Yay, I have watched 10 out of 15 drama on the list! I don't feel so bad having to take time off from dramas.
The only drama I remember rating so low was Rookies. I think I saw it in one of Joe's articles and watched it... (Gomen, Joe.) The sap was too strong in that one. Tumbling had sappy moments too but I find the amount of work the cast had to do for gymnastics too outstanding.
We like Jdramas in our own way. I like them because they're easier to finish. They present mysteries better than any other Asian dramas I've seen so far (please feel free to disagree). They can act similarly to what's written in a manga or as how they're seen in an anime--and they can get away with it. (eg Yamato Nadeshiko, Hana Kimi among many others). Romance is not one of their strong suit--in my pov anyway.
Recommendations:
I recently watched Kaitou Tantei Yamaneko based on feed recommendations (@Oppa-kiss-me, thank you). I don't personally like Kamenashi Kazuya but out of the 4 dramas I've seen him in, I appreciate how he had portrayed his role in Yamaneko. This is where he displayed more emotions, seemed more human or more passionate. You might also want to try Yamato Nadeshiko or Tatta Hitotsu no Koi. Hana Yori Dango, Hana Kimi and Gokusen are considered classics--first two has romantic elements, all three are also about friendship and are set in school.
I was contemplating on giving this an 8 but I thought the over-all cast did an awesome job. The second-lead couple had a lot more chemistry than the main one and for me, their build-up was far better and the ending was quite satisfying--yes Dae Yeongie, kiss her passionately!
Perhaps one factor that made the drama engaging for me was its side stories. That apart from that love story that had a handsome soldier and a civilian doctor, there's an issue here and there, a follow-up to a character's small story. (Although at one point I thought they were overdoing it and putting too much stuff in.)
I dramathoned this for two days so I can't say if the pace is too slow.
These dramas look so good! Yoo Yoon Seok and Kang So Ra--I wonder what kind of chemistry they'll have.
I still don't know what to think of Producer. Kim Soo Hyun and IU probably won't have a problem since they're reunited after Dream High...I think I'll have to wait and see what this story is about.
Yeo Jin Goo is growing up too fast! O___O Gawd, so handsome! But I'm not watching it until it's done airing.
Ex-Girlfriend's CLub's trailer looks hilarious! I just hope they don't inject too much melo.
Wow, and I thought I was rating this way down that you did! Haha. Well. I can't rate it that low though. ;) I…
Nope, I haven't rated it down yet. :) I guess we rate it down on different points. I always end up rating a drama or movie a point or two higher than what I feel like I should be giving it. I dunno, it's just me, I guess, because I rate everything from 10 down.
The flashbacks and backstory was okay with me because it presented a history of what their parents faced and what they faced at present. I agree with you though on one point where they could have shifted their attention from the past to the present. There was already enough buildup and knowledge about the backstory that it only left like two-three episodes to show how the present-day protagonists were supposed to solve their problems.
The romance, for me, was good. It had a nice buildup, too, with the backstories giving it an added touch for Young Shin and Joong Ho's characters.
About my rate-down, I was more concerned of sloppy the security work was done. There were goons, chases, kidnapping, left and right that it left me thinking if how much of it was necessary and what was the point of it all. Honestly, I do not understand why Healer would let Secretary Oh live after this lunatic tried to kill Young Shin in the elevator and second with the syringe. Why they would still meet at houses, apartments and work places where Orishin and his network already pinpointed their location and know that anytime they can all get abducted and disappear in a snap--is beyond me. The way Healer met Orishin was even incredible.
Wow, and I thought I was rating this way down that you did! Haha. Well. I can't rate it that low though. ;)
I thought the flashbacks and the backstory were essential parts of the present story so it didn't bother me as much. What I couldn't take was how they got sloppy with storytelling. About the latter stretch of the drama, the characters and what happened to them were all over the place.
Secretary Oh. Oh, how I hated Secretary Oh. And I couldn't believe how he survived unscathed after all of the things he did. Every time he did that hand-to-mouth thing, I wanted to pick a barbecue stick and poke his eyeballs out!
Ditto on the actors. PMY was okay and Ji Chang Wook--will be keeping an eye on him too. I think I want to see Yoo Ji Tae in another drama.
Keeping this on my ptw and will save it for a rainy day. The original Korean version was meh so and the only reason this interests me is the prospect of watching Yamada-san playing a good guy.
K-Drama 
The only drama I remember rating so low was Rookies. I think I saw it in one of Joe's articles and watched it... (Gomen, Joe.) The sap was too strong in that one. Tumbling had sappy moments too but I find the amount of work the cast had to do for gymnastics too outstanding.
We like Jdramas in our own way. I like them because they're easier to finish. They present mysteries better than any other Asian dramas I've seen so far (please feel free to disagree). They can act similarly to what's written in a manga or as how they're seen in an anime--and they can get away with it. (eg Yamato Nadeshiko, Hana Kimi among many others). Romance is not one of their strong suit--in my pov anyway.
Recommendations:
I recently watched Kaitou Tantei Yamaneko based on feed recommendations (@Oppa-kiss-me, thank you). I don't personally like Kamenashi Kazuya but out of the 4 dramas I've seen him in, I appreciate how he had portrayed his role in Yamaneko. This is where he displayed more emotions, seemed more human or more passionate. You might also want to try Yamato Nadeshiko or Tatta Hitotsu no Koi. Hana Yori Dango, Hana Kimi and Gokusen are considered classics--first two has romantic elements, all three are also about friendship and are set in school.
Perhaps one factor that made the drama engaging for me was its side stories. That apart from that love story that had a handsome soldier and a civilian doctor, there's an issue here and there, a follow-up to a character's small story. (Although at one point I thought they were overdoing it and putting too much stuff in.)
I dramathoned this for two days so I can't say if the pace is too slow.
The lead's voice was so soothing and the bass from the string instrument--two things that stuck to me whenever I recall Echo. Awesome song!
doS Deka's premise seems funny enough. I hope she's not over-the-top sadistic though!
I'll also be keeping an eye out Tatakau, Tenno no Ryoriban and Fuben na Benriya.:)
Thanks for the list!
I still don't know what to think of Producer. Kim Soo Hyun and IU probably won't have a problem since they're reunited after Dream High...I think I'll have to wait and see what this story is about.
Yeo Jin Goo is growing up too fast! O___O Gawd, so handsome! But I'm not watching it until it's done airing.
Ex-Girlfriend's CLub's trailer looks hilarious! I just hope they don't inject too much melo.
The flashbacks and backstory was okay with me because it presented a history of what their parents faced and what they faced at present. I agree with you though on one point where they could have shifted their attention from the past to the present. There was already enough buildup and knowledge about the backstory that it only left like two-three episodes to show how the present-day protagonists were supposed to solve their problems.
The romance, for me, was good. It had a nice buildup, too, with the backstories giving it an added touch for Young Shin and Joong Ho's characters.
About my rate-down, I was more concerned of sloppy the security work was done. There were goons, chases, kidnapping, left and right that it left me thinking if how much of it was necessary and what was the point of it all. Honestly, I do not understand why Healer would let Secretary Oh live after this lunatic tried to kill Young Shin in the elevator and second with the syringe. Why they would still meet at houses, apartments and work places where Orishin and his network already pinpointed their location and know that anytime they can all get abducted and disappear in a snap--is beyond me. The way Healer met Orishin was even incredible.
I thought the flashbacks and the backstory were essential parts of the present story so it didn't bother me as much. What I couldn't take was how they got sloppy with storytelling. About the latter stretch of the drama, the characters and what happened to them were all over the place.
Secretary Oh. Oh, how I hated Secretary Oh. And I couldn't believe how he survived unscathed after all of the things he did. Every time he did that hand-to-mouth thing, I wanted to pick a barbecue stick and poke his eyeballs out!
Ditto on the actors. PMY was okay and Ji Chang Wook--will be keeping an eye on him too. I think I want to see Yoo Ji Tae in another drama.