What dramas are you currently watching?

I am watching Tenno no Ryoriban. I thought it flows like an Asadora.

Getting bored but I am sticking with watching Otana Joshi because of the cat (which is sexier than Neko Samurai's).

junny wrote:Started Fuben na Benriya, it's hilarious! Endo Kenichi is awesome in this, and at 30 mins an episode, it's an easy watch. And there's so much snow, I love it!

Started this one also. You're right, it's hilarious! Haven't seen this many strange, off the wall characters in awhile. It's actually kind of hard to watch because while you're trying to pay attention to the scene there's also a lot of funny stuff going on in the background.

gaijinmark wrote:

Started this one also. You're right, it's hilarious! Haven't seen this many strange, off the wall characters in awhile. It's actually kind of hard to watch because while you're trying to pay attention to the scene there's also a lot of funny stuff going on in the background.

Hope you enjoy it! I really liked it, so funny and endearing.

Started the first two episodes of Hirugao, quite interesting. The theme is about extramarital affairs, and so far the drama's been fairly neutral on it, if neutral is the word. It does paint the husbands as assholes, but Rikako is no pushover either in how she deals with things. And I quite like Kitamura Kazuki as the gruff artist.

gaijinmark wrote:unless it falls off a cliff these last episodes "Gisou no Fuufu" has been real good so far.

Well, it didn't exactly fall off a cliff but the last two episodes were kind of a letdown. They would have been just as well to end it after episode 8. Still, not a bad drama and Ikki Sawamura was great! :applaud:

Finished Hirugao. Not bad, but towards the end the drama was seized by a bout of histrionics and some characters behaved a little illogically.

Still looking for 2015 recommendations if possible. :)

More importantly, in Neko Zamurai S2, does the kitty ... survive to the end of the show? I need to know going in...to prepare myself. Haven't seen either season. Thank you!!

maxcriden wrote:Still looking for 2015 recommendations if possible. :)

More importantly, in Neko Zamurai S2, does the kitty ... survive to the end of the show? I need to know going in...to prepare myself. Haven't seen either season. Thank you!!

Other than the ones I mentioned in an earlier post, the only other one I really liked was "Fuben na Benriya": http://jdorama.com/drama.2171.htm

I thought it was hilarious.

And the cat survives Neko Samurai 2. If he hadn't they probably would have fire bombed the Fuji TV studios.

maxcriden wrote:Still looking for 2015 recommendations if possible. :)

Ten years ago I would have recommended these titles for 2005, now all must-see classics:

Yasashii Jikan
Engine
Tiger & Dragon
Ruri no Shima
Densha Otoko
1 Liter of Tears
Hana Yori Dango
Nobuta wo Produce

This is just to illustrate how Japanese dramas have been going downhill since then.

I don't see a thread for Sanada Maru, so I'll just leave this here:

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/30/national/media-national/nhk-may-need-rethink-taiga-formula/#.Vq4ZOVJF2Gm

^ Some random quotes from the article and my thoughts:

TV prioritizes talent that is very well known, so every other consideration ends up being secondary. The joke about taiga dramas is that stars who play the main protagonists alternate between female idols and men who belong to the most powerful talent agency in Japan, Johnny and Associates.

Have to agree. I think it started with "Shinsengumi" in 2004. Shingo Katori as Kondo Isamu was so far removed from the real guy it was ridiculous. If the real Kondo had met Katori he probably would have chopped him into pieces just to see if his sword was sharp. The year before the lead in "Musashi" was Ebizo Ichikawa so the drop off was pretty steep. It got even worse in 2005 with Takky as the lead in "Yoshitsune". And ever since NHK's philosophy seems to be get a star as opposed to real actor. The one exception might be Fuurin Kazan with Masaaki Uchino in the lead.

so many taiga dramas are set around the Warring States Period (in the 15th and 16th centuries).

Can't really blame NHK. Back in 2012 they did "Taira no Kiyomori" which was set in the Heian Period and it is pretty much universally regarded as the worst taiga ever so I can see why they want to stick with what works.

Anyway, haven't seen any of Sanada Maru yet but judging from the ratings so far it looks like it might be pretty good.

gaijinmark wrote:
Can't really blame NHK. Back in 2012 they did "Taira no Kiyomori" which was set in the Heian Period and it is pretty much universally regarded as the worst taiga ever so I can see why they want to stick with what works.

Think Hana Moyu might have taken over the "worst" mantle? I heard it was pretty boring.

I do agree the big problem is getting idols who can't cut it to lead the taiga, but even when they did get some solid actors - Kiyomori had quite a few - the story was so bleh that not even the acting could save it. I don't think much of Fukuyama Masaharu as Sakamoto Ryoma, but people seemed to like him in that role (?)

Sanada Maru episode 1-5

The first 3 episodes kept me interested but now it's starting to wane. I like the parts where it focus on the Sanada clan's survival with the imminent fall of the Takeda clan, but Sakai Masato doesn't have much development/story so far, his character is still a bit of a mystery to me. The comedic undertone of the drama and the lead is not what I expected and felt a little strange. The writing ... is a bit disappointing, there's not a lot to chew on right now. I am not sure what is the main theme running through this drama, probably clan survival in the midst of turmoil and chaos? or family bond within the Sanada family...

xploring wrote:Sanada Maru episode 1-5

The writing ... is a bit disappointing, there's not a lot to chew on right now. I am not sure what is the main theme running through this drama...

Sanada Maru was written by Koki Mitani the same guy that wrote "Shinsengumi". Most of the characters in that bore little or no resemblance to the real guys. That's my one big misgiving about this taiga.

antspace wrote: (about "Kazoku no Katachi")

The show is reasonable. Nishida Toshiyuki steals the show. He does quite well as the carefree father.

Watched the first two episodes. Shingo Katori's character is a lot like Hiroshi Abe's in "Kekkon Dekinai Otoko". Except Shingo is not nearly as good an actor as Abe. Like you said, Nishida has been the best part of this drama so far. Also the kid that plays his stepson, Kota. Have to give them credit though, Jun Fubuki as Juri's mom, Miki Mizuno as Nishida's wife, if this thing doesn't work it won't be because of the cast.

Kazoku no Katachi
Dame na Watashi ni Koishite Kudasai
Specialist 2016 (TV Show, not SP)
Otousan to Yobasete

re-watch:

Mondai no Aru Restaurant- my favorite drama from 2015 (Yoko Maki, Mayu Matsuoka and Mitsuki Takahata FTW)
Koinaka

Up thru episode 4 of "Kazoku no Katachi". Episode 3 was pretty good but that was mostly because of Nishida.

In an earlier post I mentioned what a good cast this drama has but I didn't mention Kiko Mizuhara. The only other drama I had seen her in was "Kokoro ga Pokitto ne" and she was pretty bad. Then I got to thinking maybe it was because she was in there with people like Tomoko Yamaguchi and Sadao Abe and she just looked bad in comparison to them. I was wrong. She's still bad. :shakehead:

Started on Tsuri Baka Nisshi. A comedy. A rare non-talento cast. It's just fun to watch and I am still not sure why I like it.

Started Okashi no Ie. Didn't realise each episode was only 30 mins max, but still an enjoyable watch since I like Japanese slice of life and a cat pops up occasionally.

Odagiri Joe and Ono Machiko are always a pleasure to watch in anything.

Just finished Tantei No Tantei. Will be on a two week break from dramas since I'll be working A LOT, but looking forward to watching Specialist & Higanbana. Still debating on whether I should give Kaito Yamaneko a try.

Imoto-chan sighting! :hug:

Rinrin wrote: Still debating on whether I should give Kaito Yamaneko a try.

Watched the first two episodes. It's actually pretty good. I guess that's what happens when you go in not expecting much. Kamenashi is sometimes a little too much over the top, but I really like Narimiya as the journalist that gets sucked into their plans. And the episodes I've watched so far, they've always thrown in a little plot twist so it hasn't been completely predictable.