Which of these jdramas to pick...
For me, jdramas are the most 'polar' dramas of the bunch. Most of dramas that ended up not working out for me have been jdramas (probably in part because they are so much shorter than tw and kdramas, so I am less picky which ones to try). And I have realized that barring something extraordinary, any jdrama made before 1999 or so won't work for me (Kamisama Mou Sukoshi Dake being the only exception, and that is basically a kdrama masquerading as a jdrama). I am shallow, and cinematography and production values on those are not what I like. I finally realized it after remembering that both Long Vacation and Love Generation, two huge huge hits of the 1990s, did not work for me at all. I also do not click with most women jdramas try to label as 'quirkily spunky.' No thank you. They come across as pushy bitches to me with a side of demented cheerfulness. I can't care for a character who I'd hate to deal with in RL, unless they are deeply flawedly interesting (e.g. in Love Generation, in the beginning eps, I was putting myself in the shoes of someone having to deal with the heroine, and I think I would have strangled her).
BUT.
BUT.
When jdramas do work for me, they work brilliantly: with nuanced portrayals, complicated roles, some awesome acting, and gorgeous filming. Some of my all-time favorite dramas as jdramas.
So far, my next choice in jdramas is threefold. They are all pretty dark though, so help me pick.
1. Byakuyakou with Ayase Haruka and and Yamada Takayuki. A dark story about the OTP who escape parental abuse through murder but are trapped by it forever. Pros are that the storyline is something I'd love, I adore AH and YT is gorgeous. Cons: please spoil me for the ending. I can't see how it will end well, but at least let me know I won't die weeping.
Here is a MV. The last minute of it is spoilery for the end (I think).
2. Long Love Letter: a particular high school class is catapulted into an apocalyptic future. Pros: People on my flist loved it, has Yamapi etc etc. Cons: once again, is it too depressing to bear?
3. Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003: Posted about wanting to watch it some time ago. A teacher with a terminal illness and a student hook up. Pros: looks beautiful and stars Fujiki Naohito. Cons: supposed to be VERY dark.
BUT.
BUT.
When jdramas do work for me, they work brilliantly: with nuanced portrayals, complicated roles, some awesome acting, and gorgeous filming. Some of my all-time favorite dramas as jdramas.
So far, my next choice in jdramas is threefold. They are all pretty dark though, so help me pick.
1. Byakuyakou with Ayase Haruka and and Yamada Takayuki. A dark story about the OTP who escape parental abuse through murder but are trapped by it forever. Pros are that the storyline is something I'd love, I adore AH and YT is gorgeous. Cons: please spoil me for the ending. I can't see how it will end well, but at least let me know I won't die weeping.
Here is a MV. The last minute of it is spoilery for the end (I think).
Click to view2. Long Love Letter: a particular high school class is catapulted into an apocalyptic future. Pros: People on my flist loved it, has Yamapi etc etc. Cons: once again, is it too depressing to bear?
3. Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003: Posted about wanting to watch it some time ago. A teacher with a terminal illness and a student hook up. Pros: looks beautiful and stars Fujiki Naohito. Cons: supposed to be VERY dark.