Lovely comparison of the heroines to different flavors and food. I especially agree about Na young and bo young(hehe). Seo ri's the best- chocolate doesn't grow on trees, but undergoes a process to become one, similar to growing up.

Thank you for you review of these memorable heroines! I do like how kdramas have more than one-note Candies now that definitely have more complexity to them. It shows how much they have grown and I’m a bit jealous you’ve grown up right along with them! Great piece, as always.

It looks like you and I have similar taste in dramas since we watched and enjoyed many of the same dramas this year. I really need to watch My Ahjusshi and The Last Empress.

This was a wonderful concept for a piece on our fav leading ladies! Your taste (pun intended) in dramas is great! haha

Might I add:
Red pepper flavor: Han Ji Min in Familiar Wife: Seo Woo Jin.
Specially in the new timeline she certainly had a fiery quality to her which ultimately served her well!

Haha, makjang flavor. When are they going to make makjang Melonas, I wonder.

This is fun. Reminds me of a book tag. Appreciate that you focused on the heroines.

What a beautiful flavors..
I chuckle at Ji Ahn's Herbal Medicine flavor,,and choked a bit at Seo Ri's part, for i can relate about being an adult thingy..

Hooray for strong, intelligent women in kdramaland. 💛
Jo Jia and Nayoung are my favorites this year!

This piece couldn't have come at a better time!

Of late, many have voiced their disappointment over the weak heroine of MoTA. Someone wrote that it's the typical treatment that female characters get in kdramas i.e. to serve as merely the love interest of the hero. Yes, there is unfortunately still such 'heroines' but I think there has definitely been progress in writing more layered, more diverse and more interesting female characters. I don't even need them to be always spunky and kickass although it wouldn't hurt.

Na Young is the perfect example of feminine yet totally badass. I love coffee and I love Na Young!

What fun @sensationalfantasy Liar Song! My mouth started tasting the different flavours as I read your post. I do agree that Jo Jia was a Minty girl, even as a pretend robot. Sweet and demure to an extent and then surprisingly refreshing!

Ji An - If the medicinal taste was at first unpleasant, at least the herbs got Ji An healing with the help of her Ajusshi.

Seo Ri - like chocolate melting slowly and smoothly into slightly sticky adulthood LOL. Who's to say being an adult is not just a stickier version of being a child?

And Na Young - LOL loved her in that first screenshot above. Amazingly able to bow gracefully before and withstand the sexism of her time to gain the respect all the men in her team. Definitely a kick butt, shake 'em up, eye-opening coffee flavour that I simply love. 😆

Thanks for this Liar Song!! 😄

Very very very good post, I have known almost all the heroines you have us, and I agree with you. I loved specially Jia, Boyoung and Jian. Unforgettable girls!
What a pleasure of dramayear!😉

Aww. Love this! Like you, my taste in dramas (and corresponding lead characters) really changed over the years. It's always refreshing to watch a drama with a strong (whether emotionally or mentally) heroine. In this list I've only watched Jia, Jinkang, and Booyoung but other great heroines come to mind like Ha Moonsoo in JBL, Park Cha Oh-reum in Miss Hammurabi, Song So-eun in Your Honor.
Some hate Jung Heeju in Memories of the Alhambra but I like her so far--she became the breadwinner of her family at a young age.. she's independent.. And she called JW out on his bs. Lol

Thank you for this lovely and delicious article. Yayyy for more awesome female leads in dramas!
I found a few more awesome female leads in dramas:
1. Wo jin Ah: JBL
2. Song Hye-kyo: Boyfriend!
3.Kim Sun Ah: Children of nobody!
4. Nam Gu Ryi: Children of nobody!
5. Lee Bo Young: Mother
6. The other two mothers in Mother!

You've chosen wonderful screencaps, @liarsong !
I find that Coffee flavor is very apt for Na-young, not only for the reasons you mentioned, but because of the era the story is set at, and the period-drama way it was shot. The sepia-toned lighting and color palette ALWAYS give me warm and fuzzy coffee-like vibe. Like the last days of autumn. Everywhere is brown and orange and chrome, and the weather is cool yet warm. So comfortable. In the evening light, you can sit on a cushioned rocking chair by the window, and sip a mug of coffee. The ultimate Hufflepuff feel! That's the same way I feel towards these oldie drams, like AM 98, LoM, and also RDTK where the Doldam Hospiatal was set in the same atmosphere.
.
Call me naive. Hehe. ;-)

Well written heroines can never receive too much love. I hope the classic candy is forgotten and we continue to get more and more strong, flavourful women in our shows.

Thank you for this wonderful piece of appreciation!

I adore na young! And i agree whole heartedly with your description of her. She's an awesome character, and i have sang her countless praises 😄

Glad to see Kang So-bong getting a lot of love from your post! I actually liked her from the get go. I appreciated how real she is and how she doesn't always come up with the right decision. Seeing her grow as a character was so satisfying. The only disappointment was not seeing her display her MMA skills as the bodyguard. Props to Gong Seung Yeon for a job well done. That talent and face of hers should always be on screen.

I liked the heroins on the list. For me I would add Mr Sunshine's Hina and Ae Shin, they were real badass! And Jin Ah of Pretty Noona because it's not easy to change and become stronger after 35 years old.

My favorite is Na Bong Sun from Oh My Ghostess when she gets possessed by the sassy cute little ghost. Best combo ever - two of my favorite actresses in one body. Also, I have a soft spot for girls who cross dress and make guys suffer. Free spirited Go Eun Chan from Cofee Prince is my second favorite. Of course, that’s why scholarly Kim Yoon Hee from Sangkyunkwan Scandal is my third favorite.

Saw NaYoung 😍 and clicked on the post. So glad that I did. Beautifuly written! 👏🏽👏🏽
Ms. Yoon was my favorite female character of 2018 and I love coffe. A match made in heaven. 💞
Jo Jia and Kang So-Bong were second favorites. Another fav (maybe controversial) of mine is Young-Jae from Third Charm, like the ginger flavor...

A great list of amazing heroines. Like you, I loved every single one of them and I love how you tied a flavor to them. Great article!