One of my favorite things about kdramas is how difficult it can be to predict the endings. Yes, the Candy girl usually gets the chaebol in a romantic comedy, but what happens along the way can be surprising and what occurs in the last scene can be, for better or worse, a shocker. In a melodrama it can be impossible to predict. One reason is because kdramas are actually highly interactive, accommodating audience feedback.
There is a willingness to change the plot based on audience reactions and because of such flexible shooting schedules that is easier to accomplish than say it would be while filming an American TV show.
As shown in the drama about producing dramas, "The King of Dramas," episodes are often still being written the day before they are being filmed and they may be rewritten in response to the audience's reaction.
A character that was due to die, may get a reprieve or just a little more time, like Kim Sun Ah's character in the "Scent of a Woman." The popularity of her character had viewers begging for mercy and, maybe thanks to their intervention, she manages to temporarily outlive her prognosis.
At the beginning of "I Miss You," there were some scenes that made it look like Park Yoo Chun's character was going to die, but that was probably the last thing the audience wanted. Rumor has it, a few flashbacks were added, another episode was created and his ending became a happier one.
Or due to the popularity of the drama it may be extended for a few more episodes, creating complications that slow down the plot progression, as was the case in "Princess Hours."
The closer it gets to a drama's end, the more debate there may be online about how the series will be resolved and that debate is monitored, often affecting the final outcome.
Even when no plot detours are planned, it is not unusual for the production crew to get the day's script the morning they are due to shoot that episode. And that same episode might be filmed and broadcast within 24 hours.
This can create confusion, repetition, and some "seriously?" moments when you are watching, all of which could be avoided if the screenwriter had a chance to review the entire script before the filming started. But there is something charming about the idea that drama producers are so concerned with viewers' opinions. It is yet another example of "fan service" in action.
If it were an American TV show, those viewer reactions might be addressed in the second season, not in the next episode. Or maybe not at all.
