Great article! I have been trying to find a Kdrama with a character the equivalent of Dexter (the US show). So far no luck. I thought Flower of Evil was going to be like that somehow after reading the intro to the drama but it was not the case (traumatized young man but who never really did anything extreme: is he really an antihero I wonder?) Why do we like antiheros? Mostly because they are more interesting and their story is more gripping than your usual goody two shoes, boring hero! I love seeing them reedeming themselves but still keeping that edge that made them fascinating to begin with. That was completely missing in Flower of Evil!
Amazing article. I enjoyed reading it though I have no desire to watch any of them(it took me two months to finish the first episode of Kleun Cheewit! That was the first and the last time I watched thai lakorn! Not my cup of tea:). Thank you so much for translating titles....
This is a very interesting article. Music plays a very important part within the drama, setting the mood or stressing the importance of the events. I find background music even more significant because it is not supposed to be noticed and that music sometimes is much better than the songs. I love the song from Heartless city (it is on my favourites list!) but the theme The Man, a guitar instrumental is entrancing. My playlist is full of such examples! What is your take on background score?
Thank you for the interesting article! I am familiar with K dramas having been binge watching them for the past 17months . I loved them because they were so different (one and done!!!! brilliant!) from western shows which I was really fed up with (the endless US shows...never again!). But recently I have been dropping more and more Kdramas, especially those on Netflix: multiple seasons and too much like western shows has become really offputting for me(CLOY was my first drama so it doesn't count but I tried and hated Vincenzo which I dropped after 40min) ! And though some of the drama tropes are annoying as hell, sometimes the writing/acting is bad , I am still not too much in a slump to completely drop them. I will do that if they loose what makes them korean and different (which is not only the language but the format and the originality of the themes: I have never seen so many time slip dramas anywhere else!) I still have to try Jdramas: I did see a number of movies that I liked and a couple of BLs but nothing else though I would love to try other types pf drama!
When I think of horrible endings I always think of Where Stars Land. I felt like throwing hands at how disappointing…
I finished watching it last week and have no memory of the ending. The whole drama was ruined by the awful FL. Wow, I just remembered: I guess the lead actor had had enough of that drama to even show up at the end!
I've been fast forwarding through first three episodes: aside from all the product placement long scenes, I felt uncomfortable watching effeminate characters' over the top behaviour. Do people behave like that in real life too? Or are they just being used as comic relief by exagerating their feminine side? I am a bit confused!!! All the comments say the good part starts later on! When?
Thank you so much. I really did not like this. It had taken me over two months to finish it, having repeatedly dropped it, because I wanted to find out why this is considered one of the best bls ever. You pointed out everything I noticed and hated so... I am relieved!
I was wandering whether to watch this or not (apparently the chemistry is great) but upon reading some recent comments, it seems that this drama hasn't aged well (rampant homophobia?) How the world has changed in only 5 years!!! The #metoo movement and the pandemic have for sure changed the way we all percieve the world!
Great article, well done! I may not be as fan of these dramas as you seem to be but your writing is really a good read! The only drama I liked is 365, and I dropped Vincenzo 40min into the first episode! And i am currently struggling to finish My Roommate Is A Gumiho(it is too hot to care!!!)To each its own, I guess! Anyway, looking forward to more well written articles from you!
Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice: THE original template enemies to lovers done right! Everything since has been variations of the theme! Thank you for the interesting article!
Thank you for this article: detailed and clear in explaining a major mystery of C drama production. Well done! Keep up the good work! I'd love to read more from you! There is another question about c dramas ant tv in general: why are they all subbed in chinese? Same reason as the dubbing? The subs are very fast: can you actually read them?!? Makes me wonder!
Here's the thing tho, my ratings are more of "how much I enjoyed watching" and not "hot good the show is". That's…
I am very reluctant to watch a show that is unanimously raved about(because I am always disappointed eventually: high expectations and all that!) so before watching I scroll through the reviews and read the worst rated article which usually gives me the real idea about the quality of it. Your review of Why R U had me in stitches: I read it before watching because of the way you started your article and though the series was sooo bad, you made it watchable! After watching it i though to myself: the second degree! That must be it! So if you look at it as a story within a story(sister writing! a bit like Be Melodramatic) it is quite fun!
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I have been trying to find a Kdrama with a character the equivalent of Dexter (the US show). So far no luck. I thought Flower of Evil was going to be like that somehow after reading the intro to the drama but it was not the case (traumatized young man but who never really did anything extreme: is he really an antihero I wonder?)
Why do we like antiheros? Mostly because they are more interesting and their story is more gripping than your usual goody two shoes, boring hero! I love seeing them reedeming themselves but still keeping that edge that made them fascinating to begin with. That was completely missing in Flower of Evil!
TharnType
Moon Lovers; Scarlet Heart Ryo
Sizzling hot chemistry! Off the charts! Chemistry level to infinity and beyond!