Hana Yori Dango [lit. Dango {Preferred} Over Flowers/ Boys Over Flower] (Japanese Drama)

Genre: Romance

Episodes Total: Season 1: 9

                        Season 2: 11

                     

Main Cast:

Inoue Mao as Makino Tsukushi

Matsumoto Jun as Domyoji Tsukasa

Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rui

Matsuda Shota as Nishikado Sojiro

Abe Tsuyoshi as Mimasaka Akira'

Synopsis: 

Season 1:

Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, the school of the ridiculously rich and privileged that is ruled by Flower 4 or F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group; Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company; Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school; and Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground. If a student gets on the F4's bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school.

Makino hopes to pass her days quietly-- without drawing any attention to herself-- but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino gets the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school because she is a "tough weed". She declares war right back on the F4. Her resolve gets the attention of her crush Hanazawa Rui and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa.

Season 2:

This second season of Hana Yori Dango picks up right after Domyoji leaves for New York. After confessing to Domyoji, Makino has not spoken to him for a year. Rui and the other members of F4 try and help Makino meet Domyoji again by going to New York for the christmas holidays. Though F4 and Makino meet Domyoji again, he has become a completely different person, and so they leave for Japan.

Some time later, Domyoji's mother annouces that they will be returning to Japan. There, they hold a giant super-rich and classy birthday party for Domyoji and announce something very important. Domyoji, like in the first season, is engaged to a rich girl and heir, Shigeru. The only difference is that they are to be wed soon. What will Makino do?

On the side, Rui begins to fall in love with Makino... will this become a love... square?

Thoughts:

The series that led to the birth of Boys Over Flowers(Korean) and Meteor Garden(Taiwanese). If it led to that, so I assure anyone interested that this is a super great drama. Believe me even if I am a stranger to you.

Hanazakari No Kimitachi He [For You In Full Blossom] (Japanese Drama)

Genre: School, Romance, Comedy

Episodes Total: 12 (+1 Special Episode)

Main Cast:

Horikita Maki as Ashiya Mizuki

Oguri Shun as Sano Izumi

Ikuta Toma as Nakatsu Shuichi

Synopsis:

Based on a popular comic, this hilarious comedy follows the chaos, troubles and friendship at a boys' boarding school after a girl-disguising-a-boy joins. Ashiya Mizuki has just come back to Japan from California where she was raised. She fell in love with Sano Izumi, a hopeful high jump hero, who has quit after an accident. As she wants him to go back to the sport once again, she enters the same high school as a boy! With a short hair, flattened chest and lowered voice, she starts sharing the same room with Sano.

Thoughts:

This is totally a must-watch. One of the most popular series produced by Japan which led to dramas like To The Beautiful You and same-titled Taiwanese produced series. Watched it all over many times and never got bored with their antics. The awkwardness boosted up the comedy factor and romance to a whole different level. Super funny characters that is sure to make you laugh. If you are someone who needs a little uplifting or just want to enjoy your day, watch this. You will have smiles on your face once you finish. Bunch of slapstick comedy. The interaction between characters, be it friendly or lovely, will sure to have moments to make you laugh. There isn't much serious tone in this nor is there much dark in it too.

Wonderful Days (Korean Drama)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, Family

Episodes Total: 50

Main Cast:

Lee Seo Jin as Kang Dong Seok

Kim Hee Sun as Cha Hae Won

Ok Taecyeon as Kang Dong Hee

Synopsis:

Kang Dong-seok overcame poverty and left his small town to become a successful prosecutor. A genius with an aloof kind of charisma, his arrogance and ill temper puts him at odds with many people, including his estranged family. After 15 years, Dong-seok is transferred back to his hometown and reconnects with his roots, re-learning the value of neighborly warmth in the countryside and the true meaning of love and family. His misfit siblings include Dong-hee, his younger brother who works for a money-lending business; his older brother Dong-tak, an events emcee who dreams of becoming an actor; and his twin sister Dong-ok, who is developmentally challenged and remained in a childlike state ever since an accident during their childhood.

Quick-tempered and swift-fisted, Dong-hee was kicked out of high school for getting into a brawl in an attempt to protect his classmate Seo Jeong-ah, who came to him three months later to tell him that she's pregnant. Fifteen years later, Dong-hee finds himself living with Seo's twins, who are being raised as his siblings, while scraping together a living as a bodyguard in the same company as Dong-seok's first love, Cha Hae-won. Despite her hardships in life, such as her father's bankruptcy, Hae-won is an upbeat woman, and eventually the feelings between her and Dong-seok are rekindled.

Thoughts:

Currently watching and it's super good overall. Taecyeon-lovers out there, here he is at the top of his acting career. Although it seems long, but you would want for it to be long when you watch it.  I am starting to like the family genre. It gives a drama more heart and emotions. You feel warmed and touched. Like a jumble of emotions. This drama has its tearful moments that's for sure.