Second Lead Syndrome

By definition, the first lead wins. So whichever couple is kissing in front of the setting sun at the end is the first lead couple. But there are some dramas where the first lead is a dark horse, or where the second lead finds happiness. And sometimes audiences disagree about who the first and second leads are.

Itaewon Class - the two female leads are both problematic people, but the choice of who was first lead seemed obvious to me. However, I chatted with someone else who saw the female leads differently - for them, the second female lead wins. From my point of view, though, in this drama the first female lead is a dark horse.

Reply 1988 - I haven't seen this super popular drama, but it sounds like opinion is divided about who should end up with the FL, so some say that the second male lead won. Although for others, it's referred to as a classic case of Second Male Lead Syndrome.

Romance Is a Bonus Book - the second leads find happiness.

Here's a list I made that's adjacent to your question: Second Leads Who Meet Their Match.

kabocha:

By definition, the first lead wins.

True.

But sometimes you have a couple who reconnect after having split up some time in the past (the first love, any long term relationship which ended) and even though there is a second love interest who fits better with the current version of the lead character, the writers always have them end up with their first love. More often than not the first love character has no chemistry or life experiences with the lead which make the relationship believable but the first love always wins.

Yellen:

kabocha:

By definition, the first lead wins.

True.

But sometimes you have a couple who reconnect after having split up some time in the past (the first love, any long term relationship which ended) and even though there is a second love interest who fits better with the current version of the lead character, the writers always have them end up with their first love. More often than not the first love character has no chemistry or life experiences with the lead which make the relationship believable but the first love always wins.

Cool observations, and I won't argue. Supporting your arguments, I accept that head canon should be respected - sometimes fans are better storytellers than the writers. :)

This reminds me - Oh My Ghost is a great drama if you want to see two female leads that are both shippable with the ML. It's a bittersweet romance with cooking. I like the way it uses the supernatural to bring up issues like whether or not it's possible to love two people at the same time, and what are the gifts of past relationships for subsequent relationships.

Yellen:

I have heard of this one but since I never managed to get into historical korean dramas (and I tried but found them tedious and dropped them😭) , I never saw it. This calls for another try. Especially since you recommended two saeguks!

Saeguks are my favorite type of kdrama but I know that's not the most popular opinion, haha. I really did love The King in Love because I wanted FL to end up with the SML from the start but I assumed she wouldn't, so I was so happy when she did! I didn't really like Warrior Baek Dong Soo but it's the only drama I've ever seen where ML ends up with the SFL so I thought I'd mention it. :)

potatocouch:

This is soooo interesting. I didn't know certain dramas have been brave enough to do it. Will definitely be checking them out!

It's very rare but I love when they go that route! It's nice to be surprised with a love triangle, especially if, like me, you sometimes like the SML better than the ML!

emeraldarrows:

It's nice to be surprised with a love triangle

I think being surprised by a love triangle (or at least not being 100% sure of the outcome) should be the standard.

Like Yellen mentions below, K-drama schematics are soooo rigid. They often stifle creativity instead of encouraging it.

Yellen:

They made the second ML so much more interesting than the main ML who was bland but pretty. I could not understand why she did not end up with the SML....

Oof—you hit the nail on the head. Although I liked Haru because I've always preferred nice and/or green flag MLs, green flag doesn't have to equal boring, but Haru was definitely boring. Baek Gyeong was written to be a much more dynamic character.

I've always been disappointed by the lack of courage, and honestly, creativity dramas (K-dramas in particular) show when it comes to story-telling. Part of me feels like it makes sense given how rabid and immature the K-drama fanbase can be, but people are easily swayed. If production companies keep taking risks and priming the audience to accept new things, people will catch up.

Yellen:

potatocouch:

I love to write, and I often change character relationships/dynamics based on how the story unfolds because sometimes it doesn't unfold the way you planned or expected. You've gotta listen to your characters.

I still remember my first SLS : Extraordinary You. They made the second ML so much more interesting than the main ML who was bland but pretty. I could not understand why she did not end up with the SML.... That one was one of my first dramas ever. Then I watched more and understood the rigid schematics of K dramas but was often disappointed by the lack of courage to take unplanned detours and walk the unknown paths.

What do you write? Did you publish anything online?

I write everything. Original short stories, novels, poetry, and screenplays, plus fanfiction. I've published a few things online. What about you?

Yellen:

Of course he did not but it made me wonder if there are dramas in which the second lead (either SML or SFL) actually wins.

How funny! I was just wondering about this myself yesterday. Taking notes of the drama recs here!

• Over the rainbow

• Roppongi class