Random Musings - Zettai Kareshi Edition June 25
If you are watching or are planning on watching the J-drama Zettai Kareshi, be sure to bring a big box of tissues for the finale. In fact, even though I knew pretty much exactly what was going to happen in the end thanks to having read the manga, I still cried when I watched it. It’s a testament to how much emotion was in the finale and how much you connect with the characters after having followed their stories for so long (which I realize you can say for a lot of series, but it was especially powerful in this instance).
For those of you who aren’t familiar with Zettai Kareshi, it’s about a girl who gets a robot as her ideal boyfriend, and the problems and love triangle that this leads to. As I noted when I first wrote about it a few weeks ago, the series quite a lot of fun to watch. It can get a bit cheesy at times - which is hard to avoid in these kinds of drama series - but those moments were rare, and I thought they did a great job pacing the story with plot twists and cliffhangers. In retrospect, I wish I had started watching this earlier and perhaps made an attempt to blog it. Come to think of it, I really should pay more attention to drama series based on shoujo manga titles in general - I haven’t had a great record with anime adaptations, but I usually like the drama versions.
In any case, I’m glad I took the time to watch this series because, as you can see, I ended up loving it. I’d highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good light-hearted romance. Now I’m going to go back to listening to the theme song on repeat…
wintergal at 5:43 am on June 25th, 2008
I’ve been following Zettai Kareshi since it first aired back in April. Though I actually did a lot of comparisons between the drama and the manga, in the end, I just watch this drama as a drama version itself. It was pretty good. At first I thought it wouldn’t be as good like HYD, but it proves me wrong. And yeah, the finale is really really sad. Made me cry, as well.
minikui at 5:54 am on June 25th, 2008
if you haven’t yet, you should really check out the Nodame Cantabile Drama, imho it is even better than the anime. They really did an awesome job with all the concerts and the acting as well. It was a pleasure to watch from the first minute to the final arc in Europe.
Hana Yori Dango was really well done also, the final movie will be in cinemas soon. And there’s also the Honey & Clover drama, eventhough quite a bit different from the anime/manga.
there are also other really good dramas not based on shojo manga though
My Boss my Hero f.ex. is a must-see.
Yukiruchan at 8:19 am on June 25th, 2008
Seconds minikui on Nodame Cantabile.
Btw that picture above reminded me of Nodame.
Thanks for recommening this!
wintergal at 8:38 am on June 25th, 2008
Nodame Cantabile Drama is one of the best ones I’ve seen, of course, alongside HanaDan and few others.
AntiAngst at 10:59 am on June 25th, 2008
Awe, I love this drama. I can’t wait until SARS finishes the fansubbing so I can watch the next (last?) episode. I’ve been following it since the beginning, and I believe that it is one of my favorites.
Other shoujo mangas-turned-dramas you should watch are “Kimi wa Petto” and “Hana Kimi” (the Japanese version. The Taiwanese “Hana Kimi” was okay for hardcore fans like myself, but others typically get bored with it. Also, “It Started with a Kiss,” the Taiwanese version of “Itazura na Kiss,” is good; defiantly better than the recent anime, even if the filming is a little on the low budget side (as with most Taiwanese shows).
If you ever want someone to blog the dramas, I’d be happy to do it. ^_^ Course…I’d have to wait for the fansubs before I could write anything…
Jezreel at 12:02 pm on June 25th, 2008
J-Drama Sucks, I will preferible Mexican Drama
AsPHERE at 12:40 pm on June 25th, 2008
I have to say that I know this series from you and I went on to get it. Since that time I download every EPs available and watch it all straight. Also have been waiting for new EP every week. Really love this series thank you so much that you talked about this series because I haven’t watch that much J-Drama. My recent one would be Nodame Cantabile.
PS. At first after I saw the main actress I thought that ‘Nodame!!!’ [Because of her hair style]
Haohmaru at 1:19 pm on June 25th, 2008
Lol at the poll. Stop reading Yuria 100 Shiki Omni.
1158 at 3:06 pm on June 25th, 2008
im watching this series and it’s really nice. far from the shoujo manga i read. i liek the humor and quirkiness of the characters, not to mention the HOT cast.
i loved hana yori dango, engine and kimi wa petto. those are really good shows too.
Nette at 4:10 pm on June 25th, 2008
no more okaeri :[
c_h_a_n at 7:15 pm on June 25th, 2008
the previous episode, I LITERALLY BAWLED MY EYES OUT WITH MY FRIENDS.
i guess i’ll be on my way to get my towel, i don’t wanna waste my paper tissues.
MidnightTide at 10:29 pm on June 25th, 2008
can anyone tell me the name of the song mentioned? (not the japanese squibbles please, something so I can find it and download it to my ipod) Thanks
AsPHERE at 12:17 am on June 26th, 2008
/\
/\
Ayaka - Okaeri
Jojo at 2:11 am on June 26th, 2008
I adore dramas based off shoujo manga. I’m glad to see more anime coming out that is based on it as well. I think that is why I clung so hard to the doramas. It was the only place to find them outside of the original medium.
Hei at 4:43 am on June 28th, 2008
Well wasn’t that touching
nelly at 5:06 pm on June 28th, 2008
I actually disagree. This was a horrible adaptation and Riko a bad character who never gave a crap about Night. In the manga she loved him, but I don’t sense the same thing in the drama. I’d personally avoid it and hope for a true anime adaptation.
m o m o at 9:52 am on June 30th, 2008
i like this drama version. bt is it night ot knight??
Meiling at 12:31 pm on July 17th, 2008
@momo: I think it’s supposed to be ‘Night’ but I always thought of it as a pun on ‘Knight’ as well.
Meiling at 12:39 pm on July 17th, 2008
I enjoyed this series for what it was (i.e. cream puff fanservice) rather than as an adaptation of the original manga. I thought all the main actors did a good job although Riko was rather tsuntsun. However, I think Nodame Cantabile and Hotaru no Hikaru (based on a josei manga) are better. You should definitely check them out if you haven’t watched them already.
Also seconding Kimi wa Petto as it’s one of my all-time favourites.
@momo: I think it’s supposed to be ‘Night’ but I always thought of it as a pun on ‘Knight’ as well.
kissu at 2:03 am on July 23rd, 2008
i cried so hard when i watched this. not just in the end, but all the way throughout. by the time i got to the end i ran out of tears and went to bed shaking. i didn’t see the manga, so i actually thought that it would be a happy ending. but its soooo sad….