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dangermousieIs it possible to enjoyably watch a drama while heartily disliking the heroine?
I am about to find out.
I am halfway through episode 4 of My Fair Lady and Yoon Eun Hye's character Hae Na evokes nothing but irritation. She is so useless. She does NOTHING good or productive or with a point to it. She does not work, she does not take care of her family or friends (does she even have any friends?) She does nothing but throw temper tantrums (if I do not find it acceptable for a guy to constantly hit a girl, I do not find it acceptable when the genders are reversed) and whines about how it is woeful she is rich. I kid you not, guys - there is this one scene she gets drunk and whines over and over that she has money troubles because she bought a ton of expensive gifts for the guy she likes - who has barely met her and has never indicated any liking back - and he, not inconceivably, asked her to take them back because they are too expensive and if she wants to thank him, she doesn't have to use a ton of money. She also referred to 'commoners' during that conversation as if incredulous a son of a wealthy family be like them as well as being repulsed by the idea he is a human rights lawyer. Yeah, that's really going to get the guy to love you. Leaving aside the classism and crassness, she clearly has no brain - that is about the worst way to woo a causehead ever. Also, hello - money troubles? Poor you, nobody forced you to buy him expensive gifts and be a self-absorbed twit about it.
So yes - she is a selfish, violent, self-absorbed twit. And that is the HEROINE? We are supposed to find it adorable that she is in such a good mood from falling in love that she doesn't fire a maid when said maid accidentally breaks a hand mirror. Wow - how did I live my whole life without seeing such a Mother Teresa? It is only notable for the fact that normally she is the kind of person who'd fire someone for this. Wow, keep it up, Hae Na, and one of these days you will almost reach 'barely human.' I might cut her some slack if she were 12, but she's got to be at least 25 and at that point any slack I had should have ended years ago.
The bad thing is I adore Tae Yoon, the human rights lawyer - he is basically my ideal man (reality check to Hae Na - you both got brought up by rich families. He actually studied hard, got a law degree, and is using it to help the disandvantaged. You? You shop and kick your servants. Charming). And I adore Dong Chan - he is so fun and resourceful and hard-working and ultimately nice.
And I know know KNOW kdramas - both Tae Yoon and Dong Chan will fall for her, leaving me tearing my hair out because she is so pointless. In fact, poor Dong Chan will have to be stuck with her, seeing that he is the lead, and it's a fate I'd wish on no character I even moderately like. And I bet Tae Yoon will angst over her. They both will. ARGH. She is an undisciplined idiotic waste of space. The only reason anyone would be interested in her is because she is good-looking and if that is one's sole reason for liking a woman, my opinion of the guy's intelligence can't really stay high and in order to convince me it's true love, I'd have to be a lot more drunk than a batallion of soldiers. Why can't either or both of them fall for Eui Sung's character instead (the secondary girl) - she seems to actually work for a living and be capable of human relationships.
My problem isn't her awfulness, per se. Hwan from Brilliant Legacy was the kind of man who in some ways made heroine of TCotL seem like a humanitarian (though he never did anything as bad or was as violent, BL was in a more real world and his acts of horribleness felt more real). It's the perception of her awfulness - or lack thereof. One of the major points of BL was that Hwan was a useless human being who wasted oxygen and had to go through a gradual, believable, painful process of changing and becoming a person (And did I mention the part where the heroine didn't even look at him long after he reformed himself and became a good man? And his transformation was done because of necessity, family issues, and hard knocks, not the silly cliche of doing it solely for love). But TCotL wants us to find Hae Na a little too much but largely adorable and fun and not really in need of much change - maybe a little romantic softening at most, not a major character overhaul (not that the latter would happen believably - it's a mangaish kind of drama and not in the business of character building - believable and complex character arcs aren't going to be the story here). I don't mind a truly awful character as the hero or heroine as long as the story realizes that they are awful and it is part of the point. The hatred for the drama and the character happens when we are meant to see them as lovely while all I see is a monster on screen.
The last time I have disliked a heroine so much was Hebe in Bull-Fighting, a drama I had to give up because of my loathing of the heroine. Hae Na is veering close. Verrrrry close. I don't want to give up because the story is cute in abstract, it's pretty, and I like everyone else, but it's hard to watch when the heroine gives you ulcers.
I'll watch a bit more for now but just like with Bull-Fighting before I gave up, I am shipping the guys together for the sole reason that this would prevent the trainwreck of heroine ending up with either of them. Ugh.
I am about to find out.
I am halfway through episode 4 of My Fair Lady and Yoon Eun Hye's character Hae Na evokes nothing but irritation. She is so useless. She does NOTHING good or productive or with a point to it. She does not work, she does not take care of her family or friends (does she even have any friends?) She does nothing but throw temper tantrums (if I do not find it acceptable for a guy to constantly hit a girl, I do not find it acceptable when the genders are reversed) and whines about how it is woeful she is rich. I kid you not, guys - there is this one scene she gets drunk and whines over and over that she has money troubles because she bought a ton of expensive gifts for the guy she likes - who has barely met her and has never indicated any liking back - and he, not inconceivably, asked her to take them back because they are too expensive and if she wants to thank him, she doesn't have to use a ton of money. She also referred to 'commoners' during that conversation as if incredulous a son of a wealthy family be like them as well as being repulsed by the idea he is a human rights lawyer. Yeah, that's really going to get the guy to love you. Leaving aside the classism and crassness, she clearly has no brain - that is about the worst way to woo a causehead ever. Also, hello - money troubles? Poor you, nobody forced you to buy him expensive gifts and be a self-absorbed twit about it.
So yes - she is a selfish, violent, self-absorbed twit. And that is the HEROINE? We are supposed to find it adorable that she is in such a good mood from falling in love that she doesn't fire a maid when said maid accidentally breaks a hand mirror. Wow - how did I live my whole life without seeing such a Mother Teresa? It is only notable for the fact that normally she is the kind of person who'd fire someone for this. Wow, keep it up, Hae Na, and one of these days you will almost reach 'barely human.' I might cut her some slack if she were 12, but she's got to be at least 25 and at that point any slack I had should have ended years ago.
The bad thing is I adore Tae Yoon, the human rights lawyer - he is basically my ideal man (reality check to Hae Na - you both got brought up by rich families. He actually studied hard, got a law degree, and is using it to help the disandvantaged. You? You shop and kick your servants. Charming). And I adore Dong Chan - he is so fun and resourceful and hard-working and ultimately nice.
And I know know KNOW kdramas - both Tae Yoon and Dong Chan will fall for her, leaving me tearing my hair out because she is so pointless. In fact, poor Dong Chan will have to be stuck with her, seeing that he is the lead, and it's a fate I'd wish on no character I even moderately like. And I bet Tae Yoon will angst over her. They both will. ARGH. She is an undisciplined idiotic waste of space. The only reason anyone would be interested in her is because she is good-looking and if that is one's sole reason for liking a woman, my opinion of the guy's intelligence can't really stay high and in order to convince me it's true love, I'd have to be a lot more drunk than a batallion of soldiers. Why can't either or both of them fall for Eui Sung's character instead (the secondary girl) - she seems to actually work for a living and be capable of human relationships.
My problem isn't her awfulness, per se. Hwan from Brilliant Legacy was the kind of man who in some ways made heroine of TCotL seem like a humanitarian (though he never did anything as bad or was as violent, BL was in a more real world and his acts of horribleness felt more real). It's the perception of her awfulness - or lack thereof. One of the major points of BL was that Hwan was a useless human being who wasted oxygen and had to go through a gradual, believable, painful process of changing and becoming a person (And did I mention the part where the heroine didn't even look at him long after he reformed himself and became a good man? And his transformation was done because of necessity, family issues, and hard knocks, not the silly cliche of doing it solely for love). But TCotL wants us to find Hae Na a little too much but largely adorable and fun and not really in need of much change - maybe a little romantic softening at most, not a major character overhaul (not that the latter would happen believably - it's a mangaish kind of drama and not in the business of character building - believable and complex character arcs aren't going to be the story here). I don't mind a truly awful character as the hero or heroine as long as the story realizes that they are awful and it is part of the point. The hatred for the drama and the character happens when we are meant to see them as lovely while all I see is a monster on screen.
The last time I have disliked a heroine so much was Hebe in Bull-Fighting, a drama I had to give up because of my loathing of the heroine. Hae Na is veering close. Verrrrry close. I don't want to give up because the story is cute in abstract, it's pretty, and I like everyone else, but it's hard to watch when the heroine gives you ulcers.
I'll watch a bit more for now but just like with Bull-Fighting before I gave up, I am shipping the guys together for the sole reason that this would prevent the trainwreck of heroine ending up with either of them. Ugh.
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no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 04:33 am (UTC)Adore your episode by episode reviews 'cause I'm really waiting for Hae Na's lightbulb moment and the aftermath. I'm hoping at that point, looking back, the first eps will seem like a prelude to the actual story. *lives in hope*
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:09 pm (UTC)YEH is, as always, fabulous, but there is only so much one can do with the character she's been given :(
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 07:22 pm (UTC)Except in this case its YEH and I can't figure out yet why she'd pick Lady Castle :( Is there hope for the character? Is it self sabotage since the pressure/expectations are getting to her? Is she trying to go for very different acting roles? I don't get it D:
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 07:46 am (UTC)Among the things you listed, I have to say that what really irritates me about her (even beyond how she is completely unaware of the rest of the world who isn't rich - I have met people like that who somehow are still likeable, cos you realise they really have NEVER realised that the rest of the world exists) is how she is so completely uninterested about her granddad's company. i have to say that between her and her extremely annoying cousin, as much as the latter is desperate and stupid, to some extent she is more likeable, because at least she is doing something productive.
I'm really hoping the writing picks up, or there's a huge epiphany for Haena, or we find out that her first love was really THAT traumatic and heartbreaking (and i can't tell how that relates psychologically to behaving badly for six years), or a combination of the above. because at this point my heart aches for Dong Chan but I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE LIKES HER. i don't like to think that it's because, like you said, she's beautiful - although the scene in the car makes me wonder if that is it. at least Tae Yoon is getting a skewed wrong impression of her, which somewhat explains his liking her, but makes me feel all kinds of uncomfortable for the pain he will be getting himself into.
*coughs* and that was very long. *looks sheepish*
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:15 pm (UTC)True - when she was frolicking in the garden drunk it was adorable, and her nervous, first-love crush on Tae Yoon is very cute, but my problem with the overall character remains: sure she is capable of niceness and being fun - but anyone who is not a sociopath can do that. But the drama clearly sees no need for a major overhaul in her character which is what's driving me up the wall.
so completely uninterested about her granddad's company. i have to say that between her and her extremely annoying cousin, as much as the latter is desperate and stupid, to some extent she is more likeable, because at least she is doing something productive.
Word word word. I prefer her cousin to her - at least she tries. All Hae Na does is swan about on unearned money insulting her cousin and mistreating the help. When she agreed to go to work (boohoo!) and then didn't do anything and we were supposed to see it as a throwaway gag and not a huge problem, my last hope for this drama died.
traumatic and heartbreaking (and i can't tell how that relates psychologically to behaving badly for six years
Even if her first love swindled her or whatever, fine - be standoffish with men. What do your maidservants have to do with it? It's very telling about a person's character, how that person behaves to those in her power - and she is simply awful. She has no interest in anyone's feelings but her own. If she is capable of unselfishness, I have yet to see it.
at least Tae Yoon is getting a skewed wrong impression of her, which somewhat explains his liking her, but makes me feel all kinds of uncomfortable for the pain he will be getting himself into
So much word! He is going to get his heart broken for someone who doesn't even exist! Just - grrrrrgh.
It wasn't long btw, I loved it!
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:36 pm (UTC)and i think what you just commented gave me some more food for thought -
her nervous, first-love crush on Tae Yoon is very cute -
I think it's adorable too, but at the back of my mind I keep feeling uncomfortable about it.I think the drama is not doing a very satisfactory job so far of explaining how this squares with her hung-upness on her first love Junsu, and also how Tae Yoon looks like him. I just think it's a tad disturbing. And of course all this is happening with Tae Yoon not being aware of any of this.
she agreed to go to work (boohoo!) and then didn't do anything and we were supposed to see it as a throwaway gag and not a huge problem
I'm the last person to think that shows should be teaching morals, but I have to say I'm waiting for a Corner With Love!Barbie Hsu's character or a Why Why Love!Huo Da moment. I really really hope here that you aren't right - that she's never going to learn the need to be a useful member of society. =.=
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:41 pm (UTC)It's just Hae Na is sort of the worst of both worlds - if you are spoiled and useless at least don't be a snobby bitch! You have NOTHING to be snobby about.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 09:19 am (UTC)She's supposed to be his heir isn't she? It's a little late in the game but time for some tough love I think.
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:16 pm (UTC)I would love this drama forever if it happened but it never ever will (and even if she were kicked out, Dong Chan or someone else would do anything and make it cushy for her. Ugh. She is such a waste of space).
no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-08-28 03:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 02:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 07:44 pm (UTC)