Good Morning Call (Japanese Drama)

Genre: Romance, School, Youth, Slice of life

Episodes:17

Main Cast:

Shiraishi Shunya as Uehara Hisashi

Fukuhara Haruka as Yoshikawa Nao

Synopsis:

Yoshikawa Nao stays behind to live by herself when her parents leave to inherit her grandpa's farm in the country. On the day she moves into her new apartment, she discovers that it was rented also to Uehara Hisashi; a cute, super-cool, popular guy from her school. Not only did their housing agency unexpectedly close down, the landlord of the apartment tells them that they had to pay more for their apartment than they had expected. With no money and no home to return to, Nao and Hisashi decide to live together as flatmates.

My Thoughts:

Finally,  a Japanese drama... Hehe... With all that's going on in my life, I could use some casual, frank and cute love story. This drama particularly got to me. There was another drama I wanted to watch but I don't think I am prepared to finish it yet. Anyways, this story came from a manga. Despite the negative reviews about it being too cliche and draggy, I find those negative reviews as an encouragement as it lowers my expectation and makes me constantly think what it is that exactly is bad in these people's eyes. Thanks to that, I enjoyed the drama better. Those thoughts made me all that more excited to see where this story would lead me and it surprised me more than I expected, well, I kind of get the hang of where things will lead to but what makes it unique and engaging is how the characters respond to the problems and oh, the revelations are just so speechless, cute and heavenly (haha).

Yeah, this happens in most stories but still, the way things play out still matters no matter how many times it exists in other stories. It is your typical shoujo manga but at the same time, it is not. How do I say this? I enjoyed it despite all the cliches and that says a lot about how efficiently they play the story. Yes, I know what will happen but I can't help but get excited and enjoy it. 

It may be cheating but I am a little biased to this story because how relatable things are in a sense because I am currently still a school kid and to see this kind of stories attract me the most. I can understand why they do this and how things work at this age. Like, being underage and deprived of many privileges but to know that at this age, we should just enjoy despite all the trouble. Well, yeah we have problems, the characters each has troubles with their own personality but I hope you don't let that stop you from continuing to watch. Some people said the second-lead syndrome is strong in this story and I agree with that. There are many times when I think she should just be with the other guy but that many times and more, I was shown that she truly deserves to be with him despite the flaws. 

I hope you noticed I was trying to say the best for both worlds so that you don't enter this drama thinking it is a rosy world of love. I lowered your expectation hopefully enough for you to start watching this because seriously without a doubt, I highly enjoyed this drama. The caring and thoughtful boyfriend, the loving and dedicated girlfriend, the loyal and understanding friends and other cool characters.

Just One Smile Is Very Alluring (Chinese Drama)

Other Names: A Smile Is Beautiful

Genre: Romance, Youth, Contemporary

Episodes: 30

Main Cast:

Yang Yang as Xiao Nai

Zheng Shuang as Bei Wei Wei

Synopsis: 

What is it that makes a man fall in love with a woman at first sight? Appearance? Aura? Wealth? NO, when campus prince and gaming expert, student Xiao Nai first saw Bei Wei Wei, what made him fall in love was not her extraordinary beauty, but her slim and slender fingers that were flying across the keyboard and her calm and composed manner!!! 

Bei Weiwei is the school's beauty, who also excels in her studies. She aspires to be a game designer/engineer, and goes by the alias of Luwei Weiwei in the online role-playing game Dreaming of Jianghu. After she gets dumped by her online husband Zhenshui Wuxiang, she gets approached by the number one player Yixiao Naihe, who suggested that they enter into a marriage so they can both level up in game. The newly formed couple instantly hit it off, and undergoes many adventures together in game.

However, Weiwei never expected the identity of her gaming husband to be her college senior, Xiao Nai, who is described as the cream of the crop in both sports and academics. When Weiwei discovers his real identity, they have already fallen in love with each other

My Thoughts:

First things first, I have to say that this drama just went out last week and it's already released more than 10 episodes. 10++ pure awesome episodes. If you have been with me for a long time, then you would know fantasy and romance is my favourite thing ever and to have them blend so well in this, I am just beyond astonished.

Okay, calmed down a bit. No, I just can't. Argh!!! This drama came from a novel which I haven't read yet but am dying to read because I am so immersed in this drama right now. Urgh! If only I can read and understand Chinese, that novel will be on my computer now. Anyways, I totally admire the author for coming up with such a story. Maybe Chinese authors are amazing, urgh... my multilingual skills....

Back to the story, I have so much to say but then no right words to type. I was attracted first from a clip of the drama and it got me intrigued to find out more. And I was glad I did because the story was just given right to me for me to easily process. I fell in love from the first second. Maybe it was from the lack of expectation or the trial drama I was watching ended up kinda suck. But, easily 40 minutes went by just like that and I gotta say this, seriously 40 minutes. Everytime I'm like, "Oh.. Oh...Oh...It's coming.... Damnit!" Am I sadistic to say that this is torture yet satisfying. Short and compact but keep you wanting more and also most importantly, slow enough to not be too rushed. 

One thing that I actually admire about this drama and story is that the lead girl is actually very good in her studies and stuffs. I see trends like smart guy and not very smart girl and I don't really dislike as long as the story is good though I will vent out once in a while. This story depicted females as capable people and I like that about this drama. GO GENDER EQUALITY!!! The lead girl is like a role model and that's just perfect. I support this kind of character. Please don't criticize me for this.

Another thing is that I love love blossoming like that with just a little push, no need all that "Hate turns to care and then love" Just love, let all the troubles happen later. It's always I hate you, quarreling and then in the last 10 episodes could you see them actually being happy together. The couple here just hit it off right from the start. And in an interesting way as well. That leads me to my third love for this drama, which is that the author plans very well. I'm always surprised like "So all this was for that!" The author really knows what he's doing and knows his direction well and then the creativeness. Seriously, so damn well executed. Tai li hai(So great)! I like the way he moves his story and me with it.

I really don't want to reveal any spoilers this time because for those who wishes to see this drama, I wish for you to come and watch it with the least expectations I can manage to give you for you to enjoy it better.  What I can say though is that this drama has my approval as top ranker in my list of dramas to watch and then also to rewatch again. Like I said, 40 minutes pass by fast. I am like a child while watching this drama, everything I see just seems fun, exciting and interesting. Every new scenes and dialogue exchange is just mesmerizing. 

If you have came this far, I would like to say that you should head out and google search this drama already and start drama-watching. For a picky and analyzing person like me to watch this drama and say it is fun is like a film critique saying it's nice( a little narcissism wouldn't hurt) WARNING! Don't watch too fast, you're gonna suffer like me unless you are like me. Then, HAVE FUN!!!

Uncontrollably Fond (Korean Drama)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Episodes: 20

Main Cast:

Kim Woo-Bin as Shin Joon Young

Bae Suzy as No Eul

Lim Ju-Hwan as Choi Ji Tae

Jin Kyung as Shin Young Ok

Synopsis: 

Shin Joon-young and No Eul were a couple who got separated during their teenage years due to an ill-fated relationship, but meet later in life. Shin Joon-young is now a top actor-singer while No Eul is a documentary producer.

No Eul had a tough childhood; her father died in a hit-and-run prompting No Eul to quit school and make a living for her and her brother. Shin Joon-young, on the other hand, had his life planned out for him. His mother wanted him to become a prosecutor; to follow the footsteps of his estranged father, but an awful incident caused him to quit law school and become a singer-actor. The two reunite when No Eul was tasked to film Shin Joon-young's documentary. Joon-young initially gave Eul a miserable time before finally agreeing to do the documentary and even plans to win her heart back.

My Thoughts:

I am wholeheartedly in love with this drama. Seriously, the story just easily captures my heart so much that I can't stop watching it. The feels this drama gives me is way too much. I just die! Haha...

The development of the character is just perfect as it unravels each character slowly. The two main leads stories are just well-played that I can't help myself striving to understand them even more. And even more so, sympathizing for them because their story is just too hard to endure by themselves and the great portrayal of the characters just adds the spice into the drama that makes it even more believable.

I came into this not expecting much. I thought from the trailers that it would be another cute lovey-dovey story but I got so much more that I am super satisfied with all of it. Goodness how I am falling in love with the characters. That I got a little bias with my introduction of casts upstairs, I actually placed a secondary character and removed a second lead. There was a reason as the second lead was not developed well enough for me to like her but the secondary character, oh yeah they did develop her. OMG, I really love her character as it definitely helped other characters grow.

Of course this story is full of the cute lovey-dovey that I just enjoyed as it balances itself with the emotional parts of the story. The anguish felt by the characters and then a few minutes of heartfelt moments......  I am just half-way through the story but there's already so much going on that you must not stop to take a look elsewhere. The balance this drama gives is just sufferable but satisfying. Btw, what qualifies for a melo-drama because I really felt this drama is a little melo-drama. There is some sadness felt by the characters and me!

Seriously, waste time no more and check out this awesome drama. It just hurts me that I can't give spoilers out else I have too much to say.... Have fun drama-watching!!!

Sawan Saang ~ Heaven's Creation (Thai Drama)

English Name: Heaven's Creation

Genre: Drama/ Revenge/ Romance

Episodes: 12

Main Cast:

Cee Siwat Chottichaicharin as Nakrop 

Minn Peechaya Wattanamontree as Ounjai

Note Watcharabul Leesuwan as Tong Tiew

Gun-Jae-Sal as Dok Jun

Synopsis:

The story centers around Nakrop Payakracha, a cruel man, a man who cares for no one but himself. Nakrop is a super genius who became president of a large company called “Tiger King” by the age of 25. He lacks a heart but does well in business.

Eau is a security guard who works at Tiger King. Eau is a good man, a good father, a good brother and son. He values his work and is devoted to Tiger King. Eau has a 10 year old son named Oh and his sister is Ounjai –a feisty young college student, who occasionally works as a hot dog girl at race tracks.

When Eau became partially disabled while rescuing people from a fire at Tiger King, Nakrop fires him because he has a dislike for weaklings. After losing his job, Eau became suicidal. He has a family to raise and his mother is ill (she is handicapped). Because of his leg and what Narop had said to him, he decides to commit suicide by standing in front of Nakrop’s car during a race. 

Before the suicide attempt, Eau made a video confession:”I just found this out, Khun Narop. We value people differently. I value the heart of the person. You value what you can get out of them for your success and objective. You don’t have a heart. Inside,, you only care for success. Before I saw you as a hero, you were my goal, that I strived towards. But now I give up. Your level is too high for me and there is no reward waiting there, except loneliness. You will win anyways because you think you will always win. But no one wins forever. Possibly you might lose to a pathetic man like me. Losing is a good thing, it teaches us.”

Nakrop unintentionally hit Eau on the race track and his car flipped over. Both Eau and Nakrop were badly injured and were rushed to the hospital. Eau passed away. Nakrop suffered a head injury and was in a coma for a while, but he survived. After his accident, Nakrop partially lost his memory and his personality completely changed too. He was no longer cruel, no longer greedy, no longer ambitions. He turned into a laid-back kinda guy, goodhearted, and considerate of others. Nothing like what he was before. He wanted to get to know his servants, he didn’t shout at other as much. He didn’t care for the company or remembered how to operate it. This terrified his mother Khun Ying Nayika, who raised him to fierce like a tiger.

After seeing her son interacting with the servants and wanting to get to know them, Khun Ying Nayika ordered Nakrop’s assistant Tong Tiew to change Narop to how he was before. She told Tong Tiew: “My child is tiger! Not a dog who will move aside to let anyone pass by.”

As Nakrop is going against his mother and evolving into a better person, Ounjai is coming after him to avenge her brother’s death. She is helped by the son of Tiger King’s rival company Phoenix. Things don’t go as plan because Nakrop is a different person now.

My Thoughts:

The plot captured me right from the start. I was intrigued to find out how the story proceeds and it went smoothly. It is a whole new world for me as it was quite centered on revenge and how that revenge becomes the point where the lovers came to be. It was interesting to see the story developing two different characters into a single body. How they use the good guy to comfort the victims and then the bad guy to hurt them even more. 

The story wraps up oh so nicely that I have nothing more to say but to watch this immediately. The ending was superbly splendid. The story gave a great emphasis on character building and took a different approach to "finding my soulmate". It was a fun ride full of genius and heartbreak. I didn't notice that this story was quite old as a matter of fact until I saw the gadgets they were using. Heck, a telecommunication company that just released a system that can track a phone by GPS. But, still nice. One thing that impressed me is how they smoothly inserted a different character into the lead guy when it is needed most and then return it back to the initial character. It was done splendidly that I just go woah and accepted the transition easily.