Kdramas, Jdramas, Twdramas: Which is more addicting?

(I know there are a dozen topics about K vs J vs C dramas, but I'm pretty sure this is the only one about how addictive they are. If a thread exactly like this already exists, sorry.)

I'm currently watching It Started With a Kiss and I love it so much. It might even become my favorite drama. When I started really gettting into ISWAK, something occurred to me.
See, I'm an avid watcher of Korean dramas and I've only seen two Japanese dramas (Hana Yori Dango & Gokusen) and two Taiwanese dramas (Meteor Garden, Devil Beside You). The reason I love Korean dramas is that, even though they have so many cliches and predictable love triangles, the plot/storylines are interesting, the acting in them is great, and they cast a variety of (very beautiful) actors and actresses. Taiwanese dramas, on the other hand, don't really have plots (I feel like their storyline, or lack thereof, consists of a bunch of random events and eventually the main couple lives happily ever after), the acting is exaggerated and childish, and it seems to me that Taiwan only has a few famous actors so those celebrities appear in all the popular dramas. But Twdramas are about 100 times more addicting.

I used to think that Kdramas were the most addicting which is why I liked them the best. But I've just now realized that the reason why I can't stop watching them is that there are just so many good ones that I feel like if I don't finish them all, my life won't be complete. Now I know why I always feel so happy when I finally get to the last episode.
But for Taiwanese dramas, I don't want them to end. I actually enjoy the process (for lack of a better word) of finishing them because the main characters are just so adorable. Since I am a girl, watching even the smallest cute scene makes me squeal. Wub

I am certain about my genuine addiction to Taiwanese dramas because for both DBY and ISWAK, I was so obsessed that every day I woke up an hour earlier just to watch an episode. And since I'm still in high school, I have to wake up at 6am every morning. It's tiring as hell, but so worth it. Never has a Kdrama made me this crazy.

As for Japanese dramas, I don't really like them. They can be addicting, but I don't feel like wasting my time when there are much better dramas out there.

So the question is, which dramas do you find the most addicting and why? Is it the story that drives your addiction or the characters?

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:06 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

all of them are addictive.

Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

At first I only watched Kdramas and some TW ones, but then I tried Jdramas and for the first time, seriously addicted Big Smile

I think it's unfair to judge a drama by its being J/K/TW tho, all have great and not so great ones

Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Even though I like K-dramas and am a fan of Korean entertainment in general, I have to agree that I don't find it very addictive either. I mean, k-dramas are very good, without a doubt, but let me put it bluntly - There's not enough crack in it Cool

I don't go through withdrawal's if I don't get my daily dose, and I sure as hell don't wake up any earlier for a morning shot.

I'm beginning to think I'm only watching k-dramas for the beautiful Korean actresses (and they do have so many), and I'm not really appreciating the content provided. I'm not sure why, but the dramas just drag on and on for so long that it feels like a chore just to complete. You know that feeling you get when you've just finished cleaning your room so your mommy can let you play outside? Tongue

Anyhow, I still enjoy k-dramas enough to stick with it. For now, anyway.

As for Taiwanese dramas, hehe, I'm actually not surprised one bit that you're so addicted to it. Not because I think they're good, on the contrary, but because you said you're in high school. Taiwanese series are really aimed at the high school demographic (from what I've seen anyway), whilst neglecting many things which older viewers enjoy, such as good acting, intricate plot and high production values. But the three things that I hate the most about Taiwanese dramas are:

1/ They copy K-dramas. A lot.
2/ In some series almost the entire cast aren't professional actors. Instead, they use singers, or 'idols'.
3/ Actors/actresses aren't very good looking. Joe Cheng is supposed to be handsome? Ariel Lin is supposed to be pretty? Ok, they're decent looking people, but not quite at the standards set by the Koreans.

But I guess it all comes down to personal preference, and you do what floats your boat. Sorry to hear you've defected to the dark side though, I hope you see the light, eventually Smile

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:59 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

kobe23, I pretty much agree with everything you've said. I'm curious, how many/which Taiwanese series have you watched?

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:25 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

kdramas for me!!

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:47 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I haven't watched taiwanese dramas before, so I can't comment on that.

But for me, Jdramas are the best. I started by older dramas, so I really got into the hardcore love stories which didn't repeat themselves in every other new drama there are today (As in easily predictable.) Then I ran out of those and moved onto the newer sillier dramas which I could watch whole series in a single night and fangirl myself to sleep. Some of the comedy (Stand up, Kisarazu Cat's Eye) just owned everything else. I can no longer find a sad drama that will make me cry, though. It's kind of frustrating. xD

Kdramas are cool too, but I've only watched a few. The casts are always great though, always high quality acting and it's just easier to look at than some of the poorer jdramas. But they drag on too long, and I think I've only watched one whole series without skipping episodes in between or completely forget that I had it sitting on my hardrive for weeks, if not months. Another upside though, is that the comedy is so cute and fun to watch.

So for me, jdramas. ;D

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:49 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

It depends on the show not the country. I've seen lots of shows from all three that I had to crawl though despite being good shows because I wasn't "hooked." Like wise I've also found just as many that cause me to finish in a day or two because I can't concentrate to do anything else until I'm done. Sometimes retarded fluffy crap is what will enthrall me, sometimes a serious or sad drama, and sometimes a mystery.

I like a lot of genres. I can get addicted to things that are totally platonic as well as a romance. I guess my level of addiction has a lot to do with timing. My mood is a factor in what I watch so I could watch something that would normally have me hooked but not be into it at all because of my mood.

I guess I've got a pretty neutral view though because I actually look at the lists of new dramas from every country and decide what looks good to me to check out each season. Most people I've seen stick to a specific country most of the time and only watch other country's dramas when they hear everyone else rave about it.

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:02 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

I'm actually starting to be addicted to thai stuff, but it just leads to a dead end!

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 11:40 am Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:03 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

well i'd have to say k-dramas are the ones i like best, some can be quite addictive

as for j-dramas, some just dont have the appeal, and i really hate it when the main characters dont end up together [like in nobuta]

as for tw-dramas, some can be good, but the general standard is steadily declining, the acting skills of some of them now are quite pathetic really...and im sorry to tw-drama fans. i liked iswak and meteor garden but other ones just dont cut it for me, like black sugar macchiato

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

For me it depends... I primarily watch Jdramas (I have watched over 100). The main reasons are: I know Japanese, Japanese dramas are shorter in duration and have less episodes and they usually cover various drama genres (and they are not always about romance). You may even find sci-fi and fantasy elements in Jdramas.
I didn't bother checking K-dramas and Tw-Dramas until last year. Their over-1-hour duration and more than 12 episodes thing pulled me off. However I gave them a try with Goong and Devil Beside you and all of a sudden I was addicted as well! Still, my addiction to Jdramas is bigger. As I'm getting pressed for time, I have only watched about 9-10 K-dramas (but loved all of them despite the cliches in the story) and around 4 Tw-dramas. I wish I could watch more but with my schedule I find it more comfortable to watch J-dramas after all.

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 12:30 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

Although I watch more KDramas and find them of better quality overall, I find Japanese dramas to be more addictive, perhaps because they are more plot-driven than KDramas, which are mostly character-driven. Plot-driven shows are more addictive to me because I want to know what happens next.

Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject: Post Rating: 0

IMO, J-dramas are more addictive in general. May be the way the stories go and the how the dramas are filmed. Most of the stories are creative and original.

Second - K-dramas.

LAST - Taiwanese dramas. I think may be I'm not into Idol-based dramas. There are almost no Taiwanese dramas that are NOT Idol-based.