Dorama of the Year 2006-III Summer - He Who Can't Marry

He Who Can't Marry is only the third perfect masterpiece for me. 

1. Sapuri [サプリ] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Business, Romance Minami is a single 28-year-old office worker in an advertising office. She's very work-oriented and her love is doubted by her boyfriend. One day, she meets Yuya, who is a part-time worker at her company. Finding it very boring, even good actors could not help it.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Smiling Pasta [微笑 Pasta] (Finished 1/17) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Youth Xiao Shi is a girl who has gone through 17 relationships but always broke up by the third month. She was cursed with a three-month curse by Ah Zhe. After being dumped by her 17th boyfriend, she gave up on the hope of loving another guy. At that time, a famous idol, He Qun, runs past, bumps into Xiao Shi, and they end up "kissing" on the street. Paparazzi swarmed by and titled the kiss as a secret affair behind He Qun's girlfriend, Rita. In order not to make He Qun look bad, his manager declared Xiao Shi as He Qun's girlfriend of one year and fiancee. Thus, a love contract was made. This story is about how the "fake" couple learns to like each other after having disagreements in the beginning, as well as fighting the injustices the media throw at them. Even Ah Zhe and Rita come back into the love triangle! Everyone wants to find love. Will He Qun and Xiao Shi be together, or will they be parted by Ah Zhe and Rita? And will Xiao Shi finally break her 3-month curse? Horrible concept about faking relations, superstitions and low production quality of the Taiwanese make it unwatchable for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

3. Khing Kor Rar Khar Kor Rang (2006) [ขิงก็ราข่าก็แรง] (Finished 1/29) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Nit discovers that Pawee's mother is alive, contrary to what Pawee's father had publicly stated. Nit’s mother, a nun, often visits Pawee's mother at a psych ward, where a bond forms between her and Nit. Pawee is upset by the revelation, leading to misunderstandings with Nit, while his girlfriend Pen is furious about the secret. Meanwhile, Nit's sister Ni is having an affair with Pen’s father, which Nit disapproves of but feels compelled to support her sister. Pawee’s father eventually convinces his wife to return home, but she despises Pen and pressures Pawee to marry Nit. Will Pawee and Nit fall in love despite their circumstances? Typical lakorn.   Overall Rating: 5/10

4. The Vineyard Man  [포도밭 그 사나이] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Comedy, Romance Lee Ji Hyun, a clothing designer in Seoul, reluctantly leaves home for one year to work at her grand uncle's vineyard in a small village. However, when arriving in the country, she reunites with Jang Taek Gi, a local resident who had been wrongfully arrested in Seoul by police after Ji Hyun reported having a dress-which she had designed-had been stolen. The two clash frequently as Ji Hyun has a difficult time adjusting to life in the country and working with Taek Gi. However, after many twists and turns, Ji Hyun adapts to rustic life while falling in love with Taek Gi. Wow, even introductory episodes are pathetic and not funny, it must be a total bore when it comes to village.   Overall Rating: 5/10

5. My Boss, My Hero  [マイ★ボス マイ★ヒーロー] (Finished 2/10) Tags: Comedy, Youth, Drama Sakaki Makio, also known as "Tornado", is a tough 27-year-old high school drop-out. By academic standards, he's pretty dumb. His father decides to force Makio to return to high school to receive his diploma, and he asks an old friend who happens to be the principal of a nearby school to admit Makio. If Makio doesn't graduate, the position of boss will be given to his younger brother, Mikio. Furthermore, he must pose as a 17-year-old during school hours and in the presence of any classmates or teachers outside of school. If his cover is blown, it would be the end of his high school career as well as his hopes to become boss. Things start out rough and tough as Makio's violent temper is tested. As the lessons and days go by, he learns there is much more to school than just tests and studying. Not finding yakuza in school particularly interesting, but quality and humor and quite good, so definitely above average.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Kaew Tah Pee [แก้วตาพี่] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Romance, Drama After being humiliated for being a mistress by her ex-boyfriend’s wife, Lada contemplates suicide at the edge of a bridge. Before she can make up her mind, Nu accidentally bumps into her, causing her to fall off the bridge before she can make her decision. Fortunately, Nu is able to help Lada up, and after yelling at him, she learns that Nu is blind. Feeling gulity, Lada helps Nu to his home and mistakenly believes he lives in a shack. She assumes that he is a poor blind man who is still able to live happily. Seeing how Nu perseveres, Lada makes peace with her past and tries to move on. Nu, who is actually very wealthy, helps Lada to do so. However, before Lada can settle into her new life, her ex-boyfriend and his wife find her and again cause a scene. To help her get a way from all her troubles in Thailand, Nu convinces Lada to go with him to France to help care for him after his eye surgery. To make the travel arrangements easier, Nu talks Lada into being his legal wife on paper. Before heading to Paris, Nu finally reveals to Lada his wealthy background while introducing her as his wife to his employees, including his lawyer and the lawyer’s family. Devastated that Nu is now married, the lawyer’s daughter, who is also in love with Nu, recruits the help of Nu’s ex-girlfriend and the wife of Lada’s ex-boyfriend to help break them up. (Source: asianfuse)  Lakorns are at rock bottom already, so did not expect it to get even worse, but lakorn with disability managed to get even lower.   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. Invincible Parachute Agent  [무적의 낙하산요원] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama Choi Kang, a freeloader at home, has a hard time finding a job after being expelled from high school for fighting. He is admired by the gangs for his fighting ability, but his younger brother, working in the prestigious LK Corp., looks down on him. Then a little luck and a bit of fortune land him a meeting with the President and a job at the KSA (Korean Secret Agency)... and perhaps a girl or two are coming his way as well.  Spy drama just could not be any good.   Overall Rating: 5/10

8. Over the Rainbow (2006) [오버 더 레인보우] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Music, Romance, Youth "Over the Rainbow" is the dark and bright side of the crazy world of dancers and singers. It is a realistically captured drama with dancers that want to become singers. Kwon Hyeok Jo is a stubbon and loving aspiring dancer who falls for Jeong Hee Su who is a dancer thats aspiring to be a singer. They start there journey of stardom together. While Rex is a pretty boy with outstanding talent and is the biggest asset to Pride Ent. tries to break free from his label and do his own thing. Ma Sang Mi is a sweet but very awkward girl still trying to find her calling. This heart wrenching story of becoming and being a popular singer, with all its betrayals and constant meeting and partings. Gives us an inside look on the ups and downs to becoming a star. Showbiz in its primitiveness, and ofc with lots of love triangles. After four episodes nothing was gained but nausea. But at least dances are nice.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Rude Women  [발칙한 여자들] (Finished 2/18) Tags: Romance A story inspired by "Desperate Housewives", this is a korean version of it. Rude Woman (aka Outrageous Women) tells a story about Mi Joo, a divorcee who seek revenge on her ex-husband, Jung Suk, a surgeon who had remarried with his beautiful wife, Eun Young and their daughter Ha Na. Mi Joo then meets Rookie, a former baseball player who happened to be the owner of the house she rents in Korea upon her arrival after 10 years living in U.S with her son, Joon. I wounder who would consider revenge story with toxic characters of any interest at all.   Overall Rating: 5/10

10. Marry Me (2006) [我們結婚吧] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Romance, Life After his sudden rise to stardom, the actor Liu Yu Ming, nicknamed Bian Dang (Lunch Box), overruled his agency's objections and decided to get married. When the news spread, chaos reigned. His fans were very upset about his impending wedding and fights broke out outside the church. Then, they found out... the bride was a no-show. In the ensuing chaos, Bian Dang and his makeup artist, Xiao Qing, put on disguises and sneaked past the paparazzi. The aggressive paparazzi forced Bian Dang to go into hiding. With no home to go back to, Xiao Qing introduced him to a strange place called "The Escape Pod." Everyone there wanted to run away from their old lives. There was Poki who tried to escape his debt in Japan, Wen Zi Yu (Fish) who was running away from home, and there was the owner of The Escape Pod, Chuan Tou (The Captain). In this place, they began a magical love story of running away from and being ran away from. Can be called Taiwanese remake of Mukodono! And Taiwanese still means cringy and of poor quality.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. He Who Can't Marry  [結婚できない男] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Kuwano Shinsuke, a successful architect at 40, enjoys living by himself. He doesn't like people, but somehow is able to design wonderful houses for them. He has a routine of making himself a delicious dinner and then relaxing to classical music in his easy chair while pretending he is the conductor. One night, he plays the music loud enough to make his next-door neighbor, Tamara Michiru, knock on his door to complain. When Shinsuke answers the door, he suffers terrible stomach pain and collapses to the floor. Lucky for him, Michiru is nice enough to accompany him to the hospital, where he is treated by Dr. Hayasake Natsumi. He is really rude to Natsumi, but she is still determined to treat him. Afterwards, Michiru and Natsumi become part of Shinsuke's life. They make friends with Shinsuke's colleagues, Eiji and Sawazaki Maya. They all enjoy talking about how strange and eccentric Shinsuke is. Is it possible that someone would ever want to marry him? Adored it before and can't find reasons to lower the score now. Wonderful actors, perfect hit.   Overall Rating: 10/10

12. My Lovely Fool [내사랑 못난이] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Romance This story is about a woman (Cha Yeon) who grows up in an orphanage with her friend Ho Tae, Cha Yeon got married, had a child named Duri and then got divorced. Duri was born ill and Cha Yeon takes on any kind of job to earn money to save her son. After a scandal with Shin Dong Joo, she agrees to a paper marriage. To add complication to the mix, Dong Joo’s girlfriend is not happy about being left out and Dong Joo’s ex-wife begins to fall for Cha Yeon’s friend Ho Tae .. Meanwhile, Seung Hye’s sister is a patient at the hospital where Dong Joo’s brother works. I believe that it's not consequence of being followed by Kekkon Dekinai Otoko, but this drama is just trash.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Stranger Than Paradise [천국보다 낯선] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Romance Promising film-like production values, this show tells the story of an adopted lawyer from Canada (Lee Sung Jae), a Korean singer dreaming of escaping abroad (Kim Min Jung) and her manager (Uhm Tae Woong). However, the two boys are lost brothers, and they love the same woman. Absolutely horrible, again with psyched up personalities and lots of shouting.   Overall Rating: 5/10

14. Cloud Stairs [구름계단] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama Choi Jung Soo was left in an orphanage by his father who could no longer take care of him after his wife left him for another man. He had a bright future in medicine but could ill afford the tuition fee. In despair, he took off to the remote island where his father grew up in the hope that he would find him there. He ended up spending 7 years there working under the guidance of the island's only doctor and became very good at it. But when he saved Yoon Jung Won who suffered from an acute appendicitis, he became mistaken as a skillful doctor and his life became complicated. Yoon Jung Won was the daughter of the owner of an elite hospital in Seoul and the two began to develop feelings for each other even though she was engaged to be married. He couldn't help falling in love with Jung Won and began to lie to himself and others about his medical credentials. The higher he rose, the harder he fell. The love that he thought would give him everything turned into poison. He lost his world except the love of his woman who stood by him no matter what. Deadly boring as expected from rural doctor story.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Taiyou no Uta [タイヨウのうた] (Finished 4/10) Tags: Music, Romance, Life, Drama While working at a seaside inn with his high school buddies, Fujishiro Koji meets Kaoru Amane, a street musician. Kaoru is suffering from an incurable disease called XP (xeroderma pigmentosum), and can't be exposed to the sun. Under the sun, the two would never have met. Still, destiny brings the two together. Since the day he suddenly lost his job, Koji has lost sight of his dreams. But when he meets Kaoru, who is making positive efforts to become a singer, Koji regains his long-forgotten passion for music. Ofc incurable disease has to mean lethal condition each time. At least music part is ok .   Overall Rating: 6/10

16. Sadut Ruk  [สะดุดรัก] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Action, Romance, Drama This drama is the story about Pimjun and Krit, mother and son, who lived their lives as con artist. They had cheated many greedy and wealthy people for many years. But the police couldn't have arrested them. All the time, Krit wanted to get out of this way of life but Pimjun did not. One day, both he and his mother wanted to change their way of life. That's because they had found the thing that they had never believed in before, that is "love". Krit tried to be a good person after he had met an artist "Pianglada" who is the daughter of the banker. Painglada had good intention to teach poor children to grow up to be good citizen. Krit fell in love with her and helped her find a place for opening art school. He faced many people who caused troubles for him, Rawin, the son of an influential politician who was Pianglada's ex boyfriend.; Supot, the cunning person, the head of a con artist gang who always treaten and cheated them; Chakart , ex police officer who looked like a crazy but very clever man. Chakart was hired from Malinee and Parita, mother and daughter who were tricked to buy the fake diamonds, to track Krit and Pimjun. Meanwhile, Pimjun was going to trick a new target, Supakit, the banker and the national businessman. She found that he was a good person so she wanted to stop lying him and to get out of the bad business as Krit alwayed asked her. But it was not easy to get out of the bad business. How did their loves go? Could the pure love from beautiful artist help him from the bad life? Among lakorns this is definitely above average, but worldwide this is too simple and I see no signs of lakorns getting more complex.   Overall Rating: 5/10

17. The Hospital [白色巨塔] (Finished 1/39) Tags: Romance, Medical When President's only daughter, Liu Xin Ping, checked into the hospital for her chemotherapy treatment, the head of internal Medicine, Dr. Xu Da Ming, and the head of surgery, Dr. Tang Guo Tai, became the core members of the President's medical team. Both men planned to use this opportunity to prove themselves to be the best person for the hospital director's position. Xu advised Liu to have a Central IV implantation to alleviate the discomfort of her treatment. He appointed Dr. Su Yi Hua, an expert in this type of operation, to perform the surgery. When Tang found out, he was furious that Xu appointed one of his surgeons without his explicit approval. To spite Xu and take credit for the treatment, he replaced Su with Dr. Qiu Qing Cheng and publicly announced that he himself had performed the surgery. However, this move put him and the hospital in a very difficult position when Liu developed serious complications after the surgery. Throughout the ordeal, Su tried to maintain his integrity as a doctor by standing up to Tang. His actions created great displeasure in his boss and caused him to be alienated from the entire surgical department. While Su was experiencing alienation, the woman he loved was also under duress in the hospital. Anesthesiologist Guan Xin was caught in a medical malpractice claim involving hospital director Huang Kai-Yuan. Through Tang, Huang put pressure on Guan to take the blame for the malpractice. Guan refused. In the ensuing media circus, Guan endured pressures from both the hospital and the victim's family. She learned that it's difficult to maintain principle in the face of reality. Tang's overbearing attitude eventually led to his own downfall and Xu's rise to power. The shift in power stirred up a series of personnel changes, of which directly impacted the future of Qiu, Su and other members of the surgical department. Realistic hospital intrigues is already surprising to see from Taiwan. But I'm not finding it particularly interesting.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Hanayome wa Yakudoshi!  [花嫁は厄年ッ] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Family This year is the yakudoshi, or "unlucky year" for 32-year old Akiko, a television announcer. She lost her position in a news program to a rookie announcer. What's worse, she is assigned to go undercover and experience life as a farmer's bride for a variety program. Akiko pretends to be the fiance of Ichiro, her ex-boyfriend, and begins her "bridal training" at the peach farm of Ichiro's parents. Awaiting Akiko is a family filled with extraordinary personalities, led by the stern mother-in-law, Yukie Again adventures of town dweller in a village. It's fine and even moderately funny at times.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Duang Jai Patiharn [ดวงใจปาฏิหาริย์] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Romance, Drama Techo is a millionaire. Unfortunately, he has a heart disease since he was born. After his parents passed away, he became despaired and lived his life heartlessly. He doesn't care for everyone and anything and likes to risk his life doing dangerous activity. So, everybody sees him thinks that he is a mean and heartless guy. Later, Doctor Sakarin, his personal doctor gets an idea to use art therapy to soothe Techo's mind, so he hires Morin, a jobless artist to teach Techo and inspire him to want to continue his life and wait for a new heart transplant. Eventually, Techo falls in love with Morin.  As primitive as usual.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Please Come Back, Soon Ae  [돌아와요 순애씨] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Supernatural Soon Ae, a 40-something lady in her 10th year of marriage, suddenly finds Cho Eun, a pretty stewardess in her 20's, stride into her life to announce that "I am going out with your husband, Captain Yoon Il Seok." Cho Eun shamelessly asks Soon Ae to get a divorce and give up her husband. Shocked with disbelief, Soon Ae climbs into Cho Eun's car, saying that she must confirm what she has heard with Il Seok first. Although Soon Ae tries her best to stay composed and keep a straight face, she feels her blood boil when Cho Eun taunts her by saying that there's no point in staying in a marriage without love or affection. When Il Aeok calls Cho Eun and says, "Honey, where are you?" Soon Ae loses it and grabs for Cho Eun's hair. The two women go on pulling on each other's hair and crash the car. They are moved to a hospital where their souls become switched around...  Nothing good ever comes from body switch, and I really did not need this yet another reminder of that.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Love Queen [戀愛女王] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Romance Never cross a woman. Ten years ago, Zuo Shao Tang humiliated Zhang Jin Han in front of the entire school and left her unlucky for the next ten years. Ten years later, they meet again but he does not recognise her. How will the bewildered Zuo Shao Tang escape her vengence? Zhang Jin Han, for her part, suddenly finds herself sharing her new home with two unwelcome roommates. Revenge and luck together with lackluster Taiwanese production make it even sillier than expected.   Overall Rating: 5/10

22. Regatta  [レガッタ] (Finished 1/9) Tags: Romance, Youth, Sports Makoto is a promising oarsman at a University regatta team. One day, he loses his best friend by a tragic accident which he believes and blames himself for the very cause. Although he once leaves the team out of tremendous sense of responsibility, he finally decides to return by the encouragement of Misao and his teammates, and moreover, for the love and passion of regatta. He is determined than ever to become a top class oarsman and struggles to fulfill his dream to participate in the Olympic games. Through the severe practices and competitions of regatta, Makoto learns the bitterness and difficulties of life. Rivalry with teammates, agonies of love and friendship... The first ever drama of the rising actor Hayami to perform as the leading role! This time even the Japanese can't make a spokon watchable.   Overall Rating: 5/10

23. Live with in-Laws  [麻辣婆媳] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Comedy, Drama, Family This is a drama about the everyday ups and downs of life and the complex network of relationships within a family. The story begins with Ou Da Liang's marriage to psychiatrist Wu Rui. Da Liang's mother strongly disapproves of her new daughter-in-law and always laments about how great Da Liang's ex-girlfriend was Chinese family bickering is as boring as expected.   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. Dance Drill  [ダンドリ] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Romance, Youth, Sports The story of this drama is based on a Kanagawa Prefecture senior high school cheerleading team which won the All-US cheerleading contest. The last summer vacation in high school is a time when unforgettable memories are made and everything seems so bright. July 2006. For 18 girls, their unforgettable summer has arrived! At first, the girls in this drama are leading mundane lives, uncertain of their future. What's more, they feel there's nothing special about them. But when they discover cheerleading, their world changes completely. Suddenly, their lives are centered around cheerleading. More than fashion, studies, and romance, they are obsessed with cheerleading. Join the girls as they work together towards the same goal and experience the most exciting summer ever! Not much different from spokon.   Overall Rating: 5/10

25. Akihabara@DEEP (2006) [アキハバラ@DEEP] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Action, Comedy Akihabara is a Tokyo district full of mangas, anime, electronics, video games, figurines, etc. It is a place that gathers fanatics of such themes, people who are commonly referred to as otaku. Page, Box, Akira, Taiko, Daruma, and Izumu are six otakus, each with his/her own troubles, who sought relief through a website called "Yui's Lifeguard". When the site owner, Yui, died of a mysterious death, the six, who are each expert in their own fields, gathered to form "Akihabara@DEEP", a "troubleshooter" group that vows to protect Akihabara and solve the problems of its inhabitants. It's too caricatoorish and goofy. Not sure who it's made for, but not enjoying it at all.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Jao Sao Ban Rai [เจ้าสาวบ้านไร่] (Finished 1/17) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama After her parent's death, Pimpika goes to live with her grandfather and her brother, Ravy, in the countryside and met Saran, the lord of this place. Unfortunately, her grandfather died and Ravy sold her to a rich man Tynamay who wants to own her. Typical lakorn.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Maiden's Vow  [鳳凰四重奏] (Finished 1/30) Tags: Historical, Romance, Drama The history of this restaurant is closely intertwined with the stories of four women of different generations. It portrays the commonest marital problems and various kinds of stress suffered by women over the centuries. In the late Qing Dynasty – Ngai Yu Fung’s family goes into a decline and, without a choice, she is married off to Wong Yuk Lun who later ends up losing all his money. Fung sells the love token given by her first lover Yu Tsz in exchange for money, with which she sets up the Phoenix Restaurant. During the May Fourth Movement – Fung’s daughter Wong Chi Kwan elopes to Tianjin with her teacher Lee Kat Cheung. The pair finally split up, following which Kwan moves back to Beijing and the Phoenix Restaurant is already dying on its feet. Collection of stories.   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. My Beloved Sister [누나 ] (Finished 1/55) Tags: Romance, Life, Drama, Family, Melodrama She faces poverty, something that is more scary and unfamiliar to her than sadness. But she proudly recovers her original place by believing in herself. Many people regard accumulation of riches as the ultimate value of life. However, we have now reached a point where we need to look back and reconsider our life goals. This drama series revolves around a twenty-something woman who is suddenly thrown into the cold world together with her immature brothers, after losing her father to a sudden accident. Within a very short period, she experiences the two extreme facets of life. Coming face-to-face with poverty, something that is more scary and unfamiliar than sadness, she also has to withstand psychological downfall, which is more difficult than her loss of wealth. Fortunately, there is a man standing next to her, quietly supporting her. She overcomes her crisis thanks to this simple, warm-hearted man and his family, finally recovering her original place through her own strength and means. Through this young woman and stories about people around her, this drama series intends to ponder about the true and worthy values that we need to pursue to make our lives more meaningful. Typical lackluster melodrama without anything praiseworthy.   Overall Rating: 5/10

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