Trouble-chan

I cried so much at this - the last episode had me sobbing by the last scene.... T-T

This is like Ha Ri in 'She was Pretty' - SHE was the 'bad guy' yet she played the victim and basically guilt tripped Hye Jin into refusing to be more than friends with Seong Joo for at least 3 episodes! it drove me nuts; I just wanted to punch EVERYONE in the end because they were all so nice to her (though Seong Joon came to his senses). She was so selfish and narcissistic and yet everyone acted like she was this poor little kitten. I loathed her and couldn't understand why I was supposed to feel sorry for her too.

I first saw him in Haunters and I found his character actually incredibly sad - as the other main lead character said "if we'd met under different circumstances perhaps we could've been friends" - Kang Dong Won's character was betrayed, abused and brutalised all his life - so it was hard NOT to at least sympathise with his plight. Perhaps if those around him had taught him to control his power then things would've been better; if they hadn't abused him when he was a child he may not have been as angry, filled with hate and a need for revenge when he grew into a man.

I think the same can be said for the other character he played where - although the worst of the worst - you still felt sympathy for him. This was the movie Kundo : Age of the Rampant, where he played the character Jo Yoon; again as a child his character was treated terribly and was also abused and which went on to twist him into a really terrible person. When you hear him speaking to his father I couldn't help it, I really cried for him because you could see in that moment how different he could've been and even he acknowledges it. He also did still have moments of humanity when some compassion showed through (however briefly and rare they were).

I know many abuse victims grow into wonderful adults and manage to come to terms with their past; but not everyone is able to do that and it seems that both these roles show what can happen to those who do not move past the feelings of betrayal, hatred and need for revenge......

He really is one of my favourite actors because even his 'bad guy' roles are never played as two dimensional villains; he always adds a depth to them that makes you think perhaps, just perhaps, they may have had a different path if certain things hadn't happened.....

I really don't think you could say Irie-kun from the Japanese version of Itazura na Kiss became a 'doting, ever forgiving husband (and father)' nor could you reall say he was 'a ring-buying, kiss-stealing charmer' unless you were REALLY drunk......perhaps not even then. But, as I truly believe he had a form of Asperger's Syndrome (a mild form of autism) and did genuinely love Kotoko (and later his daughter) even if he rarely showed it - then I still root for him! lol! However for the biggest turn around in the various versions of the character was the Taiwanese one - by the end of the second season he had genuinely thawed completely.....<3

I love the dramas - regardless of the country of origin - but I do laugh at the women; the men treat them like dirt, even physically pushing them around in some cases and they STILL stay with them. Most women would kick him in his.....ahem...'sensitive' area and stalk off with their head high and mutterings of how he is a motherless moron flung over their shoulder as they leave. But dramaland women are, seemingly, a strange lot! XD

Wait I thought they were doing a season 3 with the ORIGINAL couple to be released next year? Has that fallen through now or are they doing BOTH?

I have watched a few long ones - but I will say this NOT ONE has NEEDED to be that long. Whether 40 or 120 episodes most of those could get away with 16 or 20 (or 25 for the REALLY long ones). There's so MANY episodes that are basically 'padding' that they could be dropped and NO ONE would even NOTICE. So I watch them and just skip the 'filler' episodes and get back to the story. It's one way to attack your kryptonite.... ;)

For me it's because of Fujiki Naohito; I just LOVE him. :)

I know - it's one of the rare ones where you really can't choose.... :)

DON'T - I'm a big fan of Joo Ji Hoon, and he was as excellent as always in this; but the movie itself was RUBBISH. The ending was a definite WTF!? moment.....

I know I lost mine trying to work out the stupid ending.....

Oh dear God, MORE to add to my list - thankfully, I've seen Innocent Steps (about five times now to be fair). It's such a beautiful movie.

+IllaGG -- Yup, agreed. But the Taiwanese dramedy 'Down With Love' had a lead female love interest that didn't look, dress or act like she'd just stepped off the pages of vogue and 'Someone Like Me' lead female actress was pretty, but not stunning and as klutzy as they come. So hopefully the Japanese attitude of 'it's what's INSIDE that counts' is starting to transfer to other dramas. As a westerner I love ANY good drama, I don't care a toss about the country of origin. What DOES help me buy into a story and its characters is when the actors and actresses are NOT perfect in every way - especially looks and clothes. it makes them, and the story they're selling, much more believable.

I don't know how sad this makes me - but....I've watched EVERY drama mentioned (even the ones in the video).......apparently I have no life...

High School King of Savvy - just brilliant. The lead female character is not your typical 'strong noona' and the lead male character (and dongsaeng) isn't your typical 'puppy love' type; but it just really works. They are shown as being flawed but also that their flaws each completes the other - not to mention that it has a second lead male who (for a change) is a total arse rather than a dreamy sweet soul (yet has a reason for being such a monster), and who has the lead female in love with him, and doesn't care......until it's probably too late..

I have to say the moment he realises how wonderful she is and what he may just have let slip through his fingers ...it just breaks your heart (you know his back story by then); especially when the male lead confronts him. You hate him - especially on witnessing his ham-fisted and rude way of trying to claw her back - but feel sorry for him too (I actually didn't hate him, but he wasn't very likeable that's for sure; sad back story or not).

It's just another twist in a story that has been done so many times, yet this puts a few curves in that make you like it and make it a little different. The 'noona' in this is very strong in her own way; and, likewise, so is the 'puppy love' dongsaeng in his own way - which makes a pleasant change.

I absolutely LOVED Last Cinderella and it's one of my favourite J-dramas, especially of the Noona genre. BUT what about the Korean show 'High School King of Savvy' - that was just soo cute. I even have the dvd. Admittedly she doesn't know she's 10 years older through the first have of the series, and yet is still resistent to his advances, but she does become aware and it's just so FLUFFY!! The noona in this is a little childish, which works as the donsaeng's quite mature so they sort of meet in the middle, but she has a really big heart and the relationships around her and her caring for others actually shows her as a very strong person. She will fight for those she feels are bullied or victimised and she will fight for what she loves; as will her dongsaeng - and his love is just....awww.... really can't recommend it enough. :)

Is there a download subbed link? Thank you THANKYOU!!

Happy Birthday!!

I LOVED this article - whoever wrote it should write many more, they are GIFTED at the 'tongue in cheek' articles and it made me laugh so hard....probably because it's so true. XD

Can anyone tell me the dramas involved in the pics and gifs?

Nice to see more BL/Yaoi coming out from Asia - HOPEFULLY with HAPPY endings though and NOT the always dire death endings from everything from the plague to a paper cut.