For all the drama junkies out there, a list of must-watch dramas. They’re available via torrents or from www.yesasia.com. They’re not placed in any particular order and I’ve only included a very brief synopsis – check out spcnet and j-dorama and dramawiki for more information.

Recommended Korean Dramas:

1. Winter Sonata

The one that inspired a K-drama craze in Japan. The plot can get cliched and unbelievable at times, but Bae Yong Jun and Choi Ji Woo are such excellent actors that you get past your cynicism and start feeling sorry for the characters. Excellent soundtrack and a classic.

2. Autumn in My Heart/ Autumn Fairy Tale

The first of the “four season dramas” which includes the above, it is rather slow-paced but riveting, attacking the issues of stigmatized love between siblings, and of the concept of true love. A pastoral feel to it, and something that your mom would also enjoy.

3. A Love to Kill

Watch this not for the plot but for the cinematography. The plot holds until Ep 10, then skip to Ep 15 if you are an impatient person. Rain shows a lot of improvement in this drama as an actor, and newcomer Shin Min-Ah is wonderful in her emoting as well as ability to carry off different looks.

4. Full House

The pioneer of the comedy-romance dramas. Hilarious and light-hearted, with two extremely good-looking male leads and a lovable female protagonist. Well worth your time.

5. My Girl

In the tradition of Full House – I was glad they continued having two goodlooking guys as rivals, since the rivalry then becomes more realistic. The main actress isn’t pretty but she is able to bring across the nuances of her role very well – she becomes endearing. We laughed a lot during this show. Great for a gloomy winter’s evening.

Recommended Japanese dramas

1. Gokusen 1 and 2.

Teacher who is from a yakuza (gangster) family, which she has to keep a secret from her students. Her class is a bunch of rowdy low-achievers with bad attitudes but good hearts. Obviously a lot of trouble ensues with these guys and the teacher has to go to their rescue! Watch it in Season 1 for Matsumoto Jun, in Season 2 for Kame.

2. Hana Yori Dango 2.

HYD 1 was good, but HYD 2 was fantastic in terms of plot development, pacing and humor. The side story arcs of Akira and Soujiroh become more prominent and they are pretty moving too. Oguri Shun as Hanazawa Rei becomes my hero.

3. 1 Liter of Tears

Based on a real story of a girl who suffers from an incurable degenerative spinal problem. This is a drama which sensitively traces how this girl and her family go through the whole experience of her slow death through some ten years. Riveting, extremely touching (I wouldn’t have touched this drama at all because of its title, but a friend stongly recommended it) and it made me cry like, 100 liters of tears. The protagonist is excellent, and so is the supporting actress who plays Ako.

Recommended Taiwanese dramas:

1. Meteor Garden ONE

The pioneer of all soft-focus, romantic, manga-adapted tv dramas. This series launched the careers of F4. A must-watch. (Note: MG2 highly -not- recommended)

2. MARS

Dark themes are dealt with in yet another manga-to-drama series. But Vic Zhou of F4 shows immense development as an actor and Barbie Hsu portrays the trauma her character has to go through incredibly convincingly.