Reaper525 writes:
So my question is: Is it just me or is it really hard to find likable leads these days in dramas? I mean most female leads these days annoy me compared to older dramas.
But also male leads are just sometimes you know …. facepalm material.
Is that me or is there actually something changing in dramas? Back in the day I liked 9/10 of the dramas (and their leads) that I watched but now it is more like 3-4/10…
Am I getting old? 😀
This.. might be somewhat subjective..? 😅
Dear Reaper525,
I’m sorry about your recent struggles with drama leads. While I personally haven’t had the same struggle to a similar extent, I do concede that there’s been a recent trend where dramas have been playing with the idea of a more outspoken and assertive female lead.
This is nothing new, to be sure.
In 2005, My Name Is Kim Sam Soon burst onto the drama scene and many viewers found the female lead’s frank and no-nonsense nature a breath of fresh air.
I’ve found that exploring this different style of female lead can be very interesting, and can make for different narrative directions than what we’re used to.
For example, I found the strong, in-yo-face female lead in this year’s It’s Okay To Not Be Okay very confronting to start, but Show made it worth my while, with how sensitively it peeled back her prickly outer layers to reveal more of her mental and emotional landscape.
Also, I feel like if we are ok to afford prickly male leads the benefit of the doubt, then it makes sense that we offer the same to our female leads as well.
Certainly, this style of female lead doesn’t appeal to everyone, and I can imagine your frustration at how quite a few recent dramas seem to be embracing a similar style of female lead in their stories.
Also, I appreciate your viewpoint, that the male leads can also be frustrating.
PERSONAL CONTEXT
I think that personal context plays a huge role in how we perceive and receive our dramas, so one man’s meat is absolutely possibly another man’s poison.
Recently, we exchanged thoughts on this year’s Into The Ring, where you found the female lead too rough and unlikable, while I found her to be admirable and endearing – once Show peeled back a few of those rougher outer layers.
WHAT IS OUR DEFINITION OF “NICE”?
This brings me to the question: What’s our definition of “nice” for this post?
Some characters appear nice to begin with, but once we get to know them, they are far from nice at their core.
Conversely, some characters may appear rough &/or prickly to start with, but once we grow to understand them a little better, we might discover that they’re really good, decent people.
Because many shows use this character exploration device, I think it would be too limiting to only consider dramas where the leads are immediately demonstrated to be nice people.
I think it’s reasonable to include shows where the leads might be portrayed with an initial, small to moderate amount of prickliness.
However, I will endeavor to exclude dramas where either lead is presented as excessively rough &/or prickly.
DRAMAS WHERE I FIND THE LEADS ARE NICE
Here’s a list of recent-ish dramas – recent-ish being within the last 2 years, roughly – where I personally find the leads to be nice, albeit occasionally with a little bit of initial aloofness or prickliness.
I’ve excluded older dramas from this list, since your struggle has specifically been with newer dramas.
Important note: I’ve included a Niceness Quotient for each drama, to specifically indicate how nice I feel the leads are. This is NOT necessarily reflective of my overall grade for the show.
At Eighteen
Niceness Quotient: 10/10
Both our leads are really good kids. They’re good-natured, wholesome and earnest, and their eventual relationship is healthy and warm.
Our male lead starts our story being misunderstood by a lot of people, in part because of his reticent nature.
And our female lead, kind soul that she is, takes it upon herself to reach out to the misunderstood outcast.
Review is here.
18 Again
Niceness Quotient: 10/10
Both our leads are quickly shown to be good people, where their relationship has been eroded by difficult circumstances and unfortunate misunderstandings.
I find both characters likable and sympathetic in both timelines. I’m still watching this as I type this, but this is turning out to be a heartwarming story of perspective, hope and redemption.
Update: Review is here.
Hospital Playlist
Niceness Quotient: 10/10
All our main guys are good, decent people, each with their own endearing quirk.
Our female lead shines the brightest, though, for being wonderfully warm and caring, on top of being extremely accomplished as a doctor.
Heartwarming and wholesome; you’d be hard pressed to find an unlikable key character in this ensemble.
Review is here.
Record Of Youth
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
I do have my quibbles with how Show is handled, and how this key relationship is handled as well, but it is true that both leads are presented as nice and good people.
Update: Review is here.
Crash Landing On You
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Our male lead leans distant and aloof at first, and some viewers would find our female lead’s behavior annoying and presumptuous in the beginning, but if you push past the potential initial discomfort, I think both characters turn out to be endearing, likable and admirable in their own ways.
Review is here.
Hi Bye, Mama!
Niceness Quotient: 10/10
This story is about a different kind of love than most kdramas, since it focuses on parental and familial love, on top of romantic love.
I think it’s Show’s strength that all our key players are good, decent, nice people, because this meant that I often felt conflicted over who to root for – and I mean this in the best way.
Review is here.
A Piece Of Your Mind
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our male lead appears to be distant and inscrutable at first, but it doesn’t take long to see that he has a good heart.
Our female lead is immediately shown to be warm, empathetic and considerate to the people around her, and I liked her very quickly into my watch.
Review is here.
Find Me In Your Memory
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our male lead is introduced as an all-business, emotionally distant sort of character, but we quickly realize that this is because he is harboring a lot of past hurt and trauma, and is actually a very goodhearted, decent person.
Our female lead can come across a little ditzy, which might annoy some viewers, but we learn fairly quickly that there’s more to her than meets the eye.
Both characters turn out to be very caring and warm.
Review is here.
Oh My Baby
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Our male lead is presented as distant and even a little bit rude at first, and because this lasts a little longer than just the initial few episodes, I’m docking off an extra point in terms of Show’s Niceness Quotient.
However, he does turn out to be a big ol’ marshmallow, who’s very dorky and endearing.
Our female lead quickly comes across as a sincere individual earnestly looking for happiness, so I had no problems liking her as a character.
Review is here.
Do You Like Brahms?
Niceness Quotient: 10/10
This is a case where our leads might even be faulted for being too nice – but I guess everyone has some kind of lesson to learn?
Both leads are shy, bashful types, and their thoughtful sincerity really shines through in their various relationships.
I’m still watching this as I type this, so I don’t yet have an opinion of the whole show, but our leads are definitely on the extreme end of nice.
Update: Review is here.
Romance Is A Bonus Book
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
I docked the Niceness Quotient by a bit because our male lead can be a little petty and prickly at first, but we quickly learn that he’s really warm and thoughtful, which helps.
Our female lead is earnest, sincere and empathetic, and I liked her a great deal.
Nothing to really dislike about our leads here, honestly.
Review is here.
Her Private Life
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our story begins with some misunderstandings between the OTP, so he can come across as a touch cocky and aloof, and she can come across as a bit – or a lot – fanatical in her fangirling, but give this one a chance to settle, and you’re likely to find this to be a very charming, nice OTP, reasonably quickly.
Review is here.
Touch Your Heart
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
He’s rather judgey, cold and prickly to start, and she does come across as rather ditzy in the beginning as well, which may not sit well with some viewers.
Together, this is why I’ve docked this show’s Niceness Quotient by a little extra.
However, both characters soon turn out to be likable and endearing, and they make a cute OTP.
Review is here.
The Tale of Nokdu
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Well, he lies to her in the beginning (out of necessity), so that’s one point down, and she can be quite rough with him from time to time (understandable, since he lied to her), so that’s the other point down.
But, these are ultimately both very wholesome and endearing characters, and they are very cute together, which is why I’ve included them on this list.
Review is here.
One Spring Night
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Our female lead might be a little too frank for some people, and her sense of humor might be rather obtuse as well, so she might feel a little brusque or odd in the beginning, but if you can accept this as a character quirk, she’s actually a good person with a clear sense of what she values.
Our male lead is quickly winsome and endearing, and I thought they made a great couple.
Review is here.
When The Camellia Blooms
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Some viewers might find our female lead too timid and spineless in the beginning, and they might also find our male lead too loud and in-yo-face as well, but beyond the surface, both are very goodhearted individuals.
It’s gratifying to see her grow into her own and become braver, and it’s extremely heartwarming to see how unabashedly he loves her, too.
Flash Review is here.
A Poem A Day
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Our male lead can be rather distant, and because that is sustained for longer than just the initial few episodes, I’m docking two points on the Niceness Quotient.
Our female lead is earnest and quite endearing though. Overall, a low-key but pretty sweet OTP.
Flash Review is here.
Terius Behind Me
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
He’s secretive and distant, especially at first, but that’s out of necessity, to protect his spy identity. It’s soon clear to see that he’s an endearing dork, even though he’s also a very accomplished secret agent.
She, on the other hand, is consistently warm and likable, and her quick thinking and sharp mom-savvy, easily match the extent of his spy know-how.
A very heartwarming pair that I enjoyed very much.
Flash Review is here.
Beauty Inside
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
She can be rather outspoken and possesses some celebrity airs, which might be off-putting to some viewers, but I found her likable overall, despite her flaws.
He’s pleasantly deadpan through most of our story, and I loved the idea that because of his face blindness, he loved her for her, no matter what she looked like.
A very sparky OTP that felt natural and effortless together.
Review is here.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Niceness Quotient: 8/10
Our female lead is not prickly, but the interpretation of her character can come across as rather exaggerated and unnatural at first, which might turn off some viewers.
But once you allow that to settle, our female lead turns into a very relatable everygirl.
Our male lead is a warm, loyal, altogether decent guy, and together, they are an adorable explosion of cuteness.
Review is here.
Find Yourself [China]
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our female lead is likable and earnest and full of heart, and I liked her immediately.
Our male lead can appear a little brazen at times, which is why I’ve docked the Niceness Quotient by a little.
But overall, I’d say he’s a pure-hearted, sincerely earnest suitor who’s quite easy to like.
Review is here.
Put Your Head On My Shoulder [China]
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our female lead is cheerful and possesses an independent streak that makes her a little feisty, but not unlikable.
I’ve docked the Niceness Quotient by a little bit, because our male lead does appear to be rather aloof at first, but because he falls for her first, and hard, and is so earnest and dorky about trying to understand girls and feelings and romance, it’s difficult to hold it against him.
Review is here.
The Romance of Tiger and Rose [China]
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
Our female lead is cheerful, determined and all-around likable. I docked the Niceness Quotient a little bit, since our male lead starts by trying to poison our female lead (not really a spoiler, since it’s foundational to the story).
But that all changes quickly when he falls for her, and hard.
Flash Review is here.
Hallyu Classic Bonus: All About Eve
I’m including this one coz it’s far back enough (20 years! 😱) that it ought to feel new to many drama fans in our midst.
Niceness Quotient: 9/10
She’s warm, sunny and kind, and very likable, while he’s jovial and pleasant – but rather distant, at least at first. That’s why I docked the Niceness Quotient by a bit.
Over time, though, he proves himself to be honest, patient and affectionate, and I ended up really, really enjoying Jang Dong Gun in this (so! charming! 😍).
Such a fresh and engaging watch, despite its vintage.
Review is here.
IN CLOSING
This list isn’t comprehensive, of course. But I do think this list covers a good handful of recent-ish dramas where the leads are nice, so I hope you’ll find some drama ideas – and some hope? – from this post!
Also, like I mentioned above, everyone, do feel free to share your favorites in the comments, since there are literally so many shows that I haven’t yet watched.
I hope this list helps!
Love! ❤️
~kfangurl
I’ve told you my picks; now tell me yours?
POST-SCRIPT:
1. If you feel that I missed anything, or if you have your own insights that you’d like to share with the rest of us, do tell us about it in the comments!
2. Do you have a question of your own? Drop me a comment here or on the Dear kfangurl page, or send me an email!
