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dangermousieI swear, it doesn't happen on purpose, but I keep being in situations where the only drama to watch is To the Beautiful You - this time, it's because I ran out of all the other dramas I was watching (I am all caught up on Gaksital, Arang, Faith, Answer 1997 and neither Five Fingers nor May Queen are subbed yet) and I was kinda sleepy and in the mood for something non-taxing.
Surprisingly, now that my expectations have been adjusted (I know what this is and what this isn't) and I have somehow processed all the innate insanity of the premise, I am kinda enjoying this, especially with liberal fast-forwarding. I know! This isn't winning any acting or writing awards, but the young cast is cute and sometimes you just want something mindlessly fluffy. On scale of youth dramas, this is far far behind genuinely good stuff like Shut Up, Answer Me 1997, What's Up, about on par with Dream High, and (thankfully) a lot better than the appalling Dream High 2. I'd compare it with Playful Kiss, but honestly, that drama didn't even register with me, so I cannot comment.
I am also amused how the makers managed to kdramafy the original Hana Kimi, which was already full of manga cliches. Between those, we have pretty much manga/drama cliche Holy Grail.
Cross dressing and sexual confusion? Check! (I am amused that in this version Sano STILL has no idea Mizuki is a girl).
Angsty, preferably funeral scene in the rain and dysfunctional families? Check!
Hero's love interest reminds him of his Mom? Check!
Bogus drama medicine (drinking a drop of alcohol turns someone into a kissing monster? I am sure doctors everywhere are agog at that medical diagnosis) and ridiculously stiff, dead-fish kissing? Check! (Poor Mizuki - if this is how Sano is with his inhibitions removed by alcohol, I shudder to think what kind of cold fish he is in his normal state. Better buy a vibrator, girl!)
Basically, this is dumber than a box of rocks, but I am enjoying it and will probably keep up with it!
Surprisingly, now that my expectations have been adjusted (I know what this is and what this isn't) and I have somehow processed all the innate insanity of the premise, I am kinda enjoying this, especially with liberal fast-forwarding. I know! This isn't winning any acting or writing awards, but the young cast is cute and sometimes you just want something mindlessly fluffy. On scale of youth dramas, this is far far behind genuinely good stuff like Shut Up, Answer Me 1997, What's Up, about on par with Dream High, and (thankfully) a lot better than the appalling Dream High 2. I'd compare it with Playful Kiss, but honestly, that drama didn't even register with me, so I cannot comment.
I am also amused how the makers managed to kdramafy the original Hana Kimi, which was already full of manga cliches. Between those, we have pretty much manga/drama cliche Holy Grail.
Cross dressing and sexual confusion? Check! (I am amused that in this version Sano STILL has no idea Mizuki is a girl).
Angsty, preferably funeral scene in the rain and dysfunctional families? Check!
Hero's love interest reminds him of his Mom? Check!
Bogus drama medicine (drinking a drop of alcohol turns someone into a kissing monster? I am sure doctors everywhere are agog at that medical diagnosis) and ridiculously stiff, dead-fish kissing? Check! (Poor Mizuki - if this is how Sano is with his inhibitions removed by alcohol, I shudder to think what kind of cold fish he is in his normal state. Better buy a vibrator, girl!)
Basically, this is dumber than a box of rocks, but I am enjoying it and will probably keep up with it!
