Which dramas do you think are over-rated? And which ones are under-rated?
I've been thinking and also looking at my friends list posts lately. Which dramas do you think are over-rated? It doesn't necessarily mean that they are bad, just that it gets more attention than you think they deserve.
This is my own personal opinion so don't flame me just yet, but it would have to be Hana Yori Dango 1 and 2. (haven't watched Meteor Garden yet so no comment on that)
Don't get me wrong, I like Hana Yori Dango 1 and 2. Hana Yori Dango 1 was actually the second drama I had ever watched (and I've watched over 30 dramas by now) but I feel that it's not as great and as hyped up as it is to be. So many people recommend it and say it's their favorite, and while it is indeed a good drama, whether it deserves the number one spot is questionable. Obviously it all really boils down to taste, but for me, it's definitely a good drama, pretty solid acting (Inoue Mao more so than Matsu Jun, but both were good), a good supporting cast, high production value is always a plus, and a moving OST... but, it's just missing that important something for me, so I feel it's over-rated.
Next is It Started with a Kiss. I was actually enjoying it till about episode 10 and then it just went downhill fast for me. This one gets rec-ed a lot which I don't really understand. Joe's acting is terrible. I don't find the OTP cute at all. Ariel's character is much too clingy and Joe is a cold hearted bastard until a too sudden change of heart near the end. This makes it hard for me to believe that he truly loves her despite what he says. For me, ITWAK has many flaws and is definitely an over-rated drama. Since I did not enjoy ISWAK, I will not be watching ISWAK 2.
So this leads me to ask, what dramas do you think deserve more attention than they are given? Any undervalued gems of a drama worth mentioning?
Personally, I'd have to recommend:
Tree of Heaven - This one gets compared to Stairway to Heaven a lot which I am currently watching. I have noticed many similarities but I have to say that I am not too moved by STH while I cried a lot in TOH. Both are by the same directors but I think what makes TOH a better drama than STH is that it's much shorter so there is no filler, similar tactics used in STH to move the audience has been improved and newer production makes the drama more aesthetically pleasing to the eye while watching. I have to say that I think in both TOH and STH, the acting is excellent.
Dal Ja's Spring - This is like a typical kdrama but with the wisdom of a 33 year old woman thrown in. Maybe younger audiences may not be able to relate to the protagonist's troubles, but I found her to be an incredible character. I'm turning 21 this year so I'm not quite at her age yet, but her fears, relationships at work, worries, etc, I felt I could understand and relate to on one level or another.
Kou Kou Kyoshi 2003 - This is a human drama about a teacher who has a terminal illness but because of a misunderstanding, one of his students ends up thinking she has the disease and not him. Instead of telling his student the truth, he lets her believe that she is dying so that he could have someone who understands what he is going through. The drama is a bit twisted and dark but I really enjoyed the complexity and raw emotions of it all. Maybe because it's an older drama, but I don't know too many people who has watched this one and it's a pity. Definitely an under-rated drama.
Opinions? Add your own over and underrated dramas? I can take constructive criticism but please don't flame me just because I didn't like your favorite drama. I'd like to have a discussion and not an argument, thank you ^^
This is my own personal opinion so don't flame me just yet, but it would have to be Hana Yori Dango 1 and 2. (haven't watched Meteor Garden yet so no comment on that)
Don't get me wrong, I like Hana Yori Dango 1 and 2. Hana Yori Dango 1 was actually the second drama I had ever watched (and I've watched over 30 dramas by now) but I feel that it's not as great and as hyped up as it is to be. So many people recommend it and say it's their favorite, and while it is indeed a good drama, whether it deserves the number one spot is questionable. Obviously it all really boils down to taste, but for me, it's definitely a good drama, pretty solid acting (Inoue Mao more so than Matsu Jun, but both were good), a good supporting cast, high production value is always a plus, and a moving OST... but, it's just missing that important something for me, so I feel it's over-rated.
Next is It Started with a Kiss. I was actually enjoying it till about episode 10 and then it just went downhill fast for me. This one gets rec-ed a lot which I don't really understand. Joe's acting is terrible. I don't find the OTP cute at all. Ariel's character is much too clingy and Joe is a cold hearted bastard until a too sudden change of heart near the end. This makes it hard for me to believe that he truly loves her despite what he says. For me, ITWAK has many flaws and is definitely an over-rated drama. Since I did not enjoy ISWAK, I will not be watching ISWAK 2.
So this leads me to ask, what dramas do you think deserve more attention than they are given? Any undervalued gems of a drama worth mentioning?
Personally, I'd have to recommend:
Tree of Heaven - This one gets compared to Stairway to Heaven a lot which I am currently watching. I have noticed many similarities but I have to say that I am not too moved by STH while I cried a lot in TOH. Both are by the same directors but I think what makes TOH a better drama than STH is that it's much shorter so there is no filler, similar tactics used in STH to move the audience has been improved and newer production makes the drama more aesthetically pleasing to the eye while watching. I have to say that I think in both TOH and STH, the acting is excellent.
Dal Ja's Spring - This is like a typical kdrama but with the wisdom of a 33 year old woman thrown in. Maybe younger audiences may not be able to relate to the protagonist's troubles, but I found her to be an incredible character. I'm turning 21 this year so I'm not quite at her age yet, but her fears, relationships at work, worries, etc, I felt I could understand and relate to on one level or another.
Kou Kou Kyoshi 2003 - This is a human drama about a teacher who has a terminal illness but because of a misunderstanding, one of his students ends up thinking she has the disease and not him. Instead of telling his student the truth, he lets her believe that she is dying so that he could have someone who understands what he is going through. The drama is a bit twisted and dark but I really enjoyed the complexity and raw emotions of it all. Maybe because it's an older drama, but I don't know too many people who has watched this one and it's a pity. Definitely an under-rated drama.
Opinions? Add your own over and underrated dramas? I can take constructive criticism but please don't flame me just because I didn't like your favorite drama. I'd like to have a discussion and not an argument, thank you ^^