Dorama of the Year 2005-IV Fall - Brother Beat

Nothing could melt my heart. When choosing between decent stories about bullying, terminal condition or family drama, I'd stop at the latter, Brother Beat .  

1. Ai no Uta  [あいのうた] (Finished 3/10) Tags: Life, Family A drama about a man and woman who come to know true love after unexpected circumstances cause them to live under the same roof. Kataoka Yuji is a very kind policeman; a champion of the weak and a pacifist. Having lost his wife 4 years earlier, he has been saddled with the arduous task of raising 3 children singlehandedly. Matsuda Yoko is a woman with an ugly personality who grows through her encounters with this good natured middle-aged man.  Have not seen any great shows that would start with protagonist suicide attempt. Basically, I have no sympathy towards any character here, and even kids don't play good enough. It gets more and more unrealistic the further it goes.   Overall Rating: 5/10

2. Green Forest, My Home [綠光森林] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Melodrama The story begins when the four main characters are just children. Luo Shan's father is chauffer to the Su's who have a daughter, Sophie. Having been abandoned by her mother and occasionally beaten by her father, Luo Shan harbors feelings of inferiority and inadequacy. Luo Shan is envious of Sophie, believing that if given the same opportunities as her, she could be as happy. Then, Luo Shan's father dies in an accident and the Su's take her in, renaming her Susan. Sophie's mother hopes that Sophie will treat Susan as her older sister and not tell anyone that Susan is adopted. Being kind-hearted and easy-going by nature, Sophie is easily taken advantage of by Susan, who decides that everything Sophie has, she must have too. Her jealousy also extends to Sophie's close friendship with Yuan Fang. Super cringy and artificial while focus is on primitive themes like money and jealousy.   Overall Rating: 5/10

3. Boys over Flowers  [花より男子] (Finished 1/9) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama Makino Tsukushi is the only poor student at Eitoku Gakuen, a school for the ridiculously rich and privileged. Eitoku Gakuen is ruled by the Flower 4, otherwise known as the F4, a group of four boys who come from extremely powerful families: Domyoji Tsukasa, the leader and heir of the Domyoji World Finance Group; Hanazawa Rui, the introverted son of a large company; Nishikado Sojiro, a player who is the heir of a tea ceremony school; and Mimasaka Akira, a madam killer with ties to the underground. If a student gets on the F4's bad side, he/she gets a red notice and is bullied and driven out of school. Makino hopes to pass her days quietly - without drawing any attention to herself - but one day, she stands up to Domyoji in defense of her friend. The next day, Makino receives the dreaded red notice. Even though she is harassed, Makino decides to keep going to school and declares war right back on the F4 because she is a "tough weed." Her resolve gets the attention of her crush, Hanazawa Rui, and oddly enough, rouses romantic feelings in her worst enemy, Domyoji Tsukasa. I already dumped Taiwanese series with exactly same concept so probably also originating from same manga. I find this concept horrible.   Overall Rating: 5/10

4. Jyouou  [嬢王] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Drama Fujisaki Aya is a young college student whose family is 150 million yen in debt after her father's corporation went bankrupt. To earn money, she enters the Hostess Grand Prix. Seems to be only partially translated, but it's not great, anyway. Each episode is a new hostess challenge that gets resolved on its own without any particular actions or effort. Can't say FL suits well here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

5. Kiken na Aneki  [危険なアネキ] (Finished 3/10) Tags: Comedy, Family Hiroko is the number-one hostess club girl. Hailing from the Miyazaki countryside, she has been told since her youth that all she has is a beautiful face. Her brilliant younger brother, who aims to become a doctor, is her only pride. For his sake, she is willing to put up with all sorts of hardships in a display of unconditional love. Leads aren't good enough. But real problem is that there's no real problem or conflict or any sort of driver, so it becomes focused on multiple side characters which makes series lose leftover identity. As usual, comedy is weak.   Overall Rating: 5/10

6. Konya Hitori no Bed de  [今夜ひとりのベッドで] (Finished 3/10) Tags: Romance, Drama Tomonaga Akiyuki (Motoki Masahiro) and his wife Yu (Seto Asaka) have been married seven years. Akiyuki is a graphic designer, and is quite happy in his work and private life. One day, he attends the wedding of his younger half-brother Ichinose Ryo (Kaname Jun). However, Ryo runs off with a young woman who appears at the wedding, leaving the bride Jumonji Azusa (Okina Megumi) at the altar. Akiyuki bows his head and apologizes to Jumonji, and this is the prelude to a growing intimacy between them. Is it love, or is Jumonji after revenge? And what do Yu and Ryo think as they become aware of this relationship? Akiyuki and Yu, it seems, are headed for divorce. Further complications arise for Akiyuki and Yu when Akiyuki’s close friend Shunsuke (Sasaki Kuranosuke) and lawyer Reiko (Hada Michiko), advising on divorce, get involved. With a theme of loneliness, this deftly woven drama portrays adult love affairs that leave the viewer guessing who will end up with whom. With six leads it gets confusing, plus love octagon is a rather boring thing to do. Surprisingly bad jdrama as a resutl.   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. KO One  [終極一班] (Finished 1/21) Tags: Action, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural KO One is a class designed especially for the delinquents and rejects that other high schools would not accept. Even so, everyone in the class is loyal to the leader, Da Dong (KO.3), and would die for friends. Tied for #3, Ya Se, and #4, Xiao Yu soon joins the class. Out of some fortuitous events, their lives become tied together and they become best buddies. Another student, Lei Ke Si, who had been gone for a whole semester, rejoins the class. Although Lei Ke Si seems like a weak kid with only good intentions, Ya Se suspects he is KO.2 because legend say #1 and #2 are capable of concealing their true identities. At the same time, incidents start to occur and the culprit always leads to Ya Se. Is Ya Se wrongly accused? Will the class be able to stand the politics or will it be driven apart? Taiwan is notorious for exaggerated parody comedies. This is another silly and cringy representative.   Overall Rating: 5/10

8. Marrying a Millionaire  [백만장자와 결혼하기] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Romance, Drama Dream of marrying a millionaire? Add one "Average Joe," join seven other chosen women, and let the TV network fund your fantasy. Han Eun Young toils as a bank clerk, struggling to repay debts inflicted by her stepmother and sister. Kim Young Hoon, your quintessential everyman, supports his father, older brother, sister-in-law, and younger sibling. When PD Yoo Jin Ha reluctantly takes over the "Marry a Millionaire" project, he sets out to find the ideal man to play the millionaire role convincingly. Kim Young Hoon fits the bill, effortlessly masking his true blue-collar identity with an air of affluence. Coincidentally, Eun Young is selected for the show, unaware that her supposed millionaire is just a regular worker. However, she sees through the facade Championship in stupidity. Only getting negative emotions out of this.   Overall Rating: 5/10

9. My Girl  [마이걸] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama When Gong Chan meets the lively and beautiful Yoo Rin, he finds out that she has connections to his missing cousin, whom his grandfather has been searching for. He asks Yoo Rin to lie about being his long missing cousin until he can find his real cousin. She says yes, but soon their feelings for each other get in the way of their plans. Gong Chan's friend, Jung Woo falls for Yoo Rin while Gong Chan's ex-girlfriend, Se Hyun, a pro tennis player, tries to win him back. Will the two ever tell each other how they feel? Will Gong Chan ever find his real cousin? Typical poor energetic girl getting employed by rich guy with corresponding antics comedy. I'm not happy with contents, personalities or comedy, so better leaving early.   Overall Rating: 5/10

10. Nobuta wo Produce  [野ブタ。をプロデュース] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Comedy, Youth, Drama Shuji Kiritani, a popular but reserved student, finds himself able to be his true self around eccentric classmate Akira Kusano. When a new girl, Nobuko Kotani, joins the class and faces severe bullying, Akira suggests a makeover to transform Nobuko into one of the school's most popular girls, ending the harassment. Together, Shuji and Akira embark on a journey to change Nobuko's life in this Cinderella-like story about Japanese teenage social dynamics. Will Nobuko really become popular? Cinderella story with male youth idols done properly is hard to miss with. For me it's another teenager bullying and showoff story with rather simple motives and nice actor play, but seeing nothing that I could enjoy.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. One Liter of Tears  [1 リットルの涙 ] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama 15-year-old Ikeuchi Aya is an ordinary girl, the daughter of a family who works at a tofu shop, and a soon-to-be high schooler. However, odd things have been happening to Aya lately. She has been falling down often and walks strange. Her mother, Shioka, takes Aya to see the doctor, and he informs Shioka that Aya has spinocerebellar degeneration - a terrible disease where the cerebellum of the brain gradually deteriorates to the point where the victim cannot walk, speak, write, or eat. Can't stand terminal conditions or understand why watch it at all if not feeling like crying. Otherwise, above average.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Oniyome Nikki  [鬼嫁日記] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Comedy, Family Oniyome Nikki is a true account of the life of a husband who is abused daily by his wife. The drama will depict the exchanges between the couple - the misery and the (unintentionally) comic moments. If drama with such concept is not funny, it's waste of time. This is not funny.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Taereung National Village  [태릉선수촌] (Finished 1/8) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Sports Set in the exhilarating and competitive world of Olympic sports. Min Ki, a judo martial artist, never seems to have luck on his side. Bang Su Ah, an expert archer, on the other hand, can claim to hold two gold medals already but is still thirsty for further success. They are joined in the National Village by a young swimmer who lacks the confidence to reach the top of his game, and Jang Ma Roo, an arrogant young gymnast, who believes nobody can stop her from taking the gold medal. Intertwining their sporting achievements and failures with the struggles in their personal lives, Taerung National Village will keep you hooked from the starting gun right through to the nail-biting photo finish. Three spokons in one is thrice more irritating.   Overall Rating: 5/10

14. Sweet Spy  [달콤한스파이] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Action, Comedy, Romance Nam Sang-mi plays widowed police officer Lee Sun-ae who finds herself suddenly immersed into international espionage by Han Yoo-il (Dennis Oh), an undercover agent. Lee Joo-hyun plays Kang-Jun, who's recently transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department. He opens an old case involving Sun-ae's past that leads him to an entanglement between the current political/economic powers and their secrets. One of them, oddly enough, being Han Yoo-il. Who is this man? Why is he here? I don't know a single good spy story, it's all piles of goo that can stand out only due to side elements. This one is pure goo.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Brother Beat [ブラザー☆ビート] (Finished 4/11) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Family They don't know when to stop and live life to the full—meet the never-a-dull-moment Sakurai family, where nobody holds their feelings back. Sakurai Harue, who brought up her sons alone after her husband died, is absolutely hopeless at running a household. Her eldest, stickler Tatsuya, does the job in her place while keeping younger brothers Riku and Junpei firmly in line. The sparks are constantly flying, but that's the way it goes in this home. Tatsuya, a serious-minded advertising agency worker, and his brothers, an easy-going swimming instructor and somewhat naïve student, are three good-lookers who, along with their useless live-wire of a mother, keep getting into all sorts of scrapes—in love and at work. This is the Sakurai household, where everything hangs loose, and everyone always speaks their mind. Tanaka says she really loves this 'perfect family.' They are sure to win your hearts, too!  Basically, it's work and private lives of three brothers who live with open-minded and careless mom who can be considered fourth brother. Not enjoying this. In the end, it's unrealistic and not particularly interesting.   Overall Rating: 6/10

16. Hua Jai Chocolate  [หัวใจช็อกโกแลต] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Romance, Drama "Hua Jai Chocolate" is about Chun, a rich young man, who does not know the real meaning of love. But when he went to Switzerland to study hotel management, his life changed. During his stay there, he befriended Wan, who was also studying hotel management. As they continue to spend time together, she taught him about love. When Wan learned that Chun was allergic to chocolate, she tried to find a way to help enable him to eat chocolate. She made chocolate candies without chocolate powder, which is called white chocolate, and offered it to him. Since then, their love for each soon blossomed. Finally, a Thai concept without traces of violation or abuse or human slavery. But why, why is it so primitive and bland... they don't even try in anything they do, it's just a chewing gum.   Overall Rating: 5/10

17. A Love to Kill  [이 죽일 놈의 사랑 ] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama Kang Bok Gu, a tough K-1 fighter with a tragic past, falls in love with Cha Eun Seok, a TV talent and actress. His love is forbidden because of a misunderstanding that led to his emotionally wounded brother’s accident. Fueled by hatred and revenge, Bok Gu becomes Eun Seok's private bodyguard, determined to destroy her. However, as he carries out his plan, his feelings for her grow deeper, complicating his desire for vengeance. Bok Gu, a cold and detached man, has long used martial arts as an escape from past heartbreak. Horrible personalities of main characters totally kill this love and leftover crumbles of plot.   Overall Rating: 5/10

18. Golden Apple  [황금사과 ] (Finished 1/30) Tags: Romance, Drama Kim Kyung Sook, Kyung Ku and Kyung Min's father who was a widowed farmer married Keum Shil's mother when Keum Shil was six. The marriage was not a happy one and Keum Shil's mother continued her affair with Park Byung Sam, a rich landlord in the village, who was running for a seat in the Parliament. Her body was discovered in the river after the election and Kyung Sook's father was wrongly accused of being the killer. He was tortured by the police into admission and later died in custody before trial. Park Byung Sam, who was in actual fact Keum Shil's real father, ordered his brother-in-law to adopt Keum Shil and gave him a job at the Intelligence Office in Seoul. Kyung Sook had also moved to Seoul and worked hard to bring up her brothers. She vowed that she would clear her father's name and find the real killer. Park Byung Sam remained her no. 1 suspect even though she was in love with his son, Park Jong Kyu. It turned out that he wasn't the one but who was and why? Artificial feeling detective revenge drama which is hardly watchable with this even longer than usual length.   Overall Rating: 5/10

19. Let's Get Married (2005)  [결혼합시다 ](Finished 1/51) Tags: Romance, Life, Drama Na Young is a thirty-something-year-old woman who gives in to familial pressure to get married. She enters a matchmaking service in a desperate attempt to find a husband. Meanwhile, Jae Won is a man fast-approaching forty with no money to his name. He, too, submits his name to the matchmaking service and by happenstance, the unlikely couple are paired together and married. 51 episode for such simple concept looks like a serious overkill. Poor pace, characters, personalities, situations.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Reaching for the Stars  [真命天女] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Romance Ren Jie, Zhou Xin Lei, and Shen Xiao Rou were all born on the same day but led vastly different lives. On their 22nd birthday, fate brings them together. At a lavish dinner, Xin Lei’s stepfather, Zhou Jian Long, dies of a heart attack, leaving behind a hidden will. While Xin Lei and her mother inherit the mansion and $50 million, Zhou's company stocks are willed to his missing birth daughter. To seize control of the company, the vice chairman hires Ren Jie to pose as the daughter. Meanwhile, policewoman Xiao Rou, frustrated after quitting her job, becomes Ren Jie's bodyguard at Zhou Group. Dreadful. Not seeing a single redeeming point.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Song Rao...Nirundon  [สองเรานิรันดร] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Romance, Drama Even as an orphan, Ittsara had it all; he was President of a major corporation, had a good reputation, and most importantly, a beautiful and charming fiancé, Nitracha. However, Nit's best friend, Opau, was secretly in love with Itt. She had been suppressing her feelings until the day of the wedding. Opau confessed to everything while driving Nit to the ceremony. Meanwhile, Fahkram had just dropped off Praifon to make a business transaction while he picked up a birthday cake for her. On his way back to pick up Fon, he collided into Nit and Opau's car with full force. Fah and Opau were badly injured, but Nit lost her life. Itt could not come to terms with her death and decided to leave Thailand. Opau used her power and turned the blame onto Fah. After the injustice caused by the Hi-So, Fon changed completely. She was no longer the timid girl who couldn't stand up for herself. She became strong, independent, and guarded. One year later, Mungon (Itt's best friend) found him and pressured him into returning to Thailand. Itt was still not ready to return to his "normal" life so he went to the beach instead of his welcome back party. There, he ran into Soda (Fon's nephew) and Fon. He staggered around and eventually ended up at Fon's restaurant. Itt felt the love and warmth of Fon's family and was compelled to stay. He abandoned his previous life and identity so that he could follow his passion in cooking. Out of desperation, Fon hires Itt to be their chef. Fon and Itt constantly quarreled because of their stubbornness and strong personalities. However, the time they spent together healed Itt's broken heart, after being torn with feelings of guilt for somehow betraying his fiance, anger that Fon's brother was the cause of his fiance's death, and even his own denial, he was able to fall in love again. Things were going good until Fon found out the truth about Itt's past and true identity, she had her own issues with what happened in the past. Finally concept is more or less fine, but the flow is as primitive as ever with everpresent jealousie and down to earth dialogues, so irritation level is still high for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

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