RONDO!
I have just started watching the japanese/korean drama, Rondo. It's basically "Japan does a kdrama."
It's essentially about Nishijima Sho, an undercover cop trying to bring down the organization that got his father killed 24 years ago. He is a true angry and dark and angsty hero and he only person he's nice to is his partner, Hide. I feel that if Hide weren't played by Sato Ryuta, Sho wouldn't have time for him, either. But since he is, being mean to Hide would be like being mean to an overgrown puppy. Anyway, whilst being his angstridden self, he meets Choi Yoon A, a woman who recently immigrated from Korea with her younger sister and who doesn't speak any Japanese. Actually, in true kdrama fashion, they ALMOST meet multiple times with the camera doing multiple takes each time. I'm not sure why they moved to Japan, but Yoon A is a musician, and both Sho and Hide are fascinated (naturally) by her playing. Sho by silently staring then pretending he doesn't notice and Hide by openly praising her. I suspect Sho is friends with Hide so no one will notice that Sho doesn't speak much.
Anyway, Yoon A's boss tries to stiff her because she doesn't speak Japanese and he thinks he can get away with it, and pushes her hard enough to knock her against breakable things when she confronts him. This results in a chain of events ending with ho bodily throwing himself over Yoon A to protect her from falling glass.
Now, when Korea does Korea melodrama, my eyes tend to glaze over before too long, but when Japan does Korean melodrama, I am entertained beyond words, just like with Love Generation. As
calixa pointed out, it's probably because the melodrama lasts an eternity in kdramas, but in jdramas, you get the thrill and fun of the melodrama but it zips right by you and you're moving on before it can get boring.
Other pertinent details:
1. When Sho runs, he rather looks like a Japanese Orlando Bloom. Sho doesn't run enough.
2. To prove his devotion to his status as an angsty, hardened romantic hero, Sho will often angstily stare off into space set to dark interiors or pretty Japanese scenery. He does it quite well.
3. I suspect this will be like Kurosagi where Sho will often go out of his way to be a jerk to Yoon A to keep her from getting close. This is evidenced by her giving him a bandaid for his strategic cut to the face (that in no way affects his looks, of course) acquired while saving her from falling glass and then his throwing it away and telling her she shouldn't work in a place like that if she doesn't speak Japanese...in Japanese. However, as long as this is following things like throwing himself between Yoon A and a mas of falling glass, I'll try not to hold it against him.
4. Yoon A also finds his dog after it runs away from the vet. This has not been resolved yet, but I feel it will end with him unwillingly(and denying it the whole time) becoming a much needed caretaker.
5. In case you haven't guessed, the show is also VERY devoted to making sure we realize that Sho is very good looking and angsts well. I'm only cooperating.
6. It also has Hayami Mokomichi, of whom I am very fond, but who doesn't seem to do much that gets subbed.
It's essentially about Nishijima Sho, an undercover cop trying to bring down the organization that got his father killed 24 years ago. He is a true angry and dark and angsty hero and he only person he's nice to is his partner, Hide. I feel that if Hide weren't played by Sato Ryuta, Sho wouldn't have time for him, either. But since he is, being mean to Hide would be like being mean to an overgrown puppy. Anyway, whilst being his angstridden self, he meets Choi Yoon A, a woman who recently immigrated from Korea with her younger sister and who doesn't speak any Japanese. Actually, in true kdrama fashion, they ALMOST meet multiple times with the camera doing multiple takes each time. I'm not sure why they moved to Japan, but Yoon A is a musician, and both Sho and Hide are fascinated (naturally) by her playing. Sho by silently staring then pretending he doesn't notice and Hide by openly praising her. I suspect Sho is friends with Hide so no one will notice that Sho doesn't speak much.
Anyway, Yoon A's boss tries to stiff her because she doesn't speak Japanese and he thinks he can get away with it, and pushes her hard enough to knock her against breakable things when she confronts him. This results in a chain of events ending with ho bodily throwing himself over Yoon A to protect her from falling glass.
Now, when Korea does Korea melodrama, my eyes tend to glaze over before too long, but when Japan does Korean melodrama, I am entertained beyond words, just like with Love Generation. As
calixa pointed out, it's probably because the melodrama lasts an eternity in kdramas, but in jdramas, you get the thrill and fun of the melodrama but it zips right by you and you're moving on before it can get boring.
Other pertinent details:
1. When Sho runs, he rather looks like a Japanese Orlando Bloom. Sho doesn't run enough.
2. To prove his devotion to his status as an angsty, hardened romantic hero, Sho will often angstily stare off into space set to dark interiors or pretty Japanese scenery. He does it quite well.
3. I suspect this will be like Kurosagi where Sho will often go out of his way to be a jerk to Yoon A to keep her from getting close. This is evidenced by her giving him a bandaid for his strategic cut to the face (that in no way affects his looks, of course) acquired while saving her from falling glass and then his throwing it away and telling her she shouldn't work in a place like that if she doesn't speak Japanese...in Japanese. However, as long as this is following things like throwing himself between Yoon A and a mas of falling glass, I'll try not to hold it against him.
4. Yoon A also finds his dog after it runs away from the vet. This has not been resolved yet, but I feel it will end with him unwillingly(and denying it the whole time) becoming a much needed caretaker.
5. In case you haven't guessed, the show is also VERY devoted to making sure we realize that Sho is very good looking and angsts well. I'm only cooperating.
6. It also has Hayami Mokomichi, of whom I am very fond, but who doesn't seem to do much that gets subbed.