Dar Jae

Born in the United States, I began watching Chinese fantasy romance dramas in December of 2018. I’ve always loved Marvel and DC movies, and I’m deeply drawn to films and series that tell powerful love stories. I am a passionate person — when I love, I love deeply. That is why South Korean and Chinese dramas resonate with me so strongly. The love they portray is not centered on sex or nudity, but on devotion, restraint, longing, and meaning.

I deeply admire the traditional cultural values that shape the human psyche — harmony, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, moral integrity, and filial piety. Love lives in the soul and spirit, and when actors and actresses can convey that through their craft, they deserve a full 10-point rating. Those performances are easy for me to connect with.

Actors and actresses are real human beings, and what lives in their hearts and minds can shine through the screen. Yes, many series include fantasy and magic, but we must know how to separate fantasy from reality while still appreciating the skill it takes to bring a character fully to life. If a performance wavers even slightly, believability is lost.

How I choose my favorite actors and actresses is simple: performance. Are they believable? Do they make me laugh or cry? Do they serve the story rather than play to the camera? And when they bring more than acting — dancing, singing or rapping, playing instruments, martial arts training, or performing their own stunts (such as Lee Joon Gi and Lee Seung Gi) — that is a definite bonus for me.

And yes… the eyes matter. The eyes are the window to the soul, and they shine when something true is present. I must say, many South Korean men are gifted with expressive eyes, lips, hair, and a timeless youthfulness — lead me to the Fountain of Youth already.  China is also where my Indigenous Native American roots trace back — I love my DNA.

I am dyslexic due to domestic violence and assault, resulting in minimal brain injury. When I write comments, I often need to reread and correct myself, and I apologize in advance. Still, I am content and grateful to immerse myself in cultures connected to my diverse ancestry. Along the way, I’m learning words and even full sentences in Korean and Chinese.  Thank God for ChatGPT!

Chinese, Taiwanese, South Korean, and Spanish languages are beautiful. My blood path spans Asia, Mongolia, the Middle East, Africa, and Iberian lands before reaching the United States — a diversity I carry with pride as someone racially ambiguous. And the calligraphy? Absolutely breathtaking. I want to learn where it all began.

Dar Jae