Musings of the Obsessive Kind

Nothing is as good as a good jdrama, so favorite jdramas are my favorite dramas of all.

I did a Top Jdramas list some time ago, with reasons and vids, but time to update. Why? Well, for one, current dramas number 3-5 weren't even on the list then, because I haven't seen them.

Same rules as earlier apply: it’s all about which are my favorite jdramas? And why? Here is the list of my favorite dozen, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Beautiful Life might end up on the list once I have enough courage to finish it, but am not done yet. Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible.

( List behind cut, with reasons, caps and vids )

Nothing is as good as a good jdrama, so favorite jdramas are my favorite dramas of all.

I did a Top Jdramas list some time ago, with reasons and vids, but time to update. Why? Well, for one, current dramas number 3-5 weren't even on the list then, because I haven't seen them.

Same rules as earlier apply: it’s all about which are my favorite jdramas? And why? Here is the list of my favorite dozen, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Beautiful Life might end up on the list once I have enough courage to finish it, but am not done yet. Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible.

( List behind cut, with reasons, caps and vids )

You know how I did a list for my favorite kdramas, here (even if it already has to be revised, seeing that The Legend is my fave kdrama ever, and actually my fave drama, period). Well, this is my Top 10 jdramas list.

Same rules apply: it’s all about which are my favorite jdramas? And why? Here is a Top 10 list, with reasons, vids, and pics. Note: no drama that I haven't finished completely is on this list, because who knows how it will turn out. Beautiful Life might end up on the list once I have enough courage to finish it, but am not done yet. Also, I have not yet seen a lot of famous jdramas (Friends, Million Stars, 1 Litre etc), because of a recent kdrama binge, which is about to give way to a jdrama one, so my list might be very different a few months from now ;) Also, I have a 'favorite scene' from each drama, and I described it very briefly, if at all, to make it as unspoilery as possible. Except for the Top 3, the places within Top 10 get reshuffled quite often. A drama I rank number 8 this week might be number four next ;) But the content of Top 10 stays the same.

( List behind cut, with reasons, caps and vids )

ETA: Yes, I plan to do the same list for Taiwanese dramas as well. But I need to finish a few twdramas I am currently watching first (Romantic Princess, Corner with Love, My Lucky Star) so as to know whether they should be included.

I have finished Sapuri and I am giddy and warm and just...it's better than hot chocolate on a rainy day.

And I am, at the same time,totally bereft at the thought of no more Sapuri.

What a lovely, delightful, amazing thing it was. And oh, that ending, with her finding him, actually being the one to come and find him, all that way, and telling him she loves him, and the look of delight on his face (btw, Kame in a suit? EEEE!) and I love how it ended for everyone (and Watanabe-san found someone, yay) but especially for Minami and Yuya, his waiting for her after work (I assume he just got off his) and them walking off together, hand in hand. And oh, the kiss!!!!! Spinny!

It's interesting, because I was thinking how uniquely Japanese Sapuri was. What I mean by that is that a lot of drama love stories could, with some tweaking(a little or a lot), be retold as a Western miniseries. But Sapuri couldn't, not really. Because the main concept of it, the concept I adored, is alien to American TV: it is about how the meaning of life is to find yoursel in your work, to work hard and to be proud of it, and not because work is interesting (even though it often is) but because there is virtue in hard work and in people depending on you and relying on you, and you are a member of an effective team. Sapuri is all about the meaning of adulthood, emotionally, personally, professionally, and this is not a theme American TV, stuck in the perpetual glorification of adolescence, ever likes to address. Interesting, jdrama is full of it. Even something like Hana Yori Dango, which might appear to be a comedy-melodrama about two strong-willed eccentrics in love, is in a lot of ways about Domyouji growing up and changing under the influence of love to become fit for society and someone who can lead the company in the future and become a functional grown-up.

Because, think about it. In American TV, if we had a workaholic woman and a layabout guy, he would at the end, teach her to let her hair down, because of course she would be uptight. But here, while Minami needs to learn to balance personal and professional a bit better, it's mainly Yuya who needs to realize his potential for perseverance and hard work and pursuit of goals.

You know, I adore Kame. I might even brave Gokusen 2, I think.

Later in the evening filmi_girl came over and we had a blast watching the first five episodes of Hana Yori Dango and squeeing/snarking/metaing. So much fun. I adore them all so, and it's been a while since I've seen the earliest ep so it was a delight. You know, a little thing I noticed this time: in ep 2, when Domyouji tells Makino to lick his shoes (because sauce is on them) it's awesome because you can tell the second the words are out of his mouth, he is horrified and wants to take it back but has no idea how. I love how Rui breaks in, and gives him an excuse to break it off. Rui=LOVE. And oh, Makino is a total darling. And I have no words for the awesomeness that is Domyouji. MatsuJun is so expressive. We finished on the ep when he gets beaten almost to death. Oh, I love how Sakurako is ranting and raving at him, but all he can see is Makino (and heis reaching for her scarf, like some sort of a talisman). When he realizes what is about to happen, earlier, and gently tells her to close her eyes (so she won't have to see him beaten), I sort of die a little. The whole set-up, with Sakurako telling him that here are goons that will beat him up, and if he moves a finger to defend himself, she will cut Makino's face, so he basically stands there and lets them beat him so badly he needs hospitalization? Awesome. Because he has such impulse control problems, and violence issues and what not, but he never loses sight of what is important. As he tells Makino: not fighting back was the only way he could protect her. OMG. And she, such a dense darling, asks him why and he replies, 'isn't it obvious? I love you.' OMG OMG OMG. And he is all beaten up and barely moving but is still hugging her. OMG. And then (once he is out of the hospital) he is being such a baby and pretending he still needs his arm in a sling so she'd feed him :P And trying to show off to her. And when she still, after all that happens, stands up for Sakurako against the bitchy girls, I love that he is proud of her for it, and just hugs her in this totally impulsive hug and...eeeeee!

Or their first date, earlier? He showed up early! And waited for her for three hours in the pouring rain.

Seriously, Hanadan is love.

After these, I'll finish A beautiful life and then probably something light, Himitsu No Hanazono or Good Luck or Dragon Zakura before diving into the intensity of Karei-Naru Ichizoku. And I will try Kimi Wa Petto again, seeing how much I am loving the manga and how it clarified certain things for me.

I have finished Sapuri and I am giddy and warm and just...it's better than hot chocolate on a rainy day.

And I am, at the same time,totally bereft at the thought of no more Sapuri.

What a lovely, delightful, amazing thing it was. And oh, that ending, with her finding him, actually being the one to come and find him, all that way, and telling him she loves him, and the look of delight on his face (btw, Kame in a suit? EEEE!) and I love how it ended for everyone (and Watanabe-san found someone, yay) but especially for Minami and Yuya, his waiting for her after work (I assume he just got off his) and them walking off together, hand in hand. And oh, the kiss!!!!! Spinny!

It's interesting, because I was thinking how uniquely Japanese Sapuri was. What I mean by that is that a lot of drama love stories could, with some tweaking(a little or a lot), be retold as a Western miniseries. But Sapuri couldn't, not really. Because the main concept of it, the concept I adored, is alien to American TV: it is about how the meaning of life is to find yoursel in your work, to work hard and to be proud of it, and not because work is interesting (even though it often is) but because there is virtue in hard work and in people depending on you and relying on you, and you are a member of an effective team. Sapuri is all about the meaning of adulthood, emotionally, personally, professionally, and this is not a theme American TV, stuck in the perpetual glorification of adolescence, ever likes to address. Interesting, jdrama is full of it. Even something like Hana Yori Dango, which might appear to be a comedy-melodrama about two strong-willed eccentrics in love, is in a lot of ways about Domyouji growing up and changing under the influence of love to become fit for society and someone who can lead the company in the future and become a functional grown-up.

Because, think about it. In American TV, if we had a workaholic woman and a layabout guy, he would at the end, teach her to let her hair down, because of course she would be uptight. But here, while Minami needs to learn to balance personal and professional a bit better, it's mainly Yuya who needs to realize his potential for perseverance and hard work and pursuit of goals.

You know, I adore Kame. I might even brave Gokusen 2, I think.

Later in the evening filmi_girl came over and we had a blast watching the first five episodes of Hana Yori Dango and squeeing/snarking/metaing. So much fun. I adore them all so, and it's been a while since I've seen the earliest ep so it was a delight. You know, a little thing I noticed this time: in ep 2, when Domyouji tells Makino to lick his shoes (because sauce is on them) it's awesome because you can tell the second the words are out of his mouth, he is horrified and wants to take it back but has no idea how. I love how Rui breaks in, and gives him an excuse to break it off. Rui=LOVE. And oh, Makino is a total darling. And I have no words for the awesomeness that is Domyouji. MatsuJun is so expressive. We finished on the ep when he gets beaten almost to death. Oh, I love how Sakurako is ranting and raving at him, but all he can see is Makino (and heis reaching for her scarf, like some sort of a talisman). When he realizes what is about to happen, earlier, and gently tells her to close her eyes (so she won't have to see him beaten), I sort of die a little. The whole set-up, with Sakurako telling him that here are goons that will beat him up, and if he moves a finger to defend himself, she will cut Makino's face, so he basically stands there and lets them beat him so badly he needs hospitalization? Awesome. Because he has such impulse control problems, and violence issues and what not, but he never loses sight of what is important. As he tells Makino: not fighting back was the only way he could protect her. OMG. And she, such a dense darling, asks him why and he replies, 'isn't it obvious? I love you.' OMG OMG OMG. And he is all beaten up and barely moving but is still hugging her. OMG. And then (once he is out of the hospital) he is being such a baby and pretending he still needs his arm in a sling so she'd feed him :P And trying to show off to her. And when she still, after all that happens, stands up for Sakurako against the bitchy girls, I love that he is proud of her for it, and just hugs her in this totally impulsive hug and...eeeeee!

Or their first date, earlier? He showed up early! And waited for her for three hours in the pouring rain.

Seriously, Hanadan is love.

After these, I'll finish A beautiful life and then probably something light, Himitsu No Hanazono or Good Luck or Dragon Zakura before diving into the intensity of Karei-Naru Ichizoku. And I will try Kimi Wa Petto again, seeing how much I am loving the manga and how it clarified certain things for me.

Finished ep 10 of Sapuri (I skipped breakfast to be able tocram it in, heh).

Aaaaaaah!

Yuya listening to Minami on the phone (and she is so sweet and he's decided to give her up for her sake) and crying...

NOOOOOO!

Yuya is not allowed to cry.

Oh, and Minami running looking for him at the end of the ep also killed me.

NO!!!!!

I am on the tenth episode of Sapuri and it continues to be Best. Thing. Evah.

Seriously.

Though I want to smack Watanabe-san. When she asks Minami to give Yuya to her because she (Minami) has more than Watanabe? WTF!!!!!! He is not a thing, he can't be 'given.' Doesn't he have volition? UGH. And she is meanwhile prentending she is his friend and wishing him luck. Shutupshutupshutup.

I completely understand Minami's waffling, even as I want to hug Yuya and make it all better: this is a huge change, a bf, especially one who is so 'unorthodox.' But ohhhh, when she thought he told Ogiwara and he idn't and you can tell he thinks she is hiding him because he is a dirty secret. Poor darling, But I love that at the end of 9, she tells him she is proud of him and stretched out her hand (I had no idea which way she was going to go, and you can tell Yuya was expecting her to tell him she is breaking up).

Ohhhh, but that scene where he waited outside her apartment in the rain and she said she wasn't coming home (because of annoying Watanabe-san) and he looked like such a bedraggled puppy :( And he got sick from the rain later (and ohhhh, when he came over he brought a lightbulb because she mentioned one blew in her place. It's the little thing like this that kills me). And ohhh, she took care of him when he was sick, eeeee (though I love both her care and her initial desire to bolt).

This is SO PERFECT.

But I've gotten to the irrational stage where whenever he is a little upset, I freak out. I am invested a bit too much in a fictional character.

Was the above even coherent?

I am on the tenth episode of Sapuri and it continues to be Best. Thing. Evah.

Seriously.

Though I want to smack Watanabe-san. When she asks Minami to give Yuya to her because she (Minami) has more than Watanabe? WTF!!!!!! He is not a thing, he can't be 'given.' Doesn't he have volition? UGH. And she is meanwhile prentending she is his friend and wishing him luck. Shutupshutupshutup.

I completely understand Minami's waffling, even as I want to hug Yuya and make it all better: this is a huge change, a bf, especially one who is so 'unorthodox.' But ohhhh, when she thought he told Ogiwara and he idn't and you can tell he thinks she is hiding him because he is a dirty secret. Poor darling, But I love that at the end of 9, she tells him she is proud of him and stretched out her hand (I had no idea which way she was going to go, and you can tell Yuya was expecting her to tell him she is breaking up).

Ohhhh, but that scene where he waited outside her apartment in the rain and she said she wasn't coming home (because of annoying Watanabe-san) and he looked like such a bedraggled puppy :( And he got sick from the rain later (and ohhhh, when he came over he brought a lightbulb because she mentioned one blew in her place. It's the little thing like this that kills me). And ohhh, she took care of him when he was sick, eeeee (though I love both her care and her initial desire to bolt).

This is SO PERFECT.

But I've gotten to the irrational stage where whenever he is a little upset, I freak out. I am invested a bit too much in a fictional character.

Was the above even coherent?

I know I am totally spamming but I can't help it.

Because...SAPURI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I loved ep 7 but 8 is just...another thing entirely.

*meep*

Yuya is shining like a new penny because Minami likes him back. It is...seriously. I am flailing. I love the little things, like when he tells Watanabe he can't reciprcate because there is someone he likes and that person like him too, and he is literally laughing with happiness, a little, at the later part of the statement, as if he can't believe it. And he is running to work. And OMG, when he asks Minami if he can call her Minami instead of Fujii-san and then starts saying, sing-songy, Mi-nami. EEEEEE! And then he almost leaves but comes back and goes 'Mi-nami?' and she goes 'what?' and he leans down and whispers into her ear 'I love you' and rushes off.

EEEEEEE!

Spinny vineyard kiss!!!!!!

Spinny vineyard kiss!!!!!!

I literally started making audible noises. Half-whimpery/half-squealing ones. Not even as much as when Yuya kissed Minami (so tentatively *thud*) but when, once he pulled away, she leaned forward and kissed him. And then there was mutual kissing.

OMG OMG OMG OMG

But you know, I have so utterly lost it, I was actually crying a little during right before the kiss. Before (as awesome as the kissing was) what really got me was Yuya's jumbled confession to Minami before. That he likes her, probably from the first time they met and he knows that age-wise and socially they don't match etc.

And OMG! He spent the whole night working! At that vineyard. Because they told him they'd give him a bottle of vine from Minami's year of birth (1977) in exchange. OMG. And he tells her he wanted her to have that.

I died a little.

And I love how she looks at him, and sees the grime and bruises and a cut or two that he got in working at a present for her and OMG the way he looks at her, so heart-breakingly uncertain and so heart-breakingly open.

It's funny, because I've gotten to such an irrational stage of Yuya love that when Watanabe was telling him Minami will never want him, except maybe for sex, because he is way below her league and that she doesn't even see him as a man, I wanted to claw at the screen, even though she genuinely believed it and she likes Yuya herself. Because nobody hurts Yuya and lives! Gosh, it's been a long time since I've watched Tatta Hitotsu No Koi, I've forgotten how expressive Kame is.

Also, I sort of adore Ogiwara now, finally utterly open with Minami. In another drama, I'd totally ship them, because he is awesome, but I am sorry, nothing trumps Yuya love.

winterspel has an amazing reaction post to the above, including a transcript of the vineyard scene. Go read. It's here.

Here is a screencap, taken from winterspel: