I Watched a K-Drama for the First Time & I Regret Nothing!

When I finally watched Crash Landing on You, my friends had to message me to check if my account was hacked. For the longest time, I avoided the Korean wave — K-pop, samgyupsal, skincare routines, and especially K-dramas. But there I was, captivated by Captain Ri, a character who had quietly been sitting on my Netflix homepage for months.

Also read: My Experience Celebrating the Korean Holiday, Chuseok

Now I get it: there’s something magical about K-dramas. They pull you in, even if you’ve resisted everything else Korean.

Odd one out

Image credit: mduangdara

I used to watch my friends fall in love with everything Korean, from music to drama to food. Back then, it was a niche passion, a fandom that demanded full devotion. Rarely did someone like me, who was happy watching only one show at a time, feel tempted to join in.

In retrospect, Hallyu back then was more niche. Fans were always all-out with their obsession with everything Korean. Rare was the person who loved just one specific K-pop song. Watching a K-drama led to learning about its cast, then shipping their favourite couples, then crying over their break-ups… the rest is history!

This was exactly why I was so hesitant to join in the Korean craze: I was scared of inevitably sliding towards the point of no return.

The growth of Hallyu

Image credit: Netflix

Since the initial rise of Boys Over Flowers and Super Junior in the Philippines, the Korean wave has become a global phenomenon. By my first year of college, I was introduced to under-the-radar ramyeon houses in Baguio. Come next year, I found myself frequently shopping for cosmetics from Etude House.

All these, I did without realising that I was slowly succumbing to the Korean wave. But K-dramas? Never. In 2016, even my closest friends (who had never shown signs of Korean fanaticism before) tried to convince me to watch Descendants of the Sun with them — but I aggressively declined every time.

“K-drama? Never!”

Image credit: Netflix

Before 2020, I had avoided K-dramas like the plague. I never had the attention span for long series, and most lovey-dovey plots made me cringe. Then I finally decided to give Crash Landing on You a try — and I loved every minute.

Image credit: Netflix

Opposing my initial opinions about K-drama, I now think that the genre has lifted up my spirits in more ways than one. Perhaps I’m stretching my thoughts here since I’ve only finished watching one series, but my mindset towards K-dramas has radically changed because of CLOY.

Yes, I am now a convert. While I won’t be spending my money on tickets to see Korean idols any time soon, I’ll be allowing myself a healthy dose of K-drama once in a while.

Why I instantly fell in love with K-drama

Apparently, many K-dramas are just one season long!

Image credit: Netflix

As I previously mentioned, I don’t have the attention span for most series. After two seasons, I’d normally quit watching altogether. I never gave CLOY a second thought until my cousin revealed to me that it was only a season long. To me, that meant a short obsession for the series, and then a quick recovery afterward.

Image credit: Netflix

As a writer and a natural overthinker, I tend to become excessive whenever I immerse myself in stories. Knowing that CLOY was a short series relieved me of the threats of either obsession or boredom. I didn’t have to suffer from a long-term waiting for a season finale, nor did I get the chance to be bored enough to quit the series. Alas, in two weeks, I easily finished watching the series with my family. 

When reality sucks, K-dramas make our dreams come true

Image credit: Netflix

During stressful times, K-dramas offer a perfect escape. CLOY gave me a feel-good story, with fast resolutions, cute moments, and happy endings almost every time. I hadn’t expected to relax so completely while watching a series, but it felt like a much-needed break from reality.

Image credit: Netflix

Admittedly, I wasn’t used to the kind of storytelling that CLOY had used. Throughout the first half of the series, I was constantly expecting a bad scenario to unfold. Yet, that rarely ever happened. Happy endings came true 90 percent of the time. Halfway through, I found myself relaxing, assured that CLOY won’t dare break my heart.

Ah, the characters are just all so loveable

Image credit: Netflix

Like everyone who cherishes the series, I fell in love with every personality in CLOY! All of them had heartwarming character arcs, and by the end of the series, I felt like I was leaving my best friends behind. (Series sepanx is real!)

The creativity of K-drama screenwriters is astounding. They manage to create impossible scenarios played out by very relatable characters. Every person in the series reminds us of someone we know, and their relationships with one another make us think of our own.

Also read: 5 Addicting Spanish TV Series You Should Definitely Binge-Watch on Netflix

Will I turn into one of the die-hard Korean fans? I doubt it. But one thing’s for sure: I’ll never say never to another K-drama series again.

Featured image credit: Netflix; Clay Banks | Unsplash.