I mean, I agree with you, but the thing is, except for the adults, I can see why, and I think it's good to include…
I do agree with you, even the adults too Im sure have reason for how they became the way they are. Everyone needs to go to therapy and work on themselves. BTW I dont think Dal Mi is toxic, i just think she is damaged being left by her mom and sister and losing her dad at such a young age.
The drama is an example of what a mess it becomes when toxic people come together and begin interacting. lol I do enjoy the show, its a guilty pleasure.
Weird how you consider HJP toxic, he has good intentions behind his harsh words. Telling the people they won't…
I mean someone committing suicide is a bad effect A mentor that only criticizes you harshly and has never complimented you when you work hard or succeed only brings negativity.
Let's not forget Do San didn't approach HJP but rather HJP approached Do San to lie to someone about his identity. Not just that, he had a stranger read Dal Mi's letters to him that had her personal thoughts and feelings. Super Invasive and toxic
Dalmi is damaged Do San is toxic HJP is toxic Stephanie’s character is toxic Do San’s friend w/ a dead brother is toxic Step dad is toxic Mom is toxic Grandma lying to Dalmi was toxic but at least she’s the healthiest of them all Do sans dad was toxic In Jae is toxic
Here is my rant that I know many will not agree with.
There is a ton I don’t like about this drama, the premise of the show being centered around a start ups in a Silicon Valley like background was so fresh it had me very excited. Unfortunately that’s all that excited me. I think I’ve been too spoiled with thrilling and exciting stories like WWW, Jealousy Incarnate, the secret life of a secretary and Pinocchio. In the last 5 years there has been this wave of amazing story telling and I hoped this drama was on that wave. The most exciting moment in the drama so far has been that one NDS friends being out for revenge.
Other wise the male lead still lacking ambition by episode 10 has been a snooze fest. Then him making the female lead his dream is sweet but also unhealthy. How did the writers help the FL mature and grow out of an unhealthy dependence on the ML in the same episode they make the male lead declare her his ambition?
I know dramas are for fantasy and escape but are we really not supposed to be bothered by how a little obsessive both male leads are with her to the point that they stunted her growth up until she figured the truth out?
Now NDS is stunting his own growth. If Dal mi’s parents’ personal life were any example, one should never rely on another for their happiness. He needs to grow on his own and develop a self dependency and independence while figuring out his own ambition and dream separate from Dal mi and after achieving that should he begin to pursue her. I am less worried about her because it looks like she is on her way there already. In real life his focus on Dalmi would be a lot of pressure.
Then we have the 2nd male lead who understandably a lot of his faults likely come from being guarded and always functioning on survival instincts since he didn’t grow up in a warm and secure household. However this excuses can only go so far as a grown adult it’s time to go to therapy and work on yourself which I know is long process that is not easy but the issue is that he is currently unapologetically about his toxic characteristics. Always a jerk to Dosan and his friends, dragged Dosan into lying but only feels bad not during but after the fact. Maintains this cool bravado but doesn’t let his guard down to allow friendship and that to everyone aside from grandma.
What a waste of a rope on Stephanie because her character is unneeded in the show.
The moms storyline on the other hand has been a joy. Even though there is a lot I don’t like about the drama I’m still grateful to have something to watch
Okay, I'll try this again (third time). Can we stop misinterpreting and being overly critical of the other guy?…
I agree with you, the only fault with the drama is that the characters are too human. In real life no one is perfect the characters grew up differently especially the 2nd male lead who grew up in foster care. He is bound to have a ton of flaws compared to the average person. I think people enjoy a specific male lead or second male lead so when a different comes alone they have a hard time warming up to it.
Wow this is such an incredible article! Thank you so much for putting in the time and effort to go back and read through all the articles. This was a great read, you just inspired me to go and read articles from a few years back.
When you call 2010+ oldies :):):):) All good recommendations thank you for the post - but I think oldies are before…
I guess it depends on the person? my little sister was in kindergarden in 2012 and now has a drivers permit and works at a McDonalds, lol it’s actually what inspired me to write the article, cause she one day my mom was forcing me to take her to the park and the next she driving me around.
There seems to be a lot of debate over the growth of female leads meant to be showcased as more empowering and outspoken in the comment section. I want to make it clear that this article is not meant to put down any specific characteristics held by female leads but rather It was me writing about characters that I enjoyed watching due to their unique nature. It is completely subjective as are most Editorial articles written on MDL . In my future articles, I will make sure to highlight that they are subjective to avoid confusion. That being said I welcome hearing opinions that differ from my own and respectfully debating them but I would highly encourage those who share different opinions to write articles on their point of view and thus there will be a diversity of different points of view in editorial articles. I earnestly hope you will feel empowered to do so.
Our preferences in the portrayal of a female lead are no doubt going to be different since many users come from different cultures, ages, continents, education, and religion. A character or personality disliked by some is going to be adored by others. Such I feel is the way of human nature. What one may see as rude another might not see it the same, what one may see as success another may not see it the same. It's just human nature. I hope this can be kept in mind when debating.
Lol they definitely are crazy! I think I am realizing my definition of average is different from some. The article…
I see what you mean, I guess uniqueness is also subjective. I think being flawed makes us unique. I'm gonna use Donald Trump for an example, he is very unique, right? He also has some immature tendencies like name-calling people he doesn't like.
As much as adult like to believe that their maturity meter fills up with age I think we most of us have an immature side to us and have made some immature decision that we learn from. That's how we continue to grow even as adults.
Some of these fall under the typical "crazy"/"spoilt" female lead trope tbh So they're not very original characters…
Lol they definitely are crazy! I think I am realizing my definition of average is different from some. The article isnt discussing cliche's or original characters but characters with unique personalities or that do things in a unique way.
Like be money hungry, be alcaholic, be a massive fan girl, be stalkerish, blackmail someone by framing them for rape, be a ditzy and glam prosecutor, be a very silly, care free but responsible lawyer, have a potty mouth, etc.
I couldnt name the article "Korean Female Leads with Unique personalities and Who Make Unique Decision" wouldn't have been approved since its too long lol I wish I could have used that title instead. :D
Everyone needs to go to therapy and work on themselves. BTW I dont think Dal Mi is toxic, i just think she is damaged being left by her mom and sister and losing her dad at such a young age.
The drama is an example of what a mess it becomes when toxic people come together and begin interacting. lol I do enjoy the show, its a guilty pleasure.
A mentor that only criticizes you harshly and has never complimented you when you work hard or succeed only brings negativity.
Let's not forget Do San didn't approach HJP but rather HJP approached Do San to lie to someone about his identity.
Not just that, he had a stranger read Dal Mi's letters to him that had her personal thoughts and feelings. Super Invasive and toxic
Do San is toxic
HJP is toxic
Stephanie’s character is toxic
Do San’s friend w/ a dead brother is toxic
Step dad is toxic
Mom is toxic
Grandma lying to Dalmi was toxic but at least she’s the healthiest of them all
Do sans dad was toxic
In Jae is toxic
I must be a masochist bc I keep watching lol
There is a ton I don’t like about this drama, the premise of the show being centered around a start ups in a Silicon Valley like background was so fresh it had me very excited. Unfortunately that’s all that excited me. I think I’ve been too spoiled with thrilling and exciting stories like WWW, Jealousy Incarnate, the secret life of a secretary and Pinocchio.
In the last 5 years there has been this wave of amazing story telling and I hoped this drama was on that wave.
The most exciting moment in the drama so far has been that one NDS friends being out for revenge.
Other wise the male lead still lacking ambition by episode 10 has been a snooze fest. Then him making the female lead his dream is sweet but also unhealthy. How did the writers help the FL mature and grow out of an unhealthy dependence on the ML in the same episode they make the male lead declare her his ambition?
I know dramas are for fantasy and escape but are we really not supposed to be bothered by how a little obsessive both male leads are with her to the point that they stunted her growth up until she figured the truth out?
Now NDS is stunting his own growth. If Dal mi’s parents’ personal life were any example, one should never rely on another for their happiness. He needs to grow on his own and develop a self dependency and independence while figuring out his own ambition and dream separate from Dal mi and after achieving that should he begin to pursue her. I am less worried about her because it looks like she is on her way there already. In real life his focus on Dalmi would be a lot of pressure.
Then we have the 2nd male lead who understandably a lot of his faults likely come from being guarded and always functioning on survival instincts since he didn’t grow up in a warm and secure household. However this excuses can only go so far as a grown adult it’s time to go to therapy and work on yourself which I know is long process that is not easy but the issue is that he is currently unapologetically about his toxic characteristics. Always a jerk to Dosan and his friends, dragged Dosan into lying but only feels bad not during but after the fact. Maintains this cool bravado but doesn’t let his guard down to allow friendship and that to everyone aside from grandma.
What a waste of a rope on Stephanie because her character is unneeded in the show.
The moms storyline on the other hand has been a joy. Even though there is a lot I don’t like about the drama I’m still grateful to have something to watch
That being said I welcome hearing opinions that differ from my own and respectfully debating them but I would highly encourage those who share different opinions to write articles on their point of view and thus there will be a diversity of different points of view in editorial articles. I earnestly hope you will feel empowered to do so.
Our preferences in the portrayal of a female lead are no doubt going to be different since many users come from different cultures, ages, continents, education, and religion. A character or personality disliked by some is going to be adored by others. Such I feel is the way of human nature. What one may see as rude another might not see it the same, what one may see as success another may not see it the same. It's just human nature. I hope this can be kept in mind when debating.
I think being flawed makes us unique. I'm gonna use Donald Trump for an example, he is very unique, right? He also has some immature tendencies like name-calling people he doesn't like.
As much as adult like to believe that their maturity meter fills up with age I think we most of us have an immature side to us and have made some immature decision that we learn from. That's how we continue to grow even as adults.
Like be money hungry, be alcaholic, be a massive fan girl, be stalkerish,
blackmail someone by framing them for rape, be a ditzy and glam prosecutor, be a very silly, care free but responsible lawyer, have a potty mouth, etc.
I couldnt name the article "Korean Female Leads with Unique personalities and Who Make Unique Decision" wouldn't have been approved since its too long lol
I wish I could have used that title instead. :D