Netizens are tired of predictable tropes of past lives, reincarnation, and time travel after multiple K-Dramas included as plot devices.
In 2023, it seemed just about every new K-Drama released included time travel or reincarnation as a central part of its plot in some capacity. Popular K-Dramas, such as Twinkling Watermelon, The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract, and A Time Called You all focused heavily on time travel.
“Twinkling Watermelon” poster “The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract” poster “A Time Called You” poster
Likewise, reincarnation took over as the go-to plot device in 2023 K-Dramas, See You in My 19th Life, Destined with You, A Good Day to Be a Dog, and Heartbeat. Yet, it feels like this trope isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
“See You in My 19th Life” poster “A Good Day to Be a Dog” poster “Destined with You” poster “Heartbeat” poster
Death’s Game, My Demon, and A Good Day to Be a Dog, released at the end of 2023, rely on reincarnation to tell their stories. They premiered on December 15, November 24, and October 11, 2023, respectively, but its finales will air in 2024.
“Death’s Game” poster “My Demon” poster
Many of the reincarnation K-Dramas, which were released in 2023, are also based on Webtoons. These include See You in My 19th Life and A Good Day to Be a Dog, both written by Lee Hey, while Death’s Game was written by Lee Won Sik and Ggulchan.
“Death’s Game” | Webtoon | Webtoon
K-Drama fans thought they were finally breaking free from the trope while watching My Demon as we all knew its male lead, Jeong Gu Won (Song Kang), had become immortal after becoming a demon. In the recent episodes, he remembered his human life as a young master, Seo Yi Sun, who fell in love with courtesan Wolsim. Wolsim is the past life of Gu Won’s current wife, Do Do Hee (Kim Yoo Jung). Yi Sun and Wolsim’s tragic love story is the cause for Gu Won now being a demon.
my demon editors eating up these parallels lately DO THEY NOT KNOW WE ARE INSANE ENOUGH?????#MyDemon #MyDemonEp12pic.twitter.com/AD3TamXGOk
— ś (@ggoneyed) January 6, 2024
Episode 12 focused heavily on their past, with about half set in the Joseon era. Recently, A Good Day to Be a Dog did the same thing, having episodes dedicated to the main characters’ past lives in the Joseon era, making viewers question if they had switched to watching a historical K-Drama.
I KNEW BOGYEOM WAS GRAVELY MISTAKEN! ChoYoung sacrificed her life so Maksoon,her unborn child & SooHyun could live!
WHEN HE REALIZES HOW HE UNDERMINED THAT SACRIFICE BY CURSING MAKSOON!#AGoodDayToBeADogEp13#AGoodDayToBeADog #ChaEunwoo #차은우 #ParkGyuyoung #LeeHyunwoo pic.twitter.com/sLwGpPO9uA
— kaykdramanotes (@kaykdramanotes) January 3, 2024
Since My Demon‘s latest plot twist, netizens have confessed they are exhausted from the recurring tropes of reincarnation or time travel in K-Dramas. Many hope it can be left behind in 2023.
idk what to think anymore #kdrama #koreandrama
I need kdrama writers to stop inserting the “they knew each other in their past lives” trope like it’s so boring and predictable anyways. You can make an exciting love story with people meeting just ONCE trust me..Give us conflicts give us selfish characters give us WELL WRITTEN
— stressed simp (@filmkdrama) January 7, 2024
i hope this year kdrama writers will leave the time travel and past life plot behind because we are so over it
— juIia (@xeesofilm) January 6, 2024
Historically, reincarnation K-Dramas have been well-received. These beloved K-Dramas include Goblin (also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) (2016), My Love From The Star (2016-2017), Hotel Del Luna (2019), Legend of the Blue Sea (2013-2014), and Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020-2023). However, seldom were these K-Dramas released in the same year.
“Goblin” poster “My Love From The Star” poster “Legend of the Blue Sea” poster “Tale Of The Nine-Tailed 1938” poster “Hotel Del Luna” poster
My Demon‘s viewer ratings have also taken a hit.
Read more below.
Viewer Ratings For SBS K-Drama Plummet To An All-Time Low: Lead Actors Take Blame
