GTO [麻辣教師] The best Japanese dorama and one of the best shows I've ever watched. If only all doramas were like this one, I wouldn't feel like such a loser for downloading doramas all the time. Truly deserves the #1 spot...
Wedding Planner [ウエディングプランナー] i'm voting for this one because it doesn't seem very popular and yet deserves more recognition. this series is really entertaining and touching. some parts are pretty hilarious too. if you're sick of watching dramas with main characters afflicted with fatal illnesses and just want to see a fun, feel-good drama, check this one out.
Kanno Miho [菅野美穂] probably one of the best performances i've seen for a drama actress in koi ga shitai. she can do both the funny and the serious stuff perfectly. she's cute when she goes "ehh?!"
Takeuchi Yuko [竹内結子] she is ridiculously cute in Mukodono. good actor too. usually actresses who act too cute are annoying but for some reason she can pull it off well.
Yamada Takayuki [山田孝之] This guy deserves to be higher on the list. One of the best dramatic japanese actors period.
Koi ga shitai Koi ga shitai Koi ga shitai [恋がしたい恋がしたい] no big stars, a lot of great writing and acting, m [Rating: 10/10] this drama was probably the most insightful and human ones i've seen. except for the ridiculous coincidences that the characters share, it feels true to life. i especially liked the little blurbs that the characters say throughout the series. you can really connect with what they feel and are going through even though the time is spread out amongst all 6 or 7 of them. koi ga shitai was also not as predictable as most dramas tend to be. towards the end i didn't know who was going to end up with who. even though i would've liked it turning out a different way, i still thought the end was nice. the music is cool too! i never thought i'd enjoy listening to slow and old-school music like the carpenters.
Kou Kou Kyoushi 2003 [高校教師 2003] after watching 7 episodes...contains some spoilers [Rating: 1/10] wow. after watching this far, i'm still debating on who is the most dislikeable character in the show. right now it's a toss up between the host guy that let his friends rape his girlfriend and the main character (the titular "kou kou kyoushi"). actually, thinking more about it, i'd have to go with the teacher. i haven't seen a more spineless, deceitful, and insincere main character since that guy from S.O.S. but then i don't think he would even stoop to the level of convincing a normal girl that she is fatally ill and then using her emotional fragility to bang her. even humbert humbert from nabokov's lolita would be appalled. can this story be redeemed in the next 5 episodes? doubtful. why am i still watching? ueto aya is so damn cute and that story with the other teacher (captain save-a-hoe) and the student is actually interesting. in fairness, i'm actually being a little too harsh with the '1' rating. it should be closer to '2.'
Seikei Bijin [整形美人。] the most annoying drama i've watched [Rating: 2/10] okay. i think the ingredients for a decent drama were there. the execution, however, left a disgusting taste in your mouth. i don't think i've ever rooted so hard for two people NOT to get together. the two main characters came off as being either annoying and selfish (the female lead) or cold and selfish (the male lead). i really could not connect with any of the characters no matter how hard i tried. superficial is the word that comes to mind when i think of this entire series.
Star no Koi [スタアの恋] mediocre at best [Rating: 4/10] spoilers ahead
you know, this show had a lot going for it conceptually. fujiwara norika is staggeringly cute and charming in her role. the whole star-commoner love story has the potential for a very good drama. unfortunately, star no koi didn't live up to it's potential. i found the main guy to be pretty annoying at times. i guess for me there's a point where being too shy or reserved becomes a fault. remember the scene where he coldly tells her that things aren't possible between them and then later cries like a baby. what the heck was that all about? why am i supposed to feel sorry for the guy if he doesn't give something a try. in any case, there were some decent moments in the series as well. but the major issues were played out poorly. oh yeah, the theme song was annoying. "STOP! In the name of God!" replaced the song's real lyrics in my mind.
Strawberry on the shortcake [ストロベリー・オンザ・ショートケーキ] sorry, couldn't enjoy this one [Rating: 3/10] there were some redeeming qualities in this one (like the last episode) but honestly i disliked the main characters (manato and yui) too much to enjoy it. manato came off as dishonest and conniving. yui was just too annoying. i ended up caring more about what happened to the supporting characters.