I just feel like putting in my two cents about the Divine Red drama CDs after reading two rather scathing reviews of them. While I agree that the casting choices for Renjou and Kei in particular aren't exactly the best, I feel like sticking my neck out for Takewaka-san here.

One fan who was introduced to DR via the drama CDs remarked that the performances did peak her curiosity of the story but upon delving into the novels, she found that the portrayals of Renjou and Kei lacked the depth of their novel counterparts. Fans who have read the novels beforehand are for the most part disappointed in the drama CDs and can't understand why sensei didn't suggest a change in casting for the subsequent drama CDs. After all, we only found the perfect Naoe and Takaya in the third MoB drama CD. Furthermore, most fans want Hayami Sho to voice Renjou.

I don't deny that I'd love to have Hayami-san as Renjou however I do feel that Takewaka-san managed to bring Renjou to life in the third DR drama CD. It's quite apparent that sensei was trying to avoid the impression of a Naoe/Kagetora redux in the characters of Renjou and Haibara (even if Seki-sama is using a lower voice for Haibara).

Which boils down to the debate about the similarities between Renjou and Naoe. In the beginning, they do appear to have the same obsessive streak, not to mention being stuck with feelings of love and hate for someone they regard as completely superior to themselves and their struggle with their inferiority complexes. However as the story progresses, the development of Renjou's personality is distinctly different from Naoe's. Renjou is blunt, simple-minded and adorable in his earnest albeit uncouth ways; Naoe is sophisticated, suave with a passion that makes him sexy. In fact, I think Renjou is more 'normal' than Naoe is, and doesn't really have the same kind of guts and drive that Naoe has in his pursuit of what he desires. Nevertheless, Renjou has managed to crawl his way forward. One fan commented that while Naoe just has to stretch a little to acquire Kagetora, Renjou can't touch Haibara even if he jumps. I don't wholly agree with this statement but Haibara is a tougher nut to crack than Kagetora, and Renjou can't really parry his verbal blows.

What Takewaka-san has captured is Renjou's awkward and eager self. To be honest, I don't believe Renjou is supposed to be charming or suave (those are more of Haibara's characteristics). Fans love him for his blunders and sometimes futile but serious attempts to move forward, and I really love that Takewaka-san's voice has this subtle sense of agitation. I'm not sure if it's because of his nerves (since he's a seiyuu newbie) or his acting but it works well for Renjou. That's not to say that Hayami-san won't be able to do a better Renjou (I have faith in Hayami-san's acting skills), but Takewaka-san's Renjou isn't without its merits.

Sakupyon's Kei is a disappointment even for me so I can't say much in his defense. I found his performance in the first drama CD rather out-of-character to be honest. Although he has improved, Kei comes off as utterly ordinary in the drama CDs. Kei as a person is ordinary, but Kei on stage is a whole other matter, which is why I'm not satisfied with his delivery of Auguste and Hamill.

I've seen nothing but praise for Seki-sama's Haibara. I would say that he is utterly perfect and leave it at that (before I start fangirling over his voice). The other casting choices which I feel to be impeccable are Onosaka Masaya's Okuda and MikiShin's Nitobe. I rather liked SuzuKen's Wataru as well.

I'm still hoping for further drama CDs since I really, really want to hear all of the conversations between Renjou and Haibara in Vol. 7, that incredible exchange in the first chapter of Vol. 8, Renjou's growing verbal courage before Haibara from Vol. 11 onwards, and Fujisaki's return. Sensei should at least commission more drama CDs now that the novel series is ending to appease her fans... XD