Nox

Open relationships tend to work better when they begin open…people who are assumedly non-monogamous already work with a robust framework (know two couples like that)

For monogamous couples, the act of opening the relationships is often (not always) the first signal that something really profound is not aligned, and they tend to not survive the compartmentalization because non monogamy is also a skill: you don’t wake up one day knowing how to handle it.

I think if they go that route it has a lot of potential, the route of watching a car crash and then showing why it didn’t worked that is… and it’s realistic too.

Also, we can contest whether or not women like this kind of plot… but we can’t contest the fact that the majority of the audience is women (for romance and melodrama that is)

If we assume this kind of plot is disliked by a relevant portion, than that raises the question of why these type of dramas are so common.

People are talking about westernization as a possible cause in the comments, i just think it sells

People are more likely to engage through negative emotions than positive ones, so critique is more likely to appear than praise.

I am not sure about the ratings as i think dramas meant to release on streaming platforms or globally area different can of worms entirely… but i genuinely think the pattern you are seeing is a extreme symptom of something larger which are the incentives i commented, it wouldn’t happen for no reason or be as common if it was that bad of a choice

Because there’s a incentive for it… it’s that simple and that obvious.

Most of those dramas are written to appeal to the female gaze and women’s sensibilities in a really generalist way.

So sorry to yuck on your yum but the male lead (or script) you are looking for is a exception… not the rule.

Oh, this comment section is going to be in a civil war if this get even a little bit of traction LMAO.

Probably a skip for me personally, we will see… certainly not going to watch on the release regardless.

The one from this drama? Well… he tried to i guess 😂

Exactly… is about the exposure. I do agree WRC got the worst end of the stick tho.

You missed my point… i never said this was a good drama (in fact i said the opposite), what i am saying is that high mainstream television rating + script that requires intense emotional acting = casting directors attention. How much of that can be capitalized is another conversation, but is good exposure nevertheless

Something that most of you are not understanding: with the new cracking against celebrity status and stardom by the government… chinese television is going through a divide:

You have cult dramas that focus on raw acting, atmospheric scripts, unglamorous roles that don’t really care about your pretty looks and brand status but that can really bump up your artistic prestige.

And you have the celebrity lane that focus on visual allure, massive fanbases, high IP fantasy/romance and brand strength… great for fanbase and brand building, not so good for critical prestige.

This is a massive win for both leads no matter how bad the drama is (which it IS bad), because from a commercial and acting point it allows them to show their appeal towards actual cult works in a broader, mainstream stage:

I am talking about Reset, The Bad Kids, The long Season, Angels wear white etc.

Those are dramas produced by actual high art production houses (think A24 films for a western example) with huge critically praised names behind it, the kind of work that gets you award and builds legacy, not just money and branding.

So don’t think the two leads here picked this shit show just because: they are trying to secure future works by showing their action chops with a intense and dramatic script

Hye Ri really is in her element here acting wise… romcoms seem to be her bread and butter.

Not really invested in the couple yet, but she captivated me enough to stick around.

There’s seems to be a new influx of dramas that are slowly perfecting fighting action in the resemblance of Ip man or The Night Comes for Us… or even kill bill. All while introducing in the storytelling korean sensibilities and tropes (like chaebols as villains).

Agent Kim is a good addition to this roster.

Not perfect by any means but strong in what is proposed.

Solid watch

That… that wouldn’t be that bad actually.

Seeing him slowly turning into a morally grey character while still being in love with her i mean.

I mean, yeah… but this is we injecting context as audience. It’s not like the drama is making social commentary on trauma or exploring psychology… this is not it’s okay to not be okay lol

If i felt compelled by the writing to take this specific aspect seriously… i probably wouldn’t call him a simp.

I fast paced to see if the romance would get better… it didn’t.

The main couple was really badly written too…

This one is fast paced… it locks into a pattern fairly early

Its good for watching a couple episodes a week, for binge probably not.

If you want a good writing in a republic drama this is not it (recommend mr sunshine in that case)

This is fast entertainment…

For real… dude is miserable.

If he doesn’t get any resemblance of happiness after all of this then his purpose in the narrative was just to be a sandbang and a buffer to the whole revenge plot.

The drama is entertaining and the story is hella over the top in a good way, regardless.

I am not criticizing him… i am just making fun of his larger than life love, because it’s unrealistic in a caricature way.

On a serious note: he’s been suffering so much for so long, often because of her… and while his love is consistent in the sense he always puts her first worrying about his safety and well being is way further down in her list of priorities.

The fact they bond over misery and somehow she keeps adding to his pain… just to justify with passing comments about how she “didn’t intend to” doesn’t help.

She knows how much he is hurting and she hurts him more… he stays because he just loves her that much.

In real life we call this emotional dependency, not love.

Blossom of power romance didn’t really convinced me for some reason… blossoms (with the same actress) got me smiling at the screen like a dumb ass tho.

This is a easy watch…doesn’t take itself too seriously and as far as a romcom goes its solid in its genre conventions.

This is what a true simp looks like: Ren Susu could shit on Qing Yi head and he would still be all up in his feelings.

People nowadays throw the word around too easily, but if simping is wrong: my man Qing Yi was never right! 🥹

Ultimate Cinema, superior entertainment 🥂