How to Overcome a Drama Slump (2023 Version)
This might be one of the more controversial yet necessary topics to be discussed. In my previous article How to Overcome a Drama Slump (2023 Version), while the drama slump could be linked to my personal reasons, at the same time many drama watchers pointed out it may also be due to the changing quality of K-Dramas over the recent years, or maybe due to the factor that as the years pass, our preferences become very specific and peculiar, or maybe due to the fact that we need more new and unique content. So I have collected various reasons that could be why we might be feeling like this.
A Myth? |
1. Saturation of too many K-Dramas/Taste becomes peculiar |
Entering the world of K-Dramas after being unfamiliar with similar content like C-Dramas can be overwhelming. Initially, you might struggle to remember names, find it hard to distinguish between characters, and may be drawn into the cute relationships that are a hallmark of rom-com K-Dramas. It's quite different from the experience of watching Western shows. However, as you watch more and more K-Dramas, eventually reaching around 50 - 100, you may start noticing similarities in plots, characters, and tropes across different series. This familiarity can lead to a sense of predictability, where you find yourself able to anticipate the next sequences in the plot. This could, in turn, result in a loss of interest and possibly push you into a slump.
Let's take an example, one of the popular types of rom-coms are K-Dramas where the male lead is the CEO of a company and the female lead is an employee in the same company or someone not from a rich background.
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In 2019, I watched What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and totally loved it. But because Business Proposal followed the same plot, I could only watch up to episode 5 of that show. Subsequently, I was hesitant to try King the Land because it, too, followed the same beats of the previous two dramas. The following tropes are common in workplace romances: Rich Guy/Poor Girl, Guy Falls First and Harder, Grumpy/Sunshine, Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity. This adds predictability and you can pretty much figure out everything.
King the Land could potentially become a beloved series for those who began their K-Drama journey in 2022 - 2023. However, it may not hold the same appeal for individuals who have been avidly watching since 2018. Perhaps all three of the above shows might not resonate with those who have been immersed in the world of K-Dramas since long before that.
As time goes on, our preferences become increasingly peculiar, discerning, and particular. We are constantly in pursuit of fresh scripts, storylines, and characters. Honestly, nowadays, I can only indulge in romantic comedies and give them a perfect rating if they manage to avoid any clichés that I have already witnessed countless times before. For instance, I crave a romantic comedy where two strangers serendipitously fall in love, much like Meet Yourself (does this exemplify the level of pickiness we have reached?).
2. A shift is required |
Imagine trying a new brand of dark chocolate for the first time and consistently purchasing it for an extended period. Eventually, you may grow tired of its taste and develop a curiosity to explore alternative brands. However, after taking a considerable break, when you revisit the initial brand, you may find it enjoyable once more. This repetitive pattern is the cycle in which we find ourselves trapped.
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In order to break free from this repetitive routine, it is imperative that we embrace our inner explorer and embark on a journey across the globe. By immersing ourselves in various languages, we can discover a plethora of captivating series and movies. Take, for instance, the enthralling German series "Dark" or the timeless sitcom "Friends". Additionally, we can delve into the world of Indian cinema with films like "RRR" and "12th Fail", or explore the realm of Japanese dramas such as Alice in Borderland or Trillion Game or Taiwanese dramas such as Someday or One Day. The options are endless, and it is high time we broaden our horizons beyond just K-Dramas. Let us embark on this new venture and uncover the hidden gems that await us!
3. Or we just became busy |
This was a challenge I faced during my drama slump. During the lockdown, when we were all mostly at home and isolated, K-Dramas brought us together as a community. Now that the world is returning to normalcy, we've become caught up in life—school, university, work, and so on. We used to be able to binge-watch a 16-episode drama in a day, but now we struggle to even finish a single episode.
Therefore, there's no need to pressure ourselves into watching K-Dramas. It's not obligatory or a goal to strive for. We should indulge in them when the mood strikes, without feeling forced. It's perfectly fine to only watch 2 - 3 dramas a year, as long as we enjoy the experience. Let's remember that we have significant commitments in our lives beyond entertainment.
A Reality? |
The current boom of K-Dramas can be attributed to 3 reasons :
- The 2018 rise of K-Pop, when groups such as BTS or Blackpink became so popular it opened the doorway to K-Dramas
- Squid Game and lockdown
- Streaming platforms such as Netflix or Hotstar investing into K-Dramas and making them more accessible to audiences all over the world
While these might be looked upon as a boon, they are also a curse.
1. The Streaming Platform interruptions (I know you know) |
We all know how much hand these streaming platforms had in western shows. Yes, they did revive some good shows, but also cancelled so many shows, did not renew shows for more seasons, or forcibly added seasons as the series became popular. As they started investing in K-Dramas, the trend also started applying here.
Before the boom, we just had K-Dramas with one season, mostly 16 - 20 episodes, and many with original scripts. But now we have 8 - 10 episodes, multiple seasons, and so many adaptations. It was a good thing for K-Dramas to get more investments so more good stories can come out and for them to get international recognition, including the actors. But is this leading to us losing the originality and charm of K-Dramas that we loved?
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Netflix used to do this not only with Western shows but is now doing it with K-Dramas. They often leave open the possibility of a second season, leading to prolonged waits. During this time, our expectations could soar or we might even forget about the existence of the show altogether. When the new season finally arrives, it's possible that it doesn't live up to our heightened expectations. This was my experience with Sweet Home, where the three-year gap between seasons caused me to forget the storyline and characters. Additionally, there were instances where an unnecessary season was produced simply because the series gained popularity. For example, Imawa no Kuni no Alice Season 3 felt superfluous as the second season had already provided a satisfying conclusion.
Is it just me, or does it seem like K-Dramas, especially those tailored for a global audience, often prioritize satisfying Western viewers? Take The Glory, for example. While I don't have issues with nudity or sex scenes, I found some scenes in this drama to be completely unrelated to the storyline. Many audiences initially resonated with K-Dramas because of their grounded nature. However, there's been a noticeable trend of incorporating elements seemingly aimed at Western tastes.
Another aspect is the constant mention of BTS in almost every K-Drama. While I'm an ARMY myself, I'm starting to feel exhausted by this trend. It's as if using a popular K-Pop group is seen as a shortcut to increasing a drama's relatability. Personally, I hope they diversify and feature other groups in upcoming dramas.
Regarding Disney+Hotstar and Amazon Prime Video, they're now also dipping their toes into the world of K-Dramas. We're yet to see how they'll handle this genre. Disney+Hotstar's handling of The Worst of Evil was commendable, but it remains to be seen how they'll continue to approach K-dramas.
2. Is it sufficient for a drama to rely solely on good-looking actors without adapting the storyline and characters to the current era? |
Another issue I've noticed with recent K-Dramas is a lack of innovation. It's 2024, and by now, audiences worldwide are quite familiar with the typical style of K-Drama storytelling. Therefore, there's a growing expectation for dramas to reinvent themselves to stay fresh and engaging. Let's consider an example (please note, this is just my opinion and not intended as general criticism.)
 | One of the most popular K-Dramas in recent days, hyped to be a great one, too. But... but... this one follows the same beats of any supernatural K-Dramas that exists, to a point we could predict almost half of the story. |
In this year's K-Drama Marry My Husband, numerous viewers have criticized the male lead for not being conventionally good-looking (which was also the case with the character in the webtoon). As a result, some are dropping the drama. Isn't acting supposed to be the primary criteria, I wonder?
3. Where are the crime thrillers and the horror? Really, where are they? | |
 | For many K-Drama viewers, their introduction to this world may have been through rom-coms. However, for me, it was K-Drama thrillers that truly captured my attention to the extent that I was inspired to write two articles on the subject: Experience the Thrilling World of Dramas and Experience the Thrilling World of Dramas (Part 2). Yet, why have there been no recent dramas of this type? Furthermore, the dramas we've received have been disappointing. In 2024 onwards, I'm hopeful that we'll still see some quality thriller K-Dramas emerge. |
 | That wraps up our discussion for now, but there's plenty more to delve into from both perspectives. I'll leave the continuation of that conversation to you all. Please share your thoughts on the article and suggest additional topics you'd like me to explore. Let's keep the discussion respectful and thought-provoking. Happy Drama watching!! |
