Drama drama draaaaama!

[dangermousie]

1. I don't watch that many jdramas any more, but I have fallen under the sweet, cracky spell of Shiritsu Bakaleia Koukou.

I can almost belive that this delightful half-hour a week show is based on some manga I would have been obsessed about when younger (aww, who am I kidding? I'd still obsess over it). The premise is certainly pure shoujo crack - a derelict all-boys school whose students are all dedicated to fighting merges with an upper-class, super-refined all-girls school. Heeeee..



There is a ridiculously cute OTP: she - proper, ladylike, strongwilled head of girls' school. He - scruffy, emotion-driven excellent fighter head of boys' school. There are typical shoujo situations, a spiffy soundtrack, a surprsingly winning cast, and there are the typical jdrama lessons about teamwork and loyalty. The whole set-up - refined, ladylike ladies are needed to tame macho guys who are unkempt, rough, and love fighting - is a very traditional idea stripped shamelessly bare to its bones but it works.



Pretty blunt - orderly girls and unkempt boys, engaging in the battle of the sexes.



































Yeah, this school isn't winning cleanliness awards.





The wacky opening credits:




















The rest are caps of guy-gal confrontations, our awesome OTP, and some stuff about desks that turns into a lesson on loyalty. Ahhh, you are so wonderfully shoujo, it hurts. And I swear, the actors look like manga characters.


















































2. If this amazing MV by joonni doesn't touch you, there is something wrong with you.

It pretty much encapsulates how perfect the OTP of Queen In Hyun's Man was. QIHM is not my n1. 2012 drama (though it came close), but Hee Jin/Bong Do are certainly my 2012 OTP:

3. In case you missed it, here is the HD preview for ep 5 of Gaksital.

I need this ep in my life ASAP! I've seen speculation that the Gaksital we see here is Kang To, donning the mask to rescue Dan. I would love it to be true (what's not to love? KT strikes me as someone who would put this on to protect someone he cares about - he is capable of immense love for the small group of people he cares for, is impulsive and hot-tempered, and has a certain disregard for rules) but I don't really think so - where would he get the mask - I am assuming they are less popular marketplace items now, with the cops hunting the wearer. And it might be too soon for him to both discover who Gaksital really is AND borrow the stuff from him.

[Poll #1846158]

4. I continue enjoying Dr. Jin for Song Seung Heon's sexy grimy face and his chemistry with Park Min Young. Lee Bum Soo is stealing the show. Jaejoong's character crossed an irrevocable line when he burned the village down (!!!) - I can understand what drove him to it, but there are some things you do not do and I think that would have lost him Young Rae's heart for good. JJ is a decent actor, especially for an idol, but I wish this role had a really good actor because that role has a lot of potential.

Off to watch ep 6 of A Gentleman's Dignity now.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Oh wow, that music video is PERFECT for QIHM! It made me relive everything I loved about it.

[att123.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure it's KT who's fighting in the preview. I'm assuming he's there to rescue MD. If you pause it at .26 seconds you can see his jawline and I'm fairly sure it's KT.

It could also be a timeskip or a scene from another episode that they put in the preview. But when you really look at the guy it's definitely not KS.

I agree with you that it's too soon for KT to pick up the Bridal Mask mantle. But if he discovers KS is the Bridal Mask and has to save MD later on I could see him stealing the costume in order to protect her. Otherwise he would have no way to save her without looking like a revolutionary sympathizer. Ahh the possibilities are driving me crazy!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I agree it's not KS who has a verrrry chiseled jaw, but they use so many stunt doubles, I just don't know who is supposed to be behind that mask.

I mean, I'd adore for it to be KT beyond words but I don't want to get my hopes up.

[att123.livejournal.com]

That's true. They really have gotta watch that. Unless the Bridal Mask is a part of some organization there is no reason for it to be visibly someone different in the costume.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I don't even notice the different chins tbh, but the discussion of preview made me focus on it.

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that music video is PERFECT for QIHM! It made me relive everything I loved about it.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Joonni is pretty much amazing.

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

damn you mousie! i have been holding my urges to watch dramas because i'm already watching 2 right now (big and dr jin) and now because of you i'm watching shiritsu bakaleia koukou.

but i'll be a good girl and only watch gaksital when it's done mostly because i don't think i can survive waiting every week with the cliffhangers, city hunger already made me too anxious and made me dream about it during it's run, so i decided to watch gaksital at once.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

BM is insanely addicttive so it's a smart move.

Heee re SBK. It's adorable and only half-an-hour a week.

[(Anonymous)]

One poster in soompi did a VERY detailed analysis to determine if the gaksital in the preview is KT, KS or yet another chiseled-jawed double. Based on side by side photo comparison it really looked like KT donned the mask to save Dan. Talk about swoony - him assuming the identity of his 'arc enemy' to rescue his other enemy. So mindfucked but oh so good!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I would eat this up with a giant spooon if it's KT but all the stunt doubles made me cautious.

[(Anonymous)]

and oh, KT might possibly get the mask from that fake gaksital from last time. I doubt he's gonna embody the alter ego very soon so this might just be his urge to rescue MD motivating him.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

But the fake Gaksital is dead so...

Hmmm, we'll see. I'd love for it to be KT, I just don't want to expect it and be disappointed :)

[fishncake.livejournal.com]

Betting my internet dollars that it is Kangto.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Accepting the bet :)

[december-clouds.livejournal.com]

Is Dr Jin a lot like the Japanese one or very different?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's largely a remake, with a lot more romance.

[algelic.livejournal.com]

I think the last episode for "Queen In Hyun's Man" is now out subbed! GO GET IT!

"Shiritsu Bakaleia Koukou" sounds right up my alley... hmmmm must try it out!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the heads-up.

SBK is silly but adorable.

[singing-tree.livejournal.com]

Oooo, that jdrama looks intruiging!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's cracky and silly and darling.

[(Anonymous)]

I just might have to start that jdrama. Japanese school dramas are one of my guilty pleasures. :P

From the preview, I cannot really tell who Gaksital is. Maybe it's Shunji because when the mask comes off, KangTo looks shocked. But, like you said, where would he get that bride mask. Hmm... his jawline does look like Kang To's... but this drama has had stunt doubles so I don't know mehh I need episode 5 now! I'll be in Korea soon so I'm going to try to catch this live :)

Random side note - I am mostly a silent reader, but your drama postings always make me want to check out a drama. I feel your excitement through your writing, which is a major reason why your blog is one of my favorites. Also, thank you for gorgeous caps now and then :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I am pretty iffy on recent jdramas (I just don't go for procedurals much and these seem to dominate these days) but I am always game to break my hiatus for a fun school jdrama.

Yeah, I've seen people on soompi do jaw comparisons and all, but the problem with that is that the drama uses a million stunt doubles. So who knows. I kinda wish I didn't see the preview and discussions, actually, because I just assumed it was KS and it would have been a lovely shock if it turned out to be KT :)

Oh, and thank you so much for enjoying my posts!

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

My friend recced this jdrama to me but there was no subs so i was like eh. but man do the girls and guys actually fight each other like fist fight? lol that is hilarious. i should watch this it looks very silly and fun. how many eps is it subbed so far? (the main guy is a real cutie, altho he also seems veeery young)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

No, the girls don't fight, they rule through their superior intellect.

[joonni.livejournal.com]

I can always count on you to deliver the good news about a jdrama. ;)

And to have you feature a fanvid from me.... Wow. Deliriously happy. :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all the amazing vids and posts about QIHM. I've spent hours reading them.

Enjoy SBK!

[elanatothemax.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, what is your number 1 2012 drama?

ps. Love the blog, by the by! I've been lurking for a while now :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

My n1 favorite is Shut Up Flower Boy Band, which I thought would be awful but ended up sweeping me off my feet. Bridal Mask might replace it though if it keeps on being as good as it is. The other three dramas I loved this year were Padam Padam (my favorite after the ones mentioned above), and then QIHM (though I cannot decide if I prefer it to PP) and after that Love Rain.

[thoughtsramble.livejournal.com]

Haha I don't know if my recap is the reason for you to start watching Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou or not, but I'm glad that you did. Told you you would like it!(:

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It was you!

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

That jdrama looks like exactly my kind of guilty pleasure. I'm glad you brought it to my attention since I've never watched any jdramas. I'll have to seek it out.

I can't wait to get home from the office so I can check out that QIHM vid tonight!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

The vid is perfect.

That jdrama is pure crack.