redfox:

Good luck with your story!!

And I felt exactly the same handing in my dissertation. It feels scary. And so many doubts. I was not ready for it to be a thing. Although it had to be.

Most stressful school in korean dramas? Actually my own was the worst stress-wise. I went to school in Korea all the way up to university, and had dream that I was studying for university exam for about good 10 years even after I started to work.

redfox -

Good luck with the whole blog situation. I'm sorry to hear that situation is happening. I'm hoping you'll be able to recover everything.

Just about every school story in kdrama I wouldn't dream about sending my kids to. Not only about the academic load, but also the unfriendly friendship environment they have to deal with in the story. My kids are homeschooled, but I also have a very solid community in which they belong to make friends and be a part in...so I'm really grateful of that...

I'm sorry to hear about your story and the school children situation in your country...

I understand what you mean about characters in your story, though. I used to write too (haven't spent enough time thinking to have any characters telling me about their stories lately, though...). I agree, characters most often have minds of their own...

Hi superfox,

Stressful schools, or stressful families and society, or ultimately both? I just remember in Monstar, School 2013, Heirs, and Teacher Biscuit Star Candy there were either suicide attempts or an actual suicide by students. (Remember the brother behind the locked door - I can remember which one that was in, School 2013 I think?) The pressure is tremendous and the lack of acceptable and creative options is daunting. Sigh.

Gwi and regular guy moments - he was pretty good in King of Savvy and of course, White Christmas.

have a great weekend!

If nothing else, it is one reason why Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world.

Manin -

Oh wow, you're done! Yay!! *clapping*

Yeah, I don't know how people do the tiny suitcase thing either. Especially if you wear big shoes. If you put those in the suitcase they take up the whole thing!

What you did in school was nothing. Now it's time for the big decisions: "What drama do I want to watch first?" ..... *laughing*

I'm kidding, of course. :) ....... Both of the ones you mentioned are great.

load off your shoulders, right? Start "I remember you" cause bromance and well-handled mystery.

YAAAYYY!!! I'm so very happy for you, Manin!

Way to go, Manin! Dissertation done, that's a huge accomplishment, congratulations.
Either drama will be a good respite from your (now done with) studies. What's next?

Korean Drama Awards(KDA) which is the biggest drama awards ceremony (including big 3 And cable stations) occurs on 9th of October.

Nominees are:
Grand Prize (Daesang): Kim SooHyun (The Producers), Joo Won (YongPal), Ji Sung(KMHM), Cha SeongWon (HwaJung), Yoo DongGeun (What happens to my family).
Top Excellence Award, Actor: Yi JongSuk(Pinocchio), Im SiWan (Misaeng), Park HaeJin (Bad guys), Park YooChun(Girl who sees smell), Yoo JunSang (Heard it through the grapevine)
Top Excellence Award, Actress: Kim TaeHee (YongPal), Hwang JungEum (KMHM), Jang NaRa(I remember you), Kim HeeSun (Angry mom), Park SinHye (Pinocchio)

Excellence Award, Actor: Kim DaeMyung (Misaeng), Lee Joon (Heard it through grapevine), Seo GangJun (Hwajung), Jo JungSuk (Oh my ghost), Seo InGook (I remember you)
Excellence Award, Actress: Kim SaRang (My love EunDong), IU (Producer), UEE (High society), Ju HyungJin (Let's eat 2), Choi SooYoung (My spring days)

Best New Actor: Nam TaeHyun (Midnight diner), Park ChanYeol (Webdrama 'Exo lives next door'), Yook SungJae(Who are you -school 2015), Nam JooHyuk(Who are you-school), Seo YoungJu (Snow roads)
Best New Actress: Im JiYeon (High society), Choi SooBin(House of Bluebird), Jo SooHyang (Who are you-school), Yi SungKyung (Queen's Flower), Kim SulHyun(Orange Marmalade)

Best Drama: Producer, YongPal, MiSaeng, KMHM, Heard it through grapevine.
Best Screenplay/writing: Jung YoonJung(Misaeng), Kim WoonKyung(Yoona's street), Kwon GiYoung(I remember you), Jo HyunKyung(Maids), Jang HukRin (YongPal)
Best Production Director: An PanSuk (Heard it through grapevine), Jo HyunTak (Maids), Kim JinMan (KMHM), Po MinSu/Seo SooMin (Producer), Kim WonSuk (Misaeng)

Just a min, where is Healer? Punch? My beautiful banker?? and where is our ghostess Park BoYoung? (Hope she gets some special awards)
Then again, I am glad 'I remember you' is recognized.

Here is the question. Who do you think will get the Grand prize? People guess it will be Kim SooHyun or Joo Won. I vote for Ji Sung.

Ok... these are my answers ...
1c) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because I think it will be a good story. It hardly matters to me who is acting in it, although I may have reservations if some actors/actresses I already know I do not like are in it. But I will give it a chance for the story at least.

2b) I usually drop a series towards the middle even after the first few episodes disappointed me because I would like a show to have more time to redeem itself. The exception would be shows that
got me angry or bored from very early on.

3) I'm only remembering the recent ones... I dropped High Society - I could not understand the characters well enough to care, Warm and Cozy - too much blow hot/cold so that I did not care
anymore, TTILY - too much PPL, characters too annoying and it was just wasting time, Blood - need I
say anything?, Orange Marmalade - it wasn't half bad but I ran out of time, Masked Prosecutor - ran
out of time and the bad guys and revenge arc were somehow not compelling.

4a) Although a show is disappointing, I may not/don't drop it because 1 or 2 things kept me interested enough or I was fascinated by the trainwreck or I really wanted to hope in it til the end.

5a) I'm glad I did not give up the following shows because: Ex-Girlfriend's Club turned out better than I feared. It was funny and ultimately heartwarming and worth the watch.
As for Mask, I watched for the OTP ... well it was a sweet romance and the chemistry was great, although the writing shift was unfortunate.

6b) I do not have any background in dramas/movies/theatre.

How about you?

1)e: my first impression on first couple of episodes
2)a: something piss me off. But it is rare that I drop a drama. I might stop, but go back and finish it.
3) Super daddy Yeol (but I watched the last ep), Blood (but I am going to go back)
4) a: I just want to finish it because you never know, you might like one of two scenes.
5) a: I loved it - marriage not dating, ex-girl friends' club.
6b) No background. Worked with computer all my life. But my hubby always teases me that I should have worked in the drama area.

Answers:

(1)
Sometimes (a), often (b), never (c). Mostly because of recommendations.

(2)
Mostly (a). When I don't "get" a show after 4 episodes, I drop it. If the acting or other aspects are too bad, I'll drop it earlier.
Sometimes I give shows a chance and have to drop them later (halfway through) when it turns out they are, indeed, not worth watching. This is usually when the plot writing is bad, something you cannot immediately tell after the first few episodes.

(3) [Only 2015 shows]
Birth of a Beauty (dragging, bad writing, bad acting)
Blood (dropped during the first episode)
Super Daddy Yeol (genre, format, poor acting)
Ex-GF Club (annoyed by the show)
Masked Prosecutor (after 1st episode, didn't like the genre)
Mrs Cop (after 2 episodes; WTF?)
KMHM (huge, incoherent mess)
Falling For Innocence (don't remember anything anymore)
Mask (bad writing, unbearable directing)
Warm and Cozy (obvious)
Producer (incoherent at first, boring later)
Scholar Who ... (after 3 episodes; no substance, boring)
The Time We ... (after 3 episodes of absolutely nothing)
Yong-pal (after 7 episodes; pretentious directing, mediocre acting, really poor writing, incoherent show)

(many others)

(4)
I didn't drop "Rosy Lovers" because I have a crush on Lee Mi-sook.

(5)
Gave KMHM a second chance after encouragement from people here on Dramabeans. Disliked the additional episodes even more, dropped it for good.

(6)
Very little. Little bit of amateur acting in school and college, did some editing on my father's plays. My father, my sister and several other family members studied drama and worked in different fields (writing, stage/film directing, stage acting, costume design, ...)

1) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because …
d) combination of a and c

2) I usually drop a series …
d) when I get too busy or the serioes is too cheesy

4) Although a show is disappointing …
a) I may not/don’t drop it because I will watch the ending and if it is agreeable I will watch. In other words, I cheat

5) Of the shows that I considered dropping but did not or that I later started watching again …
a) I’m glad I did not give up the following shows because Kill Me Heal Me first 7 minutes - horrible. whole series: love love love

6b) I do not have any background in dramas/movies/theatre

1) C. Usually actors/actresses attract me to a drama, but if the story or the previews don't really draw me in or intrigue me, I back out. I might love the people behind it but it's the story that primarily motivates me to watch a drama.

2) B. Most of the time I drop a series in the middle or even towards the end. It's usually during the halfway mark that series start to change for the good or the bad.

3) Orange Marmalade. Producer (I had so much faith in you!). Yong-pal. Mi-rae's choice. High Society.

4) A. I have grown fond of the characters and want to see how they develop. Or I have high hopes that it can improve.

5) A. Cantabile Tomorrow. I was thinking of dropping this because my siblings wasn't interested and I really wanted us to bond over it (we all love Nodame, anime and movies). It had flaws but I saw that episode by episode it was improving. I loved the changes they made. I love the characters. I just wished they reshoot the ending.

6) B) I do not have any background in dramas/movies/theatre but I always wanted to be part of a production because I enjoy watching dramas and movies.

1d) I choose to began watching a show mostly because of the writer and it seems like it will have a good story
2a) I usually drop the show in the beginning because the first 2/3 episodes were not as good as I hoprp or because it didn't delivered what it promised in the preview
3) orange marmalade: because I can't watch sageuk
heirs: i don't know what exactly that drama tried to tell me
she's so lovable: this drama bored me to death
hidden identity: i can't really pinpoint what makes this drama disappointing for me, it's just couldn't make me care about all the characters
warm and cozy: definitely not warm and cozy at all
4a) Although a show is disappointing, I may not drop it because I still hold my hope that maybe that drama would do better in the later episodes
5a) I'm glad I picked up City Hunter after dropped it twice (Heirs definitely ruin Lee Minho's image for me) because this drama is just sooo good
6b) I don't have any background in dramas/movie/theatre

Hi Growingbeautifully :)

1- combination of the story, actors and writer but honestly if the script is bad there is nothing the others can do.

2- I try to drop by the 4th ep if it's still boring, of course some I know earlier it's just not my cup of tea, like Modern Farmer, and there are guys who can drag me through some silly dramas, even though they are not even decent actors like LMH, and I suspect Lee Soo Huyk is going the same way, shallow, I know. :)

3- I've dropped too many shows to list all but there are some I am proud of doing it eheheh. I love Joo Won but not even him could make me keep Good Doctor and Level 7. I like Lee Jong Suk but I dropped Doctor Crazy in the second ep. On the other hand maybe I should add the shows I mostly regret NOT dropping, they were Monstar, Plus Nine Boys, Prosecutor Princess and Nice Guy. I hated them and should have known better. :)

5- I can NOT believe I dropped White Christmas in the first episode and today it is one of my favorites kdramas. Short, well written and objective, if only they were all like that.

6- I have background in a different artistic area. :)

1) b. Writers/directors. I follow writers more than directors because they have more power and they're a greater assurance of quality (let's put it this way--the greats can focus on being great, they don't have to worry about turning other people's stupid ideas into art). Obviously there are exceptions, like Ahn Pan-seok, who seems to have a lot more power than your average PD, but even visionaries like Kwak Jung-hwan (Conspiracy in the Court, Chuno), Kim Yong-soo (White Christmas), Kim Jin-min (Shin Don, La Dolce Vita), or Kim Heung-dong (Joseon X-Files) have to make the best of what they get. Kwak Jung-hwan was almost fired from KBS for doing Conspiracy in the Court, and the industry is far happier wasting their talent on dribble than taking a risk and letting them experiment or realize artistic ambitions.

There are a few actors I'll try to watch no matter what, but I've learned the hard way that this isn't a good idea (let's put it this way--it's hard being a Moon Geun-young fan).

2. a. I would have put c when I first discovered Kdrama, and b a year or so ago, but I've lost my patience over time. There are exceptions, but if something turns me off in the first four episodes, chances are slim to none that it'll get better, considering the live shoot system.

3. Hmmm, shows that I've dropped...there are a lot, and I doubt whether I can remember them all. I think the shows I finished that I should have dropped have stuck with me more--I can rattle some off pretty easily...Goong (which I watched early days, and finished out of perversity--the last endless stretch of that drama was so painful. So painful); Playful Kiss (again, among the first couple I watched--not sure which was worse, the rampant sexism, the heroine's rampant stupidity, or the acting, which was so exaggerated on one end and so non-existent on the other that I shouted at the screen no matter who was on it); Heirs (most un-fun hate watch I've ever done. Love is the moooooment...enough said); and The Return of Iljimae (I tried way too hard to like it at first, then realized it wasn't meant to be and hate watched the rest of it...or would have if I weren't so checked out by the end I forgot which characters had died).

4. b. Again, earlier in my addiction I would have answered a, but I've learned the hard way that you rarely get rewarded for perseverance. Well, I guess I did sit through Secret Door for the sake of the cast and what the story should have been, but that drama didn't go to crap completely until the halfway point.

5. c. Not applicable

6. B. No background in drama.

Hello! This is an interesting questionnaire.

1) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because …
a) of the actor(s) - An advice: Don't do this! (Yes, I'm talking about Yong Pal and Producers - this one because of Gong Hyo Jin, the other because of Joo Won)
c) preview and/or the story is the kind I like

2) I usually drop a series …
a) in the beginning like after 1-4 episodes because too many dialogues (like people who talk too fast), since I can't see the actors expressions while reading a lot of subtitles (better read a book), incoherent story, too much romance

3) Producers, Orange Marmalade, Mask, Liar Game, Seonam, HITTG, TWTWB, Yong Pal, Punch, Valid Love, Angry Mom and Inspiring Generation.
I only have comments in some of them. In general, I didn't find these interesting. The ones I watched more episodes were Valid Love (13 episodes) and TWTWB (9 episodes). Both are really slow. Valid Love is great in being realistic, actors are great and even the OST is perfect, but I realized it didn't have enough story to fill 20 episodes. TWTWB also has great acting and the most beautiful leads ever, I guess, but it became boring to me. There's also Inspiring Generation
(8/9 episodes). I was not interested in the story, also find it weird that Gaya was the only relevant girl at the point of the drama.
Seonam = only watched 2 episodes. Wish the girls looked more realistic, less like cartoon characters (let's not forget I only watched two episodes).
Punch = I've been watching too many serious things and that's probably why I dropped this. I plan to return to this one someday.

4) Although a show is disappointing …
b) Not applicable … I will definitely drop it. I dropped 12 dramas this year!

5) Of the shows that I considered dropping but did not or that I later started watching again …
b) Not applicable … I was not glad!!!
Reply 1994. It took me ive months to finish it. I dropped it and then I returned...wish the drama was kept in my dropped drama list. There are too many episodes and they are too long.

6b) I do not have any background in dramas/movies/theatre

Interesting questions/poll :D

1) It depends on how much time I have to catch up the new or still airing series or the old ones. I always watch any drama for the actors first, but mostly, I watch and finish any drama based on recommendation from people who have the same taste in kdrama like me, for example: Angry Mom. I didn't even know who the actors are, but I ended up watching it because someone kept recommending it to me haha.

2) b. High Society (for obvious reason lol), Joseon Gunman (I lost interest suddenly, didn't know why), The Scholar (I started to watch the epi 12, and felt like I didn't miss anything. and I found myself enjoy reading the recap more than watching it), and a weekend drama

4) a..because there is something that still keeps making me curious! or I really hope the show to get better, so I stay until it finishes.. The best example for this case are Sensory Couple and Mask. (I almost dropped OMG at epi 14, but I'm really glad I could finish it!)

5) It depends on my mood (lmao) and how much free time I have to pick up that drama among all those new (and more interesting) ones

6) b (but I wish to have any background in dramas! I even have a dream to go to SK, only to see the BTS of any kdrama XD)

1) I have started dramas for all these reasons: I like the actor(s), the writer is one whose work I have previously admired, I am a big fan of the genre (dark procedurals from OCN and political dramas are always checked out but Cheo Young - where are you????), and sometimes I just find a title intriguing.

2) There's no particular place I will drop a drama. Usually I will after the second or third episode but Dr. Stranger I dropped about 20 minutes into the first episode and That Winter the Wind Blows I dropped about 2/3 into the last episode.

3) Hwajung - watched for Cha Seung-won and when he left I wasn't interested enough to continue. Warm and Cosy - very dull and boring at the time but this one I may just check out again. Masked Prosecutor - the scene on the staircase with Kim Sun-ah cowering while being menaced by a man on a motorcycle did me in - this is your idea of a hard nosed cop, k-drama?

4) Even though a show has suddenly started going not only sideways but in reverse, I will keep watching if I am invested in the characters. God's Gift - 14 Days and Mask are examples of this.

5) I dropped Yang Dong-gun's Hero because I found him very annoying and mannered as a actor but then I started watching it again and I kind of fell in love with him so go figure!

6) I have no background in film production, acting or screen writing but my husband is a screenwriter for film and television, written graphic novels etc and I read and critique all his stuff. But does he listen to me??? Sometimes.

1) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because …
e) my own reasons like: Javabeans pre-fangirls all over it.

2) I usually drop a series …
a) in the beginning like after 1-4 episodes because the actors / writing sucks
b) towards the middle even after the first few episodes disappointed me because the writing starts to suck

3) If you answered 2a) and 2b) please name a few of the shows you dropped. Liar Game, Angry Mom, Mask...

4) Although a show is disappointing …
a) I may not/don’t drop it because it's a gorgeous train wreck and I can't take my eyes off of it: Hyde, Jekyll & Me

5) Of the shows that I considered dropping but did not or that I later started watching again …
a) I’m glad I did not give up the following shows because sometimes a production rights itself again.

6a) I have a background in dramas/movies/theatre (as in study(ied) it, act(ed), write/wrote, involved in production behind the scenes/backstage…) check

Hi Growingbeautifully! Interesting questionnaire, here is mine

1). D. Combination of actors & preview + story. I used to not pay attention to director and writer but now i plan to remember them.

2). A. If i don't like it from the beginning i will drop it altogether. Or else i'll try my best to endure the whole ride. Basically being masochist, i know ._.

3). Show that i dropped:
Flower Boy Ramyun Shop - somehow Jung Il Woo's character really annoys me and i suffer from severe second-lead syndrome. The story also don't interest me.
Fashion King - bleh.
TTILY - strong chemistry, boring show
Scholar - The writer frustrates me. Too bad, because i love my Changmin here.
Wonderful Mama - draggy and typical weekend drama, although i really consider start watching again bcs of Park Bo Geum.
Reply 1994 - i found this uninteresting, maybe bcs still can't move on from Reply 97
Nice Guy - so angsty and so unrealistic
Secret Garden - Hyunbin'character also annoys me.

4). Although a show is disappointing I don’t drop it because I like the early episode and want to find out if they can salvage it in the end.

5). Usually B. Although at the end it gives decent ending, the overall drama leaves a bitter taste in my memory which makes me unsatisfied and unhappy. The obvious example: Producer, Sensory Couple

6). B.

1. I tend to follow writers, although I have watched certain shows primarily to see more of particular actors. I'll also check out shows that reviewers I trust rave about.

2. I've dropped shows at different points, but it usually happens whenever I realize that I'm no longer invested in the plot or characters, or when it becomes obvious that the writer has no clear sense of where things are going.

3. I dropped Sword and Flower at episode 8 when it became clear that the writers were totally uninterested in logic or coherent character development. I dropped Innocent Man after episode 1 because I couldn't imagine wanting to spend 20 hours with any of the characters. I dropped Joseon Gunman around episode 15 because the portrayal of the female characters was driving me nuts.

4. I'll sometimes stick with a show if it comes highly recommended, although I do that less frequently now than I used to.

5. There are shows that I was concerned about initially that developed into really lovely viewing experiences (Mixed-Up Investigation Agency comes to mind), but there are other shows that I stuck with to the bitter end that I wish I'd dropped sooner (City Hunter, Damo, Joseon X-Files).

6. I'm a stage director and theatre professor, so while I don't work in the TV/film industry, I do have a lot of experience working with scripts and actors.

1. A mixture of all. If the drama is filled with actors/actresses I don't really know but I enjoy the premise of the show or it's teaser then I'd probably give it a shot. I would definitely watch a drama that has the following actresses in it (Yoon Eun Hye, Gong Hyo Jin, Ha Ji Won, Kim Sun Ah, Moon Geun Young, Park Bo Young) or if it's a Hong Sisters drama or a drama by Lee Yoo Jung/Lee Jung Ah (Coffee Prince, Heart to Heart).

2. A) No matter how bad the drama, I will always give it 4 episodes since some dramas are slow starters. 4 episodes should be enough for a drama to find it's groove. If it's still a stinker after 4 episodes then it's adios amigos.

3. Mr. Baek, My Secret Hotel.. I can't remember the rest which is the whole point in dropping them.. to forget. lol

4. A) Because it has one of the 6 actresses mentioned above. It's a badge of honor that I actually finished watching Mirae's Choice. lol

5. A) Because some of my favorite dramas did not have a great first few episodes.

6. B

1) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because …
c) preview and/or the story is the kind I like+positive reviews

2) I usually drop a series …
a) in the beginning like after 1-4 episodes if it doesn't hold my attention. only rarely do i drop it midway or at the end mostly coz the plot gets crazy/boring/irksome

3) dropped in beginning: Scholar Who Walks the Night, Time we were not in love, most dramas really; dropped in middle: Healer, My Secret Hotel; dropped near end: Pinocchio, Producer

4) Although a show is disappointing …
a) I may not drop it because I really want to know how it ends

5) Of the shows that I considered dropping but did not or that I later started watching again …
c) Not applicable … I do not ever go back to something I dropped.

6 - a) I have a background in dramas/movies/theatre (as in study(ied) it, act(ed), write/wrote, involved in production behind the scenes/backstage…)

1) I choose to begin watching a show mostly because (a) of the actors. They usually are ads in and of themselves, and because I don't follow kdrama news all that closely, I first get excited by who's starring in something, and only after do I look at what the story is about.

But my choice also depends on the drama or book I just finished. If I just watched finished a rom-com, I usually prefer to watch something different. So I guess my answer really is (d), my reasons are usually a combination of who the actors are and what I watched or read immediately prior to the show in question.

2) I usually drop a series (a) in the beginning like after 1-4 episodes when I have trouble with the set-up, the pacing, the acting, etc.,... but really because I have no patience for things I don't like whatsoever. There are too many other/better things I could be spending my time on!

3) Shows I've dropped (and forgive me if the full title of the drama is somewhat incorrect):
- Boys over Flowers
- To the Beautiful You
- Angry Mom
- My Lovely Princess
- Return of Ijimae
- The Princess's Lover (??)
- Answer Me 1994...tried twice, because I loved Answer Me 1997! But I found the first few episodes really tedious.
- Thornbirds
- Empress Ki
- What Happened in Bali
- Jang Ok Jang...which I really liked in the beginning and then dropped in the middle because, well, life happened and I lost steam, and I know how it ends already and can imagine how the latter part of the drama will go. I might try to pick it back up.
- Lovers in Paris
- Prosecutor Princess
- Let's Eat 1
- Heard it Through the Grapevine...again, I got busy and lost steam. Will probably pick this up again.
- A Wife's Credentials
- Vampire Prosecutor
...and countless others

4) Although a show is disappointing (a) I may not/don’t drop it because of other people's recommendations. I'm aware that I'm an impatient person, so I know what I may not like in the beginning doesn't necessarily mean a show isn't good later on.

5) Of the shows that I considered dropping but did not or that I later started watching again (a) I’m glad I did not give up the following shows...

- Gaksital...because it showed me a part of Korean history I hadn't known about before, and many performances were quite moving.

6b) I do not have any background in dramas/movies or theatre, but I was an English major, and stories are what I love to read, watch and analyze!