I realize this post was written two years ago and that my comment may be way too late to join in on the “conversation,” but I had to say something. As a new and appreciative reader of the dramabeans blog, I was stunned after reading your highly-opinionated and harsh reviews. I recently started watching Kdramas, so my familiarity with their production value isn’t the same as yours. I live in the U.S. and do not know how the film/television industry works in Korea. I am unaware of the cultural differences, but the ideals are universal.

Halfway through the page, I began to wonder to myself if you are/were involved in film/TV production. (I picked this up through a comment you made about a screenwriting class, but I may be wrong so I apologize if this is an assumption.) I was also a film/TV production major in college and am now in the industry, so I can understand what you’re trying to get across with your words, but you have to know your audience. To get praise and recognition for your opinion, conduct your views in a way everyone can understand and appreciate rather than only being headstrong and over-analytical.

Stating your opinions with “brutal honesty” may be appealing to some, but where is your integrity? I do not know your background and experiences, but didn’t you suffer along the way? Haven’t you experienced hurdles in your life to get where you are today? To me, it doesn’t make sense that you can feel okay to look down upon any projects, as if you don’t know or don’t care about the work that goes into them. Becoming controversial may be a good thing to gain popularity or traffic in the internet world, but think of all the time and effort that went into these dramas. Think of all of the people who worked long hours, days, years for these productions. Judging someone else’s work is so easy to do, while defending and fighting for your own. Being critical to be constructive is one thing, but being blunt and brutal is another.

Once you go through a ton of production classes, your whole outlook on dialogue and images on a screen changes from viewer to critic — at least that how it was for me. I understand your way of thinking when writing in this review. Being honest and straight-forward is rare in reviews, and usually they’re biased. So for that, I appreciate your post. Noting production mistakes and unfortunate missed plot-lines in the screenwriting can be amazingly helpful and eye-opening, but what is that worth if there are no suggestions or ideas to fix them? Harsh judgment with no solution or counterpoint makes for a bad review.

I’m not saying that all of your reviews (or others) should be all roses and sunshine. As a writer, wouldn’t you want to convince them of your opinions rather than slamming them with the truth? There’s a tactful, more cunning way of writing that doesn’t leave the author looking moody or cold-hearted. Your use of wit doesn’t connect. Try learning empathy.

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As for Samsooki,

I’m not sure what your affiliation with this site is, but I am thrown off by your comment (#191). You say that people can’t “just say what they want to say and not be held responsible.” Doesn’t the same go for Dahee? The cause of all the retaliating comments is the review; it was inevitable.

What about those who were involved in the production of the dramas Dahee so eloquently bashed? I’m 100% sure they spent more “time, effort, passion, energy, resources, opportunity cost, and thinking” than Dahee. I’m 100% sure they gave “up a tremendous amount of themselves in order to give everyone a piece of themselves, with passion and knowledge and wisdom and intelligence and humor.” So what about them? What was so civil about Dahee’s review? Maybe you should take your own advice, “And give some freaking respect to those who have given so much of their lives … in order to produce something for you to enjoy.”

I’m sorry you don’t have the ability to learn anything from yourself. It must be sad relying on other people’s views and opinions to “become a better person.” Try to learn on your own and form your own opinions; you’d be surprised what you’ll find.

its so sad when i read your reviews in BOF & YAB.
for me, they are the dramas worth watching for. off course they are not the best, but i truly appreciate the efforts of every actors in these dramas to entertain viewers. i was entertained by BOF though YAB is much better. i was addicted to it that even the behind the scenes and complimentary videos are worth searching for. i hope there would be a season 2 of YAB. JGS and PSH are perfect couple. They should be paired again in the future.

Don’t you think you’re a little bit too harsh on some of those dramas? I mean, no drama is completely perfect, and I think you were way over-dramatic about some of the slight quibbles in some of the dramas that you bashed. I’m a little brokenhearted over your criticism of one of my favorite dramas (YAB)

Please try not to expect every drama to be full of creativeness and originality.. there are a lot of dramas and it’s hard to come up with completely original ideas for every moment.

The only thing I find that is not a matter of taste is Kyung Sook’s Father. Honestly, I saw no trace of joy or humor or even reflection upon war. It was just kind of cruel.

Personally I agree with most of what you said about the dramas that I actually tried to watch. I’m glad that I’m not the only one that hates Boys Over Flowers down to the pits of my stomach regardless (or maybe because) of how much hype it got. (Honestly, I can’t even count how many times I tried rewatching that show. Apparently I could never get far enough to see the “good moments” where sexism is layed more on the down-low for some happy wangsting to occur.)

As to You’re Beautiful… Well I was pretty disappointed to see that you really disliked the show because honestly, that drama was pure entertainment for me in the first 8 eps or so. But now that I thought about it, I think I can understand your gripe on it. I think the overflowing wangst and shallow characterization was probably what turned me away from YB (plus it wasn’t dishing up enough of the wacky satirical stuff as the show progressed further and further into emo-land.) I actually really liked the main guy though. I thought his character was refreshing from the line of macho losers with such attitude problems that I couldn’t tell whether they even LIKED the female leads or not because they’re not even NICE or at least… I dunno, DEEP in a conflicted way about it.

But yeah. It’s too bad that not a lot of people appreciated this review since I enjoyed it very much. I guess things with fanbases still warrant less capacity for humourous and affectionate criticism.

i know everybody has their right to say their opinion, but i guess you’re the one who’s being overrated here…ehem…well, some of those dramas were kind of disappointing, right…but some were great, yeah, i mean…GREAT!!!

whatever your opinion is, i may conclude you are not a good drama critic because you can’t see the story itself but rather focus on the actors/actresses…
still, what i say about you today may sound ridiculous to you…but please, for God sake…
QUIT WATCHING KDRAMAS…