Dorama of the Year 2014-II Spring - Platonic (2014)

Not so great season for me. If I had to choose one, I'd set on Platonic (2014) 

1. Hanasaki Mai Speaks Out (2014)  [花咲舞が黙ってない] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Mystery, Business, Drama Every day, bank branches encounter various problems like missing money, information leaks, loan problems & breach of duties. Hanasaki Mai's job is to go there and fix the problems. She is able to do so even though she is just a bank clerk without higher-level powers. Because of her character, Hanasaki Mai will not keep still when she sees a wrong. She's willing to stand up for the side of the weak, regardless of the relation between the top and bottom factions of the bank. As expected, just pushy girl mystery investigation.   Overall Rating: 5/10

2. Prince William (2014) [威廉王子] (Finished 1/14) Tags: Psychological, Comedy If you had a chance to live a much different life, would you take it? A happy-go-lucky fishmonger, Liu Wen Bin, lives and works in a small village and has, for the most part, been content with his way of life. But one day, he meets Yi Wei Lian, a city man who has been involved in an accident. Because he bears such a strong resemblance to William, Ah Bin is forced into a situation where he has to assume the identity of William. But can Ah Bin fool William’s sister, Yi Xin, a journalist, and keep her from discovering his true identity? Typical narcistic fake identity trash.   Overall Rating: 5/10

3. Silent Poor (2014) [サイレント・プア] (Finished 2/9) Tags: Drama, Family Satomi Ryo, a Community Social Worker (CSW) in the Shitamachi area, helps the poor and needy, including those with juvenile dementia, recluses, and the homeless. The government established the CSW role to address the rising issue of poverty and isolation. Ryo, having once struggled with depression herself, believes in the power of starting over and uses her experiences to help others in despair. Could not tolerate this complete misery and poverty in each episode for long, even for Fukada Kyoko.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. Journey to the Sing & War (2014) [唱戰記] (Finished 2/9) Tags: Music, Youth, Drama Musical competition. Can't say there's much difference with Kpop drama, maybe only humanlike teacher, more silliness and focus on every student at once. Nice overall, but can't find reason to go on as it's not fun or entertaining or exciting enough.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Platonic (2014) [プラトニック] (Finished 2/8) Tags: Romance, Life, Drama, Family Midnight. On a certain website, Sara types "If you are dying, please donate your heart to my daughter". In an Internet cafe. The young man taps slowly on the keyboard. When Sara next rechecks the website, she sees a reply. "I would like to give my heart". And thus, the mysterious young man enters single mother Sara's life. When she falls in love, it is time for the young man to die. Is that what fate has in store for Sara? Two terminal conditions! I've seen all these elements reassembled together here. The only really bright spot here is Domoto Tsuyoshi play, as usual with him. But it's too slow and mundane.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Gokuaku Ganbo (2014) [極悪がんぼ] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Comedy, Crime, Drama When Kaoru Kanzaki was a child, her mother’s restaurant went bankrupt. Her family became poor afterwards. Since graduating from middle school, Kaoru Kanzaki has worked hard and lived a thrifty life to escape poverty. As a result, she is able to save 1 million yen. Kauro though lends her colleague 1 million yen, which leads her to fall heavily in debt and her life spiral downward again. At that time, Kaoru Kanzaki happens to meet members of Koshimizu Management Consultant and becomes a member. Kaoru Kanzaki struggles to get out of her desperate situation.  Debts and battle of con artists, not great.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. Black President (2014) [ブラック・プレジデント] (Finished 5/11) Tags: Business, Comedy, Life Mitamura Yukio is the founder and president of a rapidly growing apparel company. However, it is actually a company that exploits its employees. Mitamura places priority on the company’s profits and has been overworking his employees but he sees nothing wrong. Instead he believes that hard work is necessary to achieve results. Therefore, demanding work is justified. He does not think his beloved company exploits its employees. Mitamura has delegated work to his subordinates and has time to enroll in a university to study company management from the basics. This is where he meets a new lecturer Akiyama Kyoko. Although he feels attracted to the intellectual Kyoko, the complete differences in their environment and way of thinking results in frequent clashes. Then there are the young people called the “pressure-free generation”. Mitamura looks down on this bunch who would never get a job with his own company. But in an unexpected turn of events, he has interactions with these university students, and because of that, he gets inspired and learns a lot of things. On the other hand, the attempt to oust Mitamura is gathering strength within his company. Mitamura himself soon realises that his company exploits its employees and a power struggle begins inside. Wow, both Kuroki Meisa and Kuninaka Ryoko have major roles. Show's alright, but with weak concept like this lacks in substance. It tries to tackle social problems like black firms, sexism, harassment etc, so it's generally no fun.   Overall Rating: 6/10

8. Tie the Knot (2014) [媽咪的男朋友] (Finished 1/70) Tags: Business, Comedy, Romance, Drama Life doesn’t always allow you to do things in the proper order. Li Xiao Mei is a career woman who works as a manager for a wedding consulting firm. When she finds out that she suffers from a condition that has to be treated by removing her uterus, Xiao Mei finds a sperm donor so that she can have a child before removing her womb. A wedding gown designer, Liu Zi Jun, falls in love with Xiao Mei and tries earnestly to win her over. But Xiao Mei’s unexpected new boss, Huang Shi Jia, develops feelings for her as well. Which suitor will she choose to tie to knot? Typical romance slop so far, super boring.   Overall Rating: 5/10

9. Fall in Love with Me (2014) [愛上兩個我] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Comedy, Romance Lu Tian Xing is a prodigy in Asia's advertising field. Rich, famous, and mightily successful, he suddenly announces during a press conference that he will be taking a three-month break from the advertising life. With a simple disguise, he transforms himself into "Xiao Lu." Enter Tao Le Si, a young woman who promised her late brother to protect his advertising agency and his legacy. Unfortunately, business never picks up, and Le Si had to battle with Tian Xing to stop her company from being sold. When Xiao Lu enters her office doors, Le Si initially thinks that he's Tian Xing, but the two men's personalities are complete opposites. Le Si finds herself drawn to Xiao Lu's warm temperament, but will their love last once she discovers the truth of his identity? Both artificial leads are very irritating for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

10. Loving, Never Forgetting (2014) [恋恋不忘] (Finished 1/34) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama She first met him when the blooming lotus flower was falling, only to have to part ways. Years later, when they reunited, Li Zhong Mou had all but forgotten Wu Tong's existence, leaving her forlorn. However, the only thing he wants from her now is the guardianship of their son. Seven long years together, can they fix their broken relationship? Typical melodramatic squabbles over a powerful family and its company that are not worth a dime.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. Perfect Couple (2014) [金玉良缘] (Finished 1/45) Tags: Historical, Comedy, Romance Yu Qi Ling is on a mission to find her adoptive mother's son. It so happens that her adoptive mother's son is Jin Yuan Bao. Yu Qi Ling finds her way into the capital and tries to find the birthmark that is shaped of a moon cresent on Jin Yuan Bao's body. She tries several ways to do it and eventually ends up in a hotel with Jiang Xiao Xuan, Jin Yuan Bao's fiancée, which was an imperial decree from the empress dowager. As Yu Qi Ling and Jiang Xiao Xuan are together, Jiang Xiao Xuan runs away from the wedding, and Yu Qi Ling has no other choice but to marry Jin Manor as Jiang Xiao Xuan. Jin Yuan Bao and Yu Qi Ling fall in love whereas Jiang Xiao Xuan meets Gu Chang Feng, which happens to be Jin Yuan Bao's best buddy and a doctor in the Jin Manor. Jiang Xiao Xuan tells Gu Chang Feng that her name is Xue Er, and Jiang Xiao Xuan ends up in the Jin Manor. As the four of them start to fall in love and deal with issues together, they have more problems than they thought. Another dreadful "historical" Chinese "comedy" that makes me want block this subgenre altogether.   Overall Rating: 5/10

12. Leh Nangfah (2014) [เล่ห์นางฟ้า] (Finished 1/28) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy Teepob and Lallalit "Beauty" grew up together but he hates her. So when she comes to him for help to regain power over her family's company, he pranks her by sending her to do the lowest jobs. Lallalit is a spoiled, bratty and selfish heiress who is completely absorbed with her own beauty. Looking down from heaven two angels decide to teach her a lesson by acting as her fairy godmothers and casting a spell on her. Only she doesn't receive a reward but the curse of living her life as a human at day and as a bird at night. Only true love's kiss can break the spell thinks everyone loves her, so when she was challenged to break the spell. Of course, Lallalit thinks it would be a piece of cake to find somebody love her but to her surprise she overhears people talking badly about her, hating her for being rotten. Comedy lakorn typically means just a stupid circus.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Lovers of Music (2014) [트로트의 연인] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Music, Comedy, Romance Jang Jun Hyeon is a talented and popular musician. He looks down upon the traditional trot music genre. Meanwhile, Choi Chun Hui works multiple jobs as the breadwinner to support her father and younger sister. Her mother was a trot singer, and she inherited the voice, along with hopes of being a trot singer herself someday. A romantic relationship begins between these two individuals.  The usual spiteful toxicity.   Overall Rating: 5/10

14. Angel Eyes (2014) [엔젤아이즈] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Romance, Medical, Melodrama Park Dong Joo is an intelligent and bright high-school aged boy who, after losing his father in a tragic accident, grew up in a warm and loving household with his mother and his sick younger sister. He does early morning part-time jobs to help his little family make ends meet and meets a blind girl, Yoon Soo Wan, in one of his early morning runs. The pair fall in love but have to separate due to sad and conflicting family histories. 12 years later, Park Dong Joo returns to South Korea after qualifying as an outstanding surgeon in the United States, and he meets Yoon Soo Wan again. Unfortunately, Yoon Soo Wan, who has undergone an eye-transplant surgery and is now able to see, is unable to recognize him and even has a new boyfriend. What will Park Dong Joo do? and can the family histories which separated them be overcome again? Melodrama with blindness, suicide attempt and tearjerkers... cheesy and bland.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Triangle (2014) [트라이앵글] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Action, Business, Romance, Drama Three brothers lost their parents and grew up separately without knowing the whereabouts of each other for more than 20 years. Because they have taken on new names and are all grown up, they are unable to recognize each other later on. Their fates become intertwined as they become bitter adversaries. Revenge trash without a single reasonable personality.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Jang Bori Is Here (2014) [왔다! 장보리] (Finished 1/52) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama “Can a long-lost daughter find happiness when she is reunited with her parents after 20 years?” In a complicated twist, a young woman from a wealthy family goes missing and is raised by a foster mom instead of her own parents. Meanwhile, her wealthy family adopts a girl to overcome the loss of their daughter. The tensions that arise when the daughter finds her real family results in a journey of understanding and forgiveness. Thought I excluded all the big family melodrama longshots, but this one did not look exactly like family one, but turned out to be one.   Overall Rating: 5/10

17. Glorious Day (2014) [기분 좋은날] (Finished 1/44) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Han Song Jeong is a novel writer and also a single mother who has raised three daughters: Da Ae, Da Jeong and Da In. She struggles to let her three daughters marry good men. Meanwhile, Seo Jae U is the eldest grandson of the family next door, who earns a steady income as a corporate drone. Although he’s inherited his grandfather’s brusque and conservative nature, he’s also received kind-hearted qualities from his father and is intrinsically a good man. Exalted madness in the asylum.   Overall Rating: 5/10

18. Repentance (2014) [개과천선] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Business, Law, Drama A ruthless lawyer at a high-powered law firm gets amnesia after being involved in an accident. He becomes a different person and fights for justice, which sets him on a collision course with the very same law firm that he worked for. He reflects on his life with a newfound perspective. Slightly better than the usual, but that's it, probably because of law firm environment, but it still does not make it even above average.   Overall Rating: 5/10

19. Endless Love (2014) [끝없는 사랑] (Finished 1/37) Tags: Action, Romance, Drama, Melodrama A drama about Korean politics and financial situations in the 1970-1990s through the life of a woman. After a traumatic past of witnessing her mother's death, Seo In Ae grows up as an ambitious woman with a sharp mind who knows how to grab people's hearts, while still holding hope to avenge her mother someday. Since childhood, her life has been entangled with two opposite-personalities brothers from poor fisherman family, Han Kwang Hoon and Han Kwang Chul. Kwang Hoon is the elder brother and an ambitious man. Kwang Chul has never stopped loving In Ae, who is his older brother's lover. Revenge type in retrospective - new subtype of trash.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. One and a Half Summer (2014) [一又二分之一的夏天] (Finished 1/27) Tags: Romance, Youth A young adult drama about campus life. Nichkhun will play a Chinese American who travels to China to study abroad and to find the girl that he loves. The drama will be set in a beautiful college campus and will draw out the stories of the young students in a fun and romantic way. Chinese student youth drama that does not catch stars from the sky.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Yoo Na's Street (2014) [유나의 거리] (Finished 1/50) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Crime, Drama Yu Na, who used to be part of the dark world as a thief, sometimes goes back to her old habits. When she moves into a multiplex house, she meets a group of old gangsters with dark pasts. Han, the owner of the place, used to be a gang boss but has started a new life as a good citizen. All sorts of people live together - a member of Korea’s first-generation mafia, a corrupt former policeman, and a charged adulterer. While they have been living aimless lives, a sweet and innocent guy named Chang Man shows up and changes their worldview. At first, they thought Chang Man’s pure innocence was stupid. However, he soon becomes the most important person in their lives. In the meantime, Yu Na feels love for the first time while quarreling with Chang Man. What will become of their dramatic love for one another? Was stupid of me to believe it might be similar to Ruler of your own world just because of concept similarity. As every longshot, it's tiresome and boring.   Overall Rating: 5/10

22. Life Revelation (2014) [生活启示录] (Finished 1/35) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Life, Drama Xiao Qiang, who has just undergone a very stressful divorce, has no faith in love, until she meets Bao Jia Ming, a young computer engineer. He is idealistic, ambitious, and everything she no longer believes she is. The story tells of the two's romance and how they overcome the many obstacles that pave their way. Horrible tasteless mundane boredom.   Overall Rating: 5/10

23. You Light Up My Star (2014) [你照亮我星球] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Business, Romance, Drama A pair of A-list couple whose every loving word, every kiss, every romantic moment in the past 7 years are under the limelight for all to see. But when the camera stop rolling, they are just two people who can't stand the sight of each other. Their happy facade begins to crack when one of them decides to do something about it. Averageness without a glimpse of interest.   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. First Class (2014) [ファースト・クラス] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Romance, Drama Yoshinari Chinami, who has been selling buttons and fabric at a clothing material store in an old neighbourhood of Tokyo, unexpectedly finds herself working at the editorial division of a fashion magazine and is thrilled. The fashion industry is a dazzling world which she has never seen before. But what opens up to her is a terrifying den of demons where females prey on each other day after day … … From the low-level person who has to do odd jobs for a lifetime to the uppermost level which manipulates magazines and advertisements at will, it is an industry of dramatic disparities. It is also a ridiculous female world where women assign ratings and rankings change everyday. The only way to survive in this harsh place is to be “first class”. Chinami’s only friend is the assistant photographer Nishihara Itsuki. Will she be able to to find happiness in this fashion hell? Fashion industry and typical nest of snakes, seen it a lot of times, so no idea why bother yet another time.   Overall Rating: 5/10

25. Only If I Love You (2014) [如果我愛你] (Finished 1/42) Tags: Romance, Drama "If I Love You" ("Only If I Love") is part of Queen of SOP trilogy featuring Adam's story. Adam, his brother, Su Wei, and their mother help manage a winery with their friend in Italy. They attend a wine tasting conference sponsored by Shi Ying and through this, they meet Shi Ying's actress friend, An Ling. In order to fulfill An Ling's dream of being an actress, he produces a movie which places An Ling as the female lead and the filming takes place at Adam's winery. However, as time progresses, Adam and An Ling become intimate which increases Shi Ying's jealousy. Time and time again, Shi Ying devises plans to ruin Adam, only to find Adam constantly back in his life and taking everything that he has. This drama revolves around love, secrets, and ultimately, family. Ming Dao is instant no, ruins every show.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Never Dance Alone (2014) [女人俱樂部] (Finished 1/32) Tags: Life, Drama, Sports Mo Siu Sze leads an ordinary married life with her husband Wong Kwok Leung, and is often bullied by her ferocious mother-in-law Wong Chiu Wing Mui for no reason. One day, coincidentally, she spots a leaflet from "Cyndi Dance Studio", evoking her memories of the good old days in high school. In those days she loved writing and organized "MCLUB" together with the others. They included Chu LeI, who was often mocked for her accent, Law Fung Sin, who is enthusiastic about dancing, nosy Luk Yuen Chau, precocious Chu LeI and superstitious Leung Kam Yin, all vowing to stay united and never drift apart. However, more than twenty years have passed, the group disbanded and they went their separate ways and they are no more that young. When dreams and reality collide, the only thing left is nostalgia except for Fung Sin. She continues to pursue her dreams of dancing. Due to an accident, she is hospitalized, leading to a reunion of her bosom buddies. While striving to safeguard the "Cyndi Dance Studio" for their friend, they run into their archrival, campus belle Yung Dan Dan, whose "D Fitness" turns out to be a formidable foe for the "Cyndi Dance Studio". With Siu Sze re-encountering her first love Yiu Chi Lun, Chu Lei reflects on the past ranging from ruining their relationship on the sly to giving birth to her daughter as a result of a premarital pregnancy, and all sorts of feelings well up in Chu LeI's heart...... Having gone through all these, their vitality, courage, passion and confidence that seemingly disappeared have just been reignited..  Excessively silly and artificial.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Kohiya No Hitobito (2014) [珈琲屋の人々] (Finished 1/5) Tags: Life, Drama Shitamachi, Tokyo. Along a shopping street, there is a retro-looking cafe, "Coffee-ya". Soda Kosuke is the owner of the said cafe, and the coffee that he brews lovingly, warms the heart of the drinker. However, Kosuke is an ex-convict and has a painful emotional past. One day, Kashiwagi Fuyuko discovers this quaint little cafe, and she starts dropping by daily for a cup of coffee. Soon, Kosuke's feelings are stirred, he finds himself slowly falling for her and thus, he starts to try to get to know the true Fuyuko... Typical bartender type that's of zero interest to me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. Lovestore at the Corner (2014) [巷弄裡的那家書店] (Finished 1/25) Tags: Romance A corner bookstore in a small town may hold clues to a woman who went missing after going to Bi Jia Mountain alone years ago. Xiang Shu Lei was dating Du Ke Jie but also had emotional attachments to Dong Xin Ni. One day, Ke Jie goes to Bi Jia Mountain alone and never returns. Riddled with guilt, Shu Lei and Xin Ni break off ties with each other. Ke Jie’s younger sister, Ke Xing, and her parents are heartbroken over her disappearance but gradually come to terms with the fact that they will never see her again. They begin to pack up Ke Jie’s belongings, not knowing that Shu Lei has secretly taken all of Ke Jie’s beloved books. Then tragedy strikes again when Shu Lei gets into a car accident and loses his memory. He then moves to the small town of Yi Lan and opens a bookstore with Ke Jie’s books. When Ke Xing finds the store and discovers Shu Lei’s amnesia, she and her boyfriend, Li Ze Xuan, try to job Shu Lei’s memory for their own personal gain. But will Ke Xing’s feelings get in the way of their plan? As if disappearance with numerous flashbacks is not enough, there's also amnesia. Cheesy and uninspiring.   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Kuu Neru Futari Sumu Futari (2014) [喰う寝るふたり 住むふたり] (Finished 2/8) Tags: Comedy, Romance Machida Ritsuko and Nonoyama Shuichi (nickname Non-chan) are two thirtysomethings who have been living together for the past 8 years. One day, while Non-chan has gone fishing for the day, Ritsuko invited her good friend Niinuma Mina over to their apartment for some girls' talk. Mina then asked Ritsuko if she and Non-chan are planning to get married yet, to which Ritsuko replies, "He has yet to propose". At that exact moment, Non-chan was actually outside the door, having just returned from his fishing trip. Shocked to hear their conversation, Non-chan becomes moody, and thus begins to question their relationship. Although they have many things in common, but he feels they seem to be having many difference in opinions too... Normal situational SOL with some romance context. Nothing unusual, but more or less watchable unlike majority of drama.   Overall Rating: 6/10

30. Roosevelt Game (2014) [ルーズヴェルト・ゲーム] (Finished 3/9) Tags: Business, Drama, Sports Hosokawa Mitsuru is the company president of Aoshima Manufacturing, a medium-sized precision instrument maker caught in a crisis of survival due to the recession and intense competition with other companies in the industry. Hosokawa joined Aoshima Manufacturing mid-career. His ability was appreciated by the founder and chairman, Aoshima Tsuyoshi and he became the president through an unprecedented promotion. However, Hosokawa’s promotion over all other executives who have been at Aoshima Manufacturing all their lives is greatly criticised by the people in the company. Shortly after he assumed his post, the world is plunged into a recession which has its roots in a financial crisis, and Aoshima Manufacturing is no exception. Its business falters. Hosokawa has to face the ordeal of betting on the company’s survival as its president. How will he overcome life’s greatest predicament? Baseball and story about near bankruptcy go poorly together. Definitely not masterpiece material, gets boring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

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