The Growing Discontent Among K-Drama Fans Towards this Common Plot Device
K-drama fans are growing increasingly frustrated with a popular storyline trope that seems to be present in almost every new drama of 2023 Is the historical fated-lovers trope finally losing its charm in the world of K-dramas? Find out more here
K-dramas are known for sticking to familiar storyline tropes that are often expected and recognized by fans, but one trope is starting to irritate fans due to its overuse. Regardless of the genre, tropes play a significant role in driving characters' journeys and fleshing out the overall concept in K-dramas. For example, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim featured the boss-employee romance as well as the childhood trauma trope, with the main characters also having known each other as children.
These tropes have contributed to the immense popularity of K-dramas among fans. Well-executed set guidelines are integrated across different genres to create the necessary drama. Plenty of die-hard fans can easily identify these tropes from a mile away. Without exception, every K-drama will, at some point, feature a hidden secret that tests the characters or a dark twist that completely alters the storyline.
However, with the recent influx of K-dramas such as My Demon and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, fans are starting to notice an overuse of a specific trope that is becoming more redundant than realistic.
Is the historical fated-lovers trope over in K-dramas
The concept of fated lovers is a classic K-drama trope beloved by fans. It can manifest in various ways, such as the main couple knowing each other as children but then forgetting or drifting apart, or their families having a connection of some kind.
Lately, historical-based fated-lovers stories have become increasingly popular. In these tales, the couple are reincarnations of their past selves, often with one of them being a supernatural being searching for their fated love for thousands of years. In most cases, the present-day characters have no memory of their past love story. A common element of this trope is the tragic past that has either impacted their love story negatively or brought them together in the present day. This trend has been prominently featured in several 2023 K-dramas.
I urge kdrama writers to refrain from using the tired "past lives" storyline. A fresh and exciting love story can be created with just one meeting. Let's have more conflict, flawed characters, and well-written plotlines.
"I wish kdrama writers would steer clear of the tired 'they knew each other in their past lives' trope. A compelling love story can be crafted with just one initial meeting. We want conflicts, flawed characters, and well-written narratives," a fan expressed on X/Twitter.
I've also observed this trend. The characters' backstories consistently intertwine in each other's past, and it's becoming cliché.
"I noticed this too. The characters' backstories always seem to have connections to each other's past, it's becoming cliché."
I feel the same way. I'm also tired of the repetitive themes in Joseon-era Kdramas. The quality of Kdramas used to be so much better in previous years. Now it seems like every story revolves around a lover killing their love in a past life.
"I feel the same way. I'm also tired of the Joseon era themes in K-dramas. The quality of K-dramas used to be much better in previous years. Nowadays, it seems like every story is just about a lover killing their love in a past life," another person added.
Fans concurred that this sentiment seems to be reflected in a series of recently released K-dramas. In Episode 12 of 'My Demon', it is revealed that the demon Gu-won was once in love with a young woman during his human life in the Joseon era. As it turns out, the woman is the present-day Do-hee. In keeping with the trend, their love story also ends tragically.
Park’s Marriage Contract tells the story of a young woman who becomes widowed after her husband kept his illness a secret. Transported to the modern day, she encounters a reincarnated version of her late husband. It’s a Good Day to Be a Dog surprised fans with its historical fated-love storyline, revealing the female leads’ curse as punishment for their past actions in the name of love, angering a mountain god. Some fans see it as the latest trend, as many K-dramas are based on written webtoons.
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Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I share the growing discontent among K-drama fans regarding the overuse of the fated-lovers trope, particularly in historical dramas. This trope has become increasingly redundant and predictable, lacking the originality and excitement that made K-dramas so captivating in the past. The constant reliance on past-life connections and tragic love stories feels like a creative rut, limiting the potential for fresh and compelling narratives.
It's disheartening to see how this repetitive plot device overshadows other important aspects of storytelling, such as character development, conflict, and well-written plotlines. K-drama writers should embrace new ideas and explore diverse storylines that break away from this tired trope. By doing so, they can revitalize the genre and recapture the magic that made K-dramas so beloved by fans worldwide.
