The beginer's (aka my own) doramas guide

[dangermousie]

Because I’ve been talking about doramas so much lately, I’ve decided to make a list of all the doramas I’ve seen, I am watching, or am going to be watching shortly, with a short reason why, plot synopsis and photo. For those who don't know, doramas are Asian (Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, Singaporean etc) miniseries, anywhere from a few to 30+ eps long, which tell a unitary story. Basically like very long miniseries. And they are addictive. Like crack.



The ones I am currently watching are underlined and the ones I am going to be watching shortly are italicized. Looking at this list, I realized that I really do prefer Taiwanese doramas the best.

Forbidden Love [Japan]: I have two reasons for getting this. One is very shallow (the male lead is beyond hot) and the other less so: I am interested how the rather controversial subject of this one (love between 26 year old female teacher and 17 year old student and the disdain they face from society) is handled. It's supposed to be quite good.



Full House [Korea]: I cannot wait to see this one. It sounds romantic and funny and if Silence is my perfect angsty dorama this sounds like the perfect good-mood one. A famous singer is stuck pretending to be in a relationship and sharing a house with the heroine. Does a relationship develop? Duh. This one is really famous.



Kimi Va Petto [Japan]: I am actually not sure if I’ll be watching this one, though I started, as the concept itself (human pet) is just too weird. I did hear really good things about it, so anyone seen it?



Gokusen [Japan]: I am watching it right now and I am in love. This is a dorama about a new high school teacher who is assigned a dreadfully troublemaking class. The class (and their leader, Shin) are pretty confident they can get her to resign quickly. What they don't know is she is yakuza, standing to inherit, so this is basically as nothing to her. I cannot recommend it strongly enough: it's funny and perfect. And Shin is hot. H-O-T.



Good Luck [Japan]: About an airline, and koalathebear really likes and she is a woman of excellent taste, so I will watch it. However, it seems to be rather angst free, so even though I have a copy, I am in no hurry to get to it.



Goong [Korea]: If Bollywood made doramas, they would make this. It's pretty, it's funny, it's angsty and it's thoroughly romantic. In an AU world, South Korea is a constitutional monarchy and our heroine finds herself in an arranged engagement with the icy crown prince, something neither of them is interested in. Of course, like in any good Bolly story, the elders know better and love blooms but a lot of angst and obstacles follow.



Hana Yori Dango [Japan]: See my write-up for MG below, for plot. This is much shorter (only 9 eps) so the character development isn't as good, and the angst is much less (if MG is a feast, this is a sandwich) but it's very entertaining nonetheless.



It Started With a Kiss [Taiwan]: Our heroine declares her love for the hero and gets rejected, making her a laughingstock. Not only that, but her house is gone in a storm and her father moves the family in with an old friend: her flame's father. Will they fall in love? He is serious and she is madcap, after all. Duh. This one is really famous.



Long Vacation [Japan]: I am watching this rather slowly because it's so low-key, but it's a story about a pianist and a model who end up living together and eventually falling in love. It starts slowly but ends up dragging you in. I am about 3 eps in. This one is really famous too.



Mars [Taiwan]: This was the dorama that started it all. When I first got it, I had no idea about the world of doramas. I wanted to watch this because it was an adaptation of a manga I adored. I am sure anyone even scanning my lj could tell about the plot of this, but to sum it up very briefly: Ling and Qi Luo are both extremely dysfunctional. She is so shy she barely talks and freaks out when touched. He has catatonic fits, violence issues and is haunted by his twin’s suicide. It’s impossible for them to fall in love but they do, and the story goes from there. This was my first, an all the doramas later, it’s still my favorite. All the angst and the restraint and the plot twists!



Meteor Garden [Taiwan]: This one was my second. Once again, I got this because it was an adaptation of ‘Hana Yori Dango’ a manga I’ve liked in every incarnation. Once again,not much need to summarize as I’ve blabbed about it non-stop, but the very short summary is that Shan Cai is a poor student in a very ritzy college and one day she antagonizes F4, the group of four sons of wealthiest families who run the school. Instead of cowering, however, she fights for herself, winning the love of the leader of F4, who she can’t stand. This one is uber famous, and justly so. It has everyone I want in my dorama: angsty hot boys, spunky heroine, bickering, kissing, more angst than you can possibly take in one sitting, and a lot of plot twists that make me glee.



Meteor Garden II [Taiwan]: OK, I’ve seen about half an hour of this (the very beginning and the very end). The reason there is no underlining? I have no desire to see more, as by all accounts, having no manga to go on, the story in this one is a nightmare. So I watched the happy DMS/SC bits in the beginning and the end, and the rest I am content to leave well enough alone.

I don't have any MGII pics, and don't feel like looking for them so here's a nicer pic of the male lead instead:


Meteor Rain [Taiwan]: Boy, those people know how to milk success, don’t they? This is a collection of three vignettes about three of the four F4 members. One’s funny, one’s romantic, one’s sad. They are pretty independent of each other, so I watched two of those but not the third (DMS’) which I plan to do very soon. The other two were fun.

See MGII for explanation, pic-wise:



Peach Girl [Taiwan]: This was the third one I tried, and the first one where I went “uh-oh.” I am going to use Japanese character names here as I don’t remember the Chinese ones, OK? Momo is a girl who has an undeserved reputation for being fast because of her bleached hair and dark skin (this is culturally specific), but she really just tans easily. Her friend Sae always goes for what Momo wants, so when Sae asks her about her guy preference, Momo, who’s always liked the quiet Touji, randomly points instead at Kairi, the biggest flirt in school. I am a huge slave to the anime of the manga and Kairi is my anime boyfriend, so I think I would have liked this more if I came to it from scratch. Vanness Wu who plays Kairi is very hot and very charming, but that is about the best thing about PG. The girl playing Momo cannot act and is not charming, and the whole romantic, funny, angsty, and pitch-perfect throughout feel of this is lost, turning it into somewhat tiresome story. Also, since this was done before the manga was finished (unlike the anime), the ending, which I adore, is replaced by another one. I am planning on giving it another chance, now that I am much more distanced from the anime.



Pride [Japan]: This combines hockey and melodrama. I am not the biggest hockey fan, but I like melodrama. Plus, it was very popular.



Silence [Taiwan]: My current obsession, Silence is the dorama I adore. It is also the dorama that is driving me insane, as not only is it still running, but the subs for it are incredibly slow and uncertain. Yup, it’s the first dorama I am watching unsubbed. In my defence, if someone sat for hours trying to come up with a perfect dorama for me, they couldn’t have hit on a better one. The protagonists are childhood loves who’ve lost track of each other. They don’t know that the other person is their childhood love when they meet again, 10 years later. She is mute and he is dying and they are falling in love all over again. It's very well shot and the hero is gorgeous and the heroine is utterly charming (the thing has a delightful silent movie feel because of her gestures) and I love it. I foresee a lot of bawling on my part when this is over, and not just because of ‘what did he/she say?’



Smiling Pasta [Taiwan]: This is a variation on the Full House premise, it seems. On the day a famous singer is jilted by his love (for his brother, no less) he accidentally ends up in a compromising position with a luckless-in-love girl, and now, for PR reasons, they have to pretend they are dating. This one throws in everything and the kitchen sink: famous singers, student hijinks, family rivalry, haunting exes, love happening in arranged circumstances. It’s totally improbable and totally fun. I am also watching it without subs for a moment (though I know people at d-addicts have plans to sub it), a bit at a time. Since I am not as obsessed with it as I am with Silence, the fact that conversations go over my head don’t bug me as much and I have fun making my own dialogues and reveling in the cuteness.



Spring Waltz [Korea]: This one is famous and supposed to be good. And has angsty star-crossed lovers (who’ve known each other in childhood) and all that good stuff.



The Hospital [Taiwan]: This one isn’t even out yet. It’s going to start airing in August. But it has angsty past love affairs and hot doctors. I am hopeful someone will sub it, but if not, heck, I am already watching two doramas unsubbed. What’s one more?



Tokyo Juliet [Taiwan]: So much love. This is cheesy and romantic and angsty and fun. It’s also currently being aired (but the subs are much further done than Silence’s). Everyone, and I mean, everyone, on this show is a designer. Our heroine is cool and spunky and wants to bring down this famous designer who apparently stole her design and ruined her family (they haven’t explained yet). Oh, and she is also falling in love with a senior in her college, another aspiring designer. Who can blame her? He is arrogant and fun and hot. What she doesn’t know is that he is not only the Evil Designer’s son, but he is the boy who was her first, childhood love (these shows really go for the bonded in childhood thing). This is irresistable. Honest.



Winter Sonata [Korea]: I don’t know much about it except that it’s famous and angsty and involves rediscovering lost love. But I’ll find out.



ETA: More Doramas



1 Litre of Tears [Japan]: A tearjerker to end all tearjerkers, about an athletic girl finding out she has an incurable disease, but also finding love.



A Love to Kill [Korea]: On my really short list to watch, and not just because it stars Rain for whom I've fallen in 'Full House.' The storyline promises to be dark and twisty, with Rain playing a man trying to get close to a woman and ruin her in order to avenge his brother, but falling in love with her in the process.



Orange Days [Japan]: Romantic college stuff. Mute musicians. Yup, sounds cool to me too.



Placeholder for write-ups on Delightful Girl/Sassy Girl Chunhyang, My Name is Kim Sam Soon, Boku Dake No Madonna, Satomi Hakkenden, Devil Beside You, Sapuri, Love Contract and Say Yes Enterprise.

Comments

[rossywar.livejournal.com]

You know, I stated watching Tokyo Juliet yesterday at work, because it had subtitles and I was bored and even though I don't love it (yet) I think I'm getting sucked in. I've only seen the first two episodes (and they're over an hour long!!) but I want to watch more. Do you know why it's called Tokyo Juliet? It's puzzling me as it doesn't seem to have anything to do with Tokyo and nobody's called Juliet.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's called Tokyo Juliet because it's based on a Japanese manga. It was set in Tokyo ergo the first part, and Juliet is because I've often seen it used as a pseudonym for a female star-crossed lover (I have no idea if you'd gotten to the point where Liang's parentage is revealed). Doramas usually take a bit to get going btw. This one is not the best one ever, artistically, but the gorgeous angst is so fun.

[rossywar.livejournal.com]

Aaah. Actually, as I was typing the question, I thought the Juliet might refer to the whole star-crossed lover thing. And yes, I have got to the bit where we've learnt of Liang's parentage (aaaaaangst!) and it is quite slow going (especially without sound) but I might have to watch it to the end to see how it pans out. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

it is quite slow going (especially without sound)

I hate watching things without sound (even when as here I don't understand the language). I keep forgetting how much sound adds to interest level, until it's taken away (I am watching this one with sound though). I actaully really like the soundtrack for this, too. Doramas are usually slow (at least compared to a movie) because they have all these hours. I have no idea how this one ends, hopefully not with suicide though :P

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

When I get Pride I am going to make you watch it with me. :) There is nothing hotter than men on skates. Trust me.

*tries to resist running off to ebay to buy others*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Deal. Watchalongs work wonders on me, if it's not something I am super keen on at the start.

Tokyo Julieeeeeeeet. Watch Tokyo Julieeeeeeeeeet. Aaaaaaangst :P

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I hold fast on Tokyo Juliet! Though just maybe I will have a peet at youtube.

I am ashamed to say I just bought two more Japanese ones - one is Hana Yori Dango and the other was a bit random - Beautiful Life, about a disabled library and a hairdresser. It sounds angstalicous. (But I totally saved on postage buying them together! So I should go and buy more...)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I am curious what you'll think of HYD. It has by far the scariest fashion of all I've seen. Also, you know it's another variation of Meteor Garden, right? (I like MG better). But even with all that HYD is a lot of fun if you can get past the really OTT first ep.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I remembered that from your posting about it. I figured it might be fun and as there are only 9 episodes it doesn't sound like too much of an investment time wise even if it turns out awful.

I just realised I never watched Meteor Rain and I have a copy of that. Maybe I should pop that in this evening if I have time.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Meteor Rain is fluffy fun. More angst and more pretty boys and it's not anything I'd go spare for, but it's enjoyable, quite a lot. Also, with the most cheestastic credits ever.

With HYD, it gets quite good after an ep or two, I promise.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I am intrigued to know what horrors await in episode 1 of HYD. I could probably ff through it if it is really hideous.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Btw, just found out that they are making a second season of HYD later in the year. I am curious what they are going to put in, as they cut out a heck of a lot of the story but ended roughly in the same place (aka Tsukushi telling Doumyouji she loves him).

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Beautiful Life is one of Kimura's doramas. I'm a huge Takuya Kimura fan! It's not one of my top 3 by him but it's pretty good and very touching. Yes, there is angst and tragedy, and it's quite lovely, especially towards the end. However, on the shallow level, the Kimura hotness is pretty invisible in this one, as he looks his absolute worst. I watched it and kept thinking he must have been exhausted and sick the whole time he was filming it because he really doesn't look like that with bad skin and awful eyebags.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I am glad to hear that it's not noted for its awfulness. I am just getting into this stuff so I go on dangermousie's suggestions and then just random stuff I see on ebay which sounds like it has a plot that might be fun to watch. (By fun I mean full of angst and pretty people.) So it's a scattershot approach at best.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

You should really join jdramas if you haven't already. Other than the reccs I've gotten from friends, I've become interested in other doramas because of posts in that community. For ex. there is a dorama I'm downloadng now called A Love to Kill starring Korean idol, Bi, that I never would have known about otherwise (well, except for the Bi connection) and it looks very interesting.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh, A Love to Kill sounds really interesting (I read the synopsis on drama wiki). Btw, I am rather confused. Is jdramas only for Japanese ones or all doramas?

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

As you probably know by now if you followed the link for the comm, the community is for ALL Asian dramas. Most links are Megaupload. The variety is large. Requests can be made for what is not currently avaialable, or if links have expired. You have to join in order to see anything, but as I've been saying for a while now, if you love Asian dramas, that is the best place to be both to download and also to gain reccs.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay. I joined. Now I need to figure out what this megaupload thing is (hey, even if my interest in doramas is going to fade, the tech skills I'll get are going to stick :P). And once I figure that out, I'll go back to that post where people had tech advice on how to burn stuff and have myself a very geeky party.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

O_O You don't know what Megaupload is?? Okay, there are these websites that host files. Megaupload, Sendspace, and Yousendit are examples of these. People upload files to those services, and they get a link. That link is to the file they uploaded. You can share that link with whoever you want to make that file available to. You can do this if you're sending someone anything - a zipped file of photos from your last vacation to a friend who lives in China, for ex. because it's faster/easier than snailmailing and you might have a LOT of photos to share and email isn't feasible for more than a few of the pics. Does this make sense?

We do this for dramas because an episode can be split into parts using a tool called HJSplit and those pieces get uploaded. You download the pieces, put them together with HJSplit, and voila, you have an episode! All of this takes only time - but in some ways it's easier than using torrents because you don't need to have anyone seed the files in order to download. They're already there, so long as the link has not expired (all links have a
shelf life. For MU links, so long as someone has downloaded at least once every 30 days, the link will remain alive).

Just make sure you read the community rules and tutorials carefully. They explain everything. And if you can't download the YSI download manager (a very small but very useful software) off the comm, let me know and I'll send it to you. It makes downloading via any host service links SO MUCH easier.

Just read all the info in the community's profile. It's not hard at all. And it's not even as geeky as you might think...and you can always check with me if you have a major problem, and if I can set you straight, I will. :) The thing is, if you are serious about this stuff, you'll learn out of necessity, just like I did. That comm just makes everything a lot easier, that's all. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I've only used yousendit before (as I said, tech novice). Thank you for the explanation, as it is immensely helpful. I am getting a really fast connection at home next week and then there will be a grand burning party or similar, as I prefer to watch on my TV to my comp.

Btw (and I know I am exposing my utter ignorance here) what is seeding? Makes me think of gardening.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

The d-addicts MegaFAQ is your friend, especially this section. It will explain pretty much everything you ever needed to know about torrents, seeding and other related issues. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

You are seriously my guru or similar. I read the FAQ and allof a sudden a lot of things make sense :)

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Heee, well, I've had a bit of a headstart and for me obsession=research. :)

jdramas will prevent the need for you to deal with torrents too much, but there will be times when you may need to resort to it (I certainly do) so it's good to know what you're doing and have the info to help you out. Plus they have so much more info that is useful in the larger FAQ and also info on how to use soft sub files.

Btw, all of these links are on my dorama index page, for future reference, or if others need helpful pointers. One stop shopping!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the information. *scurries off to join*

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Yay! Please, spread the word. That community is totally love. Just make sure you read the rules carefully. :)

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I am currently dling thanks to that community. Though I had a bit of an issue until I realised I had to dl some programme to get English subtitles.

And thanks for letting me know about it

[ficchica.livejournal.com]

Ooh a new list of programs to go and watch!
Kimi Va Petto [Japan]: I am actually not sure if I’ll be watching this one, though I started, as the concept itself (human pet) is just too weird. I did hear really good things about it, so anyone seen it?
I'm downloading it at the moment. I've seen the first episode I think it kind of works - its funny and its sad. The main characters seem like such opposites. She is so strong, aloof but actually quite lonely and he is exuberant and weird but as the episode went on she unbent enough that she cried about her boyfriend cheating on her. Then again I like wacky things so I don't know.

Yup, it’s the first dorama I am watching unsubbed.
I'm glad I'm not the only person who is watching silence like this.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Then again I like wacky things so I don't know.

I like wacky too. Thanks, I'll give it a try.

I'm glad I'm not the only person who is watching silence like this.

The thing is, I got hooked. And then, after two eps, when the choice was watching unsubbed or not watching at all, there was no question. The funny thing is that I am rather compulsive about watching this. Not like with 'Smiling Pasta' which I also tried unsubbed and liked but it's something I'll watch more of at some point. I don't have this unreasonable burning need to watch more or to know what's going on.

[callmecaito.livejournal.com]

I went and watched all of Kimi Wa Petto a few months ago (WHAT? JUN IS CUTE OKAY?) and it's very cute, I though. Jun's character in this is completely the opposite of Shin in Gokusen: instead of reserved and stoic, he is affectionate and boisterous, though his eyes are still as expressive as ever. The idea is weird, but somehow, it really kind of works. I think it's largely because pretty much all the characters acknowledge that the setup is really awkward and random, but the interactions between the two leads steadily become more and more natural as the characters grow more comfortable with each other and their strange arrangement.

Also, Jun is cute. Way cute. Even hot. And occasionally naked (though we don't actually get to see anything, boo.)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

OK, I am sold. I am definitely trying this.

Also, Jun is cute. Way cute. Even hot. And occasionally naked (though we don't actually get to see anything, boo.)

LOL. What's the point of nudity if we can't see it :P

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

You're right. The kid in the first picture is blindingly hot.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know. I need to find out who he is and what he's been in.

[crumpeteer.livejournal.com]

Takizawa Hideaki. Singer first (aren't the all) actor later.

Let me make a comment on Kimi Va Petto, in that I've read the manga Tramps Like Us and it's quite good. Interestingly the guy even LOOKS like the guy in the manga. The whole pet thing starts out rather weird, but it takes on a sweet, sexy, rather kinky twist on the relationship without going overboard. At least the manga did anyway.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Simply must see more of him. And thanks for the heads up on the manga. Everything I hear about it really does seem to indicate that KVP is good, so I am definitely watching.

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

Hee, welcome to the world of JE - there are so many JE boys who act in jdoramas. Takki has been in quite a few, and he's very cute. I just downloaded his duo's latest music video and GAH! So adorable, it keeeled me dead.

I'll let you know what I think of Kimi wa Petto if I get to it before you. I am building up quite a backlog of doramas to get through!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, by backlog is huge. But it's nice to have a bunch to look forward to.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

Yay pretty Asian people! Sorry, I have nothing more valuable to add. I started watching the first ep of Goong last night and yeah, it's definitely very nice but then I realized, HOLY shit every episode is like 70 minutes so over 240 hours of this, where am I going to find the time?!

But I think I'll try to, anyway. It feels worth it. I really enjoy getting into various entertainment forms from different countries, they're always so unique and it's cool to enjoy what people a thousand miles away also enjoy.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's not 240, it's only 24 :) so a lot more manageable :)

[catdecember.livejournal.com]

omg dorama heaven!!

i really want to see "it started with a kiss" so now i'll be dressing up and heading out to my chinese video store. hehe.

i suggest adding:

Delightful Girl/Sassy Girl Chunhyang
My Name is Kim Sam Soon

coz those are my faves, along with Full House & Goong. :)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I definitely will. After all, large number of doramas I picked I got on your recs and I loved them.