[Jdramas] Fall 2013 drama season: Start!
As usual, I'm a few weeks late. But I've started even fewer dramas than usual at this point! I blame (1) The Good Wife and (2) Neil Gaiman books. Those have kept me occupied for the past few weeks!
Anyway, I've only started a few.
Watching:
1. Yorozu Uranaidokoro Onmyouya e Yokoso
[Spoiler (click to open)]The first drama I started this season! I like this one because it's light and it looks like I can finish this. (unlike some of Ryo's previous dramas, such as Last Friends, which I dropped because it was way too heavy)
In this one, Nishikido Ryo plays Abe no Shomei, a fortune-teller who used to be a host. He's more like a detective actually, he uses his senses to figure out what happened. In ep2 or 3, someone claiming to be his childhood friend showed up, and seems to be trying to convince Shomei to come home to his family.
He semi-blackmailed a high school student Shunta, played by Chinen Yuri, who he mysteriously nicknamed "Kitsune-kun". There's some mystery here about Chinen as well, since he was apparently abandoned in the Oji shrine as a baby and adopted by his current parents.
I don't really care much about the leading lady, she seems superfluous. She's Chinen's teacher Michiko, I even forgot what her name is played by Kurashina Kana. She's apparently annoyed that Ryo's even there. But ok my personality is similar to this character's, so maybe that's why her superfluous presence annoys me. haha
And that was a totally useless spoiler. oh well.
2. Tokyo Bandwagon
[Spoiler (click to open)]I can actually see why this drama's ratings aren't so hot. Sorry Kame, I know you're working hard on this, but... it's pretty meh for a drama. Still, I kinda like it. Not sure what they could do to make things more exciting...maybe insert something to make it more series-like? As it is, each episode seems to be a separate story, and I don't really see anything but Kame and Tabe Mikako's non-relationship tying this together. Not even the family angle provides continuity.
Kame, know that I'm watching this for you.
3. Miss Pilot
[Spoiler (click to open)]I'm a bit of a feminist, and I support the "women in a man's profession" angle they're trying with this. Horikita Maki and Aibu Saki provide very different ways of dealing with this, with Maki's Tezuka Haru being the sunny, likable type and Saki's Oda Chisato playing the serious, competitive type.
But...this drama is kinda boring. I mean, one whole episode on interviews and all? I mean, I get where they're coming from (since I'm currently job-hunting) but...it's not really something I want to see in a drama. And so far they're doing all the menial stuff, with whole episodes dedicated to those parts. I understand that they want to show that it's not easy, but again, not something I want to see in a drama.
4. Ando Lloyd
My favorite drama so far! I started this just yesterday, and I like it! Kimura Takuya and Shibasaki Kou are great together! They suit each other, and they're great in their roles!
[Spoiler (click to open)]I love that Matsushima Reiji loves Andou Asahi so much that he'd die to protect her, and maybe ask someone to send an android to protect her. They're so cute together! Those flashbacks of nerdy, geeky Reiji and Asahi are adorable! It's easy to see how they love each other, quirky as Reiji may be. And the Android, ARX II-13, is loveable in his own way. Yes, he's a killing machine, but he seems to be more human than the other androids that appear, even though he denies having emotions. I would love to see where this sci-fi love story goes.
Edit1
5. Umi no Ue no Shinryojo
Watching for Matsuda Shota. Plus, they wouldn't put a bad drama in the Getsu9 slot, right?
Just started this one! I've only seen the first ep, but it's good! [Spoiler (click to open)]He seems incompetent but is quite a good doctor. And I have this feeling there's a reason why he keeps hitting on women he meets :))
Edit2
6. Doctor X 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]For some reason I don't know, I've been avoiding this drama. I liked the first season, but haven't even attempted to watch this one. hmm. Maybe I'm afraid that I'll be disappointed in this season? weird.
This drama shows some uncomfortable aspects of the Japanese ranking system (not just for hospitals, I believe), but somehow it's captivating. The high ratings attest to that. Though there are a lot of things that make me uncomfortable, I still like to watch this one.
====
I'm thinking of watching a few more dramas though.
Might Watch:
1. Toshi Densetsu no Onna 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]I watched the 1st season, and though I remember that I finished it, it didn't really leave much of an impression on me, except they kept emphasizing Masami's legs :))
2. Legal High 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]Will watch this if I ever get around to finishing season 1 + SP, which I put off watching to watch The Good Wife. Tsk. I have to say, though, Alicia Florick seems to be better and more exciting than Mayuzumi Machiko.
3. Danda Rin - Takeuchi Yuko
4. Kurokochi - Nagase Tomoya
5. Tokyo Toy Box - Kaname Jun
===
If I end up watching all of these, I'll be watching 11?? and yes, Kusanagi's drama isn't even there yet. hmm maybe I should add it to the "to watch" section? Which brings up my total to 12! :(
Anyway, I've only started a few.
Watching:
1. Yorozu Uranaidokoro Onmyouya e Yokoso
[Spoiler (click to open)]The first drama I started this season! I like this one because it's light and it looks like I can finish this. (unlike some of Ryo's previous dramas, such as Last Friends, which I dropped because it was way too heavy)
In this one, Nishikido Ryo plays Abe no Shomei, a fortune-teller who used to be a host. He's more like a detective actually, he uses his senses to figure out what happened. In ep2 or 3, someone claiming to be his childhood friend showed up, and seems to be trying to convince Shomei to come home to his family.
He semi-blackmailed a high school student Shunta, played by Chinen Yuri, who he mysteriously nicknamed "Kitsune-kun". There's some mystery here about Chinen as well, since he was apparently abandoned in the Oji shrine as a baby and adopted by his current parents.
I don't really care much about the leading lady, she seems superfluous. She's Chinen's teacher Michiko, I even forgot what her name is played by Kurashina Kana. She's apparently annoyed that Ryo's even there. But ok my personality is similar to this character's, so maybe that's why her superfluous presence annoys me. haha
And that was a totally useless spoiler. oh well.
2. Tokyo Bandwagon
[Spoiler (click to open)]I can actually see why this drama's ratings aren't so hot. Sorry Kame, I know you're working hard on this, but... it's pretty meh for a drama. Still, I kinda like it. Not sure what they could do to make things more exciting...maybe insert something to make it more series-like? As it is, each episode seems to be a separate story, and I don't really see anything but Kame and Tabe Mikako's non-relationship tying this together. Not even the family angle provides continuity.
Kame, know that I'm watching this for you.
3. Miss Pilot
[Spoiler (click to open)]I'm a bit of a feminist, and I support the "women in a man's profession" angle they're trying with this. Horikita Maki and Aibu Saki provide very different ways of dealing with this, with Maki's Tezuka Haru being the sunny, likable type and Saki's Oda Chisato playing the serious, competitive type.
But...this drama is kinda boring. I mean, one whole episode on interviews and all? I mean, I get where they're coming from (since I'm currently job-hunting) but...it's not really something I want to see in a drama. And so far they're doing all the menial stuff, with whole episodes dedicated to those parts. I understand that they want to show that it's not easy, but again, not something I want to see in a drama.
4. Ando Lloyd
My favorite drama so far! I started this just yesterday, and I like it! Kimura Takuya and Shibasaki Kou are great together! They suit each other, and they're great in their roles!
[Spoiler (click to open)]I love that Matsushima Reiji loves Andou Asahi so much that he'd die to protect her, and maybe ask someone to send an android to protect her. They're so cute together! Those flashbacks of nerdy, geeky Reiji and Asahi are adorable! It's easy to see how they love each other, quirky as Reiji may be. And the Android, ARX II-13, is loveable in his own way. Yes, he's a killing machine, but he seems to be more human than the other androids that appear, even though he denies having emotions. I would love to see where this sci-fi love story goes.
Edit1
5. Umi no Ue no Shinryojo
Watching for Matsuda Shota. Plus, they wouldn't put a bad drama in the Getsu9 slot, right?
Just started this one! I've only seen the first ep, but it's good! [Spoiler (click to open)]He seems incompetent but is quite a good doctor. And I have this feeling there's a reason why he keeps hitting on women he meets :))
Edit2
6. Doctor X 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]For some reason I don't know, I've been avoiding this drama. I liked the first season, but haven't even attempted to watch this one. hmm. Maybe I'm afraid that I'll be disappointed in this season? weird.
This drama shows some uncomfortable aspects of the Japanese ranking system (not just for hospitals, I believe), but somehow it's captivating. The high ratings attest to that. Though there are a lot of things that make me uncomfortable, I still like to watch this one.
====
I'm thinking of watching a few more dramas though.
Might Watch:
1. Toshi Densetsu no Onna 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]I watched the 1st season, and though I remember that I finished it, it didn't really leave much of an impression on me, except they kept emphasizing Masami's legs :))
2. Legal High 2
[Spoiler (click to open)]Will watch this if I ever get around to finishing season 1 + SP, which I put off watching to watch The Good Wife. Tsk. I have to say, though, Alicia Florick seems to be better and more exciting than Mayuzumi Machiko.
3. Danda Rin - Takeuchi Yuko
4. Kurokochi - Nagase Tomoya
5. Tokyo Toy Box - Kaname Jun
===
If I end up watching all of these, I'll be watching 11?? and yes, Kusanagi's drama isn't even there yet. hmm maybe I should add it to the "to watch" section? Which brings up my total to 12! :(