School Dramas
Korean
Angry Mom
Year: 2015
Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
After learning that her daughter (Kim Yoo Jung) is being bullied at school, Jo Kang Ja (Kim Hee Sun) pretends to be a high school student and joins her daughter's class. With a hot temper, foul mouth, great fighting skills, and being a past delinquent, she shows the school who is boss. While trying to help her daughter, she learns of the dark secrets of the educational system and more.
Comments:
Love the mom. I also love the two workers of Gong Joo, the mom's best friend; they have the coolest hair and fashion. This is also Jisoo's breakthrough role. He plays a high school delinquent and he is super cute and hot. Watch Sassy Go Go to see more of Jisoo.
School 2015
Year: 2015
Episodes:
Synopsis: 16
The girl in the middle, Kim So Hyun, plays two characters, Go Eun Byul and Lee Eun Bi. Eun Byul is a well-off and popular girl who lives in Seoul. She is rude but good at heart. Eun Bi, on the other hand, is an orphan in a more rural city, who is bullied by Kang So Young (Cho Soo Hyang). They are actually twins, but Eun Byul is the only one who knows this. Eun Byul has been receiving weird text messages and disappears during a field trip near where Eun Bi lives. Meanwhile, Eun Bi jumps into the ocean to commit suicide due to the bullying but is later found by Eun Byul's mother, who thought she is the missing Eun Byul. Eun Bi loses her memory and as she regains her memory and reads Eun Byul's diary, she learns that they are twins. After her memory returns, Kang So Young transfers to her high school in Seoul and knows that she is not Eun Byul and tries to reveal her identity to her whole class. Eun Bi meets Han Yi An (Nam Joo Hyuk), the star swimmer of her school and Eun Byul's childhood friend, who happens to also like Eun Byul. She also meets Gong Tae Kwang (Yook Sung Jae of BtoB), a rich troublemaker at school. Eun Bi tries to live as Eun Byul but Kang So Young attempts to ruin her life once more. What will Eun Bi do?
Comments:
This is one of the best dramas of 2015. The first few episodes are pretty confusing but it gets really good. So Young is such a good protagonist. Choo Soo Hyang portrays her so naturally but you can also understand why she is a bully. As for the two male leads, my favorite is Tae Kwang. He is funny, quirky, and cute. The second male lead syndrome is real. Also, the OSTs in this drama are so good, with it's most famous one being Reset by Tiger JK.
Comments:
This is one of the best dramas of 2015. The first few episodes are pretty confusing but it gets really good. So Young is such a good protagonist. Choo Soo Hyang portrays her so naturally but you can also understand why she is a bully. As for the two male leads, my favorite is Tae Kwang. He is funny, quirky, and cute. The second male lead syndrome is real. Also, the OSTs in this drama are so good, with it's most famous one being Reset by Tiger JK.
After School: Lucky or Not
Year: 2013
Episodes: 12
Synopsis:
Kim So Eun played by Kim So Eun is a shy girl who gets bullied at school. She receives a club invitation to join the Drawing Club. The five handsome members of the club, who are all extremely different from each other, force her to join the club and make her the leader. Turns out "drawing" doesn't mean drawing as in "drawing pictures" but as in "drawing lottery tickets." Every day, one member draws a mission card and they have to accomplish it on the same day. The missions could be anything from lighting their fart on fire to going to space. Together, the five boys and their leader try their best to fulfill all of these missions, which leads to hilarious moments and even some romance.
Comments:
You will learn why they started this club, and it is a very beautiful reason. The Drawing Club makes you think that nothing is impossible and that as long as if you try to make the best of every day, every day is a good day. This is a light drama filled with quirky yet beautiful moments and a dash of romance. Also, the boys here are in an actor group called 5urprise, which Seo Kang Joon is in.
Year: 2013
Episodes: 12
Synopsis:
Kim So Eun played by Kim So Eun is a shy girl who gets bullied at school. She receives a club invitation to join the Drawing Club. The five handsome members of the club, who are all extremely different from each other, force her to join the club and make her the leader. Turns out "drawing" doesn't mean drawing as in "drawing pictures" but as in "drawing lottery tickets." Every day, one member draws a mission card and they have to accomplish it on the same day. The missions could be anything from lighting their fart on fire to going to space. Together, the five boys and their leader try their best to fulfill all of these missions, which leads to hilarious moments and even some romance.
Comments:
You will learn why they started this club, and it is a very beautiful reason. The Drawing Club makes you think that nothing is impossible and that as long as if you try to make the best of every day, every day is a good day. This is a light drama filled with quirky yet beautiful moments and a dash of romance. Also, the boys here are in an actor group called 5urprise, which Seo Kang Joon is in.
Ma Boy
Year: 2012
Episodes: 3
Synopsis:
Jang Geu Rim (Kim So Hyun!!!) finds out that her roommate, a popular model named Irene, is actually a flowerboy (boy that is extremely pretty) named Sun Woo who aspires to be in an idol group but his company needs the money he earns to debut the group. Together, they try to hide this secret from everyone else.
This drama is crazy short so if you just want something quick and light, this is perfect for you.
Year: 2012
Episodes: 3
Synopsis:
Jang Geu Rim (Kim So Hyun!!!) finds out that her roommate, a popular model named Irene, is actually a flowerboy (boy that is extremely pretty) named Sun Woo who aspires to be in an idol group but his company needs the money he earns to debut the group. Together, they try to hide this secret from everyone else.
This drama is crazy short so if you just want something quick and light, this is perfect for you.
Cheer Up/Sassy Go Go
Year: 2015
Episodes: 12
Synopsis:
Kang Yeon Do (Jung Eun Ji from APink), the leader of Real King, a dance club made up of the lowest scoring students at an elite high school, tries her best to keep her club alive. Also at this school is Baek Ho, a club made up of the top scoring students who all have rich parents. The two clubs are always fighting just because the members of Real King aren't smart and are poor. When one of the members of Baek Ho, Kwon Soo Ah (Chae Soo Bin), needs an extracurricular activity to get into an Ivy League, the school decides to merge Real King and Baek Ho to form a cheerleading team. They are forced to put aside their differences and work as one.
Comments:
This drama shows you how hard Korean schools are. Many are expected to be the best by their parents and their whole life revolves around studying. You can see that many people try to commit suicide or cut themselves or smoke due to the stress. This drama, like Angry Mom, is actually serious at many times when it touches upon the stress of the students due to their parents' expectations.
Year: 2015
Episodes: 12
Synopsis:
Kang Yeon Do (Jung Eun Ji from APink), the leader of Real King, a dance club made up of the lowest scoring students at an elite high school, tries her best to keep her club alive. Also at this school is Baek Ho, a club made up of the top scoring students who all have rich parents. The two clubs are always fighting just because the members of Real King aren't smart and are poor. When one of the members of Baek Ho, Kwon Soo Ah (Chae Soo Bin), needs an extracurricular activity to get into an Ivy League, the school decides to merge Real King and Baek Ho to form a cheerleading team. They are forced to put aside their differences and work as one.
Comments:
This drama shows you how hard Korean schools are. Many are expected to be the best by their parents and their whole life revolves around studying. You can see that many people try to commit suicide or cut themselves or smoke due to the stress. This drama, like Angry Mom, is actually serious at many times when it touches upon the stress of the students due to their parents' expectations.
Dream High
Year: 2011
Episode: 16
Synopsis:
Kirin High School is the dream of many students. This is one of the best music schools where most of the students end up becoming famous artists. In this competitive school, talent is everywhere, so all the students try to outshine each other. This drama focuses on six students and the teachers who try to help them become better idols and better people. They later learn to work as a team and learn the beauty, not just the benefits, of being an artist. Go Hye Mi (Suzy of Miss A) is a snobby, talented opera singer but after her father's company's bankruptcy, she is forced to enter Kirin High School so she can later become an idol and pay off her father's debts. She auditions with Yook Baek He (Eun Jung of T-ara), her little follower/admirer. Hye Ri betrays her during the audition when they learn that only one of the two will be accepted. Baek He ends up being accepted despite Hye Mi clearly being the more talented one only because the judge wanted to teach Hye Mi a lesson about the importance of character. Jason (Wooyoung of 2pm) is a talented Korean American dancer that wants to debut in Korea. Kim Pil Sook (IU) is considered ugly and fat but she possesses a beautiful voice and perfect pitch. Jin Gook (Taecyeon of 2pm) is a talented rapper and singer who is actually the son of a politician. Song Sam Dong (Kim Soo Hyun) is a country bumpkin who is poor and doesn't look the least bit stylish. He falls for Hye Mi and decides to follow her to Kirin High School, and they discover his talent for singing.
Comments:
This is one of my favorite dramas because it really shows the growth of all of the characters and they learn that though competition is good, they still need to be kind to each other. There is also good music and nice dance performances in this drama. I love the student and teacher interactions as well.
Year: 2011
Episode: 16
Synopsis:
Kirin High School is the dream of many students. This is one of the best music schools where most of the students end up becoming famous artists. In this competitive school, talent is everywhere, so all the students try to outshine each other. This drama focuses on six students and the teachers who try to help them become better idols and better people. They later learn to work as a team and learn the beauty, not just the benefits, of being an artist. Go Hye Mi (Suzy of Miss A) is a snobby, talented opera singer but after her father's company's bankruptcy, she is forced to enter Kirin High School so she can later become an idol and pay off her father's debts. She auditions with Yook Baek He (Eun Jung of T-ara), her little follower/admirer. Hye Ri betrays her during the audition when they learn that only one of the two will be accepted. Baek He ends up being accepted despite Hye Mi clearly being the more talented one only because the judge wanted to teach Hye Mi a lesson about the importance of character. Jason (Wooyoung of 2pm) is a talented Korean American dancer that wants to debut in Korea. Kim Pil Sook (IU) is considered ugly and fat but she possesses a beautiful voice and perfect pitch. Jin Gook (Taecyeon of 2pm) is a talented rapper and singer who is actually the son of a politician. Song Sam Dong (Kim Soo Hyun) is a country bumpkin who is poor and doesn't look the least bit stylish. He falls for Hye Mi and decides to follow her to Kirin High School, and they discover his talent for singing.
Comments:
This is one of my favorite dramas because it really shows the growth of all of the characters and they learn that though competition is good, they still need to be kind to each other. There is also good music and nice dance performances in this drama. I love the student and teacher interactions as well.
Boys Over Flowers
Year: 2009
Episodes: 25
Synopsis:
Year: 2009
Episodes: 25
Synopsis:
Guem Jan Di (Koo Hye Sun) is the only poor girl at a prestigious school run by the families of four rich, snobby, handsome guys called the F4, or Flower Four. They do whatever they want and if they hate you, you get a red note in your locker and then become the enemy of the whole school. One day, while she tries to stand up for her friend, she aggravates the F4 and gets a red notice. sarcasm alert At first, the rich leader of F4, Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho) just wanted to kick her out of this school, but Jan Di puts up a tough fight and even yelled at him to his face. Wow, never has a girl ever been so mean to him. When a girl is mean to you, that definitely means they like you, so Jun Pyo decides to pursue Jan Di. However, Jan Di is more attracted to the kind Yoon Ji Hoo (Kim Hyun Joong). Will Jan Di choose the nice Ji Hoo, or will she waver due to Jun Pyo's determination?
Comments:
This doesn't actually focus on school that much unlike Angry Mom and Cheer Up, but this is too famous to not mention.
Comments:
This doesn't actually focus on school that much unlike Angry Mom and Cheer Up, but this is too famous to not mention.
Shut Up Flower Boy Band
Year: 2012
Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
The members of an underground rock band named Eye Candy are all high school students of Dong Nae High School. When their school shuts down, they all transfer to Jung Sang High School, a predominantly rich school with a non-rock band called Strawberry Field. The leader of Eye Candy, Joo Byung Hee (Lee Min Ki) falls in love with a student at Jung Sang called Im Soo Ah (Jo Bo Ah) and calls her his muse, but the leader of Strawberry Fields, Yoon Seung Hoon (Jung Eui Chul), also likes Soo Ah. Strawberry Fields becomes enemies with Eye Candy due to their different backgrounds and different music styles. The leader and lead singer of Eye Candy dies of a car accident and Kwon Ji Hyuk (Sung Joon) takes over as the leader and main singer. He wants to fulfill Byung Hee's dream of entering a music festival by playing the song he wrote before his death.
Comments:
Year: 2012
Episodes: 16
Synopsis:
The members of an underground rock band named Eye Candy are all high school students of Dong Nae High School. When their school shuts down, they all transfer to Jung Sang High School, a predominantly rich school with a non-rock band called Strawberry Field. The leader of Eye Candy, Joo Byung Hee (Lee Min Ki) falls in love with a student at Jung Sang called Im Soo Ah (Jo Bo Ah) and calls her his muse, but the leader of Strawberry Fields, Yoon Seung Hoon (Jung Eui Chul), also likes Soo Ah. Strawberry Fields becomes enemies with Eye Candy due to their different backgrounds and different music styles. The leader and lead singer of Eye Candy dies of a car accident and Kwon Ji Hyuk (Sung Joon) takes over as the leader and main singer. He wants to fulfill Byung Hee's dream of entering a music festival by playing the song he wrote before his death.
Comments:
I like the music in this drama, especially the song Jaywalking. I really like Sung Joon's character here. He is a great leader and a great friend. Even though he also likes Soo Ah, he hides his feelings from Byung Hee. L of Infinite is in this so that's more eye candy. Beware though, you will cry a lot three episodes in.
Mainland Chinese
Year: 2009
Season: 2
Episode: 36, 36
Synopsis for season 1:
The basic plot is the same as Hana Yori Dango/Boys Over Flowers/Meteor Shower but there is a lot more in this version. Chu Yu Xun (Zheng Shuang) is a poor girl who goes to Alliston Business School and is the smartest girl there. Unlike her classmates, her family is not well off and she does not care for name brands, vacation, and beauty. The school is ruled by three troublemaking students, Shang Guan Rui Qian (Zhu Zi Xiao), Ye Shu (Wei Chen), and Duan Mu Lei (Yu Hao Ming), who are all from wealthy backgrounds but were forced to come to Alliston. On the first day of school, Chu Yu Xun offends the three by helping a student being bullied. Then Murong Yun Hai (Zhang Han), a handsome guy from a wealthy family who grew up in Australia and is obsessed with race cars, transfers to Alliston and becomes enemies with the three most popular guys who run the school and Chu Yu Xun. When Murong Yun Hai ends up befriending the other three, Yu Xun finds herself now enemies with the four most popular boys at Alliston as well as, the entire school. As Yu Xun battles with the four, she starts to like the kind, pianist, Duan Mu. At the same time, Yun Hai starts to develop feelings for her too. Will these two very different people ever get to be together despite their different personalities and family backgrounds?
Comments:
I really like this take on Hana Yori Dango. Though the producer claims they only used the basic plot, I still consider it a remake. The chemistry between the two leads is really good. I think Zhang Han (the one in the black sweater), who plays the male lead, Murong Yun Hai, played his character really well. The clueless look on his face is so cute. His acting is very good. I can't explain to you all how much I love him. Please give this a chance.
Go! Goal! Fighting!
旋風十一人
Year: 2016
Episodes: 31
Synopsis:
Mu Qi (Hu Ge) owns a small soccer training center but when the landlord decides to raise the rent, he takes the offer of being the coach of a below average soccer team. Pei Duo (Maggie Jiang) is a rich, smart, university student who gets an internship at the same high school and helps out with the soccer team. Mu Qi is a genius soccer coach who helps this not so great soccer team rise in ranks by using weird tactics, gathering a cheerleading squad, and persuading many talented soccer players to join the team. However, his controversial ways of coaching lead to conflict within the soccer team, Pei Duo, and the school. With no one who truly understands and respects his way of teaching, will he be able to lead the team to victory?
Episodes: 31
Synopsis:
Mu Qi (Hu Ge) owns a small soccer training center but when the landlord decides to raise the rent, he takes the offer of being the coach of a below average soccer team. Pei Duo (Maggie Jiang) is a rich, smart, university student who gets an internship at the same high school and helps out with the soccer team. Mu Qi is a genius soccer coach who helps this not so great soccer team rise in ranks by using weird tactics, gathering a cheerleading squad, and persuading many talented soccer players to join the team. However, his controversial ways of coaching lead to conflict within the soccer team, Pei Duo, and the school. With no one who truly understands and respects his way of teaching, will he be able to lead the team to victory?
Year: 2016
Episodes: 20
Synopsis:
Review:
This is definitely one of my favorite dramas of 2016. This drama is so cliche but I just can't get enough of it. I feel like the crush aspect and Li Li's insecurities and fear that confessing will ruin a friendship, are what makes me like this drama. Everyone has had a crush on a friend and has been conflicted about whether or not to confess. There is a second love line in this drama and it is very cute and realistic as well. Do beware though; this drama gets a bit sad and serious as the plot develops.
This is the second youth drama of Hunan TV, the first being Whirlwind Girl, which was so good. Link of a summary of that drama:
Prince of Tennis
Year: 2008, 2009
Year: 2008, 2009
Seasons: 2
Episode: 22, 20
Synopsis:
Comments:
The drama did a pretty good job in trying to keep all of their moves the same. I like the character's emotions and how they are often troubled due to having a new member, disputes, or injuries. The brotherhood is great. You get to see this cold, cocky boy warming up to upperclassmen and learning that he still has ways to go, which helps him go even higher. I re-watched the drama over 5 times.
The drama did a pretty good job in trying to keep all of their moves the same. I like the character's emotions and how they are often troubled due to having a new member, disputes, or injuries. The brotherhood is great. You get to see this cold, cocky boy warming up to upperclassmen and learning that he still has ways to go, which helps him go even higher. I re-watched the drama over 5 times.
Who Sleeps My Bro
Year: 2016
Episodes: 26
Synopsis:
This semi-wild coming of age drama talks about love, friendship, hormones, rivalries, and being young, in a pretty realistic way. It doesn't shy away from lots of things, so this isn't appropriate for all ages, maybe watch only if you are at least 16 or 18 years old.
Lin Xiang Yu, Guan Chao, Xie Xun, and James, or Li Da Peng, all live in Room 330 in the boys dormitory of Hu Du University in Shanghai. Lin Xiang Yu is a handsome, charsmatic boy who has lots of great ideas and the leadership to make it all happen. Guan Chao is a "Xue Ba," or a super smart student. He also happens to be one of the two virgins of their entire dormitory. Xie Xun is from Chongqing and talks in a thick accent. He is manly, yet loving to his long time girlfriend. He also runs a "shop" in the dormitory. James is a transfer student from Canada, whose family owns a famous underwear brand. Jennifer Baby is a wild girl who grew up with him and has the biggest, most annoying crush on him. Together the four boys of 330 try to navigate through the ups and downs of university and help fulfill each other's wishes. Xie Xun has to make money to support him, his family, his girlfriend, and her family. James wants to get rid of Jennifer Baby. They want to help Guan Chao get Xia Xing Chen, the prettiest girl at school, so he can finally stop being a virgin. They want to help Xiang Yu find his "goddess," who he saw for a second in a bookstore. They do that by having events called Face Party, where students will come to actually meet people face to face. Stopping them from succeeding is a rich, snobby freshman with blonde hair called Song Zi Hao, who uses his money and father's connections to get his way and bullies the people at school. The only people who could stop him are the boys from 330.
Review:
As I mentioned before, this drama is pretty open about talking about hormones and even sex. This is not porn; however, there are still some topics that can be uncomfortable to hear. The topics make this drama real though. This drama doesn't shy away from showing the viewers what boys like and how they live.
I love the friendship in 330. They do whatever they can to help each other and they are willing to make sacrifices for each other. They are extremely supportive and always have each other's backs. This drama shows you that friends are extremely precious and you need to treasure them.
There is also a movie.
Just One Smile Is Very Alluring
Year: 2016
Episodes: 30
Synopsis:
Bei Wei Wei (game username: Lu Wei Wei Wei) (Zheng Shuang) was voted the second prettiest girl at school and is the prettiest girl in the Computer Science Department. Besides being both pretty and smart, she is also the only female player of Qian Nv You Hun, an online game, in the list of top 10 best players. In this game, you can marry people to accomplish missions together. After her "ex-husband" in the game dumps her for the prettiest player in the game, Yi Xiao Nai He, the best player of the game, asks her to become his wife. She slowly falls for him in the game, but little does she know that he is actually Xiao Nai (Yang Yang), the most popular guy at school and Wei Wei's role model.
Review:
This is definitely a drama I recommitted to my friends who have no experience with Mainland Chinese dramas. The drama has a fairly simple, light plot and lots of eye candy. I think this drama is unique because the characters meet in an online game. Also, Yang Yang looks amazing in this dram. Xiao Nai is a perfect human being and a perfect boyfriend. He encourages Wei Wei, is protective, romantic, assuring, and so much more.
There is a movie version starring Angelababy and Jing Boran. The movie is totally different from the drama because the characters are portrayed very differently. In the drama, Wei Wei is portrayed as a little quiet, while in the movie, Wei Wei is a little more tomboyish and cooler. In the drama, Xiao Nai is portrayed so much more perfect than in the movie. I think the drama is better because the movie was very rushed, but nonetheless. the movie had its romantic scenes.
Taiwanese
KO Series
Year: 2005
Episodes: 21
Other Dramas in the series:
X-Family, K.O.3anguo, KO One 2, KO ONE 3, X-Dormitory, Angel 'N' Devils, and more is coming
Synopsis:
Year: 2005
Episodes: 21
Other Dramas in the series:
X-Family, K.O.3anguo, KO One 2, KO ONE 3, X-Dormitory, Angel 'N' Devils, and more is coming
Synopsis:
At Ba Le High School there is a class called Zhong Ji Yi Ban, or the Ultimate Class. This class is for all of the delinquents and their leader is Wang Da Dong (Jiro Wang), a great leader that is always there for his friends but isn't very bright. He is number three on a chart that measures everyone's battle abilities and the better a fighter they are, the more battle points they have. His weapon is called the Dragon Tatooed Pan, a pan that will make his battle points match his opponent's unless he or she has the same amount of points or less. He is KO3 with 9000 battle points and is tied to Wang Ya Se (Calvin Chen), a gangster's son who is a narcissist and loves to quote people like Shakespeare. His weapon is the Sword in the Stone, when the sword is removed, he is possessed by the sword. KO4 is Ding Xiao Yu (Aaron Yan), who looks like a nerd and will ignore any beating until someone hits his head and he hits them with his super powerful fists, with 8500 battle points. At first, the three didn't like each other but when they save each other's lives, they soon become best friends. Lei Ke Si, Da Dong's childhood friend who pretends to be a weak nerd is actually KO2. Ya Se figures out his true identity, but Lei Ke Si makes everyone turn against him so that even Da Dong. More events happen so that now all three of them aren't friends anymore but they must learn to forgive each other and work together when an evil man appears.
Comments:
Almost all of the dramas in this series is in a school and talks about the friendship between classmates and the relationships with teachers and adults. Though this series is funny and light, there are also many touching points. If you enjoy bromance, this is also for you.
Mysterious Incredible Terminator
Year: 2008-9009
Episode: 16
Synopsis:
Sheng Ying High School is protected by a secret group called the MIT, or the Mysterious Incredible Terminator. The last member of the group, Cherry (Christine Fan), also a current teacher and the principal's daughter, gathers the smartest and most talented students to join the team and help protect the school from a mysterious person named Hei Gui by solving mysteries. The students include the cold genius, 007, or Zhan Shi De (Aaron Yan); Tian Mo Xing or Li Xiao Xing (Gui Gui), a quirky girl who likes to act and admires Zhan Shi De; 747, or Huang Hui Hong (Alien Huang), someone with superb speed and hearing and is told he will die at the age of 20 so wants to join Pi Li MIT to do something great before he dies; and finally, 187 or Qian Fu Hao (Lu Ting Wei), a rich, handsome playboy who has a trauma of water and fish, and gathers his information through girls.
Sheng Ying High School is protected by a secret group called the MIT, or the Mysterious Incredible Terminator. The last member of the group, Cherry (Christine Fan), also a current teacher and the principal's daughter, gathers the smartest and most talented students to join the team and help protect the school from a mysterious person named Hei Gui by solving mysteries. The students include the cold genius, 007, or Zhan Shi De (Aaron Yan); Tian Mo Xing or Li Xiao Xing (Gui Gui), a quirky girl who likes to act and admires Zhan Shi De; 747, or Huang Hui Hong (Alien Huang), someone with superb speed and hearing and is told he will die at the age of 20 so wants to join Pi Li MIT to do something great before he dies; and finally, 187 or Qian Fu Hao (Lu Ting Wei), a rich, handsome playboy who has a trauma of water and fish, and gathers his information through girls.
My MVP Valentine
Year: 2002
Episodes: 28
Synopsis:
Year: 2002
Episodes: 28
Synopsis:
Duan Cheng Feng (Johnny Yen), a MVP who plays for a small but good high school basketball team, runs into the talented and cocky cello player, Angel (Lin Li Wen) who is on her way to an audition for Julliard. She is also the sister of his opponent, Iceman (David Chen). He causes her legs to be paralyzed and she becomes less good at playing the cello. He decides to take care of Angel due to his guilt. His girlfriend, Xiao Xi (Angela Chang) is heartbroken that he doesn't have time for her. She also learns that Iceman told Cheng Feng that he has to take care of his sister and stop playing basketball. Angel likes Cheng Feng so Iceman makes a deal with Xiao Xi. If she breaks up with Cheng Feng so he can be with Angel, then he will allow Cheng Feng to continue playing basketball, and Xiao Xi agrees. Prince, or Tai Zi, is a rich boy who transfers to her school because he likes her. He joins the basketball team that she is trying to revive and they soon have great members, including Cheng Feng. They are all trying to make this team as good as it was back in the days.
Comments:
This drama has some of the best OSTs. There is a variety of songs from old school Kpop to Jpop to songs from 5566, a Taiwanese band who also stars in this drama. I would actually watch it for the music even if you aren't interested in the plot. Who could resist BoA, Shinhwa, Fly to the SKY, DA PUMP, 5566 and more?
Japanese
Hana Kimi
Year: 2007
Episode: 12
Synopsis:
Ashiya Mizuki is a Japanese American who returns to Japan to persuade Sano Izumi (Oguri Shun) to continue being a high jumper after the injury he suffered from helping her escape gangsters. She is forced to pretend to be a boy so she can enter an all-boys high school known to have the cutest guys. Coincidentally, she becomes his roommate. Will she be able to persuade Sano to high jump again before her gender is exposed?
Comments:
My favorite character is Nakatsu, a soccer player who disliked Mizuki at first because she broke his track record. He starts to think of Mizuki as a girl and thinks that he is now bisexual. He is often confused because of this and has to think it out and they become funny monologues.
Tumbling
Year: 2010
Episodes: 11
Synopsis:
Now this is not a sport you hear people everyday saying that they do. Wataru (Yamamoto Yusuke) is a great fighter with a bad temper and scares everyone at school. He is ordered by the school to join a sport or a club to make up for his lack of credits. When he learns that the beautiful Mari joined the gymnastics club, he gathers his gang to join the male tumbling club. Wataru and his gang constantly argue with the captain, Yuuta (Seito Koji) who takes this sport very seriously. The club is mocked because it is seen to be a sissy sport, so they barely get to use the gym, however, they all try their best to excel in the sport and cooperate with each other. Despite their differences, Wataru, being who he is, helps Yuuta achieve his dream of "flying in the air with others."
Comments:
It is a beautiful drama with many handsome young fellows. At first, this drama was so awkward because all the manly guys had to wear their leotards and they all felt super awkward. After they broke the ice with each other and learned to accept their leotards, they show that it doesn't matter what others think and with determination, anything is possible. The bromance is a plus to the drama. Also, all of the actors in this drama learned tumbling for this drama.
Year: 2010
Episodes: 11
Synopsis:
Now this is not a sport you hear people everyday saying that they do. Wataru (Yamamoto Yusuke) is a great fighter with a bad temper and scares everyone at school. He is ordered by the school to join a sport or a club to make up for his lack of credits. When he learns that the beautiful Mari joined the gymnastics club, he gathers his gang to join the male tumbling club. Wataru and his gang constantly argue with the captain, Yuuta (Seito Koji) who takes this sport very seriously. The club is mocked because it is seen to be a sissy sport, so they barely get to use the gym, however, they all try their best to excel in the sport and cooperate with each other. Despite their differences, Wataru, being who he is, helps Yuuta achieve his dream of "flying in the air with others."
Comments:
It is a beautiful drama with many handsome young fellows. At first, this drama was so awkward because all the manly guys had to wear their leotards and they all felt super awkward. After they broke the ice with each other and learned to accept their leotards, they show that it doesn't matter what others think and with determination, anything is possible. The bromance is a plus to the drama. Also, all of the actors in this drama learned tumbling for this drama.
Yukan Club
Year: 2007
Episodes: 10
Synopsis:
When you are rich and bored of school, what do you do? Of course, you start a club that solves mysteries. Shochikubai Miroku (Akanishi Jin) is the son of a police commissioner. He loves motorcycles, has lots of connections, and is a very good fighter. Kikumasamune Seishiro's (Yokoyuma Yu) parents own a large hospital. He is skilled in martial arts and is a good chess player.
Bido Granmarie (Taguchi Junnosuke) is the son of a Swedish ambassador. He's also a playboy and a bit narcissistic. Kenbishi Yuri (Minami) is the bubbly daughter of the president of Kenbishi Business and loves to eat and is a good fighter. Hakushika Noriko (Kashii Yu) is the daughter of a famous Japanese painter and her mother is from a tradition tea ceremony family. She hates men and hits them whenever they touch her. Kizakura Karen's (Suzuki Emi) mother is a rich jewel dealer and dreams to marry into a rich family. All of them work together to solve mysteries and funny things happen.
Year: 2007
Episodes: 10
Synopsis:
When you are rich and bored of school, what do you do? Of course, you start a club that solves mysteries. Shochikubai Miroku (Akanishi Jin) is the son of a police commissioner. He loves motorcycles, has lots of connections, and is a very good fighter. Kikumasamune Seishiro's (Yokoyuma Yu) parents own a large hospital. He is skilled in martial arts and is a good chess player.
Bido Granmarie (Taguchi Junnosuke) is the son of a Swedish ambassador. He's also a playboy and a bit narcissistic. Kenbishi Yuri (Minami) is the bubbly daughter of the president of Kenbishi Business and loves to eat and is a good fighter. Hakushika Noriko (Kashii Yu) is the daughter of a famous Japanese painter and her mother is from a tradition tea ceremony family. She hates men and hits them whenever they touch her. Kizakura Karen's (Suzuki Emi) mother is a rich jewel dealer and dreams to marry into a rich family. All of them work together to solve mysteries and funny things happen.
Ouran High School Host Club
Year: 2011
Episodes: 11
Synopsis:
Haruhi Fujioka is a poor scholarship student in a school for the rich. She ends up breaking an expensive vase and is thus forced to work for the host club to pay it off. The "king" of the club thinks that she is a boy, because of her short hair. Host clubs are clubs that usually have young men who act as a host, who would usually charm the women and talk to them. They find out that she is actually a girl and tries to protect her public gender which is a boy, so she can continue to be a host to pay off her debt. Together, with other extremely handsome boys, she works in the host club and funny things happen and their friendship becomes stronger.
Comments:
If you want a funny drama with cute guys, this is a drama for you. I love Yusuke Yamamoto, the male lead, and he is in many successful productions, like Hana Kimi. He is so funny and even though his expressions and reactions are exaggerated, it is very fun to watch..
Year: 2011
Episodes: 11
Synopsis:
Haruhi Fujioka is a poor scholarship student in a school for the rich. She ends up breaking an expensive vase and is thus forced to work for the host club to pay it off. The "king" of the club thinks that she is a boy, because of her short hair. Host clubs are clubs that usually have young men who act as a host, who would usually charm the women and talk to them. They find out that she is actually a girl and tries to protect her public gender which is a boy, so she can continue to be a host to pay off her debt. Together, with other extremely handsome boys, she works in the host club and funny things happen and their friendship becomes stronger.
Comments:
If you want a funny drama with cute guys, this is a drama for you. I love Yusuke Yamamoto, the male lead, and he is in many successful productions, like Hana Kimi. He is so funny and even though his expressions and reactions are exaggerated, it is very fun to watch..
Switch Girl
Year: 2011
Episode: 8
Synopsis:
Synopsis:
Tamiya Niku is a switch girl, a person who acts totally different in public than they would usually act at home. She tries to keep this a secret, but a handsome transfer student finds out her secret. He is a switch boy, but he is the other way around, he tries to hide his handsome face. They help each other keep secrets from others and fall in love.
Comments:
This drama is really exaggerated. The girl always has these super exaggerated expressions, but if you are fine with that, you will enjoy this drama a lot more. This is a very cute drama and the two leads have great chemistry and look great together. If you don't want to see a man dressed up as a women, but is very obvious that he is a man, then I advise you not to watch it. He is creepy.
This drama is really exaggerated. The girl always has these super exaggerated expressions, but if you are fine with that, you will enjoy this drama a lot more. This is a very cute drama and the two leads have great chemistry and look great together. If you don't want to see a man dressed up as a women, but is very obvious that he is a man, then I advise you not to watch it. He is creepy.
Gokusen
Year: 2002
Episode: 12
Seasons: 3
Seasons: 3
Synopsis:
Yamaguchi Yumiko (Nakama Yukie) is a young, optimistic teacher that is the homeroom teacher of the trouble-making class of 3-D. She is actually the granddaughter of a yakuza leader and is good at fighting herself, but doesn't hope to take over the clan. She shows her students what a real fight is and that they can trust her, which leads to the class accepting her as their homeroom teacher. In every season, its the same grade level and same class.
Comments:
I am neutral about this drama. I don't love it as much as other people like it, but it wasn't bad. It was a little funny at times, but the same thing happens in every episode, at least that's my opinion.
Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo
Year: 2013
Episode: 16
Seasons: 2
Seasons: 2
Synopsis:
Kotoko Aihara (Honoka Miki) is a bubbly girl who is in Class F, the class with the worse grade in their year. She falls in love with the smartest guy in her grade, Naoki Irie (Yuki Furukawa). He has it all, he is rich, handsome, and smart. She stays up all night to write a confession letter, but got rejected before he even read the letter. She was devastated and planned on forgetting about him, but her new house is suddenly destroyed by a meteorite. Her father's best friend invited them to live at his house. It just so happens to be her crush's house. The rest of the drama talks about her living with him. Comments:
I love this drama. I watched the Taiwanese version called It Started With a Kiss. It's a really cute drama. The leads' chemistry was strong and I loved the main girl because she is clumsy and just young. I don't know what other word I can describe her as. There is also a Korean version called Playful Kiss. It's my least favorite one. I didn't think their acting was that good and I didn't feel like they put much money into it. Enough about the other versions, let's talk about the Japanese one. After seeing this, I became really confused. I love the Taiwanese one a whole lot, but I am finding myself loving this version even more.
Asuko March
This isn't a superb drama but I like it. You get to see all these boys changing because there is now a girl in the class, which is heartwarming. Her strong spirit may be cliche but it reminds you once again that never giving up is the key to success.
Year: 2011
Episode: 9
Synopsis:
After messing up on her entrance exam, Yoshino Nao (Takei Emi) is forced to enroll in Kenritsu Asuko Kougyou Koukou, an almost all-boys technical (not computers and high tech stuff, but like working machines and creating circuits) high school with only two other girls.
After messing up on her entrance exam, Yoshino Nao (Takei Emi) is forced to enroll in Kenritsu Asuko Kougyou Koukou, an almost all-boys technical (not computers and high tech stuff, but like working machines and creating circuits) high school with only two other girls.
Comments:
Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou
Good Morning Call
Year: 2012
Episode: 12
Synopsis:
First Cattleya High School is an all-girls high school with rich, mannerly girls, while Makada High School is an all-boys high school full of delinquents. When there are plans to merge the two school together, a class from first Cattleya is merged with a class in Makada as a trial. What will happen to the class with two strikingly different groups of people?
Comments:
If you didn't have enough of this drama, there is a movie version. The boys of Johnny's Jr. and AKB48's Team 4 stars in this drama. This is more of a light drama and isn't superb but it's alright.
First Cattleya High School is an all-girls high school with rich, mannerly girls, while Makada High School is an all-boys high school full of delinquents. When there are plans to merge the two school together, a class from first Cattleya is merged with a class in Makada as a trial. What will happen to the class with two strikingly different groups of people?
Comments:
If you didn't have enough of this drama, there is a movie version. The boys of Johnny's Jr. and AKB48's Team 4 stars in this drama. This is more of a light drama and isn't superb but it's alright.
Year: 2016
Episode: 17
Synopsis:
When Yoshikawa Nao (Fukuhara Haruka) and Uehara Hisashi (Shiraishi Shunya) find out that they both rented the same place, due to their insufficient funds, they decide to live together. Nao is just a regular girl at school but Uehara is the most popular guy at school. They have to hide the fact that they are living together from everyone.
When Yoshikawa Nao (Fukuhara Haruka) and Uehara Hisashi (Shiraishi Shunya) find out that they both rented the same place, due to their insufficient funds, they decide to live together. Nao is just a regular girl at school but Uehara is the most popular guy at school. They have to hide the fact that they are living together from everyone.
Comments:
I think the two have pretty good chemistry and look great together. This is basically Itazura na Kiss
I think the two have pretty good chemistry and look great together. This is basically Itazura na Kiss
Other
I Not Stupid Too
Year: 2006
Episode: 13
Synopsis:
After the death of Cheng Cai's (Shawn Lee) father, he moves in with Tom (Joshua Ang). Along with Tom's brother, Jerry (Li Jia Xun), they try to figure out how to live in this generation with parents who are more conservative. Both Tom and Cheng Cai are popular at school and many girls have crushes on them but they both like Jing Jing (Natalli Ong). In this drama where all the adults want them to succeed, the three leads try to prove that they are smart in their own ways and try to maneuver their way through school, love, and life.
After the death of Cheng Cai's (Shawn Lee) father, he moves in with Tom (Joshua Ang). Along with Tom's brother, Jerry (Li Jia Xun), they try to figure out how to live in this generation with parents who are more conservative. Both Tom and Cheng Cai are popular at school and many girls have crushes on them but they both like Jing Jing (Natalli Ong). In this drama where all the adults want them to succeed, the three leads try to prove that they are smart in their own ways and try to maneuver their way through school, love, and life.
Comments:
This is one of my favorite dramas. It is funny, relatable, and sends a good message. Many related movies and television shows have also been produced. If you have watched other productions from this series, you will see the growth of Cheng Cai and Tom. Both used to be delinquents, but now, they try their best to be good students morally and academically.
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