[2023 Year in Review] Okay-drama: My reignited past love story
by Visitor Beanie
By: @gadis
As a drama 12 months, I began 2023 with a doom portent. It’d sound like an exaggeration, however how else would you describe a 12 months of drama journey that was opened by a face palm-inducing present like The Heavenly Idol? I’ll spare you all of the lengthy rant about why this collection might have been ridiculously enjoyable with just a bit tweak and a bit extra widespread sense. Sufficed to say that I blame the dramaland drought in that early months (and likewise my briefly misplaced common sense) for making an idol drama with a pontifex lead sound like my concept of enjoyable.
It was the understatement of the 12 months to say that by the tip of The Heavenly Idol, I used to be able to take a break from dramaland. Overflowing choices mixed with total mediocre critiques solely additional satisfied me of my choice. It could be a really lengthy break if not for the a number of posts of Beanies gushing over My Good Stranger that I by chance noticed. Kim Dong-wook, Jin Ki-joo, and my almost blind love for time journey story. What might go flawed with that excellent combo?
Nothing, apparently. Nothing however the actual fact of how tame it was. How not thrilling the drama was regardless of all of the thriller and crimson herrings and rising physique counts that occurred all through the present. Two completely pretty leads went by way of (expectedly) sudden revelations about their tragic household histories. They then confronted the age-old query in each time-slip story ever: whether or not they would meddle to get a happier decision, understanding that it might indelibly change lots of people’s lives. My Good Stranger felt like a consolation meals to me: a wonderfully good story that was just a bit bit unpredictable, a typical premise about righting the previous wrongs, and unsurprising messages. It was good and acquainted, and that’s about it.
I spotted then that possibly after greater than a decade, Okay-dramaland has misplaced its attraction for me. It was a bittersweet realization to have proper when Okay-drama reached its peak recognition in the previous couple of years and I noticed waves of latest followers flocking in to rejoice of their latest discoveries.
Nothing caught my consideration for months, and I discovered myself filling my free time with extra Okay-pop selection content material as an alternative… till September introduced me my favourite selection present PD again together with his contemporary survival present The Satan’s Plan. I jumped in with none preparation, which is uncharacteristic of me today. I didn’t even peek into the listing of solid, or attempt to discover out concerning the “survival” that went on there. For sure, the present stole my coronary heart and ran with it. It was probably the most thrilling journey of self-discovery I’ve watched this 12 months, full with sprinkles of good wit and techniques. By the point they introduced the winner, I used to be hungry for extra emotional curler coaster feels that solely one of the best fiction might give me.
Within the luckiest timing ever, Twinkling Watermelon got here crashing with its pop coloration, 4 impulsive teenage leads, and the very acquainted time-slip plot. I used to be prepared for the insightful exploration, given the author’s considerate previous tasks and the premise of discovering out about one’s mother and father’ youthful tales. What I didn’t count on was the blast of emotion it led me by way of as our leads fashioned a faculty band and found their love for music, made sudden pals, fell in love, and grew up collectively within the midst of laughter and tears and tough selections.
This youth drama jogged my memory of what Okay-drama does finest: hitting me proper within the feels and making me dwell within the second, as an alternative of worrying concerning the subsequent misstep it would make. I used to be by no means happier than to have my expectation of an unsatisfactory ending dispelled so neatly by a author who has the gumption to stay to her authentic message. In a drama that revolved round correcting previous errors, it was a strong second to indicate that one doesn’t have to “undo” their incapacity to get an opportunity at a contented ending.
Like a reignited past love, Twinkling Watermelon restarted my Okay-drama journey because the 12 months rolled to an finish. I didn’t essentially seek for probably the most considerate story on the market anymore. I believed these deep messages would ultimately observe me as I hunted for the following wild premise that made me dive in purely out of curiosity — be it a fantastical high-stakes romance like My Demon, or the frilly and tastefully completed suicide prevention marketing campaign that masqueraded because the equally high-stakes thriller Dying’s Sport.
Folks say past love is a supply of foolish errors. That’s why I refuse to fret over the endings of the currently-airing dramas I’m watching. Even when these dramas ended up in a crash, it’s solely going to gasoline this previous flame to burn even brighter in anticipation for subsequent 12 months’s journey.
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