It' a minor controversy at best, and is being parrotted by KTEM defenders as the ONLY reason it is not doing well in ratings.
If anything, KTEM is as nationalistic as it gets, Corea having 5th best GDP? free visa to all Coreans offered by China for saving one fishing boat? Showing of Corean military might, and how japanese as cowards against the might of Corea? they even made an effort to cast the japanese cast actor in an unfavorable light. All pro Korea imagery really. So I don't understand your point here really.
If anything, I can imagine japanese people not being so keen on watching this as KTEM just portrays Japan as barbarians itching to invade Corea, and how Corea is superior to them in every way.
IF anything, the MAJOR reason this is pretty much flopping, aside from the non-existent romance, is simply this. For a 16 episode drama, it took way too long for it to get good. I'm talking episode 6 or 7 before you can get excited, some people woud even argue episode 11 before it gets good.
Guess what, a majority will watch maybe max 3 episodes before dropping, some even drop after the first episode. A great drama grips you from the start, or at least from episode 3 on out. so eventhough the drama has gotten better, it has already lost the interest of many first responding viewers.
Also keep in mind it's not like there were no other shows during this timeslot, so it was easy for people to just change the channel.
While on netflix, if you started late, you can just binge watch and enjoy without interruption, which is maybe the way the show shoud be enjoyed.
Here's the thing, Everyone in the drama says he's inteligent and logical, the writer writes him this way. But his actions are so contradictory the tags intelligent and logical.
How is crushing on a picture remarkable? If anything I woud describe it as obsessive, which makes me wonder on the Kings mental state.
I can crush on LMH because he is hot and attractive, but I would not let that Crush dictate the next 25 years of my life, and ignore my duty to have heirs or find a wife, as we can see the old court lady has been placing talismans for god knows how long. Someone who lets a crush on a picture for 25 years has some serious issues with him/her imo. I would not describe it as admirable.
He often comes off as narcissist with a god complex, and it's not just me who thinks this, other commenters have been saying the same thing, which means that is what viewers are kind of seeing as well.
Noted on the beheading joke. But comparing LG to the red queen just adds to this poor mental state IMO.
Exactly what makes LG a good judge of character? because he is suppose to be smart and logical? No, the way he treated the PM was very misogynistic. And it is such bad taste specially when we are led to believe that she is suppose to be someone of powr, until we are shown she isn't just a rubber stamp.
The PM is just thinking what everyone else is thinking TE makes lame jokes but the king is laughing? It's because TE could step on dog poo and the king would laugh, TE could ask why the chicken cross the road, and the King woudl swoon. TE could shaved her head and he would her more. It's because since episode 1, the king was already head over heels in love with TE, not just I like you, but I love you to the nth degree. Which is why everything TE does is endearing to him, he's on cloud 9 since day 1, 1 second after meeting her. And no, this isnt' some reincarnation deal like in Goblin or anything, it's just a plot device to get the romance started early.
Just no, books cannot ever replace, the guidance and love real parents will have. Lady Noh in the very end, eventho we see LG treat her like family, she isn't. Same for the Prince, who cannot be really that happy, considering he had to send his actualy family away due to what happened to LG. Or are we forgetting that part? The reason LG ended up being the perfect man, is because that is how KES wrote him, period, that's the only reason.
So SJ love was ordinary and does't fit this drama because this is a scifi drama? And since this show is fantasy/science fiction, the way they fall in love needs to be out of this world also? lol, ok. I can't wait for the next star trek, where the captain falls in love with a picture from 2000 years ago, because you know that's how love in sci fi should be portrayed to be real.
Yeah SK audience only watch korean shows, because shows from Europe, US, Canada and etc... would be WAAAAY over their heads, since those foreign shows don't do normal kdrama formula, and they are way behind in how the top shows are written.
Actually, using that argument, GOT wouldl be waaaay over their heads, and probably no one in Korea every watched it because you know, it would be over their heads with it's lack of kdrama formula, and it's over complicated plot. Only us international audience have the savvyness to appreciate the masterpiece that is KTEM...
I think maybe its the arrogance, god complex i can't stand with LG or LMH characters in general. And it doesn't change, that smugness never softens all throughout.
When i've seen other chaebol heirs, the writers always make it a point to introduce some sort of weakness. Heck, even Goblin has his sword.
So when i'm introduced to an omnipotent being with no active flaws, it becomes very boring right away. And, I just can't relate.
Flaws is what makes us human after all.
Facts of the matter, you don't need brains to watch CLOY, but neither do you need them to watch TKEM. The plot is simple, the romance is simple. It's just unbelievable, lol.
But sure, you see chemistry, I don't so we are just on two different sides of the same coin. No problem with that.
I really don't think those two controversies you mentioned explains the low ratings.
Unless I see actual people or articles saying, so and so is low in ratings, people in SK vetoing show due to those two controversies, I can't accept them as the chief reason for lower ratings, maybe a minor reason, but not a major one.
There are so many other major reasons, which even international fans have agreed on, seeing the comments on MDL such as. Your argument makes it seem that:
SK people don't watch King ONLY because
temple and warship shows japanese themes for a few seconds, and people are outrage and veto show.
Completely ignoring the following reasons as possible reason why SK don't watch it as much:
Poor chemistry Weak pacing/plotting Poor acting Confusing Storyline Poor editing Unrealistic Romance a lot of PPL's too much fillers in between for a 16 episode poor reveals too much new characters introduced, hard to feel any attachments
What if, Lee rim has actually been grooming our PM to be the PM in the new Corea that LR wanted, a PM that actually has power, not like this powerless PM in Corea.
Let's not forget PM is essentially LG age, so maybe as Lee Rim was thinking of killing LG, he was also at the same time finding someone that young to eventually be the leader that Corea needed and isn't deluded by the power of their station. I mean just look at the differences of LG and PM.
So interetingly enough, Shinjae who was the same age at that time may have been someone Lee Rim was grooming to be Corea's next leader/savior. But as noted, he says it was a mistake, maybe he saw some flaws, SJ being too honest or too straightforward, both seen as weakness in the political landscape, plus he came from a rich family which Lee Rim may have thought made him not understand what it was to grow poor, and thus lack perseverance (ironically this was not the case, as we saw how tragic, yet strong SJ turned out to be). Enter PM who grow up in a poor family, thus giving her some backbone to survive in politics, from what LR saw at least. And this suspicions are warranted as he saw his little protege rise ranks quickly, with ambition, but at the same time not backing down from male opposition, or the omnipotent king, things necessary for an effective female leader.
In fact, the PM being the youngest ever female PM might not be a coincidence. Lee Rim may already have dopplegangers in the cabinet for all we know. And his spies in the Corea government has helped our PM rise at a very quick rate, making her youngest female PM ever. It's not all coincidence this has been Lee Rim's end game since day 1. Now all that is left is to kill the Monarchy, and take away the concept of absolute power. This would explain the PM/LR alliance we are gearing towards to as well.
in fact, when I think of it, what if Lee Rim's goal is to end the monarchial form of government, and usher in the same type of government as seen in Republic of Korea.
Having been able to study the advantage and disadvantage of both government system, he decided corea being a republic is a better form of govenment, but he knows the only way for that to happen is for LG to die, since he is last in line, or at least kill TE, so there would be no more heirs.
Let's not forget since the king's power is limitless, he doesn't answer to anyone it seems, he has final say on everything, they almost went to war with Japan because he has a never back down attitude.
my own personal theory is that Lee Rim is actually the good guy, and Lee Gon's father is actually a bad person. People obviously now aware of this, because it's all hidden in royal court. Don't forget Lee Rim himself is a product of adultery, thus bastard son, giving us the inkling that the grandfather or LG and, maybe even his father may have been ruthless and evil individuals.
Lee Rim, being the noble idiot, sees it as his duty to end this monarchial line, and take over to bring Corea to the good path. Ofc he probably could have stopped with killing the father, but he wrongly believe that like father like son, so LG in his mind would up being as evil, malicious as the father. And that's why he tries to kill LG
Rememebr in Republic of Korea days, LG dad actually beats up his wife, to the point that she was laughing when she hears he dies, and we see that she is a good person.
So yeah Lee RIm is the hero that we need, but thanks to LG, everything thinks he is evil. And it came to the point that Lee Rim started to lose his grasp of reality. And this is a side effect of his constant time travelling. LG doesn't feel this side effect because he has only been time travelling maybe about 2-3 months, while Lee Rim has been doing it for about 25 years now.
This side effects slowly creeps into Lee Rims mind and subconcious until we are left with this twisted version of what was once a very good and noble person, who just so happened to have the wrong ideas.
If people kept comparing the actor/actress to their past roles, or could not seperate the characters form the actors, those are universal signs of bad acting.
In fact go ahead and scour other MDL forums and the top comments, or imagining of what good actors are like is when you CANNOT differentiate them from their role. When they've acted so well that it's like they really are playing LG and KGE.
Why do you think Woo do wan is universally loved here? Because in the same drama he is showing two sides of him, and it's so devilishly polar opposites that his acting is really shining through.
While LMH is showing the same look he has shown in other dramas.
I think for first time Kdrama viewers KTEM is adequate. But for people who've wached better kdramas, it becomes easy to criticize the ML and FL lack of chemistry.
Is this your first Kdrama? that would explain a lot if it was.
watch other KDrama on how life as a celebrity is like, and you'll understand why they reposted. In fact the show The Greatest Love by the Hong Sisters does this to a considerable degree.
Media will post what they feel will get the most clicks. And SK media is very unline Chinese media.
South Korea is a presidential form of government, which means freedom of speech and etc... occur.
Where I am going with this is I am saying, you insisting that a few media articles, about Korea's most hated enemy the Japanese is enough to make people not watch KTEM in Korea, is really very very far fetched, and unfortunatley a pretty weak argument to be honest.
IF KTEM showed something like how the japanese was superior to koreans, or that Japanese raped korean women, or something related to the korean war, japanese occupation of Korea, how Japanese people are portrayed as saviors of Korea. THEN ONLY THEN would your insistence of these controversies be correct, as these are exactly the controversies that would fuel SK patriotic ardor as you said. Not because of some set design snafoo.
Ok, so LG falls under kdrama favorite trope, all rich chaebols, demi-gods, top celibrity, omnipotent, super rich people are in essence lonely people.
These type of people hate when their called handsome, or adored by people, since they are use to it, and think these people are insincere.
So it makes sense, LG only two friends are head court lady and yeong, because they are the only people who will glare at him, or call him on his mistakes. Ok I get this. Since they show this, they depict this, they have been with LG for 25 years.
We also know LG is hyper smart, super logical, super wise. Ok I get this.
Your example is the same way people gets crush on celebrities is a fallacy. Because LG in KTEM is an omnipotent being, top of the food chain, he doesn't get crushes. And the way he is arrogant with behead this behead that, and throughout KTEM and with the way he shows off to TE, he obviously expects people to just serve him and follow him and fall in love with him, just because of who he is.
So it doesn't make sense he would fall for someone he doesn't know, and since she's a cop she's already beneath his status. I mean it's a big logic that he assumes just because she's a cop she will call him on all his BS and glare at him, and question him every step, thus making him fall for her, that's a huge leap of logic, even for super smart LG. Basically his falling in love with her ID card id very very inconsistent with how he is portrayed. Plus enter the PM who is a strong independent woman, yet the king treats her like hot trash, so how come this other strong independent woman in TE he treats like the love of his life? It's so inconsistent and contradictory.
NOW, if LG has always been portrayed as a romantic, flawed, humble, not arrogant king, who actually respects women, and doesn't think he is god's gift to women. Then sure it MAYBE would be more believable. But alas he's not. First few episodes we are treated to the traditional chaebol personality. And if you've seen enough kdrama you should know, it takes at least 5-6 episodes before the chaebol's heart melts, and it takes a bit longer for the girls heart to melt. I'm not saying this formula is suppose to be followed, but there is a reason for it, an ill explained romance will rarely grasp viewers attention.
Also another thing, you said SJ love is ordinary? Sure it's your standard falling in love trope, but it's a mature love. He fell for TE when he was almost an adult, already in HS. LG falls for TE when he is 7 years old, where we are provided snippets of how LG wasn't very mature, in fact, it was puppy love at best, and we know those normaly don't stay alive for 25 years.
Plus with the lack of a father and mother for LG, where is he getting his concept of love? from head court lady who is single? from yeong, who is also single, and whose parents are divorced? How is this suddendly perfect prince charming, who were his role models? I mean the more I think of the whole thing, the more it doesn't make sense.
Sure, if I don't think about it at all, and just accept, awww swoon, he's so handsome, OMG white horse! Then sure, it's adequate. But the minute I put even an ounce of analysis, the whole thing just collapses.
So sure later down the road, I see how the love is supposed to be working since she won't put up with this showboating childish behavior, but my issue is with the supposed fated, destiny idealogy they try to forcefeed us.
How is it different from other dramas, and how is it unique?
Yeah, it's unfortunate since the romance between LG and TE is suppose to be the meat of this show. It has become so force fed into us that all we should care is about LG and TE love story. But at this point if either LG or TE don't get happy endings, I don't care.
I think what made GOT such a great show is that we could emphatize with even the most evilest of person. No matter how bad someone became, there was always a drop of redeeming quality that made the show so good.
But i'm so invested in Shinajae, PM, heck even the Lee rim to get happy endings. But the writer could have struck gold if she tried to add multiple dimensions to these characters. Like for the sake of all that is good, can she please give LG some weakness, what can't he do well? Star chef, super accomplished athelete, super fighter, super rich, super handsome! Please give him Goblin's power, and the ability to stop time next 3 episodes!
Like similar in Goblin, we are force fed Goblin and Euntak as the one we should ship, the one we should be invested in. But I couldn't help it, I really enjoyed the secondary pairing more, it had more depth, more soul into it, and thus compelled me to watch their scenes more intently.
if you really think about it. Having one self save your younger self, is the most cliched, and stereotypical idea…
i haven't seen this, i'll add it to my ever growing to watch list lol!
TBH, I watch kdrama not for the plausibility, realism, or even the accurateness of the technical parts (ie. medicine, law, police procedurals, time travel and etc...) But really more for the relationship between families, lovers, soul mates and etc...
That is why chemistry is so important, because western shows give you 7-8 seasons or even more to believe the chemistry and love story of two people, while eastern dramas have at mst 24 episodes to sell it to you,.
I've always felt kdrama's strenght has always been it's ability to create a realistic and in depth relations that we the viewers can relate to. So for me a kdrama that is filled with the technical parts is a pass for me, unless the technical parts are accurate, relative to the plot, and compelling. An example of this would be House MD, my all time fav medical show. There is not much relationships being broached here, the technical part takes a forefront, but it's interesting because it's done well.
I've watched a lot of Kdrama. And i've watched plenty where either the girl is ugly, or the guy is not so good looking, or both are not attractive. What kept me going in those are chemistry.
And just like in other kdrama i watched, where you have attractive leads and no chemistry, this is just one of those. And it has to do with the ML and FL expressions. facial expressions just isn't their forte.
I'm sure you are aware that western drama and korean drama differ in the way love is portrayed, where western drama tends to sexualize love, eastern dramas are more about light kissing, male/female gaze, and trying to show a gamut of emotions with facial expressions.
So when you have a kdrama where the emotions are lacking in both leads faces, it's hard for the viewers to feel connected, add to the fact that romance was super rushed, and we just don't get that connection. They try to hide this with super slow mo panning shot of longing gazes, but it's still not enough unfortunately.
of those 20 titles, how many are in 2020 and can you list them here if you don't mind.
Cheese in the trap, had even bigger controversies. Controversies so big the writer had to come in and explain her side of the story, imagine that. But it's ratings rose each episode. Didnd't hit double digits, but not bad for TVN show.
And south koreans are not the same as chinese. Those controversies you mentioend will not stop them from watching. Chinese on the other hand are different, their nationalistic pride is on another level, haven't you seen countless articles of people in china vetoing or dropping a specific brand because something negative was said about china (not even super negative, just misunderstanding).
Korea isn't the same boat, they won't veto a show just because of those reasons.
And trust me there isn't a major conspiracy from SK media to make sure no koreans watch TKEM lol.
It's still written by KES, and starring LMH, those two alone will have their cult followers.
How is it different from other dramas, and how is it unique?
You see in the end, TKEM was suppose to be your typical candy story.
Where you have an omnipotent being (LG) and our candy heroine (TE).
But then, they added parallel universe, time travel, unecessary fillers, unecessary characters. Then they started to obliterate likeable secondary characters, awesome but underused villian, slow pacing, and weak reveals.
But then, to remind us it's still a love story, they present us this microwave romance, that they know taste bland, and lacks flavor. So to make the taste better, they fill it up slow panning shot of loving gazes, romantic rides on horseback, beautiful costume and set design, oppulent surroundings, cheesy lines, and overdramatic gestures to remind you, "hey this is a tried and true Candy romance!
So like i said it's not boring, if you just eat the rest of the tasty morsels and just skipped the microwaved stuff.
I told myself I was going to drop this drama but alas, here I am. So, mess of story-line aside, the biggest thing…
if you really think about it. Having one self save your younger self, is the most cliched, and stereotypical idea in time travel. It is so often used, even an episode of family guy where stewie time travels uses this. Back to the future uses this, steins:gate uses this. Heck even dragonball Z does this with the trunks arc. So yeah, it's a very very used time travel trope, because writer thinks it gives their stories the, "whoa, I did not see that coming!" effect.
KES isn't writing this time travel drama based on her own thoughts, pretty sure she's just mashing together different time travel tropes and seeing what sticks. That's why the theories and etc... are a mess.
If anything, KTEM is as nationalistic as it gets, Corea having 5th best GDP? free visa to all Coreans offered by China for saving one fishing boat? Showing of Corean military might, and how japanese as cowards against the might of Corea? they even made an effort to cast the japanese cast actor in an unfavorable light. All pro Korea imagery really. So I don't understand your point here really.
If anything, I can imagine japanese people not being so keen on watching this as KTEM just portrays Japan as barbarians itching to invade Corea, and how Corea is superior to them in every way.
IF anything, the MAJOR reason this is pretty much flopping, aside from the non-existent romance, is simply this. For a 16 episode drama, it took way too long for it to get good. I'm talking episode 6 or 7 before you can get excited, some people woud even argue episode 11 before it gets good.
Guess what, a majority will watch maybe max 3 episodes before dropping, some even drop after the first episode. A great drama grips you from the start, or at least from episode 3 on out. so eventhough the drama has gotten better, it has already lost the interest of many first responding viewers.
Also keep in mind it's not like there were no other shows during this timeslot, so it was easy for people to just change the channel.
While on netflix, if you started late, you can just binge watch and enjoy without interruption, which is maybe the way the show shoud be enjoyed.
How is crushing on a picture remarkable? If anything I woud describe it as obsessive, which makes me wonder on the Kings mental state.
I can crush on LMH because he is hot and attractive, but I would not let that Crush dictate the next 25 years of my life, and ignore my duty to have heirs or find a wife, as we can see the old court lady has been placing talismans for god knows how long. Someone who lets a crush on a picture for 25 years has some serious issues with him/her imo. I would not describe it as admirable.
He often comes off as narcissist with a god complex, and it's not just me who thinks this, other commenters have been saying the same thing, which means that is what viewers are kind of seeing as well.
Noted on the beheading joke. But comparing LG to the red queen just adds to this poor mental state IMO.
Exactly what makes LG a good judge of character? because he is suppose to be smart and logical? No, the way he treated the PM was very misogynistic. And it is such bad taste specially when we are led to believe that she is suppose to be someone of powr, until we are shown she isn't just a rubber stamp.
The PM is just thinking what everyone else is thinking TE makes lame jokes but the king is laughing? It's because TE could step on dog poo and the king would laugh, TE could ask why the chicken cross the road, and the King woudl swoon. TE could shaved her head and he would her more. It's because since episode 1, the king was already head over heels in love with TE, not just I like you, but I love you to the nth degree. Which is why everything TE does is endearing to him, he's on cloud 9 since day 1, 1 second after meeting her. And no, this isnt' some reincarnation deal like in Goblin or anything, it's just a plot device to get the romance started early.
Just no, books cannot ever replace, the guidance and love real parents will have. Lady Noh in the very end, eventho we see LG treat her like family, she isn't. Same for the Prince, who cannot be really that happy, considering he had to send his actualy family away due to what happened to LG. Or are we forgetting that part? The reason LG ended up being the perfect man, is because that is how KES wrote him, period, that's the only reason.
So SJ love was ordinary and does't fit this drama because this is a scifi drama? And since this show is fantasy/science fiction, the way they fall in love needs to be out of this world also? lol, ok. I can't wait for the next star trek, where the captain falls in love with a picture from 2000 years ago, because you know that's how love in sci fi should be portrayed to be real.
Yeah SK audience only watch korean shows, because shows from Europe, US, Canada and etc... would be WAAAAY over their heads, since those foreign shows don't do normal kdrama formula, and they are way behind in how the top shows are written.
Actually, using that argument, GOT wouldl be waaaay over their heads, and probably no one in Korea every watched it because you know, it would be over their heads with it's lack of kdrama formula, and it's over complicated plot. Only us international audience have the savvyness to appreciate the masterpiece that is KTEM...
When i've seen other chaebol heirs, the writers always make it a point to introduce some sort of weakness. Heck, even Goblin has his sword.
So when i'm introduced to an omnipotent being with no active flaws, it becomes very boring right away. And, I just can't relate.
Flaws is what makes us human after all.
Facts of the matter, you don't need brains to watch CLOY, but neither do you need them to watch TKEM. The plot is simple, the romance is simple. It's just unbelievable, lol.
But sure, you see chemistry, I don't so we are just on two different sides of the same coin. No problem with that.
I really don't think those two controversies you mentioned explains the low ratings.
Unless I see actual people or articles saying, so and so is low in ratings, people in SK vetoing show due to those two controversies, I can't accept them as the chief reason for lower ratings, maybe a minor reason, but not a major one.
There are so many other major reasons, which even international fans have agreed on, seeing the comments on MDL such as. Your argument makes it seem that:
SK people don't watch King ONLY because
temple and warship shows japanese themes for a few seconds, and people are outrage and veto show.
Completely ignoring the following reasons as possible reason why SK don't watch it as much:
Poor chemistry
Weak pacing/plotting
Poor acting
Confusing Storyline
Poor editing
Unrealistic Romance
a lot of PPL's
too much fillers in between for a 16 episode
poor reveals
too much new characters introduced, hard to feel any attachments
What if, Lee rim has actually been grooming our PM to be the PM in the new Corea that LR wanted, a PM that actually has power, not like this powerless PM in Corea.
Let's not forget PM is essentially LG age, so maybe as Lee Rim was thinking of killing LG, he was also at the same time finding someone that young to eventually be the leader that Corea needed and isn't deluded by the power of their station. I mean just look at the differences of LG and PM.
So interetingly enough, Shinjae who was the same age at that time may have been someone Lee Rim was grooming to be Corea's next leader/savior. But as noted, he says it was a mistake, maybe he saw some flaws, SJ being too honest or too straightforward, both seen as weakness in the political landscape, plus he came from a rich family which Lee Rim may have thought made him not understand what it was to grow poor, and thus lack perseverance (ironically this was not the case, as we saw how tragic, yet strong SJ turned out to be). Enter PM who grow up in a poor family, thus giving her some backbone to survive in politics, from what LR saw at least. And this suspicions are warranted as he saw his little protege rise ranks quickly, with ambition, but at the same time not backing down from male opposition, or the omnipotent king, things necessary for an effective female leader.
In fact, the PM being the youngest ever female PM might not be a coincidence. Lee Rim may already have dopplegangers in the cabinet for all we know. And his spies in the Corea government has helped our PM rise at a very quick rate, making her youngest female PM ever. It's not all coincidence this has been Lee Rim's end game since day 1. Now all that is left is to kill the Monarchy, and take away the concept of absolute power. This would explain the PM/LR alliance we are gearing towards to as well.
Having been able to study the advantage and disadvantage of both government system, he decided corea being a republic is a better form of govenment, but he knows the only way for that to happen is for LG to die, since he is last in line, or at least kill TE, so there would be no more heirs.
Let's not forget since the king's power is limitless, he doesn't answer to anyone it seems, he has final say on everything, they almost went to war with Japan because he has a never back down attitude.
Lee Rim, being the noble idiot, sees it as his duty to end this monarchial line, and take over to bring Corea to the good path. Ofc he probably could have stopped with killing the father, but he wrongly believe that like father like son, so LG in his mind would up being as evil, malicious as the father. And that's why he tries to kill LG
Rememebr in Republic of Korea days, LG dad actually beats up his wife, to the point that she was laughing when she hears he dies, and we see that she is a good person.
So yeah Lee RIm is the hero that we need, but thanks to LG, everything thinks he is evil. And it came to the point that Lee Rim started to lose his grasp of reality. And this is a side effect of his constant time travelling. LG doesn't feel this side effect because he has only been time travelling maybe about 2-3 months, while Lee Rim has been doing it for about 25 years now.
This side effects slowly creeps into Lee Rims mind and subconcious until we are left with this twisted version of what was once a very good and noble person, who just so happened to have the wrong ideas.
In fact go ahead and scour other MDL forums and the top comments, or imagining of what good actors are like is when you CANNOT differentiate them from their role. When they've acted so well that it's like they really are playing LG and KGE.
Why do you think Woo do wan is universally loved here? Because in the same drama he is showing two sides of him, and it's so devilishly polar opposites that his acting is really shining through.
While LMH is showing the same look he has shown in other dramas.
I think for first time Kdrama viewers KTEM is adequate. But for people who've wached better kdramas, it becomes easy to criticize the ML and FL lack of chemistry.
Is this your first Kdrama? that would explain a lot if it was.
Media will post what they feel will get the most clicks. And SK media is very unline Chinese media.
South Korea is a presidential form of government, which means freedom of speech and etc... occur.
Where I am going with this is I am saying, you insisting that a few media articles, about Korea's most hated enemy the Japanese is enough to make people not watch KTEM in Korea, is really very very far fetched, and unfortunatley a pretty weak argument to be honest.
IF KTEM showed something like how the japanese was superior to koreans, or that Japanese raped korean women, or something related to the korean war, japanese occupation of Korea, how Japanese people are portrayed as saviors of Korea. THEN ONLY THEN would your insistence of these controversies be correct, as these are exactly the controversies that would fuel SK patriotic ardor as you said. Not because of some set design snafoo.
These type of people hate when their called handsome, or adored by people, since they are use to it, and think these people are insincere.
So it makes sense, LG only two friends are head court lady and yeong, because they are the only people who will glare at him, or call him on his mistakes. Ok I get this. Since they show this, they depict this, they have been with LG for 25 years.
We also know LG is hyper smart, super logical, super wise. Ok I get this.
Your example is the same way people gets crush on celebrities is a fallacy. Because LG in KTEM is an omnipotent being, top of the food chain, he doesn't get crushes. And the way he is arrogant with behead this behead that, and throughout KTEM and with the way he shows off to TE, he obviously expects people to just serve him and follow him and fall in love with him, just because of who he is.
So it doesn't make sense he would fall for someone he doesn't know, and since she's a cop she's already beneath his status. I mean it's a big logic that he assumes just because she's a cop she will call him on all his BS and glare at him, and question him every step, thus making him fall for her, that's a huge leap of logic, even for super smart LG. Basically his falling in love with her ID card id very very inconsistent with how he is portrayed. Plus enter the PM who is a strong independent woman, yet the king treats her like hot trash, so how come this other strong independent woman in TE he treats like the love of his life? It's so inconsistent and contradictory.
NOW, if LG has always been portrayed as a romantic, flawed, humble, not arrogant king, who actually respects women, and doesn't think he is god's gift to women. Then sure it MAYBE would be more believable. But alas he's not. First few episodes we are treated to the traditional chaebol personality. And if you've seen enough kdrama you should know, it takes at least 5-6 episodes before the chaebol's heart melts, and it takes a bit longer for the girls heart to melt. I'm not saying this formula is suppose to be followed, but there is a reason for it, an ill explained romance will rarely grasp viewers attention.
Also another thing, you said SJ love is ordinary? Sure it's your standard falling in love trope, but it's a mature love. He fell for TE when he was almost an adult, already in HS. LG falls for TE when he is 7 years old, where we are provided snippets of how LG wasn't very mature, in fact, it was puppy love at best, and we know those normaly don't stay alive for 25 years.
Plus with the lack of a father and mother for LG, where is he getting his concept of love? from head court lady who is single? from yeong, who is also single, and whose parents are divorced? How is this suddendly perfect prince charming, who were his role models? I mean the more I think of the whole thing, the more it doesn't make sense.
Sure, if I don't think about it at all, and just accept, awww swoon, he's so handsome, OMG white horse! Then sure, it's adequate. But the minute I put even an ounce of analysis, the whole thing just collapses.
So sure later down the road, I see how the love is supposed to be working since she won't put up with this showboating childish behavior, but my issue is with the supposed fated, destiny idealogy they try to forcefeed us.
I think what made GOT such a great show is that we could emphatize with even the most evilest of person. No matter how bad someone became, there was always a drop of redeeming quality that made the show so good.
But i'm so invested in Shinajae, PM, heck even the Lee rim to get happy endings. But the writer could have struck gold if she tried to add multiple dimensions to these characters. Like for the sake of all that is good, can she please give LG some weakness, what can't he do well? Star chef, super accomplished athelete, super fighter, super rich, super handsome! Please give him Goblin's power, and the ability to stop time next 3 episodes!
Like similar in Goblin, we are force fed Goblin and Euntak as the one we should ship, the one we should be invested in. But I couldn't help it, I really enjoyed the secondary pairing more, it had more depth, more soul into it, and thus compelled me to watch their scenes more intently.
TBH, I watch kdrama not for the plausibility, realism, or even the accurateness of the technical parts (ie. medicine, law, police procedurals, time travel and etc...) But really more for the relationship between families, lovers, soul mates and etc...
That is why chemistry is so important, because western shows give you 7-8 seasons or even more to believe the chemistry and love story of two people, while eastern dramas have at mst 24 episodes to sell it to you,.
I've always felt kdrama's strenght has always been it's ability to create a realistic and in depth relations that we the viewers can relate to. So for me a kdrama that is filled with the technical parts is a pass for me, unless the technical parts are accurate, relative to the plot, and compelling. An example of this would be House MD, my all time fav medical show. There is not much relationships being broached here, the technical part takes a forefront, but it's interesting because it's done well.
And just like in other kdrama i watched, where you have attractive leads and no chemistry, this is just one of those. And it has to do with the ML and FL expressions. facial expressions just isn't their forte.
I'm sure you are aware that western drama and korean drama differ in the way love is portrayed, where western drama tends to sexualize love, eastern dramas are more about light kissing, male/female gaze, and trying to show a gamut of emotions with facial expressions.
So when you have a kdrama where the emotions are lacking in both leads faces, it's hard for the viewers to feel connected, add to the fact that romance was super rushed, and we just don't get that connection. They try to hide this with super slow mo panning shot of longing gazes, but it's still not enough unfortunately.
Cheese in the trap, had even bigger controversies. Controversies so big the writer had to come in and explain her side of the story, imagine that. But it's ratings rose each episode. Didnd't hit double digits, but not bad for TVN show.
And south koreans are not the same as chinese. Those controversies you mentioend will not stop them from watching. Chinese on the other hand are different, their nationalistic pride is on another level, haven't you seen countless articles of people in china vetoing or dropping a specific brand because something negative was said about china (not even super negative, just misunderstanding).
Korea isn't the same boat, they won't veto a show just because of those reasons.
And trust me there isn't a major conspiracy from SK media to make sure no koreans watch TKEM lol.
It's still written by KES, and starring LMH, those two alone will have their cult followers.
Where you have an omnipotent being (LG) and our candy heroine (TE).
But then, they added parallel universe, time travel, unecessary fillers, unecessary characters. Then they started to obliterate likeable secondary characters, awesome but underused villian, slow pacing, and weak reveals.
But then, to remind us it's still a love story, they present us this microwave romance, that they know taste bland, and lacks flavor. So to make the taste better, they fill it up slow panning shot of loving gazes, romantic rides on horseback, beautiful costume and set design, oppulent surroundings, cheesy lines, and overdramatic gestures to remind you, "hey this is a tried and true Candy romance!
So like i said it's not boring, if you just eat the rest of the tasty morsels and just skipped the microwaved stuff.
If your a fan of parallel universe and time travel, try watching Stein:gate, or dark.
KES isn't writing this time travel drama based on her own thoughts, pretty sure she's just mashing together different time travel tropes and seeing what sticks. That's why the theories and etc... are a mess.