12 Shows to Start Watching Before 2014 is Over

A lot of great shows were released in 2014 and though some of them were huge, some weren't so notable but still very entertaining. I was able to watch a great number of dramas this year and for that I am grateful. Now I have a slew of actors to watch as 2015 approaches. 

These are some television shows that I recommend checking out before 2014 is over if you haven't.

KOREAN

Birth of a Beauty

Birth of a Beauty stars Han Ye Seul and Joo Sang Wook and is about a chaebol designing the perfect beauty so that they can get revenge on the loves that betrayed them. The show is just the right mix of comedy, romance and revenge. The two main actors make a very charming pair. The pace of the show is also very enjoyable. The show is only 12 episodes in and slated for 20 episodes total. Each episode is just over an hour. I know for sure that the show can be watched on DramaFever and Viki.
Also Staring: Jung Gyu-Woon, Wang Ji-Hye, Han Sang-Jin, along with many others. 

Modern Farmer

Modern Farmer follows a rock band as they try to farm cabbages in order to gain the money they need to make their album. The show stars Lee Hong Ki, Park Min Woo, Honey Lee, Lee Si Un, Kwak Dong Yun, and several other familiar actors and actresses. It's a very enjoyable show. It's extremely funny, but also endearing, and in some regards quite suspenseful. The show is slated for 20 episodes and currently has 16 episodes released, which I know are available on DramaFever and Viki. 

Pride & Prejudice

Pride & Prejudice is Choi Jin Hyuk's last drama before serving his military service, so it must not be missed. Besides that it is an amazing show. It is about a rookie prosecutor played by Beak Jin Hee trying to piece together her brother's murder while still trying to be the best public welfare prosecutor she can be. The "sunbae" is played by Choi Jin Hyuk and there is some romantic tension between them but luckily the show is really good at trying to focus on the prosecuting process more than their possible dating life. The show also stars Choi Min Soo, Lee Tae Hwan (Surprise), Son Chang-Min, Choi Woo-Sik, Jang Hang-Seon, Jung Hye-Seong, Baek Su-Ryeon, and Kim Na-Woon. The show has also been receiving very good ratings and is slated for 20 episodes, 12 of which have been released. The show is available for Premium customers on DramaFever, and on Viki.

It's Okay, That's Love

Probably the best show of 2014. If you haven't seen it yet then you are definitely missing out. The show is about a couple struggling with their own psychological issues while trying to enjoy love for the first time. This is an epic show: it had an epic cast and even the premise of the show is epic. It stars Gong Hyo Jin, Jo In Sung, Lee Kwang Soo, Song Dong Il, D.O., Jin Kyung, Lee Sung Kyung, Yak Ik Joon, and Cha Hwa Yeon. The show has a very remarkable set of couples and shows the struggle of being in a relationship as well as the bliss. Another great thing about this show is that all the characters are extremely strong. No one is cowering to anyone just so they can feel love and acceptance. It also teaches viewers how tough dealing with mental illnesses can be but also how people with mental illnesses should be viewed and treated. I honestly think that anyone would enjoy this show. It was 16 episodes and is available on most streaming websites including DramaFever, Viki, and Hulu.


JAPANESE

Partners by Blood

Partners by Blood was a really great show packed with both action and comedy. It was also a very short series with only 11 episodes that were about 45 minutes long. It's the perfect series to marathon on a day off. I also think it's a great drama for Asian drama virgins. If you are just getting started or are looking for something that might interest your friends and family then I highly recommend this one. I know that it's available on DramaFever.

The Perfect Insider

The Perfect Insider is a relatively new drama that started in late October of 2014. It is a really entertaining and suspenseful crime drama. It is a bit far-fetched at times but the amount of suspense that this drama boasts will leave you hanging onto your seats and craving more at the end of every episode. Available on DramaFever.

VARIETY

Roommate

Although Roommate may not boasts super high ratings it does have a great cast and it is very funny and endearing. The concept of sticking celebrities that know almost nothing about each other together in a house is not a new one, but it never ceases to be entertaining no matter how many ways you spin it. The show is already in its second season and even though I as a viewer grew attached to the cast members of the first season I must say that the second season somehow feels more comfortable, not just for the housemates but also for the viewers. If you were thinking about checking it out but still haven't made the jump, I encourage you to at least check out the first episode. Available on DramaFever.

Superman is Back!

One of the cutest variety shows ever! Super Man is Back (or Superman Returns) shows celebrity fathers taking care of their children alone for a 48 hour period. It really is fun to watch the dads and their children become closer. The dads always seem to have so much fun watching their children grow and it's fun for the viewer to watch the family grow closer together with every new experience. The longest members of the cast are Tablo (Epik High) and his daughter Haru, Choo Sung Hoon and his daughter Sarang, Lee Hwi Jae and his twins Seo Joon & Seo Eon, and Song Il-Kook and his triplets Dae Han, Min Guk, and Man Se. Former members of the cast include Lee Hyun Woo and his two sons, Kim Jung Tae and his son, Jang Hyun Sung and his two sons, and Do Kyung Wan and his son. Most recently the cast has added Uhm Tae Woong and his daughter as Tablo and Haru depart. This show is very family friendly and you will find yourself smiling the entire show as you watch the children and fathers learn together. Available on YouTube.

SHORTS

Another Parting

This five episode mini drama packed quite the punch: from an impressive cast to an addicting story line. It packed that wallop in about an hour too. The show is about an alien that comes to earth to learn about humans. While trying to learn he encounters a woman and follows her in order to achieve his mission. It sounds sappy but it had a good bit of action and comedy that made it a touch better than your typical romantic drama. I reviewed the show already in a Monday Marathon post. You can watch this drama on YouTube with English subtitles.

Aftermath

This was another action packed miniseries made from a popular webtoon. The drama is about a high school student who wakes up after an accident with the ability to tell which people will die and which people will kill. The show is a total of 11 episodes with each episode being about 8-11 minutes long. It stars Kim Dong Joon of ZE:A and combines murder, mystery, and romance in a pretty enjoyable package.  I also reviewed the show for my Marathon Monday series. Available on DramaFever.

After School Lucky or Not

This is one of the most hilarious shorts I've ever seen. At times it can be a bit crude, but it was so funny that it was easy to not get annoyed by it. It stars the members of idol-acting group Surprise, and in the first season Kim So Eun, in the second season Song Joo Hee (Alice of Hello Venus) and Han Ji Suk. The show is about friends who complete missions after school as a bucket list. As you can imagine this creates some pretty hilarious antics that really shouldn't be missed. I reviewed the first season in a Monday Marathon post. Available on DramaFever.

Love Cells

This short wrapped very recently and it was a very cute and fun romantic comedy. The main character was in danger of losing all his love cells but with the help of his cat he tries to save himself by winning over the heart of a k-pop idol. It boasts quite an impressive cast which I listed out in my Monday Marathon post. It was 15 episodes long that were about 6-12 minutes long. Available on DramaFever.

Partners by Blood (Bitter Blood) - Japanese Drama Review

This show is by far my favorite Japanese Drama. It had everything one could ask for in an action/comedy. It was funny when it was supposed to be and packed with combat and explosions at just the right moments. And like all Japanese dramas it was short and sweet, which left me wanting more so I am hoping for a season two. 

Warning this review will contain a few spoilers. 

Overview: An estranged father and son become partners at the Ginza Police Station much to their dismay. They fight each other and their impending bond tooth and nail but they realize, case by case, that they care about each and need each other to survive the dangerous world of being a detective. I watched it on DramaFever.

What I Liked:
1. The actors were fantastic. I've noticed that in Japanese dramas, particularly comedies, things get really random but it didn't diminish the acting talents of the cast. Their comedic timing was just as great as their uncanny ability to cry over just about anything. I also liked that each character had a personality and a chance to show of their personality traits.

The cast included Takeru Sato (Natsuki Sahara aka Junior - Son), Atsuro Watabe (Akimura Shimao aka Gentle - Father), Shiori Kutsuna (Love Interest), Mitsuru Fukikoshi, Tetsushi Tanaka, Sarutoki Minagawa, Keiji, Suzu Hirose, Reiko Kusamura, Katsumi Takahashi (Chief), and Mitsuhiro Oikawa (Villain).

2. The main villain. You know dramas, mostly Korean dramas, have a way of making you empathize with the villain in some cases, not all but some. This wasn't one of those cases. Even when the villain was telling his story I still thought that he needed to go. Of course, I don't feel like he ever really got the chance to explain his story but even if he felt wronged he shouldn't have done the things he did.

3. The action. This comedy had a lot of action and though having action in every single episode can be pretty unrealistic, it also made for very entertaining scenarios.

4. The theme song. Probably one of the best theme songs I've ever heard. It added impact to the show before the show even started. It's called Do You Ever Shine by Mayday. It gets you pumped up for not only the show but just for the day.

5. They didn't overly force the father and son relationship between Sahara and Gentle. They let them naturally start caring for each other and understanding each other. At the end of the show they still weren't super close but they were on their way there which gives me hope for a second season.

What I Didn't Like:
1. I felt like the villain never actually got a chance to fully explain his side of the story. We got a brief glimpse into his pain but that didn't help us understand exactly where he was coming from.

2. The unstated relationship between Sahara's sister, Shinobu, and Kota. Kota is the chief's son and after Sahara saved him he all of a sudden was in some sort of relationship with the sister which was never fully explained. Sahara and Gentle still don't even know that they're dating or friends or whatever they are.

In all honesty there wasn't much I disliked. It was so entertaining and just the right amount of endearing that I really have no complaints. I would totally watch it again and I suggest that if you're new to dramas you give it a try. A short drama like this is a great attention keeper.