A Decade of Asian Dramas

This year marks my tenth year of being an Asian drama fan. It's been a decade since Meteor Garden graced my television screen and spurred a passion in me to obsess over fictional worlds and characters unique to Asian dramas. Over the years the pile of fave dramas, fave actors and favorite genres have accumulated in my drawer of good stuff that I almost didn't notice that I've come back full circle to my predicament ten years ago. That is to wave the second male lead flag knowing he will never get the girl at the end. Yes, the second male lead syndrome is strong with me.

A crackless 2013 in Dramaland

I feel like Kdramaland has betrayed me big time this year because when I was asked what's my top 3 korean dramas of 2013, I had to stop and think hard on my answer. After a full minute I am still not quite sure with my answer, I even asked if it's okay to include a Japanese drama? pfft!, I knew right then and there that 2013 is not a happy ride for me in Kdramaland.

It came to a point where I can't even call a certain drama a crack no matter how much I enjoyed watching it. I am always searching for that one tiny ingredient to make it click but I couldn't find that in any of the drama I watched this year. I also have a serious case of second lead syndrome. That's the problem when one writes a swoon-worthy second lead that overshadowed the main lead. It's just natural to root for the guy who will never have the girl, fist pump and all! Maybe that explains why I didn't write even a single drama review this year... or maybe I'm just lazy.

TEAM CHILBONGIE!

It is said that you're not a true Answer Me 1994 fan if you don't choose which team you are part of, no in-between, no protecting your shipper heart. It is full on dance of joy or a weeping mess at the end of this drama. So let me say it out loud that I am TEAM CHILBONGIE! For better or for worse.

Even before I started watching Answer Me 1994 I am always Team Chilbongie or to be precise, Team Yoo Yeon Seok. I like Yoo Yeon Seok, I like him a lot. He played undesirable characters before (Architecture 101, A Werewolf Boy, Gu Family Book) but I never really had the heart to truly hate him even if he tried his hardest. How can I hate that pretty face, right? (and yes, I am shallow. HAHA) What I did is the opposite, I became his fan and I waited for drama production companies to offer him a leading role because that face and talent is male lead material. Anyone who said otherwise will be dead meat. Lol

When news broke out that he got a part in Answer Me 1994, I got uber excited. This is it! Finally! Yoo Yeon Seok as the leading man... or is he?

Answer Me Strikes Back

When I wrote the post Drama Expectation 2: Answer Me Future Top Team Heirs I used the poster of Answer Me 1994 as the featured image. I put it out there as a sign of good faith that the drama will be awesome and that it would satisfy my expectation if not exceed it. Among those four dramas I talked about I would give everything for AM1994 to be a success, ratings-wise and story-wise, because I love its predecessor with all the good stuff it has given me last year and I'd like to witness that kind of craziness once again.

Well well well... I'm happy to report that Answer Me 1994 did it! It has exceeded my expectation! Story-wise it's as good as the Answer Me drama we had last year and ratings-wise, it's raking in double digits in real-time. Hooray! Congratulations Team!