neonlibrarian

It took me two years (well, actually, ~just~ 22 months) to get through Bridal Mask even though I loved the series the entire time. I was just so exhausted by the intensity and outraged by the injustices that I kept switching away for a "breather" of fluffy rom-coms or easy procedurals.

And something similar happened with the historical drama Shinsengumi--as I already knew the historical details, I was anticipating each death and would put off watching certain episodes because they'd be depressing...I finally finished the show last month--but I had started it in 2009. O____________o

Poor Shunji...Shunji's a depressingly sympathetic villain but I was never actually rooting for him the way I was Vick in IRIS...I was just hoping Shunji would get his head on straight and go back to being a good guy...

I really agree--I care much more about an older actor being obviously miscast as a high school student than I do about an age difference between the couple. I Need Romance 2012 had me cringing during any flashback scene where the leads (age 30 & 32) were shown as high schoolers (or worse, middle schoolers).

Wow, I think your rankings were spot on! ^___^ I was so happy to see Devil Beside You get a mention and the Lie To Me coke-kiss (even though the rest of the series was sort of painful to plod through...) And you've motivated me to watch a few dramas that I haven't seen yet. Thanks!

A few others on my list would be Pride (one of the few jdramas with realistic kisses) and anything starring Kim Sun Ah, one of the rare female actresses that can really drive a kiss (My Lovely Sam Soon, Scent of a Woman, etc.)