Thursday, October 23, 2014

Why Korean Dramas are Better than American Soap Operas



American TV is great. The shows are funny and dramatic, and it never ends. This is good but often times American TV shows are ruined because they are way to drawn out and I don't believe that I should be happy for a TV show to end. This doesn't happen all the time, but with my favorite American TV shows it just doesn't stop. For example, Grey's Anatomy. I was 11 or 12 when the first season came out and I watch it faithfully every Thursday with my mom. I cried when George, Henry, Mark, Lexi, and many others perished. I was there when Izzie got cancer went crazy and disappeared and when Derek got shot and Merideth had a miscarriage. I WAS THERE. 10 seasons later, I am still here. But I am disappointed, and I can't wait for the show to end. But Grey's and GLEE and many other shows are just one reason KDramas are better than American TV. So I have made a list. Lists are good because they are to the point and I like that. I compiled this list with my KDrama twin, Brittany N. She is also a KDrama vet, so she knows her stuff. I asked her to compare American TV to KDrama and this is what we came up with:

Why KDramas are Better than American TV Shows

  1. They are short and to the point. KDramas are not very often over 25 episodes. Typically, they run for one season and only have 16 episodes. I know, it sounds short but it makes the writer throw in all the plot twists and drama and chaos into the series. Every episode has you laughing, crying, and even biting your fingernails in anticipation but, it doesn't feel rushed and definitely not drawn out. Even 16 episodes can seem long sometimes. But they ALWAYS have you on your toes! PS More Lee Min Ho love
    Source: KBS/tumblr

    Source: SBS/tumblr

    Source: SBS/giphy

  2. Two episodes per week! Yes guys, KDramas release two episodes a week. So if there is an episode on Monday you can be sure there will be an episode on Tuesday, every week. What more could you ask for?! Two is always better than one, except two heads, I'm watching American Horror Story and that is just straight up creeeeeeepy!
    Source: MTVK/tumblr
  3. It's good romance. Nowadays, in American TV every show is so over sexualized that the relationship doesn't even seem real. It's just sex. And while we are all adults, I get tired of only seeing sex, sex, and more sex. In KDramas, the relationships aren't like that. The relationship is real and it isn't defined by sex. It's genuine love and watching the couple fall in love is so much better than watching them have sex all the time, just saying. 
    Source; SBS/tumblr
     
    Source: SBS/tumblr

    tvN/tumblr

    Source: SBS/tunblr
  4. BROMANCE. You don't really come by many bromances in American TV but they are abundant in Korean drama and sometimes I will even find myself shipping the bromance more than the actual leads. KDrama bromances are just good friendships between the leads. They are fun to watch and see their relationships develop or in some cases, diminish. You can always, always get a good laugh out of it though.
    Source: SBS/tumblr
    Two photos because we love KDrama Bromances 
    Source: KBS/giphy
  5. The Feels! You just don't get feels like you used to in American TV. But in KDrama you are always feeling, even after the drama ends. Sometimes you have to watch the drama over or your favorite drama just to counteract some of the feels you will feel when watching drama. This is the cure to drama depression, by the way, trade secrets! I have included this informative diagram for you to understand the difference in feels between American TV and KDramas #thefeelsarereal 
  6. Second Lead Syndrome. Remember how I said that KDramas will always have you on your toes? Well this is one of the reasons. SLS is what happens when you fall for the guy or gal that is second. You pray and pray and pray that they will get their chance at love because the first lead is making ALL the wrong moves. And sometimes they do, sometimes they don't, it all depends on how much the writer wants to spite you.  
    Source: DramaFever.com

    Source: tumblr
If I haven't convinced you to at least try an episode of a KDrama, then I have let you down, if I have, then great! Here are a few of my personal favorites (This year):

  1. Heirs 
    Source: DramaWiki
  2. My Love From Another Star (Being adapted into American TV show!) 
    Source: DramaWiki
  3. Bride of the Century 
    Source: DramaFever



And here are a couple classics you must watch:
  1. Boys Over Flowers (BEST DRAMA EVER CREATED)
    Source: DramaWiki
  2. Lie to Me 
    Source: DramaWiki
  3. You're Beautiful 
    Source: DramaWiki
  4. Rooftop Prince 
    Source: DramaWiki
  5. Secret Garden 
    Source: DramaWiki

You can watch all these shows on DramaFever.com


Neomu saranghaeyo,

Asha & Brittany 


11 comments:

  1. @Dramafever This is why I pay for your premium service every month! Nothing is better than kdrama!

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    Replies
    1. This so incredibly accurate lmao. I get premium to watch them on my TV #noregrets

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  2. So do I! HD and no commercials, get the shows one day after it airs, what more can I ask for?

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  3. Asha, everything about this is just so accurate. Every time I'm asked why I prefer Kdramas over American or Latino ones, I actually tend to list these very reasons. First, the plots are amazing and not...gross? I mean, I am a huge fan of Shonda Rhimes and of American Horror Story, but...sometimes they just leave me feeling...eh. You know? There's too much sex, too much swearing, and not enough plot. These dramas just leave you feeling so happy on the inside (as cliched as it may sound, and I know it sounds incredibly cliched) And because Kdramas don't have the adult themes to depend on, they work so much harder on the plot.
    Anyways, my all time favorite is definitely 49 Days (because you never forget your first ha ha.) But tied with that is Bride of the Century, You're Beautiful, and My Love From Another Star. Those dramas did something to my heart that I just can't explain. Anyways, I love the format of the post, and especially the use of gifs. Now I just want to go back and watch all of these. I think it's time for a binge. :)

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    1. Zorgie, I loved 49 Days! It's definitely one of my favorites especially because it was the first drama I saw Jung Il Woo in! I like how appropriate and real KDramas are! After a while American dramas are unrealistic and don't leave much to the imagination which deals with the whole length problem. I like that every season I will get a new drama instead of watching the same thing same situation over and over again.
      PS. I am sooooo binging this weekend since I finished all my midterms!

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  4. Asha, after reading your blog, I couldn't help but to recall my high school days where I stay up late watching korean dramas and obsessing over the characters. I was once a huge Korean drama fan, watching and re-watching dramas that either made me cry or laugh tremendously. One of my all time favorites are the classic series of "Autumn in my Heart" which I cried my eyeballs out. It was also one of the first korean drama I've watched. Unforgettable drama. I like how you gave positive viewpoints on how korean dramas are different/better than American TV shows, which it offers an alternative way of watching romance and comedy in a different setting. One thing I couldn't agree more is the feel it gave me. The plot, characters, and music all made it so realistic it's as if you are the actual character experiencing the situation. The feels is what makes audiences so emotional and attached. Korean dramas actually reflects life and love as it really is, which is why it's so addicting and relatable.

    If you haven't watched "My name is Kim Sam Soon" already, you should definitely go watch! (It's hilarious)

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bd/My_Name_is_KSS.jpg

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    1. Lily! I'm so happy you are reminiscing from my blog (: And the feels are soooo real in Korean dramas. Out of all 10 season of Grey's I hardly cried compared to KDramas. From all the KDramas I've watched and cried about, I could fill an olympic sized swimming pool. I started watching My Name is Kim Sam Soon but I never got around to finishing it although I don't remember why. Maybe I will give it another chance over winter break? (: Do you still watch kdramas? When I first started my parents said that it "was just a phase" but they were sorely mistaken because I watch more kdrama and jdrama than I do American TV. They are just so much more entertaining you know?

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  5. I love all of this! I can truthfully say that I have not been into Korean Culture since recently (like 2 or 3 years ago), but since I have I have not regretted it one bit. Even from a guy's perspective I believe that Korean dramas are SO MUCH better than anything on American television. The things that are on the air in America when it comes to romantic comedy TV shows are not at all as amazing as K-Dramas. Nor do they look as good!

    I mean I have only watched a few so far (mainly because I do not have time), but that is because when I watch them I usually devote a great amount of time on that show alone. It is very hard to just stop after one episode.. I mean really, they always keep you coming back for more. The ones that I have watched on Netflix such as "Lie to Me" and "Rooftop Prince" were so good. They did not seem "too long" or "too short" and they always kept me on the edge of my seat. Also, I love the fact that those shows are filmed with definition that will ALWAYS beat out American television. I do not understand why America does not try to do it the same way as them, but they have a lot of catching up to do!

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    1. Lester, Lie to Me and Rooftop Prince are two of my absolute favorites! Yoon Eun Hye is an excellent actress and she is so pretty too! I think it's awesome that you watch kdramas btw! Not many guys watch which is kind of disappointing because they are made to appeal to both men and women! Since you are a rookie (well not really anymore ;p) I suggest you watch Secret Garden! It's my first drama and it is definitely a classic! Hyun Bin went to the army right after filming and will finally make a comeback in Jykell and Hyde for the winter season of dramas! I definitely agree with you that RomCom TV shows are not that good in America which is so crazy because thats my favorite genre in Kdramas. America has a lot of catching up to do all over. Asia is beating them out in technology and TV. Not that I mind, I like watching my favorite korean actors, that American actors haha!

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  6. Just right, sometimes i hope Indonesian opera soap is at the same level with kdrama's. However I,ve falling in love with k drama since Dae Jange Geum aired. As the one who loves culture and History i get so many lessons form K drama, especially the Historical ones, are you have been seeing the Moon that Embraces the Sun? That is great...

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