Kawaitanee

You're right about Gu Family Book. I agree with all the points. It would be even interesting to see if 1FL would have a story of 2FL and all her struggles. She loved ML and he loved her. But because of unfortunate events, her rape etc., she becomes evil. How will their love survive those struggles? Will they find their way back together or their loved will end forever because of different opinions (him good, her evil)? I can imagine character of 1FL as daughter of Army Leader wasn't really that important and could be removed totally. But again, that would be different story.

Thanks a lot for recommendations, I have Mr. Sunshine on my plan to watch list for some time and I was thinking recently to start it, so I might go for it, when I finish my current drama.

Yes, I enjoy tragic Heroes story as well. I like your sentence : "When characters start out good and idealistic, but get beat up by life and become the antagonists." This is exactly what I find charming and interesting to watch.
That is why I loved Bridal Mask, it showed such a great development for both 1ML and 2ML and also their relationship development. Well, on other hand, FL was on more passive side, but still overall drama was very enjoyable. If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend it.

Well, that unfortunately shows how poorly written story female lead had in the first place that second lead could outshine her easily. Actually I am trying to remember what was story of female lead, since I watched Gu Family Book years ago, but I only remember her dying scene and future scene.

And I 100% agree, I love when female lead and second female lead become friends for example to achieve common goal/beat common enemy or just because they don't see a reason to fight anymore even if they start as enemies/rivals. Well, overall I love plot "from enemies to friends" (with real development, not just quick closure in last episode) but for females it is rare. So I am as well as you hoping we will see more and more of it in the future :)

When I am thinking about it now, overall I like when characters have some kind of development, from evil to good or opposite from good to evil. Watching them change and behave differently because of what they experienced in life or whom they met is what it makes interesting.

Yes, I am already looking forward! Thanks for mentioning it in your comment, I found it thanks to you!!! :)

Oh yes, you are right. 2FL had actually more potential for story than 1FL if I remember correctly. Too bad, that it was not done smoothly. It was like, "Oohhh, I am good and innocent" and one second later she is evil. I understand she had traumatic experience of being raped and other bad things happened to her, but I wish they would show progress and explore her character development more.
I actually love story when innocent and naive character become evil because of traumatic events, but it felt bit forced on her.

I wish I could, but non of my kdrama friends are watching this at the moment. At least I will try to join :)

That sounds like fun! Do you know where can I find it? Edit: It's okay, I just found it :D

Well, Gu Family Book is good example, as you said, female lead was not really important and could be extracted without much damage to the story. And to be more precise parent story became so popular and important that even ML was more like supporting character at one point.

There will be some kind of watch party for last episodes of Penthouse?

Thanks for recommendation list, I had several of those dramas on My Plan To Watch list, so now I can see I can start watching them without fear of being frustrated XD

Actually I was totally thinking about City Hunter, I enjoyed that drama very much, but again FL lead was there only for purpose of love interest.

Are you Human Too, I also enjoyed this one for Seo Kang Joon (let's face it, he is dreamy and I was fan of his from looong time ago) and for the story of android son versus real son. In the beginning I also enjoyed even love line, but at the second half it felt forced and not really natural. At that point, it would be ok with me to focus just on the story without love story, and what is more sad, I wouldn't even notice if FL lead disappeared, that is how unimportant she became for story towards the end.

True, I saw Healer few years ago, so I don't remember ending precisely, so it is possible that end was more focused on ML story rather than FL. Still, I liked that FL wasn't just waiting around and was trying solve hard situations and problems herself. Even though ML saved her many times, FL didn't seem helpless to me like in other dramas and was helping move story along with other characters.

What I don't like in dramas, is when even though they try to describe FL, as you mentioned, as strong, often it came to me more like they are not really strong, just rude to bad people so they then kidnap/threaten and in the end still were damsel-in-distress in every possible scene. I like when ML can save FL lead from trouble, but not when it happens every 10 minutes and FL is just crying about her horrible situation.
As one of the frustrating examples was Are you human, too. I felt towards second half of the drama, FL was there just for love interest part and nothing else and her character was totally useless for story, which is frustrating. I like when it is balanced at least a little bit, when all characters including side characters have their purpose in story which is more than just love interest for somebody else.

I noticed it is getting better in recent dramas compared to old one, so I see it as good point.

Very nice and eye-opening analysis! Thank you soo much for all your work, I enjoyed reading it very much and learnt new things.
I remember when I was sad in the end of Her Private Life, when story was almost totally ML focused about his trauma and kind of forgot about FL and her obsession with idol.
Often in the second part of the kdramas, FL leads are always just there to support ML with no story plot for them, and usually that is about time when I loose interest in dramas unless it is still good drama even when FL lead is not doing anything really for the story.

actually, I would rather want her to go crazy then die. Then it would really showcase what Cheon Seo Jin did to her, how she raised her and put her under pressure

I feel same as you, I would love to see story to unfold as you described.

Why did they delete so many rona - seokhoon scenes? At least they put them on youtube later. Wish there were eng sub. https://youtu.be/D9xND6Vw8MU

Somehow.... I enjoy no character is really stupidly innocent in this drama. No lead female who would let others to bully her until the end and waiting everytime for male lead to save her. It is refreshing.

yes, they postponed airing to next week.

He had some kind of scandal and was later removed from show, but I dont remember reason.

You can find it on iqiyi page or app.

Well, Du Lei being evil then good then suddenly evil again and then just give up totally by end is so weird that it's funny :D
But seriously, first I thought it was forced to make him be evil again at the end, but then it makes sense. You know, he was doing selfish things in the beginning and went againts Lin Taimo only because of Jiang jun. So it is logical once he founds out he can never have her to go fully evil. I just wished if writers wanted him to go this direction they would show that some people just cant be trusted, keep him evil until end and punish him at the end, he gave up his evil intentions way too easily, just because of one chat with Male lead, which is hard to believe.