Itazura Na Kiss [Mischievious Kiss] Love In Tokyo 1 and 2 (Japanese Drama)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Friendship

Episodes Total: Season 1 => 16

                             Season 2 => 16

Main Cast:

Yahagi Honoka as Aihara Kotoko

Furukawa Yuki as Irie Naoki

Yamada Yuki as Ikezawa Kinnosuke

Nakai Noemie as Christine Robbins

Synopsis:

Season 1:

At a high school entrance ceremony, high school student Aihara Kotoko, who isn’t that smart, notices pretty boy Irie Naoki. She falls in love with him immediately. Kotoko initially doesn’t express her feelings to him, but finally has a chance to tell him how she feels. Unfortunately, Naoki turns Kotoko down, saying “I don’t like dumb women.”

One day, Kotoko’s house is severely damaged by a meteorite. Until they find a new place to live, Aihara and her father decide to live with her father’s friend. When Kotoko moves to her new temporary house, she is surprised to learn that Irie Naoki lives there as well.

Season 2:

In this second season, we follow our couple, Kotoko and Naoki after their wedding, as they try to enjoy their honeymoon and then their marriage life. Aihara Kotoko finally becomes Irie Kotoko. Everything seems perfect except there's always trouble everywhere. Even more so, when she decides to change major and pursue nursing to strive to support her husband someday. Pursuing nursing will be challenging, how will she persevere and how will she face the trials that shall come? Surely with love!

My Thoughts:

This is an awesome remake. The 1996 version was not able to gain enough popularity but this one totally rocks. The new cast and wonderful plot line is just hard to resist. The casting was well done. They manage to capture the story perfectly in a modern setting. Interpretation of the scenes from the anime and manga was well done. Made me nostalgic to the time I watched the anime. And I read reviews of the story compared to its other counterparts like the Korean version and Taiwanese version, and the reviews proved even more that this is the best production of the story. The story felt more real and lovingly cute. 

Update, I was debating whether to make a new post because adding here would be weird as it's an old post and the system of writing i used most recently has not been spread to it yet. But I think it is more efficient for searching like this if I make it centralized so yeah. 

I just recently got into finishing the second season after putting it off for quite a long while, just to tie up some loose ends. And I absolutely loved marathoning the drama all the way to the end. As I mentioned before, it feels so nostalgic and at the same time surreal to see the same story being adapted into live action. From 2D to real life, where you can really see the emotions and identify body language which just makes the experience so much better. 

Last season, Naoki was pretty cold as he was supposed to be but this season I loved seeing him showing more emotions and really loving Kotoko as best as he can though sometimes Kotoko feels insecure and gets frustrated at Naoki for not being expressive enough but we can really see that he tries to reciprocate and is learning how to handle all these new emotions that he never felt before. 

This season as in the anime is where we get introduce to new characters as Kotoko starts a new chapter in her life, the new characters are just amusing to say the least and really adds on to the comedy. We also got to see development in the story of characters like Naoki's little brother, Yuuki whose story development I totally adore and love hahaha... due to how cute and innocent it was. And also the entrance of the odd and funny Christine Robbins, I am glad for one thing that the way she enters the story is revamped which made it much natural for me compared to the anime.

The second season to me, is a much better season compared to the first season as there was more emotions being exchanged between our couples, the story developed better characterization, there's less conflict and the struggles faced are not excessively weird and are natural which makes the story more understandable. The overall tone of the season was amazingly good after experiencing the tough, and sometimes heartbreaking first season which is a relief. If they were to follow the anime to the dot, the story would have been so different. So, yeah, season 2 is a honeymoon, you enjoy, you have fun, you laugh and you feel the romance growing at every corner! Go on and watch it if you haven't already.

Ojakgyo Brothers (Korean Drama)

Genre: Family, Romance

Episodes Total: 58

Main Cast:

Uee as Baek Ja Eun

Joo Won as Hwang Tae Hee

Ryu Soo Young as Hwang Tae Bum

Choi Jung Yoon as Cha Soo Young

Synopsis: 

The story of a family with four sons who live together with their relatives on a farm near Seoul. Hwang Tae Hee is the third son and a policeman who falls in love with a girl named Baek Ja Eun. Baek Ja Eun is a haughty young woman who only believes in her pretty looks and is quick to flare up in anger.

Thoughts:

It's maybe long but the story will keep you entertained until the end. The Struggles, the joy and everything in it will make you feel connected to the story. A heartwarming family drama. Cute romance are a must in this drama. Lovable cast and characters.

The Heirs (Korean Drama)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama, School

Episode Total: 20

Main Cast:

Lee Min Ho as Kim Tan

Park Shin Hye as Cha Eun Sang

Kim Woo Bin as Choi Young Do

Kang Min Hyuk as Yoon Chan Young

Krystal Jung as Lee Bo Na

Kim Ji Won as Rachel Yoo

Choi Jin Hyuk as Kim Won

ZE:A Park Hyung Sik as Jo Myung Soo

Kang Ha Neul as Lee Hyo Shin

Synopsis:

The series follows a group of privileged, elite high school students as they are groomed to take over their families' business empires. These wealthy students seem to have everything under control, except their love lives. Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) is the heir to the Empire Group sent to study abroad in the U.S. In reality it's a form of exile, as his elder half-brother back home (Choi Jin Hyuk) schemes to take over the family business. While in the States, Kim Tan bumps into Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye), who has arrived from Korea in search of her older sister. He feels himself falling for her, never realizing that she's the daughter of his family's housekeeper. When his fiancée, Rachel Yoo (Kim Ji Won), arrives to bring him back to Korea, his heart is torn between love and duty. Meanwhile, Rachel's stepbrother Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin) develops his own crush on Eun Sang.

Thoughts:

I have watched it and it is a very good drama. Although I expected too much from the drama because it is full of strong and famous actors and actresses, but most of my expectations was fulfilled. A story that would make you want more probably..Hahaha...but a good drama that's for sure. I do have a lot of respect for this drama in the portrayal of characters and plot. But it is not satisfying enough which is probably why I said you could want more from this drama.

Kingyo Club [Goldfish Club] (Japanese Drama)

Genre: Romance, Slice of Life, School

Episode Total: 10

Also Known As: Goldfish Club

Main Cast:

Irie Jingi as Hiiragi Haru

Kariya Yuiko as Harukawa Koto

Mizuno Erina as Kida Kayoko

Yoshizawa Ryo as Yanagihashi Sho

Kurihara Goro as Motoi Takaya

Synopsis:

Hiiragi Haru, a third year high school student with no real interest in women or higher education, instead choosing to live his life idly. When he notices a first-year student named Harukawa Koto, being bullied, he lends her a hand, and the two form a "goldfish club" just for themselves. While love begins to bloom between them, the bullying against Koto continues to escalate.

Thoughts:

Edited:09/08/2016

So, it had been quite some time since I actually watched this and realizing that my thoughts did not do justice to how great this drama actually is got me itching to type. So here goes....

This is beyond your average drama. The plot can be considered quite dark in the sense that social issues is on the rise here. But amidst all that is how the two leads meet up and started bonding with the male lead always saving the damsel in distress. Their interactions are really interesting to watch considering how quiet both sides are, when they start taking actions, it kept me on the edge of my seat. Of course I have to mention that 10 episodes was just too short but if for someone like me, dragging it out is just going to annoy me to no end. Yes, I get to see more screentime but imagine having the same plot reuse constantly. Anyways, the plot for this 10 episodes story was well-paced and was not a rush at all. They had perfect timing for those lengthy heartfelt moments and also those heartbreaking moments. Did I mention how cute both of them are? Seriously, with the way they as actors express themselves, they made it into a heartwarming slice of life drama. Seeing is just pure believing. Watch it and be starstruck haha... It's just 10 episodes. A little marathon won't hurt unless it will because I do when I think like I have only a few more episodes to watch. Which is why curiosity kills the cat. 

Queen In-hyun's Man (Korean Drama)

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Action, Historical

Episode Total: 16

Also known as: Queen and I

Main Cast:

Ji Hyun-woo as Kim Boong do

Yoo In-na as Choi Hee Jin

Kim Jin Woo as Han Dong Min

Ga Deuk-hee as Jo Soo Kyung

Synopsis:

Year 1694, Joseon Dynasty: Kim Boong-do is a noble-born scholar and his family's sole survivor after they were massacred in a conspiracy. Boong-do supports the reinstatement of Queen In-hyun, who was deposed due to scheming by royal concubine Lady Jang.

Year 2012, modern-day Seoul: Choi Hee Jin, an unsuccessful actress lands her big break when she is cast as Queen In-hyun in the television drama "New Jang Heebin". Due to a mysterious talisman, Boong-do time-travels to 2012, where he crosses paths with Hee-jin and falls in love.

Thoughts:

One of the words to describe this drama is cute romance. I was always at the edge of my seat for this drama. It is a very good drama. The people who produce this, wrote it and direct it must be a really good person cause it has a good way of captivating the audience and fun way to liven up the drama. And if you ask me to rewatch this, I will say yes but of course there are conditions if I want to watch this again which is skips. Go to the good parts just to get a positive feeling watching. And one more thing, being a fantasy-addict(?), this drama totally satisfies that hunger. Sweet drama!! XD

I Miss You (Korean Drama)

Genre: Melodrama, Romance

Episode Total: 21

Main Cast:

Park Yoo Chun as Han Jung Woo

-Yeo Jin Goo as young Jung Woo (15 years old)

Yoon Eun Hye as Lee Soo Yeon/Zoe

-Kim So Hyun as young Soo Yeon (15 years old)

Yoo Seung Ho as Kang Hyung Joon/Harry Borrison

-Ahn Do Gyu  as young Hyung Joon

Jang Mi In Ae as Kim Eun Joo

-Yoo Yeon Mi as young Eun Joo

Synopsis:

The drama revolves around a guy and a girl, who both experience a painful end to their first loves at the tender age of 15, and then meet again as adults by playing game of love hide and seek.

Han Jung Woo has been a homicide detective for 2 years and he is looking for his childhood love, Lee Soo Yeon. Lee Soo Yeon is a fashion designer and often dream of Han Jung Woo searching for her. Meanwhile, Kang Hyung Joon is a cold-hearted, charismatic fund manager, who tries to take revenge on Han Jung Woo  because of the troubled relationship within their family.

Thoughts:

From prologue to the end, an amazing journey. Now that's what I call a melodrama. The emotions are strong and vivid. The portrayal of the characters was just on-point that you can delve deep into the character's struggles and fears. Sad atmosphere but pure joy to watch. You get sucked into the story and you feel like these characters are your friend or someone you know for a long time. I feel pity for the characters and I feel joy for the characters. The tears are just heartbreaking. The gestures they do for each other and the words they say to each other is just too much for my poor heart to bear. The soundtracks are also soothing and perfect for the story. If you haven't tried it, go ahead. At least for the handsome actors and pretty actresses...