amrita828

Ah, finally a great, funny article I can relate to. :D
I'm definitely infected.

There's a couple of friends here, I always go and check what rate they have given to a particular drama after I've completed it myself - or before dropping it. For some unknown reason, I don't want to... disappoint them, or fully contradict them. It's double weird, since I usually couldn't care less what people think of me, my opinions, my taste or my choices. Because I respect and value their opinion, I end up questioning myself: "what the heck have I seen, that they haven't?".

The point I mirror myself in the most is the 1st. I've not yet regretted giving a drama a 3, but I have had second and third thoughts about a few of my 10s. The worst have to be the ones in the middle, say from 7 to 8.5. They feel like those multiple choice tests were, after wrecking your brain for half an hour on that maths problem, you cover your eyes and let the pen check the nearest box.

Great article, IwahashiGirl, thank you!

I think that, even without trying to find "justifications", each point raised to criticize the Japanese productions can be viewed as their special appeal.

Hello Alexander,
thanks for commenting on my review, I respect your opinion even though it differs from mine.

I actually know a lot of males who enjoy Asian dramas, so you're not alone, but I'm not your typical female either, that is, I'm not romantic in the common sense of the word. I couldn't care less for lovey-dovey chirping.
Which brings me to my main complain about this show: characterization, or lack thereof. There isn't a true growing of any of these characters except for the fact that they fall in love. I believe I do have solid ground for this critic, and another 20 episodes of them wrestling around wouldn't give them any more depth, unless they gave us a better insight into some of the issues raised and never solved: anorexia and abandonment among the lot.

Also, I've never said the female lead should stick to playing one type of role, I simply stated she doesn't have the physique du role for a weightlifter. You don't ask Kamenashi Kazuya to play a sumo wrestler without some "make-up", do you?

This said, of course this is my opinion. No amount of effort could ever make me able to express someone else's.

I doubt I'll watch the drama any time soon, simply because I'm in no mood for a crime drama, but the article is so well written I'll add this on my PTW list just thanks to it.
And you're not the only one who decides to either go on or stop very early on. At times, I don't even finish the first episode...
Thank you. :)

What are you going to do when all short, underhyped Japanese rom-com/suspense dramas from 2005 onward with a decent but not everpresent cast, a brief synopsis and useful comments and without a dying character have been watched? :S

Don't worry, my dear Lumi, it wasn't exactly my cup of tea but I finished it, after all, which is more than I can say about more - ehm - serious dramas. It's a sugar bullet, nothing lethal. ;);)

Yes, he was too much on the romantic side too. As I mentioned, I was greatly relieved to see some politics, even when that was treated in a childlike manner too. At least it wasn't all smiles and shiny eyes.
On a side note: am I the only one who thought the ending was inconclusive? Does it suggest a sequel? Something like " Lovers amidst the daisies", "The Prince and the Poet" or "Ascendants to the Sun"? :P

Thank you, thank you! :D
And I do love Disney movies too, most of them at least. But there's a huge difference between digesting 90 minutes of timeless all-ends-well, and 18 hours of neverending teenager doo doo doo da da da. :P
I'm too old for this, I suppose. ;)

The little difference in rating is just due to your natural generosity, my dear! ;)
Thanks for your warm welcome back. :D

If the acting career were so time and energy consuming that one can't go on doing it WHILE being a parent, why isn't her husband retiring too? Point is, this decision shouldn't be a necessity, unless one stated: "I'm fed up of this job, I want' to start another".
On a side note, all this stress on Japan being ranked 111th in gender equality overshadowed South Korea's 116th (!!!) place. Shall we talk about that too?

Thank you, anastassia. Unfortunately, my best comments and reviews usually come from dislike, which means I should subject myself to another boring marathon for my brain to elaborate another review worth reading. I truly suck at raving, lol.

Thanks @usagi.
You must be right about the age factor. Perhaps I'd have appreciated this more if I weren't a navigated drama ahjumma, coming out of a long slump, on top of it! :D

@marooya
No harm done! I actually like Arashi, lol. ;)
I'm stuck on episode 4 of Goblin and must find the strength to go on and complete that drama before I even attempt at writing a review. While I find it interesting, something tells me it won't be the most enthusiastic review ever, lol. ;)

Hi Marooya, great to read you again and thanks for your support. :)
It truly seems we share not only the opinion on this drama, but the love for what I call "salmon reviews", those that move against the current.
I was buffled too by the absence of any dissent, but I came to this conclusion: a drama that doesn't raise even a small debate is a drama without either praise or blame, in short... meh.
In creating this little dissenting space, I suppose I've involuntarily given it more credit that it actually deserves. lol

P.S. I agree with her first love too. While not a fan of the actor playing the doctor, I thought some of the most interesting aspects in term of characterization were indeed used in that instance, the only time in the drama when there was some "growing up" involved.

@Emily
I too thought it was very predictable. For the entire duration of my watching, I kept on waiting for a twist, or a surprise of some sort that never came.
Good luck for your Korean class, by the by: you could have been given worse assignements, after all. ;)

You're welcome, Lumi. Next time, let's write a four-hands one. ;)

@linda
First of all, thank you for your warm welcome and for taking the time to read me and reply. It's good to be back and read you all too. :D

You're right, the drama certainly isn't the worst out there, I completed it after all. And just like you, I too wormed up to the drama at some point, mainly the middle episodes, where something actually happens. But once the couple was established, it all seemed fillers to me (see the pimple debacle, for instance). All the neverending cutie cute fluffery was as useless as it deprived the drama of precious time to show a true characters' growth.

Again, I've seen worst myself, but I'll definitely be more careful before I choose another drama based on its rate here, I'm afraid.

@rain
I know what you mean with the crying part: it's often blown out of proportion in K-dramas. Funnily, I didn't really mind the crying here, as much as I was annoyed by the constant aegyo - or attempt thereof. Those pouting lips, gaping eyes and baby voice can be cute once, but not as often as it was displayed here not only by the main actress, but by her silly friend with pigtails, by the "hero"'s friend and the count could go on.

Ah, I'm glad I'm meeting with some kindred spirits again. ;)

Exactly. The male lead actually had much going on, and yet his trauma was so... childishly addressed and resolved. Even worse, the story of his ex, the only character I actually felt something for.
I understand taste is taste, but I find it hard to believe there wasn't even one voice of dissent in the entire list of reviews. .