Updated

I decided that the "Currently Watching" list is a bit pointless since I'm always updating what I am watching and I go through them pretty quickly to keep taking items on and off the list. Also, I don't think anyone really wants to know what I'm watching right? So instead, I've replaced it with "Highly Recommended" to put down the ones that I've enjoyed and are recommending it to anyone who asks me :)

As always, please feel free to email if you have something to recommend!

New look Dramacrazy.net

Every now and then (actually, more like everyday) I would visit http://www.dramacrazy.net/ to check if the latest episodes of the dramas I'm chasing are out yet. I was in for a surprise today - they had changed the whole look of the site!

Of course, there are good and bad points... good is that it seems more condensed (no need to scroll too much!) and it's been organised in such a way that the latest updated/uploaded episodes are up the top.

But the frustrating part is that there used to be a whole list of all the different episodes on the right-hand column, which is now gone! Instead there is a small list of the popular series of Fall '09 and when I say small, it's like tiny... like a list of 10. And when I clicked on Liar Game 2 it says there are only 3 episodes: 1,2,4. What happened to number 3?! The same thing with Real Clothes it says there are only 3 episodes but I know there are already 5 of them, so where have the rest gone to??

Keeping Up to Date

It's been awhile since I last blogged - time flies!

I've been watching a whole lot of doramas, too many to keep up with the reviews! I even wrote down a list of dramas to review haha! (seriously, there are too many >.<)

Currently following Fall 2009 J-doramas update:

Tokyo Dogs Ep 6. With every episode I watch of Tokyo Dogs, I just can't wait til the next one comes out! I knew Yuki has the hots for Takakura but I wonder if he feels the same way...? I do feel so sorry for Masuo who is just so lovable! Dialogues are still hilarious and I'm enjoying this series too much for it to end :( I'm definitely going to buy the dvd when it comes out! Oh and I like the ending credits theme by Exile

Real Clothes Ep 4. Career or love? Personally, I wouldn't know what to choose... Especially if you're at "that age" where everyone expects you to get married and your family/relatives keep asking you about that. It's the same for Kinue and I think we've really seen her "grown" into someone who could really think about pursuing a career like her boss, Miki-san. But when that girl (forgot her name) came up to Tatsuya in the hospital, I just knew that their relationship would come to an end (ultimately).

Liar Game Ep 3. Can it get any more exciting?! I absolutely love this dorama and can I just say: how brilliant is Akiyama-san?!?! *swoons* love the part where he tells his opponent to spend less time training his eyes and more time training his brain!

Well, that's about where I'm up to, thanks to the efficient translators at Dramacrazy.net :) Next week I'll catch up on Shokojo Seira. Other than those current ones I'm chasing after, I'm in the midst of Proposal Daisukesen (Operation Love) and Hana Yori Dango 2.

Where to watch Asian dramas

I know there are people out there who are looking for Asian dramas, especially if you're like me, stuck in a western country with no access to satellite tv! It took me ages to hunt down where to watch... I initially started off www.youtube.com which has quite a few dramas but I found it hard to hunt down the consecutive parts in each episode. Then a friend recommended www.veoh.com which I found it hard to even just search for the series I'm after :( and I also found that alot of the videos on veoh were 'raw' (ie not subbed) and so I couldn't watch it (apart from Chinese/Taiwanese shows). The best sites I found were www.asianrice.tv which has almost every drama that I wanted to watch and more! All were subbed in English too!! The only down side was that sometimes single episodes or videos had broken links. Most recent drama I watched with this problem was Voice (J-dorama) which was missing episode 8. However, I recently "moved" to www.dramacrazy.net which I find is the best because it is the fastest to put up the newest subbed videos. Here is where I watch Tokyo Dogs, Real Clothes and Liar Game 2 :) i also know that they have Shokojo Seira and Gyne updated/subbed very quickly. They also have the most reliable videos uploaded and I found episode 8 of Voice here!

It's not easy work to translate and sub these dramas and it's really a combined effort from so many people that we get to enjoy these dramas! I'm impressed and grateful that they are able to do it so quickly so that we can keep up with the latest episodes (and not wait for the dvd to come out with dodgy subtitling). Also, now that I've mentioned it, the level of subtitling is really great! I've been disappointed with some dvds that I've purchased with subtitles that really cannot make it....

I hope this review of where to watch Asian dramas is helpful and if you know of anywhere else that you would like to share, please add to the comments on this post :)

Liar Game

Title: ライアーゲーム
Title (English): LIAR GAME
Genre: Psychological thriller
Broadcast network: Fuji TV

Episodes: 11
Broadcast period: Apr 14 to Jun 23 2007

Kanzaki Nao is an honest college student who receives a hundred million yen one day, along with a card saying she has been chosen to take part in the "Liar Game". The aim of the game is to trick the other players out of their hundred million dollars. At the end, the winner gets the hundred million and the loser is a hundred million yen in debt. The next day, she receives notification that her opponent is her former teacher, Fujisawa Kazuo. She goes to him, seeking help, but ends up getting tricked into handing her money over. Desperate, she approaches the police for help, but they are unable to do anything. However, she is told of a mastermind swindler, Akiyama Shinichi, who is to be released from jail the next day. Desperate, she goes to him for help. -- DramaWiki

Hope everyone had an awesome weekend!! I spent mine finishing up Liar Game which is awesomely awesome!! It had me guessing and thinking all throughout, wondering when the next twist would come and let me tell you, the 3 hour finale is awesome! Ok, the reason for the lengthiness is really because they do a recap of what has happened so far. But it's not just a recap so you can't just skip down to the end cos they also add new scenes which explains the motive of the organiser of the Liar Game.

I also really want to commend the soundtrack! The music really got me in the mood and really sucked me into the show. I really felt like I was "inside" instead of just watching it. It got my heart beating faster at the climaxes and i was literally holding my breath waiting for the next move each time!

Matusda Shota is brilliant as the cold, calculating and geniously smart psychology graduate, Akiyama. His whole look fits into it as well - the knitted eyebrows, the slitted eyes, the skinny drawn out face. And he just always looks like he's thinking up some new strategy. Even when he's observing the other players in the game, you can see that he's not just observing but really studying them and reading into their character. And everything Akiyama does, it's done for a purpose and nothing is left to chance.

Kanzaki Nao really annoyed me at first, she's like one of those airheads with no personality. But as the show goes on, you really start to sympathise with her and even though she is still so annoyingly naive at times, you can't help but want to reach out a helping hand to her. I really wanted her and Akiyama to end up together but I'm glad they don't because it really solidifies this dorama as a psychological thriller and there are no romantic side stories that digress from the main storyline.

Other notables: When Fukunaga aka "mushroom head" appears in the second round of the game and takes the role of the bad guy, you really don't expect there to be a bigger baddie. But when Yokoya (Suzuki Kazuma) enters in the third round, you just know that he is the ultimate bad guy that Akiyama and Nao-chan need to defeat in this whole game. Suzuki Kazuma really portrays the sinister characters really well and is as brilliant as Matsuda Shota as Akiyama. I first saw him in Tantei Gakuen Q and he really scared me to the bone and sends chill down my spine and it's no exception for his role in Liar Game.

This is a must-see and I'm constantly raving about it to all my friends to watch it :) 5/5!!!

A word from B

I'm currently caught up in the first season of Liar Game. It's really addictive and sucks you right in! I can't wait to find out what will happen next and what is the next twist! I really find Shota's hair soooooo funny in this show, prefer his haircut in Love Shuffle :) he's definitely a guy who can play the mysterious characters, I find him hard to read. He could probably play the suave bad guy too *chuckles*

3rd & 4th thoughts on Tokyo DOGS

At this point you may not want to hear what I have to say about Tokyo DOGS anymore... haha! I can't help it! I just need to rave and get it out of my system :) it's really hilarious!

The third episode focussed more on Maruo with his bros Shigeo and Kuchui. It shows a more personal side of Maruo who mostly comes across as an easy going guy and a ladies man. I guess also because bonds of brotherhood are one of those unbreakable bonds that guys do everything to protect each other.

I found the fourth episode a bit of a "diversion" and more of a police drama. Yuki-chan regains more of her memory and you can see Maruo falling for her. I thought the scene where Yuki falls asleep on Maruo's arm was really cute... but I really wish Yuki and Takakura get together! LOLs I think it will be great if Yuki can warm Takakura's heart :)

Funny moment mentions: (1) when Takakura's mum interrupts him in the middle of work... this time it's because she is shopping for pajamas for him and she doesn't know if he will prefer the yellow or red ones! Ahh... it's like I'm waiting for the next "So-chan...Mama desu" (2) when Maruo and Takakura were on a stake out and Maruo opens up oden to eat and they get into an argument about what kind of food you should be eating on a stakeout. Hilarious moment when Takakura asks Maruo to leave him a yam string (I think that's it, not sure what it is though) but even funnier was the next part when Mejaemi knocks on the window to take over them and Maruo drops his hot food....into Takakura's lap!! Hahaha!

I can't wait to see more of this dorama!!! I will be eagerly keeping a look out for the next installment ;)