Quantcast
kisskh MDLv6.7
Home→ General Asia→ Recommendation Forum→

JDramas for a newbie??

AThousand_PaperCranes Author

So... I've never gotten on with Japanese dramas (with the exception of Dr X & Seirei no Moribito), I find the ones I watch a bit... strange/awkward and the FLs acting always melodramatic. I recently watched Suki na Hito ga Iru Koto however, and loved it!! So any recommendations to a fluffy J-drama newbie?? (or even any amazing ones you've watched- Strong FL is a must)

Quote
AThousand_PaperCranes Author

bump?!

Quote
Old_Anime_Lady VIP


https://kisskh.at/profile/OldAnimeLady/lists
You choose the genre, i need to add a few I Recently watched but its a place to start.

Know that with jdramas there are 2 extremes with romance, either little to no touching/ kissing OR its borderline soft core porn. No in between.

Their comedies...usually need some time to get used to, if you watch anime it maybe easier to adjust.

Pointing out flaws in their own society a lot of times makes for the best dramas, and they have no fear of "going dark"

My top 3 of all time are
Kazoku game, quiz show 2, and algernon ni hanataba wo but all 3 are really heavy emotional dramas

Also check out this feeds post
https://kisskh.at/profile/lenabastet/feeds/xwYoOil

edited Quote
Vera

maybe try out the old but classic Hana Yori Dango (there are many versions of it such as korean 'boys over flowers' etc), the jp version is my fav, the chemistry between the leads is amazing and the ending is perfect (there are 2 seasons+ final movie). Its a bit childish and problematic tho 'cuz of the bullying... but other than that, great drama! :) The FL is very strong, doesn't take any shit, not even from the ML's mom. 

edited Quote
burhaa aadmi

Your "strange/awkward" comment is a nice summary of Japanese Dramas can seem different. I'm NOT a fan of  really dark/depressing Dramas, but Japan does them well - Mother, 1000 litres of Tears all have MANY fans. For me, quirky is cool - Quartet; Date; Nigeru wa Haji; Okitegami Kyoko.  Japan also does quiet and low-key REALLY well - A Sharply Graceful Girl, Shinya Shokudo, Hayako Sensei, Tokyo Sentimental. And for  independent female roles I love dramas like Orange Days, Nobunaga Concerto, Juhan Shuttai, Seigi No Se - by independent I mean that they are not defined by a romantic relationship, their character's growth is key, with or without a loveline. With the possible exception of Date, which is at the quirky end, I think most of these Dramas are newbie-friendly. Also,I Don't Love You Yet, the J-remake of  of one of my all time favourites, In Time With You, was not bad. I actually  thought the J-Drama gave the female lead a more rounded and likeable personality, even if overall the Drama couldn't match the Ariel/Chen magic of the original

Quote
Pyapi

In terms of a fluffy romance with a somewhat strong FL, I recommend Ashi Girl. Based on a manga, it's a bit silly, but it's also really cute and fluffy. 

Another romantic drama I enjoyed and recommend is  Kazoku no Katachi. The FL is strong! Maybe a bit melancholic and grumpy, but not without her reasons. It's very family-centric and I really enjoyed the relationship between the 2 leads

As for dramas with little or no romance, these have strong FLs which I believe you might like:

  • Unnatural - Forensics drama, the FL is one of the best in her field, is very strong, and a central part of her team
  • Ghost Writer - A unique story centered around a renowned Author and her ghostwriter. Both FLs are amazing, strong, and complex and their complicated relationship is fully explored throughout the drama
  • N no Tame Ni - Mystery drama, I really liked the FL here. She's strong in a very quiet way. There is also some romance, although it's not the main focus
Quote

Recent Discussions

Hottest Discussions