Drama = Addictive

Oh, dramas, how I love thou.  I try to stay away, but somehow, you keep pulling me back.  You teach me lessons about life, love, relationships, joy, sadness, longing, hope...and I don't even understand your language.  How hopeless.

Inspired by my post about Secret Garden, I've decided to write about the countless hours of Asian dramas I've watched throughout the past five years.  I just started watching dramas when I was a freshman in college, so my list is not extensive...yet.  Below are my favorite dramas of all time, somewhat in order from my favorite to least favorite:

1. Devil Beside You - This is probably my favorite drama of all time.  It's a Taiwanese drama that a family friend, T, recommended to me.  I may have gotten swept away with the cast because I watched this drama right after I watched Why Why Love.  It's very much a sweet love story about a girl and boy in high school who's parents begin dating.  I know, the plot might not sound too appealing, but the characters' love and actions for one another were very touching.  My only complaint in this drama is Mike He's hair...why did you have to use bobby pins?!?!
2. Secret Garden - This had me laughing from the very beginning.  See my post from March 16th for a more detailed review.
3. Boys Over Flowers - In addition to Secret Garden and Devil Beside You, Boys Over Flowers has made my top 3 drama list.  The common theme between them is that there is a great balance of comedy and romance in them, and the storyline didn't drag very much.  More specifically to Boys Over Flowers, it is the Korean version of Meteor Garden and Hana Yori Dango.  What I liked more about Hana Yori Dango was that it had more intense/emotional scenes in the beginning.  In Boys Over Flowers, I enjoyed the more modern fashion of the cast and set, and the plot moved along quicker.  I would recommend watching both if you have time, though.
4. Why Why Love - This has the same cast as Devil Beside You.  I watched this drama before I watched Devil Beside You, and I fell in love with the cast.  It's a cute drama about a poor girl who is working to help support her family, and she and her friend sell coupons with random tasks they will perform when people draw them.  The main guy, Huo Da, ends up getting a master/servant coupon, and the rest of the drama is about Jia Di, the main girl, fulfilling the task.  You can probably guess what happens...but that's what makes dramas so addicting, no?
5. Hana Yori Dango (Seasons 1 & 2 and The Final Movie) - This was the first drama I ever watched, thanks to the recommendation of my friend, L.  [He also recommended that I watch the Korean movie 200 Pound Beauty, which I really enjoyed as well.] Hana Yori Dango is the Japanese version of Boys Over Flowers and Meteor Garden.  I remember crying and laughing a lot through this drama.  Even though I wished some of the actors would cut their hair and stop wearing lip gloss, this show was worth watching.  I liked the storyline and the final movie was a nice surprise, which I watched a few years after finishing the actual drama.  This one will always have a special place in my heart.
   
6. Coffee Prince - I didn't think I would enjoy this drama as much as I did.  It's about a girl who pretends to be a guy to work as a fast food delivery boy.  She ends up getting a job at a coffee shop that only hires males.  It's very comedic and also sometimes uncomfortable/embarrassing to watch as the girl and her boss grow to like each other but deny their attraction as two males.  It's definitely a different approach to the traditional storyline. While it ended up being a love story, what sets this drama apart is that the audience can see the relationships develop between the characters at the friendship level.  There is a loyalty, concern, and caring nature they have towards one another that you know will continue long after the honeymoon and drama is over.
7. Stairway to Heaven - This was the second drama I ever watched.  It's more serious than the shows I usually watch and very cliche, but it is one of the classics that is worth watching.  Kwon Sang Woo is also a good reason to watch it, too.
8. Other Dramas - I've also watched the following dramas as well:  My Girl, Full House, It Started With a Kiss (Seasons 1 & 2), Fated to Love You, Pasta (didn't finish)... and probably a few others I can't remember.  They all had their good moments and many of them are very popular.

Good sites to watch these at were Hulu and Mysoju.  My friend, C, recommended I watch Ups and Downs in the Sea of Love, and I am currently in the middle of My Lovely Sam Soon.  Even as I finish one, I'm always looking for another good one to watch.  I don't know if I can handle the very sad ones, but I may have to start moving on to those once I run out of comedies to watch.  Oh, dramas, you complete me.