Dramas: watched | watching | dropped
Chuno: Lee Dae Gil & Un Nyun
watched | watching | to-watch | dropped
WATCHED
› Brilliant Legacy (찬란한 유산)
I didn't love it, but didn't hate it. Sun Woo-Hwan's greedy, selfish family and Yoo Seung-Mi's psycho mother drove me nuts (so much that I had to fast-forward some of their parts). The growing romance between Sun Woo-Hwan & Go Eun-Sung toward the end were pretty cute though, and Park Jun-Se was the best 'Kidari Ajusshi'.
2009 / 28 episodes / C
› Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru (ブスの瞳に恋してる)
I don't remember much of the drama, but remember picking it up because it's loosely based off of Ooshima's (Morisanchuu) love story. I remember thinking it was a pretty ridiculous drama and had to force myself to finish it.
2006 / 12 episodes / D
› Chuno (추노)
Chuno is one of my new favorites and only because of one character-Lee Dae Gil. Dae Gil has been in love with one woman for as long as he can remember and most of the series is about him searching for his lost love. Chuno was a beautiful, heart-pumping and tragic 24-episode ride.
2010 / 24 episodes / A
› City Hall (시티홀)
Currently my all-time favorite drama. City Hall features a nice blend of comedy, romance and tension, as well as a wonderful script. Plus, the leads are the beautiful & charismatic Kim Sun-Ah and the super deliciously hunky Cha Seung-Won and they have the most AMAZING chemistry! Don't let the political storyline scare you away, you will be greatly rewarded with an intense romance story that gets rolling in episode 7. I can and have watched this drama over & over again! ♥
2009 / 20 episodes / A+
› Coffee Prince (커피프린스 1호점)
I was reluctant to pick this up before, since I'm not really fond of cross-dressing dramas. This one wasn't exactly one of those though, since Go Eun-Chan didn't purposefully trick Choi Han-Kyul-she was just a plain tom-boy. The ending was a bit of a cop-out, but super fun series nonetheless.
2007 / 17 episodes / B
› Conspiracy in the Court (한성별곡)
Absolutely gorgeous cinematography, a gripping story with lots of twists & turns and 3 tragic love stories bound together... I enjoyed watching Park Sang-Gyu and his constant struggle to find good solutions for everyone as well as Lee Na-Young's change to evil & back.
2007 / 8 episodes / A+
› Dae Jang Geum (대장금 / 大長今)
A super-engrossing, beautiful, historical story about a woman named Jang Geum who becomes Korea's first woman royal physician. This was my first taste of Korean dramas, so it has a special place in my heart, but it is an extremely long drama and I cried so much that my eyes were puffy for weeks.
2003 / 54 episodes / A
› Densha Otoko (電車男)
Super fun and silly, definitely an easy watch! Plus, it features Oguri Shun as the cool webmaster. lol. Kitaaaa~!
2005 / 11 episodes / B
› Gokusen 1 (ごくせん)
Basically only watched this for MatsuJun... It was fun at first, but quickly got repetitive. Features delinquent high school students, yakuza and one caring teacher named Yankumi.
2002 / 12 episodes / D
› Goong (궁 / 宮)
A Cinderella story set in a modern-day Korean Palace... I enjoyed maybe the first 3/4 of the drama-the last few episodes were ridiculous.
2006 / 24 episodes / C
› Guest in Room 0 (0号室の客)
Just watched the first story (憧れの男) to support my favorite Arashi member. ♥ It wasn't very exciting, and some of the acting bothered me, but Ohno sure was adorable slow dancing with his girlfriend! Btw, I love the theme song-Tokei Jikake no Umbrella a lot.
2009 / 4 episodes / D
› Haikei, Chichiue-sama (拝啓、父上様)
I remember this drama being a bit slow-paced. It's a nice drama, but I don't remember there being much to it.
2007 / 11 episodes / C
› Hana Yori Dango 1-2 (花より男子)
A fun, easy-to-watch Cinderella story, about a temperamental rich brat named Doumyouji Tsukasa who becomes more gentle the more he falls in love with the penniless, but strong Makino Tsukushi.
2005 / 2007 / 9 episodes / 11 episodes / B
› Kimi wa Petto (きみはペット)
Based off of one of my favorite shoujo mangas and the drama that made me fall for MatsuJun (and subsequently, Arashi). Is it a realistic storyline? Not in the least, but it is super fun. This drama is a light love story about an OL named Iwaya Sumire that finds a boy, Goda Takeshi in a box and takes care of him as her pet, "Momo".
2003 / 10 episodes / B
› Last Friends (ラスト フレンズ)
It started as an interesting story, about a group of friends who end up living under the same roof. The most interesting character to me, was Kishimoto Ruka, a lesbian who is in love with her childhood friend Aida Michiru. Michiru has an abusive boyfriend, Oikawa Sousuke-whose psycho behavior and abusiveness was featured way too much. If I remember correctly, the drama ended with no conclusion to either Ruka or Takeru's problems.
2008 / 11 episodes / D
› Liar Game 1 (ライアーゲーム)
A fun thriller about a mysterious game which can either make-or-break you. The heroine, Kanzaki Nao is a complete ditz and way too trusting, but lucky for her she meets the fabulous swindler, Akiyama Shinichi who saves her ass... multiple times. Nao was really annoying, but Akiyama kicked ass, Matsuda Shota was great.
2007 / 11 episodes / B-
› Love Shuffle (ラブシャッフル)
A group of strangers plus their partners make a pact to date each other-they call it Love Shuffle! Fun, easy drama to watch. Loved it.
2009 / 10 episodes / A
› Maou (魔王)
This drama is based off of the Korean drama The Devil/Mawang, and stars my favorite Arashi member, Ohno Satoshi. I love revenge stories and Mawang/Maou hit the right buttons. The Japanese version is a bit different, but enjoyable nonetheless.
2008 / 11 episodes / A
› My Name is Kim Sam-Soon (내 이름은 김삼순)
This was my first Korean rom-com so it holds a special place in my heart (I rewatch it pretty often, btw). I loved it when I first watched it, but now I cannot stand any of the Hee-Jin parts.
2005 / 16 episodes / B
› On Air (온에어)
An interesting behind-the-scenes drama about the work that goes into creating a drama. I found it funny that the writer, Kim Eun-Sook sorta pokes fun at herself in this drama (look for hints to her past works). There's not much romance in this drama, at least until the very end, but hints are sprinkled throughout.
2008 / 21 episodes / C
› Robbers (불한당)
I loved this drama because it touched on so many things I love-friendship, family, trust, homosexuality, etc. The story is about a con man (Kwon Oh Joon) who, in serious debt, seduces women out of their money. His plans foil when he meets a single mother (Jin Dal Rae) whom he falls in love with. Kwon Oh Joon decides to change his ways after Jin Dal Rae finds out about his profession, but once he thought he was going to live clean and happily ever after, he hears some really bad news that forever changes their relationship.
2008 / 16 episodes / A
› Ryuusei no Kizuna (流星の絆)
Nino's character, Ariake Koichi is bent on finding his parents' murderer. It's a comedy/suspense drama, which is a first for me, so I enjoyed that it wasn't very stuffy. I don't remember much, but who the murderer was and why he murdered was a bit surprising.
2008 / 10 episodes / C
› Saigo no Yakusoku (最後の約束)
A suspense drama about a group who hijacks a building for revenge. Finally, after about 2 years Arashi gets another project with the 5 of them AND Ohno's character for once isn't a stupid one! He was actually pretty cool. ♥
2010 / 1 episode special / B-
› The Devil / Mawang (마왕 / 魔王)
An awesome suspense/thriller that had me hooked from the first episode. This was the drama that made me fall in love with Joo Ji-Hoon, who played the smart, revengeful lawyer, Oh Seung-Ha.
2007 / 20 episodes / A
› The Quiz Show 2 (ザ クイズショウ)
This is a drama about an amnesia-suffering quiz show host named Kamiyama Satoru. He is taken from his room weekly by Honma Toshio to host the show, whose guests are related to an incident that took place many years ago-an incident that involves both of the men. I liked how Kamiyama's past was revealed, but the quiz parts got a bit repetitive.
2009 / 10 episodes / C
› Uta no Oniisan (歌のおにいさん)
A silly, silly drama about a jaded ex-rocker who accidentally becomes the singing/dancing host of a failing children's television program. The songs get stuck in your head and as always, Ohno Satoshi is adorable-especially in costume!
2009 / 8 episodes / C
› When It's At Night (밤이면 밤마다)
Started out interesting, a romcom (plus a tiny bit of suspense) drama about Korean antiques and it features both Kim Sun-Ah and Lee Dong-Gun! However, the story started to drag in the latter half and I hated the ending.
2008 / 17 episodes / C
› Woman Who Still Wants to Marry (아직도 결혼하고 싶은 여자)
Fun, quirky, reminiscent of Sex and the City, but without all of the sex. The story is centered around 3 women who search for love and themselves. It's absolute fluff and fun, nothing very dramatic, which I really appreciated since I watched it right alongside Chuno.
2010 / 16 episodes / B
› Yamada Taro Monogatari (山田太郎ものがたり)
A crack drama that features 2 members of Arashi-Ninomiya Kazunari & Sakurai Sho! I don't remember much of this drama, but it was a lot of fun while it was airing... especially when Ohno showed up in the last episode.
2007 / 10 episodes / C
› Yoiko no Mikata (よい子の味方)
I don't remember much about this drama, but SHO + KIDS = WIN. I remember thinking it was a bit repetitive, but the Arashi cameos were a nice touch.
2003 / 9 episodes / C
› You're Beautiful (미남이시네요)
A cute, hilarious, fun drama about a nun who was convinced to join a boyband as her twin brother. I loved the earlier crack-filled episodes-I became a bit bored once the romance & angst started. Nonetheless, easy drama to watch and Jeremy (played by Lee Hong-Ki) is freaking adorable!
2009 / 16 episodes / B-
WATCHING
› Cinderella Unni (신데렐라 언니)
2010 / 20 episodes
› Oh! My Lady (오! 마이 레이디)
2010 / tba
› Prosecutor Princess (검사 프린세스)
2010 / 16 episodes
› Hwang Jini (황진이)
2006 / 24 episodes
TO WATCH
› Dong Yi (동이)
2010 / 50 episodes
› Liar Game 2 (ライアーゲーム)
2009 / 11 episodes
› Return of Iljimae (돌아온 일지매)
2009 / 24 episodes
› Soulmate (소울메이트)
2006 / 22 episodes
› Story of A Man (남자이야기)
2009 / 20 episodes
DROPPED
› Konkatsu! (婚カツ!)
2009 / 11 episodes
› Lavender (薰衣草)
2001 / 15 episodes
› Lovers in Paris (파리의연인)
2004 / 20 episodes
› What's Up Fox? (여우야 뭐하니)
2006 / 16 episodes
› Last Scandal of My Life (마지막 스캔들)
2008 / 16 episodes
› Angel's Temptation (천사의 유혹)
2009 / 21 episodes
› Will it Snow for Christmas? (크리스마스에 눈이 올까요)
2009 / 16 episodes
› Pasta (파스타)
2010 / 20 episodes