This is where the female lead rescues herself
Hello, welcome to my drama nook of the internet. By Episode 10 is where I write about my drama adventures as a fan of Asian tv entertainment and film. Whether it's binge session or a bit of a slog, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the drama tropes, character chemistry and plot twists.
I grew up watching a lot of dramas with my family, it was important family time just like eating our meals together; every night after dinner, we would have a plate of fruit ready to snack on before we pressed the play button to usually watch a long family saga drama. It wasn't until around 2018 that I started watching Asian dramas again, specifically K-dramas. As a fan of fantasy novels, "A Korean Odyssey" and "Memories of the Alhambra" first piqued my interest on my Netflix feed; then shortly after, it seemed more and more new shows appeared thereafter.
It was while watching 'Pretty Noona buys me food/Something in the Rain' that I became truly hooked. A more "real life" drama about everyday struggles of a somewhat insecure woman who becomes stronger and more independant as the show progresses, the tone along with the music of the show felt distinctly different from other K-dramas I had watched. It offered everything I'd come to appreciate in future shows: a well written slice-of-life story, a journey of self-rediscovery, beautifully shot scenes, excellent soundtrack (I adore Rachel Yamagata and instantly recognised her voice), and a sweet, slow-burn romance with undeniable lead chemistry.
When it comes to my enjoyment of dramas, there's a few biases I have:
- I'm a big fan of the slower paced slice-of-life stories, especially when they're enriched by an endearing supporting cast.
- I love characters with flaws/struggles, perhaps to even mildly unlikeable but enjoy the journey of warming up to them as we get to know them more.
- Isekai or reincarnation tropes are my guilty pleasure themes, I'm a fan of fantasy in general and sometimes you just need to suspend disbelief and kick back.
Although I definitely enjoy the common drama tropes that come along with K-dramas and C-dramas, it's always refreshing to see a different approach, unexpected twists, or themes that aren't typically explored in the standard drama formula. At the end of the day, I want to be taken on a journey in a well crafted fictitious world and enjoy my time watching characters with good chemistry and meaningful writing. I hope you'll enjoy my takes on the latest in drama land entertainment.
