"second lead syndrome" is the worst case of double standards

(Quote taken out of my drama review for She Was Pretty. Here's a link to to it, in case you're interested. There are also mini-commentaries on Quantico, 11.22.63, How to Get Away With Murder, etc.)

There is a formula to every love story that often involves a love triangle/love square and if there was one thing I learned, it is that a majority of viewers suffer from "second lead syndrome."

*insert rolling eyes here*

More often than not, they don't realize "second lead syndrome" is the worst case of double standards. It is not about who is "better" for the protagonist. You can not sugarcoat double standards with your "feels."

No matter how dishonest, manipulative, aggressive, or undeserving the male rival is, he will always have fangirls rooting for him. When it comes to a female rival who possesses the same qualities, she's the one who is antagonized. While the male rival is admired for going after what he wants, the female rival is torn down for it. "She's the ." "She's the ." Needless to say, males are forgivable. Females, not so much.

So here's a standing ovation for the unlikeable female characters. You can't win.

Comments

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cathe_ #1 Mar 16, 2016 17:56:30

True, they mostly write the second lead as the "best friend" so you just can't help but root for him for the main female lead.

lilith9999 #2 Mar 16, 2016 17:08:19

The reason might be because the public is most composed with woman so the second woman lead is what, all what they don't like! But it is also a canon in kdrama... and I admit that I often like male second role xD

hopelesswriter #3 Mar 16, 2016 16:40:50

well, to be fair, i would put the blame mostly on the writers, at least in kdrama cases, male second lead is often made as the total opposite of female second lead, so naturally the response would be of the opposite ends, male second leads are almost always the oh so perfect out of the world self sacrificing guy so it can't be helped if fangirls got into second lead syndrome for them, while male lead characters are often the jerk. While female second lead are almost always the one dimensional biatch...if anything the worst enemy of female is the writer...at least that's how i see it...

Moonzy #4 Mar 16, 2016 14:03:26

I feel like my comment made NO SENSE although it did in my head LOL

Moonzy #5 Mar 16, 2016 14:02:28

I will take responsibility in admitting that I have been part of the 'Second Lead Syndrome'. I do say that I do it not out of double standards, but out of not realizing it.
I feel like the reason why people hate on the girl more than the guy 'in my own opinion' is because (from what Ive noticed) that the second lead girl takes more action into making her feelings known and to get the man although he is taken; whereas, the guy (not all of them) are very subtle about it and hangs out around the girl until the main male gets pissed and then he either or 1. Just hangs around her because they're close and never make a move OR 2. He finally steps up and makes a move.

I agree, double standards.