What dramas do you guys think are underrated?

I'd have to go with "<a HREF=http://jdorama.com/drama.657.htm">Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi/A Million Falling Stars</a>"

I personally loved this drama for all the mystery and the suspense, I also think that Kimura's performance in this drama was awesome, dark and mysterious, which is why I think not many people liked it... and the ending of it was incredible, different from most dramas since you can pretty much tell how it will end, that's what I think of this drama.

What other dramas do you think is underrated?

Hi Mengo~

GReat topic!

I think Brand is rarely appreciated as fully as it should be.

The cultural clashing of the ancient teahouses and the high fashion couture houses was fascinating and the chemistry between the two stars incredibly romantic.
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Great topic.

I have "Brand" sitting on my shelf and was a little reluctant to watch it, but since you said it's that great, I will definitely pop it in my DVD player sometime soon.

As for dramas that I think are underrated:

1. Seija no Koushin
(translated by areiacreations)

Absolutely mesmerizing acting done on the cast's parts. The story although dark was very touching and while watching it, I felt as though I was on an emotional rollercoaster. It's one of those series that I'll never forget.


2. Searchin' for my Polestar
(from jem's captures)

This series starring Koyuki, Ito Hideaki, and Sakageuchi Kenji is about friendship and life after college. The issues it deals with are issues that face college students after they graduate - what they will do in the future and whether or not they are doing what they really want to do.


3. Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu
(in RAW format, uploaded by Nightwind)

An amazing series that had some pretty complicated characters with varying motives. Hirosue Ryoko plays a blind girl and she has to deal with the fact that her father just passed away. A man comes into her life claiming to be her brother, but in actuality he just wants money. However, as time passes he grows fond of her. A pretty profound drama that is a little dark at times. The cast pulled off amazing performances.


Note: These dramas are all available on BT.
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Under rated? The easy answer is: Anything that I liked, that other people don't fawn over.

But to pick one... I guess I'd say Keizoku. Miki Nakatani created a great character in Shibata Jun, the great detective who was really too much of a wide eyed innocent to be allowed out on her own. And the supporting cast was wonderful.

And boy, did the actors in that show relish their death scenes.

It was great to see so much of what was created in Keizoku, recreated in Trick. And it was also fun to see the whole supporting cast of Keizoku show up in different episodes of Trick.
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donna8157 wrote:

2. Searchin' for my Polestar This series starring Koyuki, Ito Hideaki, and Sakageuchi Kenji is about friendship and life after college. The issues it deals with are issues that face college students after they graduate - what they will do in the future and whether or not they are doing what they really want to do.

I loved this series too. So great.
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Geezer wrote:

Under rated? The easy answer is: Anything that I liked, that other people don't fawn over. But to pick one... I guess I'd say Keizoku. Miki Nakatani created a great character in Shibata Jun, the great detective who was really too much of a wide eyed innocent to be allowed out on her own. And the supporting cast was wonderful. And boy, did the actors in that show relish their death scenes. It was great to see so much of what was created in Keizoku, recreated in Trick. And it was also fun to see the whole supporting cast of Keizoku show up in different episodes of Trick.

I think that's a great choice for an underrated drama. While that series was voted the ninth most popular drama of all time in a 2001 poll of Japanese viewers, it's received scant attention on this site. The only bad thing about this drama is you need to see the subsequent TV special to get closure. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to acquire an English sub version yet, so it's kind of frustrating for me, knowing there's more to the story than just the series.
My choice for underrated drama would be Ohsama no Restaurant (King's Restaurant). A great screenplay by Koki Mitani, a tremendous ensemble cast of highly recognizable character actors plus Tomoko Yamaguchi. Witty, ironic, funny and hugely entertaining.

shin2

I really like your taste in TV series. I'm a huge fan of Yamaguchi Tomoko's and I loved "King's Restaurant".

One of the things I really like about her shows is that she never seems to push to be a one woman band. The supporting casts are always good, and she always seems to let them shine.

As for the TV Special for Keizoku; I have it (without subs) and it still doesn't offer that much in the way of closure.

I also have the theatrical Movie, (WITHOUT SUBS! ARRRGH!) and though they solve the "case" in the movie, the ending of the movie itself is bizarre.

With Keizoku it's like the director is winking at the audience, saying, relax, it's just TV. Don't take everything so seriously.
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have you watched Brand? I love it to the core!

I love Brand & wonder why it's not receiving as much votes as some other dorama which I think as only so-so. I think it's becos it's not Kimura in the show, I believe if it's kiumra as the lead actor it would have been a higher viewership!

It's simply brilliant! It shows parental love, society pressure, losing the real you as you conform to the society's expectations, etc. And the chemistry & colloquial conversations between the 2 lead actor is so interesting to watch. Its plot is realistic and thoguht-provoking. Can grow on the lead actor's looks too. Can laugh & cry. I searched like crazy for this dorama to add to my collection, to me, it's very close to heart :-)

aki_07 wrote:

have you watched Brand? I love it to the core!

Awesome!!
Me too! Me too! Fascinating story, neh!
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Trade or Distro
It's all good!

Check out my drama trade list: http://www.freewebs.com/evendrama/

Eve wrote:

Awesome!! Me too! Me too! Fascinating story, neh!

Yes it is! I saw it 4 yrs ago on tv and fell in love with it. And for 4 yrs I was searching high & low for it but becos it's underrated no one was selling. But I was determined and finally managed to buy from someone at Hong Kong auction

Not a show I will watch and forget, will watch again and again. After 4 yrs, I appreciate the story more, I'm old!

Geezer wrote:

shin2 I really like your taste in TV series. I'm a huge fan of Yamaguchi Tomoko's and I loved "King's Restaurant". One of the things I really like about her shows is that she never seems to push to be a one woman band. The supporting casts are always good, and she always seems to let them shine. As for the TV Special for Keizoku; I have it (without subs) and it still doesn't offer that much in the way of closure. I also have the theatrical Movie, (WITHOUT SUBS! ARRRGH!) and though they solve the "case" in the movie, the ending of the movie itself is bizarre. With Keizoku it's like the director is winking at the audience, saying, relax, it's just TV. Don't take everything so seriously.

I entirely agree with Keizoku and King's Restaurant being underrated. Both are superb dramas that seem to receive less attention (at least on the top 50) than deserved.

I'd also like to add Midnight Rain to the list, another great mystery-type thriller with an intriguing story
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I'd like to put forward "Home Drama" as one of those underrated dramas. This drama has an unusual plot, a solid cast, and excellent execution of the storyline.

donna8157 wrote:

As for dramas that I think are underrated: 1. Seija no Koushin (translated by areiacreations) Absolutely mesmerizing acting done on the cast's parts. The story although dark was very touching and while watching it, I felt as though I was on an emotional rollercoaster. It's one of those series that I'll never forget. 2. Searchin' for my Polestar (from jem's captures) This series starring Koyuki, Ito Hideaki, and Sakageuchi Kenji is about friendship and life after college. The issues it deals with are issues that face college students after they graduate - what they will do in the future and whether or not they are doing what they really want to do. 3. Ai Nante Irane Yo, Natsu (in RAW format, uploaded by Nightwind) An amazing series that had some pretty complicated characters with varying motives. Hirosue Ryoko plays a blind girl and she has to deal with the fact that her father just passed away. A man comes into her life claiming to be her brother, but in actuality he just wants money. However, as time passes he grows fond of her. A pretty profound drama that is a little dark at times. The cast pulled off amazing performances. Note: These dramas are all available on BT.

Those dramas are the ones that I was supposed to mention too . Anyway, I'll just add Shin Hoshi no Kinka to the list. Don't know how much viewership it got when it was aired in Japan, but looking at the number of users that have this drama here in jdorama, I think it could be considered as an underrated drama . The reason could be that most people didn't like the 2nd installment of Heaven's Coins, that's why they didn't even bother to check this out. But, although it has the same deaf and mute girl in need of help plot, the story of this drama is separated from Heaven's Coins 1 and 2 (they did try to connect this drama to the previous Heaven's Coins in the last few episodes though), so that makes this drama watchable.
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Like donna and Eve mentioned, Tentai Kanzoku Geez, what a cast!

Gomen, forgot to mention Hito ni yasashiku, Kenta Suga steals the show

[quote="Shindou"]I'd also like to add Midnight Rain to the list, another great mystery-type thriller with an intriguing story[/quote]

I totally agree with you!

My vote also goes to:

1) Team ~ Saiaku de Saikouna Futari starring Tsuyoshi Kusanagi and Masahiko Nishimura. It deals with the issues of juvenile crime from the perspectives of a seasoned, cynical detective and a bright-eyed career elite from the Education Ministry who believes juvenile offenders are influenced by their surroundings and thus can be rehabilitated. The drama is realistic and the chemistry is great.

2) Koi no Chikara, a lighthearted, well-paced romance drama about people over 30 trying to live their dreams - love and career - in the ad world. It's a simple but fabulous story with a great cast - Eri Fukatsu, Tsutsumi Shinichi, Masahiko Nishimura, Kenji Sakaguchi. Their chemistry made it an intimate, heartwarming show. Addictive!

I'll second that on Koi no Chikara (love it!!!) and add my vote for

Diamond Girl starring Mizuki Arisa and Kishitani Goro. Very cute and funny legal drama. Keeps you entertained all the way through, great supporting characters, good chemistry between the lead actors. It's too bad it's been overlooked, because it's a great show.

--Maria

[quote="donna8157"]Great topic.

I have "Brand" sitting on my shelf and was a little reluctant to watch it, but since you said it's that great, I will definitely pop it in my DVD player sometime soon.

As for dramas that I think are underrated:

1. Seija no Koushin
(translated by areiacreations)

Absolutely mesmerizing acting done on the cast's parts. The story although dark was very touching and while watching it, I felt as though I was on an emotional rollercoaster. It's one of those series that I'll never forget.


.[/quote]

Yes Seija no Koushin is really a touching and dark dorama. I love it, and while I watched it I always felt I have to cry and felt also emotional rollercoaster like you.

And there's Keizoku. Mistirious, dark, and great. Nakatani Miki and the guy who played Mayama-kun were a great pair. And the dorama was also very scary at the end. I liked it.
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I would have to say...

Konna koi no hanashi (A story of Love) was really good and I never hear anyone talk about it. It's an older drama 1997 but I remember how much I liked it when I saw it. great cast, story, and music.

I really liked Hikari to Tomo ni. I thought the acting was excellent and the storyline was different.
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