My Reasons...

Gosh, if Pat can come up with 10 reasons she loves Kdramas, so can I. As usual we'll agree on some things, but disagree on others.

1. First and foremost for me are the adorable actors. I'm not going to beat around the bush and pretend I have some sort of highbrow personality. Nope, #1 for me are the actors. And not just their looks but their empathetic behavior and intense ability to focus; swoon worthy for sure!

2. Like Pat I love the really complex story lines. Oftentimes during the first 2-3 episodes I'm lost. But then things start to click into place & I catch on to what's happening. The writers deserve kudos for pulling this off.

3. The unusual topics. Who would think a 16-episode show about fencing would be captivating? Or a 70-year old ballet wannabe? Or an entire series about weather forecasting?

4. The supporting characters are wonderful and much better developed than US shows. I still think that the Lady's Maid (played by Lee Jung-eun) in Mr Sunshine deserves an award as supporting cast. And, If you don't fall in love with the 'swindler' (played by Kim Jung-hyun) in Crash Landing on You you might have a personality disorder.

5. The food. Korea has a reputation for having terrific food but I'm really talking about more than that. The fact that we actually see the cast eating mouthfuls, slurping noodles, serving boiling hot soup, and just enjoying their meals is remarkable.

6. Cultural differences is another favorite thing of mine. How can you not love shows that feature dried squid as Car Food?

7. Bowing. As I've said before I'm a big fan of this and do not understand why more cultures don't do it. I may start a movement to bring it stateside; could only help improve our civility towards one another!

8. The gorgeous Joseon costumes. No clue what the Joseon Period even was; much less anything about the clothing, customs, hierarchy, etc. Japan kind of eclipsed my knowledge of Korea and I'm glad that I've expanded my horizons.

9. 한글 Hangeul , the Korean language. Hangeul was invented in the 1400's by the emperor and I'm amazed. He did it to give his citizens access to knowledge and learning. Wow, we need him today. I especially love the way Korean sounds... such an expressive language!

10. Learning new stuff. At almost 70 it has been a thrill for me to learn something new that I find exciting and interesting. This foray into Kdramas has provided me with hours of entertainment and the opportunity to expand my life. What a treat it has been. Thanks Pat for suggesting this journey!