Drama Hero types: dangermousie gets bored
After much agonized pondering :P I also decided that most of dorama heroes can also be characterized into the following categories:
1. Angsty Wild Boy: He might ride motorcycles. He might pick up girls. He might even *gasp* plot revenge and get into fights. He certainly needs taming/helping/healing because he has some maaaaajor issues or just some heavy-duty angst that will a’come his way (how much angst depends on how dramatic the drama). After all, nothing is as hot as an angsty wild boy.
Notable examples: Dao Ming Si in Meteor Garden, Chen Ling in Mars, Ah Meng in Devil Beside You, Joe Cheng’s character (blanking on the name) in Magic Ring, Kang Bokgu in A Love to Kill, Hikaru in Forbidden Love, Domyouji in Hana Yori Dango, Tae-Sung in Temptation of Wolves, Shin in Gokusen, Kurosaki in Kurosagi, Cha Sang-Doo in Sang-Doo, Let’s Go to School, Halu in Pride, Lee Mong-Ryong in Delightful Girl Chun-Hyang (though he sort of veers into Category 2), Kang-Wook in Loveholic.
As you can see, I am quite fond of the type.
Of course, there are sort of mix and matches. If they ever did a decent adaptation of Peach Girl, Kairi/Ah Li would fit here…
Chen Ling in Mars as a delicious example of Hero Type Number 1:
2. The Sweet, Sometimes Serious Boy You’ll Take Home to Mother: You know how that Boy in Number 1 is everything your Mom warned you about? That is not the case with the Hero Type Number 2. Your Mom will probably squee and bake him a pie if you bring Hero Number 2 home. He is sweet, serious, works hard but is an all-around wonderful guy. In fact, if you have any brains, you’ll jump him before someone else gets the chance. He is quite normal, though he might have issues and angst of his own. He won’t act out but when he is sad you’ll want to hug him just the same.(aka dangermousie’s type in RL.)
Hiroto in Tatta Hitotsu No Koi, a yummy example of Number 2 Tupe Hero (cap courtesy of winterspel):
Notable Examples: Seol Gong-Chan in My Girl (SQUEE!), He Qun in Smiling Pasta, Ji Feng Liang in Tokyo Juliet, Jae-Ha in Spring Waltz, Hiroto in Tatta Hitotsu No Koi, Sano in Hana Kimi (the new adaptation), Ken in Love Contract, Jo Hyun-Jae in Love Letter (extra points for being a Priest-wannabe), Zerya in At the Dolphin Bay.
3. Icicle. That the Special One Will Melt. You know the type: gorgeous, icy, emotionless. Probably much more intelligent and socially desirable than you. But oh the fun to see the veneer crack and have him be a complete nutter about the OTP. Hero Type Number 3 requires a lot of perseverance (the heroine must be bubbly and plucky) but the pay-off is worth it.
Notable Examples: Zhi Shu in It Started with a Kiss, Qi Wei Yi in Silence (though he quickly moves to Hero Category Number 2), Shin Goon in Goong, Xi Men in Meteor Garden.
Prince Shin in Goong, as a hot example of Type Number 3:
4. Boyish Charmer Needing to Grow Up. With angst: he might be a bit immature at the start, but he is as warm-hearted as he is scatter-brained. Because he still needs to grow up, the heroine who wants Hero in the Category Number 4 needs a bit of patience (and a realization that since he is still changing, he might hit Hero Category 1 at some point). But hey, he’s fun and will probably graduate to Category 2, before he gets to be---80 or so, so have fun. This type usually appears only in lighter dramas.
Notable examples: Young-Jae in Full House, Heun Jin-Heon in My Name is Kim Sam Soon, You in Marmalade Boy.
Young-Jae in Full House, a good example of Type Number 4:
1. Angsty Wild Boy: He might ride motorcycles. He might pick up girls. He might even *gasp* plot revenge and get into fights. He certainly needs taming/helping/healing because he has some maaaaajor issues or just some heavy-duty angst that will a’come his way (how much angst depends on how dramatic the drama). After all, nothing is as hot as an angsty wild boy.
Notable examples: Dao Ming Si in Meteor Garden, Chen Ling in Mars, Ah Meng in Devil Beside You, Joe Cheng’s character (blanking on the name) in Magic Ring, Kang Bokgu in A Love to Kill, Hikaru in Forbidden Love, Domyouji in Hana Yori Dango, Tae-Sung in Temptation of Wolves, Shin in Gokusen, Kurosaki in Kurosagi, Cha Sang-Doo in Sang-Doo, Let’s Go to School, Halu in Pride, Lee Mong-Ryong in Delightful Girl Chun-Hyang (though he sort of veers into Category 2), Kang-Wook in Loveholic.
As you can see, I am quite fond of the type.
Of course, there are sort of mix and matches. If they ever did a decent adaptation of Peach Girl, Kairi/Ah Li would fit here…
Chen Ling in Mars as a delicious example of Hero Type Number 1:
2. The Sweet, Sometimes Serious Boy You’ll Take Home to Mother: You know how that Boy in Number 1 is everything your Mom warned you about? That is not the case with the Hero Type Number 2. Your Mom will probably squee and bake him a pie if you bring Hero Number 2 home. He is sweet, serious, works hard but is an all-around wonderful guy. In fact, if you have any brains, you’ll jump him before someone else gets the chance. He is quite normal, though he might have issues and angst of his own. He won’t act out but when he is sad you’ll want to hug him just the same.(aka dangermousie’s type in RL.)
Hiroto in Tatta Hitotsu No Koi, a yummy example of Number 2 Tupe Hero (cap courtesy of winterspel):
Notable Examples: Seol Gong-Chan in My Girl (SQUEE!), He Qun in Smiling Pasta, Ji Feng Liang in Tokyo Juliet, Jae-Ha in Spring Waltz, Hiroto in Tatta Hitotsu No Koi, Sano in Hana Kimi (the new adaptation), Ken in Love Contract, Jo Hyun-Jae in Love Letter (extra points for being a Priest-wannabe), Zerya in At the Dolphin Bay.
3. Icicle. That the Special One Will Melt. You know the type: gorgeous, icy, emotionless. Probably much more intelligent and socially desirable than you. But oh the fun to see the veneer crack and have him be a complete nutter about the OTP. Hero Type Number 3 requires a lot of perseverance (the heroine must be bubbly and plucky) but the pay-off is worth it.
Notable Examples: Zhi Shu in It Started with a Kiss, Qi Wei Yi in Silence (though he quickly moves to Hero Category Number 2), Shin Goon in Goong, Xi Men in Meteor Garden.
Prince Shin in Goong, as a hot example of Type Number 3:
4. Boyish Charmer Needing to Grow Up. With angst: he might be a bit immature at the start, but he is as warm-hearted as he is scatter-brained. Because he still needs to grow up, the heroine who wants Hero in the Category Number 4 needs a bit of patience (and a realization that since he is still changing, he might hit Hero Category 1 at some point). But hey, he’s fun and will probably graduate to Category 2, before he gets to be---80 or so, so have fun. This type usually appears only in lighter dramas.
Notable examples: Young-Jae in Full House, Heun Jin-Heon in My Name is Kim Sam Soon, You in Marmalade Boy.
Young-Jae in Full House, a good example of Type Number 4: