A Netflix original series Followers was directed by Mika Ninagawa, a photographer and a director notorious for brilliant use of colors and flowers. And the show is what one can describe as beautiful and provocative.
What makes this show so great? What symbols are used, and what do they mean? Here is an analysis of Followers.
Flowers and Heels
Neon colors and flowers are often used as a background in a lot of the scenes. While they reflect the director’s taste and style, these are the very things that represent femininity. The same goes for high heels; Limi is adamant in wearing a pair of Louboutin heels, even during photo shoots. Although they aren’t made to be comfortable, it is “a way of life” to Limi. It does not get her anything, but it is a choice she is allowed to make. Whether it is functional or not, a lifestyle is for the individual to choose, not the society.
Embracing the bright colours, flowers, and heels while portraying formidable female characters, Ninagawa challenges the persistent glass ceiling of the society.
Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower appears multiple times during the show, and marks the beginning and the end of the show. It is what represents the characters’ hopes and dreams. They seem unreachable, but they are always in sight.
Some scenes where the Tokyo Tower is present:
- Following the disastrous events in the commercial shoot, Natsume and Limi both gaze at the Tokyo Tower with contrasting emotions. Natsume’s is despair, looking up at the dream she can’t seem to reach. And Limi is standing at a higher place (meaning she’s already achieved some of her goals), feeling hopeful, knowing that if she tries, she might just get closer to what she hopes for.
- Tamio and Limi go on a date inside the Tokyo Tower to get away from the tumultuous birthday party for Limi. They look as if they are bride and groom, with Limi wearing a white dress and Tamio wearing suits. And this is where they exchange their hopes and secrets. It seems that the characters reveal these things because they are at the tower, which is the symbol for dreams.
- After visiting Sunny’s exhibition and hearing her confession, Natsume receives a like on her past post. As she remembers how many people have been encouraging her, she rushes to find Hiraku. And while she is rushing, the Tokyo Tower is shown, indicating that she is back on track with her passion.
Social Media: the Good and the Bad
While the show reflects what negative influence social media has on an individual, it works to present how integrated it has become in our lives and the good that comes out of the new way we communicate; Natsume gained opportunity to grow as a model, and Sunny was offered to have her works displayed through social media.
Social Media and the Entertainment Industry
Whether it’s a compliment or a criticism, it’s become so much easier to hear them through social media. Sayo is attached to her phone and is always anxious to hear what people had to say about her. And she responds: “When my real face gets out, they say I’m getting old. When I edit my photos, they say I’ve gone too far…When my music doesn’t sell, they say it’s obsolete. When it does sell, they say I force it on people!” Whatever Sayo does, she is bound be criticized. Natsume points this out well.
Appalled by the manager of her company stating that she has no choice but to apologize for being in a relationship, Natsume responds, “have I caused any trouble for society?… Why do I have to apologize to people who criticize me from behind a wall of anonymity?” Issuing or recording apologies for being in a relationship is very common in Japan. Having to apologize when she didn’t do anything wrong, especially to those who hide behind digital screens is ridiculous.
Sayo, who has been suffering because of the comments, is in the same boat; people are hiding behind the name of anonymity and criticizing her. Sayo eventually gets abandoned by the company that was able to grow through her because she no longer has a “commercial value.” This shows that celebrities are often treated like objects that make money, and are molded and criticized to the liking of the entertainment industry and the audience.
Sexism
Followers show the typical discrimination and intimidation women often face in Japan. When Akane quits her job and decides to start working with Sayo independently, Hiroshi assumes she resigned to be married with him. He thinks a woman shouldn’t work, but accept her role as a wife and a mother for the rest of her life. Although some women do want to live the life Hiroshi hopes them to, not every woman has the same goals, just like how men have different goals for their lives.
Men aren’t the only ones that push women to the edge. Limi faces sexism when she misses her shoot with Empress Hasegawa. She tells Limi that she doesn’t want to work with someone that can’t give all, indicating that Limi won’t be able to produce good work while taking care of a child. Limi is devastated by Hasegawa’s words and thinks about quitting her job.
Scenes like these throw a question to the current society: Why do women always have to choose one or the other?
Missed Opportunities
Although Followers is well-made — it is full of details, symbols, criticism and humor — there are some stories that needed more explanation for the audience to accept and understand them.
The relationship between Eriko and her son Rui wasn’t shown enough for the viewers to sympathize with either characters. Eriko regrets not caring enough for Rui. However, there were no conflicts and of course, no resolution shown; therefore, their relationship felt like no more than an insert to encourage Limi to raise a child by herself while maintaining a career.
And some characters had potential to offer more to the show, such as Nori and Yuruco. The fact that Yuruco is in a relationship was shown only much later in the show. And even though he made the hard decision to leave Limi to attend his own wedding, he comes back promptly after breaking up with his boyfriend, without a proper reason. His story wasn’t shown enough, and it seemed more like a short soap-opera-addition to make the show more entertaining.
Nori is the wise one, who provides the perfect advice whenever someone needs it. And that was about the only role he had. He helps the plot progress, but he himself does not have much of a characteristic. What does he do? And what are his goals? He is the only character whose occupation or passion were not shown. Much like Rui, Nori seemed like a character that only helps the plot to move forward.
Conclusion
The questions Ninagawa throws at the audience – who are mainly Japanese – are highly controversial, especially to the country that is mostly conservative. To these questions that aren’t really mumbled in public, there is no right or wrong answer. All we have to do is listen.
