What's Up? - A Look at New or Upcoming Dramas

[dramasoliloquy]

I decided to consolidate a lot of information I've found on the Internet into one listing. There are so many up and coming dramas, it's hard to keep track of them.  So I'm looking at new or upcoming Korean, Taiwanese and Thailand dramas. I don't have much interest in Japanese or Chinese dramas, so for now, let's look at What's Up?

(The Greatest Love,  Drunken to Love You)

 

(Baby-Faced Beauty, Maids, You've Fallen For Me)

KOREAN DRAMAS

Baby-Faced Beauty (May 2) Jang Na Ra, Choi Daniel – A woman pretends to be younger than she is to get a job. My take? Don't really like the concept, but I do like Jang Na Ra so I might watch it.

Best Love/The Greatest Love (May 4) Gong Hyo Jin, Cha Seung Won – A couple in an fake marriage for tv? A has been star and a popular star? Comedy gold. My take: What's not to like? Plus it's a Hong Sisters comedy.

Lie to Me (May 9) Yoon Eun Hye, Kang Ji Hwan – I get this drama confused with Ripley, since they're both about lying women. In this case, Yoon Eun Hye pretends to be married to Kang Ji Hwan. My take: There doesn't seem to be much info yet, but I like YEH and I like the premise.

Romance Town aka Maids (May 11) Jung Kyeo Woon, Sung Yuri – Maids, their bosses. My take: Pretty much total indifference.

City Hunter (May 25) Lee Min Ho, Park Min Young – based on a manga about a womanizing detective. My take: This has the potential to be really cheesy, if not done well. I'm not a particular Min Ho fan either, having missed Boys Over Flowers, and not particularly inspired by his performance in Personal Taste.

Ripley/Goodbye Miss Ripley (May 30) Kim Seung Woo, Lee Da Hae, Mickey Yoochun – Inspired by a true story of a woman lies, forges and steals to get a job as art curator. My take: Eh, I'm ambivalent about this one, nothing for or against it really. Not really that into true life dramas and all that, but we'll see. Plus Micky and Lee Da Hae? Hmm, the mind boggles.

You've Fallen For Me/Festival (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 version. My take: It'll be interesting to see if they can work as a couple, since I was NOT rooting for them in You're Beautiful.

Credit: dramabeans.

(Runaway Sweetheart, Who's the One)

TAIWANESE DRAMAS

Drunken to Love You (April 22) Rainie Yang, Joseph Chang - Another take on the very popular twdrama Fated to Love You. My take: I'll probably catch it, although Rainie's acting is uneven (loved her in ToGetHer and hated/disliked her in everything else) and the guy's not Jerry Yan (where are you?). Also it's supposed to be 13 episodes? Let's hope it stays that way.

Runaway Sweetheart (April 22 Delayed until Sept 16) - Chen Xiang, Chen Xiaoke - A girl pretending to be a guy. Chinese's Gossip Girl. My take: Not exactly new concepts here, but I am a fan of You're Beautiful and Taddao Bussaya, sooo... Plus everyone looks so pretty here, lots of newbies.

Who's the One? (April 22) Leroy Young, Tian Xin - Fat man becomes skinny with help of plastic surgeon to get the girl. My take: Well, you can see where this one is going, I think. Still might catch it. Cuz it might be a "hidden gem".

Sunshine Angel (May 22 delayed until July) Rainie Yang, Wu Zhun - Wu's living on the streets and Rainie's a maid who helps him. My take: Actually, I hate the synopsis, but I am intrigued just because it's an original screenplay, not based off something else and because Rainie and Wu seem to be very comfortable with each other. Maybe this will be the season's "hidden gem"?

Credits goes to Dramawiki for all Taiwanese drama pictures.

THAILAND LAKORNS - updated 5/29/2011

Mon Ruk Mae Nam Moon (April 12) Weir Sukollawat, Jui Warattaya - musical drama. My take: I tend to stay far away from them, even though I love musicals, but a mult episode drama needs to have a good story as well as good songs, dancing, and that's hard to do well.

Plerng Prom (April 10) Kwan Usamanee, Tle Thanapol - body swapping lakorn kinda like the Secret Garden body switch, but here a girl switches body with another girl. My take: Was bored just reading the summary.

Wanalee (April 12) (Por Natthawut, Mew Laknara – A guy kidnaps a girl and they fall in love, ala Jam Luey Gamathep . What makes this different? Much less angst, it's not out of revenge. Hero kidnaps her so his brother who likes her can save her. My take: Mildly interested because of premise mainly, but will wait and see.

Karm Wela Ha Ruk (April 18) Bie Sukrit, Nok Sinjai – A musical drama about a guy who travels through time. Featuring lots of singing and dancing. My take: Uh, pass for the same reasons as with Mon Ruk Mae Nam Moon, see above.

Lui (April 20) Tangmo Pataratida, Vee Veraparb – looks to be an action drama with guys, guns and gals, not necessarily in that order. My take: I usually avoid action dramas and see no reason to make an exception for this one.

Credit for all lakorn pics goes to Asianfuse wiki. Go to Asianfuse wiki for more info on lakorns