![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
What's Up 2? - A Look at New or Upcoming Dramas
Final post update August 8, 2011.
For my previous What's Up post on April, May dramas mostly, see here. Now, let's get it started.
JAPANESE DRAMAS
Hanazakari Kimitachi e ~ Ikemen Paradise Season 2 (July 2011) Maeda Atsuko – Hana-kimi 2. My take: Actually, haven't watched Hana Kimi, read a little of the manga, couldn't give a hoot really.
Ikemen desu ne (July 2011) Takimoto Miori, Tamamori Yuta – remake of 2009 Korean drama You’re Beautiful. My take: Unlike some people, I have no problem with remakes of popular dramas in other countries. If it sucks, I'll just go rewatch the original and if it's good, more people will want to see the original show it's based off of. Win win for me.
(Ouran High School Host Club, Ikemen desu ne)
Ouran High School Host Club (July 2011) Kawaguchi Haruna, Yamamoto Yusuke – based on the popular manga that's spanned an anime series already of a girl having to pay back a debt to the club, so she poses as a male host. My take: I read some of the manga, but really I included it just to complete the trilogy of jdramas with girls pretending to be boys that's coming up in July.
For more info on upcoming J-dramas, you can check this website: http://jdramas.wordpress.com/
KOREAN DRAMAS
(You've Fallen for Me, Warrior Baek-Dong-soo)
I Need Romance (June 8) Jo Yeo Jung, Kim Jung Hoon - This is on cable tv, actually, comes after tvN's Manny ends and is about the lives and loves of single gals in their 30's. My take: Perhaps another version of Sex in the City, because goodness knows that's the only thing I can think of when I hear single girls, love and lives.
You've Fallen for Me/Heartstrings (June 22) Jung Yong Hwa, Park Shin Hye – A musical drama set at a university, with Young Hwa playing himself, albeit a colder, more arrogant character. My take: It'll be interesting to see if they can work as a couple, since I was NOT rooting for them in YAB.
Warrior Baek-Dong-soo (July 4) Ji Chang-wook, Yoo Seung-ho - A fusion sageuk, look for more details at Dramabeans (which is where I got the picture from.) My take: A fusion sageuk. Eh....
Spy Myung Wol (July 11) Eric, Han Ya Seul - North Korean agent must get South Korean star to defect. My take: Totally played for laughs, fun and all over the place. I like.
The Princess’s Man (July 20) Park Shi-hoo, Moon Chae-won – It's a period drama, a tragic love story, aka Romeo and Juliet. My take: Of course, the Romeo and Juliet caught my eye as I'm a big fan of the bard. It is a period drama, a sageuk, but only 24 episodes, supposedly, which makes it doable.
I got help with these descriptions, pics and info from dramabeans, and dramawiki.
TAIWANESE DRAMAS
(Love Keeps Going and Material Queen)
pics credit to Dramawiki
Love Keeps Going /formerly Mei Lo, Go (June 5) Mike He, Cyndi Wang – An ordinary baker and an eccentric composer who falls for her only she disappears. My take: It doesn't sound fresh or exciting, both Mike and Cyndi aren't the best of actors either, but who knows?
Material Queen (June 17) Vanness Wu, Lynn Xiong – poor guy falls for rich materialistic girl.
My take: Not my favorite trope, it looks very pretty though, so I'll be waiting to see the reviews.
Hayate the Combat Butler (June 19) George Hu, Park Shin Hye – A butler protects a wealthy heiress, who falls in love with him. My take: I've watched some of the anime, which has lots of over the top humor and chaos. It will be hard to translate that to live action and do it well.
THAILAND LAKORNS
(Ruen Hor Ro Hian, Bo Bay, Tard Ruk)
These dates are tentative, as the schedules aren't confirmed yet and are subject to change.
Reun Hor Ror Hian (The Haunted Wedding House) (May 6) Susie Nanna, Louis Scott – Is it a ghost lakorn or a vampire one or both? My take: I think it's a ghost vampire lakorn, it's supposed to be funny, but special effects and Thai dramas ehhhhh...
Lady Baan Na (May 11?) Aun Wittaya, Vicky Sunisa – Rich spoiled girl, so there's got to be a hero around who'll make her see the light. My take: Seems very typical, so no dice, unless it's done very well.
Bo Bay/Bobae (May 20) Kwan Usamanee, Cee Siwat – a generational drama, with a doomed love affair and the kids of the love affair then falling in love. My take: I like the cast, but this role doesn't suit them, Kwan and Cee play the parents and Kwan's only a year younger than supposed daughter. I don't really do generational love stories either, although both Kwan and Cee are lookers.
Tard Ruk/Tas Ruk (May 25) Por Tridsadee, Cherry Sirisukha, Janie Tienposuwan, Mart Krissada – A sort of Princess and Pauper story, with a slave girl trading places with a princess.
My take: The actors, actresses are well known, but I'm not a big fan of any of them and also I think it's a historical Thai lakorn, so not that interested.
(Keuy Rot Kha Poh Tha Rot Khing, Ngao Pray)
Keuy Rot Kha Poh Tha Rot Khing (May 27) Fluke Jira Danbavornkeart, Four Sakolrat Woraurai – playboy forced to marry a girl due to a contract.
My take: I was wondering if it's a remake of Khing Kor Rar Khar Kor Rang (which is a favorite of mine) because of the title, but it seems not. Too bad. I wasn't unduly impressed by the trailer either.
Ngao Pray (Shadow of a Ghost) (May 31) - Margie Rasee, Num Sornam - A man finds a spirit in a bottle and lets it free. Unfortunately, it''s an evil spirit who exchanges wishes for a person's life. The story concerns the victim of the spirit, someone whose lost his father, wife and wealth due to the spirit. My take: Sounds intriguing.Dok Kaew (June 6, 2011) Win Tawin, Mai Davika - A remake of a 1996 lakorn, a girl raised in the forest comes to town to learn the truth behind her father's death. My take: Um, sounds weak to me.
Suepsuan Puan Kamlang 3 (June 10, 2011) Dan-Gijee, Um-Namfon - The third in a series. My take: Who knew? Third. So there are two others...
Reuan Pae or The Boathouse (June 20) Son Songpaisan, Tono Pakin, and Gun Napat - 3 friends fall in love with the same girl unknowingly. My take: Unless it's for laughs mostly like in YAB, I don't care for this plot.Koo Kaen Saen Ruk (June 22) Chakrit Yamnam, “Aum” Patcharapa Chaichuea - Romantic comedy of girl transforming herself into a hottie to get back at the guy who seduced her sister and took her land. My take: Romantic comedy? Really? I watched a little and it seemed pretty typical.