2011 Semi Annual Drama Review

[spsn]

Wow, it's July and I almost forget to write the semi annual drama review. Well, this year is all about J-drama anyway since I basically fed up with all the same crap that they keep recycle in K-drama, don't get me wrong, I still like the actors, I just don't like the whole drama that they're in. Not that J-drama is filled with fantastic dramas this year too, but it still over you lots of varieties and I did find the ones that I like are quite under-rated actually in terms of ratings, but oh well, I just watch what I like and you know my category for dramas, it must be beautiful both in the eye and has good story. But off course I'll also mention good dramas that I won't watch, just because... no particular reason.

 

So let's starts off with...

 

Winter 2011

 

Bartenter ~ Well, I watched this drama because of the pretty cocktails and well, Aiba-chan :p... The drama is a live action adaptation from the manga Bartender. Basically the story is about what Kami no Garasu and it's the story of Ryu, the bartender. I love the anime and the drama is honestly good up until 5th episode, but it loose its momentum towards the end, and it's not because of Aiba-chan (still angry because he actually acts quite well in here). There are episodes that are really touching but the ending is really... makes me boil basically, there are tons of other episodes from the manga to choose from but why they have to end it that way, don't really understand. But it's a short decent drama overall, especially the first 5 episodes.

 

Must admit, I feel pathetic for only watching Bartender for Winter 2011 season although it has lots of other drama, why? Either it's too stressful eg. Utsukushi Rinjin (this is a good drama for those who love stress drama and Nakama Yukie is the main lead as the bad lady), or the funny one with too much exegeration eg. Deka Wanko (I love Tabe Mikako and having Tegoshi in the drama not hurting the rating, but watching Mikako-chan sporting the lolita costume for the whole series left me ... ... ...), or the politic ones eg. Diplomat Kuroda Kousaku (this is the sequel for Amalfi, I might watch this one because I like Amalfi, and I'm expecting to watch Andalucia as well. Basically this is something like Iris)

 

Spring 2011

 

Inu wo Kau to Iu Koto ~ This is one of the under-rated drama that I'm talking about. I find the story is appealing and lots of tear jerker scenes in here too. Basically it's about a young family with 2 kids on the verge of falling apart until they met this 1 stray dog, called Sky. Sky is named after Tokyo Sky Tree. What I love about this drama is how the family change and the kids sure know how to act, especially the little girl played Mako. This drama is sort of a reminder of the responsibilities in having pets, and you don't just leave your pets when they're sick or no longer 'kawaii' because they're part of family. Another thing that I like, the OST, it's a good song by Kanjani8 (yeah yeah, it's one of the Johnny's drama, go figure) 'My Home', should listen to it, it has a nice lyrics too.

 

Umareru ~ Another under-rated drama and Horikita Maki is the main lead. The story is about middle age pregnancy. What your reaction will be if your 51 year old mom tells you that she's pregnant and she'll be having the baby? This drama brings you the journey of what women who become moms at a late age has to go through to give birth to their babies. All the worries, risks, tests, also having family resistance, public ridicul, it's all packed in this drama. Why you should watch this? One, it's for your knowledge and awareness as late pregnancy is more widespread now, and for the tear jerker moments.This drama is really about family and how the family come together in the end because... they're family. From fangirling perspective, this is also another Johnny's drama and it's a more serious drama even though it has Kanjani8's Ohkura and BI Shadow's Nakajima. OST is also by Kanjani8 with title '365Nichi Kazoku' but it's not leaving as deep impression as My Home.

 

Rebound ~ This is a fun drama to watch because it has cakes, cakes and cakes, and it'll pinch you because well, you'll get fat for eating lots of cakes, that's the sad reality and it's hitting our main lead character, Nobuko. She's been rebounding back and forward from a fatty to a skinny girl with her dietitian (a very dodgy one too). Then, she met her prince, Taichi, an obnoxious pastry chef who is apparently having the same problem with Nobuko LOL... so, after you're watching Inu and Umareru, this Rebound is a breeze of fresh air and having the pretty boy Mokomichi as Taichi not hurting (not that I like his acting, but I like Aibu Saki, so... yeah).

 

Boss 2 ~ I'll have to say this is my fave drama for this season because it has suspense, it's super funny and the boss is cool! Season 2 starts with murder cases in which the murderer is a psycho killer who idolizes the boss. I love how cynical the boss can be after she gets what she wants from the bad guy, or say, bad girl. The most memorable scenes are her fangrling with her gay staff over 2PM performing and her staffs snooping around her omiai meeting (not to mention her face when she catch the serial killer copy cat, that's a winner here). Totally a must watch. But, if you never watch the first season, you have to watch it before you watch this one. Why? Because if you just go straight watching the second season, you'll feel there're lots of parts missing although it's not that obvious. And you'll feel why Toda Erika only shows up on the first and the last episodes.

 

 

Jin 2 ~ Another must watch. I marathon this drama together with the first season and it's a very good good drama, the rating justify this. The drama is based on manga with same title, Jin. Season 2 picks up what Season 1 left off only with a time jump, 2 years after Jin time travels to Edo period, and Saki has been kicked out from her house and helping Jin in his clinic. Rounds of epidemic and how Jin use his modern medical knowledge to help Edo people recover from the epidemc. Then, we have development of Jin's love triangle with Saki and Nokaze. Even in this season Jin is still wondering why he's sent to Edo era and he discover the reason why at the end of this season which means yes, it's ending, but we don't want to say good bye to Jin. It's a very bittersweet ending, and I cry with Jin at the end of episode. From OST standpoint, I like season 1 OST by Misia, the title is Aitakute, better than this season's, Hirai Ken's Itoshiki Hibi Yo.

 

 

I feel a much more achievement of having to watch more than 1 drama for Spring season but that's because there are more family dramas in this season. BUT, I don't watch all the family drama out there, I left out the ones that look too stressful eg. Good Life~Arigato, Papa. Sayonara~ (I don't really like Sorimachi, but I dread to watch because the OST is by Juju, LOL, still traumatized from Guilty), Marumo no Okita (this is a good drama, not as stress, but I dont feel like watching it now, even though it has the ever so cute Ashida Manna) or the cheesy love drama, Shiawase ni Narou yo (now this is a horrible drama despite having Fujiki in it, but the story is just... sucks)

 

Summer 2011

 

Don Quixote ~ This is one of the different drama from what lots of summer drama are offering. One of the pulling factor of me watching this drama is Matsuda Shouta (yeyyy!!!). The story is basically a yakuza and a child welfare officer having a body switch, so you're looking at Matsuda Shouta the handsome officer but acting like a gangster in handling the child welfare cases. So far the first episode is very very funny and interesting, and I can't wait for the next episode :)

 

Zenkai Girl ~ Honestly, I'm not digging the first episode, and Ryo-chan acting as daddy is rather too much to be playing daddy 2 season in a row. But I see hope on 2nd episode (it'd better be, or I'm dropping this drama, doesn't matter if Ryo-chan is in it), it'll be very sad if this is another major flop of Getsu9 dorama especially after Shiawase ni Narou yo and with both dramas have Johnny's in them (me want a Nino drama this year too). Enough of the ranting, the story is about Wakaba, being a newbie lawyer have to babysit her boss' 5 year old daughter, Hinata. Being an ambitious lawyer, she take on the job then she met with the single daddy, Yamada, whose son is a close friend of Hinata. Will watch more to see how it fares.

 

 

Hanawake no Yon Shimai ~ Watch the first episode and loving it. It's a family drama with 4 sisters and the oldest sister is a bimbo (pretty, sexy and always gets what she wants) that the rest of the sisters hate. But there's a depth in the bimboism that the first sister sports and Mizuki Alisa nails it, and I like what I see. Look forward to the next episode and what drama that the other sisters has in store for the audience, bet there're lots of secrets in that family, LOL.

 

Summer season is full of 'herd of ikemen' drama brought to live from manga or K-drama, starting with HanaKimi Season 2 (feels like very mean for not even giving a chance and not bothering to watch this, but I can't help it. Look at the casts... Original casts are much much better looking ikemen or may be I just don't understand the pull from 1990s born ikemen), Ouran Host Club (another don't bother to watch, I love the anime, I love the manga, but I don't dig the cast, so nope), Ikemen desu ne (yet another don't bother to watch, and they HEAVILY promoting this drama in Tokyo, saw tons of billboard of this when I was there. It's the remake of Korean drama, You're Beautiful. Yup, they put in 3 Johnny's in this drama, but sorry, can't beat Korean's JGS, HYH and LKH combo, if they put Chinen there, it may be a different story though LOL). Here's the thing about ikemen herd drama, you need to put in the real pulling eye candy to get the audience, a plus plus point if the eye candy can actually act, and then you'd better have good story line as well, or you'll lost your audience very fast just like what happen with Hanakimi season 2. And, if you're doing a remake, you jolly well better put more effort to exceed the original or else, people won't be bothered to watch at all, yes I'm talking about Hanakimi and Ikemen desune (I'm a huge fan of the Korean version, and JGS and LHK can definitely sing and act their ass off, so the bar is set quite high already).

There're also the good ones like Zettai Reido Season 2 (I might do another round of marathon if I'm going to watch ths), or the one that looks like a stress drama, Soredemo Ikite Yuku (Eita is in it, but Eita's track record is only having Nodame as the funny drama), Arakawa Under the Bridge (I think I'm going to watch this one considering it's a star-studded drama) or Conan Mentaitei (for those Detective Conan fans, but I don't think I"m going to watch). I'm monitoring IS  ~Otoko Demo Onna Demo Nai Sei~, the story is interesting and the first episode looks promising, but I still have my reservation for this...

 

Comments

[arashiforyou.livejournal.com]

this was very interesting.
i've actually been picking with the dramas i want to watch lately because i thought a lot of j-dramas were the same.
but i think i'll give boss a try.

by the way, if i said that i'm making a new arashi community where you can post anything, would you be interested in posting your drama reviews there for open discussion with other viewers? :D

[spsn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you should give boss a try, it's a fun drama to watch :) :).
Sure, I can post my drama reviews on the community, just let me know once it's set up :)