I went into this drama expecting something....more. After all, it had Lee Min Ho AND Park Shin Hye in it. How could you possibly go wrong with a show starring Mr Sexy-Short-Pants (star of City Hunter and the infamous Boys Over Flowers) and the girl-boy from You're Beautiful. It's like, statistically impossible.
While the drama isn't the worst one out there, in my opinion, it's definitely not that great either (and for sure does not live up to the hype). I waited about 3 episodes for that crack-drama feeling to kick in. When that didn't happen, I lowered my expectations and decided to leave my brain at the door while going along for the ride. But then stuff happened and I just ugh.
So without further ado, here are my list of complaints against Heirs. If you happen to like the drama, I apologise for offending you. These are just my thoughts (and usually they're not very intelligent ones).
1. Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Abs Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Money Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Daddy Issues Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Abs Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst Angst. LIKE PLEASE FUCKING STOP WITH THE ANGST ALREADY.
I have seen dramas where people spent 99% of their time crying. But in most of these cases, the crying was warranted. Lives were at stake. Loved ones were separated. People were betrayed. Revenge was being sought. These are all examples of it being okay to cry and angst your heart out. But in this drama? I don't even know why you are unhappy. Okay fine, you've got Daddy issues, I get it. But that doesn't mean you have to be a psychopathic, in-need-of-a-restraining-order asshole (Young Do, I'm looking at you). Are you all broody because the girl you love is of a different social class? That would be okay if I actually believed your relationship. What do Eun Sang and Tan have that I can't see? I find their relationship neither cute nor believable. Therefore your angst is irrelevant.
2. What does he see in her?
Eun Sang needs to grow a backbone. Or drink a sass potion. 'Cause girl, could you be anymore bland? Geum Jan Di from Boys Over Flowers was an idiot. But at least she was a sassy idiot who stood up to bullies. You? Do you do anything else besides cry and make this face?
Stand up for yourself once in a while. It's really not that hard. Just repeat after me: "No. Don't come near me anymore. If you do, I will kick you in the balls and report you for sexual harassment and stalking." See? It's not that hard! Also, if you like a guy, you probably should stop running away from him. It gives the wrong impression.
3. Tan. As mentioned over at dramabeans.com, giving a girl some space DOES NOT equate to watching her every move through CCTV footage. Please take notes.
4. Choi Young Do, you are an asshole and not the kind of asshole that has redeeming qualities. (Okay fine, the abs are great but still.) Grow up man. There is a difference between banter/teasing and straight out terrorising. You do not purposefully trip a girl just to enforce your male dominance. Neither do you corner her next to her locker and threaten to expose her poverty-status if she doesn't go out with you. That, my dear children, is called sexual harassment and it is frowned upon in most societies.
5. Yes, Eun Sang is bland and has about as much personality as a potato. But that doesn't mean you should treat her like an inanimate object you can drag along with you whenever you feel like it. I get that both the lead guys have issues that they need to sought out but the girl shouldn't have to be a pawn in the game. You don't have to prove your manliness by trying to get the girl. Like just whip it out and measure already. Then we can move on with the story.
6. Cultural Appropriation in the first few episodes. Never thought I would use this phrase when speaking of Americans but that's exactly what happened in the episodes set in California. God, the stereotypes were everywhere. Also, American does not necessarily equal white. There are other races in the US as well you know? (I would mention the Engrish but I suppose the Korean actors can't really help it if they're not fluent in the language).
7. Directing and cinematography aren't that great. And don't tell me that there is no such thing as good cinematography in a Korean drama because I could provide you with a whole list right now where this has been done well. The sets in "Heirs" are elaborate but there is more to shooting a drama than having nice locations. You've got to vary your shots, try out different angles. Have smooth transitions that don't look like transitions at all. I really hate it when you can tell it's the beginning of a shot just because of how awkward the line delivery from the actor sounds.
8. Everything is so unbelievable. I've heard stories about how Korean high schools are really cut-throat and wealth is a big factor in how your peers view you as a person. But this drama takes it too far. It's almost comical how judgy and arrogant everyone is. I know that dramas aren't supposed to be realistic but you could at least vary your characters a little bit. Not every rich girl has to be a bitch and not every poor person has to have a heart of gold. And I am saying this from the perspective of a girl from the Western suburbs of NSW.
9. This drama does that thing where they build up the conflict but when you get to the actual scene, it just seems to... fall a bit flat. For example, most episodes end with the two guys having a stare off and the girl just gets caught in the middle. Am I supposed to feel something here? Are you aiming for suspense? Cause mostly I just feel annoyed that the girl has been objectified again.
10. Basically everything is boring and nothing happens.
Anyhow, my bitching ends here. Sorry for making you sit through all that. I just have a lot of thoughts and as you can tell, Korean dramas get me all riled up haha. If you're looking for a drama that ticks all the boxes (acting, storyline, directing), I think you should check out Queen In Hyun's Man and maybe even I Hear Your Voice. By far the two best ones I watched this year. They gave me that crack-drama feeling that turned into epic withdrawal after the series had finished. Everything made sense and the characters were believable and kickass.
After all that negativity, I feel it's only fair to end on a positive note. So here you go. Have a picture of the abs:
(Source)
You're welcome.
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