I HATE IT WHEN:
1. The ending is unclear or disappointing:
For me, the ending is what makes the hours you spent watching a drama worthy. If you are satisfied with the ending, you can move on easily. If you're not, it would take long time to get over that heartbreak and rage you felt. That's why I hate it when an ending leaves unanswered questions or disappoints my hopes. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who loves happy endings.
2. The storyline is amazing, but the acting isn't:
I can endure a boring drama with a good cast. But if the actors fail to give an enjoyable performance, then even the best storyline can't cover that. I admit that it's rare for me to dislike a drama because of the cast. First, I find the majority of Korean actors and actresses very talented. Second, if I'm about to pick a drama to watch, I consider the cast along with the storyline.
3. The male lead is a jerk beyond limits:
The ML in the majority of dramas is a badass playboy, handsome as hell, colder than ice with a painful past. At the beginning, he would treat the FL like crap, then slowly fall in love with her and show his soft side. However, there are limits to how bad the ML can be. No sane girl would like a guy who cheats on her, always keeps his distance from her, lies to her, or forces her by causing actual physical pain. Because in reality, girls prefer the gentle Prince Charming who's not afraid to show his love.
OR HIM:
4. Romance is forced into a plot:
This type of problem happens when the scriptwriter of a drama talks about revenge/ mystery/ investigation and suddenly turns it into a romantic fairytale. Then overnight he forgets about the main leads' love story (by making the ML leave the FL under the pretext of trying to protect her or something) and gives back the spotlight to the unsolved mystery or unfinished revenge. Of course, not all plots make this mistake. Usually, romance fits perfectly and characterize the drama in a way that watchers wouldn't feel like it popped out of nowhere or it was even unnecessary and neglected.
5. The Second Female Lead is evil as hell:
It's rare to find a nice SFL. She's usually nasty and malicious. That's why I hate that character. She would hurt the FL, try to separate the main leads and what I hate most about her is when she sticks by the ML and never lets go, blaming the FL for his love for her.
And I hate it more if the ML would actually pity her, comfort her and let her be (if he chooses to be on the SFL's side instead of being on the FL's side, my blood boils) and the worst: use her to make the FL jealous or believe that he no longer loves her. :(
BUT I LOVE IT WHEN:
1. The main leads are madly in love:
I've seen many couples in dramas and I liked most of them. However, there are some couples with a moon level chemistry that are carved in my memory. You know you have legendary lovers when your heart beats faster whenever they are in danger, aches whenever they are hurt or get separated and melts whenever they hug or kiss. Even after you finish the drama, you will rewatch their scenes waiting for them to confirm the dating rumours or get married like the Song Song couple from Descendants of the Sun.
My favourite couple of all is Siege in Fog's main leads: Qin Sang (Sun Yi) and Lan Po/Yi Liankai (Han Elvis). And I'm sure those who have seen Siege in Fog would agree.
2. There is Bromance/Sismance/Family Bonding:
Dramas taught me that friends and family are a precious treasure filled with love and generosity, a safe keeper that makes sure we're always safe and sound and, finally, the sun that highlights our lives. Whether it's bromance, sismance, or family bonding, it adds a special flavour to any drama of any genre and may even appropriate all the attention instead of romance. It's more lovely to watch friends having fun than lovers having a fight.
3. All events are connected:
My favourite dramas are the ones filled with secrets and mystery where everything gets explained in the last episode. This genre of dramas is truly mind-blowing. Every event in them is connected to another, whether it was the result of something that happened or the cause of something that's about to happen. Only they can keep me on the edge of my seat trying to guess the end, but fail to do so. For example: Hotel King, Bad Guys, Mistress. If you haven't seen them yet, I recommend you do.
4. The male/female lead has a hidden identity:
It was Iljimae and Healer that made me love hidden identity dramas. I explained why in my previous article KKKdrama's Top 5 Revenge/Mystery Kdramas. To sum up, I like this genre because whoever has a hidden identity is mysterious, smart, wise, never makes a move without a plan and knows how to hide himself and his true colours by playing dumb to fool everyone else.
5. The female lead is a smart skilful badass, yet caring and kind:
I don't like naive female leads who get hurt all the time and can't rely on themselves. They are a burden to the people around them. An interesting FL should be tough, smart, skilful, tenacious, unbreakable, never gives up, faithful, risks her life for her beloved ones, wise, self-confident, independent, makes decisions using her brain not following her heart, caring, kind, bold and sassy.