Tuesday, April 14, 2020

DAY 31: ECQ


There is no doubt about it.   Each and every episode of the KDrama is stuffed to the max.  To put this in native parlance, hitik na hitik sa bunga.  

To appreciate the Koreanovela, you do not fast forward the show you are watching.  Why?  Each and every scene is interlinked with the progression of the narrative threads.  This means that you cannot just go for those kilig moments by ignoring what each sequence provides as information.  Not only will you be lost in following the flow of the story: you will miss out the experience of enjoying a well-structured blueprint of a plot.

The Twitter survey I posted all emphasized one very important element of the KDrama that stands out: the stories are interesting, unpredictable and yet straight to the point.

All these indicate to the fact that:

(a) The story has been mapped out intelligently episode per episode, from pilot to finale. (Again, because the writers and producers are aware that they have to finish the story after so many episodes and not based on the barometer of audience subscription or ratings.)

(b) The writers know where to bring the characters so that they grow as human beings and not merely as two-dimensional devices to move a plot.

(c) The characters have substantial back stories (which also explains the preoccupation for flashbacks) that illustrate how and why characters behave in a certain fashion or direction.

(d) The characters created are not black or white: they are human beings with histories, strengths and weaknesses.

One thing that great differentiates KDramas from our local counterparts is that even villainy becomes novel.

There is no determinedly and irredeemably evil villain is out there kasi it is fun to be bad. 

There is always a clear cut motive --- and if ever there is ambiguity in the character, some kind of moral dilemma which affected relationships in the story, then the writers make sure that they are comprehensible and accessible to the easy understanding of the audience.

In the end, you understand the villains as to why they have become and what they did what they believed they had to do.

This leads to the first point of discussion:

(7) The plot is so well laid out that the twists and turns and surprises in the story are logical to the entirety of the material.

Bluntly put, the writers do not think per episode. They look at each installment as part of a much larger story, ending each unit with adequate suspense or curiosity to compel the viewer to move onto the next

In other words, there is nothing literally out of the blue happening here.  Every event, every plot development from start to finish has been well-integrated and organically linked with one another.

When a plot twist takes place, you look back and say, "Oh, wow ... I didn't see this coming. "

When a character shifts allegiances or suddenly reveals the dark side, the true self --- you know you are not being taken for a ride but what has been laid out to you is very consistent to what has been developed in earlier episodes.  You just did not see it coming but it was there all along.

There may be instances when there seems to be such evident evil or manipulation taking place (sometimes over the top), but you accept that as part and parcel of the clean and economical way of telling a story straight to the point and with no room for loopholes.

This also lends to the fact that the characters are dynamic because the problems are not predictable.  

They are not the stuff that has been made the core of telenovelas you have seen before.  KDramas venture into what some programmers deem as hindi pang-masa or something that the legendary and iconic Aleng Tacing will not grasp or care for.  This sad underestimation of the Filipino audiences is what may have brought us to this kind of ... uh, creative atrophy.

For instance, who cares about divided loyalty between North and South Korea?  Is the exaggeration and manipulation of broadcast news the stuff that will keep the masa hooked?  Or maybe a lifelong competition among restaurant owners?  Or the joys and disappointments of plastic surgery?  

One thing that is very distinct about KDramas is their ability to make relevant, timely and intelligent subjects become the core of a popular entertainment.

A serious subject matter they can embellish with familiar and consumable tropes, engaging characters and crafted plots to make them accessible to the audience. You are being fed a story that is intelligent without being pretentious because the issues are so well interwoven to the familiar movements of plots and characters.

But what makes these stories endearing: these are values and familiarity.

(8) Plots may deal with significant or even larger than life (controversial, historical) but the core is always the heart of the story and the audience.

The core of the stories is the heart.  But heart here is not necessarily just romance.  Yes, every story has its romantic angle but that is not the be all and end all of the story.  It is only part of something bigger.  That bigger context is the larger theme of the KDrama that deals what many have cited (who are better experts than me, as I said):

- It is about family,  There is always the element of family love, loyalty to elders, sibling devotion and commitment to the clan.  This serves as both asset and liability as families demand loyalty, require devotion and tends to be source of major tensions when territory is threatened or when someone within the fold is offended or cheated.  

(And if you throw in the family as the center of the store, you've got to Pinoys hooked, right?)

- It is about destiny.   Every character has a role to play in life inasmuch as every one of us is expected to find out way in the various pathways of the world to find where we belong. 

 In KDramas, this is of utmost importance.  Heroes go through a series of obstacles, heartbreaks and life-threatening tests in order to measure not only their physical strength but also their dignity, their character.  This is all because they have to fulfill a role in human existence which is their destiny.

But destiny here is interpreted not with the Cinderella or the Snow White Syndrome.  Fate plays a role but it is not a convenient escape hatch wherein the poor kinakawawang bidang babae find her happily ever after though the mayamang guwapong Prince Charming.  No, the Koreans do not believe that.  They believe in destiny fulfilled only if you work for it.  

Fatalism is not an alternative in the same manner that happily ever after happens when dignity is brought into the pursuit for happiness --- not predictable martyrdom.

- It is about calmness in the face of adversaries.  The idea of calmness and being centered can be best illustrated by the characterization of the male hero.

He is generally calm even stoic.  Whereas the heroine is a cute bundle of energy who is feisty and energetic, sometimes too brazen in speech, forward and a fighter, the male hero is her foil because he barely speaks his mind, would translate his emotions through looks --- and most importantly, illustrates his focus to reach his goal,.

But the hero is not a slab of stone devoid of emotions or completely incapable of vulnerabilities.  Of course not!  

This is what makes the Korean male hero special --- because he is capable of tears , he is a pressure cooker of emotions and when he shows it, he will hold back nothing to reveal that underneath that granite front beats the heart of an honest to goodness human being who also wanted to be loved and cared for.

- Revenge is a common motif in Koreanovelas as in most narratives of this genre.  In a way, there is a certain predictability about how the plot will go but trust the Koreans in adding twists and turns that can still jolt you out of your seat because (as someone placed it) they can turn cliches into something new.  As an audience you know that in the end of sixteen or twenty episodes the hero will get his comeuppance, his enemies will eat crow as they undergo the punishment that they deserve.

But it is not getting there that is important: we know what constitutes the satisfying outcome.  It is how the revenge is unfurled, the vents the lead to the final showdown that makes the narratives interesting.  Of course the hero will win ... but it is the ingenuity of the Korean writers which make the journey fresh all the time.

As one of the Twitter respondents said: Hindi lahat nadadaan sa kidnappan, attempted assassination ... tapos ending with a wedding celebration.  

But all these seem to point to one very important element.

(9) Stories are not built around studio love teams.

This is what basically differentiates Koreanovelas from the way we do our stuff out here.  

Productions in Korea are not pegged on the actors but the stories.  Moreover, actors are shuffled and reshuffled for there are no permanent combinations of  male and female stars sold as a single unit as a love team.

Thus each drama series offers an opportunity for something fresh.  Every actor has the chance to reinvent himself, to create a character --- and the to hone his craft as an actor and not as part of a tandem as commodity.  KDramas show the versatility of their performers because they are not limited by demands of being celebrities: they are first and foremost, chameleons who portray a variety of roles to capture the fancy, imagination and admiration of the audiences.

Those familiar with KPop know that these boy and girl bands just do not sprout of nowhere  They are trained, polished then branded before they are brought to the public for consumption and appreciation.

The same goes for KDramas.  Actors are trained to be actors.  They are branded as themselves and not half of a love team.

As a result of this, the romance element of the KDrama may be strong, even memorable.  Characters stick to your mind and imagination for a long time because they are drawn so well but actors who have nuances and originality.  More important, you remember the love of the characters and not the actors who portrayed them in an attempt to transcend the work of fiction into a real life scenario.

To be continued.

Why are the productions of such grandeur in scale?  Why do productions SPEND so much?  Why are all the actors aspirational?







9 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this writing Direk! What you said is all on point and exactly why i love watching kdrama, most especially their "villains" one of the KDrama with a good "villain" that had me crying till the end was in Pinocchio! I dont wanna spoil so please do watch :)

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    1. Hi. I just finished Pinocchio this week and I agree. This is a really good one!

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  2. Ang artista sa korea makikita mo talaga yung growth nila as an artist. Hindi sila umaasa sa loveteam. Pwdeng main lead cla sa isang project at supporting role naman cla sa ibang show.Ang gusto ko sa kdrama talaga is yung cinematography,stroyline at ost. Tapos tag 16-20 eps lang cya. Kahit pa double digits na yung rating di talaga nila iniextend yung show. Quality talaga.

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  3. I would recommend Doctor Strange and Scarlet Heart: Ryeo ❤️

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  4. Exactly direk! that is what I love the most when watching kdramas, the actors are always great (majority of course, new comers are forgivable but really cringe-worthy) But what I liked about their actors are they make sure to grow in their craft, you will notice the difference when they started vs their latest projects. Its very noticeable for those Idols turned actors (e.g Suzy Bae, IU, Taecyon etc.)
    When I loved a series or movies, I watch interviews of the actors and find it amazing as to how they prepared for the role (hyun bin studied 3mos to perfect the N. korean dialect for example). I'm rambling again. hahaha. parang nakahanap ako ng new friend na makakabalitaktakan kasi my sister immigrated in NZ na. hahahha

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  5. Great analysis. A friend and I were discussing something similar just the other day and I love how you summarized our thoughts. All the series I’ve watched so far feels like all 16 episodes were laid out way before they started shooting. Wala kasi akong makitang stray, useless scenes talaga. Even the melodramatic scenes seem well-timed. No need to fast-forward to get them over with.

    The other thing that impressed me is that all the actors studied theater arts or something similar (media or performance related courses).

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  6. W two worlds, while you were sleeping, i can hear your voice, secret garden, the girl who see smells. Yan mga korean drama na scifi na matindi check it out niyo 🙂

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  7. Direk, may i add: there were no commercials(i mean, not much). What i mean is, they were able to incorporate their sponsors products into the story making the viewers appreciate it more. The stories were fast paced also, with on point expressions of actors that they make you laugh and after just 2 minutes, they also make you cry.
    Also, i noticed in every K-Dramas that i watched, they are much appreciative of their mental health issues. What i mean po is, there is always a cause of their behaviors. Like for example, they presented bit by bit why a killer became or behaved as he is now, why the lead is narcisstic or self centered.
    Also, an observation..in K-Dramas, all angles are covered like the situation or love life of the supporting casts also.

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