Living Tribunal

Yeah, I agree that they had a very healthy relationship despite the supposed flirty character of ML which got him a lot of hate when the drama was airing. I watched it while it was airing. Thanks 😊

One of my favorites again but you can't classify it as a proper romance drama as it had romance as a subplot but still Thanks 😊

Me too! You Are My Secret is also one of my favorites, despite some questionable decisions by the FL.

I watched all of them but still thanks. 🤗 My question was for this year and which drama you guys thought was quite balanced and healthy in respect to the relationship department.

I will try that. I haven't tried that yet. Thanks 🤗

I have seen that, and it's one of my favorites. However, I feel their relationship could use more spice, like some minor conflicts or a bit of push and pull.

Guys, tell me about the healthiest C-drama couple you've seen this year. For me, it's the couple from You Are My Lover Friend. They had such a mature and understanding relationship, starting as friends, that their transition to a romantic couple felt very organic. While there were some hiccups, like the annoying married couple and their moms, the way they communicated about their issues instead of bottling them up and waiting for the other person to speak – even before becoming romantically involved – was really satisfying to see.

EDIT- Guys, I asked for your opinion on which drama had the best representation of a healthy relationship in 2024. Please don't suggest dramas that aired in previous years. I just want to hear why you think it's the best, as I've probably already watched the ones from previous years.

Totally get it—it's just a drama, and clearly, we're not aiming for a logic award here! But when you say 'let the FL torture the ML,' it raises some eyebrows. If we're not taking it seriously, why suggest that men should 'learn' through emotional torture? Maybe we should keep the drama fun and flawed without implying one side needs to suffer for the other to grow. But hey, if you're all about that energy elsewhere, more power to you! I’ll stick to critiquing the questionable storylines while you enjoy the ride!

Sure, it's just a drama—until it turns into a masterclass in double standards! While we can acknowledge that many MLs in popular dramas are total trash and still do well, it’s interesting how flaws in FLs are suddenly seen as 'character depth.' It's like saying, 'Let’s give the girls a pass while we roast the guys!' If we really want interesting characters, shouldn’t both sides get held accountable for their actions? But hey, as long as we keep the narrative flawed, I guess we can keep pretending it’s all just harmless fun. Maybe one day, the 'drama' will include some actual equality in storytelling!

Oh, right! The FL’s split personality disorder in Dear Hyeri justifies the backlash against the ML for his commitment issues, while the FL in Go Back Lover gets a free pass for having similar problems. I mean, who wouldn't want to hate on a guy just because? It's hilarious how one comment section is all sunshine and rainbows while the other is throwing shade at someone with the same issues. Same same but different, I guess! 😂😊

Oh, my bad! I didn't realize you co-wrote her tragic backstory. That must be why you’re so passionate about defending all her red flags!

Oh, of course! Let's celebrate double standards with open arms. When the ML in Dear Hyeri hesitates about commitment, he's torn apart in the comments—people are practically ready to throw him off a cliff. But when the FL in Go Back Lover drags the ML through the same commitment limbo, it’s suddenly 'cute' and 'empowering'? And the three likes on your comment say a whole lot about how bad things have gotten—misandry dressed up as 'pseudo-feminism' while still crying about not getting equal respect from men. Guess we're rewriting the romance rulebook: men must grovel, women can ghost, and no one should dare call it out. But hey, as long as the SML is good-looking, who cares if basic communication is thrown out the window, right?

It's quite good. I like the story and the acting of everyone. The thing is, in Dear Hyeri, the leads break up for reasons similar to those in this drama. Here, the ML wanted marriage, while in Dear Hyeri, the FL wanted marriage. In Dear Hyeri, the leads break up after an 8-year relationship following an argument about marriage, where it is shown that the ML has commitment issues due to his rough childhood. The dichotomy is that in Dear Hyeri's comments, most people are hating on the ML just because he’s a guy, while here, even though the FL has similar issues that caused the breakup, we don't see as much hate for her as for the ML in Dear Hyeri. Some people in the comment section even wish for the ML to die, just so the FL can end up with a good-looking SML. Here, most of the comments just call the ML a simp for the FL, but very few highlight the faults of the FL. This clear hypocrisy is very disheartening for me to see.

Have you watched Dear Hyeri yet?

Is this really a reverse harem? How do you know that?

I believe they won't get together just because of this. It was something they did in a heat of the moment and I don't think they will get together before ep-18 at least.

I think there might be a misunderstanding. While I acknowledged that change is happening in dramas, I wasn’t fully agreeing with everything you said. It’s completely healthy for us to have different opinions, and I respect that. I agreed with your observation about MLs becoming more green flags in recent dramas, but I still believe that the anticipation of a kiss and the focus on one fated connection between the leads is what makes Asian dramas so unique and appealing to many viewers.

You mentioned shared kisses making the romance feel more realistic, and I understand your point. But for viewers like myself, the charm of these dramas lies in the fantasy of a pure, unbreakable bond between the leads. It’s not about excusing MLs for having kisses with others—it’s more about preserving that emotional intensity of one special connection. That’s why I asked if you had any recent examples of MLs kissing exes, because I haven’t seen any lately. Problematic MLs were more common before the mid-2010s, but now MLs and FLs are generally portrayed as more respectful.

I would like to reiterate that I have noticed more dramas recently where the FL is surrounded by multiple SMLs and maintains close relationships with them, while the ML is often the one stuck feeling jealous. When the FL sees the ML with another girl, she gets upset, and the ML usually distances himself immediately to reassure her. But when the FL is close to SMLs, she rarely explains her behavior. Additionally, it’s now common to see FLs who have had multiple past relationships, while MLs are often portrayed as waiting for her, which flips the older tropes.

While I appreciate that you’re happy with the shift towards more realism, I still think dramas have the right to show what they want. Whether they focus on physical connections or not, they’re telling stories that balance fantasy and reality. For many viewers, the idealized romance is what draws us in. It’s great that dramas are evolving, but for me, the balance between realism and fantasy is key to keeping the charm of these stories alive.

And as for In Between, I get that for you, the FL's earlier kisses didn’t make the final love kiss any less special, but I think that’s exactly where we differ. For some of us, that anticipation and 'one love' journey is what makes the final kiss feel all the more magical.

Now, since you’re off to sleep, maybe in your dreams you’ll find a recent ML who kissed an ex because I haven’t seen one lately! 😉 Enjoy In Between, and get some rest!

I understand your frustration with how some MLs are portrayed, but I don’t agree that the majority of MLs in recent dramas are red flags. If anything, most dramas post-2016 have shifted towards portraying MLs with healthier, more respectful behavior. The problematic MLs of earlier dramas are largely a thing of the past. Can you give me examples of recent dramas where you saw MLs kissing their exes? I honestly can’t recall many from recent times. Forced or accidental kisses might have happened more in older dramas, but they are far less common now.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed the reverse happening in many modern dramas. FLs are often surrounded by multiple SMLs, with the MLs being the ones who have to endure jealousy while the FLs don’t explain their behavior. If the ML is seen with another girl, the FL usually gets upset, and the ML instantly distances himself from any other female interactions. It's often the ML who has to coax the FL.

Also, it's becoming more common to see FLs who have had multiple relationships, while the ML is portrayed as a 'virgin' guy waiting for her, which breaks the traditional trope of preserving the FL's 'innocence' for the ML. So, the dynamic you’re describing is shifting, and it's not as one-sided as it used to be.

I understand what you're saying about wanting more realism, especially in the context of long-term relationships and marriages in dramas. However, I think it's important to remember that dramas, especially Asian ones, often aim to create a sense of fantasy and idealism. They aren’t necessarily meant to reflect reality down to every detail. Just because we don’t see a married couple or long-term partners kissing on screen doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened off-screen—it’s simply a choice by the writers and producers to focus on other aspects of the story.

The restraint in physical affection is part of what makes Asian dramas unique. It allows the audience to focus more on the emotional connection between characters, which is a big reason many people are drawn to these dramas. It keeps the romance idealized, which is appealing for viewers who enjoy the build-up and tension. I don’t think it’s about keeping the FL’s 'lips virginal' for the ML, but rather about creating an emotional journey that keeps us invested.

I don't think kissing an ex makes someone a bad person, but in dramas, the kiss between the leads is often treated as a special, significant moment. Breaking that anticipation can disrupt the sense of 'true love' or fate that many fans cherish in these stories. Dramas have the choice to show us what they want to emphasize—sometimes it's not about what's realistic, but about what fits the tone and the story they’re trying to tell. While realism is important, sometimes it's okay to let the fantasy aspect drive the narrative, especially in romantic storytelling.

Isn't that what makes Asian dramas so unique and different from Western ones? In Western dramas, there tends to be a heavy focus on sex and kiss scenes, with the leads often having physical relationships with multiple characters. What we love about Asian dramas is the slow buildup of romantic tension, where even a single kiss is highly anticipated. We wait so long for that moment between the leads that, when it finally happens, it fills us with excitement and makes us giggle with happiness.

I think a majority of Asian drama viewers appreciate this aspect because it preserves the fantasy of true love and the concept of fate. When one of the leads kisses someone else, it feels like it breaks that illusion of an unshakeable connection between the main couple. For many of us, the appeal of these dramas is the idea that the leads are meant to be together, and anything that disrupts that feels quite off.