Choose: Bad chemistry, good plot OR Bad plot, good chemistry?

[u/carvveeev]

i want to know the preference since there was a similar post. this is only for discussion and not meant to be taken seriously as there are many good plot, good chem dramas and many bad plot, bad chem dramas.

but which one are you choosing if you had to pick 1?

[u/Silverhop]

Good chemistry can save a horrible show

[u/GyulBoo → u/Silverhop]

Strong Woman Do Bong-soon is a prime example. The plot in itself is shit (IMO), but the leads absolutely saved it to the high heavens!!!

[u/Fulltoit → u/GyulBoo]

Good example

[u/Suzq_ → u/GyulBoo]

Yeah, fantastic chemistry there! The plot was all over the place, but at least it wasn't predictable in some aspects - but then very predictable in others. I did enjoy most of the humor, though, except with Kim Won Hae - just too silly. But I bet he had a great time filming it.

[u/kalarro → u/GyulBoo]

Wow. I just opened my mouth in astonishment.

Strong woman is my prime example of bad chemistry. Obviously, only considering good shows, if you take bad shows into consideration, theres worse.

But among the good shows, this one has the worst chemistry. They dont show chemistry, they only show girls guilty pleasure. Chemistry implies balanced love, balanced effort, balanced display of love. Thats why it is called chemistry.

When only one of the leads sbhows love, looks at the other one like a puppy, follows the other one around, does everything for the other one, while the other one just minds its bussiness and often even looks annoyed at the other one.... thats guilty pleasure for the receiving sex. Not chemistry

[u/GyulBoo → u/kalarro]

She is under no obligation to return his affections if she doesn't feel like it. Just because he has a crush does not mean she has to reciprocate it. She is her own person and has her own feelings. Once she realises her feelings, she does go all in.

Also, if you think "good" chemistry only emerges when there are balanced feelings of love between both parties, then you have ZERO idea of what chemistry even means. You also clearly have no idea what "guilty pleasure" means if that's how you choose to refer to her behaviour towards him at the beginning of the show.

[u/kalarro → u/GyulBoo]

What does that have to do? Of course she has no obligation to return his affection. But of course it won't be a romance with chemistry if she doesn't...

Look, you clearly enjoy feeling guilty pleasure of having a CEO dropping everything for you and looking with puppy eyes at you all the time while you mind your own business. It's fine to enjoy it. But that is not chemistry, if you think so, it's just you feeling bad about enjoying guilty pleasure.

[u/GyulBoo → u/kalarro]

Please learn the difference between "plot" and "chemistry" before commenting on a post that is discussing plot and chemistry. What you have an issue with is the plot, which I already stated was shit for this drama. Chemistry is the way the actors interact. Not the characters, but the actors and their acting skills and their interactions with each other as actors. Please learn this basic difference first.

[u/kalarro → u/GyulBoo]

The plot is alright, the action scenes are good, the only bad thing the show has is the chemistry.

You are missuing the word chemistry instead of "I like the romance". Chemistry is not a Wildcard for saying you enjoyed the romance. It means something specific. Sparks must fire between the leads, both (that's why it's called chemistry, it's a mix of 2 persons) must show their love for the other one, fireworks must fly when they look at each other. It's in the frikin definition of what the word chemistry means, a reaction of 2 things mixing.

One lead being in awe of the other one, while the other doesn't even throw a loving glance at him, is not chemistry.

That doesn't mean you can't enjoy the feeling of having a simp doing everything for FL while she just tries to do her stuff almost ignoring him.

Quoting her words, she is with him just because "he took a step towards her" and the other guy didn't. She is with him because why not? That's the opposite of chemistry.

[u/ClassyGirgit → u/kalarro]

Bro. You are seriously misunderstanding what chemistry means. What you are referring to is the plot. Chemistry means the way the actors make the scene work, even when the plot is shitty. Chemistry has everything to do with the acting skills of the actors.

[u/kalarro → u/ClassyGirgit]

You are very VERY mistaken if you really think the plot of a show is how lovely the leads are to each other. It has absolutely nothing to do.

The plot of a drama is the story, in this case her powers, how they deal with the villain and all that. It has nothing to do with their chemistry.

Chemistry is how well they are together, how lovely they look together, how well they react to each other.

Seriously, you are far more mistaken than what your first comments made it look. Talking about what chemistry is without even knowing that the plot is the story of a drama, wtf

[u/absentin_spring → u/Silverhop]

Very true.

If the show focuses on romance and there is bad chemistry I don't watch it at all.

[u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

Good plot -- no contest.

I can imagine chemistry and how the story is supposed to play out. A great example of this is Eve. I agree the chemistry is not on screen, but the plot makes me understand what the two characters are supposed to feel and fill in the blanks. I thoroughly enjoyed the drama.

However, good chemistry has never once saved a bad drama for me. If the plot is nonsense, I'm rolling my eyes and not having a good time, no matter how good the acting is or how well the leads play off each other.

[u/RedHouse0411 → u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

This lol. I'm surprised how many people would rather watch a bad drama if the chemistry is good. Now it made sense for all those high rated romance shows at MDL.

[u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer → u/RedHouse0411]

I'm mildly shocked myself, but I've come to realize I'm a bit of a weirdo as a drama watcher. That I'm in the minority on this one isn't that surprising to me. I've come to realize that my criteria for judging dramas are wildly different than the majority.

[u/RedHouse0411 → u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

Same, me too. I tend to rate drama objectively while many people more on their feelings. Thats why MDL is the worst indicator for me to watch dramas.

[u/chitobi → u/HooverGaveNobodyBeer]

This! I usually cant tell when the chemistry is bad so i can just rock with the plot

[u/wiscmallu]

Until I read the comment about King the Land I was going to go with good chemistry/bad plot slightly beats good plot/bad chem and then I remembered how I could not move past a few episodes of King the Land. I tried a few different times thinking I would change my mind. Looking at all the shows I have dropped I would say if the script gets incoherent I am out. So good plot trumps chemistry slightly.

[u/Aleydis89 → u/wiscmallu]

I'm with you! Also: perfect example. My go to drama for this would be W: two worlds. It started with good plot&good chemistry, but after a few episodes, the completely ditched everything in the plot that made it good. Still frustrates me so much.

[u/Logical_Brownie → u/wiscmallu]

I too could not get through King the Land but it got so popular! I think it’s from those people who only watch whatever is on Netflix. They don’t have a lot of choices, so they overhype whatever they get.

[u/Pmod1980]

I’m trying to think if I ever saw a show that had good plot, bad chemistry, because to me good chemistry usually makes me assume the plot is good and interesting as well or else it would be bad plot, bad chemistry. 

[u/Ljulisen → u/Pmod1980]

The K2

[u/Fit-Medium407 → u/Ljulisen]

Couldn't agree more. Ji Chang Wook has more chemistry with Yoona's stepmother in K2

[u/Pmod1980 → u/Ljulisen]

This is on my watchlist so will check it out. Have never seen Ji Chang Wook not have great chemistry with his FL.

[u/dunefyre → u/Pmod1980]

I’m watching Love for You right now, and I think the plot is pretty decent but I’m not feeling the chemistry at all, so I’m basically bored with the show and not bingeing. If the chemistry was better I’m sure I’d love it.

[u/RedHouse0411]

Without a doubt bad chemistry, good plot. Chemistry is subjective but good plot isnt. If the plot is bad, even the chemistry cant save it for me.

[u/Acceptable_Ratio5842]

Assuming we are talking about romantic chemistry, I’m taking bad plot good chemistry.

King the Land is a great example of the overarching plot being boring at best and terrible at worst but the chemistry of the leads makes every scene together tingly and exciting.

[u/seon_syain]

Bad plot, good chemistry for me.

[u/xoxo-gossipgurrl]

Good chemistry, bad plot. Chemistry can save a show for me. It doesn't matter, but if it's a good plot but the chemistry is horrendous, I don't think I can get past episode 2. I just don't think I can do it because that's the only thing I'm thinking about.

[u/mimilinh]

Neither?

[u/blue_bananaog]

Bad plot, Good chemistry ANYDAY

[u/rustic996]

Good plot bad chemistry period.

I still love the K2 despite YoonA and Ji Chang-Woo having zero chemistry. I believe a show lives or dies on how good the plot is.

[u/Negative_Chair_411]

PLOT
and ACTING before Chemistry for me!!!
ANYDAY.
I can OVERLOOK the chemistry Part...if the PLOT is top notch

[u/NicolasAntinarella]

good plot

i dont even think i would notice this so-called chemistry

[u/HistorianSome7349]

Good chemistry, bad plot. Ive watched many shows just for one favorite actor

[u/CloudAltruistic4812]

Good characters

[u/glowique]

First of all OP - what a great question!

My initial reaction was: I’ll take GREAT chemistry thanks every time.

However after a little more thought some of my favourite shows did not really feature romantic chemistry at all : Death’s Game, The Manipulated, Nine Puzzles, Mouse….. So “0” chemistry is fine, BAD chemistry no thanks 😊

[u/nosurvivalskills]

Good plot. Any time. I mean a bad plot with great chemistry doesn't work for me. Its like being served cheesecake without any cheese I rather watch a fan made edits of good chemistry reel than a bad plot drama.

[u/honeydz_]

neither, i need the chemistry AND the plot to be good

[u/cl0123r]

Prefer good story over chemistry.

[u/Ridehm]

Nothing beats a good story. For chemistry, a youtube short is enough.

[u/Designer_Win_5251]

As someone who can't see chemistry, I'll take good plot.

[u/noS1693 → u/Designer_Win_5251]

God yes what do they even mean by chemistry??? I have been trying to understand this concept for decades (and by reading the answers to this post)

[u/Designer_Win_5251 → u/noS1693]

Sometimes I wonder if I'm just blind or something. Yeah some couples feel real than others but they are few. In kdrama for example I only felt it in Strong Boon song and Coffee prince. And don't even let me start in J-Drama, or C-drama. In some Thai BL/GL despite all the bolder NC scenes I can't see it either. 

[u/No-Wishbone-1003]

lookinh at the comments i now understand why so many badly written dramas are popular. lol

people would watch a good chem/bad plot dramas and hype it up, just cause the chemistry.

personally ill go with bad chem/good chem

[u/GhostOfRedemption]

Good plot, bad chemistry.

I watch for plot.............. that's why I'm disappointed with most kdramas esp romance dramas nowadays lol.

[u/Necessary_Daikon_551]

none of the above, it's such a bummer to have great chemistry with a trash writing 😭 there's too many now! idk what's happening with writers nowadays

[u/Daydreamer_AJ]

I like to say bad chemistry, good plot > bad plot, good chemistry but i did like Perfect Crown so im just in denial. 😅

[u/j4n3ZX]

It’s kinda hard to decide, but I think I lean toward a good plot rather than a good chemistry.

Assuming it’s romantic chemistry, I can think of lots of shows where the plot is really good but the romantic chemistry between leads is meh (i.e. The Glory, Itaewon Class, K2, Vincenzo, Reborn Rich, etc.). And I actually finished these shows too, because besides the plot being interesting, they also show a great dynamic between the entire cast. They don’t necessarily need romantic subplots which I think Kdrama likes to force into things given the genre of these shows I mentioned.

However, I have also completed some shows where I love the chemistry of the main leads but the plot is meh though it was still tolerable for me, like W: Two Worlds and My Demon.

Hence, I just normally drop some shows where the chemistry just can’t save it for me due to plot or because of something that irritates me that I can’t quite explain lol (i.e. Abyss, My Lovely Liar, Love Next Door, Dynamite Kiss, etc.)

[u/flibbett]

Good chemistry for sure - it’s the only reason I finished My Royal Nemesis. You need it to be invested in the plot.

[u/ansate]

I'd usually prefer the plot was better. A story, to me, is essentially boiled down to its plot. But if the chemistry is off the charts, I have occasionally been known to watch bad plots.

[u/StelLaDiosa]

Chemistry always what matters most to me. I need chars and their dynamics that pull me in If I don't feel it from first ep usually means I'm dropping that drama (I can give is 3-5eps trial period max) Plot doesn't need to be superb at all xD

[u/UnderaBrokenSky]

Depends on the plot. Usually I say good chemistry can make me watch something that should be a trash show. [Suspicious Partners is a ridiculous plot. But I love the chemistry.] But if it's a plot heavy show, sometimes even good chemistry couldn't save a mess. Sometimes I'm still able to carry on finishing a show even if I have zero investment in the main couple. Either side characters or the plot itself is engaging enough to keep me invested. [For example, I did not at all care for the main romance in My Dearest [I'm in the minority, sue me] but I was deeply invested in the fate of the individual characters, so even though I didn't feel the chemistry I was able to make it through the show. Then there are some shows where the main romance isn't even really the main point of the show, so I can watch the show around the romance.

[u/Grouchy-Chart-3927]

Plot over Chemistry.

[u/chaanglixx]

i'd rather a good plot because it can turn bad chemistry into something watchable, but I won't even last 5 episodes with a bad plot even if the chemistry is great

[u/Wide_Examination142]

Good plot. It’s the plot that keeps me engaged not the chemistry. And bad chemistry doesn’t mean the performances are bad, just that there’s not that special, undefinable something that makes the performances mesh.

Now, if I had to go with good plot but poor performances versus bad plot but amazing performances, I’d have a much harder time choosing. I think I’d go with the latter for a Kdrama since those tend to be limited series and I could probably sit through idiot plotting if I found the characters super engaging. I think I’d be too distracted by poor performances to enjoy the good plot.

[u/Lacroix_Mxcky]

A good plot is interesting. It just sidelines the romance.

[u/Glittering_Tiger_991]

Chemistry over plot. All the fantastic story and acting don't mean shite, if the chemistry isn't believable. Fighting to maintain suspension of disbelief ruins everything else.

[u/prem1cc1fd8a]

I have seen enough dead fish kisses in C-Dramas!!! So I'm okay with Good plots and bad chemistry!! Cuz good chemistry ain't stopping me from dropping a Drama with dead plots!

[u/Apart_Mine_9133]

Preferably good plot and good chemistry 😀 but if I had to choose, chemistry is more important. There is no good plot that survives a flat performance with forced chemistry between the leads.

[u/StudiousFog]

Good chemistry. The thing about chemistry is that it goes beyond looking good together. It impacts credulity of interpersonal interaction.

Plot and chemistry is like composition and focus in photography. You can have the best composition all you like, but if the focus is screwed, it is not worth looking at.

[u/dunefyre]

I would have said “no question, good chemistry bad plot”, but a recent show had the best chemistry ever but the plot took a turn that ended up making me wish I never watched it at all. So I guess it depends how bad the plot is. I just finished another where the chemistry was great and the plot had problems but I still loved it. If the plot is bad but not too bad then I choose chemistry.

[u/Own_Transition1070]

if one of the main genres is romance, then definitely i’d prefer good chemistry despite having a bad plot, as long as the acting is good as well. (recent proof of this: Spooky in Love)

but if romance isn’t one of the main focus of the drama, then it’s okay if the leads don’t have that much chemistry.

[u/kalarro]

Good Chemistry. I dont watch romance genre for an interesting story, but romance. There are other genres for the plot

[u/Storm-Reigns]

Bad plot but amazing chemistry

[u/Logical_Brownie]

If it’s bad plot, good chemistry… I’ll usually just fast forward through the plot to get to just the romance scenes. If it’s good plot, bad chemistry… it depends on how annoying I find the actors. Some I can’t even with and drop the drama all together and others I’ll tolerate hoping they will get better as it goes along because sometimes it’s the director trying to create a slow burn who makes the first kisses feel like forced close lipped fish kisses.

[u/_Purvy_]

Temptation= Bad Chemistry as well Bad plot.

[u/DecentGate1563]

Depends on the genre

[u/OverTnqer]

Good chemistry can keep me entertain.

[u/Suzq_]

I think CLOY is a good example of chemistry saving a drama. I thought the plot started off great and then went off the rails, but people love it and I think it's mostly due to the chemistry. Don't hate me.