Since I've been watching more dramas again lately, I thought I'd make this post about dramas I have seen so far and whether I liked them or not. Feel free to comment!

While the first dramas I watched were Hana Yori Dango and Nodame Cantabile and I still love those, I have since moved away from manga adaptations to more realistic dramas. Dramas I'm interested in can basically be divided into two major groups:

Romantic comedy: I like the ones with a kind of moral or social problems aspect, like Ohitorisama and Kimi wa petto, which deal with successful, but unmarried women and their problems, or Buzzer Beat and Kekkon Shinai, which make you think about what is more important, love or your dream. Special points if the characters don't act like spoilt brats and misunderstand every harmless situation for the sake of the plot (or to distract from the lack of plot.)

Detective drama/ mystery: Can be one huge mystery solved over the course of the show, or an episodic drama, as long as their is some continuous story line, e.g. relationships between the characters or something from a protagonist's past. Nice if it involves a bit of romance, but no necessity. While I like dramas like Bloody Monday once in a while, for this category I am mostly thinking of dramas like Mr. Brain or Maou.

I am also trying to watch more dramas based on their plot (summary) than by who's in them, although sometimes I do watch a show just for an actor I like.

(For your reference, my favourite US show is the now ended Gilmore Girls*. At the moment, I am also watching Revenge and Glee, although the latter is... a difficult case. As for sitcoms, I really liked Friends and The Nanny. Also, I love, love, love the BBC series Sherlock. Of course, that's not all I've ever watched, but I thought I'd only list my all-time favourites. I also really like Pushing Daisies, which was cancelled way too early. :/
Shows I tried and didn't like enough to continue watching were The O.C., Gossip Girl, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs... They're okay, I guess, but not quite my cup of tea.
If anyone knows a good Gilmore Girls replacement, though, please let me know! I guess I'd also enjoy watching a good crime/mystery show if I could choose one from the bazillions out there!)

*which I have on DVD and watched way too many times already

In alphabetical order, marking recommended dramas in italics, and my favourites underlined:

33pun Tantei: Episodic detective drama playing with the genre cliches. Fun for a while, but gets annoying quickly.

Akai Ito: A bunch of teens with too many problems to be realistic, yet somewhat heartwrenching.

Binbou Danshi: Oguri Shun is too nice for his own good. Made me irritated after a while.

Bloody Monday: (Still haven't seen season 2. >.<) So exciting I watched the whole thing in one night.

Buzzer Beat: Great characters (even the minor ones), good plot, recommended. YamaPi <3

Code Blue: (Haven't seen season 2 yet.) The whole cutting people thing isn't my cup of tea, but nice human drama and again, YamaPi <3

Gokusen: Watched it because of MatsuJun, who was good. Story of Yankumi saving students got old pretty quick, though.

Hanazakari no kimitachi e: Fun to watch, but nothing to write about home about.

Hana Yori Dango: My first drama love, although I now see several flaws (hello. season 2!) Still, a classic. (The manga is waaay better, though!)

Juui Dolittle: Oguri Shun as a grumpy vet, Inoue Maou as his assistant, cute animals and some serious questions to us humans.

Kekkon Shinai: Great actors, extremely realistic storylines and very well made. Highly recommended, especially if you're into dramas with a bit of a background (like real social problems Japan is facing nowadays). (Also, this could be "Ohitorisama, ten years later".)

Kimi wa petto: Single women have it tough, and sometimes, they need a special kind of pet.

Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo 3: Apart from the fact that I can't seem to find this without absolutely crappy hardsubs, I mostly liked it.

Kudou Shin'ichi e no chousenjou: Doesn't feel quite right for me as a Detective Conan fan.

Last Friends: Looked promising at first, but the main girl grew on my nerves and the end was such a joke.

Love Shuffle: 4 guys and 4 girls get coupled randomly for a week each while coping with their individual problems. Good actors (Tamaki Hiroshi <3) and the right balance between light-hearted comedy and more serious problems.

Maou: Arashi's Ohno-kun is a surprisingly good serial killer who meets a psychic girl. If only the police wouldn't act as stupid.

Mei-chan no Shitsuji: Annoying main girl chooses the wrong guy. It's not enough to look good if you lack personality. (As you can see when you click the link, I was slightly obsessed with this drama at the time it was airing. Don't ask me why.)

Mr. Brain: KimuTaku as an eccentric detective solving cases with notable guest stars. Gackt eats his own fingers.

Naniwa Shounen Tanteidan: Based on Higashino Keigo's writing, starring Tabe Mikako as an ill-tempered teacher and Koike Teppei (<3) as a cop who I wouldn't object to put me in handcuffs. *coughs*

Nodame Cantabile: Apart from male senpai on girl violence, a fun and heartwarming drama with quirky characters and great music. Chiaki <3

Ohitorisama: Should have been subtitled "Julia's life in ten years". Veggie boy has the nicest smile ever. Highly recommended!

Otomen: I think I gave up before the end. Seemingly perfect and "manly" guy has a secret desire to knit. Oh my God.

Pride: KimuTaku plays substitute lover for OL's absent boyfriend. The rest you can guess. (Not as bland as it sounds, though.)

Rebound: Apart from unrealistically fast weight loss and gain, nice drama addressing several problems at once. Funny male rival.

Samurai High School: Miura Haruma gets possessed by a samurai spirit at the most inconvenient times. Yawn.

Shikaotoko Awoniyoshi: Anti-hero has to save the world - at least a talking deer says so. Japanese history for the lazy.

Sora kara furu ichioku no hoshi: Dark and mysterious. When will girls learn to stay away from bad boys?

Stand up!: Or why it's hard on four guys if all they can do is stand and watch...

Sunao ni narenakute: Similar to Last Friends (same actors O.o), good ideas wasted.

Tokyo Dogs: Will two cops save a girl, and who will win her heart? Mizushima Hiro has facial hair. >.< Thankfully, Oguri Shun doesn't. 

Uta no Onii-san: Ohno-kun lands the wrong job and has to start liking it. Crazy people. Not recommended for Japanese studying.

Voice: Listen to what the dead people are saying. A bit slow and a bit lacking in the character department, but solid.

Watashi ga ren'ai dekinai riyuu: Why can't I, indeed? Surprisingly realistic look on love nowadays.

Yasuko to Kenji: Over the top and a tad repetitive, but great fun.

Yoiko no Mikata: Kids are cute. Arashi's Sakurai-kun is cute (he cries in every episode). Addresses child raising issues in modern Japan.

Yuukan Club: Bunch of high school kids is bored with their rich and sheltered life and get involved into cases. If that isn't boring.

Zenkai Girl: She's never had it, now she wants it: Money. But what about the poor, but cute ikumen and her ideal of a good lawyer?

Zettai Kareshi: Never in her life had she imagined she'd be torn between her hot junior boss and a ... robot?! Be careful what you wish for.

* No italics doesn't mean I don't recommend the drama, but the italics are my favourites and should be safe for most tastes to watch. Some dramas were nice (if you like the genre), but didn't thrill me. Should I mark the "definitely not recommended"s? I don't want to offend anyone who does like those, though.

Shall I list the movies, too?

After having had a pretty anxious week in Japan (grad school, apartment trouble etc.), I went to see Garnet Crow with a Japanese friend who kindly bought the ticket for both of us last month because I couldn't do that from Germany. Since it was her first concert, I explained a lot to her about miniqlo and some recurring jokes and we said we would go together again and let's hope they do more oldish songs because those were the best and most original GC etc. We didn't see much because we had arena tickets, but that was okay.

During the concert, Yurippe talked about the album title "Terminus" a little and explained that it had to do with the English terminal as a place for people to meet during journey etc., and I was a little relieved thinking maybe it wasn't meant to signify their end. The concert was as usual, they played a lot of new songs, no 夢みたあとで and no Holy ground, and then after the encore when they all lined up and bowed, BAM! Yurippe announced their disbanding. I'm still under shock, to be honest. I came home last night and couldn't say anything to my guest family, but I did the dished, hoping it would calm me down, trembling. O.o

I know the disbanding of a favourite band is not the end of the world and that many people have more important problems, but it's still so sad how a band I've loved since high school and who gave me a reason to study Japanese can just disband. After all the anxiety I've had after coming to Japan, I was finally in a place where I could think, "maybe it's good to be here, even if it gets tough there's always Garnet Crow to cheer me up", and then this.
I'm sure they have their reasons (one online source said something along the lines of "used it all up" (出し切った)) and I know that I was among the people who complained about their latest work just not being the same, but couldn't they just take a creative break instead of a complete break-up? It's such a shame, especially for Yurippe's great and unique voice. The others have solo projects, but what will Yurippe do? Although to be honest, while she was fantastic yesterday, while watching the last concert DVD, I wondered if she might have vocal problems or if she was just exhausted.

Anyway, I will go to the last concert that was already announced for late May/early June, so hold your thumbs for me and (good) tickets! (I'm not in the fanclub because it was difficult to join from Germany, and now I don't think there's any use to enter anymore... it does cost money I don't really have at the moment. >.<)

;;;_________;;;

I'm leaving for Japan in 10 days, and I still need to buy a new laptop with enough time to test and for Fabi to put Linux on it. So ideally, I should have it by the end of the week, at the very latest.

I just don't know which one to get.

I'm very particular about the keyboard because I type quite a lot (duh) and will have to write my whole M.A. thesis on it. I absolutely do not want a numeric pad because they distort my whole posture towards the left. Most 15" laptops do have numeric pads, though, but my brother insists that 13" (14" are rather rare and tend to be expensive) are way too small. My friend uses a 13" MacBook, though (not that I'd buy a MacBook, but 13" is 13") and says it's sufficient. (We actually watched dramas on her laptop back in Japan.) 13" laptops tend to come without DVD drives, though - which I guess can be a good thing as I'd imagine that makes them lighter, and I can always plug in an external drive (which I'd have to buy for around 40€.)
So, is 15" too big to schlep to university, but 13" too small to work with for longer periods of time?
My mother says to buy a light laptop, but definitely 15" or bigger since it's better for the eyes. (I don't think my mother thought this through... Plus, is bigger always better? (No dirty jokes here!) I thought the resolution matters just as much?)

What makes things even more complicated is that I want a matt (anti-glare) display. That narrows everything down quite a bit, too. And all that for under 600€, please.

So I went to a big store on Saturday and after about an hour (that was after the day I spent online on Friday!), I ordered this one.

The store clerk told me the keyboard would be the same as the 14" one I was looking at in the store - well, the 14" one didn't have a numeric pad, but this one has. Plus, he told me it's "probably blue, the picture looks blue", when it's charcoal. I can live with the colour (although how cool would a blue laptop be? <3), but I don't want the numeric pad. Of course, we only found out about this when we went to pick it up today, and since my father doesn't like to drive around in vain, I ended up taking it. However, now I think I should probably bring it back and exchange it for the one I originally wanted, although it's only 13" and has no DVD drive - the harddrive is bigger, though, and the price is about the same. And it's blue - yes, I know you're not supposed to pick a laptop by colour, but it's a plus, okay? (Of course, my father threw a fit when I told him I wanted to exchange the one we bought. And Fabi would declare me nuts. Nothing new, though.)

So I did some desperate research (another afternoon I could have spent doing better things like packing!) and found a 14" laptop, also from Lenovo, with a good keyboard (although the enter key is pretty small) and a DVD drive. It's pretty bulky and ugly, though, compared to the other two, and weighs about the same as the 15" laptop, so no improvement on the schlepping and premature back trouble* front.

I'm so confused and I honestly feel pressured - I don't know what to do anymore. If anyone could shed any light on this whole affair for me, I'd be really grateful. You don't have to be a computer expert, just your experiences would be fine. What sizes are your laptops and are there things you'd want if you were to buy a new one today?


* Both my older sister and brother are having back problems at the moment, and I'm pretty sure I'm a future candidate as well - if I don't do my yoga or running, I tend to get severe back pains even now in my twenties.

It starts with a Kurt voice-over. I'm in! (I wonder if they do that more often now because of his snarky narration in Struck by Lightning?)
Apparently, after much complaining throughout the fandom about Rachel acting out of character this season, she is back to her annoying diva self we all love - at least those of us who don't have to live with her.

Why does it have to be boys agains girls every time Glee wants to pitch two teams against one another? Can't they just, I don't know, randomly pick blue and red cards or whatever? And why does Brittany have to sing again this week? And why is the gay guy the only male member to take part in this? Unfortunate implications much, Glee? The song is boring, too, but... Marley looks amazing. O_o I'm starting to think that this girl needs costumes to be less bland.

Back in New York, Rachel calls Kurt rude when he declines her request to get her some tea (looks like someone confused roommate with live-in butler) and the two of them get into a fight that ends with Kurt telling her he only faked not making the high note in Defying Gravity back in season one, to which Rachel completely overreacts and I really hope that the Diva-Off they're talking about is going to happen.

Blaine has a cold, but doesn't want to take a medicine that would make him drowsy because of Diva week. Sure, I'm a much better singer with a stuffed nose and a terrible cough as well. Also, what on earth is he wearing?!
Speaking of outfits, I do love Emma's ensembles.
Has anyone else noticed Marley sitting next to Ryder in the back? Is this just random or are they trying to tell us that the love triangle isn't over yet?

Santana is back in Lima AGAIN?! How often can she fly back to her old highschool before her college kicks her out for poor attendance? And what does that cost every time? Plus all the other cheerleaders she brought this time?
Marley is sitting next to Jake again. And Ryder is surely impressed by the performance. Kitty is not impressed (or jealous.)

I think Rachel needs to be friends with straight guys. All she ever has are gay friends or boyfriends. Just a random thought.

Speaking of the devil, Finn consults Emma about his feelings for Rachel and how is he (butt)hurt because she just moved in with Brody. Excuse me, Mister, but you broke up with her (several times, in fact) and were generally a terrible boyfriend, so do us all a favour and shut the hell up. At least he realises that he's just a "man-boy".
Also, Emma is way too dependent on Will - and do I see a Finn/Emma ship in the making?! (And dude, that's purple, not blue.)

Can I say that I never liked Santana? Yes, it's important to have LGBT people on TV. But Santana is, and I say that completely unrelated to her sexuality, a complete bitch. Brittany is dating someone else after she broke up with her, and now she goes insulting that someone else? It's not Sam's fault that Santana and Brittany didn't work out, and even if he is just a rebound for Brittany, shouldn't Santana feel sorry for him (especially since she once dated him, too) instead of being mean? She also implies that he manipulated Brittany into dating him, which is a) saying that she actually thinks Brittany is dumb (which she is) and b) the pot calling the kettle black because I remember a season two occurence where Brittany was dating Artie and Santana manipulated her into still having sex with her because "it doesn't count if it's between two girls".
I get that she's hurt, but maybe it's time Santana learns to deal with her problems in a different way than letting them all out on innocent bystanders and acting like she's on a moral high ground. (Glee portrays her as if she was cool and just diva-esque for things like this.) And what the hell is with this "we'll have a singing duell and that shall decide who gets Brittany" shit? As much as I dislike Brittany, too, doesn't she have a say in this? (Also, the song isn't a very good choice for poor Sam. Ouch.)

And I think I might have to stop watching here because the video I was streaming just randomly ended, and every time I try to load a new one from a different site, it starts right at the beginning again even after I drag the little thing on the bottom to 18 minutes. -.-

Tina is still very much in love with Blaine... and now she's got her hair full of vapor rub, too.

What happens if a midnight challenger doesn't know the lyrics to a song? Anyhow, both performances were great, but while Rachel's was more technically well-done, Kurt's had more feeling, at least in my opinion. The difference is minimal, though, but Kurt wins!

Back in Ohio, Sue chews Santana out for dropping out of college. "I hated it there. Everyone thought I was being a bitch when all I did was being brutally honest." Er... yeah.

Tina is fed up with Blaine (which is somehow understandable, but also rather unfair because she knew he was gay) and bursts into song. Everyone is really impressed (Marley is standing next to Ryder again, are they doing this on purpose?) and Blaine seems to have finally realised what the problem is.

Kurt tells off Rachel's ex-groupies (who now want to be his groupies) and impresses Adam.

Tina wins the Diva-off and Blaine apologizes to her, which probably only leads to this unhealthy crush downspiraling even more...

Rachel is heartbroken. (although if that means no more porn star looks, I support that) and doesn't want to try out for Funny Girl because she's suddenly afraid of being a diva and losing her friends over it? I'm sorry, who are you and what have you done to Rachel Berry? Kurt is very sweet, though, and talks her out of her mood, because apparently, no female on this show is capable of doing anything on her own.

O_o What just happened? Finn kisses Emma who is having a nervous breakdown. His biggest idol (don't ask me why) Mr. Schuester's bride Emma. This can't be good. What was he thinking? "Oh no, Ms. Pillsbury is having a nervous breakdown! What should I do? Call someone? Finn, a doctor? Get her some water? Oh, no, wait, I know! I'll just kiss her!" *facepalm* Wonder how that's gonna end. We already know that Emma is going to leave Will standing at the altar (it's in the summary for the episode after "I Do" - way to go, people! -.-), but will she start dating Finn now? I mean, if that means we won't have a Finchel reunion, then I guess I'm not against it, especially since I like Finn better now than back in the days when he was with Rachel. (Wonder how long it's gonna be before he makes me hate him again.)

Then we get a Santana and Brittana scene, bla bla, which ends with Santana going to New York to move in with Kurt and Rachel. Uh oh.