Tokyo Ghoul to Get a Live Action Film Adaptation
Good day MDl’ers. Are you in the mood for a good laugh? Then by all means, check out the staff pick for this month where comedy hits hard.
rosefae72 (Editor in Chief) recommends:
Yuusha Yoshihiko Maou no Shiro
Yuusha Yoshihiko Akuryo no Kagi
I cannot mention one without mentioning the other. Both seasons of Yuusha Yoshihiko are absolutely hilarious! To sum up, they basically tell the story of a hero and his 3 companions who set out to conquer the villains of the world. If you've ever played Dragon Quest or any other jRPG game, then you'll quickly get the references in these 2 dramas. Be warned: these are not high-budget dramas. Even in the opening title of both is stated clearly that the drama is a "Low Budget Action Adventure Story". They are parodies with references to jRPG clichés left and right; plus there are occasional references to anime, celebrities, musicals, high school drama, and whatever else the writers found it in their hearts to parody. Some of the clichés used: turn-based battles, skill level ups, villagers that all dress the same, breaking pots/barrels, and side quests.
If you're not much into parodies, spoofs, and/or "low budget action adventure" this may not be for you. But the lines are hilarious and the situations the heroes get themselves into are absurdly silly. As a former jRPG gamer I thought to myself as I watched this, "it's about time a parody of the games was done". After watching both, I watched with my daughter. She, in turn, shared the fun with her college roommate. It is easily my favorite non-romantic comedy, and I could watch it over and over again.
As the Yuusha, remember that: Buddha is your guardian; "sweets" is the best spell ever; squirrels and koalas aren't as friendly as you think; bandits are generally clueless; and little sister is watching.
Happy Watching!
Kikimorka (Editor) recommends:
Nodame Cantabile
I'm so happy this month's theme is Comedy!! Now I get the chance to share my love for Nodame Cantabile!!! For those of you (if there are any) who've watched the anime but are hesitant to give this drama a watch, rest assured - it is so not going to disappoint you! I for one thought there's no way it could be as good as the anime but much to my surprise, it exceeded all my expectations and oh boy, was I ecstatic! That was the very first drama I watched so this wouldn't have worked its magic on me, but I'll let you in on a little secret – Nodame Cantabile's leads are Tamaki Hiroshi and Ueno Juri and they prove they are the perfect choice for it!!!
The story revolves around Chiaki and Nodame. He is a talented student, playing both the violin and the piano, whose dream is to become a world-famous conductor just like his beloved Vieira-sensei but is literally stuck in Japan because of his flying phobia. She is an oddball who plays the piano exceptionally and only by ear but wishes to be a kindergarten teacher. Nodame's unique personality and Chiaki's "Ore-sama" attitude together with the rest of the extraordinary S-orchestra is all you need to keep you entertained throughout the 11 episodes. Not to mention the rainbow of great actors and actresses in this drama! Koide Keisuke plays the role of the timpanist Masumi-chan who’s been secretly admiring Chiaki-sama for four years and is constantly fighting with Nodame over him. Eita does a fantastic job portraying Mine who’s a diehard Rock fan and a violinist with his own musical style. You probably already figured that there is a lot of classical music in this drama but even if you are like me (I'm not that much into it), you will enjoy it because it really adds to the atmosphere Nodame Cantabile creates.
All these memorable characters get into the most hilarious and absurd situations, share the ups and downs and eventually learn how to sympathise with each other and become more persevering to realise their dreams. Nodame Cantabile is full of humour and it will make your stomach hurt, no kidding! Even after finishing the drama, you will vividly remember all of its characters because they are that unforgettable!
Aya97 (Editor) recommends:
Protect the Boss
When I thought about comedy, Protect the Boss was the first drama that popped up. I think it has some of the most comedic characters, and no evil person. What made this drama a jewel for me was the character Na Yoon, played by the lovable Wang Ji Hye. Seriously, I think she is one of my favorite characters up to date. She was so fun to watch, and even if she may have appeared evil in the beginning her personality takes a 180 degrees turn later.
Apart from her, the other characters were amazing as well. Their chemistry was the thing that made me come back again and again for the next episode. The script was also well written: "sweetness and spice and everything nice".
All In all I recommend this drama if you are in need of something refreshing and amusing that will also keep you on edge from time to time!
Taylorgg12 (Editor) recommends:
Hi My Sweetheart
If there's one thing that Taiwan does well it's romantic comedies. Now a lot of you may disagree but if you're like me and you happen to find over the top acting and mishaps hilarious than you will enjoy Hi My Sweetheart. On a scale of 1-10 of over the top acting I'd place this one on about 6. Luo Show and Rainie Yang are hilarious together as well as adorable. The first couple of episodes are endearing and the sound effects were off the charts. I mean what's not to love in a nerdy guy who's obsessed with the Pink Panther and a girl who tries so hard to be tough and not let the world see her pain who is also obsessed with Pink Panther?
Yes the second half has more drama, but the mishaps that happen are actually pretty funny if you think about how unlikely they would be, and deep down they are still that nerdy guy and tough girl. It's cute, it's funny, and you need to watch it.
AmandaMarta (Trailer Staff) recommends:
Marriage Not Dating
Not only does this show have the romantic component along with the show’s signature cold open, this is by far the funniest I’ve seen in the past few years other than Gentlemen’s Dignity and King2Hearts. The killer leads (Yeon Woo and Han Groo) with their fantastic emotive and funny talents brings us a witty banter, laugh-out loud humorous drama. Sometimes the comedy is so broad and physical that it’s impossible to take this show seriously. I love its refreshing take on romance and their hilarious contract relationship in the mix. Even though it’s not exactly the most original concept out there, you have it all: relationships, friendships, dating, marriage, and family genres. You have to notice that this show is pretty realistic and comes with a heart that it stays with you for a long time. This show made me laugh A LOT! The characters were flawed and everyone in this drama stays true to themselves. It was the acceptance of people for who they really are that made Marriage not Dating a funny rom-com that tugs at all the right heart-strings. If you are looking for a show on a late Saturday that is cracktastic, laugh-out loud hilarity with an inner core of true emotion, I absolutely recommend this light, well-done rom-com to be your ticket!
Elisabetta (Editor) recommends:
Samurai High School
I must admit that I often lose myself in high school dramas. They were the first that caught my attention in the Dramaland. Part of their charm was, of course, the lovely uniforms and seeing all that unknown school traditions and Asian youth culture, which seemed so fresh and new. But even more than that I loved how they remind me of my own adolescence: that precious time when everything was so dramatic and exciting, and I was anxiously anticipating my first true love wondering if that look a boy from class gave me meant something or not. School dramas with their innocence bring me that nostalgia, so I love to indulge in them from time to time.
This one, Samurai High School, I recommend you especially if you want to laugh. It is a bit like anime, so it seems over the top at times. But thanks to Miura Haruma's brilliant performance you’ll be laughing non-stop. He nails it both as a happy-go-lucky teenager and the spirit of a fearless samurai. While his antics are never-ending, there is something meaningful and universal in the problems he has to deal with. It’s a funny, innocent story about growing up and mustering courage to be the hero of your own life.
Sleepninja (Forums Moderator) recommends:
Tokyo DOGS
Tokyo DOGS is one of those dramas that you cannot forget! It had me laughing from start to finish. :) This is the story of a super serious police detective (played by Oguri Shun) that returns home after working in America. He teams up with a laid back, ladies' man (Mizushima Hiro) to seek revenge for his father's death. They are tasked with protecting a stubborn girl who witnessed a crime that is the key to solving their case. The problem? Due to witnessing such a traumatic event, she can't remember anything!
With one detective determined to force her to remember and another more interested in wooing her, many comical events result. This unlikely duo stumbles about trying to solve the case while arguing about the proper way to wash hair and noisy aliens. I watched this drama four or five years ago, and I still find myself searching for certain scene on youtube to laugh at! Anyone in need of a good laugh, look no further!
