In the last few days I have watched dramas so fine I don’t feel worthy, and dramas so farcical* they make a mockery of the whole genre.
*(In case you’re wondering, no, I’m not referring to Boys Over Flowers.)
Whether a drama is brilliant or a piece of crap, it affects me. I may feel elated or insulted; rarely do I feel nothing. The feelings may dissipate after a while, or they may hang around for a long time. For all the hours I spend on my kdramas—watching, thinking, and writing about them—I hope my brain is getting a beneficial workout. The day when I watch uncaring about quality is the day when it’s time to move on and look for a new obsession hobby.
I don’t know if it’s because of the disparate qualities of the dramas (and my own vastly different feelings toward each one of them), but I’ve been mulling over this question a lot lately: What makes a drama good?
Mother, is the rice good?
Yes. It is the best rice in the world.
If two lines in an ending episode make me press my palm to my throat (to quell the lump forming there), and if they make me want to write 3,000 words on “Rice as motif and metaphor in Can You Hear My Heart,” does that make it a good drama?
About an hour ago, while rummaging through some old college essays, I came across a notebook. On the inside of the cover I had pasted a note from one of my professors. It read, in part: “Writer’s Sketchbook. This is a place for you to experiment with (and save!) ideas, scenes, feelings, etc.”
I turned the pages and saw this:
Naeuri, did you ask me before if I have looked into my soul? Why would I not have done so? I looked tens of thousands of times. However, every time the answer I got was that I have no hope. Did you not as well suffer from the same hardships when you were young? Though I was not born an orphan I have no family. My mother and my brother. I do not know if they are dead or alive. They are only alive in my memories from when I was seven years old. I want to see them. The pain runs through to my bones.
If I can’t forget you, if you make me cry every time I think of you (and even now as I’m reading you, line after line, six full pages, in a book filled with many memories), does that make you a good drama?
In an isolated Buddhist temple
In darkness as black as coal
The thing that wanted and raised me…
Was one who threw a broom at me
While I was swinging my wooden sword
And who hid from me when I tried to wipe her tears
It was one child, a seven-year-old girl.
I know the measure of a good drama shouldn’t be limited to just what it does to my tear ducts. Thus I’ve been poking around the Internet, trying to find more suitable definitions.
Engaging characters are at the heart of all good drama… Characters should be believable, even if they are in an incredible situation. We should be able to empathize or engage with the main characters, even if we don’t necessarily like them. (Source)
Traditionally, good drama requires the presence of some sort of villain to force the character to make choices. A juicy villain can make or break a work of fiction. Although it can take the form of a human, beast or force of nature, this antagonistic influence forces the character to take a challenging path which they otherwise might not bother embarking on. Although seemingly clichéd, the battle between good and evil is a high concept and people love it. Yet the boundaries are rarely so clearly defined. Everything in this material world is of mixed quality and good drama reflects this eternal interplay of light and shadow. (Source)
I couldn’t breathe last night as I was watching a particular scene (no, not Damo or Chuno). A character, who was rightly a villain because of how he was using the protagonist for an evil revenge scheme, was getting beaten to a pulp. I cried as I watched because the character was played by a favorite actor (who played my favoritest King Jeongjo ever). At that point I forgot how I had been mad with him earlier because he was hurting my beloved protagonist. All I knew as the villain was getting whacked was this: “Please, please don’t die!”
If I care exceedingly for the characters, even the ones who are twisted and diabolical, does that make the drama a good drama?
And if the characters also sing…
… and the songs make me cry, does that make it an even better drama?
In most good stories, the protagonist will also have an inner obstacle, some mental or even spiritual problem that will be resolved by the time s/he reaches the outward, physical goal of the story. Some people call this inner demon a “ghost,” while others call it a “wound.” (Source)
For me the cherry on the top of good drama is the ole’ plot twist which keeps the interest of the reader by challenging their preconceptions. It mustn’t be too contrived and should be used sparingly for maximum effect, (so as) not to desensitize the reader. For the reader to persevere the distance necessary to reach the plot twist they must be drawn in by well-conceived characters. (Source)
Just when I think I have a drama all figured out, it throws me for a loop and leaves me gasping. A new relationship is revealed, with startling implications. Or a character is not what he or she appears to be. I can’t afford to drift off; I must watch each scene like a hawk lest I miss vital clues.
Is a drama that respects me as a viewer and involves me in the journey, so that I’m learning along with the protagonist, a good drama?
I get bored if I know exactly what’s going to happen and how. I also get quite irritated when I feel a character is illogical or if I feel the story structure is illogical… That’s not the same as being irrational. Irrational characters and stories are great as long as they have an inner logic. Take Murakami – totally irrational and surreal but yet absolutely authentic on a psychological level. (Source)
Logical stories. Authentic characters. That should make for a good drama, shouldn’t it?
On the other hand, a drama that suddenly becomes absurd and even bizarre, flinging apparitions and mystical elements into a story without warning or reason. The writer of such a drama must have momentarily taken leave of her senses. I ought to hate said writer and drama, right? Yet I cry like a baby in the drama’s most touching scene, one that I had to wait an eternity for, cursing and swearing through my tears and snot: “You stupid drama, why am I crying so hard for you, you crazy drama.”
A drama that gets under my skin, invited or not. A drama that I stay the course for, captive at times and cantankerous at others. Maybe such a drama isn’t that bad, all things considered.
How about you? In your opinion, what makes a good drama? Is it a single overriding element? Or is it the sum of many parts? What makes a drama so compelling that you stick with it to the end? And never tire of it, no matter how many times you watch it again.
Like this:
Wow, Thundie, that is such a profound question. Like – what is your purpose in life? Hhhhhmmmm… have to think about that.
I think, for me, the main things that hook me and keep me watching a drama are the characters and the story. I can overlook bad production values, bad directing, even bad music if the characters are consistent, interesting, and fleshed out and the story is tightly plotted and gripping on some level. Of course, there are those inexplicable exceptions (like Mary Stayed Out All Night, where the plot went to hell in a handbasket but the characters played by Moon Geun-young and Jang Geun-seok were so compelling and had such great chemistry I didn’t care…much, or Dream High where the acting wasn’t that hot but the story was brisk and compelling), but in general with weak characters and plot, even great production values and amazing acting can’t keep me watching (that would be Chuno). And then there are those dramas that have all three: great directing, great acting, and a great story/great writing, like Return of Iljimae and City Hunter. Those are the dramas I mourn like a friend when they end.
Yet I cry like a baby in the drama’s most touching scene, one that I had to wait an eternity for, cursing and swearing through my tears and snot: “You stupid drama, why am I crying so hard for you, you crazy drama.”
Hmm, could you be referring to New Tales of Gisaeng here?!
By the way, are you planning to do an entry about the last episodes of that one or just leave it for the end of year review. I would love to see what you though of the end of that one and CYHMH.
PS: I have absolutely no idea how to explain what makes a drama good! That’s like trying to figure out what came first, the chicken or the egg (personally I say chicken)? There is just no one definite answer to either of those questions.
I too would love to hear Thundie’s final thoughts on New Tales of Gisaeng! But honestly, don’t you think that whole crazy side trip to the haunted mansion was due to the necessity of the series being extended? Although why they couldn’t have developed a few other aspects of the story instead, I don’t know. Overall, I’d have to say I was pretty satisfied with it. Still haven’t started CYHMH yet……
Hi Kristal and Korazy Lady, I don’t know if I want to do another post on New Gisaeng Story. I was planning to, but that was before I watched the last eight episodes. All that ghostly stuff is just utter crap and so stupid it blows my mind. (Not touching your work ever again, dear writer.) But that mother-daughter reunion… Dang, that’s the most I’ve cried this year watching a drama!
I feel ya on Gisaeng, thundie. I felt so sorry for poor Im Hyuk who I greatly admire after seeing him in Giant and then the 30 or so episodes I did actually watch of Dae Jo Yeong. I wonder if he got as disappointed and exasperated as we did every time he got a new script. I barely made it through those last episodes but like everyone else I was holding out for that mother/daughter reunion. I also found it amusing how Ah Soo Ra and Director Geum were trying to one up each other in the eyes of their children. I will look forward to hearing your final opinion on it in the year end review.
I didn’t cry as much at Gisaeng as I did at a certain scene in the last ep of CYHMH. GUH. That was the first time that particular show had elicited tears in me surprisingly cause I normally am super weepy but oh did they flow then! I think the last episodes may have actually been that show’s best. I would have liked to see more of Dong-joo and Seung-chul’s budding bromance though. So cute!
ahhhh thundie, shall i have hope that you didn’t say “I’m not sure if I’ll do another post on CYHMH”?? =P patiently waiting still ^____<
I have to have an emotional stake in the drama for it to be considered a “good” drama. For a drama to resonate with me I have to have a connection to the characters. I have to be able to “feel” with them. If their disappointment, anguish, or joy makes me feel as they do then I know that the drama has done its job. To me its all about the characters and how they make me feel. Sure I can appreciate a well executed drama. But no amount of exquiste camera work/music choices/scenery/dialogue can make up for that human connection.
I totally agree! THE most important thing for me is a connection to not only the characters but the actors who portray them. But if I don’t like the actors, I can’t get past it. (Case in point – I could never put Best Love on my favorites list because I didn’t like either of the main actors for some reason. They just didn’t appeal to me. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I have a big giant FEELING instead of Thinking on my Myers Briggs test so I have no control!) Coffee Prince still tops the list for the depth of feelings those characters, played so brilliantly and convincingly by Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye, were able to pull out of me!
I agree with you on the actors issue. Usually I can try out the drama but if the actor pulls the same stuff that turned me off in other dramas then I’m done.
Some of my favorite dramas aren’t the most critically acclaimed. I hesitate to write this because I know that Damo is a favorite on this site but it isn’t one of my favorites. I can appreciate the artistry to the drama but I never could connect with the characters on a guttural level. Coffee Prince was great. I really cried with the characters in that one.
I hesitate to write this because I know that Damo is a favorite on this site but it isn’t one of my favorites.
No need to hesitate!
The more diverse the opinions on this site, the wider the grin on thundie’s face. Seriously, bring it on! My guest bloggers and I have vastly different tastes in kdrama. Ockoala knows how I feel about Mary Stayed Out All Night and Lie to Me and she’s totally cool about it. Serendipity and Softy think I’ve gone completely nutty over Lee Min-ho and are
alarmedconcerned; I believe they still love me, LOL.I don’t think Damo is a brilliant drama (there are holes in the plot, etc.); I also watched it when I was still fairly new to kdramas and didn’t have a lot to compare it with. But it hit me on the guttural level and left me an emotional wreck. It’s been years and I still have not recovered, help!
I watched Damo this summer because of the review on your site. I knew it would be heart-breaking, but not breathing-taking. Whenever I remember it my breathing actually stops for a moment! We should just forget about healing from Damo.
good drama = directing + acting + chemistry between the 2 leads + 2nd leads + ost + script (story, characters…) + a story that I can related to
Quantifying the unquantifiable on a Friday?
At times, a drama will come up that seems to be poised for perfection: the checklist of great parts is there — actors, production, script, writers, and so on. Yet, when it airs, it does nothing for me.
Other times, a drama over which I have NO expectations due to the checklist of parts — middling or unknown actors, producers that have tried and failed, writers that have been kicked off other projects, a script that’s been over-edited by nearly every available hand on set (sometimes, one wonders if even the cleaning lady, the coffee girl and the boom boy haven’t had a go at the lines), free songs that anyone can access …. and I melt and two years later I still think of the drama, I own it on DVD, I own the OST, I have some of the props in my office, I’ve reproduced a costume from the drama, and the cast photos are framed on my wall (not that anyone would go that far, really, huh! I am just saying maybe someone would do that crazy thing).
Dramas that others rave about leave me flat. Dramas that others hate, I adore. What is a good drama, then? There can only be one answer, its’ the one/s that touch your soul, and is as individual as your thumbprint.
For me there are a few things that make a good drama (and you have to differentiate from a perfect drama):
1) actors that don’t act wooden, are cast for the right roles
2) characters, fully flashed out, with a back story(and/or morale compass) that grounds their actions in the dramas universe
3) a well thought out script/story that doesn’t turn upon itself when the going get tough: Pretty self explanatory, I simply don’t want to pull my hair out because reason just went out of the window.
4) good directing: I don’t get sick by shaky cameras – thank god for that – but I get easily sick of them, there is a reason the steadycam was invented. There is also a problem with choppy editing(that belongs under directing too for me I’m lazy like that)
5) good scoring: The soundtrack is an important tool in the arsenal of an director. Sadly it is often used as a sledgehammer “you have to feel sad, NOW” or repeatedly overused “Almost Paradiiiiiiiiiise”. Soundtrack use like that makes me scream.
6) a satisfying ending: Nothing is worse than ending leaving you hanging, an ending that doesn’t satisfy you because it simply fell flat.
Added bonuses are when a drama makes me cry(the easiest one to accomplish especially if I’m marathoning again), laugh(also easy for I’m a person who loves to laugh) and bob up and down shouting at the screen cheering the characters on(that’s the hardest one for that is a sure sign I have fallen in love with the characters).
Now there are a few examples of dramas I covet, love, abhor, or can’t watch …. but mostly love:
Damo: a drama I started at your suggestion. It is great on all points especially point 1,2,5 but only delivers halfway on points 3 and 4. And now before thundie beheads me. The is not bad on points 3 and 4 either: it is beautiful and the script/story is compelling but I wish I hadn’t seen the first 7 minutes or so because they take the whole concept of “peril of death” out. Even if I know that almost no drama is going to be as gutsy to kill of a main character before the ending episode I still want to keep that uneasiness. I’m not sure if I can ever complete that drama because of the first 7 minutes – Argh…
Warrior Baek Dong Soo: Even if the drama has only completed episode 6 it still is a good example for point 1 and partially 2. I’m sure I will watch that drama at least until Chun gets killed off. I love him as a character he is awesome. His character is deeply mysterious and has a very interesting back story that explains most of his reasoning and morale compass on top of that Choi Min Soo really brings him to life. On the other hand I can’t wait for In to be killed of, he is everything a character shouldn’t be, annoying, flat but mostly a caricature.
Best Love: How I was torn, rooting for Yonn Pil Joo with one perfect gesture he made and for Dokko Jin only seconds later probably for the exact opposite. This was a drama that had me cheering on the characters. The most difficult thing for a rom-com is in my opinion to make people cry for a character in one scene and laugh out loud the next. What the Hong Sisters excel in is a humour that bridges the language gap and that not only in their slapstick moments but in the wordplays too(most of this credit certainly goes to dramabeans and withs2 for their explanations and translations).
Evasive Inquiry Agency: Delivered strongly on points 2 to 6, only some wooden and/or over the top performances ruined it for me a bit. But it was everything a detective comedy could be and more. I love this drama.
Bad Guy: oh how great this drama looked. But this drama is the epitome of “it’s the inner qualities that count”. I hated the story with a fervour and almost all of the characters weren’t noteworthy or wasted in the end.
Story of a Man: For me it is the perfect drama. But the best of it all is the ending. I just love when a drama ends on a high note, giving us closure and outlook at the same time. This drama containing one of the best villains to grace my TV Screen. He will make you shiver, he will make you want to hide, he is a worthy adversary for the hero, someone who forces the hero to grow but he will also make you hope for him. For isn’t he simply a prisoner of his own being?
Uff, that was long and kinda developed into a rant. But truthfully this doesn’t even scratch the surface…well I’m going to end now before it degenerates further.
I love how every time you talk about a good drama, you put Damo. Because Damo for me was is also both subjectively and objectively my favorite/best drama.
I can objectively tell when a drama is good without feeling that it is going to be a personal favorite. I can describe that objective sense as looking at a well-painted picture. There is technical skill, artistic impression, and a well-contained world. There is enough distance that I always think, while watching an objectively good drama, that it is good.
But to be subjectively good drama (because personal emotions play a part on our judgement), the characters have to be alive. They have to connect with me, either because I have shared that experience and emotion, or because the writing is convincing. In subjectively good dramas, I want to know the characters. I want to hug them and tell them, “It’s going to be alright.” My favorite dramas are ones that I have thought about all day long as I watched episode to episode. I have agonized over the characters’ choices and created my own dialogue. The dramas elicit a sense of nostalgia for me because I have “taken” the drama with me through my walks around the neighborhood, through summer night drives on quiet roads, and through long, rainy bus rides through busy streets.
Well said. The best dramas are the ones that have touched your feelings so much that the characters pop into your head from the time you wake up until well into your dreams.
(Now I’m really thinking I need to watch Damo as it’s been highly spoken of more than a few times on this site!)
I don’t mind with irrational situation and condition (if it happen in real life) in my drama. As long as they can explain it. The Plot don’t have to make sense in real life, but it have to make senses in the world they have create in their story. They have to explain it, consistent with their point of view till the end, and even when they change their point of view, They have to explain why they change their road. In their story, I should at least have 2 or 3 character who I can root, It doesn’t matter if their personality are bad or good. And they should have interesting storyline that can make me engage with their drama till the end. I don’t mind a predictable storyline, Unpredictable storyline doesn’t make them a good drama.
“I know it when I see it”…
Very similar to the famous definition for another visual addiction for some people
I’m tolerant to most dramas but only loved some….and when I’m in love, it’s more often than not because certain actor(s) or actress(es) and an engaging storyline and OST.
I say actor/actress not as in pretty faces only….I mean I would have to be like wow….he/she’s good…in that character. I must care for their characters a lot….and be so impressed I’d looked up the actors entire resume. I’m crazy like that. E.g Cha SeongWon, KimNamgil, ImJooHwan, Lee Junki, KimSoYeon….
Sometimes, it’s not particularly the actors but the story that kept me riveted…especially if it was unpredictable and oh so addictive. eg. 49 Days is the most recent drama that give me this feeling (Surprisingly I didn’t go ga-ga over Kang ah like the rest but I appreciated his character and the story more that’s all)
OST- I must say a great OST goes a long way and while it might not make/break a drama for me, it will certainly heightened my enjoyment.
Production values don’t bother me much unless they are like super duper obvious….for instance when you guys went on about “chopping editing”, “nice camerawork”, I sometimes worry that I must be blind if I didn’t notice all these things everyone was going on and on about….but after some reflection, I think for me, the above 3 point are more important. I can get so engrossed that everything else just fade in comparison.
I applaud you for actually having the nerve to tackle this question… especially since I gave up years and years ago, lol. I’ve long accepted that there’s just no method to my madness when it comes to determining what makes a good drama… well, good. Some shows I like which I realize any normal person would balk at, and sometimes, a show that has captured millions of fans will make me roll my eyes and turn off the screen. It’s all just so subjective, and even my own tastes and preferences are hard for me to pin down.
If I had to choose one thing though, I think I’d probably choose my mood, lol. Some of the best dramas/movies I’ve ever watched, were shows that matched exactly what I was looking for at the time I was looking for them. Like, every now and then, I’ll feel like watching a dumb dark comedy. So, I’ll *know* the acting is ridiculous, the story nonexistent, and the humor not funny – but when I’m watching it, I don’t care, because it’s entertaining and that’s all that matters. Likewise, even if a melodrama is amazing and praised to high heaven, if I’m in the mood for a comedy, forcing myself to watch a melodrama just isn’t gonna cut it. So for me, timing can be just as important as acting, directing, and story. As odd as that sounds, lol.
Either way, it’s complicated.
I dunno… I agree it’s all very subjective and depends on many factors (including mood, like you say), but I do think there’s method to the madness. There must be! My logical mind demands it!
If we take the trifecta of acting, directing and writing, which one comes first? Which is most important? We talked about this in the Lee Min-ho post and I said there isn’t a single actor that I’ll endure a crappy drama for. Logically I’ve always believed that brilliant acting can’t salvage a lousy script. But then I realize that is not always the case. Take Accidental Couple (aka That Fool) and Hwang Jung-min. His acting lifted that drama and not only made it bearable, it became quite palatable in the end.
What about directing? For example, Strongest Chil-woo, which I have a soft spot for. I think the writing there is quite good. It tells a compelling historical story and is peopled by believable and sympathetic characters. But the directing! The crazy directing turned the drama into a joke at times. You couldn’t take the story seriously because you got distracted by all the zany.
After so many dramas, I’ve come to the conclusion that in that trifecta, writing is No. 1. I said this to Ockoala in my comment on her recent Lie To Me review:
I approach a drama very much like how I would approach a book, wanting to know nothing about it in advance (it’s the reason I hate spoilers so much), and seeking an absorbing story peopled by characters who are real and whom I can care about. To quote an oft-heard saying, “It’s the story, stupid.” If the story structure is illogical or sorely lacking, if there’s an absence of conflict driving plot and character development, I’m not sure how long I can stick around without feeling increasingly frustrated.
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I’m loving everyone’s answers. Thank you for attempting this tough question,muahh!! Please keep the comments coming!
Just thought of something. If writing is most important (in my opinion), can good writing be let down by bad acting and directing? Will have to rack my brain for some examples. Or is it always the case that good writing will somehow always produce good acting? I’m thinking of Kim Min-hee in Noh Hee-kyung’s Goodbye Solo. Prior to the drama she had been dissed for her lack of acting chops, but Goodbye Solo gave us a Kim Min-hee for the ages. Other examples, anyone? ^^
ooooh i love this question you’re posing so I hope you don’t mind me butting in for a sec. the most recent one I can think of is Dream High – looking back it really was sustained by the storyline and characters, not so much the acting (except for KSH – he totally blew my mind away with his chops, good looks a bonus). I don’t think we can generalize it so easily such that good writing will always produce good acting – I’m thinking recent ones like 49 Days, Sungkyunkwan Scandal – but a solid writing helps to hold the fabric together, I think. Like allowing viewers to overlook weaker aspects of the show because the storytelling is so strong and/or we feel an emotional connection with the characters ie their principles etc, e.g. as much as I enjoyed seeing Yoochun, his acting didn’t really blow me away in SS but his character’s unwavering ideals made me view him (and still think of a fictional character) with so much respect. I do love it that someone a little below wrote that a story that is confident in its storytelling is what pulls her in – I agree! (okay so I’m all about the writing … can’t help it, it’s the writer in me haha)
All I know is that every award show out there seems to think they have the perfect formula for what makes something the “best”; yet, I rarely ever agree with their final opinion. And just looking at the “popular favorites” on dramafever, shows my tastes are vastly different from the average K-drama fan.
I’d like to say that if a drama has good writing, acting, and directing, it’s good – but for me, there are just too many other factors that can taint the process. Take The Greatest Love for example. I LOVE the Hong Sisters. I’ve watched every single one of their dramas, and was anticipating Greatest Love ever since they first announced it. However, as a Lee Seunggi fan, I was also looking forward to his newest drama. So once he was forced to pull out, I was shocked and in denial – even after hearing that Cha Seung-won, an actor I had previously enjoyed in City Hall, was slated to take up the role – I couldn’t get rid of my disappointment. Still, despite my anticipation level diminishing, I tried to cheer myself up, and reclaim my enthusiasm. Yet, once the drama actually started, I couldn’t get over my Lee Seunggi-sadness. Every time Cha Seung-won spoke, I would imagine how Lee Seunggi would have said it; every time he smiled, I would imagine it was Lee Seunggi. It got to the point, where I was forcing myself to enjoy a character and an actor that I just wasn’t connecting with – not through any fault of their own, but because my brain is just wired stupidly. Finally, when Lee Seunggi made a cameo, my brain just exploded, and I had to stop watching. Just seeing what Dokko Jin *could* have been, blew my mind, and I had to say goodbye to Greatest Love, and move on to something else.
I know the acting, writing, directing in The Greatest Love were probably top-notch, but because of Cha Seung-won, I just couldn’t enjoy it. Yes, it makes no sense. But that’s what I mean when I say mood and timing (for me) are just as important as how well put together a drama is. Even if it has all the makings of a “good” drama, all it takes is one random variable to upset the balance, and the carefully constructed house of cards comes tumbling down.
And it’s not like Best Love is my only example… I can point out four or five other series I loved for the most random of reasons. For me, there really is no rhyme or reason. Sometimes a drama just connects with me, and sometimes it doesn’t.
I agree!!! THe mood are as important as the directing/ acting/ writing/ chemistry in my book.
I have watched story of a man, and acknowledge it has a good writing, directing, and acting. But I don’t know, I just didn’t connect with any other character and I’m not in the mood for this kind of drama back then. SO it never become one of my favourite, Though I love KIm kang woo so much here.
Point out those “four or five other series,” ajewell! I always love reading why people like or dislike a drama, no matter how arbitrary or even seemingly strange the reasons. Your example about Best Love cracked me up; your reason is so quirky and yet completely sound! It isn’t in the least random; you explained convincingly why you couldn’t buy Cha Seung-won’s portrayal of Dokko Jin.
When I find a drama that I love it’s always because of something unexpected. For instance I expected to be be moved by the characters in CYHMH, it was billed as a heartwarming family drama after all, but the story was also very compelling told, the pacing, the dramatic reveals, the directing etc. The storytelling in CYHMH was as compelling as the deeply drawn humanity of each of the characters.
I am story lover, even though I also love character studies. The story has to be logical, whether it’s firmly rooted in reality or it’s fantasy with it’s own internal logic. What I love is when the drama/story is told in such a way that it reveals the characters to the audience, sometimes in ways the characters don’t even realize themselves. Nothing ruins a story more for me than being illogical, especially when there are characters who have painfully unnatural reactions to everyday mundane things in an effort to drum up drama or angst in a story.
I think great dramas are confident and treat the audience intelligently. They know what they are and what they’re about. Not every drama can be everything to everyone nor should they try to be. It’s difficult to really explain it, but for me, a confident drama doesn’t draw attention to itself by screaming “look here, drama!,” cue suspenseful music. It’s like some of the best sitcoms on TV don’t have or need a laugh track because they trust the audience is intelligent enough to get the joke, and believe in their material enough to know that it is funny and be entertaining. (I love Lucy had a laugh track and I’ve never understood why because it certainly didn’t need one.)
I also think great dramas get better and better because your excitement and anticipation grows as the drama continues. Conversely I get very emotional (in a bad way) about a drama that starts of really well and raises my expectations, but then fails to meet them. City Hunter falls into this category even though I’ve enjoyed the experience of watching it. Unfortunately many, many kdramas do this because of business side of making dramas, ie. random episode extensions, changing writers, not starting with a full story, the live shoot system, paying fan service.
I love kdramas and Asian dramas in general because they end. The dramas have an end. The character’s lives aren’t over, but this particular story is at it’s end. American dramas have many great aspects to them, but many suffer from being multiple seasons. It makes it almost impossible to have a coherent story or characters.
I think great dramas are confident and treat the audience intelligently. They know what they are and what they’re about. Not every drama can be everything to everyone nor should they try to be.
Absolutely, InLove! I couldn’t have said it better. I also think a great deal of that confidence comes from having a writer who knows exactly how the drama is going to end even before it has started. No out-of-the-blue extensions, no scrambling to shoot and edit an episode on the day that it’s supposed to air, no bowing to viewers’ demands.
For me, a good drama is, when the story resonate with me. So don’t believe my judge about particular drama because usually it’s very subjective. Haha
generally, I don’t care about bad acting, because honestly I’m hardly notice. Call me weird, but It’s true. Dream high is an example. I’m not distract with their underacting, because the story really touch my heart and soul, so i hardly notice. I’m crying so many times watching this drama. All I care are the character and their journey. I’m such a sucker for a good story telling, too.
OOT: thanks thundie for your review about the devil (and serendipity, too).. I have watch this drama because of your review, and i love it so much. I’m glad finally I can watch this one.
“Unfortunately many, many kdramas do this because of business side of making dramas, ie. random episode extensions, changing writers, not starting with a full story, the live shoot system, paying fan service.”
Oh, I so agree with this. I hate that paying fan service the most. I can’t shake off the nightmare watching Boys Over Flower, it was actually a very good manga, and in my opinion, the taiwanese season 1 is good and japanese season 2 is good, but the korean ver. Ughh. . .
I didn’t watch many dramas, but watched enough to have my own preferences. I say my preferences matured and watching drama-s as time passed by and learn what I want from a drama. I used to not care much about the writings as long as I can watch many sides of my fav actors and actress. But now, I deeply care for the writings, directing, acting and camera works (ranking wise). Cinematography is a plus, but it’s fine if the background is not breathtakingly beautiful.
For me, writings comes first. A good writings for me, is how the writers can play with your emotions and smartly outdo us in expectations. Even if we expected it, it makes an emotional turn in the middle which makes it memorable. And characters whom we can never forget which has lots of room to develop because I love that ride where I can experience with them and learn along. It makes you grow along with them. Very memorable character for me (all recent ones which I can think of now) are, Dong Joo, Dokko Jin, Sam Dong (Dream High), Kim Jae Won & Gil Ra Im, the 4 SKKS scholars, Anna (Fantasy Couple), and the only drama that always has that special place in my heart is Que Sera Sera and don’t ask me why. -.-
Oh and I believe that a good director can bring the best out of an actor and a good actor can deliver the emotions and fully connect with his and other characters. He knows fully well what is it about his character that he wants to show us and I love a very detailed actor. And I recently learn from Kim Jae Won, that he’ll only do what his best at, so now I know that even if the actors are not versatile, but a double plus if he is, how he deliver his character is more important to me. Camera works, urgh. I don’t know if it’s camera works or editing, but since last year, there are two dramas which had this crazy switching faces quickly which makes my eyes and head hurts, it’s so disturbing. And this quickly became a factor which determine a good drama for me too. =.=;
It’s been a long time Annyeonghaseyo Thundie … ^^
What makes a good drama – what a topic, clicked in straight away…
Ah, it still amazes me how well you write and the thoughts that come to your mind
For me a drama can be good but yet I don’t finish it or a drama can be good and I rush to finish it, yeah marathon with little sleep on what time I get to actually watch them. I can’t exactly find the accurate words to say what makes a drama good for me to actually finish watching it – I just know it when my thoughts and actions make me think about them the whole day, itching to just press the play button on my laptop any chance i get to continue and see what happens next and how it all pans out – laughing, crying and cheering all my favourite characters on – cursing, ranting and waving my fist at all the villians, all them baddy mum-in-laws, all the 3rd wheel witches that wants the hero/chebol/king/nice guy/not so perfect yet lovable guy next door, all those changpei?gangsters ajusshis (ie. the Queen Seondok guy Ahn Kil Kang also as the Dream High gangster and recently also in 2d1n he is one of my fav. keke )….. simply enjoying all the antics of the characters…LOL and also what they each say…(good subs are so crucia tool… thank you subbers… was watching The King of Legend… ahhh the subs are so good..Anarchist.. whozisthat..omo Saguek Oppa neh..no wonder!) Nothing like K-dramas for me… many times what makes a drama good for others does not apply to me, and when a drama is good because of so may factors… it still doesn’t touch my soul… but i would still say the drama is good if anyone asks me, but whether I liked them or gush about them or go bimbotic about them ah now that is a different matter! ha ha, take care Thundie ^^
Hi kiongna! How cool to see you here. Thanks for commenting! You’ve described perfectly the art of kdrama immersion, keke.
I believe for many people, it isn’t so much that the drama is fantastic but that it is fantastically addictive. This is especially so if you watch it as it’s airing week after week, with a community of fellow fans (on Soompi, for example), feeding on each other’s enthusiasm. The whole experience of watching is so exhilarating you can’t help but get swept up.
hmm… for me, a good drama is one that has a very romantic (Im a rom-com sucker), funny and meaningful story. Also great chemistry between the leads, eye candy (IM SOOO SHALLOW) and finally MOVING music in the right moments. Im all for kdrama cliches and just want to have a good time watching tv…
I’m a simpleton when it comes to these (meta)analysis things. It’s like why do we fall in love, and why with this guy, in particular? You can’t quite put a finger on it.
As long as the drama totally engages and entertains me, the viewer, its good. And why do i get hooked? Well, it is because of a great variety of reasons, reasons that change from one drama to another, from the shallowest to the most profound. Things like the OTP has sizzling chemistry (shallow, but who the heck cares?) to great acting and witty script, having a storyline with layers upon layers of meaning that just need to be unpeeled one at a time (You need to watch it over and over to get the hidden messages, or better yet, read the good recaps. The more recaps, the more observers and the greater the number of points of view, THE BETTER).
Ah, thundie, why ask? Am just happy all these dramas keep coming and I have a great number to choose from and fall in love with.
Yes, why ask indeed! *bonks self* Must be the literature student in me; I’ve gotten so used to examining fiction at close quarters and am now doing the same to my dramas! Mianne!!
Many dramas are “good” objectively, but the best ones are those that just feel special. A “best” drama means you worry about the characters and feel as though your life will be a little less good if they aren’t “okay” at the end. It requires searching online for a recap/review/anything just to connect with someone else who loves it too. The best dramas inspire deep thinking or uncover buried emotions. And finally, they won’t stop creeping into your thoughts even months later. One of those dramas for me is Alone in Love. I decided that being honest in love is worth being disappointed, looking stupid, and making life messy. Any of those consequences is far better than regret.
what makes a good drama is very simple. if you can laugh, cry, angry, smile and if you can’t stop thinking about it, how you badly want to know the ending then that’s a good drama for you.
Every one have a different kind of taste, so how they react with a drama can be different too. For example maybe a lot of people craving for city hunter, but i just simply like it (no, im not in the middle of city hunter’s madness, sorry) however my genre drama is not the ‘mainstream’, i actually kinda bored with the triangle-lovenship, lovey-dovey things. Even actually drama refers to romance-ship but i like something more unpredictable, something that i can’t guess what will happend or will the main lead end up with him? or with her? and i practically look more than just a storyline, i look deeper in their acting, their cinematography, their emotion. If i said this one particulary drama is d*mn good, the ratings are very low and a lot of people don’t put any interest in it. yah.. my taste of dramas are quirky but really i dont mind to spend my time to do best love-marathon. Because sometimes i need some drama that don’t make me think and just enjoy it. Maybe i’m in love with oscar-winning-movies or emmy-winning-series or whatever but i really really enjoy korean drama even sometimes it’s cheesy and cliche.
So what makes a good drama is depends on yourself, but the main point is we do love korean drama and enjoy watch it, right?
xoxo, thingsdolove
I agree with most of what have been said here, so I will just add one thing: in my opinion creator of any long story must build an interesting world. It’s all about the details that create the atmosphere. Also, what makes a good story for me is the supporting cast. I love it when even the seemingly unimportant characters have interesting quirks and well-written dialogue. I’m much better versed in american tv shows than in korean ones and there are two shows that show how it should be done – “The Wire” and “Deadwood”.
I also love stories that are unpredictable in a good way. I like when characters do things that I didn’t expect but turn out be totally logical and in character.
thundie i just recently started following this blog of yours and man, this is truly one of the best drama-related posts i’ve read so far anywhere. there is that gravity of your reflection and how you hold dramas in a respectful light which i appreciate – i love it, thank you for writing this.
for me, what makes a good drama is how much it moves me – how much heart the drama has. for instance a recent one that i wrote about in my blog was the Jdrama Inu o Kau to Iu Koto which had nothing to gloat about on the surface but turned out to be such a wonderful storytelling, drama-watching experience. yet on the other flipside Dream High for one, which I thought was kind of over-the-top and amateurish, is also one that I now hold dear because yes, the storytelling is just … so moving. So full of heart. I guess that’s what I seek – sincerity and above all, display character growth (this to me, defines a good screenwriter – when viewers are able to catch and realize the changes in the characters). .. just my two cents
In my opinion, what makes a good drama is the characters. The characters need to be logical, their background explain their personality and way of thinking. Their actions need to make sense in their own logic within the drama. Of course need to be backed by good acting. I personally like dramas that pay attention to ALL their characters, and bring them to life (for that reason I loved Romance Town since we got a good view and understanding of most of its characters). and I think the characters are what brings the story to life. So when writing and directing focus on characters in every dimension, it should make a good drama (at least in my taste
). I think interesting characters make romance, comedy, action, mystery, historical, horror and other types of dramas good dramas. At least this is what I got from watching American series/movies, Arabic series/movies, English movies, Japanese anime/doramas/movies/, Korean dramas, and the bit that i’ve scene of Taiwanese dramas, Chinese movies and Turkish series
Sometimes a drama works for me because all the technical qualities (writing, directing, acting) synch beautifully. Other times, a drama works for me just because it does. I welcome both and just go with the flow.
p.s. Congrats on being musically wired! I love the song choices!
“How about you? In your opinion, what makes a good drama?”
You REALLY wanna know that? *g*
A drama is GOOD, when you
… first the lead couple makes you giddy within the first 10 seconds.
… stop eating your cake while watching.
… your tea is getting cold while watching.
… when you’re already downloading the next episode while watching the episode before.
… you want to pull an all-nighter just for this one.
… you want to write more than 2000 words about it.
… you want to write more than 2000 words about EACH episode.
… smile like an idget the whole time.
… you laugh outloud like a crazy person on deprivation of pain killers.
… you start searching for pictures on the internet and hort them like a treasure.
… you start to save EVERY picture of your drama crush you can find.
… you want to make screencaps of every single kamera perspective and actually start DOING it.
… you want to dress your boyfriend like your current drama protagonist.
… you want to make headers and headers and headers of you new drama crush
… you would remember certain lines when doing some random things like housework.
… you ditch your friends when they ask you out on the broadcast day because you prefer waiting for the new episode.
… you’re reading EVERY single post about your drama crush you can find.
… you stalk Thundie’s prattle hoping for new updates about your drama crush.
… you want to tell your friends about what you’re watching right now.
… you want to rewatch your favorite scenes more than 3 times.
… you like every grimasse your drama protagonist is making even if it really looks weird.
… you’re listening to the drama’s OST at least 4 times a day.
… you want to yell at your drama chrushes when they’re being stupid.
… you have a box of tissue besides you before you start to watch.
… you almost crush your cat while feeling the angst.
… you start a silent conversation with the characters about their motives.
… you find inspiration while watching for your own work.
… you start missing them when you’re away a couple of days.
Hm… that’s MY criteria of a good drama. ^^
Wow… You have given me alot to think about Thundie…. O_O” I’ll have to get back to you on that….
What makes a good drama? The first thing that comes to mind is Japanese.
Personally – for me a good drama is one where I get sucked in. Simple as that. OK – there may be gaping flaws but then the whole idea of watching a drama is to escape the real world for a little while and live vicariously – isn’t it?
Well its like when Transformers came out and there were some who said – the story line was weak etc….Come on!!! You go to see a movie about giant robots duking it out and you want a story line? It’s explosions and big bangs and outright mayhem that we want to see!! LOL!!
So – how am I sucked in? – I laugh with the lead characters and at all the antics of the 2nds, I see the hilarity and the levity of situations, I cry with the OTP and for them, I am invested in trying to think them out of their problems and hoping that a resolution is in sight, making some up on my own and hoping there is redemption, I get angry, hurt and sad and then happy, contented and squeal in delight – all in the space of an hour – repeat. And then at the end – I gnaw at my knuckles wondering what will happen next week! – so much so it affects my mood!!
That – simplistic as it may be is how I enjoy my dramas for better or for worse.
I don’t exactly know too..hehe..
Usually, before I watch a drama I check on reviews, the cast if they were the actors/ actresses who did a great act on their previous dramas/ films( and I become a stalker to every dramas they have ).
But as I observed, this is really opinionated, even if I’m a big fan of Kdramas, everything goes well until the last 2 episodes. I don’t know what to suggest to, to make a better ending. I just don’t feel like kdramas have great ending.
But I will still keep on watching kdramas no matter what. hahaha