My Lucky Star

Taiwanese title: 放羊的星星

Aired on TTV / SETTV
From 2007 March to July
20 episodes

Main cast:

Jimmy Lin: Zhong Tian Qi 仲天騏

Yoo Ha Na: Xia Zhi Xing 夏之星

Jennifer Hong: Ou Ya Ruo 歐雅若

Leon Jay Williams: Zhong Tian Jun 仲天駿

Lee Wei: Han Zhi Yin 韓志胤

Wang Dao: Zhong Wei 仲威

Dong Zhi Cheng: Guang Ming 光明

Liang Xiu Zhi: Board director Zheng 鄭董事

Notes:
- Hello Lawyer from Autumn's concerto!
- This is my second time watching after years and it's a Fav again!

- 2020 October 16th update: Third time watching and I still agree with myself. Fav!

Review: Fav!

Title: Meaningful. Girl's symbol is a star and she's Boy's lucky star.

 

Girl: She has a talent for designing jewellery but she uses her skills to counterfeit and is convicted for fraud. She's amazing, being strong to support others and also standing for herself when she's treated unfairly. (+)

Sidenote: The actress is obviously dubbed, something I find dumb, seriously, there wasn't any Taiwanese actress who could have played the role? However, though it's jarring at the beginning, I got used to it and Yoo Ha Na is perfect. She's very expressive and hits all the notes.

 

Boy: He's the second master (i.e. second son of the president) of a jewellery company but he doesn't want any part of it and goes to become a car racer. He's cocky and passionnate, willing to do anything to protect those he loves, but also willful and impulsive. And he's played by Jimmy Lin who is on this list. (+)

 

Other girl: She's a designer at the jewellery company who has worked hard to overcome her secret past. She's also a villain but one with motivations and you can almost find her pitiful. (+)

 

Relationship: Yeah! So much chemistry beween Boy and Girl. Their relationship is epic but at the most basic, they complement each other and challenge each other to become better persons. Moreover, though their social status are really different, their relationship is well-balanced. (+)

 

Plot: The pacing is really good, the obstacles and stakes aren't repetitive. I never got bored and it never stopped being addictive. Also, no weird last act. (+) Despite my enthusiasm, I have to note that the drama relies a lot on convenient accidental overhearing of key conversations, sometimes combined with unnatural speech. If I had to drink each time it happens, I wouldn't be able to write this review.

Funny factor? YES! YES! then less... then NOO!!!

Music: I wouldn't buy the OST but i like the songs and they compliment the drama.

What the...? I kind of feel bad for the Taiwanese villagers for how they are depicted.

Bottom line: Fav are subjective but while this drama uses cheap tricks, it controls them very well, avoids some clichés and benefits from great actors (I didn't say great acting). It also deals with almost deep issues. To conclude, be prepared to be invested in these characters' stories and to embark on a rollercoaster of emotions! Fav!!

Autumn's Concerto

Taiwanese title: 下一站，幸福
Other title: Next Stop, Happiness

21 episodes
Aired on TTV/SETTV
From 2009 October to 2010 February

Main cast:

Ady An: Liang Mu Cheng 梁慕橙

Van Ness Wu: Ren Guang Xi 任光晞

Chris Wu: Hua Tuo Ye 花拓也

Tiffany Hsu: He Yi Qian 何以茜

Zheng You Jie: Xu Fang Guo 許方國

Linda Liu: Fang De Rong 方德容

Renzo Liu: Lawyer Lin 林律師

Tao Chuan Zheng: He Zhen Tang 何振堂

Xiao Xiao Bin: Liang Xiao Le 梁曉樂

Lin Mei Xiu: Hua Tian Xi Shi 花田喜氏

Amanda Chu: Hua Ci Xin 花癡心

Note: I want to issue a trigger warning: sexual harassment and violence on woman. My memories of this drama were so grim that it's only my second viewing though I was remembering quite liking it.

Review: +

Title: That's what I'm talking about! This title sounds good but makes no sense. I have no idea if this drama takes place in autumn and yes, a piece of music plays a role but I don't think it's a concerto (Wiki tells me it's the second movement in an orchestral suite).

 

Boy: See the label "Arrogant jerk". However, Girl comes to love his sense of right and his passion. He's straightforward, brave and smart (though it's more tell than show, at least we see him at work). (+)

 

Girl: At first, she's kind of perfect and you understand why guys like her. She's kind-hearted, smart hardworking and she never complains. She goes through so much that you just admire her. Moreover, she's not naïve nor dripping with optimism. She is a caring person who has a sense of self. (+)

 

Other boy: Typical I-pine-for-years-for-my-girl-friend-even-though-she's-clearly-shown-me-that-she's-not-interested guy. I didn't like this character because he's too good to have been "friend-zoned" so early, he feels a bit too much like a plot device and that much devotion makes me uncomfortable.

 

Other girl: Her love is not as built as Girl's love but she's so nice and her feelings are so sincere that you feel for her.

 

Plot/Relationship: The plot consists in obstacles thrown the way of the main characters. But it's okay since their relationship is believable and compelling. Unfortunately, there is a mob subplot which is intertwined with the main story but which is too violent for my taste. Also, the ending was totally rushed for no apparent reason. It seemed like they realised at the last minute that they only had one episode left. But good chemistry and building so (+).

 

Other characters: Terrible mother and stepmother, wise aviser, over-the-top villagers, over-ambitious rival...

 

Funny factor? Not really (except Boy's assistant, I <3 you), the Melo factor is high.

 

Music: Yes!

 

Bottom line: This is a very good drama with a convincing couple, generally successful characterisations. The pace is excellent (except towards the end and the mob stuff). (+)

 

P.S.: I advise you not to give up if you're annoyed by the flashbacks in the first episodes. It stops later. But seriously, note to whoever is responsible: flashbacks to an entire scene that happened in the same episode IS NOT necessary (and is not a good way to pad an episode if that was the intent).

Summer Nude

Japanese title: SUMMER NUDE
(Yeah, I know, it's not very Japanese)

Aired on Fuji TV
From 2013 July to September
11 episodes

Main cast:

Yamashita Tomohisa: Mikuriya Asahi

Toda Erika: Taniyama Hanae

Karina: Chiyohara Natsuki

Katsuji Ryo: Yaino Takashi

Kubota Masataka: Kirihata Hikaru

Yamamoto Mizuki: Horikiri Aoi

Takahashi Katsunori: Shimojima Kenji

Itaya Yuka: Shimojima Setsuko

Nagasawa Masami: Ichikura Kasumi

Note: I watched this drama mostly week to week but sometimes with two weeks in between.

Review: +/-

Title: Drama, you have disappointed me greatly. I thought I would finally be able to make fun of a title and then, you went in the 6th something episode using a voiceover reminiscent of Buzzer beat to say stuff about summer and emotions bared nude. But even with a Miley-Cyrus-like explanation, it's still a ridiculous title.

Boy: He's a photographer who lives a quiet life in a seaside little town. He is confident, very nice and always keeps his promises. Problem: He's obsessed with an ex-girlfriend to the point of stupidity.

Girl: She's a successful cook. She's nice (everyone in this drama is), energetic and strong-willed. She and Boy like to tease each other.

Other girl: She's been in love with Boy for ten years but hasn't made any moves. She is sad and hurt to watch Boy being obssessed with his ex girlfriend's unlikely return. She's a bit of a tomboy and very nice (of course). She and Girl become fast friends.

Other girls and boys: They should get their own mini description given their prominence but I'm too lazy and there is nothing special.

Plot/relationships: A new person gets incorporated into a group of friends who live in a small seaside town and have known each other almost forever. She brings change: new relationships, new endeavours.

Romantic relationships are gradual except for one ridiculous case of insta-love (You know, the dreadful "Wow, with this white shirt on/ without a beer in your hand/ riding an elephant, you're so good looking that I want your babies!")

Funny Factor: Throughout the drama, two teenagers live their own love story, quasi completely disconnected from the main characters, hitting all the hallmarks of "epic" love. It's totally WTH, and funny.

Music: I really like one of the insert piece, full of nostalgic feelings. Overall, it was good.

Bottom line: This is a quiet drama, with decent people who are nice to each other. I like that and I wasn't bored watching it but at the same time, I wasn't dying to watch the next episode. It didn't have glaring faults but I think the pacing was off.

I'm sorry, drama, but I have to come to terms with the fact that I love over-the-top too much and that I can't appreciate quiet anymore. +/-