A recent online discussion has highlighted a fascinating phenomenon among K-Drama enthusiasts: dramas that initially left viewers underwhelmed or even frustrated, only to later earn a special place in their hearts through rewatches and a change in perspective.
According to the original discussion, fans shared experiences of dramas that underwent a “redemption arc” with them, the viewers, transforming from disliked or dropped series into begrudged or even beloved favorites.
The 2022 sports romance drama “Going to You at the Speed of 493 km” was a prominent example. Viewers initially found its focus on the female lead’s “endless descent into deeper and deeper guilt spirals” to be “stressful and anxious.” Despite early complaints about a “wasted” cast, many were drawn back, discovering appreciation for the drama’s “pacing and development” on rewatches, some even annually.
One fan confessed, “I had to admit to myself I liked it when I realized that i kept on returning for a rewatch almost annually!” Another viewer shared a similar journey with “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” initially dropped but later becoming a top favorite after a friend’s recommendation, now ranking alongside “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.”
This trend suggests that for some K-Dramas, a second look can unveil hidden depths and a different kind of appreciation, encouraging others to potentially revisit dramas they once dismissed.
Source (1): original Reddit discussion
