Asian Addicts Anonymous

There are many different formulas for Asian dramas; it can make watching them predictable, but what isn’t predictable these days? Of the various formulas and conventions used, one of the most infamous is the one where the lead characters always just miss each other. This is mostly used in Korean and Taiwanese drama, but can be found on occasion in Japanese dramas.

Prince turns to Frog starring Ming Dao and Chen Qiao En is a really good Taiwanese example for this plot device. In it, these two constantly just miss each other. And not just the two main characters. Sam Wang and Joyce Zhao always seem to be just missing Ming Dao’s character (who has amnesia for a good portion of the series).

A few times is okay, but the length to which this device is employed is annoying and just plain ridiculous. So much so that it keeps the drama dragging and you want to scream in frustration. Do you really need ratings and want to keep the drama going for so long (Taiwanese and Korean dramas tend to be longer than Japanese)? Honestly, some of these misses would have been better as finds and would have actually kept the plot from starting to lag as is wont to happen in a lot of dramas.

The Korean drama Nine Tailed Fox, among others, uses the same convention, too. If they honestly let the characters find/see each other, some of the more heavy melodrama and “betrayals” could have been avoided or at least lessened. Honestly, it can get a bit tiring, but I suppose that is the highlight of situational irony where we as an audience know everything but the characters know nothing and assume the worst, however, I would love to see a little bit less of this overused plot formula.

I know that Korean dramas (not 100% certain with Taiwanese/Chinese dramas) are being written as they air, so that effect the plot, but to go to such agonizing lengths to keep people from meeting actually does make the plot lag to the point of me losing interest and dropping certain series. Is there not some better way to plot out a drama story WITHOUT relying so heavily on such a laggy device?