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walkwithheroesThe evolution of the Korean Secondary Female. Well, in a way, yes. But, then again, no. No one will dispute the fact that the average Korean drama is fairly formulaic and at times cliched. While there are different kinds of dramas: period, crime, family drama, romantic comedy, revenge, drama, etc - they all (usually) have certain things in common. There is (usually)a poor girl/boy or a woman/man whose working her/his way up, a rich man/woman whose a bit spoiled and who has a tragic past, rich and mean parents, lovable grandmothers or grandfathers, secrets, OTPs, a secondary couple made up of best friends/co-workers/family members - they help lighten the mood, wackiness, etc.
But, most importantly, in Korean dramas you have four leads: The Main/Lead Female, the Main/Lead Male, the Secondary Male, and the often times bitchy Secondary Female. The Secondary Female, is, often times, played by the less well-known actress. She's (usually) got a rather mean-girls look about her, yet the Main/Lead Male (and sometimes Secondary Male) see her as a saint. She's usually rich, cunning, bitchy, jealous, and all around possessive. In short - she's a crazy person in designer clothes.She clings, she whines, she remembers promises made in childhood. And, she makes the Main/Lead Female's life Hell. All in the name of "keeping her man" - who man not have even been hers to begin with. But, whatever - she's the crazy Secondary. Even in dramas that are focused on things other than romance - she's there, as long as romance is an element. And isn't it always in Korean dramas?
Han Yu-ri from Stairway to Heaven - the classic melodrama Secondary Girl. Bugged-eyed and insanely jealous, she'll stop at nothing to get ride of the true Heroine of the piece - even going so far as to run the poor girl over with a car!
Seo Hyun from My Girl - the classic romantic comedy Secondary Girl. She's jealous before she has reason to be, and she doesn't really want Hero until he's falling in love with Heroine.
Yi Na from Spring Waltz - the classic romantic drama Secondary Girl. She remembers a promise made from childhood and tries to hold Hero to it - even after she finds out that Hero isn't really her childhood friend. Oh, and she's jealous of Hero/Heroine, even though Hero has barely given her the time of day and treats her strictly as a friend.
Jae Young from Stars Falling From the Sky - the classic family/romantic drama Secondary Girl. She's a rich woman with a bitchy attitude, who thinks she's better than Heroine. Despite Hero never showing any signs of affection, she clings to him and insults Heroine every chance she gets.
I could go on.
For a long time, I thought: Except for a few expectations, this is the way its meant to be. Secondary Girls have their place. Then - something (slowly) started to happen. Secondary Girls were slowly being given more complex personalities and backgrounds. They were slowly being given their own storylines - and sometimes even their own OTPs. They were, for lack of a better phrase, becoming real girls!
A new and improved Secondary Girl began to show up in more and more dramas. Some dramas (All About Eve is a classic example) even began to make both female stars the 'lead' at different times of the story. Both women had issues, and neither were complete saints. When the Secondary Girl did "evil" things, we knew why - and at the end she was redeemed and a better person for her suffering.
The idea of having the Secondary Female be more complicated continued on. Maybe you hated her, maybe you had sympathetic feelings toward her - either way the Secondary Girl was a complete character. Examples of this are dramas like Legend, Cinderella's Unni, All About Eve, Dream High - you knew why the Secondary Girl did the horrible things she did; you understood her a bit better. And, for some episodes ans/or story arcs - she seemed to be the Heroine.
There's also another type of new Secondary Girl: the girl/woman who gets her own storylines and OTP. She doesn't even want the Hero/Main/Lead Male! She may even be related to him! Examples of this: Someday, Giant, Secret Garden, Gloria, Family Honor, I Am Happy, Goodbye Solo, Happy Together, to name a few. Now, granted most of these are weekend dramas and most were considered 'family' - but, it's a start.
That brings me to this: Secondary Females in Korean dramas are slowly evolving from shallow, bitchy, one-dimensional evil woman to complex, interesting, women. You may still dislike them, but at least they have personalities. In all genres (expect the romantic comedy) Secondary Females are becoming their own characters - with their own storylines, desires, love interests, and most importantly - lives. To me, that's a step in the right direction.
But, most importantly, in Korean dramas you have four leads: The Main/Lead Female, the Main/Lead Male, the Secondary Male, and the often times bitchy Secondary Female. The Secondary Female, is, often times, played by the less well-known actress. She's (usually) got a rather mean-girls look about her, yet the Main/Lead Male (and sometimes Secondary Male) see her as a saint. She's usually rich, cunning, bitchy, jealous, and all around possessive. In short - she's a crazy person in designer clothes.She clings, she whines, she remembers promises made in childhood. And, she makes the Main/Lead Female's life Hell. All in the name of "keeping her man" - who man not have even been hers to begin with. But, whatever - she's the crazy Secondary. Even in dramas that are focused on things other than romance - she's there, as long as romance is an element. And isn't it always in Korean dramas?
Han Yu-ri from Stairway to Heaven - the classic melodrama Secondary Girl. Bugged-eyed and insanely jealous, she'll stop at nothing to get ride of the true Heroine of the piece - even going so far as to run the poor girl over with a car!
Seo Hyun from My Girl - the classic romantic comedy Secondary Girl. She's jealous before she has reason to be, and she doesn't really want Hero until he's falling in love with Heroine.
Yi Na from Spring Waltz - the classic romantic drama Secondary Girl. She remembers a promise made from childhood and tries to hold Hero to it - even after she finds out that Hero isn't really her childhood friend. Oh, and she's jealous of Hero/Heroine, even though Hero has barely given her the time of day and treats her strictly as a friend.
Jae Young from Stars Falling From the Sky - the classic family/romantic drama Secondary Girl. She's a rich woman with a bitchy attitude, who thinks she's better than Heroine. Despite Hero never showing any signs of affection, she clings to him and insults Heroine every chance she gets.
I could go on.
For a long time, I thought: Except for a few expectations, this is the way its meant to be. Secondary Girls have their place. Then - something (slowly) started to happen. Secondary Girls were slowly being given more complex personalities and backgrounds. They were slowly being given their own storylines - and sometimes even their own OTPs. They were, for lack of a better phrase, becoming real girls!
A new and improved Secondary Girl began to show up in more and more dramas. Some dramas (All About Eve is a classic example) even began to make both female stars the 'lead' at different times of the story. Both women had issues, and neither were complete saints. When the Secondary Girl did "evil" things, we knew why - and at the end she was redeemed and a better person for her suffering.
The idea of having the Secondary Female be more complicated continued on. Maybe you hated her, maybe you had sympathetic feelings toward her - either way the Secondary Girl was a complete character. Examples of this are dramas like Legend, Cinderella's Unni, All About Eve, Dream High - you knew why the Secondary Girl did the horrible things she did; you understood her a bit better. And, for some episodes ans/or story arcs - she seemed to be the Heroine.
There's also another type of new Secondary Girl: the girl/woman who gets her own storylines and OTP. She doesn't even want the Hero/Main/Lead Male! She may even be related to him! Examples of this: Someday, Giant, Secret Garden, Gloria, Family Honor, I Am Happy, Goodbye Solo, Happy Together, to name a few. Now, granted most of these are weekend dramas and most were considered 'family' - but, it's a start.
That brings me to this: Secondary Females in Korean dramas are slowly evolving from shallow, bitchy, one-dimensional evil woman to complex, interesting, women. You may still dislike them, but at least they have personalities. In all genres (expect the romantic comedy) Secondary Females are becoming their own characters - with their own storylines, desires, love interests, and most importantly - lives. To me, that's a step in the right direction.
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no subject
Date: 2011-01-18 09:31 pm (UTC)Family dramas have always been different though, this is one of the reasons I like them, they more of a "let's make as many couples as possible, let's not waste any characters to unnecessary loneliness".
no subject
Date: 2011-01-19 02:44 am (UTC)That's why I like them, too. Most people get a happy ending of some kind.
I am really loving the fact that secondary girls are slowly getting out of that 'just a bitch' cliche, because it gets fairly old.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-19 03:19 pm (UTC)Poor Jung-in. :( The revolution wasn't fast or all-encompassing enough to save you.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-19 05:52 pm (UTC)Jung-in? From Mary? That was just bad writing.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-19 06:21 pm (UTC)That was just bad writing.
Probably, but I'm still smarting a bit, LOL. I just a happy ending for him. :(
no subject
Date: 2011-01-20 02:35 am (UTC)