"Someone who sees me for who I truly am" is a thought I had the other day watching a japanese drama. Perhaps that is the best kind of relationships and romances to watch, where two people can connect and make each other feel seen and appreciated. 

Grading system: 

Me: love fiction of all varieties, TV, movies, novels, fanfiction, roleplay (DnD) and videogames. Something about different worlds and lives really draws me in. You also learn something about other people, cultures and ways of life/thought.

I'm slightly scared of social media of any kind. Its scary that other people can target you with hatred and scary that things I write could be interpreted as attacking. I try really hard not to be mean, and most of the  time mean well. Differing opinions can really be a minefield online. 

Mostly I watch Korean and Thai dramas, with some Japanese and Chinese dramas in between. Tried one Philippine drama but  haven't really gotten into it. Also - I think my watchlist is pretty full already. I have a tendency to start watching a show, get really excited and then bail when the obligatory problems arrive.... So I have a soft spot for fluff dramas as they tend to be able to keep me until the end. So when you look at my watchlist beware: the dramas I've finished are in one of three categories. 1) Good but not angsty, 2) Angsty but too good to give up, or 3) didn't make me emotionally invested so I didn't give a hoot about the problems the characters faced. 

I have a huge softspot for romance dramas. True love or at least super duper monogamous love is almost a requirement. Love arranged marriages, forced living together arrangements, unexpected pregnancy, in general anything that kind of forces to people together without them really having  a say in in and them having to deal with it. I also like BL, which I think tie into my like of unconventional romances or "forbidden romances". 

Good things about Asian television: 

Outlandish plotlines - the whole point of TV is for me to get away from real life so I like that realism isn't a huge restraint on the writing. It's also a great tool for innovation, a limitless blank canvas for the writers imagination. 

Sweet romances - the way skinship and saying "I like you" have a stronger meaning and therefore a single look can say so much. Though the prudish aspect can be kinda annoying or unreal it does add a layer of suspense and tension that really pays of once the characters act on their feelings. 

Bad things about Asian television:

Love triangles - I'm in it for TRUE love and that's kind of hard to believe when the main character has feelings for two people. And I also get a cheating vibe - no thanks. The worst kind of triangle is when there is a strictly monogamous love connection between the leads but the second leads keeps butting in and the leads don't really set boundaries. You should protect the one you love from being hurt because you allow someone else who's in love with you to remain too close. 

SLS -  I never get SLS. Sorry, but I just hate the whole "second-lead" thing. 99% of the time the SL is disrespectful, entitled, and meddles in things that are none of their business. Yes I get it - you're in looove. But that does not entitle you to making decisions for the person you are in love with, or create obstacles in their relationship with other people.  I feel like way to often its the "nice guy" cliche. The SL is way nicer and more suitable for the MC, and often has a previously established relationship (even if only friendly) with the MC. However none of that matters when it comes to feelings, and to insert yourself into the MC and ML's relationship just because of your one sided love... Not cool. Just confess or butt out, you cannot decide for the MC that you are the one unilaterally. So no, I don't get SL because they are so often assholes pretending to be "good guys". 

Misunderstandings - especially when purposefully withholding information creates huge misunderstandings. You know, when the character is so mad at their romantic partner and instead of being rational and clearing things up they get petty. I just feel its an overused and extremely stupid plotline. 

Stupidity - well who'd like stupid characters or plotlines? I feel writers waaaay to often rely on this to create drama, especially in lakorns. It's pretty hard to root for characters who refuse to change their initial impression of someone, or who just senselessly believes malicious rumours, or is super prejudiced. Or what about when a character is in mortal danger and still doesn't listen to instructions from their protector? Ugh!

Haha in general I dislike more romantic problem creating plot devices: love triangle drama, miscommunication, amnesia, break ups for the other partners own good... etc. There are soooo many other ways of creating dramatic friction, why do they always choose such lame ways to do it :.

Rare but appreciated aspects of Asian drama: 

Humour - when done right it is awesome! I love the more subtle humour and misunderstanding humour :) 

Moderate love rivals - if there is a love rivalry over the male lead I really like it when the second female is nice and knows when to stop. Maybe it is the feminist in me but girlpower over catfights always. Though this us not the case most of the time, the few dramas that has this is definitely elevated from my pong of view. 

Here is a table of my current feelings towards specific countries content - very very generalised so don't take to seriously. 

My first drama:  "The girl in tassel earring".  And I have honestly no idea why I started watching it - why did I suddenly start watching a Chinese TV show? And why that one? It isn't particularly famous or cohesive.... But something about it drew me in and I realised that Asian dramas might be an unexplored treasure. Haven't finished it yet since it didn't have all episodes with subs at the time. Maybe I'll pick it up soon.