Like I said, time on my hands is too much and there's so much to be done that I have found myself getting into shows that I do not know how to manage keeping up with them. I've mentioned some of them in my previous post
here on Hollywood shows, and now, I'm continuing my list with a review of some
doramas that I managed to finish and others that I'm divulging myself into. Beware,
ikemen overload ahead.
SmileWhat: MatsuJun (pretttyyyy) plays Hayakawa Vito, a half-Japanese and half-Filipino with a criminal background, but is now doing parole and doing it very well. After having a run in with the law during his teen years, Vito is now a kind man who smiles despite the vicious treatment people give him because of his parentage. After he meets the sweet and silent Mishima Hana (Aragaki Yui, cho kawaii), his life starts to change -- both better and worst.
Why: A really good display of acting from everyone, especially the multi-talented MatsuJun. Trust me, you'll see none of the DoS we've all got to know. Furthermore, a reunion between shinyu OShun and MatsuJun is always good TV. And the social issues they tackle of the modern Japanese society -- racism, suicide, corrupt law enforcers, drugs, yakuza, violence -- are so frightening that a gaijin like me will think twice about going to live there.
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Bloody MondayWhat: Based on a manga of the same name, it follows teen hacker Takagi Fujimaru, who finds himself getting involved in a battle between the government and a terrorist cult group.
Why: TWO WORDS -- MIURA HARUMA. Add Sato Takeru and Hiroki Narimiya, and you get the best dorama anyone can get. And it doesn't hurt that it's action-paced, thrilling, mysterious and full of shock. This show is definitely not for the faint hearted, but for mystery lovers and good writing. It diverts a bit from the manga, but in a good way as the manga is too ecchi for viewing pleasure.
Love ShuffleWhat: A group of adults with troubled love lives decide to swing, aka swap their lovers with one another in order to find love, or fix their own troubled relationship. However, some of them have ulterior motives in playing the game.
Why: The drama and comedy in the show is well-balanced, and the chemistry between the actors are unbelievably perfect. Their chemistry is so perfect that by the end of the first episode, you already know who you'll be rooting for and that a happy ending with a rocky journey is on the way. And the level of hotness of the ikemen? Well, let's just say Tamaki Hiroshi can do no wrong, while Matsuda Shota proves he's an ultimate ikemen and DAIGO is just so suh-weet. By the last episode, you'll find yourself wanting to connect everything with pandas. XD
Extra analysing: (SPOILER) Why the significant person chose the other significant person is understandable. For instance, Mei deem Usa-tan to be clingy and has lost his charm. Before he was with Mei, Usa-tan was "shining" because he had a dream, and he works hard to achieve his dreams. But after he got engaged to Mei, he became a puppet, getting a high positioned job with Mei's familial ties. He no longer works for anything and lives his day miserably. But when she meets Yukichi, she sees a devoted and selfless man, of which she prefers more than a clingy Kei. Meanwhile, Airu sees Yukichi as a smothering stalker, and sees the side of Kei that Mei fell in love with. Airu feels that Kei is an antagonist to her feminism and is thus attracted to him. As for Yukichi, he was rejected by Airu so many times that when he realised that Mei was in love with him, he couldn't help but reciprocate. Usa-tan, on the other hand, feels challenged by Airu's inconsistency with him (shouting at him at one time, kissing him at another) that he works hard to get her. Thus, true love is found through love shuffling.
Mei-chan no ShitsujiWhat: Udon-girl Shinonome Mei finds herself as an heir to an elite company after her parents die. But before inheriting the company, she must go to St. Lucia Academy, where girls are trained to become proper lady, with a butler by their side.
Why: Mizushima Hiro. That is the only reason to watch this show. Other than that, you should expect snooty and stuck-up girls who blame Mei for everything even though she has nothing to do with the bad things happening. It's annoying and unbelievable. The characters are boring as well, and Mei, who is the main protagonist, has no redeeming quality to make her likable and rootable. She's too normal and why everyone perceives her as super-duper nice is unknown, but they have probably never met Makino Tsukushi. And Yamada Yu as the girl who represents grace and beauty? No no, my friends. Thank God for Mizushima Hiro and Osamu Mukai.
I have yet to watch these shows but I am on my way (since I have ample time).
Room of KingWhat: Four people battle as roommates to gain ownership of a luxurious Aoyama district penthouse.
Why: 'Doh! Mizushima Hiro.
The Quiz Show 2What: A quiz show that grants its contestant's wishes if they manage to answer all questions.
Why: I don't care what the stupid premise is, who he plays, what his sexual orientation is or what langauge he speaks; as long as Sakurai Sho is in it, I'm game.
Atashinchi no DanshiWhat: Chisato Mineta is in debt and when a dying old man who owns a toy company and six adopted sons asks her to marry him to pay her debt, she agrees. Little did she know that she's too cute, as each of the boys falls in love with her.
Why: The cast and crew are mostly people from HanaKimi, HOW COULD YOU NOT WATCH THIS SHOW??? Plus, the number of ikemen...Osamu Mukai, Yamamoto Yusuke...one girl just cannot resist ikemen on her screen. It helps also that there are tonnes of homophobic scenes and some good casanova lovin' from Osamu Mukai, who was excellent as Mayama on Honey & Clover series adaptation.
Now that my viewing pleasure list is done, it's time for my to-do list. *sigh* I have too much time on my hands that I'm blogging about silly things...
Joss Whedon's new baby, Dollhouse
Glee
