Asian dramas

[alexandral]

Asian dramas really captivate me recently. Japanese, Taiwanese, Korean. They are difficult to obtain or download, their files are usually bad in quality but it seems like I am so much drawn into watching them that everything else does seem a little faded. I am trying to analyse what is so appealing for me. May be (some it was mentioned before by dangermousie) :

1. Single storyline, definite ending and reasonable amount of episodes (10-20).
2. The stories often revolve around romantic relationships.
3. These dramas often focus on old-fashioned values – good families, love which must last forever and must be fought for, etc. Though I find modern UK dramas which show partner-swapping amusing sometimes, deep inside I am an “ever after” girl. I like to think that there is “The One” somewhere for everyone of us.
4. Japanese and Taiwanese actors are gorgeous. In a very exotic, different and fabulous way

I put together a list of the Asian dramas I liked very much:

Long Vacation (Japan) with Takyua Kimura and Yamaguchi Tomoko was my first Asian drama and it is still my favourite. Takyua plays a young pianist (Senna, 24 years) who through some circumstances happens to share his flat with the spirited Minami (31 years) who works as a model. “Long vacation” is filled with the wonderful music. It made me think about fascinating cultural and moral questions in modern Japan. Takyua Kimura is mesmerizingly dreamy.

Good Luck (Japan) with Takya Kimura. It tells a story about day-to-day life of commercial pilots, their herouism and their humor. Shankai (Takya) is young, adorably dorky and big-hearted commerical pilot and his adventures are pricesess. There is also extremely commanding and cool captain Kouda (Tsutsumi Shinichi) with whom Shankai shares hate/love teacher/pupil type of friendship. Shankai/Kouda dynamics are my foavourite things about this drama, though there are also fabulous love interests for the both of them.

Meteor Garden Taiwanese “Bad rich boy/Spirited poor girl” story with Jarry Yan/ Barbie Xu. It has always been one of my favourite storylines. Also I love this drama because of Jerry Yan whose smile and grace totally overthrow me. I know that the word grace is not often used to describe a man, but this is all I can say !! And I love this drama because it has a fantastic male friendship which is my thing. And because it has my ever favourite secondary pairing – Xi men/ Xiao You.

It started with a kiss (Taiwan) My latest favourite – a story about attraction of the opposites. She (Ariel Lin) is a dizzy brunette, he (Joe Cheng) is a snarky genius. When they mix together – BAM!!! Much fun and smouldering insure. But there are much deeper things in this drama too – about growing up, understanding one’s self, accepting one’s responsibilities. I love, love, love, love this drama. I never laughed so much for a long, long time.

Mars (Taiwan) The most interesting storyline I have seen in Asian dramas up to date. It has twins, lost memories, secrets, stalkers, psychological tortures – EVERYTHING!!! In a very dark and engrossing way. And also it has incredible Vic Zhou/motorcycle combination.

PS : I would appreciate any Asian drama recommendations! I have some dramas I want to watch - "Nobuta wo Produce", "Sleeping forest", "Full house", "Love contract" but I would love more and more:) !

Comments

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Korean:
A Love to Kill is wonderful but depressing. I've only watched a bit of Sang-Doo, let's go to school but it seems really good. Goong is rather fluffy fun (think sort of a mix of Cinderella, ISWAK and political hijinks). I've heard excellent things about My Lovely Sam Soon, Delightful Girl Chun Hyang, Spring Waltz and My Girl, but I haven't watched them yet.

Winter Sonata is uber famous (and also on my watch list). Saw posters for it all over Japan.

Japanese:

I am not familiar with them as well as I'd like so here is the list of all the ones I'll be watching shortly. No idea of their excellence but they all came recommended:

Nobuta wo Produce (winterspel loves it)
Kurosagi: bunch of people on my list are nuts for it
Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake (Takeshi Kaneshiro. But really angsty)
Boku Dake No Madonna
Orange Days
1 litre of tears (depressing)

Taiwanese:

Tokyo Juliet! Seriously. It's delicious fluff. 13 out of 17 eps have been supped so far and the sub group is very good and regular.

I want to watch ones like At the Dolphin Bay, The last dance is with me, Prince turns into frog, Magic Ring, etc etc but haven't seen them yet so can't vouch for them.

I just got a huge bunch but don't remember everything I got. I can look up and let you know.

[mereboredom.livejournal.com]

Another vote here for Delightful Girl Chun Hyang! I haven't watched too much of the others mentioned to know. But I do love meteor garden

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Meteor Garden is fabulous beyond words. Oh, Daoming Si - he absolutely bought me with his determination. At the beginning I was thinking - "this guy is so spoiled and bratty" , but at the end I was crying like a little girl. Jerry does broken heart so well.

"Delightful Girl Chun Hyang" looks good!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Aww! Thank you so much ** Quickly writes everything down **

"Winter Sonata" looks particular good - something about opening of the cold hearts. I love cold hearts when they are opening :)

Tokyo Juliet! Seriously

He is the son of her enemy! Sounds great too.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

If you want to see youtube MVs which I think serve as good trailers for this sort of thing, here are links to posts I made with them (I rec steering clear of Devil Beside You though, however good its MV because I found it too cheesy by half. Enjoyable but nothing I'd rec):

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/tag/youtube (not all of the posts are on mvs but most of them are)

Btw, I adore adore Full House (it's in my top 5) and really rec it. Love Contract is a mix of some ffable stuff about secondary characters and some of the most amazing OTP, shippy stuff I've ever seen about the leads. Plus, I think Mike He is the most good looking dorama actor I've ever seen (or at least tying with Takki).

Tokyo Juliet is just delicious glee. Another good one that's currently running is 'Smiling Pasta' which is being subbed. 6 eps have been subbed (no idea how long the series is, but I suppose around 16 eps) and it's cheesy and fluffy and cute.

Goong is lovely. Here are some pics (they are further down in the post):

http://dangermousie.livejournal.com/477895.html

*uses her Goong icon*

But I love Full House even better. It's just all around amazing. AMAZING.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much for youtube links!!!. I know what I am going to do tomorrow lunch time. :)

I think I have settled for my wish list ( in no particular order):

1. Goong. The pictures you linked to are too pretty and I am weak. And everybody recommends it.

2. Full House. You are so enthusiastic about it , it must be good . And I must see Rain :). winterspel posted some pictures recently :P

3. Nobuta wo Produce - I love Pygmalion stories and I must find out why everybody is talking so much about Kamenashi Kazuya ** Cough Cough ** - I am not sure he fits into my standard of gorgeous just yet, but I must be misunderstanding something. Joe Cheng also didn't seem "o my poor heart" pretty at the start.

4. Winter Sonata really looks kid of dreamy and almost msytical. I can be wrong.

5. mereboredom recommended "Delightful Girl Chun Hyang" . I think it is somehow connected to "My sassy girl" film that I want to watch for ages.

6. A Sleeping Forest with Takyua Kimura. Aww!

7. Love contract - because of Mike He !

( And this this just a start :)

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

yes, dear, I agree: there is "The One" for everybody! and I feel exactly as you do about it, when I see movies or fandoms or I read books! Thinking about what storylines I like usually, probably I'd watch Meteor Garden, if only I could find it in italian or with subtitles!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

EEEEEEE! Metor Garden is a bliss! This torrent has English subtitles ( I downloaded it, it is good!) :

http://www.torrentspy.com/torrent/711317/Meteor_Garden

Can't resist to provide an old link to pictures of Jerry Yan I posted (as an enticement) :

http://alexandral.livejournal.com/68578.html#cutid2

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

I recommend God Give Me More Time starring Takeshi Kaneshiro and Kyoko Fukada in their early days. I'm watching it right now, and even though the first few episodes are rather slow, it got me hooked soon after. Very touching and romantic in a bittersweet kind of way. Oh, and Takeshi Kaneshiro is just *SO* hot ^^

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

This drama sounds great!! Takeshi is very special :) and is one of my favourite actors. Thank you!

**Cough, Cough ** Anyone died in "Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake"? Is it possible if you "spoil" me? (Only if this is fine with you). I love spoilers in the case of bad endings - helps me to prepare.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

LOL. I'm also fine with spoilers. Sometimes if I can't hold my excitement, I peep at the endings ;)

So. YES someone dies in Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake. But again, it's very subtle and doesn't make you bawl your eyes out. I think this drama stresses upon the struggle of the peer pressure, conforming with society, and sustaining love between 2 people despite overwhelming obstacles.

Go ahead and watch...!! ^^

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!!!!! I don't like dying usually, but I am in a middle of watching "Beautiful life" at the moment and it seems to be going this way, but I see the reason for making these stories - they can move anyone .

** Writes this down in her list. Tahnk you again!!!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

No probs! ;) Death is always a sensitive subject and is usually very common in the angsty, tragic and melodramatic serials. But anyhoo.. lemme know what you think once u get to watch Kamisama...

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Sure! I will definitely make some posts on dorama_chat when I get to watch it. !!!