Lily_B

What a great Stalker's Guide. I'm sure many people who didn't know him before will be interested in checking him out now. I've seen all the dramas you list in the beginning (but I need to finish Tenchijin, thanks for the reminder!) and I don't know which one I like the most. Orange Days was among the dramas I watched when I was new to this world. I watched Slow Dance later when I knew what it was like to also watch dramas I don't fall madly in love with... and it made me feel like "yes! this is why I watch dramas!"

He's such a likeable guy, really, and so worthy of a Stalker's Guide! I haven't watched any of the movies you mention but you make me want to watch them all.

Does anyone know the name of the song that Ji Hyun was playing?

I don't know most of these actors (but I like those pics of Miura Haruma and the cute girl.), but I fully agree with you on Gokusen. When I watched it I had no idea about what happened in the manga, I just noticed their great chemistry and just waited for the moment when one of them would confess. I was so happy during the final moments of the last ep *lol* but just like you I was disappointed to find out there was nothing like that in season 2. Also, I'd like to see a romance with Iura Arata and Nakama Yukie, because there was nothing like that between them in Shima no sensei.

Maybe someone else will be inspired by the series and do a Japanese (and/or other) version. :)

I don't doubt it! :D In the meantime, I listened to that song several times already, so thanks. :)

I haven't watched any of these dramas (with "only" 71 dramas compared to your 400+, that's no big surprise) but if I were to choose one based on your music, I think I'd go for Mars right now. I liked that song! One song that I found became an earworm real quickly (and it gets stuck in my head as soon as I think about it, even) was the one from Manhattan Love Story *lol* I don't know if I'd call it a "favourite" but it's definitely a memorable one for me. :)

Thank you for writing! :) I'm already watching Kokoro ga pokitto ne, but I'm not very impressed so far. :(

I'm interested in the historical ones (all three, but especially the one with the chef). Yokoso wagaya e sounds like it's worth checking out, and possibly Yume wo ataeru, Fuben na benriya and Dr. Rintato.

P.S. I think that Yoriko's real mother was a lot sweeter (not as much as the father, though, I guess!) and more understanding/helpful. But the adult Yoriko knows (although she may not want to admit it) that she has a hard time connecting with other people. It's not because she "doesn't have a heart" because she can obvously care genuinely and deeply about people, but it's just that she can't understand. She's trying and learning, but irrational and emotional reactions makes no sense to her. I think that deep down, she feels that this is painful and the mother represent that part of her that wishes to be "normal". I have a friend who has a younger sister who is a bit like Yoriko, except that she doesn't have a special talent like maths and logic. I guess she's more like a combination of these two main characters actually, and she has a hard time finding people who can accept her outside of the family.

Something that I really love is how Yoriko's father, although he can't quite follow her way of thinking, knows her so well and support her in every way. I guess that before Taniguchi and the others, her father was her only friend.

Excellent review, you've captured all the main points and explain so well why this drama is very likeable.

*lol* I'm very soon going to finish the last episode of a very awesome drama, so this article had the perfect timing for me. I think we all know the feeling.

This was wonderful, thank you for sharing! You write so well and the pictures are amazing. The last ones are very fascinating!! :) I enjoy food dramas but I haven't tried any Japanese food yet.

I like these articles of yours; I like the 1960ers and 1970ers. :) I'm not familiar with most of these men though (I'm more of a j-drama person) but I've got to agree with you on this: "I still tremble when I remember that drama and his role! He was perfect!" Kim Myung Min in BV, that is. I loved Kang Mae so much that I haven't yet dared to watch any other of this guy's dramas, but I know that I will some day soon.

Thanks for writing, it's always nice to see older actors get some attention sometimes! :)

I understand. The way I remember it, the love triangle wasn't too unbearable to watch for the most part, but there was a lot of "unnecessary drama" in the last few eps. To be perfectly honest with you, I'm not sure I remember who she ended up with! But, I remember this as a "happy ending" and I think that means the main couple ended up together.

Beautifully written article about this very special drama. I have to admit I have mixed feelings: I love it, but I also find it very painful. (Except the first few hilarious and cute episodes!) I know; that only goes to prove how good it is. This is not the first drama I've watched where one character is cheating on another, but I've never seen it done in a way that makes me feel so intensely for ALL the characters involved in the love triangle. That's why it kind of hurts to watch. (I'm only halfway through ep 10 at the moment.)

The only character I dislike is Il Ri's brother-in-law; I just don't understand why he is so mean.

Maybe you've found out the answer already, but Kiku-rin is the nickname for Masato Kikuta, so that's Tanihara Shosuke up there. (Or maybe he was added after you posted...) I agree, he's excellent.

The only one of the dramas you mention that I have watched is Daisuki. It made me upset and sad to see how people treated the main character, not because of the way she acted, but after they realized that the way she behaved was because of her mental handicap. One would think it should be the other way around (knowing that somebody has a handicap should make you more understanding and accepting) but this really shows what a stigmatized subject this is.

In the drama Boku no ita jikan, the main character's younger brother looks like some kind of jerk at first, a spoiled little brat. Turns out he has a handicap (or disorder; I don't know what it should be called), he is unable to understand, relate to and feel sympathy for other people, which makes it hard for him to interact well with others. Growing up, he felt like something was wrong but he never knew what. During the drama, he slowly realizes that he has to learn what comes naturally to most people: to understand that people can get hurt by honest words, that people say things that are not to be taken litterally, that there are subtexts, that people act and react according to emotions that are real to them even if he can't understand them, etc. I don't know how accurately this was portrayed, but it touched me to see how the family was struggling to help him while the older brother was suffering from terminal physical illness.

Anyway, thanks for writing this article.

I agree with you on everything that I've seen (which was only a few), and you made me want to watch Platonic. :)

What Cheer said! Roosevelt Game was amazing. I also really enjoyed Boku no ita jikan, The Long Goodbye - and Gunshi Kanbei even though it's not finished yet.

I agree with you about The Long Goodbye, I haven't watched the other ones. I thought about watching Lost Days, but now I'm glad I didn't.