Doing the 2010 awards, I wrote about how I needed to wait for Gold to finish subbing because there was a chance it could have made it into my must watch list. Since I started this blog, there have been many jdoramas that were subbed after a show was completed or that I had missed or did not think would be interesting. So here I have the 2005-2007 revised list with 5 doramas per year and a notable dorama list below that.
BEST DORAMAS OF 2005
1) Tiger and Dragon
Extremely smart writing and I didn't mind Nagase Tomoya's overacting and Ito Misaki's impression of a wooden chair. The writer, Kudo Kankuro also wrote Manhattan Love Story, Ping Pong and Zebraman.
2) Dragon Zakura
3) Joou no Kyoushitsu
Great writing and great acting by kids on par with Suzuki sensei. The director Iwamoto Hitoshi went on to direct Galcir, Saito-san and OL Nippon.
4) H2
Awesome adaptation of the classic Adachi manga. Great casting and it captured the melancholic feel of the source material.
5) Densha Otoko
Truly a lightning in the bottle dorama where the two main actors who can't act were cast perfectly. I would say the great supporting actors. Shiraishi Miho and Sakurai-san really kept the show from being bogged down by Densha's constant whining and crying.
Notable 2005 shows - Tadano Hitoshi 2, Aikurushii, Attack no.1, Koi ni Ochitara. Ganbatte Ikimashoi.
BEST DORAMAS OF 2006
1) Kekkon Dekinai Otoko
One of the greatest jdoramas ever. Should be on everyone's top ten list.
2) Iryu
Who knew exaggerated surgery could be this much fun to watch? If I start watching an episode now, I'm never going to stop. Probably the greatest soundtrack ever.
3) Gal Circle
Who would have thought that a jdorama about a Japanese cowboy and gyarus dancing para para could be so funny? No idea why I never mentioned Galcir in my award post.
4) Boku no Aruku Michi
5) Nodame
I only did a top three in my original post so Galcir and Nodame are my picks to make it five.Very well done shoujo manga adaptation.
Notable 2006 jdoramas: Bengoshi no Kuzu, Shimokita Sundays, Byakuyakou, Attention Please
BEST DORAMAS OF 2007
1) Utahime
Actually can't remember much about Utahime except the ending lol. However it was no.1 on the original list.
2) Iryu 2
Even better than the first one. At its heart, Iryu is a gather a bunch of underdogs into a team dorama.
3) Konshu Tsuma ga Uwaki Shimasu
Really funny dorama on affairs that is unlike any other.
4) LIFE
I have no idea how I left Life/Raifu off the list. Saki Fukuda was awesome as the evil bitch and Kitano Kie had so much potential. So unfortunately I had to bump Kare Naru and Liar Game out of the top 5.
5) Hagetaka
Other must watch shows - Tadano Hitoshi 3, Karei Naru Ichizoku, Liar Game, Hataraki man, Sexy Voice & Robo, Watashitachi no Kyokasho. One can easily argue that the first four on the list deserve to be in the top 5.
This post has gotten pretty long so I'll save 2008 and 2009 for later.
Great lists. Natsukashii. I remember being blown away by Densha back then, particularly the fast paced 2ch scenes with all the otaku. I couldn't believe they made watching people posting to a message board so addictive. Up until then I think I'd only seen Shota no Sushi and a few eps of Asunaro Hakusho. Densha really opened my eyes to newer jdramas. Nodame too.
ReplyDeleteI'd put Nobuta on my 2005 list. Johnny's vehicle aside, I thought the writing was excellent.
Boku no Aruku Michi was good. I remember SMAP guy on a bike and Karina in a zookeeper's uniform.
Must go check out H2 and Utahime.
I liked Joou no Kyoushitsu's SP a bit more than the actual drama.
ReplyDeleteA drama I would have added to 2006/2007 is Tsubasa no Oreta Tenshitachi mini series as well as Byakuyakou (2006).
I wasn't such a big fan of Iryu, I only liked ep 8 of the first season.
I really liked LIFE (RAIFU) as well, it deserved to be there. :)
Boku no Aruku Michi, Nodame and many others you list haven't I watched yet.
Boku no Aruku Michi was probably one of the first dramas to blow me away after the Queen's Classroom. The color of the sky during the entire drama was just so beautiful, I couldn't stop watching.
ReplyDeleteDragon Zakura is a drama I like to re-watch every now and then, same with Kekkon Dekinai -- I rewatch it every summer when it gets really hot!
Densha was another great classic. LIFE was great too. I haven't actually finished Watashitachi no because... well I just haven't. It was the last drama I downloaded before I left the US too.
Seems like lately I haven't seen many dramas that have blown me away like some of the earlier ones. Not too many where I've actually thought "Ahhh! Where are the subs? When is the next episode out?"
14 sai no haha is on my list for 2006 because Shida Mirai made it work but I think you didn't like that one...
i remember that Hagetaka was televised by NHK in 2007.
ReplyDeleteAs i typed Tiger and Dragon, i cant stop laughing at it.
i watched that smap guy from Ninkyo Helper and that guy can act.
i agree with KDO. definitely a classic.
i watched most of the shows on ur list and most of them were basically dropped. not because they are bad, i think i had a hard time to grasp jdramas at that time. maybe i'll watch those shows on the list again. if time permits me.
Thanks so much for the post. Great read!! Really looking forward to read more. Want more.
ReplyDelete