Korean: Melody Of Love Episode 1-32

I'm now at the quarter mark of this KBS daily drama titled Melody Of Love. A whole 70 odd more episodes to brave through! As with most lighthearted daily dramas, it's cheesy, has multiple plot holes, and drags on and on. But at the same time they're often also easy to digest and fun to watch!

I don't often watch daily dramas, the length often just scares me off. But somehow I found myself picking up Melody of Love, which stars Baek Sunghyun alongside rookie Kim Dasom. I'm loving their dynamics so far. Though I have to say, I can't really stand how Sooim is portrayed in the drama - annoying, clingy not-even-girlfriend. Definitely a character I dislike to see on screen, despite not even being a antagonist character. Just not written in the best light. The mothers, while often providing comedic relief (especially Taegyeong's), can get really frustrating while somehow drawing very strong parallels with how Asian mothers tend to behave. But I'm definitely in it for the main love line (Deurim and Hyunwoo's), they're adorable! I wonder how they're going to play it out for another 70 episodes with the sort of push-and-pull dynamics which can get unappealing after a while. I do sincerely hope that no unpredictable 막장 plots come into play to this lighthearted drama!


While it's not any award-winning acting with a ground breaking plot, I've been really enjoying seeing the interactions of the family and how their relationships play out. I enjoy the predictability, the hilariously cheesy moments which (I hope) were placed in for its obvious comedic value and how the basis of the plot lies in nonsensical misunderstandings. Though there are many annoying plots and in how the characters portray themselves, it does make for quite a addictive storyline.

I also want to give a quick shout out to the zoom-in-stare-at-each-other endings they never fail to do. Heh.

TV: 19 April, Clones come back

One of my favourite TV shows of 2013 set for a comeback on April 19, 2014. I loved and sped through season 1, being completely in awe of Tatiana Maslaney's talent without which the show wouldn't have half its production quality.

If you haven't watched it, you really should. It's a sci-fi show that has a really strong sense of reality, and touches on many pressing issues in varying degrees of subtlety. The amazing plot broils suspense and all the characters have such distinct layers to them that unravels through each episode, really good TV. I believe that the full season will serve to be much more satisfying that Sherlock's 3 episode season, and it's definitely one of the things I've been eagerly anticipating for 2014.

Korean: Of Beauty And Hanboks

Lee Youngae (from hallyu wonder Dae Jang Geum) just has a really natural sophistication and flair to her.

The way she carried off the relatively simple hanboks is just mesmerizing. I particularly am obsessed with the photo on the left; the pastel hanbok on her fair skin and the way the fabric moves looks so light and effortless. I love how the entire shoot exuded an overall sense of airiness rarely seen in hanbok shoots (which is often portrayed in more regal and stiff silhouettes) while still retaining the beauty of tradition in its modern execution. I also want to say that I haaate modern day interpretations of hanboks, they typically don't turn out half as good as its predecessor. (see some of the fusion hanboks, especially the shortened capsleeved ones.....)

F.Y.I This is from Marie Claire's February edition, and also happens to be one of the nicest shoots I've seen recently.

Beauty: Wishlist

I'm not someone to spend a lot of money on a single product, be it beauty or fashion items. Rarely will I find an item I love enough to splurge a huge amount on, since I feel like the more 'budget' items are working really well for me. So what I do is create wishlists and make it a form of wishful hope. Heh.



Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is a really expensive face powder that has essentially reached cult status. Dubbed to give a flawless and poreless finish on your face, I wonder if I'll ever get my hands on the beautiful powder. The Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette has definitely made its way to the wishlists of many after being featured in multiple UK beauty blogs. Definitely luxury with its sleek and beautiful rose gold packaging, the color I find myself gravitating to definitely has to be The Vintage Vamp. While it's not your typical neutral shades, I feel that the pink tones add a lot of feminity and glam to any makeup look. I love the glitter color as well. Sticking with a similar color scheme, the Stylenanda Eyeshadow in Saturn has been one I've been lusting after for a really long time. I've been meaning to make my way down the Myeongdong outlet soon to get my hands on it, but procrastination got the better of me. Either way let's just stare at the burgundy beauty for a bit more.

Another cult favourite is the Emma Hardie Moringe Cleansing Balm, which touts to remove even stubborn makeup while moisturising. One of my favourite beauty youtuber, Essiebutton, made me lust after it despite it's really hefty price tag. Next is just one of those things, I don't need it but I really, really want it - the Nars NARSissit Cheek Palette which holds with it three bestsellers, Orgasm, Laguna and Devotee. I've never owned any Nars blushes, but they've been loved by many.. The last is a foundation that I am seriously considering getting, the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup. I've been really leaning towards light weight foundations, and the unique liquid-to-powder finish I'm really intrigued by.

Phew. Such a long post. Who knows if I'll ever get my hands on them but it's always nice to dream.

Music/Recommendation: Zizo - Winter of Haeundae

MY JAMMMMM!!!

First of all, let's take a moment to talk about how beautiful the MV is. I love the usage of split screens, a couple of stop motion scenes, filters that added a homemade quality, and the depiction of winter through the higher contrast and tungsten lighting. It's simply yet beautifully shot, and I get to see Shin Soyul in all her big-eyed aegyo cuteness. It was exactly what I thought the visuals of the song to be like, except in my head it's an abstract mess that will never see daylight.

The song, performed by underground rapper Zizo and half of K3's duo Lim Kim, is nothing short of great. From the moment Lim Kim's distinctive honey voice (with just enough hint of rasp) hit, I knew I was in love. Not to mention Zizo's clean and relaxed rapping that really suited the melodic and upbeat winter song. Nothing pressuring or overbearing, just a sweet winter song.

Also currently loving: Togeworl's Talk To Me, B.A.P's 1004, and Soyu/Junggigo's Some

Thoughts: Hyunwoo's year?

I want to preface this by saying that everyone has their favourite flower boy actor that they probably love not (solely) for their acting skills. Mine happens to be Lee Hyunwoo.



The lack of updates is due to me keeping myself away from entertainment news after just being swept away by uni life, but just a week ago Hyunwoo was revealed to be casted in a new thriller movie titled 7년의 밤 (7 Years Of Night). The movie is going to be a followup for the very talented director Choo Changmin to notable kickass sageuk movie Masquerade i.e. it's probably gonna be real good!!

I remember just a while ago hoping for more good things for this adorable man in my 2013 year end review. I wasn't extremely impressed with The Equator Man (though many were) and that made me wonder if he can pull off anything else other than a typical smiley 2nd lead. His God Of Study same-aged friend, Yoo Seungho, has also appeared to really make his mark and left for enlistment (wise choice, btw) with his mark as a good actor in I Miss You.

Maybe now  2014 is Hyunwoo's year, with his casting in both 기술자들 and 7년의 밤. Perhaps even a drama?? I'm excited!

TV: The Genius - Rules Of The Game

For people who do not know about The Genius, it is a "smart" type variety show which pits various characters from very different backgrounds together through a series of games, or "rounds", to win a large final cash prize. With a standard format of "Main Match" followed by a "Death Match", the various games requires the use of wits, logic and creativity midst other forms of intelligence (including social). The format of the show draws a lot of parallels with psychological dramas like The Liar Game (which I loved) and Kaiji, so if you're into that you might love The Genius as much as I did.

The games are all unique and rather unprecedented in Korean TV (that I know of), and the sheer unpredictability of the final outcome truly keeps me at the edge of my seat. But I have to say, the show is made by the people: the mild but very cute love line between Choi Changyeob and Choi Jungmoon, the sheer intelligence and quirky moments of Hong Jinho, the competitiveness of all the members and seeing them overcome each tough challenge with wits.

The good mix of cast of celebrities (actors, idols, sharp-mouthed gagmen), normal intelligent individuals (Mensa members, Harvard graduates) and individuals who excel at their respective fields (pro-gamers, pro-pool players) created much interest and positive tension as you see how they use their respective abilities to their advantage. Most managed to create lasting impressions.You can get really invested with the various players and their individual characters, as I did, and clearly see how that resonates with both the game and each other. You might also, find yourself rooting for one individual or another; creating a connection between you as the viewer and the characters on TV.

I do have to say though, as a caution and a plea to pull through, episode 1 and 2 can get a little shifty with all the editing, complexity of the large cast and the many interactions ongoing simultaneously. Though it is to be expected and can be understood considering it being the first of firsts. It gets a lot better with time, I have to say.



More than the format of the show and the amazing writing of the games, I have to give severe props to the background staff. Each episode is exceptionally well edited to provide suspense without giving it all away, and the editing also paced the games and the members' interactions well despite them both being rather complex. The set is also very well designed, with each individual rooms having varying characteristics and the hall giving a grandiose illusion despite the apparent lack of space. The beauty of the set truly created strong visual interest while setting both the mood and the look of the show.

The show is definitely also a feast for the eyes for someone like me who's vastly interested (yet rather inadequate) in design and animation, because each complex game is simplified into graphics that are both easy to understand and aesthetically pleasing. There is also strong visual unity throughout with the hexagonal garnet stylised into a G (for Genius) appearing throughout all design elements. I remember being in awe at the intro scene when I first watched episode 1 and thinking if it's really a variety show as the quality of the animations are just off the roof! The effort put in to creating the visuals of the show is something very rarely seen in reality/variety shows.



I highly recommend you to check this show out. It has a very different kind of entertainment value that the more popular and light-hearted Korean variety shows have, while still effectively glueing your eyes on the screen and creating high interest. I definitely can't wait for the whole of season 2 (The Genius: Rule Breaker) to air and also hope for more of such genre of variety.

Beauty: Battle Of Liners - Clio & Canmake

When it comes to eye makeup, I am especially strict and hard to please. Mainly due to the fact that my eyes are exceptionally and very unfortunately oily, such that most primers and eye products (no matter how critically acclaimed) often end up failing on me by the end of the day. In this post I'm going to pit and review two good Asian brand liners together: Korean's Clio Kill Black Waterproof Pen Liner vs Japan's Canmake Perfect Black Eyeliner.



Physical: Clio wins by a margin. The cap appears to better clasp together, hence I believe that it will not dry out as quickly as the Canmake will (though I don't see either happening too quickly; I've had my Canmake for quite awhile and it still serves me well). Also, the felt tip of Clio is significantly thinner and softer and hence will be able to produce much thinner lines, whereas Canmake's stiffer and produces harsher edges.

Longevity: Clio did not last as long as Canmake on my lids before smudging (after interacting with my damned oils), with Clio hitting the 4-hour mark and Canmake just a bit more. Both eyeliners are equally waterproof and hold up to rubs well.

Price: Depending on where you get it as both's availability varies. Personally, Clio was cheaper but just by a few bucks.



Overall verdict: I alternate between both liners quite a bit, and don't see either significantly outperforming the other. Both are good liners, as with most Asian ones (I find) and I don't see myself replacing either. Though I have to say that both liners have the tendency to run to my lower lids, though I don't see other products not doing so as well. If I were to repurchase just one I would go for the Clio one just because it applies better and is easier to purchase.

Music/Drama: 2013 Brief Roundup

Yes, I am acutely aware that I am more than a whole month late. But I thought it would be fun to do this Korean media edition, floating midst the many "Favourites of 2013" roundup videos I watched that featured too many beauty products that are often way above the price point I'm willing to spare. This particular post will highlight the many things that stood out for me in 2013 in the Korean media industry, and I hope I don't miss out too much with my horrendous memory.

1. Really good music

Continuous discoveries and debuts of many amazing solo acts and great bands made 2013 one of the nicest years for my ears.



One such form of eargasm is the debut of an idol hip-hop duo: Infinite-H. As someone who's a massive follower of Infinite, I'm truly glad that Woollim gave their two multi-talented boys a chance to shine. With both boys boasting the ability to sing, dance and rap reasonably well (I especially enjoy Dongwoo's rapping style), the album was definitely no disappointment. Though there were a few things I didn't like too much about Fly High, they made a solid album that separated them from typical idol groups and thrusted them well into the hip-hop industry (or maybe at least a good step). I guess one of the main reasons was that Primary, whose productions are all to die for, was the one overseeing their project.

An idol album I particularly enjoyed is BtoB's Thriller. The songs were all very catchy and pleasant to the ears, though, unfortunately, I don't think they have enough a fanbase to make the album a public success. Also a special shout out to a band probably no one knows, that is C-Clown. "Far Away" and "Good Night" are really good tracks I'll recommend people to check out.

The only idol girl group I really enjoyed in 2013 was rookie group Ladies Code. I do believe they'll make it big with their power vocals and interesting comebacks that are often vastly different from the previous. Solo singers like Zia, rookie Jin and Lee Hi all had great tracks last year as well.



All-time goddess Lee Hyori also made a comeback, with "Miss Korea" being my favourite track. Completely suiting her musicality/voice range, and a refreshing change from the kind of sexy that her 후배s are all fighting to churn out (the unfortunate Dal Shabet included). But forsurehandsdown one of my favourite hip-hop groups PHANTOM made my year with a slough of great tracks and an amazing album: from "Come As You Are", to the lovely album PHANTOM Theory. Even the most recent track, "New Era", was such a hit with my sound buds. Another hip-hop act I loved to a greater extent in 2013 is Geeks. I really enjoyed their various featurings with members of Sistar and their first album, Backpack. Also to mention are new rappers like Kanto, and the Amoeba Culture singer, Zion T.

I also found myself loving many indie acts like Tako & J Hyung, Nell (Escaping Gravity was on repeat for a fair amount of 2013), The Nuts (또르르 was sooooo good) and the always good BrotherSu.

I can truly ramble on and on, and I keep finding myself with more content to include in each paragraph. I should really restrain myself before I get any more incoherent.

2. The highs and lows of K-dramas

There were so many powerhouses in the drama-realm. School 2013 and I Hear Your Voice effectively thrusted the very gorgeous Lee Jong Suk into his very well-deserved spotlight, and I enjoyed both of them a great deal. I also deeply love Master's Sun, which sent me into a So Ji Sub/Gong Hyo Jin frenzy and made me wish that I had the ability to see and be haunted by *very friendly and lovely tyvm* ghosts just so that I can find my very own 주군 and stalk him and eventually find true love.

Very crazy and equally enjoyable plots like that of I Miss You (including this because it ran through to the start of 2013) and Nine's very well crafted time travelling plot was well balanced by more subtle, slice of life and easy to digest dramas like School 2013 and Reply 1997 (aired in 2012, but I only got around watching it in 2013. Heh).

Then again, equally bad dramas that I couldn't really get myself to complete/forcibly completed were also present. With all due respect to the nation first love, Bae Suzy, Gu Family House was rather unbearable to watch with the sole reason being bad acting. Rant: I also cannot understand how Lee Yeon Hee was praised for her improved acting, while the very talented rookie Lee Yoobi did not get any critical acclaim for her very good acting of the very complex Chungjo. I often wonder what will happen if better actors took on the show - I think it's decently crafted plot would have more chance to shine.

Then there's The Heirs. Everyone around me was watching and raving about Kim Woobin, so I decided to jump into it. But, WHAT!? Oh my God bad. It is essentially Boys Over Flowers part 2 that took itself way too seriously. I couldn't invest in any of the dysfunctional relationships. Don't even get me started on "Love Is The Moment" playing every now and then, and how everyone must engage in staring competitions while pulling wrists -.- Though I have to say that the very adorable Chanyoung/Bona couple really helped make it a lot more bearable.

Then again, I have to say that everything I've watched served its purpose. Be it entertainment, to pass time, or just to get into heated discussions as to why Choi Youngdo is both extremely twisted and loveable while exemplifying the 'Bad Boy' charm.

3. Expectations for 2014

*Some of these expectations are already in action, but I will list them nonetheless*

• Dramas, dramas and dramas. Kickstarting the year with powerhouse 'You Who Came From The Stars' while expecting a lot from 'Emergency Man And Woman' (which features the very beautiful Song Jihyo and talented Choi Jinhyuk), I can't wait to see what the rest of the year has for my binge watching habits
• Infinite's new variety show, This Is Infinite, which I'm beyond excited about considering how much I loved Ranking King
• Hopefully, a solid comeback album by Primary. Beyond his controversies, I hope he's still able to stand strong and roll out good music
• A good year for flower boy actor Lee Hyunwoo. He's definitely risen through the charts since I first saw him in God Of Study, so I hope to see him a bit more this year with more challenging roles that contain more inherent layers beyond his typical cute-smiley-boy-next-door image -- I am expecting a bit from his recently revealed casting in upcoming movie 기술자들
• Better variety shows: continue Infinity Challenge with all its gloriousness, attempt greater to overcome stagnancy with Running Man, more *moe feels* with Superman Is Back, more more more of The Genius (sincerely hope it'll continue and become even better; one of the better Korean variety shows I watched that has a different kind of entertainment value) and less idol athletic themed specials
• For the fangirl in me, more 남스타. Heh.

*phew* Such a long post, but I enjoyed writing it. I think it might be the fact that I spent so much time watching dramas that I became increasingly invested and have much more to say about Korean media in 2013.

P.S. Unfortunately, I did not catch as many Korean movies as I intended to warrant a full bullet point on it. I have mixed reviews for the few that I did watch though, with "Very Ordinary Couple" being one of my favourites (a very realistic portrayal of love a la indie hit Blue Valentine) and the very hyped up "Secretly, Greatly" one of my least.

I also want to mention that this is the year of true love: Heungsoo/Namsoon (School 2013) and GD/Hyungdon. <3 ㅋ

Music/Recommendation: Shin Bora - Frozen

Frozen is an emotional ballad that tells the melancholy of a woman who lost and misses her love. Not an extremely new song (last December, to be more precise), but it has been in my playlist since I first heard it awhile after it came out and I wanted to share this with anyone who might not have heard it.

A little bit of background: Shin Bora is a regular comedian at Gag Concert so she's actually not a professional singer. Pleasant looks, which is uncommon of gagwomen who frequently use their appearances as a joke, and a shockingly good singer. Rambling on, I also really liked her old segment 'Discoveries of Life'.

Music: Gary (Leessang) - Mr Gae Album Review

I was very excited when news about his upcoming album came out. I didn't follow through with all the teasers, so I guess I can say that I didn't really know what to expect. Leessang had a very distinct sound, was Mr. Gae going to emulate and replicate his past success? How will it differ? How will he portray his musicality?

I loved him as a Running Man member (I mean that show pretty much painted him as every girl's dream man; devoted, honest and very humorous) and I loved him as Leessang's Gary (great great songs, and a great rapper with a very distinct, uncommon and very good style that's kind of chill and mellow in a really good way). So needless to say, I was pretty hyped up for it.



ZOTTO MOLA: I really liked this song. I loved the intro sounds that set the tone of the song, and I loved how the song really showcased all the positive notes in his rapping style - the kind that's slightly off-beat, relaxed and unenunciated. The lyrics are, too, well written as a mature and devoted take on love.

Shower Later: A lovely, soulful song with a really controversial and roll-eye-worthy music video. A favourite of mine, because it fits exactly into the mould of hip hop sound that I like. Crush's voice is melodic and fits right with Gary's rapping, I really enjoyed it. But the video... The video... I feel like the director completely misunderstood the lyrics of the song. Yes, sex, I get it. But the lyrics portrayed sex in a way when love and passion manifests into the physical world. Then the video? Full of redundant sexual innuendos. I don't mean to sound like a prude, but to me, sexy can swing completely another way.

Drunken Night Tune: I love the swing sounds, and this is very true to Leessang style with the featuring of Jungin. I love *to death* the manner in which she sings, and I feel like she pulled off this song perfectly.

MR. GAE: The final song is a rather large deviation from Leessang's usual style as it sounds much more street. But I liked that he ventured into alternative sounds and music techniques (dubstep and very strong bass) while still retaining a little of that jazzy sound.



I don't have much negative things to say about it apart from that horrible video which I side-eyed quite a bit. I do feel that even without Gil's vocals, Gary can still hold his ground as a solid rapper. I did feel that there isn't enough deviation to truly distinguish Gary as a solo project separate from Leessang. However that is quite a given considering that both Gary and Gil have a lot more creative control in their music, compared to idols whose solo projects typically vary drastically from their respective groups' sounds as they are usually fed the songs.

All in all, I really enjoyed his first solo album. His experience and musicality as one of the pioneer hip-hop groups who brought korean hip-hop into mainstream is definitely shown.

8/10

Beauty: Biore UV Aqua Rich Water Base (Sunscreen)

Apparently the cardinal skincare rule is applying, liberally and regularly, UV protection. I, ashamedly, have somehow not gotten that memo for quite a significant amount of years in my youth since I always saw it as a rather cumbersome step. But let me remind myself and everyone reading this: sunscreens protect your skin against damage that can't be seen till it's irreversible, and this extra step in your daily morning routine will go a long way in how your skin looks and appears!

I guess one of the reason for the irregular sunscreen application is how sticky and uncomfortable most sunscreens feel on my oily skin. Not to mention the fact that *did you know* sunscreens actually need to be removed by makeup removers, as they might potentially clog pores when not removed well by your typical face cleansers, which essentially meant yet another extra step in my night skincare routine for the very lazy me.

But, I have to say, Biore really changed the nasty feelings I had for sunscreens!

Being water based means that it will not add to the sebum production that my skin loves to churn out, and there's good UVA and UVB protection. More than that, I love how it applies on my skin. It gets absorbed into my skin really quickly without leaving any sticky and unpleasant residue, all while spreading really really well. I really don't have much to say about it since it's effects can't actually be measured. But applying smoothly while creating a nice matte base for my actual makeup application means that I can't really complain!

Final verdict: love and will continue to love while using everyday till a better and cheaper one comes out

Beauty: Sleek Eyeshadow Palette - Oh So Special Review

One of my first few eyeshadow palettes that remained one of my favourites. I used to not wear eyeshadows too much, so I used to only get a couple of single shadows that I would leave in my collection and not really touch. When I finally made the decision to put away some of my lower quality singles, I decided to get something that is of quality yet befitting of my student pocket size. In comes Sleek.

Sleek has some of the nicest bargain products, and alongside their eyeshadow palettes I also love their blushers and lip pouts. This particular palette I reach for so much, even more than my Naked 2 (unorthodox, I know), and I can't rave enough about it. I think the reason might just be because the shades in the palette are so "me". They are the colours I will reach for, while giving me enough variety to play with.



Top row: Bow (useless white shade that's rather chalky), Organza (a beautiful pink with silver shimmers), Ribbon (matte peachy pink), Gift Basket (highly wearable bronze shade), Glitz (dark blue-green with silver shimmers), Celebrate (dark maroon that doesn't comes off half as exciting and ends up looking rather black on skin)

Bottom row: Pamper (very sheer light pink), Gateau (one of my favourite shades; a beautiful purple-pink with golden sheen), The Mail (matte light brown), Boxed (matte dark brown), Wrapped Up (matte taupish plum), Noir (matte black)



The shadows are pigmented with the exception of Bow (pictured above is Glitz, Gift Basket and Organza), and a dream to apply and blend. I can imagine using this palette when travelling due to the versatility of the shades: the matte browns can mixed to be a perfect brow shadow, the black as a liner colour, and even doubling Ribbon as a beautiful blush shade. All that in a single, very sleek and thin black plastic case.

A definite winner in my book!

Anime: Nodame Cantabile

Another peek into my overly erratic tastes: I'm also greatly into Japanese anime. I've watched my fair share, and I enjoyed Nodame Cantabile quite a bit. Ploughing through all 3 seasons in 3 days, I have not really made up my mind on exactly what I feel about Nodame Cantabile. There were moments which I loved, and the overall schematics I rather enjoyed. At the same time, there were a couple of moments when I felt rather dissatisfied.

When watching shoujo, I typically lend myself into a mode of a lovesick puppy. That typically satisfies my inner, and very hidden, side where I squeal at typical cheesy scenes. It wasn't like that for Nodame at all. But, in a way, I'm glad that that wasn't the reason for me enjoying it so much as I find it to often cloud my perceptions.

Firstly, I'm really not a musical person in any way. I'm, quite ashamedly, not one to revel after Ravel (omg did I just do that). Secondly, I wasn't really into the love line between Nodame and Chiaki. I guess that might be due to the fact that that wasn't the point? They weren't meant to give "doki doki" feels which I'm, embarrassingly, quite a sucker for. Thirdly, the 2nd season (or the Paris chapter) was absolutely lacklustre and I felt so completely annoyed with how both the characters were depicted, finding myself with not too much reason to continue watching it except that "season 1 was good, and I guess I should continue seeing it to the end..."



But then again, going into Nodame with absolutely no expectations, I found myself thinking that the characters were loveable. I liked that they complimented each other in a rather typical manner, and Chiaki had such a strong character that drew me in. He's a genius, but not without extreme effort. He's played human and helped bring some realism in the world of ridiculously colorful side characters, all while giving a fair bit of comedic flair.

I definitely enjoyed season 1 the best, and honestly wouldn't mind just stopping there. The last two seasons kind of screwed my perspective of it and the dynamism that was present in the original story somehow dwindled into something different and slightly less enjoyable to watch. In the original Nodame, the comedic elements had me bursting out at many points and it was entertaining and enjoyable. In the later seasons, the drama elements were amped up and the standard few jokes that were constantly reused just left me quite dry in the mouth. I wouldn't have minded if they stopped there, giving a true non-ending a la Haruhi Suzumiya.



I hope I didn't sound too harsh, because I truly enjoyed Nodame Cantabile. The colorful side characters I truly enjoyed, and I found myself appreciating the world they pulled me into.

I put watching Nodame off for so long because I didn't think I'll enjoy a classical musical drama with such mellow/subdued artistry, but I'm glad I did after all. It served me well in passing time these past few dreary days and I'm awaiting the upcoming Korean adaptation (though I have quite a strong inkling it won't turn out too well, I mean just look at Boys Over Flowers...)