Shows (complete) I really liked this year:

Last Friends

The best angsty drama I've seen. The story could have been better if the creators pushed the envelope but they went the easy way out by focusing on the Sousuke/Michiru plotline. The ensemble cast portrayed their characters well. I emphatized with Ruka and Takeru's dilemma, I didn't like Michiru, and I hated Sosuke. The other two characters were the lighthearted break from all the drama. I must say that Ueno Juri impressed me the most with her performance specially after watching her other work Nodame Cantabile. She transforms from wacky and weird Nodame to contemplative and driven Ruka so convincingly. The show also has a great soundtrack starting with the opening theme which is used brilliantly in very emotional scenes. Even the theme's title, "Prisoner of Love" (Utada Hikaru), summarizes the main point of the show. Actually, the song coupled with its opening credits convinced me to checkout the show. Well, the reunion of the three Nodame Cantabile cast was also a big draw, Chiaki is the only one missing. Who wouldn't be intrigued by this opening?

Death Note
I saw the subtitled version of the first episode a while back but I wasn't able to finish it, but when Adult Swim started airing the show, I got hooked. I prefer watching this anime dubbed because of the rampant inner thoughts instead of normal dialogue. Besides, I find L's voice quite sexy (Alessandro Juliani from Battlestar Galactica). This is the best character driven anime I've seen lately. Premise of the show: what happens when an elitist gains ultimate power over life and death?

Serei no Moribito

Anime fantasy in an ancient setting is rarely done in a serious manner that I immediately grabbed on to this show. The show is an adaptation of a young adult novel and is animated by Production I.G. which means high quality work. It's really refreshing that the female protagonist, Balsa, is in her late 20s and doesn't wear slinky clothes while wielding a large spear. She has the responsibility of guarding the life of a young prince in atonement for the lives lost to keep her alive. The show doesn't have much action but when it does, it's executed really well. I love the fight between Balsa and another spear wielder from her past. The story concentrates more on the growth of the young prince as well as the changes in Balsa. It's now airing on Adult Swim but the sound is so weak it's frustrating to watch.

Lobo

Theme song: "Ikaw Ang Aking Pangarap" by Martin Nievera ft. Raki Vega
It's a fantasy show but I'm so glad they concentrated on telling a story about people instead of special effects (which was okay). It combined drama and action really well. There are many characters but they aren't hard to recall because they served a purpose. I didn't even mind that there are also many pairings albeit unofficial. Their presence were sometimes more interesting than the main pairing. My favorite secondary pair is Alec and Gabby who really impressed me on their first scene together. I miss Alby! Then there are the villains (Silva and Anton) and other shady characters (Ylvanna and Rodolfo). Silva was intriguing in his madness as well as his numerous soliloquies. Many characters shifted loyalties that it was so enjoyable to watch.

Piolo Pascual, Geoff Eigenmann, & Ryan Eigenmann

Besides the male eye candy (Piolo Pascual and the Eigenmann brothers), there were also veteran actors in the cast like Spanky Manikan, Dante Rivero, Irma Adlawan, Robert Arevalo, and Pilar Pilapil. I know Pilar Pilapil by name, but I don't remember seeing her in any show. Overall, most of the actors portrayed their character well.

Ongoing shows I like:

Battlestar Galactica
I predicted that there will be something wrong when they reach Earth specially since the planet's destination was discovered in the final episode just before the hiatus. Just waiting for the last 10 episodes of the show to return and discover the last Cylon from the five.

Catch the Frak Up!

Fringe
I was interested in the premise of the show but I wasn't really engaged most of the time, but the episode just before the hiatus really impressed me. Maybe the incorporation of the Fibonacci number had something to do with it besides the teleportation bit at the end of the episode.

Legend of the Seeker
I've been waiting for this show since last November 2007, the month Confessor was released. The show deviates from the series of books it's based on (Sword of Truth by Terry Goodkind) but I can't figure out why I'm addicted to the show. It's been a while since a new US TV show got me this excited. 10 days until "Denna"!

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