Liar Game Season 1 & 2 + movie

Rating: *****


Genre: Psychological, Thriller
Episodes: Season 1 - 11 episodes, Season 2 -9 episodes, 1 movie
Cast:  Iwasa Mayuko, Kitamura Soichiro, Matsuda Shota, Toda Erika, Watanabe Ikkei


SYNOPSIS:
"Based on the manga series of the same name, Toda Erika plays an honest college student, Kanzaki Nao, who receives a hundred million yen one day, along with a card saying she has been chosen to take part in the "Liar Game". The aim of the game is to trick the other players out of their hundred million dollars. At the end, the winner gets the hundred million and the loser is a hundred million yen in debt. The next day, she receives notification that her opponent is her former teacher, Fujisawa Kazuo. She goes to him, seeking help, but ends up getting tricked into handing her money over. Desperate, she approaches the police for help, but they are unable to do anything. However, she is told of a mastermind swindler, Akiyama Shinichi, who is to be released from jail the next day. Desperate, she goes to him for help."


REVIEW:
The Liar Game is one of those dramas which, if you start, you will never be able to stop.  It's an addiction like crack.  The series is composed of two seasons, totaling 20 episodes, and a finale.  The whole synopsis is enough to get just about anyone interested.  Although some of the secondary actors were less than appealing, I have to contend that they were just trying to illustrate the crazy characters that were illustrated in the script.  Overall, this is a drama that will always make you want more.  Even if you don't think that you would like this kind of psychological thriller, I urge you to give it a whirl.  You will be glad that you did.

What did you think of this drama? Comment below!


tubeobsessed.blogspot.com

Love Shuffle

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance, Comedy
Episodes: 10
Cast: Karina, Matsuda Shota, Tamaki Hiroshi, Yoshitaka Yuriko, Daigo

"Usami Kei is a salaryman who has risen in status due to his engagement with Mei, the wealthy daughter of his company's president. Shortly after she breaks off the engagement, a power failure leaves him stuck in the elevator of his apartment building. Trapped with him are three others living on the same floor - Airu, a trilingual interpreter, Ojiro, a model photographer, and Masato, a psychiatrist. While waiting, their conversation hits upon their love lives and the question of whether there is truly only one fated partner for everyone. As a result, they decide to try "shuffling" their relationships with each other..."



This was probably one of the most unique dramas that I have watched before.  There were some things I didn't like about it, but I really thought that the plot was interesting.  It has been a while since I watched this series, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details, but it was a drama worth watching.

Nagareboshi

Rating: ****

Genre: Romance
Episodes: 10
Cast: Inagaki Goro, Kitano Kii, Matsuda Shota, Takenouchi Yutaka, Ueto Aya

"Takenouchi plays an aquarium employee named Kengo, who seems ordinary at first glance but actually possesses a secret that he would sacrifice everything in order to protect. Meanwhile, Ueto plays Risa, a young woman working in the sex trade in order to pay off her brother's debt, though her situation has led her to contemplate suicide. These two characters, both full of despair, meet each other and end up entering a contract marriage purely for its benefits. However, as they overcome various troubles, their relationship begins turning into true love. Tokyograph"

I haven't watched a decent Japanese drama in a long while. I think it is because the comedic dramas are always a bit too over dramatic. However, once I started watching this, I couldn't stop. The production was gorgeous and I didn't find any major problems with the acting or the consistency. The only real problem with the production is that I don't understand how Risa can wear shorts even in Winter. I mean, isn't she cold?

Although I enjoyed the drama, I didn't really like the ending. I felt like there should be a bit more to this story. It felt like there was still more story left to be told. In any case, I would definitely recommend this little drama.