BrightestStar

Must watch: Fake Couple (Gisou no Fuufu), Siren, Love Me if You Dare, The Stars are Shining.

Will probably watch: Designer Baby, Asa ga Kita, Good Time (depending on the reviews), Kiss Me (Since I've seen every single adaptation), Nirvana on Fire (depending on the reviews)

Granted they all get subbed :P

I think Prison school is movie. Well it's a must watch for sure I like the cast ;)

I have seen Trick season one. It has the Japanese sense of humour that I love so much, but I just found the drama generally was missing something to make it memorable.. I love both Abe Hiroshi and Nakama Yukie :D

Miyazaki Aoi wasn't the only wasted talent here :P but I have to agree Takahata Mitsuki was my favourite. Her character showed so many feelings and she had the most interesting dialogs. Her character is also the one I connected most here for personal reasons but the performance was outstanding that's for sure ;)

This movie connected with me on a personal level. The movie has its pros and cons, but was heartwarming and nostalgic, with such a bittersweet ending. Seeing this point of view of Japanese people was refreshing. The English dialog was a bit around the edge, could have been better, but definitely could've been much worst.

More than a sports story, it had a great emphasis on identity. as a second-generation immigrant myself, I know the feeling all too well of trying to belong in the country I grew up in and the only one I know, and being still being regarded as an outsider because you look different. Then trying to go back to your roots and still be considered a foreigner, because your brain is set up differently. No matter what you do you can't run away from it. I guess that is why I connected mostly with Reiji's sister Emmy. First time seeing Takahata Mitsuki she is so lovely and talented ;)

It was a huge cast, with many recognizable faces and names, but not much was shown of them. Most of the focus was on Reggie (Rejie) and his family, and his team to an extent.

I can't believe there was a time in Canada (and Vancouver of all places) was this discriminatory. Present day it's not heaven, but it sure is better than many places when it comes to racism.

I gotta add, Tsumabuki looked particularly good here XD

Edit: After much time passed and becoming wiser through lived experiences... Canada has A LOT to work on when it comes to racism. It's just great at making it LOOK like they aren't racist.

It is an extremely long comment, but it didn't feel long while reading. The way it was written and divided in paragraphs ;P You said it all that I had in mind perfectly!

I have written a comment earlier on about how each of the subject needed an article of their own. Also depiction of abuse and condoning are two different things. I don't think dramas are JUST here to entertain us. I mean yes they are but it is also a vehicle to discuss issues society is suffering. Just wanting those things not to appear as if they don't exist is ignorant. I don't think that is what the author of the article is aiming, but I agree we need more of the context for the example she is showing. Basically the article needs a bit of polishing, while otherwise bringing up great points that are important to discuss once in a while ;P

A lot of us tend to want to impose while own culture on them because what is different makes us uncomfortable.

I don't really watch those dramas that romanticize abuse, since they don't make sense to me. However I don't think there is anything wrong with enjoying them, as long as we differentiate between reality and fiction, and we stop once in a while to talk about it seriously.

Oh really I didn't notice :P but true it's too extravagant hospital rooms look more like prison cells so at least something like that.

Yup feel the same ;) I think the character writing was uneven. It's like until episode 10 it's all about ghost and chef, then from 11 to the end it's bong sun and chef. Bong sun just resigned to the ghost instead of learning to take what she wants. Her change felt to sudden since we didn't see any development for it. I think it's mostly a writing failure since the acting and chemistry between everyone, specially the people at the restaurant, Soon Ae's family, chef's mom and the lady shaman is what elevated it.

Oh and that ending... So he goes off on a killing spree and doesn't get punished?

You're not the only one. I have a lot of issues with the story and character development, but what elevated it for me is the acting and chemistry of THE WHOLE cast.

Some jokes were still laugh out loud while others got old. Action was as entertaining as ever though sometimes they over do it. Just a bit :P I wish it didn't have the tragic turn (its prequel as well) oh well still pretty entertaining ;)

LOL I had such a great time watching that XD I didn't not see the comedy coming it was hilarious! Oh and that Mother-Son combo - Unbeatable! That was my favourite part of the movie. Of course the fights did not disappoint, specially in the creativity of the fighting "grounds" :P

I had it on my ptw just for Kim Min Jong! Too bad they take him lightly! I'm not watching it if they don't give him the screen time he deserves! Thanks for the article it was entertaining to read ;)

I've only seen the Japanese version of HYD and I completed it for the heck of it (it took me like 3-4 years) but I always HATED the story, and I NEVER got over that he sent people to rape her.

I understand where you're coming from but we sometimes need to separate our bias and look at things objectively. First of all as @risingsun said she is mentioning asian dramas because that's what brings all together in this place. She herself mentioned at the beginning of the article that these dramas do have their good aspect. The focus of the article is how abuse is accepted and normalized in dramaland, regardless if the drama is good or not. I myself am a fan of secret garden and the itazura na kiss franchise, but I also acknowledge those scenes she mentioned.

From what I understand from what you's saying, you are also aware of those scenes and some things in dramaland does bother you, but you just ignore it. It is what many of us do, myself included. I am well aware I would not tolerate such behaviour to myself, and wtv I watch in dramaland will not affect me. But that is not true to all, specially young teenager. If a girl thinks a guy who forces a kiss on her without her consent is romantic, it becomes problematic, and she may make a wrong decision that will affect her life and end up with scars. I just view that there is responsibility for what we show in TV for what the young ones watch.

Those types of dramas tend to have a guilty pleasure to them, and we, @Ceki91 will continue to enjoy asian dramas, because they are great, but once in a while we need to stop and talk about those things. We need to make a distinction of what is acceptable or not, and remind ourselves that dramas are at the end of the day here to sell, but we need to know what we're buying into.

Any way to find this subbed?

I agree with all of you here the danger is the young audience who come to think as those things as normal and make their decisions in relationship based on that. I know it's not happening in most places, but I believe Dramas and movies have a responsibility in what they are showing, and it's not here to just entertain us. The message behind each show has to be sound, and overall it's about bettering our society.

You're making a good point, but I think in reality it does have an effect for undeveloped minds. I don't think the danger is because of what adults watch but how it affects youth who then become adults, and goes from one generation to another. It wouldn't affect everyone (I don't think I ever was one to be affected by anything surrounding me) but there are always those who get affected and influenced easily. For that reason I think television has a responsibility

Haha true that. I liked Lipstick more. Kono I was just waiting for the girl to WAKE UP! I liked her sister's story though (it had its flaws).

Once a couple of years back I saw an american show when a woman slapped HER DAD! I mean don't they see it's just as bad?! I was really disgusted with it. The dad was portrayed as evil but that doesn't justify!

Me too! The stories of the girls were heartbreaking and their relationship bittersweet!! I watched Kono and that relationship and I really wished for a different ending. Then it would've had such a better meaning. It ended up being CRAZY! I guess the good side is I got to understand what happens in the mentality of the girl in such relationships. But I find generally those things are less shown in jdoramas, at least not in the romantic way

Well that's an important subject to bring up! I do think each and every topic you brought up deserve an article of their own :P I think Television has the responsibility to bring society to a better level, but unfortunately that is not how it's going. The most troublesome though is that this is what's selling most at the moment, and channels only care about ratings, and not how this has an effect on their society.Obviously portraying it and condoning are 2 different things. Dramas like Dandarin portray all kinds of mistreatment employees can suffer, but it was more about exposing how wrong it is and the negative effect it does in the long run.

It's funny that at first I didn't think much of the forced kiss and the wrist grab, but overtime it lost any cuteness and started to annoy me. I'm like, how sweeter the scene would've been if he grabbed only 2-3 inch lower and actually held her HAND.

I watch Le Jun Kai and the whole time I was wondering "What is wrong with that girl?!" Yea he's sick in the head, but she is too for even looking at his face.

Itazura is both a good example but also doesn't apply. The whole concept that it is based on can be annoying, but a lot of it is the girl's fault for not having any dignity. I agree the guy keeps bating her, but she's not a kid. I guess the fact that they end up together can give girls false hope that they can get what they want if they disregard their dignity, and that is a dangerous message. But I disagree that it goes on after marriage. When they got married he was trying his hardest to make her more confident and independent but he just sucked at communicating. It has a flaw in his character, showing that he isn't perfect after all, but it didn't feel like abuse.

As for the Reply 1997, I wouldn't call it rape though. The parents were worried sick, and they have a reason for being overprotective of her. They might've over did it a bit, but they were trying to show her the severity of her actions. I guess it mostly shows how normal it is for korean society for parents to physically punish their children (to an extent) while it is a taboo in western society.

I don't watch many of those "brutal love" dramas because I can't connect with the characters and just find them childish at best, crazy at worst.

I also need to mention the reverse is also true. In present day Japan, those types of dramas are pretty rare, and when any abuse is shows, it's mostly about showing it's negativity. However I find they show how "funny" it is when they guy gets beaten. I see it mostly in anime though, but really annoys me!!