My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho

First aired: August 11, 2010

Rating: Loved

Recommended for those who like a touch of fantasy in their romantic comedies; bonus for fans of cute, older secondary couples.

As much as I love the Hong sisters (Hong Gil Dong), Shin Min Ah (My Mighty Princess), and Lee Seung Gi (Brilliant Legacy), I was a little late to the party on My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho. I have no idea why I didn’t pick it up immediately as it definitely hits almost all my favorite drama elements, but I’m actually glad I ended up holding off for YA Ent.’s DVD box set, as it allowed me to quickly marathon the entire series from the comfort of my sofa. And when I say marathon, I mean marathon. Once I started, I absolutely couldn’t stop and spent the better part of two days laughing, crying and flailing about over countless scenes of utterly adorable behavior.

Pride

Pride

First aired: January 12, 2004

Rating: Married (and had its babies)

Recommended for fans of contract relationship antics, Kimutaku, and Yuko Takeuchi, with a side of high-intensity emotions that go along with sports stories.

I never imagined that one of my all-time favorite dramas would end up being about contract dating, but somehow, Pride manages to press all the right buttons for me. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better cast (I kid you not – every single one of the main actors is on my faves list), and the tension between the two leads starts sizzling from the moment they clap eyes on one another. It even features a Queen theme song! It’s like the drama gods wrote a series especially for me.

Nagareboshi

First aired: October 18, 2010

Rating: Loved

Recommended for those looking for a romance that grows slowly over time – bonus for those who enjoy human dramas featuring the strong bonds between family members.

It took me a little while to finish Nagareboshi (not a fault of the show, but an issue with my time management skills), but now that I’ve watched the entire 10-episode series, I can wholeheartedly recommend it to readers as a consistently well-written and acted drama that will assuredly move you to both tears and smiles throughout. The series is as much a family drama as it is a romance, and deft (as always) direction by Rieko Miyamoto (Kaze no Garden, Haikei, Chichiue-sama), draws excellent performances from the entire cast.