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Amen!
As another "Western viewer" I couldn't agree more with you, especially about the second point, which I have been talking about so much. I like how you added "proper" lol.
I don't hold an extreme opinion that American shows are rubbish and Kdrama are brilliant. There are pros and cons in each.
But, the trump card and the biggest advantage that Kdrama has is the one (on ocassion 2) season format.
I have now reached a point that I don't watch any new American show unless it is limited series or hold HUGE interest to me. I am sick and tired of watching one series for years and not knowing at which point will be cancelled or seeing it becoming a shadow of its former self.
I also share your principle.
I will not watch the second season of "Squid Game" even though I LOVED S1 and I think it is one of the best Kdramas I have seen. But, for me the story ended.
I might (not certain) watch Extraordinary Attorney Woo, because I think there is a room for second season

Thank you! someone agrees with me lol.
For me the ending is exactly what made it special.
If this ended in a classical way, I would have moved on very quickly. But that ending made me re-watch most of it, and it will probably stay with me for long time.

Thank you all. I watched another episode, but decided it is not for me.

No Spoilers Please
I have now watched 3 episodes. While there is a good deal to enjoy, I am not finding it that good either. I am hesitant to drop it, because there are elements that I am enjoying.
So, considering that I find the first 3 episodes around 6.5-7, will the series get better?

I finished this show today.
I really enjoyed it very much. It is such an excellent slice of life about growing up and the joys and pains of it.
I though Kim Tae-Ri as Na Hee Do was amazing. I believe she was certainly the strongest actor, and probably the show wouldn't have been so good without a good actress like her.
I also loved the Coach :)
I have read around, and I could see many people didn't like the end. I beg to differ. I thought the ending was one of its strong elements, but maybe because I am middle aged person.
Anyway, I think it deserves the hype.

I think you are right.
I think the Korean TV industry as at a cross road. It is hugely popular, and there is a big demand for it at the moment. But, I dearly hope they don't go after short term profit and lose sight of what made them popular in the first place.
The more the K-drama become like American the less popular it will become. And the format is one of those attributes.
They should also remember that International fans don't have the same level of loyality like domestic fans who will probably always watch domestic series.
International fandom love K-drama because it is different from American. I hope the people in charge don't forget this.

I was so impressed by her acting in "My Mister". Looking forward to this.

I have recently watched My Mister for the first time. Then re-watched it straightaway (was even better second time). A true Masterpiece, and one of the best series I have seen in any language (and I am almost 50)
I am really excited for the series, but I must say also little bit worried. Writing is the corner stone of any drama, and it is not "My Mister" writer. I have also didn't click with "When The Camellia Bloom", and dropped after 1 episode first time around, but I kept seeing great reviews about it, so I watched 2 more, but it just didn't work for me.
Still, I am hopeful.

I am increasingly getting that feeling.
I have already re-watched it, and watched tons of YT videos about it.
I would say that on second viewing it was even better. The acting is SO good by all actors.
I think the actress playing the wife doesn't get enough credit, but I thought she was very good. The lead are obviously brilliant.
I also normally don't care about OST, but this one is just AMAZING. The main song is incredible, but my favourite is "Far Away Place" which I eventually found on YT and played it so many times.
This is certainly one of the best dramas I have seen in my life in any language, and I am not young.

Thank you for the re-assurance. I am actually considerably less likely to watch a series if it is commissioned by Netflix.
I can't be angry with Netflix because it is the platform that helped me to discover the world of K-drama, and continue to have a very good library, but I just hate to see K-dramas also becoming multi-seasoned shows.

The writing (apart from comedy) was the weakest element of the show (even P1). It was mediocre at best.

Today I watched the last 2 episodes.
I must say that in the the last 2 weeks I finished watching "My Mister", so I am coming from a VERY high place. My Mister is one of the best shows I have seen in my life in any language. I am saying this to show the state of my mind.
But, this is about AoS. Evaluating the two parts together, I would say it was an entertaining drivel.
I think this would have been much better series if it was only 16 episodes.
The series had lots of great moments, and there was always something to keep us entertained. But, it also dragged forever, had enormous number of plot holes and inconsistencies. I think the writing is mediocre at best when it comes to Fantasy, but much better when it comes to Comedy.
Also the acting was very good and kept it being watchable.
Personally, I find MDL 9.1 rating totally undeserved. I have watched about only 25 K-dramas, and even with such low number this show doesn't rank that high (certainly outside top 10).
At the end, I think it is entertaining, and I would ecommend it but with big caution. For me it is around 6.5-7

Finished this yesterday.
I have watched only about 25 K-dramas, but this one is certainly a very strong candidate for number 1 spot.
I also have a feeling that the first series I finished in 2023 is going to be best.
I can't tell you how many times I cried.
The writing is amazing, and I am only reading subtitles. I bet I would have been even more impressed if I knew Korean.
However, the most remarkable thing about it is how much is conveyed with very little or no dialogue.
Most of my favourite scenes the main characters are not even in the same scene.

I hope I didn't come across as anti-American shows. I think you are a bit harsh on them. There are many wonderful American shows. There is no lack of creativity or good material, but the open ended multi-seasons format is just SOOOO annoying. You have to wait for years just for one show to end. Not to mention the threat of cancelation that is hanging like the sword of Damocles. And now the situation is much worse than it used to be. With so many shows produced, it is not even humans who decide which show remain on air. It is all about computers deciding.
I am not American myself, but I have watched mainly American shows for decades. I find K-drama (and other non-English speaking shows) very refreshing. New faces, new creative teams new enviorment, new ways to look at issues instead of the same things.
I do think K-dramas though are especially good, and they cover all genres presented to you in one season.

This show has more plot holes, lack of logic, and inconsisties than a sieve. They make things up as they go. BUT, once I stopped caring about them and just accepted what I am told I felt better.
Despite all its shortcomings, I still find it very entertaining. It has a great mix of this and that. I started watching it because I absolutely LOVED JSM in "Because this is your first life", but I discovered many more good actors. I find the actor who plays Park amazing! He can be very convincing as a leader and as slow witted and hillarious in romance. The actress playing Kim also is very good. Despite all these young very beautiful couples, I find the older actors romance the best.

Absolutely!
As an International viewer I escapped from the American model of open ended series with them stretching to many seasons until they become rubbish, or you get bored.
The biggest advantage of K-drama for me is the one season format. It is an excellent format. You start a series knowing that you get a complete arc.
Alchemy of Souls has already dragged more than it needed to be. They should have ended it in the original 20 episodes. But, it is a fun show, and its positives are more than its negatives. However, I don't think I will watch another season of it.
Korea! PLEASE PLEASE stick to the one (maybe two) season format. Don't become just a copy of USA. Keep your unique flavour.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I am taking it easy :). I am only asking. As I said, I am not Korean, and I don't have a clue about SBS or its history.

I am not Korean, and I became big fan of K-drama only in the last 2 years, so I don't know a lot about this award.
In principle I don't really care about them (Oscars, Emmys, Baftas, etc etc). But, as this is totally new to me, I am mildly curious, although I expect similar problems.
My reaction to this is how comes that "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" didn't get even a single nomination? Also, there are only few shows that got everything. This is strange for a country that produces so many series. Or is it this award only for shows of this channel?