mysecretsoul

Yep! Tenchijin is set in that period of Japanese history not unlike the famous Chinese warring states. I'd even compare Nobunaga to Cao Cao in some respects, though many differences remain nonetheless. It must be fun to have so many episodes with a favorite actor though! Nothing's better than when a favorite does a historical. XD

Though I'm happy to have finished Sealed with a Kiss, that miniseries sequel? Am I crazy or was it really bad? I ended up searching all over the internet for the novel ending, which was the only thing that made me feel better about the whole debacle, haha.

In the future, I hope dramas become distributed much like anime is today; almost everything released + simultaneous broadcasts for popular shows. When you mentioned ten years ago, it threw me back to how scarce those could be as well. So happy that's changed. >.<

Unfortunately, my experience with Taiwanese romance is somewhat limited. I suggest Office Girls wholeheartedly; Roy Chiu is adorable, the romance is strong, and the comedy works. If you liked his co-star Blue Lan from Easy Fortune, Happy Life, P.S. Man is actually the series that got me back into dramas in a big way. :)

While I know of Mike He, I've never seen any of his dramas. He's pretty good looking though! Might need to finally "meet" one of his roles in the near future. :)

It really seems popular, ne? While I'm not loving Legal High to bits, the Sakai Masato character is honestly hilarious.

Thank you, haha! I'm nearing 200, so I think I'll choose one I've really been anticipating for that cornerstone. *_*

After a certain point (ex: the trust issue), my loyalty strictly fell toward the Zhou side. I couldn't help but think that behavior wouldn't be repeated by the other "choice." Though, ultimately, I felt the pairing fell the proper way dictated by the story.

I cried a lot too, though. It was surprising how much.

As to Closer to Heaven, it was a mix between Ha (I honestly felt her ill-suited to the role; the chemistry was off), and the story. It felt rather relentlessly depressing without charm; though I understood the reason for making the film, the message never touched or left an impression on me.

Though, again, Kim Myung Min was incredibly impressive. His suffering before and during the filming process really speaks of dedication. If you don't know him well, Myung Min is known as an almost insanely thorough method actor. I believe there was even a documentary that accompanied this film about his weight loss and whatnot.

Ditto on Chris Evans. There are a few decent roles on his resume, though recently he's all aboard the super hero train. I admit I find his Captain America entertaining (though nostalgia plays a factor).

It's funny you should mention Idris Elba, since I remember another (mindlessly fun) film both were in together. Which of his roles have you enjoyed until now? Like many others, my first impression was made in Luther.

Ah! It makes me a little sad to hear you slept through The Fall. Do you think you'll give it another try someday? Without spoiling anything, the second half truly makes the entire film; it solidifies and illuminates its own oddities (including the origin of/reason behind the tale woven by Pace). There's even a great deal "hidden" in the cinematography, though it's difficult to explain without babbling on about the entire experience.

When you put it that way, my scalp sees wisdom in waiting. It remembers the torture between episodes of Cruel City, and how new hairs have only just begun to sprout.(Maybe I've had *too* much Cao Cao?) xD

But seriously, thank you for the warning. I'll probably start 1997 soon, as well as Legal High; that way, I can tackle both sequels around when they start to end, muahaha.

I'll definitely let you know about Gong! Three Kingdoms watches more like an amazing book, easy to digest slowly than to actually marathon. I don't mind picking up other shows on top of it either~ Sometimes one needs some eye candy, especially what with Lu Bu gone.

Thank you for your thorough opinion on Asuko March! People say it frequently, but Japan does lack in romance at times. Sometimes it's nice to kick back with a good story about friendship though! I may have to give it a try.

Oh my gosh, I know right? Whenever Fourth Lord acts jealous or petty, it's simply adorable. Yu Wen Yong definitely deserves to be happy, but I have to tell you I agreed with you throughout. Xue Wu and Fourth Lord honestly match too well, haha. The fans can share the emperor, ne? XD

Kondo was definitely a good supporting character; I rather liked how he and Tomari served as foils as well as good friends to Hanzawa. One was troubled and downtrodden by circumstances, while the other was cheerful but obliging. Then you have Hanzawa with the best of both, plus his aggression. I do recall a similar scene, though; if he had lost total control at home, I think viewer sympathy would have imploded. I wonder if a sequel will see him soften or blow up entirely.

Thank you for enjoying that reference, haha! It came quickly to mind when comparing the two leads -- there was such a huge difference, despite similar circumstances.

Actually, a taiga might not be a bad idea. Ryoma Den has me spoiled, but Atsu Hime, Yae No Sakura, and Yoshitsune have been on my to-do list for a while.

I can understand that feeling. A few months ago I went through a busy spat as well, and dramas really become a great way to unwind. Well, unless they're suspenseful or frustrating, haha.

Very much agree about Hanzawa on that front. It doesn't really seem like he's capable of *not* being aggressive, at least at work. When one becomes accustomed to a certain mode of behavior, it can be very difficult to stop. I would love a movie or special for the series though; but because the series was based on a duology, I'd hate to see the scriptwriters trek out on their own. Not sure how much material is left from the books.

At the moment, I'm kind of craving a long series. I don't think I'll be undertaking another currently airing for some time anyway. Committing to long ones can be difficult at times though, definitely.

Sorry for the delay. I got really distracted by all that man up there and suddenly really wanted to watch Reply 1994. LOL

I'd love to watch Palace with you sometime, especially if it's funny! Our senses of humor really mesh, so I can just imagine the cackling. Though Feng Shao Feng with the queued hair will be strange at first; his last wig was so luxurious!

Speaking of that, when did you plan to start Empress Ki? Apparently Joo Jin Mo is amazing and gorgeous in it, which is probably true considering he's always amazing and gorgeous. XD

I'd been wondering about Palace vs BBJX too, actually; why would the network want two versions of the same thing? Perhaps it the point was really to have a comedic version, but...weird. In Korea, if two things are even remotely alike the lawsuits start flying.

Haha! I suppose that means you like Yu Wen Yong too, ne? It's too bad Daniel Chan hasn't done as much work lately. He's too handsome.

How are you enjoying Asuko March! by the way? I've often heard it was rather good, but little else.

No problem! It's nice to meet you as well. You seem to be enjoying mostly Japanese dramas of late, ne? If you ever need recommendations, let me know. There are so many good shows, and you're already off to a good start!

Matsumoto-san, right? I think we've all liked him at some point, haha. XD

That sound just now wasn't me turning one of Daniel's songs on in YouTube. That would be ludicrous. >.> XD

Still haven't seen BBJX, but hearing one of the leads can sing made me affectionate toward him instantly. Actually, I was all geared to finally start that, but everyone kept saying Jade Palace was exactly the same. With stuff like this, I can't help but watch the weaker show first (so I can actually still enjoy it). x_x

Hm. As it stands, it'd have to be an all-countries compilation; honestly, I haven't seen many shows from China/Taiwan this year. The other thing that feels strange is that some of the better songs are from shows I disliked, haha. "Well, I slept through this show, but this song...this song was awesome."

I know, right? It actually startled me, after checking my list, how many are actually from 2013. The only thing is that I sort of want to diversify more; so many of them were Korean! Might have to take a step into Taiwan for some excellent Mandopop, haha. Thanks for the encouragement, nee-chan~ *_*

I'm starting to feel similar frustration with Chinese subbing teams; especially on Viki, videos either are defunct or they disperse after completing half of the project. Sometimes I wonder why Korean dramas are so well-cared for, though most of them are officially translated.

Surely companies from other countries could see profit in spreading their media more? Though I suppose the Western stigma of Asia (outside of martial arts) still exists in entertainment. >_<

Ah, you selected Tenchijin then! That time period and the chosen perspective are both interesting. The Uesugi family has such a mystique about it. I'm laughing a tiny bit because, while the cast is fantastic, one of my "guilty-pleasure" idols is among them. XD You'll have to tell me how Shirota Yu does as Sanada Yukimura sometime.

Very glad you enjoyed them! I agree about sakanaction; though, aren't their music videos rather...unique? XD

I'm currently going through the songs I thought to include in that possible 2013 article. It's a little shocking but I had more than I'd initially thought. >.>;;

Hello again! Glad to hear from you. I'm doing quite well, and yourself?

Love to hear you enjoyed Hanzawa Naoki! Honestly, I found the final confrontation in the boardroom rather disturbing myself; the way both broke down, with others telling Hanzawa "enough!" There's a message even in that, and I assume his extreme behavior is what has him transferred at the end (well that, and the need for a sequel, haha).

That is something I hear frequently about Jade Palace. Normally, I would skip it; most people say Bu Bu Jing Xin is not only similar, but superior. My affection for the leads softened my resolve in this case. With lowered standards (and well, watching it before the better version), I hope to enjoy it to a decent level. I'll definitely let you know what I think after completing it.

Are you ready to start any new series?

(Part Two!) Vulnerability! Yes, that's the word. Such a display actually drew me into A Frozen Flower. It's rare to see men portray that openly, especially in action roles though.

That worries me about A Gentleman's Dignity, though I've never seen Kim Ha Neul for myself. I'll hope against hope she won't annoy me quite as much, but if somewhat like Ha I believe I can tolerate it.

Closer To Heaven is one I wanted to like more than I did. Kim Myung Min is a favorite, and the amount of work and dedication he poured into the project was no joke. Just hearing about it makes me a little sad, though not in the intended way, haha.

Thank you for bringing up Chris Hemsworth. He typifies everything I find wrong with acting in the West: sex appeal without substance. Though he definitely is gorgeous, comparing him to Avengers costar Chris Evans makes me sad; there's an actor that occupies a similar space, but possesses more skill (or perhaps utilizes what he has better).

We share many favorites, right down to the newly noticed. Another interesting turn for Fassbender was in Fish Tank, though the two you mentioned are probably his best to date. I also rather enjoyed him in the shaky Prometheus, though primarily because he was channeling Peter O'Toole.

During the last round of messages, I'd forgotten even though I briefly mentioned Lee Pace. Have you seen his film The Fall? It seems like something you would enjoy, especially with as strong an eye for cinematography as you've got. (I'm longwinded, so there's more ->)