Return of the “What the hell–?!” writers

by javabeans

Fascinating.

(Although, I’d hate to be called a “What the hell?!” writer. Oh, wait, was that just an invitation? Very well. Everyone gets a freebie “What the hell?!”)

Personally, I find the columnist’s conclusion kinda theatrical and pearl-clutchy (isn’t there some parents’ council s/he can join?), but it’s an interesting read nonetheless.

“How could they?”—“Still, I’m hooked”—“Problematic writers” return to the screen

The “problematic writers” have returned. “They” are writers penning “curse-inducing dramas” — a newly coined phrase [i.e., dramas that make us curse at the screen while still watching] — that are constantly criticized, yet enjoy high viewership ratings: Lim Sung Han, Moon Young Nam, and Seo Young Myung. With the comeback of these three, our autumn nights show sign of becoming noisier.

 
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That Woman Is Scary

That Woman Is Scary portrays a man, Ha Kyung Pyo (actor Kang Sung Min), who betrays his own love in order to marry the daughter of a chaebol [a rich business tycoon], and the one who vows revenge, Choi Young Rim (actor Yoo Seon). Her method of revenge: marrying the head of the company belonging to his father-in-law, Baek Dong Soo (actor Noh Joo Hyun).

One can expect as much criticism as excitement to follow. Oh Hyun Kyung’s comeback vehicle, First Wives’ Club, showcases scriptwriter Moon Young Nam’s trademark “adultery code” with her story of an adulterous husband, a man who maintains two households only to get the cold shoulder from both his first wife and his mistress, etc.

Even still, we have Lim Sung Han’s Madam Ah Hyun Dong (MBC), whose May-December romance with its twelve-year age gap is relatively mild compared to her previous drama Love in Heaven (SBS). A woman married off her daughter to the son of her husband’s ex-wife in that bizarre drama, which attracted much criticism. But even this series faces uncomfortable response with its May-December romance, in which Baek Shi Hyang (actor Wang Hee Jee) confronts opposition from her snobbish family, who try to prevent her marriage.

First Wives’ Club

These three writers’ projects haven’t just become the topic of conversation overnight. But the fact that these three have taken on writing dramas all at the same time shows that these family dramas, which are widely watched among middle-aged viewers, have undergone a personality change. Television columnist Jung Seok Hee says, “Even just when watching Lim Sung Han’s Mermaid (MBC), it felt like I was sometimes eating junk food. However, this kind of material is everywhere now, so much so that it’s difficult finding dramas that tell warm stories of ordinary families.”

Last year, provocative shows like Love in Heaven and KBS’s Infamous Seven Princesses rose to success, one after another, enjoyed by the middle-aged set and changing the face of daily and weekend dramas.

Madam Ah Hyun Dong

Aside from these three writers’ works, KBS’s Golden Age of Daughters-in-Law was criticized in its depiction of mother- and daughter-in-law relationships. Ggakdugi [Radish Kimchee] (MBC), which enjoyed favorable responses in its first half for its calmly unfolding story, has incited concerns with the dramatic story changes in the latter half. That has arisen from the plot surrounding the female lead character, Jang Saya (Park Shin Hye), who’s been confronted with a birth secret owing to a chance love affair.

One source with a broadcast agency said: “As ‘curse-inciting dramas’ increase in number, viewers pursue their tastes toward the more provocative material, which proves evidence to the contrary [of the name ‘curse-inducing’]. Drama producers cannot help but follow these audience trends.” Though it’s enough just with these three writers working together, these kinds of provocative dramas are only increasing in demand these days, and as the saying goes, all signs indicate that “the bad drives away the good.”

Source: Hankook Ilbo

 
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