Yukan Club (Leisure Club)

Rate 8/10

Cast

• Akanishi Jin as Shocikubai Miroku
• Yokoyuma Yu as Kikimasamune Seishiro
• Taguchi Junnosuke as Bido Granmarie
• Minami as Kenbishi Yuri
• Kashii Yu as Hakushika Noriko
• Suzuki Emi as Kizakura Karen

Episodes: 10

Yukan Club is a club consists of 6 bored and rich students. They always skip classes and hang out together in the club. Having nothing to do, they pass the time by solving cases and mysteries around them. The members of Yukan Club and their quirkiness:

• Shocikubai Miroku (Akanishi Jin), the son of a police commisioner. He has lots of connection and also a good fighter. But, he shows his soft side whenever faced with heartbreaking events.

• Kikumasamune Seishiro (Yokoyama Yu), the rich son of a large hospital owner. He's smart and a very skilled martial artist. He's calm and the brain of the club. 

• Bido Granmarie (Taguchi Junnosuke), the son of a Swedish Ambassador, a horse racer and a playboy. He's very popular among girls and a narcissist.  

• Kenbishi Yuri (Minami), the daughter of the president of Kenbishi Business, she's considered the richest one among her rich friends (why is everyone so rich in Japan?). She loves eating and also a skilled fighter.

• Hakushika Noriko (Kashii Yu), she's the daughter of a famous painter and her mother comes from a respectable tea ceremony family. She's very calm and popular among boys. But her hatred for men can turn her into a violent girl in an instant.

• Kizakura Karen (Suzuki Emi), the daughter of a jewel dealer. She has the looks of a model and a lot of boys are after her. Her dream is to marry a rich man. She's also a narcissist, just like Bido.

The start of the drama is just so-so, because there're so many Japanese dramas set in an elite school. I thought it's gonna be like Hana Yori Dango, but it's different. It gets better as the episodes progress. It's funny most of the time and unlike any other teenage dramas, it doesn't have a lot of romance between the main characters which is refreshing. The characters are funny and their cases are quite interesting. The only thing I hate is the male characters' hairstyles. I know they try to stick with the manga, but sometimes the hairstyles don't suit the actors and they look like they're out of place. But overall, it's entertaining to watch.

Image source: 

http://asianwiki.com/images/0/0a/Yukan_Club.JPG

http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/13e2be05c3146f62a0552a5b904c4c4c1228759572_full.jpg

http://www.dramago.com/images/actor/small/941.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykUwGbRbukiD2tmHTlsSJyL296jiwI5FgPC-7SLLMhANspxl1EXKryT9wIOlcg7e53z4MyEm6ISyW2skqeQzbCPIeSi0hXzxL34Btpr-Ub1pfKdbmDkhswydqHAvrrAoeHCNUQal3MEk/s640/Junnosuke1.png

http://www.blike.net/files/castingimg/Series_YukanClub_Cast_004.jpg
http://www.blike.net/files/castingimg/Series_YukanClub_Cast_005.jpg
http://tsukime-drama.wifeo.com/images/c/cap/Capt-10581121.jpg

Ma Boy

Rate 7.8/10

Cast 

• Kim So Hyun as Geu Rim
• Sun Woong as Hyun Woo (Irene)

Episodes : 3

Geu Rim (Kim So Hyun), a girl whose dreams to become a singer joins an art high school where some popular young idols go to. She lives in a dorm with Irene (Sun Woong), a beautiful popular singer in the school. Troubles arise when she finds out that Irene is actually a boy in disguise.

Funny, innocent, and cute at the same time. The plot is actually old, a boy disguises himself as a girl. But, it's very entertaining right from the start until the end. Hilarious and I can't help to fall in love with the characters. It's funny that I really didn't realize that Sun Woong is a boy (I didn't read any review before watching this drama), she's very very pretty. And I really love that this drama is so short (only 3 episodes!) but it can slay any other dramas I watched. Anyway, if you want to watch a light, funny, heart-warming drama, you need to watch this.

   

Image source :http://asianwiki.com/images/f/fb/Ma_Boy-0015.jpg

Puzzle

Rate 6.6/10

Cast

• Kaho as Azusa Nakamura
• Shuhei Nomura as Shigeo Yuasa
• Kazuya Takahashi as Mitome
• Saori Yagi as Yuasa's mother
• Kokone Sasaki as Teacher Yasuda
• Baku Owada as President Takai

Azusa Nakamura (Kaho), a high school student, tries to commit suicide by jumping off the school building, but she survives. Shigeo Yuasa (Shuhei Nomura), a seemingly bullied boy at school visits her in the hospital frequently. A month later, a group of students wearing sunflower masks terror the school by torturing  a teacher, Yasuda (Kokone Sasaki). To save her, the other teachers must complete a puzzle prepared by the students. The terror continues when the headmaster Takai (Baku Owada) and three male students disappear from the school. The whole town is in a panic as all of them have to join to solve the puzzles to save the missing people.

This movie reminds me of Saw at first, but it actually quite different as the story progress. I love thriller, but this movie seems like it's only focused on torture without a strong background for the mastermind of all the terrors. I really hate all the tortures and blood, it's just too much for me. The plot is quite interesting and the actors did great, but I just can't handle too much gore. Recommended if you like slasher movies. 

Image source:http://asianwiki.com/images/2/2b/Puzzle_(Japanese_Movie)-p1.jpg 

Hana Kimi

Rate 8.3/10
Cast

• Horikita Maki as Mizuki Ashiya
• Shun Oguri as Izumi Sano
• Ikuta Toma as Shuichi Nakatsu
• Hiro Mizushima as Minami Nanba
• Yusuke Yamamoto as Taiki Kayashima
• Masaki Okada as Kyogo Sekime

Episodes : 12

Mizuki Ashiya (Horikita Maki) transfers school from California to Osaka High School. But it's not an ordinary school, it's an all male high school. Cutting her hair short, she disguises herself as a boy. She does that to get closer to Izumi Sano (Shun Oguri), a high jump athlete who stops to do high jumps after his legs injured. Problems ensues, when Sano finds out that she's a girl but she didn't know it. Things got more confusing as Shuichi nakatsu (Ikuta Toma) falls in love with her without knowing that she's actually a girl.

I freaking love this drama! the main characters are amazing and the side characters couldn't be better. Everyone has a unique traits that makes it easier to recognize even the minor characters. Every single episode is hilarious with a tiny little bit of romance. I love how the boys seem so cool in front of girls but they turn out to be weird, funny, and not that cool after all. Nakatsu's crazy antics can make you fall in love with him right away. I really like the school's crazy competitions and festivals (they seem to never study at all).  And when the drama ends, I couldn't help but to want more. I hope there'll be season 2, but sadly it didn't happen. The only thing I hate from this drama is Sano's hairstyle. God, I want to cut it right away. If you want a comedy drama, this is it, full hilarity right from the start.
     
Image source : http://asianwiki.com/images/8/81/Hana-Kimi.jpg

Shut Up! Flower Boyband

Rate 7.7/10

Cast

• Sung Joon as Kwon Ji Hyuk
• L (Kim Myung Soo) as Lee Hyun Soo
• Lee Hyun Jae as Jang Do Il
• Yoo Min Kyu as Kim Ha Jin
• Kim Min Suk as Seo Kyung Jong
• Jung Eui Chul as Yoo Seung Hoon
• Jo Bo Ah as Im Soo Ah
• Lee Min Ki as Joo Byung Hee
• Kim Ye Rim as Ye Rim

Episodes : 16

This series tell the story of a high school rock band, Eye Candy, led by Joo Byung Hee (Lee Min Ki), an eccentric vocalist of the group. The other members are Kwon Ji Hyuk (Sung Joon), Lee Hyun Soo (Kim Myung Soo), Jang Do Il (Lee Hyun Jae), Kim Ha Jin (Yoo Min Kyu), and Seo Kyung Jong (Kim Min Suk). When their school is forced to close down, they transfer to the reputable Jungsang High School. There, they find their opponent, Strawberry Fields band. 

This drama is really great! The actors carry out the plot nicely. The characters are really good and they have good chemistry. And the soundtracks are great, I downloaded their songs because of this drama. Sung Joon's voice is nice for a model-turned-actor. How I wish they're a real band so I could hear more of their songs. This is not your typical asian drama as it doesn't only focus on romance. I recommend this one.
    

Image source : http://allkoreandrama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/shut-up-flower-boy-band-drama2.jpg

Hana Yori Dango (Boys Over Flowers)

Rate 8.3/10

Cast

• Mao Inoue as Makino Tsukushi
• Jun Matsumoto as Domyoji Tsukasa
• Shun Oguri as Hanazawa Rui
• Shota Matsuda as Nishikado Sojiro
• Tsuyoshi Abe as Mimasaka Akira

Episodes : 9

Makino Tsukushi (Mao) is a young hard-working girl who attend an elite school for the rich by a scholarship (sounds familiar? this drama actually came out earlier than The Heirs). The school is ruled by F4, Domyoji Tsukasa (Jun), Hanazawa Rui (Shun), Nishikado Sojiro (Shota), and Mimasaka Akira (Tsuyoshi). They are the richest students at school. They bully everyone who stands in their way. Everyone at school is afraid of them for they're the sons of the most powerful people in Japan. But one day, when Domyoji bullies Sanjo Sakurako, Makino stands up to defend her friend. From then on she receives a red tag (an order from F4 for other students to start bully her) and her days at school will never be peaceful anymore.

Hana Yori Dango, the drama where the original F4 boys come from. If you haven't heard of F4, you must've never seen Boys Before Flower (Korean remake) or Meteor Garden (Taiwan remake). Which I suggest, don't watch those remakes, the Korean one is a total failure in my opinion and the Taiwan is not that bad but not that good either. Hana Yori Dango is the best one compared to those remakes. The plot is good, the actors can bring out the characters really well, and there's no unnecessary side plots. And it doesn't drift away too far from the manga. The story didn't get draggy like the remakes, everything fits in perfectly.

  

Image source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_Yori_Dango_(TV_series)

The Heirs (The Inheritors)

Rate 7/10

Cast 

• Lee Min Ho as Kim Tan
• Park Shin Hye as Cha Eun Sang
• Kim Woo Bin as Choi Young Do
• Kang Min Hyuk as Yoon Chan Young
• Kang Ha Neul as Lee Hyo Shin
• Krystal as Lee Bo Na
• Kim Ji Won as Rachel Yoo
• Park Hyung Sik as Jo Myung Soo
• Jeon So Jin as Kang Ye Sol
• Choi Jin Hyuk as Kim Won

Episodes : 20

One Who Wants to Wear The Crown, Bear The Crown is another title for this drama. As it says, it tells the story of the students in an elite high school for rich kids. The students in the school divided into four groups. First, the top group, the heirs of huge companies, they're born rich and don't even need to study hard as they will be bosses once they graduate. The second group, they don't have big companies, but they have lots of stocks which pretty much the same thing. The third, they are the children of high-rank state officials, lawyers, etc. And the last one, the students who get into the school by scholarship, in other words commoners. They are the group which often bullied by the first three groups.

Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye) is a new student who happens to be in the fourth group. Having a feeling to her, Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) tries to protect her by saying that she's a "new money" or someone who recently got rich. But Choi Young Do (Kim Woo Bin), Kim Tan's rival, suspects Cha Eun Sang's real identity and after some time falls in love with her as well. Problem arises with Rachel Yoo (Kim Ji Won), Kim Tan's fiancee, who bullies Cha Eun Sang.

At first, I watch this drama because of the casts (I'm a fan of Kim Woo Bin and Park Shin Hye), very popular actors and actresses and famous kpop idols, wow. And that's the only thing that kept me watching it till the end. Who doesn't know the old Cinderella story? A poor girl meets a rich boy and bullied by evil girl, the main plot is so overused. I love Park Shin Hye, but I really hate her character in this drama. She cries every single time! It's rare to see her smiling in this drama. And, come on, it's not even that sad. Everything is just so cheesy and predictable. And somehow it seems like they only used one song for the soundtrack, I cringe every time Love is the moment... comes on. The side stories and characters are much more interesting and lovable. If you want to watch a drama with a good plot, don't watch this. But if you want to see pretty faces and luxurious places, you're in the right place.  

Image source : 

http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/10/the-cast-of-heirs-turn-into-royalty-for-the-drama-posters

Hormones The Series Season 2

Rate 6.5/10
Episodes : 13
Cast

• Pachara Chirativat as Win
• Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha as Kwan
• Sutatta Udomsilp as Toei
• Chutavuth Pattarakampol as Phu
• Shiracuch Chientaworn as Mhog
• Gunn Junhavat as Tar
• Sananthacat Thanapatpisal as Dao
• Thanapob Leeratanakajorn as Phai
• Supassra Thanachat as Sprite
• Sedthawut Anusit as Thee
• Napat Chokejindachai as Pop
• Kemisara Paladesh as as Koi
• Thiti Mahayotaruk as Non
• Pearwah N. Chatchaipolrat as Kanompang
• Narikunn Ketprapakorn as Oil
• Teeradon Supapunpinyo as Sun
• Thanaerng Kanyawee as Jane

After the incident at the end of the first season, Win (Pachara) moves to U.S. Mhog (Shiracuch) develops new feelings for Kwan (Ungsumalynn) and Tar (Gunn), finally gains his own popularity, has a new fan girl, Kanompang (Pearwah). With everything that happened last year, their lifes once again, entangled.

Aside from the main characters from the first season, here are the new characters and some side characters in the first season that now becomes main characters.

• Thee (Sedthawut), a homosexual boy who has a difficulty forgetting his ex, Phu (Chutavuth). And there's a first year boy called Non (Thiti), who might have feelings for him.

• Pop (Napat), the school reporter whose sister joins in the school this year.

• Koi (Kemisara), Dao (Sananthachat)'s bestfriend who falls in love with Dao after being teased by her friends that they would be cute if they were a couple.

• Non (Thiti), Thee's new best friend who clings to him all the time.

• Kanompang (Pearwah), a fan of See Scape band who later falls in love with Tar. She's bright and cheerful and she hasn't showed her bad side yet.

• Oil (Narikunn), Kanompang's best friend, or so she thought. She seems quiet, but she wants attention more than anyone else.

• Sun (Teeradon),  a new vocalist of See Scape and Kanompang's classmate.

• Jane (Thanaerng), a girl who loves clubbing and happens to meet Win in U.S.

In my opinion, this series is not even close to the first season. The plot is far from good, there's no red line that connects all the characters and each story from each episode. There are too many unneccessary  side characters. And the new main characters are just so...plain. No strong backgrounds and some repeated plots. It got boring in the middle and the awaited main characters from the first season are rarely showed up. They got weaker stories and chaacteristics compared to the first season. I don't recommend you to watch this. Just stick to the first season only.

See also: Hormones The Series Season 1

Image source :
http://forums.abs-cbn.com/asianovela-archives/hormones-the-series/
http://silviasaputra.blogspot.com/2015/03/anusit-sedthawut.html
https://www.tumblr.com/search/toptap%20napat
https://www.pinterest.com/sashaperera/hormones-the-series/
http://femythrops.blogspot.com/2014/07/profil-bank-thiti.html
https://thingsemilsees.wordpress.com/
http://kenh14.vn/cine/dao-noi-dien-vi-bi-phat-tan-anh-hon-dong-tinh-2014092101075745.chn
https://shiraai.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/bishonen-of-the-week-bank-james/
https://lennethfebrero.wordpress.com/tag/hormones-the-series/

Hormones The Series

 

Rate 8/10

Cast 

• Pachara Chirativat as Win
• Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha as Kwan
• Sutatta Udomsilp as Toei
• Chutavuth Pattarakampol as Phu
• Shiracuch Chientaworn as Mhog
• Gunn Junhavat as Tar
• Sananthacat Thanapatpisal as Dao
• Thanapob Leeratanakajorn as Phai
• Supassra Thanachat as Sprite

Episodes : 13

Hormones is a story about the life of nine teenagers with their problems. This series depict teenagers' issues from their points of view such as school violence, teenage sex, family matters, etc. Each episode tells the story of a character and his/her problems and how they deal with it. Here are the main characters :

• Win (Pachara Chirativat), a popular rebellious boy who somehow everyone follows. He doesn't care about anyone else and always has everything the way he wants it.

• Kwan (Ungsumalynn Sirapatsakmetha),  a smart girl who's always on the top of the class. She's seen as a "perfect" girl by her classmates. But, when a huge problem hits her, can she still stay perfect?

• Toei (Sutatta Udomsilp), a tomboy girl who has lots of male friends. This makes other girls accuse her of being a slut.

• Phu (Chutavuth Pattarakampol), a boy who's part of the marching band and plays saxophone. He is Toei's ex boyfriend. He's confused of his own sexual orientation when Thee, a male friend in marching band team, starts liking him.

• Mhog (Shiracuch Chientaworn), an introvert with an obsession in photography. He's a close friend of Win.

• Tar (Gunn Junhavat), a guitarist who's often overshadowed by his best friends' popularity, Win and Mhog.

• Dao (Sananthacat Thanapatpisal), an innocent first year who puts her fantasies of her own friends in an online romance novel. She has a very strict mother who'll become an issue later.

• Phai (Thanapob Leeratanakajorn), a bad boy whose days filled with fights with a rival school gang. He falls in love with Sprite who happens to be his gang leader's girlfriend.

• Sprite (Supassra Thanachat), a girl who's popular in school for being a slut. She has casual sex with her male friends even when she already has a boyfriend.

This series is very engaging despite its common theme : teenagers and their problems. It's interesting to see how very clueless they are when faced with romance issues, parents, friends, teachers. Just like how we're as teenagers, troubled and doesn't want anyone's help. To see each character deals with their problems and grow up is weirdly entertaining in this drama. I can relate with some of the characters. We always have those kind of people at school, the popular boy, the tomboy girl who every other girl seems to hate, the smart girl, the boys in a school gang. For me, it depicts teenage life perfectly, even when some parts are exaggerated.

See also: Hormones The Series Season 2

Image source : 

http://www.viki.com/videos/1004852v-hormones-the-series-testosterones-episode-1

http://kenh14.vn/cine/lop-truong-cham-ngoan-cua-tuoi-noi-loan-gian-lan-thi-cu-201372755117180.chn

https://lennethfebrero.wordpress.com/2014/11/29/hormones-and-the-philippine-society-analysis-on-the-teenage-life-and-local-tv-series-in-the-information-age/

https://xxcluelessmind.wordpress.com/

http://www.baodoi.com/tintuc/phim-anh/Hot-boy-Phu-Tuoi-noi-loan-noi-Anh-yeu-em-voi-fan-Viet-52942

http://forums.soompi.com/en/topic/343533-thailand-drama-2013~2014-hormones-the-series-upcoming-season-3-2015/?page=48

http://www.siamovies.vn/search/label/HORMONES%20THE%20SERIE

https://twitter.com/swagurll/status/543266391298568192
https://amienkim.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/large.jpg
http://imgarcade.com/1/hormones-the-series-sprite/