Hmmm. I’m not sorry I watched it, but I feel like it was more part of my kdrama education as a newbie than a ‘classic.’ There’s a lot that’s good about it – Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara are both great, especially together, Choi Jin-hyuk is a heartbreakingly appealing second lead, there’s a good mix of comedy and tragedy, and the FL is awesome and her character development is lovely. BUT. The Noble Idiocy is infuriating, it goes on for many episodes, and the OTP’s eventual reconciliation takes an absurdly long time. There are also a few maddeningly stupid scenes with the stock comic villager characters that made me want to throw things. And it’s just too long. On balance, it might be worth watching with a heavy hand on the FF button, particularly in episodes 13-19. (But don’t miss the proposal scene in episode 14, which is fabulous).
Haha, the most slap-a-character-through-the-screen mad I’ve ever been at a drama is for Lucky Romance – pretty much the entire character of the FL is built around this trope 🙄
I usually tend to get a bit more irritated when the Fl is the noble idiot. Women usually (not all the time) are more mature then men and tend to be assertive. Men can be clueless at times so I give them a pass when watching shows but if it’s the female, ugh. I just roll my eyes and sometimes ff through scenes. So i’ll probably steer clear from this kdrama.
I like when fl are confident, especially if they are playing a more mature role (I.e. Doctor, teacher, lawer, cop) but if it’s high school/college I give them a pass.
Maybe not quite what you have in min but I hope you don’t mind but I will just copy a comment of mine from the JOSEON ATTORNEY episodes 13-14 recap:
“O/T. Early last year I watched and enjoyed A PIECE OF YOUR MIND (2020). After, I thought APOYM could have also been entitled NOBLE IDIOCY: THE DRAMA (everyone knew what was best for Jung Hae-in’s character but him.)
Well, at this point in JOSEON ATTORNEY I think it could be entitled NOBLE IDIOCY: THE SEQUEL (both the Princess and sis Eun-soo and the Mayor decided keeping Han-soo in the dark was best.). NOBLE IDIOCY is by far the trope I detest the most.”
Some the worst examples of noble idiocy in a kdrama were in Lee Jae-wook’s KBS drama DO DO (2020) (Netflix US).
Do do was such a mess, I thought I was losing brain cells while watching it. I dropped it about half way through. I’m not really to fond of Lee Jae-wook, he’s been apart of some great shows but he doesn’t stand out for me. Hence why I avoided Alchemy of souls. He’s played the noble idiot in quite some shows and I’ve just can’t stand it lol.
One of the most egregious examples of NI in DO DO was the use of child noble idiocy (the cute piano prodigy). Absurd! The writer must have limited exposure to children.
Beauty Inside. The FL leaving the ML because she thought she caused his disability, despite him assuring her that it was all okay. But she left and hurt him more in the process. Then eventually she got back with him when he was all cured. How convenient, right?
Yes, I never understood why in Kdramas they make one person leave over a misunderstanding or wrong assumptions. That was pretty much the only thing that bothered me about the show. Oh and the 2L couple with all there back and forth, ugh it got me so mad lol.
Aroha Uaena
July 13, 2023 at 3:08 PM
Which Kdrama gave off the worse type of Noble Idiocy that you just wanted to slap the Main leads through the tv so they could get their act together.
Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
July 13, 2023 at 3:19 PM
Fated To Love You – the ML’s noble idiocy was so extreme it resembled brain damage, and went on so long it dominated nearly half the show.
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:20 AM
I haven’t watched that one yet, it’s on my watch lost though. Do you recommend not watching it? Lol
Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
July 14, 2023 at 8:15 AM
Hmmm. I’m not sorry I watched it, but I feel like it was more part of my kdrama education as a newbie than a ‘classic.’ There’s a lot that’s good about it – Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara are both great, especially together, Choi Jin-hyuk is a heartbreakingly appealing second lead, there’s a good mix of comedy and tragedy, and the FL is awesome and her character development is lovely. BUT. The Noble Idiocy is infuriating, it goes on for many episodes, and the OTP’s eventual reconciliation takes an absurdly long time. There are also a few maddeningly stupid scenes with the stock comic villager characters that made me want to throw things. And it’s just too long. On balance, it might be worth watching with a heavy hand on the FF button, particularly in episodes 13-19. (But don’t miss the proposal scene in episode 14, which is fabulous).
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 12:46 PM
Duly noted lol
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2023 at 3:27 PM
Haha, the most slap-a-character-through-the-screen mad I’ve ever been at a drama is for Lucky Romance – pretty much the entire character of the FL is built around this trope 🙄
bbstl 🧹
July 13, 2023 at 8:27 PM
Oh wow, that’s a good one, I must say! She was beyond hope 🤦🏼♀️
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:24 AM
I usually tend to get a bit more irritated when the Fl is the noble idiot. Women usually (not all the time) are more mature then men and tend to be assertive. Men can be clueless at times so I give them a pass when watching shows but if it’s the female, ugh. I just roll my eyes and sometimes ff through scenes. So i’ll probably steer clear from this kdrama.
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:26 AM
I like when fl are confident, especially if they are playing a more mature role (I.e. Doctor, teacher, lawer, cop) but if it’s high school/college I give them a pass.
bong-soo
July 13, 2023 at 5:42 PM
Maybe not quite what you have in min but I hope you don’t mind but I will just copy a comment of mine from the JOSEON ATTORNEY episodes 13-14 recap:
“O/T. Early last year I watched and enjoyed A PIECE OF YOUR MIND (2020). After, I thought APOYM could have also been entitled NOBLE IDIOCY: THE DRAMA (everyone knew what was best for Jung Hae-in’s character but him.)
Well, at this point in JOSEON ATTORNEY I think it could be entitled NOBLE IDIOCY: THE SEQUEL (both the Princess and sis Eun-soo and the Mayor decided keeping Han-soo in the dark was best.). NOBLE IDIOCY is by far the trope I detest the most.”
Some the worst examples of noble idiocy in a kdrama were in Lee Jae-wook’s KBS drama DO DO (2020) (Netflix US).
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:31 AM
Do do was such a mess, I thought I was losing brain cells while watching it. I dropped it about half way through. I’m not really to fond of Lee Jae-wook, he’s been apart of some great shows but he doesn’t stand out for me. Hence why I avoided Alchemy of souls. He’s played the noble idiot in quite some shows and I’ve just can’t stand it lol.
bong-soo
July 14, 2023 at 7:16 AM
One of the most egregious examples of NI in DO DO was the use of child noble idiocy (the cute piano prodigy). Absurd! The writer must have limited exposure to children.
Minka
July 13, 2023 at 9:11 PM
Beauty Inside. The FL leaving the ML because she thought she caused his disability, despite him assuring her that it was all okay. But she left and hurt him more in the process. Then eventually she got back with him when he was all cured. How convenient, right?
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:34 AM
Yes, I never understood why in Kdramas they make one person leave over a misunderstanding or wrong assumptions. That was pretty much the only thing that bothered me about the show. Oh and the 2L couple with all there back and forth, ugh it got me so mad lol.
pari
July 13, 2023 at 10:33 PM
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Not sure if it would be called noble idiocy, but this was idiocy at its worst.
Aroha Uaena
July 14, 2023 at 1:35 AM
This show scarred me for life hahaha.