I need to get more sleep. Seriously. I shouldn't be starting J-dramas out of the blue on regular weeknights. I didn't get to bed until 5 in the morning, and I usually wake up at 7:40, so I'm running on less than three hours of sleep. That can't be healthy. I know what I have to do once I get home: hit the bed and forget everything. I can't afford to not sleep. I'm might die at this rate.
I've been on a tear lately. I've watched Last Cinderella, Partners by Blood, Tokyo Dogs, and I'm currently on Rich Man, Poor Woman. The reason I started watching was to get familiar with Japan before heading over there next year. It's cool seeing all the landmarks I'll be visiting like the Waco building, Nihonbashi bridge, and Tokyo Tower. One day, I can say to myself, "I was there."
I watch J-dramas for the cool guys and the cute girls. Japan pumps out shows like a well oiled machine. If there's an actor I like, there's a lot to see from them. Actors and actresses are pretty prolific and I see the same faces a lot. Right now, I like Shun Oguri, but the female lead in Rich Man, Poor Woman is gorgeous. Her character is annoying though. She's super passive but that's like 50% of all female characters in J-dramas.
Ultimately, I watch something if the plot summary sounds interesting enough. It's funny how my taste has changed. I wanted to watch something with a strong female lead so I started with Last Cinderella. Then I felt like watching Tokyo detectives in action, hence Partners by Blood and Tokyo Dogs. I'll have to say that the most interesting aspect of Rich Man, Poor Woman is the business intrigue. It's certainly giving me more ideas for Mister Cinderella--I should probably start working on that soon.
The thing about these dramas is that they make me cry. I'm a sucker for the predictable emotional tugs, but what really gets me are those inspirational moments, not the sad ones. It's scenes like when the main character has all but given up but an ally comes out of nowhere to save the day. Friendship, family, and love--it just makes me think, "I wish I had someone like that."
