Hello I have a blog about doramas, I’m from Brazil I wonder if you make partner, exchange links blog.
this is my blog:http://doramasobsession.blogspot.com/

thanks ^ ^

However, a lot of times I do end up wanting something “outside” the norm. Kinda like trying to be adventurous once in a while.

In such scenarios, I end up watching manga adaptation dramas (which seems to be much readily available in J-dramas). For example, Zettai Kareshi… it’s something I would never imagine in a Korean drama. While moving (and it was REALLY moving), it was a bit out there in terms of realistic value.

What I dislike about dramas in general(and this is a bit off-topic btw), is how it leads a lot of the audience to think it’s actually quite normal for every guy to be Prince Charming (a complete, 100% understanding gentlemen), and every girl to be pure, innocent, (or oppositely, evil wenches) etc. It creates a false image of reality that is often times taken as the truth.

But then again, I guess some people watch these dramas exactly to escape reality and into such fantasized world. Its when these practices, mindsets, and expectation follow them outside of the world created in dramas that becomes a problem.

@ Nom Kitteh

Yeah, Love Shuffle isn’t the best example of, well, displays of affection – I think its point was geared more towards other things rather than, well, love itself. It was interesting to watch, however.

Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think most J-dramas are geared toward the romance factor, but rather at discovering other insights in love. I feel like the big message isn’t directed at love, but at other small details in life that we sometimes lose track of.

Hm… I guess I cry in K-dramas for romance, but I cry in J-dramas for little touching moments in life or of a persevering spirit. Or stuff like 14 Sai no Haha, which, really, is wow because Shida Mirai is an incredible little actress.

@sere,
I watched about 20 minutes of the special, but then stopped because I really want to savor and enjoy it and i was really busy last week so I think I will watch it this weekend–maybe on Saturday.

Ah, I want to know what you haven’t recovered from after watching it, but I don’t want spoilers!!! I will keep an eye out on the next Open Thread, if you want to chat and if I watch it by this weekend.

@75 A, I haven’t watched Last Friends, so I don’t know about that drama. But the others I have watched have such reserved displays of love, it drives me nuts (I still love J-dramas–don’t get me wrong). I will check out last Friends then. For me, Love Shuffle is a great example of how romance is so…stunted. That one couple just hopped into bed and the main couple never developed emotions–they just did stuff together and then suddenly they liked each other? Whaaaa??? Bah.

I want heartache and jealousy and all that fun love-stuff that are never pleasant in real life, but so, so, so much fun in fiction.

My 1st priority when it comes to a drama is Korean Drama > Japanese Drama > Taiwanese Drama.

Korean Drama : Throughout all my experiences in k-drama,i think i can predict what will happen next.Usually in k-drama,there will be 3 kiss scene,a scene when a rich guy bring his girl to do makeover,leaning towards his/her shoulder to sleep,and those cheezy scenes.But,i do enjoy all those scene.Overall,k-drama tends to be more cinderella drama.K-drama is more exciting because i like to see their fashion styles,makeup(i love this the most) and their culture(foods/languages/places).I always envy k-actress makeup because they look like thay don’t wear makeup at all.

Japanese Drama : Urmmm..j-drama tends to be more anime.I feel like i’m reading a manga/comic while watching j-drama.Their drama are short but they don’t dragged it too much with unwanted scenes.My 1st impression b4 watching j-dramas is that,their dramas must be fulled of that bold kiss/bed scene & crazy jap-styles.But,surprisingly j-drama is not like that.Their kiss scene are simple and so far i still don’t saw the bed scene in j-drama.Their styles are a bit differ from k-dramas.So far,J-drama is more funny and i can’t predict what will happen next.

Taiwanese Drama : I do enjoy t-dramas.But,I HATE the fact that they are TOO MUCH FANSERVICE.For ex,the taiwanese drama ToGetHer,there is unnecessary kiss scene and VERY MUCH fanservice.Moreover,i can say that they are more brave in those romance scene.But there are some t-drama that i think is good and fun to watch.So far,taiwan drama is TOO cheezy for me.

Well,this is just my own opinion.No hurt feelings okay.I think i’m crazy over k-drama since 2003.Eventhough i don’t understand their language but,whenever i watch k-drama without subs,i feel that i can understand that.

p/s: want to learn korean languages but dont have time yet..My fav actor is…LEE BUM SOO.I’m so attracted to him.I dunno why…

@ Nom Kitteh

Really? I’m surprised that you find J-dramas so stoic. I feel like most of the times the actors do a wonderful job of portraying everything more subtly. In that sense, you have to pay a lot more attention to what’s going on to figure out what the characters are feeling. I feel like in Jdramas there’s a lot more acting with the eyes, the little actions, the focus on small details, whereas Kdramas sometimes seem to focus more on the dialogue.

Again, I keep going back to “Last Friends” [because I really do love that drama]… how can you say that there is little emotion developed? You can see Ueno Juri’s conflicted feelings, Nagasawa Masami’s own fears, all portrayed in their actions. I mean, the thing is just exploding with emotions!

@ belleza

Oh my goodness. I love your “analysis” on HYD. LOL. But yes, it is most definitely true. Watching HYD & watching BOF are two different creatures, because the approaches are very different. And thus, that’s another difference between Jdramas and between Kdramas. To me, it’s easier to find the main theme/purpose of Jdramas than to do so in Kdramas – especially the Cinderella story ones, not that I don’t take enjoyment in watching some of those.

I feel like Jdramas thus are much more thought-provoking and inspirational than Kdramas. But, like I said, Kdramas possess that attraction of escapism that we all do enjoy.

As for point 3 (re: beauty and Korean society), I’m SO not going to repeat myself. The 200pounds beauty discussion and all the open threads kind of drained me. Regular readers of this blog know my pov. I basically agree with you about Korean society, but most of the fellow Kdrama watchers here -and I include myself here- do not watch K-dramas exclusively for the pretty, imho. For me, it’s not even a secondary aspect. The looks of the actors are, like, the least thing I look for in a drama. Characters and plot come first. And THAT is my approach to Jdramas as well (and I’ve also watched my fair share of dramas with JE actors, just so you know. BTW, I’ve watched more jdramas than kdramas actually, but I still prefer Kdramas ).

@67 Nom Kitteh Re: Zettai Kareshi
Gah, I was going to bring this up in the open thread, but…have you watched the special yet? OMG! I watched it yesterday and I still haven’t recovered.

@66 belleza
It’s always a pleasure reading your comments. I wholeheartedely agree with you on Tsukasa!

@68 kimche
Amen to that!

i watch both actually, but if i have to choose which one is better (in my opinion), it’s japanese dramas.