after what happened last night. She feels as if he’s avoiding her a little. While working she tells them the reason she wants to work there (besides Claudio) and that is:
Ristorante Paradiso will now become a food/ slice of life where Nicoletta aims to make the restaurant worthy of 3 Michelin Stars! Hot blooded action to follow!
She has to go shopping for some ingredients for the restaurant. Claudio tags along and she tells him that she truly wants to be independent one day and is working towards that and could use his support. Back at the restaurant they are waiting for Gabrielle to arrive at the restaurant. Turns out she is Claudio’s ex-wife.
Gabrielle. Reason for breaking up with Claudio: Unknown.
After restaurant hours Nicoletta sees Claudio speaking to Gabrielle. She is kinda nudging that he should take the ring off but won’t force him. All the while Nicoletta ponders if he still has feelings for her. Fight on!!
That’s about it for episode 2. A lot of things happening in this episode. Lots of character development and we get to see some of the private life of Luciano. We see Nicoletta taking initiative not only in her life in terms of work but also her love life. We also see more development in the daughter mother department. They finally get to talk to each other for a bit despite Olga being so busy all the time. Very nice episode that also show cases what the following episodes might include.
Here’s hoping I get the Episode 3 draft typed up and I can think of the proper images to use for it. I swear this show has some really good silent shots and dialogue parts. Until next time dear readers.
Ciao
