MARS is an all time favorite Japanese manga of mine and I first watched the Taiwanese live-action adaptation years ago. While it shows its age for sure, I really enjoyed that rendition and thought the production did a good job covering the story. But since it’s been so long, I was really excited to see that Japan finally came out with a live-action version of this classic story.

For a Japanese manga-to-live-action drama, I think they did a good job. It was so short, so they left a lot out (which was disappointing) but given the length, I think they kept what was really important about the story and that is how Rei and Kira both help each other grow through their love for one another. It sounds so cheesy—but they both make such a great couple and it’s so refreshing to see two people who can bring out the strengths in each other rather than just being together for the sake of the show.

I will say that episode 9 was a complete waste of screen time. I couldn’t care less about Makio’s inner dialogue and I was frustrated that they basically wasted a whole episode (or nearly two episodes, since a lot of it went in to episode 10, too) on flash-backs just so we could hear his dark, brooding thoughts. No thanks.

Taisuke Fujigaya was a surprise for me as Rei and I thought he did a great job. Rei is a difficult and complex character to play but Taisuke did especially well showing his gentler side. The looks he gave Kira *swoon*

The production was really “Eh.” I didn’t like the editing and the music seemed out-of-place which all-together made the drama seem aged and of poorer quality.

Overall, I think it could have been so much better, but I am happy with what we did got and will just keep hoping and praying for a Korean adaptation (crossing fingers SO hard).

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It was much better than the first season. I felt like it was more realistic and I enjoyed how the characters (in particular, Nao) recognized their shortfalls and worked to become better people (in their own way). I think I also liked this season more because I was already familiar with the characters and the plot so it didn't have to "settle in" so-to-speak like the first season did. Some of the misunderstandings were frustrating and I felt like Nao and Uehara’s communication could have been better...but given their age and circumstances it’s somewhat understandable. Overall, I really enjoyed this season and I’m sad it’s over!

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This drama wins in the relationships between characters...especially the hyung/dongsaeng dynamic of Shi On and Do Han. Their bromance was so rewarding and well-earned and I'm just so tickled that it accomplished what I hopped from the beginning.

I also love love love how despite the rather serious concepts Good Doctor deals with, it never becomes an angsty melodrama. It was always lighthearted and funny, though it had enough intense moments to keep the momentum going. I feel like the writer could have delved further into some issues and left others out but really that would of only polished an already shining story. The plot isn't perfect but I enjoyed it for what it was and I will always look back on this drama fondly.

Just a final note to look out for: the ending has a super great cameo. ESPECIALLY if you are familiar with Joo Won's other dramas. So. Fantastic.

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I really debated what to rate this drama after finishing it. For all accounts, the acting is amazing (SUPERB cast with fantastic leads), the music is moving, and it is absolutely beautiful to look at but the plot felt a little loose to me. It was fairly typical as far as sageuks go: the struggle for the throne with scheming higher-ups and revenge seeking rebels. But what makes The Princess' Man veer from the norm is its focus on the romance between the two leads. Not that sageuks don't have romance (because they do) but it is rare for the main focus of the drama to be the romantic relationship and not the politics (at least, at the time of this drama's airing).

And this drama does a wonderful job telling us the story of Korea's Romeo and Juliet by giving us lots of great moments...but overall I felt there were times the drama slipped into a lull. It got boring around half way through and took a bit to pick things back up. Plus I thought there was a lot of "back and forth" with some "rinse and repeat" going on with the plot, if you know what I mean.

HOWEVER! Since I loved this couple so much and because--overall--I really enjoyed this drama, I went ahead and gave it a 9 rating. I think there are better quality sageuks out there but this is still one of the best.

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I finally...completed...this drama.

It took forever but not because it was bad just that it was so long! The episodes seemed to go on and on and there was never anything especially exciting happening so it was kind of hard to marathon.

Regardless, I did enjoy this show. It was simple and sweet, with some great acting and a rather nostalgic feel. I think it captured and expanded on the good points of Reply 1997 and while I believe it would have been better off not dragging certain scenes out I was really impressed overall. The 1997 cameos were especially nice, and everything was just executed so cleverly. Although it was excruciatingly frustrating, this show also managed to leave you completely oblivious as to the end-all OTP until nearly the last minute, which is a rare feat in dramaland. Geez.

I will miss this cast a lot but due to it's popularity I imagine we'll be seeing more sequels and appearances of these characters again. I can't wait!

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Two of my favs...Lee Jong Suk and Suzy in a drama by one of my favorite screenwriters? Hold my glass.

I was super stoked for this drama and I want to preface what comes next by saying that I DID love it in many ways. Having said that it certainly wasn’t one of my favorites for any of the 3 favs I mentioned above. Drama wise, I Hear Your Voice and Pinocchio were much better works of Park Hye Ryun and Lee Jong Suk/Suzy have both portrayed stronger roles. Everything here was set up to be so good but just continually fell short. The story was never intense enough. The chemistry was never hot enough. The emotion was never strong enough. It just all felt kind of fake.

I get it. It’s fiction. But fiction done right can make you feel like it’s real...and WYWS just didn’t.

Also, I know this writer has struggled before with unrealistic court cases but goodness it’s very apparent in this show. I was especially annoyed with how the other characters always narrated the legal scenes like “Ooh, now he’s trying to discredit her.”

Come on now. We KNOW.

It makes the viewer feel like the show is treating them like a child, for lack of a better word.

In the end, there were still scenes I loved. Despite not quite having that sizzling chemistry I’d hoped for, Lee Jong Suk and Suzy we’re adorbs. I will look back on this show fondly and still strongly recommend it as a one-time watch, but I probably won’t be coming back for seconds.

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I re-watched this drama twice after it first came out (years ago). However, I am not sure how much my original review (below) would still hold up today, especially after other similar dramas have aired since City Hunter that I have probably enjoyed more. But I decided to keep my original review because it stays true to how I felt after I watched this drama for the first time.

Action-packed with a lot of heart, this is the best drama of 2011 so far and (possibly, in my opinion) one of the best dramas ever. It wasn't perfect (right--name a perfect drama) but it had everything that makes a drama damn near close all in one tight (entertaining) bundle of 20 episodes. The actors are smokin' (Lee Min HOT ~swoon~) the plot is amazing and well constructed, the soundtrack is off the charts, the chemistry is on fire, and the cinematic pallet is beautiful. Of course, this drama should come with a health warning: not for the weak at heart. It will get your blood rolling, palms sweating, and pulse pounding. I don't know how many times I freaked out during this show. Enough to have me worried about the side effects, for sure. But regardless, it was a great watch and I enjoyed every minute of it. So sad it is over!

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**I have made a few edits after re-watching this drama recently**

!!Contains VERY minor SPOILERS!! -- !!Contains VERY minor SPOILERS!! !!

For starters, I am a HUGE fan of Kim Soo Hyun. I've seen him in a few dramas and movies and I'm always impressed with his acting and on-screen presence. He really is one of the best actors in his generation.

I've never been a big fan of Jun Ji Hyun though, but she totally won me over in this show. I love dramas that show a lot of character growth so the fact that Chun Song Yi was rather un-likeable in the beginning and then became such a charming character by the end has a lot to do with some great acting, in my opinion. Plus, it just makes for a much more interesting story.

Overall, I loved everything about this show. Even the "You are my deeeeeeestiny~~" song really grew on me, so I'm unashamed to admit that I might actually stop and remiss for a bit whenever I hear it playing in stores (*Edit: I was living in Korea at the time).

My biggest disappointment (and the one thing that is keeping me from adding this drama as one of my all time favorites) was the general trajectory of the plot. I feel like way to much time was wasted during the show on things I really didn't care about while the producers had such an awesome chance to explore so much more. This is a genre that's relatively new to the Korean drama scene (at the time it aired), so I was curious about a lot of things that were never addressed and so many missed opportunities that just passed by. Oh, well. It's a minor complaint really.

One of my favorite things about the show is that it remained lighthearted and funny throughout it's run. Any seasoned drama fan will agree that this is a rare feat. Usually shows become boggled down in melodrama and angst towards the end but even when You Who Came From The Stars was being serious, it still managed to throw in some humor. Plus, it never lost it's ability to pull on my heartstrings either. So many sweet moments! It was just about the most perfect combination of heart and humor that I've ever seen.

I will miss this show a lot. I'm happy it had a successful run, and so happy for Kim Soo Hyun for getting another ratings hit. I just hope this doesn't mean he'll be leaving television and moving to the big screen permanently! Crossing my fingers~

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Cute, sweet, and full of Grade A Hong Sisters' humor...but it lacks a bit in the excitement (dare I say plot) department. Better than Fantasy Couple and Delightful Girl Chun-Hyang (my least favorites from the Hong Sisters) but defiantly not their best. I thought Cha Seung Won was brilliant as Dok Go Jin and really made the drama with his crazyness and his devotion to the heroin. Overall the story itself was mostly forgettable but it was worth it for how easy it was to watch (and all the laughs). Not sure if I would ever watch it again but I totally recommend watching it if you want a good laugh with a sweet cherry on top.

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This drama had an intriguing story line, lovable characters, a whole lot of heart, and plenty of laughs all while managing to wrap up in a way that was satisfying to me (despite breaking all my pre-conceived rules about time travel...which I suppose doesn’t matter much since there are no rules to fiction). Yun Si Yun plays yet another adorable, perfect man-child that the world just doesn’t deserve. All the supporting cast was wonderful as well. While I wouldn’t necessarily call this a re-watcher it’s 100% worth a run and I guarantee you’ll laugh and smile your way through.

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This drama really was only average at best. It wasn't necessarily bad, it was just entirely too predictable and by the book. The whole time I was watching (especially towards the end) I couldn't help thinking that the script writer must of read "A Guide to Writing Contract Marriage Dramas" or something before penning this story.

There were very few surprises and hardly an ounce of originality to be found. If you've never seen any other dramas from a similar genre I imagine you can probably enjoy this one to its full extent. However, for the rest of us who have seen similar characters with similar problems going through similar angst...it's a bit of a pain to watch.

I think the only reason I made it to the end is because it's been a while since I watched a light easy-going romantic comedy (which does, unfortunately, loose most of its "lighthearted-ness" towards the end) and I found myself hoping it would surpass my expectations (it did not).

Anyway, no harm, no foul. It's worth a watch if your in the mood...just don't expect great things.

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Boss & Me was a cute office-romance drama that, while mostly stereotypical, had a few unique aspects that made it stand out.

To break it down—What I liked:

+ Hans Zhang as Feng Teng. He wasn’t necessarily original (seemingly cold but actually warm-hearted and lonely CEO) but Hans Zhang played Feng Teng’s expressionless demeanor really well which helped make his character all the more loveable as he slowly became wrapped around Shan Shan’s finger.

+ How the relationship dynamics between a boss and a low-level employee were played out. I feel like a lot of dramas have tried to do this well, but none have quite hit the mark like Boss & Me. Shan Shan has to deal with a lot of pressure at work (surprise) but the way it is presented and her inner monologue/awkwardness around Feng Teng felt really real to me. Early on, her constant annoyance with Feng Teng was annoying and long-suffering but after we get into the real meat of the story and how she has to deal with the pressure of dating a CEO despite her low status was really great.

+ The reason Feng Teng likes Shan Shan is nothing special, and he recognizes that. In the beginning this actually annoyed me, since I was wondering why he liked her when she basically tried to avoid him at all costs and was never all that nice to him. However, later when asked that question he responds with “There is nothing special…but one things for sure, she can really eat.” I found that to be really endearing. Shan Shan did not have to stand out to him in any particular way…he just liked her because he liked her.

+ Feng Teng’s family background. It was very refreshing for once to not have squabbling family members plotting to take over the business or scheming mother’s trying to set their sons up. Feng Teng’s family was very supportive and genuine.

Which brings me to what I did not like:

+ Shan Shan. While there where times when I did really like her (in particular, pretty much just the middle of the drama)…in the beginning and in the end she was not my favorite person. A lot of the way she acted and reacted I could understand at first, but then became annoying once they were drug out. For example, in the beginning she is hesitant to be around Feng Teng. Totally get it, I would be intimidated and uncomfortable too…but as she gets to know him and even laughs with him…I did not understand how she could so forcibly try to stay away from him when he was going out of his way for her. It just made her seem very petty and self-righteous. In the end, I never really felt like she loved him all that much, while on the other hand I could see that Feng Teng loved her completely unconditionally.

+ Typical plot devices. Some of those a-typical designs to keep the plot going were used here and it was just angsty and annoying. Totally unlike the author who wrote the original novel’s other work Love O2O, which was disappointing.

+ No chemistry. Maybe it’s just because I didn’t really care for Shan Shan but I just did not feel any chemistry between her and Feng Teng. Whenever they kissed it was just okay…and I never felt that heart-pounding anticipation for them to get.together.already. They were still really cute at times, just had no special magnetic pull.

All in all, there were plenty of sweet moments and a good dose of realism at times that made this watchable for me, but I doubt I will go back for seconds.

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This story was very sweet but the trajectory of my thoughts while watching was basically:

Oh no. Yoon Shi Yoon is crying.

Oh man, Yoon Shi Yoon can really cry.

Damn, all the crying.

So. Much. Crying.

For real though.

I wasn’t impressed with the writing…the story wasn’t all that original or exciting. I never really developed much emotional attachment to any of the characters.

Having said that, many of the moments between Lee Hwi and Ja Hyun were very sweet and endearing. I won’t go so far as to say they had “sizzling chemistry” or anything like that but their devotion to one another was inspiring and they did have some moments that made my heartbeat speed up.

I think this was an interesting role for Yoon Shi Yoon. He was great as Lee Hwi but…I don’t know, maybe it was the facial hair? I just didn’t quite buy it. I’m so used to him playing cute, bubbly characters that seeing him in a more serious role was…weird. His gentle demeanor was spot on though and one of my favorite scenes was when Lee Hwi and Ja Hyun spend what they thought could be their last night together and he laid her back and just…stared at her in the gentlest, sweetest way. Gawd, that scene was perfect and HIGH FIVE to the director and Yoon Shi Yoon for that!

Since Lee Hwi and Ja Hyun’s relationship progressed so quickly though, a lot of the tension fizzled early on and it made many of the moments between them throughout the later part of the series pretty dull and repetitive. They managed to bring it back here and there but overall it just wasn’t that epic. Even though it was very different in many ways, this story and relationship dynamic reminded me a lot of The Princess’ Man (which was much more intense and impressive, in my opinion).

Hats off to Jin Se Yun and the first time I’ve watched her play a character I don’t loath (Bridal Mask—this is me, looking at you…) Ja Hyun had some good development but I would have liked to have seen her grow so much more, instead of just talking about how much she’s changed. Oh well.

Overall it was worth the watch and I don’t regret it. I just probably won’t bother ever coming back.

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This gets my vote as one of the best Taiwanese dramas to date. The storyline is tight and entertaining, with some twists and turns to keep you really invested. It often-times reminded me of both (Korean) dramas Nine and Secret Garden. I had a few minor issues with the plot here and there but over-all I was really happy with it.

The biggest hurdle I had to force myself over was putting up with (though eventually actually loving) Jia Le. She bothered me so much in the beginning but did come to redeem herself (in my eyes) in the end. Zhen Ya was just so freaking adorable and awesome. What a guy. Loved him to pieces.

This will end up being a re-watcher for me, with just too many scenes I loved not to revisit it again.

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